Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCIX NO. 19, October 15, 2023

Hamas Attacks Israel

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Hamas Attacks Israel – Key Points

On Shabbat, Oct. 7, the holiday of Simchat Torah began with massive rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israel, while Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel from a number of different points.

This was an extensive terrorist attack on the civilian population in Israel in the midst of Simchat Torah, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis were in their homes or on their way to the synagogues to celebrate with their communities and families.

As part of the attack, which is still ongoing, the Hamas terrorist organization is firing missiles indiscriminately towards cities in the south and center of Israel and towards Jerusalem, targeting civilians. Hamas terrorists have infiltrated Israeli territory in order to harm and murder as many civilians as they can.

Thus far, over 200 Israelis have been murdered and many hundreds have been wounded in terror attacks by Hamas terrorists. Additionally, there are reports of Israelis who have been abducted into the Gaza Strip. Due to the fact that the events are still ongoing, more accurate data will follow.

In response, the IDF has initiated a large-scale operation to defend Israeli civilians against the combined attack launched against Israel by Hamas this morning.

Israeli security forces are working to protect Israeli civilians on all fronts. The IDF will protect Israeli citizens. Hamas and all terrorist organizations will pay heavily for their actions. Below are key points provided by the Consul General of Israel to the Southeast. Each bullet contains important circumstances that have taken place in chronological order over the first four days since Hamas attacked Israel.

Day 1: Oct. 7

• The terrorist organization Hamas launched an extensive attack on the citizens of Israel, through widespread and indiscriminate firing of missiles and rockets at the citizens of Israel, from southern Israel to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, infiltration of terrorists into the southern towns and villages and attempts to murder as many civilians as possible.

• This is an attack initiated by terrorist organizations led by Hamas, without any pretext or prior action on the part of Israel. Moreover, this attack comes after a long period in which Israel is trying to bring calm to the Gaza Strip, through extensive efforts to improve the civilian situation there.

• Israel will act in any way necessary to protect its citizens and will not shy from a broad operation in Gaza. Israel will exact the full price from the terrorist organizations and is prepared to act as necessary until its goals are achieved. Hamas is the sovereign power in the Gaza Strip, standing behind this attack, and will bear the results and responsibility for the events.

• The Hamas terrorist organization is a branch of the Ayatollah regime in Iran, which proactively promotes terror activity in Israel and against Israeli and Jewish targets all over the world.

• The residents of the Gaza Strip are not enemies of Israel, but the terror organizations that operate knowingly and deliberately from within densely populated areas and adjacent to humanitarian buildings and institutions make cynical use of them. Israel does and will do everything possible to prevent harm to uninvolved people, but the terrorist organizations knowingly operate from within the civilian population, committing double war crimes - indiscriminately shooting at civilians, while using the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields.

Day 2: Oct. 8

• Hamas, an internationally recognized terrorist organization, launched a massive attack on the citizens of Israel by infiltrating terrorists into Israeli communities in the south of the country, as well as by launching extensive missile and rocket fire that indiscriminately targeted Israeli civilians from the south of the country to Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The terrorists infiltrated southern communities and began a murder spree, killing families and individuals in their homes, in the streets, and on their way to synagogue, in addition to abducting Israelis to the Gaza Strip – in particular defenseless families, women and children - anyone who crossed their path.

• This is a deadly and barbaric attack initiated by terrorist organizations led by H amas, one launched with no legitimate pretext or provocative prior action on the part of Israel. Furthermore, this attack came after a long period in which Israel strove to bring calm to the Gaza Strip by making extensive efforts to improve the economic situation of Palestinians, with an emphasis on long-term projects in Gaza. In this context, discussions had begun on the implementation of the Gas for Gaza and

Gaza Marine projects. Yet while Israel was working to stabilize the area by promoting long-term projects, Hamas launched a murderous and destructive terrorist operation designed to hurt Israel and undermine stability in the area.

• If anyone still has doubts, this attack reveals once again the true face of these terror organizations - bloodthirsty and uncontrollable groups, devoid of any moral inhibitions, who are motivated by hatred, the desire to hurt Israeli citizens in every way, and to bring about the destruction of the State of Israel. Hamas is not interested in the safety or well-being of civilians in the Gaza Strip and views them as nothing more than pawns to be exploited in its efforts to harm the citizens of Israel.

• Israel is in a war against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Hamas started this war, and Israel is preparing for a prolonged military response to remove the threat posed by that organization. Hamas is in control of all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip - it is behind this attack, and it will be accountable for the results of these events. Hamas’ leadership bears full responsibility for the current deterioration and for the actions Israel must take in response. Israel will do everything necessary to protect its citizens and its territory.

• The false claims being made by Hamas and other terrorist organizations that “Al Aqsa is in danger” and their absurd attempt to link the terror attack to Jews visiting the Temple Mount (which routinely takes place every year) is a smoke screen that bears no resemblance to reality. This is a fabricated claim designed to fan flames in the sector, to inflame passions, and to gather support from extremists to expand the arena of combat in Israel.

• The terrorist organizations involved are branches of the Ayatollah regime in Iran, which proactively promotes terrorist activity in Israel and against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. Iranian President Raisi spoke with Ismail Haniyeh, the Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, as well as with Ziyad Nakhaleh, Secretary-General of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

• Israeli security forces are currently operating to restore full control over all the communities and the security fence area on the border with the Gaza Strip.

• Israel will act to free the hostages that were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, to seriously damage the terrorist infrastructure, and to return to a situation in which no terrorist group in Gaza will be able to harm Israeli citizens again.

• The international community must make it clear to the axis states (Iran, Syria, and Lebanon) and to the terrorist organizations in the region that they must refrain from taking part in Hamas’ war and stipulate that they should not promote, encourage, or enable the opening of another front against Israel. The expansion of the arena of combat against Israel will be met with a particularly harsh response, including determined and lethal actions by Israel.

• Israel expects the international community to condemn the Hamas terror group’s attack on Israeli civilians and to express clear support for Israel’s complete right to defend itself. Israel will act resolutely against the terrorist organizations and will do all that is necessary to protect its citizens.

IDF map identifying the location of Hamas rocket attacks.

Prime Minister Netanyahu makes statement to the nation, “We Are at War, …”

• Hamas would not have been able to carry this murderous attack without the financing, logistical support, and weapons it received from Iran. Iran bears direct responsibility for Hamas’ capabilities, and therefore bears responsibility also for the use Hamas made of these capabilities.

• The terrorist organizations involved are branches of the Ayatollah regime in Iran, which proactively promotes terrorist activity in Israel and against Israeli and Jewish targets around the world. Iranian President Raisi spoke with Ismail Haniyeh, the Head of Hamas’ Political Bureau, as well as with Ziyad Nakhaleh, Secretary-General of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and expressed his support for the atrocious actions of the terrorist organization.

Day 4: Oct. 10

• The terrorist organizations have shown their true faces: bloodthirsty and uncontrollable groups with similar roots to those of ISIS, who are devoid of any moral inhibitions, and are motivated by hatred, the desire to hurt Israeli citizens in every way, and to bring about the destruction of the State of Israel. Hamas is not interested in the safety or well-being of civilians in the Gaza Strip and views them as nothing more than pawns to be exploited in its efforts to harm the citizens of Israel.

• The terrorists were raised with constant exposure to incessant incitement to murder Israelis, incitement that also includes the encouragement of terrorism, the glorification of terrorists, and the compensating of assailants and their families.

• Israel is in a war against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip. Hamas started this war, and Israel is preparing for a prolonged military response to remove the threat posed by that organization. Hamas is the ruler of the Gaza Strip, controlling all aspects of life there. It is behind this attack, and it will be held accountable for the results of these events. Hamas’ leadership bears full responsibility for the current deterioration and for the actions Israel must take in response. Israel will do everything necessary to protect its citizens and its territory.

• The passage of fuel and goods to the Gaza Strip has been halted, as has the supply of water and electricity originating in Israel. A country under attack cannot continue to support its attackers. Israel will act to free the hostages that were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip, to heavily damage the terrorist infrastructure, and to reach a situation in which no terrorist group in Gaza will be able to harm Israeli citizens again.

• The terrorist organizations operate knowingly and deliberately from within civilian populated areas and adjacent to humanitarian buildings and institutions, making cynical use of them. Israel is doing, and will continue to do, everything possible to prevent harm to non-involved persons. However, these terrorist organizations which intentionally operate from within the civilian population are committing double war crimes: indiscriminately targeting Israeli civilians while using the residents of the Gaza Strip as human shields.

• Israel expects the international community to condemn the terrorist attack on Israeli citizens and to express clear support for Israel’s complete right to defend itself. Israel will act resolutely against the terrorist organizations and will do all that is necessary to protect its citizens.

Consul General Sultan-Dadon and the team at the Israeli Consulate are available to answer questions from the media. Please send an email to publicaffairs@atlanta.mfa.gov.il to request an interview/ statement.

More than 100 victims were in body bags from one Kibbutz, Kibbutz Beeri.

Jewish Atlanta Reacts to Hamas Attacks

By Dave Schechter

Beyond any numbers, the videos and photos of Israelis killed, wounded, and kidnapped in the unprecedented Hamas attacks have left Atlanta’s Jewish community with feelings of sorrow, revulsion, and bewilderment.

Prayers and laments have mixed with condemnation and (less publicly) calls for vengeance, along with shock that Israel’s security apparatus — human and technological — could have experienced a failure of such magnitude, resulting (as of Oct. 10) in estimates of at least 1,000 Israelis killed, more than 2,800 wounded, and possibly more than 100 kidnapped and driven into Gaza.

The images of Israelis lying dead in the streets, in their homes, on kibbutzim (including 100 at Kibbutz Beeri and 70 at Kfar Aza), and at an outdoor concert in southern Israel (260 reported); videos with audio of the terrified pleas and tears of the kidnapped (many recorded by their captors), and the stories told by survivors and anguished families — these are the underpinning of the emotions expressed in conversations, emails, and on social media.

“Reach out and check on your Jewish friends. We are not ok right now.” was the message posted Oct. 8 on “X” (formerly known as Twitter) by Democratic state Rep. Esther Panitch, who is Jewish and represents a north Fulton County district.

Even as social media platforms have provided online forums to express a range of sentiments, a coalition of community groups were planning a community rally in support of Israel that was held Oct. 10 at City Springs in Sandy Springs. The night before, the sanctuary at Chabad of Cobb was packed for “An evening of prayer and unity,” led by Rabbi Ephraim Silverman. A “part vigil, part shiva,” open to the community, was scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 12, at Temple Emanu-El.

Jewish Atlantans with friends and family in Israel continued to check on their welfare, while others report receiving expressions of sympathy and prayers from non-Jewish friends and even strangers.

The Hamas attacks, which began (Atlanta time) late on Friday, Oct. 6, marred observance of Shabbat and that of the holidays of Shimini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

In a message to his congregation on Oct. 9, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch of Congregation Etz Chaim, wrote: “It didn’t happen once. It happened twice. Twice on my walk home from shul on Simchat Torah, I was stopped by non-Jewish neighbors. I had never met ei-

ther of them; but they saw my kippah. There was a steady flow of tears in the eyes of one as she grabbed my arm. She told me she had been watching the news all weekend.  “I am praying for you and your family and for all of your people,” she managed to say in between sobs.

“The past few days have been unfathomable. Rather than the Psalmist’s ‘days of mourning turning to days of joy,’ it was our

days of joy that were turned into mourning.

The death toll from Israel continues to be both devastating and staggering.”

Dorsch, the current president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Assembly, was scheduled to be one of the speakers at the Sandy Springs rally.

“At this gathering, we will study Torah,” he wrote. “We will also pray for the safety and security of the brave soldiers

of the IDF.  We will cry out for the injured, and the well-being of the kidnapped so they may return home to the loving arms of their families. We will also mourn the lives of our people that were cut short through brazen acts of barbarian-style, Iranian-supported terrorism.

“Our gathering on Tuesday won’t fix all that has happened.  But I do hope that in some small way, our gathering may begin

An Ashkelon resident and his son make their way to safety after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip by Palestinian terrorists hit a building in the southern city, Oct. 9 // Photo Credit: Chaim Goldberg/Times of Israel

Family and friends attend the funeral of IDF soldier David Shila at Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem // Photo Credit: Noam Revkin Fenton/Times of Israel

to dispel some of the darkness and bring a measure of light back to our broken world.”

Another anticipated speaker was Ambassador Anat Sultan-Dadon, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeast, based in Atlanta. On Oct. 8, she posted on “X” a video of Hamas members with kidnapped Israelis and attached the following message: “Viewer discretion advised. The images that you are about to see are not from a horror movie. In the past 36 hours Israelis have been butchered in their homes by Hamas terrorists. Children and mothers taken captive. The dead bodies of women desecrated in the streets of Gaza. Listen to the cries of the victims. Remember each and every one of them.”

Rabbi Lauren Henderson of Congregation Or Hadash sent her congregation a message Oct. 7 that read: “I walked into shul this morning, eager to celebrate Shmini Atzeret and Simchat Torah with our community and conclude this high holidays season on a note of joy. But I was met, as many of us were, with news of horrific terror out of Israel. As I write these words, over 300 Israelis have been killed and close to 1,600 injured by Hamas terrorists, and dozens of men, women, and children have been taken hostage. Israel is at war, defending herself from merciless attacks. And we feel heartbroken, terrified, angry beyond belief, confused, and numb.” Henderson shared a prayer from the Masorti movement in Israel.

In a Facebook post on Oct. 9, Rabbi Mike Rothbaum of Congregation Bet Haverim wrote: “Saying this, because it must be clearly said: The decades-long occupation, and the oppressive conditions in Gaza, are injustices that stain the name of the state of Israel and the glory of the Jewish people.

“But.

“Butchering children is not liberation.

Kidnapping grandparents is not resistance.

Massacring young people at a concert is not justice.

Those who litter the land with corpses are not freedom fighters.”

Further on, Rothbaum wrote:

“And I will add — I despair of this government’s indiscriminate retaliation against Gaza, which is resulting in the consumption of innocent civilian life. All human life is sacred. I believe it is the duty of the Jewish people to uphold that holy principle.

May the One Who makes peace in the heavens, bring peace to us, to all Israel, and all who dwell on earth.”

Ramah Darom issued a statement Oct. 8 that included: “We have been in touch with many Ramah Darom community members living in Israel, including our Mishlachat from this past summer. We’ve learned that Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose extended family attended our Passover retreat for many years, was at the outdoor festival and is still missing as of this writing. As well, we learned that a member of our summer Mishlachat from 2021 was also at the festival and received minor injuries. We have reached out to both families to offer our support.” [Note: Goldberg-Polin’s mother told CNN on Oct. 10 that her 23-year-old son had been wounded and many have been taken hostage while attending the rave concert in the Negev desert that was attacked by Hamas.]

The Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta issued a statement that read: “Our hearts are broken as we stay glued to the latest developments in Israel. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners, friends, grantees, colleagues, and family in Israel during this dark and difficult time, and we stand ready to offer whatever further support they need. As mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and daughters, we are praying for the safe return of hostages, the safety of Israel’s soldiers and citizens, complete healing for the thousands of injured, and comfort to those who have lost loved ones.”

Two Jewish U.S. diplomats from Atlanta also issued statements.

On Oct. 9, Ambassador Michele Taylor, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United National Human Rights Coun-

cil, told that body: “I sit before you today, representing the United States of America, with a heavy heart following the horrific attacks carried out by Hamas terrorists on Israeli civilians starting on Oct. 7, 2023. The calamity of that day and the days since has seen hundreds and hundreds of innocent civilian lives lost and we are still counting . . . The United States unequivocally condemns these heinous acts of terrorism. We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected and express our solidarity with the people and government of Israel in these trying times.”

Taylor then requested a moment of silence from the Council “to remember the victims of these appalling terrorist attacks.” Video posted by Taylor’s office showed representatives from member countries standing in silence.

Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism issued a statement Oct. 7 that read in part: “I am aghast at the scale of the onslaught by Hamas terrorists,” which later termed “the most lethal assault against Jews since the Holocaust.” Lipstadt is on leave from her post as a professor at Emory University.

Statements of support have been issued from throughout the political ranks.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is Jewish and in the past has spoken of relatives living in Israel, was in China as part of a bi-partisan congressional delegation also visiting South Korea and Japan. His office Oct. 7 issued a statement that said: “Senator Ossoff strongly condemns in the strongest terms Hamas’ indiscriminate and murderous assault on our Israeli allies. This evening, he spoke with Israeli Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon to convey Georgians’ support for Israel and the Israeli people, and our outrage and grief at the murder of Israeli civilians.”

Ossoff’s fellow Georgia Democrat, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock, who also is pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Oct. 7 posted on :”X”: “I’m deeply saddened

and alarmed by this morning’s news out of Israel. We must condemn terrorism in all its forms. Praying for the victims of this disturbing violence and that peace may prevail.”

Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, who led a state delegation to Israel in May, posted Oct. 7 on “X”: “This is an egregious act of war upon one of our nation’s greatest allies. The federal government must be swift and unequivocal: America stands with Israel and her people!”

Atlanta-area members of Georgia’s congressional delegation also issued statements.

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, Democrat-7th congressional district: “I strongly condemn the unprovoked terrorist attack by Hamas against Israel, who has every right to defend herself from the violence being perpetrated against her. We mourn the lives violently cut short today. As we stand with Israel and its citizens, may we pray for peace.”

U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick, Republican6th congressional district: “Hamas extremists have killed innocent people, including children, in a coordinated and unprovoked attack on Israel. I condemn this evil and continue to support Israel’s right to protect themselves.”

U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams, Democrat5th congressional district: “I’m devastated by the unfolding violence in #Israel and extend my deepest condolences to the families of those killed in this heinous attack on Israeli civilians. I remain committed to Israel’s fundamental right to defend itself.”

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, Democrat4th congressional district, blamed Hamas and expressed sympathy for the “innocent people of Israel and Gaza” and called for dialogue. “For too long, the world has ignored the issue of a Palestinian homeland,” Johnson said. “Until this issue is resolved and justice allowed to reign, peace will continue to elude the world.” ì

AJT writer Jan Jaben-Eilon contributed to this report.

A man walks past Sderot police station, which was destroyed during battles to dislodge Hamas gunmen inside, on Oct. 8 // Photo Credit: RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Times of Israel

Palestinians take a kidnapped Israeli civilian, center, from Kfar Azza kibbutz into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 // Photo Credit: Hatem Ali/AP/Times of Israel

Hamas Shootout Near Infiltrated Sderot Police Station

United Hatzalah volunteer EMT

Rabbi Chaim Sassi, was seriously injured on Saturday morning by a Hamas terrorist who had infiltrated Sderot shortly after the fighting in the city began. Rabbi Sassi, who serves as the regional Rabbi for the organization in and around Sderot, was attempting to rescue a badly wounded police officer when he was shot by a Hamas sniper who had taken up position inside the city’s police station.

According to Yaakov Bar Yochai, another United Hatzalah volunteer who was an eyewitness to the event, the incident unfolded as follows. “On Saturday, after the fighting broke out in Sderot, I was driving to the location of a medical clinic where I was sent inside Sderot to treat a number of injured. I was unaware that there were terrorists already inside the city. As I was driving I passed Rabbi Sassi who was assisting another injured person and he waved at me telling me that he had it under control and to keep going. But he also warned me that there were terrorists around and that I needed to be careful.”

“I saw bodies lying on the street and

I very quickly understood that this was a very serious and dangerous situation. I saw the jeep with the gun on the roof that was so highly publicized on social media later. I reached an area of relative safe

cover, and I found a security officer who was badly injured and in need of medical attention, as well as the town’s security chief who was also injured. We came under fire and were pinned down. I saw another security officer who had been shot in the head and was bleeding profusely on the opposite side of the street, but whoever tried to reach him was immediately shot by a sniper who had positioned himself on the roof of the police station. I asked the injured commanding officer, ‘Let me go to him, I’m an EMT I can help save him.’”

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“The officer told me that there was a sniper on the roof and that I shouldn’t go because I would be shot myself. A short time later, Rabbi Chaim arrived and quickly saw the scenario. The officer lay dying across the street and we couldn’t reach him. Rabbi Chaim began to plead with the commander, ‘Lay down cover fire, I’ll go to him.’ They laid down cover fire and as soon as Rabbi Chaim rushed out, he was shot in the leg. He ran for cover behind a garbage can and received another shot in the face. He began to lose a lot of blood quickly.”

“This was a close friend of mine, our rabbi. He put his life on the line to save another and now he was bleeding out in front of me. He managed to reach the shot officer, but there was nothing that he could do for him, the man was beyond help. But Rabbi Chaim wasn’t. In addition, there were other officers who lay injured as well nearby. I began to tie water bottles and medical supplies to rocks to throw to Rabbi Chaim so that he could treat himself and others, bandage himself to slow his own blood flow, and help

them as best he could.”

“He was changing bandages quickly as they all were drenched with blood too fast. I understood that if we didn’t get him and the other officers out of there soon, they would likely die then and there. We ran to a nearby truck that we found with medical supplies and threw it to him. There were no ambulances in the city because the security forces were only allowing armored ambulances to enter the city due to the security threat. I told the commanding officer, ‘This man is not dying here, let’s get him out and I’ll take him in my car to the hospital.’

The officer said, we will gather a team, lay down a strong wave of cover fire, and get him as well as two other injured security officers out of the danger zone. They gathered a large group of forces, laid down a lot of cover fire, and the sniper stopped firing for a moment long enough for us to get Rabbi Chaim and two other injured officers out of there and into my car.”

“I drove the three injured men to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon as fast as I could. There they underwent life-saving treatment. I cannot say enough about what Rabbi Chaim did. He deserves the highest medal of honor for risking his life to save others.”

Rabbi Chaim Sassi is currently in serious but stable condition in Barzilai Hospital. He is just one of the many first responders who were injured in yesterday’s attacks.

Pray for his speedy recovery. His Hebrew name is Harav Chaim Ben Tamar. ì

Provided By United Hatzalah

IDF soldiers together with UH volunteers bring an injured patient to-one of United Hatzalahs helicopters for emergency medevac // Photo credit: United Hatzalah of Israel

Rabbi Chaim Sassi and volunteer EMT in Israel // Photo credit: United Hatzalah of Israel

JNF-USA to Raise $10M in Aid for People of Israel

In the wake of the unprecedented, unprovoked, and devastating attack by Hamas from Gaza on civilian communities in Israel, Jewish National Fund-USA has mobilized to raise funds critical to meeting the immediate crisis created by thousands of people being forced to flee and evacuate their homes in the shadow of war.

The organization has activated its Situation Room and its team is on the ground and in the streets gaining information about the immediate needs of the local communities it supports.

Jewish National Fund-USA has worked in close partnership with the communities suffering most for decades, and is uniquely prepared to assist in meeting the emergency needs created by the current crisis including housing, transportation, bedding and equipment, and hygiene kits for the displaced; defensive equipment for communities and for reservists reporting for duty both in the south and in the north; and firefighting equipment to manage the ongoing rocket fire from Gaza and protect homes and property. Jewish National Fund-USA is also looking ahead to a time when healing and recovery will be at hand and aims to fund psychological treatment for those most affected along the Gaza border through its network of resilience centers and therapeutic facilities.

Jewish National Fund-USA CEO, Russell F. Robinson said, “This campaign is

about helping people in need, but it’s also about ensuring that evil does not win, not only by murdering us, but by killing our spirit. We must come together to support and ensure that they can rebuild their beautiful communities, to show that the Jewish people are strong, we are resilient, we are united, and we will not be defeated by terror. We will show these communities that we are with them, and they are never alone.”

Jewish National Fund-USA is also prepared to assist communities in the north as needed. They have already requisitioned portable bomb shelters for Kiryat Shmona, another close partnership, and continue to assess needs on the ground as they arise.

Speaking about the campaign, Dr. Sol Lizerbram, President of Jewish National Fund-USA said, “The need is great, and the need is now, and we are both devastated and honored to be able to rise to this horrible moment to assist Israelis in anything that will help, and our commitment to their safety, well-being, and eventually their healing is steadfast. We are in close communication to ensure that we are there to meet this evolving situation, and we hope that you will join us in showing Israel that we are here for them, now and always.”

To support this campaign, visit: jnf. org/supportisrael ì

Children of Israel wave their flags in anticipation of American aid.

Not Time for ‘Business as Usual,’ React – Do Something

What a weekend the Jewish community has gone through. Praying, mourning, and glued to the television.

Suffice it to say, this is not business as usual. My heart goes out to all our friends and family in Israel during this horrendous surprise attack. If you live in Israel or are cur rently in Israel, the most im portant thing I want you to know is that I am there with you in spirit and support every minute you are under siege. I will be doing everything I can to ease your bur den and share your anxiety for the future.

Michael A. Morris Publisher

Today, I am going to be brief and to the point. I have been receiving streams of emails and texts over the last 48 hours and there are several recurring themes. The one that I will address right now is, what can I do to help? Here are some really good ways to be part of the solution.

First and foremost, write notes, emails and text messages to friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances in Israel. I cannot tell you how many times, including just yesterday, that an IDF senior officer has told me how important it is for troop and civilian morale, peace of mind, and confidence to know that they are not alone, that America and the Jewish Diaspora care, support and empathize for and with them.

world and the recorders know you care.

Write to your Congressional or Senatorial Representative and let them know that you, as their constituent, want them to do whatever it takes to support our ally. (Feel free to add Ukraine as well.)

Donate $25, or any amount, to the charitable organization of your choice. Locally, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta (JFGA) has multiple projects helping

tions that are also in the middle of raising immediate relief funds include but are not limited to Friends of the IDF (FIDF), Jewish National Fund (JNF) and (American Friends of) Mogan David Adom (AFMDA).

Pray. Inquire as to what your synagogue is doing, see if you can take part in their support activities. If you are involved with a Jewish organization, many of these organizations are creating programs and fundraisers.

Keep up to date. Many Jewish organizations are offering daily briefings that go more in depth than what you would find in the media. I have recently been on an FIDF, and American Jewish Committee (AJC) Zoom briefing this weekend and I know that JNF and AJC are having Zoom briefings today and tomorrow.

Talk about this with friends and business colleagues, Jewish and non-Jewish. Make sure everyone you know knows this is important to you, to America, and to democracy all over the world. The extent of the horrific actions of Hamas needs to be understood by every single American.

I would also add that if you see something in the mainstream media that rings hollow or is defaming, call it out. Yesterday, the New York Times had a picture of a grieving Hamas militant’s family pictured on their front page. Not the victim’s family, but the perpetrator’s family, how disgusting. CNN brought on a Palestinian apologist. He attempted, with no rebuttal from the CNN anchor, to convince the American public that it is Israel’s fault that Hamas started this war, kidnapped children and elderly and videotaped the process, and is wantonly killing civilians. It is sickening.

I, for one, would like to see the complete annihilation of the Hamas infrastructure which has been killing civilians for decades now with only controlled responses from Israel’s military. But I will back whatever Israel determines is the appropriate response for the war that Hamas has begun, and as the military has stated, we need to brace ourselves for a long and arduous military response from the world’s most ethical army. ì

Michael Morris is the owner and publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Rallies for Israel Held Coast to Coast

More than 1,000 supporters of Israel mobilized in Boston Monday to stand in solidarity with the Jewish state in a Boston Common rally organized by the Israeli-American Council, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston and

Thousands of Israeli Americans, Jews and supporters of Israel are mobilizing and uniting across the country this week standing in solidarity with the Jewish State and against terrorism, after the historic Hamas terrorist massacre in Israel Saturday.

Rallies are taking place coast to coast and organized by the Israeli-American Council (IAC), partnering with a range of Jewish community organizations. At least 900 Israelis were murdered and more than 2,600 wounded in the worst mass murder of Jewish civilians since the Holocaust. The

Hamas terror group also took more than 100 people – including elderly women and children – hostage into the Gaza Strip.

Under the banner, “Stand Up Against Terror. Stand With Israel,” rallies began taking place Sunday in Las Vegas and are continuing from Seattle to Boston through the week.

Communities hosting rallies Monday included Austin, Texas; Boston; Houston, Los Angeles, New Jersey; Orlando, Fla.; Portland, Ore.; the San Francisco Bay Area; Seattle. Rallies will also be held in Atlanta; Orange County, Calif.; Philadelphia; San

Diego. Other rallies are being scheduled in Chicago; Colorado; New York City; Rochester, N.Y.; and South Florida.

“We stand arm in arm and shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Israel in total solidarity and unwavering support,” said IAC CEO Elan Carr, who is the former U.S. Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism. “Like any sovereign country that has suffered such a brutal and inhuman attack, Israel has the inalienable right to defend itself fully, completely, and decisively and to eliminate the threats facing its citizens.”

Some of the young people who turned out to support Israel in Las Vegas Sunday, in a rally organized by the Israeli-American Council // Photo credit:

Arthur M. Blank Foundation Donates $750K to Israel

The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has issued initial emergency grants totaling $750,000 to the following organizations to aid in treatment of victims and to provide resources for first responders:

*Barzeli Medical Center – Located in Ashkelon and serving as one of the two frontline hospitals treating victims of the violence; has also created several underground areas where neonatal infants, newborns, and critical patients are being treated for medical emergencies and psychological trauma.

*Saroka Medical Center – Located in Be’erSheva and serving as one of the main trauma treatment centers in southern Israel and along the Gaza Strip; caring for victims of the most complex medical and psychological traumas.

*United Hatzalah – Network of more than 6,500 volunteer medics help

save thousands of lives annually by providing treatment in an average response time of three minutes or less. Grant will enable purchase of equipment for an additional 1,000 volunteers with protective vests and helmets, oxygen tanks, defibrillators, trauma bandages, and tourniquets so they can aid in the response efforts.

Arthur M. Blank, Chairman of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, said, “The unimaginable, distressing terrorist attacks on Israel that have resulted in death, injury and trauma for scores of people over the past few days are an attack on all of humanity, and there is no place in this world for the horrific violence we have witnessed. We grieve for the innocent Israeli and Palestinian souls who have lost their lives, the families who have experienced incomprehensible pain, and send our strongest prayers for the thousands who continue to fight for

their safety. We must condemn acts of violence and stand for peace, as one life lost is one too many. May God protect our

brothers and sisters across the world impacted by this heart wrenching tragedy.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Some 1,000 supporters of Israel mobilized in Las Vegas Sunday in a rally organized by the Israeli-American Council // Photo credit: Poura Photos

JCRC of Greater Boston // Photo Credit: Jack Brotman

Tonya Harvey

A United Hatzalah ambulance crewman takes cover during an air raid siren Oct. 8, 2023 near the Gaza border // hoto credit: United Hatzalah of Israel

Israel Accepted into U.S. Visa Waiver Program

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

As Israel rejoiced at being named the 41st member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program – easing Israelis’ ability to enter the U.S. – so did most of the American Jewish community, and here in Atlanta.

“We are very excited that Israel has finally been accepted to the U.S. visa waiver program, a long awaited and very welcome development which reflects the close relations between our countries and the high level of trust and collaboration that we enjoy,” said Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States in a statement to the AJT. “Israelis and Americans will now be able to travel between our countries with greater ease and accessibility.”

Sultan-Dadon added that “in Atlanta and in the Southeast region, this major development follows another welcome development with the recent launch by Delta [Air Lines] of daily direct flights between Atlanta and Tel Aviv, allowing for the further strengthening of our relations and connectivity between our peoples.”

Delta announced its daily flights between Atlanta and Israel effective in April. And in June, it announced its strategic partnership with Israel’s El Al Airlines, implementing reciprocal codeshare and frequent flyer benefits.

Commenting about Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program, Drake X. Castenada, in Delta’s corporate communications department, stated, “While we aren’t able to speculate” whether this might increase Israelis flying through Atlanta, “we, of course, certainly welcome the opportunity for more Israelis to have expanded opportunities to travel to the U.S.”

In addition to Atlanta, Delta also flies between Israel and New York City and Boston.

Others were more boldly optimistic.

“We are thrilled about Israel joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program,” said Lorin Maugery, Israeli tourism consul to the U.S. in the Southeast. “Inclusion in the program will increase Israeli travel to the U.S., which is likely to increase demand for airlift that will probably result in the addition of flights and frequencies, and

that will, in turn, help to increase U.S. travel to Israel. For Israel and the U.S., this is a win-win situation we are excited about.”

It was also a decision that had been in the works for years. In fact, in making the announcement on Sept. 27, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, said the designation represented more than a decade of work and coordination between the U.S. and Israel.

President Joe Biden’s administration notably gave credit to former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid who preceded Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest government, saying the previous prime ministers were responsible for much of its progress.

In his announcement, Mayorkas said that by Nov. 30, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization will be updated to allow citizens and nationals of Israel to apply to travel to the U.S. for tourism or business purposes for up to 90 days without first obtaining a U.S. visa – which has often entailed lengthy and costly efforts, especially during the height of the COVID pandemic. Eventually, all U.S. citizens may request entry to Israel for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa.

American Jewish organizations as diverse as the Jewish Federations of North America, Hadassah, the Orthodox Union, J Street, and the American Zionist Movement all heralded the announcement. However, some U.S. senators expressed concern about whether all U.S. citizens, especially those of Palestinian origin, would receive the same treatment by Israel as Jewish visiting travelers.

In fact, lawsuits were immediately filed against the U.S. government for allegedly endorsing discrimination against Palestinian and Arab American citizens. “The U.S. government is obligated to ensure that all Americans are treated equally. It is our intent to hold the U.S. government accountable for any actions that separate classes of U.S. citizens,” said Abed Ayoub, national executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, one of the plaintiffs in the suit, according to an Israeli newspaper.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed this issue saying that the visa waiver is an “important achievement” that “will enhance freedom of movement for U.S. citizens, including those living in the Palestinian Territories or traveling to and from them.” ì

“Israelis and Americans will now be able to travel between our countries with greater ease and accessibility,” said Anat Sultan-Dadon, Consul General of Israel to the Southeastern United States.

Israel Debuts ‘Anywhere’ Campaign to Inspire Local Tourism

Recognizing that travel is not always about where you go but the experiences you encounter once you’re there, the Israel Ministry of Tourism has launched its newest campaign— “Anywhere”—enticing travelers to explore Israel.

The digital campaign was born from research gathered from Google, which reported a significant increase in flight searches not necessarily tied to a specific destination. The data revealed a global increase of approximately 400 percent

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME ISRAEL PRIDE

during the first half of this year when online users requested information pertaining to “Google flights to anywhere” compared to similar online searches in 2022.

The Israel Ministry of Tourism’s new digital-only campaign and its messaging— Israel can take you anywhere--encourages travelers to explore everything Israel has to offer, availing themselves to new experiences, cultures, and discoveries. The fast-paced, online video content is highly appealing with a FOMO effect (Fear of Missing Out) inspiring viewers to “stop searching, start traveling” and “don’t get FOMO, get a ticket now.”

“As a destination known for its innovation, we are also adapting our messaging based on the most up to date trends in global consumer habits – both in the medium and the messages,” said Eyal Carlin, tourism commissioner to North America for the Israel Ministry of Tourism. “While people are searching to go anywhere, we are here to show that Israel has anything and everything and is much more than ‘Anywhere.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Today in Israeli History first time since June 1967. The two countries established consular ties in 1987. Israel’s agreement to participate in the Madrid peace conference enables full relations.

Oct. 19, 1948: The Haganah, the Wedgewood and the Noga attack an Egyptian troop carrier near Ashkelon in the first major battle for the Israeli navy. The Egyptian ship suffers enough damage to require towing home.

The Women of the Wall began monthly Rosh Chodesh Torah services at the Western Wall in December 1988.

Philippine Trade and Investment Center opens in Tel Aviv

The Philippine Embassy announced the opening of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tel Aviv and the arrival of Vichael Angelo D. Roaring, who will serve as its commercial counselor.

As an overseas office of the Department of Trade and Industry attached to the Embassy, PTIC Tel Aviv will promote the export of Philippine products and services in Israel and facilitate the entry of Israeli investments in the Philippines.

Oct. 23, 1998: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yasser Arafat and Bill Clinton sign a memorandum recommitting to the Oslo II agreement of September 1995 after nine days of negotiations at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland.

“The opening of PTIC Tel Aviv marks another milestone in Philippines-Israel trade relations. More than being a representation of our increasing bilateral trade, this also manifests our eagerness to bring in more high-quality Philippine products for the enjoyment of Israeli consumers, as well as our resolve to entice Israeli firms and startups to pursue exciting investment opportunities in our country,” Ambassador Pedro “Junie” Laylo, Jr. noted.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Oct. 15, 2002: Yaakov Farkash, known as Ze’ev (Wolf) and seen as the father of Israeli political cartoons, dies at 79. A survivor of Buchenwald and Dachau, Farkash was introduced to Zionism in a refugee camp and made aliyah in 1947.

Oct. 16, 1986: Ron Arad, 28, an F-4 Phantom II navigator, is captured by Amal terrorists after bailing out over Lebanon. He is never seen in Israel again. He is believed to have been killed in 1988 or 1992.

Oct. 17, 1973: After a U.S. airlift resupplies Israel’s military during the Yom Kippur War, oil ministers from Arab states cut exports by 5% and recommend an embargo of Israel’s allies. Libya begins such an embargo Oct. 19, and the other Arab states join.

Oct. 18, 1991: The Soviet Union and Israel resume full diplomatic relations for the

Oct. 20, 2013: Haredi men hurl rocks at and slash the tires of buses bearing ads promoting female worship at the Western Wall. The ads, depicting women with prayer shawls and Torahs, come from Women of the Wall.

Oct. 21, 1967: Forty-seven Israeli sailors are killed when Soviet-made missiles launched from Egyptian boats in the harbor at Port Said, Egypt, strike the destroyer INS Eilat, which is on a routine patrol in international waters.

Oct. 22, 1979: For the first time, the Israeli Supreme Court rules against Jewish settlers. The court orders the Gush Emunim settlement of Elon Moreh dismantled for lack of evidence that it was established for security reasons.

Oct. 24, 1940: Yossi Sarid, a two-time Cabinet minister known as “Israel’s moral compass,” is born in Rehovot. He becomes the Mapai spokesman at 24 and serves as a speechwriter and an adviser for David BenGurion, Levi Eshkol and others.

Oct. 25, 1976: Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the president of the International Chess Federation, Max Euwe, open the 22nd men’s and seventh women’s Chess Olympiad in Haifa despite a Soviet-led boycott.

Oct. 26, 1994: More than 4,500 people, including President Bill Clinton, witness Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordanian King Hussein sign a peace treaty at the Wadi Araba border crossing between Eilat and Aqaba.

Oct. 27, 2018: After an overnight barrage of roughly 30 rockets from the Gaza Strip toward Israeli border towns, the Israeli Air Force strikes 80 Gaza targets, including Hamas weapons plants, training sites and observation posts.

Oct. 28, 1948: The iconic banner with two blue stripes and a blue Star of David at its center becomes the official Israeli flag more than five months after the establishment of the state. The flag was adopted by the First Zionist Congress in 1897.

Oct. 29, 1973: The first talks between Israeli and Egyptian generals take place in Israeli-controlled territory 101 kilometers (63 miles) east of Cairo. Over three weeks, the talks go beyond military matters to political issues.

Oct. 30, 1957: Shlomo Mintz, a violinist and conductor, is born in Moscow. When Mintz is 2, his family moves to Israel, and he begins to learn the violin at 3½. By 18, he is touring Europe and building his capacity as a conductor.

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

The new ad campaign, “Anywhere,” encourages travelers to explore everything that Israel has to offer.

Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan skyline at sunset // Photo Credit: Getty Images

This cartoon by Ze’ev (Yaakov Farkash) from the Oct. 31, 1980, issue of Haaretz depicts Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli President Yitzhak Navon on their way to peace. // Collection of the Israeli Cartoon Museum

Environment Minister Yossi Sarid (left) and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin visit Park HaSharon in October 1993.

Flag bearers lead a Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) parade in Ramat Gan in May 1951, about 2½ years after the Israeli flag’s official adoption.

JWFA Hosts Fall Art Panel

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Thought provoking was the buzz as the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta hosted a panel of local art mavens at The Temple on Sept. 27 for a noon luncheon.

JWFA chair Lisa Freedman welcomed the group which got off to a fast start with panel moderator Dina Fuchs -Beresin, JWFA director of strategic programs, posing questions to: Jody Feldman of The Alliance Theatre; Cathy Fox, former art and architecture critic for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and founder of ArtsATL.org; Leslie Gordon, executive director of The Breman Museum; Fay Gold, contemporary art expert; and Pamela Gold Alexander, actress, singer, and dancer.

JWFA members decide on grants as funders looking for creative ways to support social change for Jewish women and girls, such as Sustaining Grants Women’s Leadership and Signature Grants which can impact the social landscape. The group stands up for gender equality in the Jewish community and advocates for safety, equity, respect, leadership opportunities, and solutions through mental health support.

During the pre-event, trustees and associates told the AJT about their motivation to be involved in JWFA. Debbie Kuniansky, a 10-year member said, “I love learning how to read grants, examine needs and allocate donations with a critical eye. Are we a drop in the bucket or a main funder?”

Rachelle Schlaffer added, “I learned a lot from the ACT program and want to expand as a trustee to learn more and DO more.”

Lanie Kirsch offered, “I like acting together as one body with the other women, to make positive change.”

Initiating the formal panel program, Fuchs-Beresin was prepared with stimulating topics, starting with challenges that face artists today. Feldman talked about how COVID worked to decrease programming and made it harder to find work. Alexander is irked by those thinking that the arts is “like icing on a cake, superfluous. During the pandemic though, people rethought some of that by doing their own TikToks, creating their own art.”

Fuchs-Beresin’s hottest topic was about gender equity in the arts where 85 percent of a recent study reported negative harassment issues; she then recognized positive female leadership at the Whitney Museum, museums in

London, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Gordon noted that arts administration is dominated by women and LGBTQ persons; and Feldman noted that gender never held her back. Fox added that men in the past didn’t want to give up power.

Feldman also discussed how the pandemic was used as time to reflect and “women found their voices and regrouped.”

The most senior panel member, Fay Gold, recently touted for her nonagenari-

anism and contribution to Atlanta’s art scene, got the most laughs. “I have never been held back. I came to Atlanta in 1966 and thought the High Museum’s exhibits were appalling. Atlanta had two ideas about modern art: ‘Picasso’ or ‘I don’t like it.’”

After that, she began taking groups to New York to educate about art. She concluded, “Look at Georgia O’Keefe and Peggy Guggenheim, female greats!”

Fox added, “You used to have to be

a white male. Now, most exhibits are for people of color or women.”

Fuchs-Beresin dipped into the notion of non-Jews landing acting roles of Jewish characters, like “Fiddler on the Roof” currently playing at City Springs. She said, “It’s nice to give the role to someone who has lived the experience, but there is a finite pool.”

Fox cautioned, “That’s a slippery slope getting too deep in the woods.” Gordon hopped on, “Judaism is a religion not

Rachelle Schaffer, Lori Kilberg, Michal Hillman, Leslie Gordon, and Luci Sunshine chat about JWFA’s goals.

Dina Fuchs-Beresin, Lanie Kirsch, JWFA CEO Rachel Wasserman, and Sara Zaban Franco chat before the program.

Leslie Shenk, Tanya Alexander, and Debbie Kuniansky discuss the role of being a trustee.

a race. Acting is a craft…can Michelangelo only be played by an Italian? It’s the quality of the acting.”

Gold noted, “In the upcoming film, ‘Maestro,’ Bradley Cooper plays Leonard Bernstein.”

The final topic of the panel was artificial intelligence. Feldman said, “It’s here to stay.”

Alexander added, “We have to learn to use it as a tool. And be cautious, I had to delete a default consent that could be

used for future recordings.”

JWFA CEO Rachel Wasserman took to the podium to boast that last spring, the fund hit the $2 million mark, with the third year of Signature grants. She stated, “65 percent of our grants were in pilot

programs. Somebody has to be first.”

Recipient Rabbi Ariel Wolpe praised the grant money she received to further her goals with Ma’alot.

A lot to digest. And a salute to the good works of JWFA. ì

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Panelists (from left) Jody Feldman, Fay Gold, Cathy Fox, Leslie Gordon, Pamela Gold Alexander, moderator Dina Fuchs-Beresin, and far right (red dress) Lisa Freedman, JWFA chair, executed a stimulating program.

Panelist Pamela Gold Alexander, Lauren Schrager, and Leslie Reitman enjoy the buffet lunch.

Marcus and Blank Partner for Conversations

By Bob Bahr

The Marcus Foundation, which was founded by Bernie Marcus and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, have signed on as major donors to the One Small Step Program, a recently initiated program to get people of diverse political and social backgrounds to have conversations with one another. It’s a notable departure in the philanthropic history of Marcus and Blank, whose fortunes were based on the success of The Home Depot, which they co-founded.

Aside from their common interest in health care, they have generally developed their individual interests for giving. The One Small Step program, which has projects in three medium-sized American cities, last month expanded to a fourth, Columbus, Ga.

The president of the Blank Foundation, Faye Twersky, says the aim of the new effort is much the same as the organization that started it, the award-winning, non-profit StoryCorps project that is heard each morning on NPR’s “Morning Edition” news program. That series

of recorded conversations is usually between two people who have an existing relationship. The One Small Step project is bringing people together who are not likely to know each other and talk about their disagreements.

“What we’re trying to do here is something very similar with StoryCorps,” Twersky commented. “One Small Step is trying to support more mutual

understanding, more relationship building, more compassion across lines of difference.”

The president of the Marcus Foundation, Jay Kaiman, issued a similar state of support for the new funding.

“We believe in the power of storytelling to make individual connections that will build strong communities over time,” he wrote. “We’re pleased to partner

Am Yisrael Chai

with our friends at the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation to bring One Small Step to the people of Columbus who have rich, valuable stories and experiences to share.”

The new project was launched at a press conference on Sept. 13 at the National Infantry Museum at Fort Moore, which was previously known as Fort Benning. The fort supports approximate-

One Small Step is aimed at getting people talking across the political and cultural divide.

David Isay founded his StoryCorps project and One Small Step conversations as a result of the lack of communication in his family while he was growing up.

Paid for by Friends of Brian Kemp

Governor Brian Kemp and his family express their greatest support and prayers for the Jewish People

ly 120,000 service personnel in the Columbus area. Among the speakers there was Rabbi Larry Schlesinger, who returned to lead Temple Israel in Columbus last month, after having first served the synagogue from 1987 to 1993. He believes the true value of the program is not just getting people talking to one another but getting them to listen.

“It’s all about listening because I think the most important thing is just becoming aware of another’s story,” Rabbi Schlesinger said, “where they’re coming from, what they’ve been through, and why they think the way they do. The One Small Step Project has the power to bring people of different communities, of different theologies, of different cultures together.”

The StoryCorps program is an outgrowth of the work of David Isay, who started recording individual conversations in a booth in New York’s Grand Central Station 20 years ago. The program has since recorded and archived over 645,000 conversations. It was begun, in part, because of the lack of communication in his own family while he was growing up. His father, a prominent psychoanalyst, was a gay man who married and had a family, but kept his sexual orientation from his son while he was growing up. Isay believes more open communication in his family might have saved him a great deal of personal pain he suffered as a result of his father’s decision to remain silent.

When his Small Step program was just getting off the ground, Isay told a radio interviewer that if the idea could work about personal issues, maybe it could work about political ones as well. The goal he says is to make a relationship we describe as 'them' into one that becomes 'us.'"

“What we do is we match strangersfrom across the political divide.” Isay said, “and have them come to a StoryCorps booth not to talk about politics, but just to sit face to face with someone who you might not have otherwise ever gotten to meet. Someone you might have feared, someone in this political climate who you might have thought was evil or wanted dead, you know, to be perfectly honest.”

So far, according to Neil Griffith, the field director for the Georgia program, during the first two weeks nearly 300 people have signed up to talk through a network of local partnerships and on the One Small Step website. The first recordings in Columbus are scheduled for Oct. 16 and 17. The goal is to record a thousand or more conversations of about 50 minutes each in the community over the next three years. Every participant gets a copy of their recording and the conversation is archived in the American Folklore Center of the Library of Congress. According to Griffith the goal is for each participant to see not just the beliefs that separate them, but the ones that they share, as well.

To learn more about the One Small step program go to www.storycorps.org/discover/onesmallstep/ ì

The Blank and Marcus Foundations’ growing list of prominent foundations that already support the One Small Step program.

Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival Returns Oct. 22

By Sasha Heller

It’s that time of the year again, folks.

The 2023 Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival is set for Oct. 22 at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is free and open to the public.

Presented by the Hebrew Order of David, and sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Times, the festival will feature approximately 25 teams competing in the following categories: kosher brisket, beef ribs, chicken, and chili. Tasting tickets for the competition are $1.25 each and can be purchased in advance online or at the

festival.

The Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival is supervised by the Atlanta Kashruth Commission. It’s important to note that all festival participants are fully compliant with their kosher food handling requirements, so all spectrums of the Jewish community can enjoy the fare. Also of note, participating teams do not have to be Jewish and representatives of all denominations may enter the contest. All necessary materials for compliance with kashrut regulations will be provided by festival organizers.

The competition entry fee is $600 and includes: two Weber kettles; two

bags of lump charcoal; a whole brisket; beef ribs; chicken; ground beef/beans for chili; and all the ingredients necessary to create a rub sauce. Participants need only bring a 10’ x 10’ canopy, their recipes, and cooking skills. For more information about how to field a BBQ team, reach out to Alex Schulman at teams.AKBF@gmail. com.

The event, which is expected to draw around 4,000 attendees, will also feature an outsized Vendor Village, children’s activities, music, and a silent auction. Donations are being accepted for the silent auction and organizers are asking for sporting event tickets, concert tickets,

restaurant gift cards, a time share week or weekend, and possibly a trip to Israel.

Businesses interested in showcasing at the festival or donating to the auction, or serving as a sponsor or vendor can contact PitBoss.AKBF@gmail.com.

Proceeds from the festival over the last several years have benefited the following organizations: Jewish Education Loan Fund, Backpack Buddies, I Care Atlanta, Atlanta Israel Coalition, Cobb County Police K-9 Unit, Cobb County Sheriff’s Department, and the greater Atlanta Jewish community.

Brook Run Park is located at 4770 North Peachtree Road in Dunwoody. ì

Event Details

When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Oct. 22

Where: Brook Run Park, 4770 North Peachtree Road, Dunwoody

Cost: Admission is free; BBQ tasting tickets are $1.25; full plates are available from vendors

More Info: www.theatlantakosherbbq.com

Smothered with love and kashrut.

(From right) Jody Pollack and Michael Marks, a.k.a. Brisket.

Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival ribs.

From the 2021 Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival

Lab Grown Meat Gets Orthodox Union Approval

By Bob Bahr

The world’s largest kosher food certification program, Orthodox Union Kosher, has for the first time certified a labgrown meat product as kosher, earning the coveted O-U symbol for the products. The Israeli food company that earned the certification is SuperMeats, which has a factory that grows meat products in the central Israeli town of Ness Ziona.

Rabbi Menachem Genach, CEO of the Orthodox Union’s kosher division, told the Times of Israel that the certification could have a potentially important payoff in the years ahead.

“It’s a big deal because, just in terms of the technology itself, not just in poultry, but in meat, it may have real significance for the future.”

The lab grown chicken was produced by harvesting stem cells which were then grown in enclosed metal vessels which provide warmth, oxygen, and nutrition. Growth occurs just as it would as if it were part of a chicken’s body, but much faster. The finished meat product is then harvested and prepared for sale.

According to the Orthodox Union, because the stem cells are not taken from a living animal, the product is considered acceptable. It cooks up much the same

as if it was a regular chicken product, such as a thigh, breast, or leg. Because the manufacturing process is controlled in a highly efficient commercial factory

where the meat doubles in useable mass every two hours, there is no slaughter of live animals, so the spread of animal disease is controlled. It’s also environ-

The world market for kosher lab meat is expected to grow to $100 billion in 2030.

mentally friendly because, according to industry estimates, lab grown meat uses 78 percent less water and takes up 95 percent less land use.

The lab grown SuperMeats chicken from Israel is recognized as kosher Mehadrin meat, meaning it meets the most stringent requirements for kosher product certification.

Today, Israel is second only to the United States in terms of the growth of the new industry. Three of the first eight cultivated meat plants in the world are in Israel, the result of a nearly $4 billion investment there in the last three years.

The Orthodox ruling follows a decision last January that not only is lab grown meat kosher it may also be pareve, neither meat nor milk for dietary purposes. Rabbi David Lau, the Chief Rabbi of the Ashkenazic community in Israel, ruled that because the meat does not come from a slaughtered animal and does not contain blood it is a vegetable product.

Whatever opinion finally wins out in the world, the acceptance by important religious leaders like Rabbi Lau and Rabbi Genach is likely to help the commercial image of a product that few thought would ever gain consumer acceptance.

Helping that process along was a government ruling early last month that removed one of the last remaining barriers to commercial production in the United States. The U.S, Department of Agriculture approved chicken products made from chicken cells. Last year, the products made by the two companies that were involved in the regulatory action, Good Meat and Upside Foods, were certified as safe to eat by the Food and

Drug Administration.

The first chicken products in the U.S will be initially marketed to restaurants and commercial food providers.

This year, Israel’s meat labs are targeting the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region for their first product launches. Much of these two regions already import most of their beef because of a climate that is not suitable for cattle ranching and temperatures that are too high for animal growth. In the United States, companies are hoping that because the products are grown in a sustainable environment and don’t involve animal slaughter, they will appeal, initially, to an influential market segment.

For those who follow kosher dietary laws, the world kosher meat business is expected to be valued at $100 billion by 2030.

For the Orthodox community, the approval of the basic technology is likely to increase the demand for meat which up to now has not been available because it comes from parts of the animal that are not allowed.

Still, the primary concern for the Orthodox Union is the need for standardization in the rapidly evolving world of factory produced meat.

Rabbi Genach hopes his pioneering halachic decision will result in the more rapid growth of the industry.

“I hope it will be a gateway to trying to find consensus among different supervising agencies in terms of what the standards should be for lab-grown meat,” Rabbi Genach said. “We’re hoping that this will set the trend. One of our goals that we would like to do is to have something that is universally accepted.” ì

Lab grown meat is produced in large stainless-steel vats that double the growth of the product every two weeks.

Authenticity Theater Kicks Off 2023-24 Season

By Debbie Diamond

Authenticity Theater opened its 2023-24 season this month with Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, “How I Learned to Drive.” Performances begin Oct. 12, and will run through Oct. 15 at 7 Stages Backstage Theater on Euclid Avenue in Little Five Points.

Using the metaphor of driving lessons as a lens to dissect issues of sexual abuse, manipulation, and infidelity, “How I Learned to Drive” focuses on the troubling, conflicted relationship between Lil’ Bit and her Uncle Peck. The play follows Lil’ Bit from pre-adolescence into adulthood, while a Greek chorus of three brings to life the other personalities surrounding the pair – including school peers, family members and onlookers.

According to Sasha Keefer, executive and creative director, “I selected this show because it provides a unique perspective about a topic relevant today – power, inappropriate relationships and the trauma that’s involved. The cast has created a space of support for each other

as they continue to grow as an ensemble. They are mesmerizing to watch as they bring this performance to life.”

Other shows scheduled for the 202324 season are “The Whale,” scheduled to run Jan. 18-21; a reading of “The Diary of

Anne Frank,” scheduled to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance on Jan. 26-27; and “4,000 Miles” on March 14-17,

Lil’ Bit and Uncle Peck are joined by teenage chorus in “How I Learned to Drive.”

Lil’ Bit finds comfort with Uncle Peck.

in collaboration with Conyers-Rockdale Council for the Arts Inspiration Theater Program.

“The Whale,” recently made into a movie, tells the story of a 600-pound obese man who hides from the world in his apartment. The show examines his eating addiction and his complex relationship with his estranged daughter. “The Diary of Anne Frank” is based on the true story of the young Jewish girl who wrote her diary in hiding from the Nazis. And “4,000 Miles” focuses on the newfound relationship between a grandmother and her grandson after his bike ride across the country.

Other shows currently under consideration as potential additions for the season include “The Glass Menagerie,” by Tennessee Williams, and “Bad Jews.” Considered one of Williams’ greatest works, “The Glass Menagerie” is a drama that is set in the late 1930s and deals with memory, mental illness, and family dysfunction. “Bad Jews,” written by Joshua Harmon and originally produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, is a contemporary, dark comedy where cousins

not only fight over a family heirloom, but also about their religious faith, cultural assimilation, and the validity of each other’s romances.

Authenticity Theater is a non-profit, semi-professional theater company founded by Sasha and Scott Keefer in 2021. They chose the name as a representation of their tag line, “Real Life, On Stage.” The company seeks to present shows that contain subject matter spotlighting some of life’s biggest challenges such as mental illness, sexual abuse, addiction, and overcoming trauma. As part of their mission, Authenticity Theater seeks out charitable organizations to partner with for each show to help create more awareness and action for these crucial causes. To date, the theater has supported The Giving Kitchen and The Powerful Project.

Tickets for “How I Learned to Drive” and other upcoming shows are available through Authenticity Theater’s website, www.authenticitytheater.org. Details on how organizations and individuals may get involved to help further the theater’s mission may also be found on the site. ì

Lil’ Bit and Uncle Peck are faced with a decision as a member of the Greek Chorus observes.

Huntcliff Summit Raises Research Money for Emory

By Bob Bahr

About 3,000 supporters of cancer research at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute showed up Saturday, Oct. 7, for the institute’s 5K run and walk. The fundraising event, which is in its 13th year, exceeded its goal of raising a million dollars for the nationally ranked research and treatment center.

Among those who participated in the event was a team of about a dozen staffers and friends at Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit, a senior independent living community in Sandy Springs. They were there to support the former director of sales at the facility, Bob Brenner, who seemingly without warning was forced to step down earlier this year when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. It’s been more than six months since the 61-year-old Brenner first began treatment at the Winship Center and at Duke University, but he’s made steady progress in his recovery.

With his wife, Dara, by his side and with the help of his team members from Huntcliff Summit, he was able to walk the entire three-mile course of the Winship 5K. At the finish line he was still standing, even though a number of his fellow team members were challenged by the ups and downs of the hilly terrain of the Emory University campus off Clifton Road.

The fact that he was physically able to complete the demanding course was a testament to the dedication of his coworkers at the Sandy Springs senior facility. That kind of support for her husband has meant the world to Dara Brenner.

“It was amazing. His friends from the Huntcliff staff are such a huge part of his life. He’s worked with them for over 19 years, and he considers them family and they consider him family.”

Planning for the big day started several months ago with a breakfast event to acquaint the business community in Sandy Springs and to alert the seniors that they, too, could participate by making a donation to the fundraiser. More than a dozen residents signed up for a symbolic walk last Friday around the circular drive in front of the facility to honor Brenner.

He had helped many of them through the difficult first months starting their lives anew in a community that was often much different from the one in which they had lived for so many years. Because he is Jewish, he had no difficulty introducing the new Jewish residents to the full schedule of weekly Friday night

worship services, holiday celebrations and Torah study that the facility offered.

Residents led by Doreen Jacobs, a regular at Shabbat services, helped coordinate the giving for Brenner. Last week, the residents raised $1,300 in contributions and the staff and business community gave another $2,500 for the Winship event.

It’s all part of what Huntcliff Summit’s activities director Frankie Groh describes the facility’s philosophy of living with purpose that guides her work every day.

“When you walk through the door, I feel a connection to the staff, a connection to the residents. It’s like a family. Which is what one of my friends said during the Winship walk, you all behave more like family than colleagues. I’ve never seen that in a workplace.”

Not only has Brenner been inspired by the support of his co-workers, but he has benefitted from the advances in treatment that are being pioneered in Winship’s new 17-story treatment center that opened earlier this year in Midtown.

The executive director of the new center, Dr. Suresh Ramalingam, told the AJT earlier this year that because of new advances, patients can often expect to live longer and have more productive lives than they might have had even five or ten years ago.

“We’re in an exciting new era of cancer care and research,” Dr Ramalingam said. “We’ve come a long way from the time people felt such fear when they heard the word ‘cancer.’”

After a recent medical appointment,

Brenner told his wife that he felt that, with continued progress, he might go back to work. He even has begun showing up occasionally at his old office at Huntcliff to greet the residents. He points to the fact that Jimmy Carter is still living several years after a brain cancer diagnosis that many thought would quickly end his life.

Bob Brenner’s father survived a case of esophageal cancer and lived another 25 years before he died of old age. It has all given Dara Brenner hope, too.

“A year and a half ago, before this hit, he ran the Boston Marathon and before that the Peachtree race in Atlanta. And so, you know, if you can run the Boston Marathon not that long ago, this journey might just be another easy long-distance run.” ì

Residents at Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit assembled Oct. 6 for a symbolic walk in honor of the Winship Cancer Institute

Cancer patient Bob Brenner and his wife, Dara, completed the three mile walk of the Winship 5K // Photo Credit: Marisa Gallo/Huntcliff Summit

About a dozen staffers from the Huntcliff Summit senior independent living community participated in the walk on the Emory campus // Photo Credit: Marisa Gallo/Huntcliff Summit

You’re invited to join us for two events in our Healthy at Any Age Series at beautiful HEARTIS BUCKHEAD.

WOMEN’S HEALTH INITIATIVE in Partnership With Piedmont Hospital – Noon, Wednesday, Oct. 25

Enjoy a complimentary ladies’ luncheon with an informative presentation by Lillian Schapiro, M.D., FACOG, of Ideal Gynecology and Colette Shaw, M.D., section chief of Interventional Radiology at Piedmont Hospital and specialist in interventional/ diagnostic radiology at Radiology Associates of Atlanta. Attendees will have the opportunity to schedule an office appointment, mammogram and/or bone density screening if desired.

THRIVING WITH PARKINSON’S in Partnership With Movement Beyond Age and the American Parkinson Disease Association – 3 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1

Enjoy appetizers while learning about the latest methods for maintaining your mobility, presented by balance and movement disorder specialist and neurologist Joash Lazarus, M.D., of the Atlanta Neuroscience Institute. Jonathan Kolowich, APDAcertified Parkinson’s fitness trainer, and APDA Georgia Chapter Executive Director Amy Johnston and Chapter Coordinator Barbara Mooney will share valuable information.

at 770-833-0926

Lillian Schapiro, M.D.

Colette Shaw, M.D.

Joash Lazarus, M.D.

Atlanta Scholars Kollel Welcomes New Rabbis

By Chana Shapiro

Eight new Atlanta Scholars Kollel rabbis and their families have recently moved to Atlanta. The new group joins in morning Beis Medrash learning with the other 11 ASK rabbis and continues studying there, according to the traditional Kollel academic model of spending the entire day in advanced Talmudic study. In the evenings, this new ASK cadre studies with individuals throughout the community.

Rabbis Josh Wohlfarth, Baruch Rosenstein, Aharon Ribakow, Binyomin Schuck, Moshe Meth, Zecharia Reisch, Meyer Meth, and Aryeh Gold have been officially welcomed into the ASK fold.

Rabbi David Silverman, ASK Dean, sums up the significance of the eight new rabbis: “The Atlanta Scholars Kollel has been in Atlanta for 36 years. In the last 10 years, we have focused on building an environment dedicated to all-day-long Torah learning, much like graduate school for Talmud scholars! Our tradition defines a ‘big city’ as having 10 scholars who are singularly dedicated to learning Torah and Talmud - preserving text and tradition. This year, we expanded the cohort of rabbinic students to eight families.”

He continued, “Their presence is

impactful in many different ways. The sounds of Torah learning emanate from the Beis Medrash (study building) from morning to late at night and help to raise the level of Torah scholarship in Atlanta (like Harvard is to Boston), the wives of these scholars are teaching and working in the larger Atlanta community, bringing a refreshing influx of amazing role models, and their children will grow up in Atlanta, enhancing our schools and community as well! We hope that when their cohort ends these families will integrate into the larger Jewish community.”

A Brief History of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel

Countless members of the Atlanta Jewish community have interacted with the rabbis of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel for almost 40 years. The first five ASK rabbis and their young families arrived in Atlanta in 1987, under the leadership of Rabbi Menachem Deutsch; not surprisingly, all of the original quintet are grandparents today, and many of those who learn with today’s Atlanta Kollel are the children of parents who still study with ASK rabbis from earlier years.

Since 1987, some of the Kollel founding and early years families have moved

away, while many new families have arrived to replace them and to expand ASK’s popular classes and communitywide events.

ASK’s women’s division, BENA, which offers formal and informal learning to women of all levels of Jewish observance, began its programming soon after ASK came to Atlanta and is now a go-to Jewish study and practices source, with programs throughout Atlanta.

In 1986, Rabbi Ilan Feldman, at that time assistant rabbi to his father, Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, had the vision to establish a Kollel that spreads Jewish learning into the general community. Guided by the late Rabbi Yaacov Weinberg of Ner Yisroel Rabbinic College, an outreach Kollel was established. A departure from the classic kollels of full-day learning by the Kollel rabbis in other cities, Atlanta’s Kollel -- with an outreach goal -- was the first of its kind in which the scholars themselves engaged in study and brought Jewish learning into the widely diverse Jewish demographic of Atlanta and surrounding areas.

ASK’s website states its mission is to strengthen Jewish identity by engaging Jews of all backgrounds in meaningful learning and living experiences, drawing

from classic Judaic sources “to connect Jews to the timeless yet contemporary messages of Torah.” The website adds, “By uniting Jews through the shared pleasure of Jewish learning, a strong Jewish community will result, and ensure every Jew’s place in Jewish destiny.”

The ASK rabbis have designated dual responsibilities. The group of 11 studies together each morning under the leadership of Rosh Yeshiva (Head of Yeshiva) Rabbi Doniel Pransky. They meet in the Kollel Beis Medrash on LaVista Road, then in the afternoon the rabbis head out to teach in different venues in the Atlanta Jewish community where they lead small and large groups in high schools, universities, professional and business workplaces, Lunch-and Learns, and classes for retirees.

Whether someone is Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, unaffiliated, or questioning, everyone is welcome in their classes. Many ASK rabbis have made Atlanta their permanent home, after fulfilling a four year Kollel commitment. Rabbi Silverman explains that the rabbis have great latitude to pursue postKollel positions, and many integrate into the Atlanta community in non-rabbinic professions and businesses. ì

(From left) Rabbis Josh Wohlfarth, Baruch Rosenstein, Aharon Ribakow, Binyomin Schuck, Moshe Meth, Zecharia Reisch, Meyer Meth, Aryeh Gold

JOB OPENINGS

VOTED BEST NEWSPAPER & BEST WEBSITE BY THE AMERICAN JEWISH PRESS ASSOCIATION 2022 AND 2023

Want to Serve our Community in a Career that is Rewarding in More Ways than Your Bank Account?

We are looking for YOU to fill one of these positions. We offer competitive salaries, benefits, PTO and both national and Jewish holiday time off.

BOOKKEEPER

Atlanta Jewish Times has an immediate opening for an experienced administrative professional with office bookkeeping skills. Must be a quick learner who is highly organized, able to multitask in a fast-paced environment, and provide support at the executive level. Duties include creating and managing invoices; processing payments; day-to-day bookkeeping; reconciling monthly statements; maintaining calendars and scheduling appointments; handling phone calls and correspondence; and assisting in various projects and community events as needed. Requirements: Work experience as an Executive Assistant, bookkeeper, or similar role; strong MS Word and Excel skills; experience with QuickBooks; ability to work independently; familiarity with database management; outstanding organizational and time management skills; excellent verbal and written communications skills; discretion and confidentiality. Salary is negotiable.

RECEPTIONIST

The Atlanta Jewish Times has an immediate full-time opening for a dependable and organized individual to assist with front office tasks including circulation and subscription development. Responsibilities include customer service; answering phone calls and greeting visitors; handling subscription renewals and development; compiling and posting events online and in print; generating Excel reports; assisting in community engagement projects; and supporting staff with misc. tasks as needed. Direct knowledge of the Atlanta Jewish community a plus. $15-$20 per hour.

ACCOUNT MANAGER

As an Account Manager, you will work with market leaders and trailblazers who know and trust us to deliver news and information that impacts their business. You will have a seat at the table with the business community’s most influential and affluent professionals.

We are looking for select individuals who are driven to succeed and value high expectations. Qualified candidates thrive in a dynamic, challenging, and hard-charging environment. They are confident selfstarters with a results-focused orientation and a proven track record of exceeding expectations. With a strong desire to represent the best of the communities that we serve, AJT enthusiastically invites diversity, thought and experience.

Salary plus commission: $50k-$125k annually.

WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT COORDINATOR

The web and social media author / content coordinator is responsible for the content and images used on a website. You will coordinate planning, research, write copy and edit the content as posted on the website and social media platforms. Responsible for growing audiences on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Along with maintaining a posting schedule, you will regularly create platform-specific content including text posts, videos, and graphics. You must have a good eye for trends and an understanding of social media metrics, WordPress, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, and Search Engine Optimization, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram required. The ideal candidate possesses strong writing skills and a drive to jump into our fast-paced and friendly office. A knowledge of Judaism and the Atlanta Jewish community preferred. $28k-$45k annually.

We are looking to fill all positions as soon as possible. Send your resume to kaylene@atljewishtimes.com to schedule a Zoom or in office interview.

Israeli Nachman Shai Pulled No Punches

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

If having serious historian Ken Stein start the program, then have the diplomatic Consul General Anat SultanDadon welcome the audience and mildmannered Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple introduce the speaker, the audience could have been surprised by Nachman Shai’s provocative headlining speech.

Listeners who were familiar with the former Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs, however, expected no less from the Jerusalem-born, former visiting professor at Emory University. As he said when he opened his remarks at the Oct. 4 program celebrating both the 15-year anniversary of the Center for Israel Education and the 75th year of Israel’s birth, “I’m not running for anything. I am retired from politics.”

Indeed, his speech may have flustered some feathers, but it was obviously heartfelt and based on his long experience in Israel where he served in the country’s legislature, the Knesset, and achieved national attention in 1991 when, as a brigadier general, he served as the Israel Defense Forces spokesman during the Persian Gulf War.

“I am deeply saddened and worried about what is happening in Israel,” Shai shared with his audience who came to congratulate Stein for founding CIE. “These are indeed deep, intense days, filled with numerous events – one might even say dramatic events -- in the history of the State of Israel.”

According to Shai, “the internal political divide between the incumbent government and the opposition is unprecedented in both its content and form. Both camps believe in democracy but have vastly different interpretations of what democracy entails.” One camp, he said, argues that democracy means majority rule, that “we won the elections and therefore, we are entitled to do anything we please.”

The other camp, however, “contends that democracy goes beyond mere numbers…but rather, it calls for a democracy that safeguards minority rights, upholds the rule of law and maintains a separation of powers,” he said.

“Never before in our history have we experienced such a divisive conflict,” which has brought Israelis into the streets to protest against the agenda of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for more than 40 weeks in a row – including Shai, his children and his grandchildren.

Shai said the roots of today’s contentious crisis can be traced back to the decision of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, who decided to quickly declare the creation of the state and agreed to make compromises with his partners to make that happen. “That’s how great leaders act in critical moments. They must look over the horizon into the future. They must judge today, at this moment, what is best for the country.”

As an aside, Shai added, “I wish our present prime minister understood that compromise is the right way to go.”

Ben Gurion and 36 other leaders signed the Declaration of Independence which “lacks legal standing,” and promised to have a constitution within four months. It’s now been 75 years and Israel still doesn’t have a constitution. “The seeds of the current crisis were sown at that time,” he said, and are the basis of “today’s foremost challenge.”

“We should immediately reconcile those deep divisions on the nature of Israel’s democracy, otherwise the country’s future may be at risk. Time is not on our side,” he warned. “Without any legal agreement on how to run the state, we are looking to the Supreme Court as an appropriate source of authority to hold

lawmakers accountable and protect the people’s rights. What is the appropriate balance between our judges and the Knesset members? This is the debate that is at the core of the domestic churning in Israel,” stressed the former Knesset member.

In fact, Israel’s Supreme Court is debating several challenges against legislation passed by the current government, which holds a majority in the Knesset, that critics – including Shai – say will weaken Israel’s judicial system and its democracy. A decision from the court is expected by the end of the year.

The second issue Israel must deal with is its relationship with the Palestinians, Shai noted. Israel needs a solution that addresses both Palestinian refugees and their desire for self-determination, he said. As a board member of a 14-yearold group that includes hundreds of former senior commanders from the military, defense, intelligence, and foreign service whose goal is “peace with security” and separation from the Palestinians, Shai said, “We must find a way to grant them self-governance while ensuring Israel’s security and security for our citizens.”

He added that “as human beings and

as Jews,” Israelis need to give the Palestinians a chance to run their own government. He emphasized that Israel must not annex the West Bank, or the country will lose its Jewish and democratic character. According to him, both Netanyahu and former Prime Minister Menachem Begin promised not to annex the territory.

Personally, he said, he didn’t want his children or grandchildren to continue ruling over another people.

As Minister of Diaspora Affairs until last year, Shai also spoke of the long relationship between Israel and the Jewish people outside the country. He said that Israel is the only country that helps protect Jews who live abroad, noting the historical and dramatic rescue of Air France passengers in Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976 by Israeli commandos, and more recently, the Israeli rescue team who hurried to Surfside, Fla., in 2021, when a condominium in which many Jews lived collapsed.

“It was Jews in the Diaspora who laid the foundation of Israel and built the State,” he said, and now it’s time for Israel to give back. He said the two communities “are the link in the long chain of Jewish history.” ì

Nachman Shai and Israel Consul General to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon answered questions from the audience at the end of the program on Oct. 4 honoring Ken Stein and the 15th anniversary of the Center for Israel Education which he founded // Photo Credit: Center for Israel Education

The Atlanta Jewish Foundation is Your Trusted Partner in Jewish Philanthropy

With 40+ years of experience, families, investors, philanthropists – and their wealth managers – consistently turn to the Atlanta Jewish Foundation for full-service, expert handling of charitable investments that make a real impact now an for future generations

We help you realize your vision for givingand do so with the best tax outcomes possible.

Your personal values, vision, and investment philosophy drive the whole process. The Foundation team meets with you (and your financial advisor, when appropriate) to explore what matters to you and how you envision putting your wealth to work. From Donor-Advised Funds, to updating your will with a charitable giving plan, to endowments - our philanthropic advisors are your resource for maximum philanthropic impact.

OneTable Expands Atlanta Offerings to New Generations

OneTable, a North American nonprofit best known for empowering people in their 20s and 30s to envision new rituals and build community through Shabbat dinner, is launching a new program aimed at older adults.

With targeted funds raised from the Atlanta community, those aged 55-plus are invited to host or attend a Shabbat dinner at Together @OneTable, a peerto-peer platform dedicated to connecting people to create their own Shabbat practices.

With support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the program will be one of three initial national launches along with programs in Palm Beach, Fla., and the greater Denver area, Colo.

“Atlanta has an active Jewish community and the success of our OneTable program there is what solidified for us that it would be perfect for the launch of Together @OneTable,” noted Amy Bebchick, the organization’s chief program officer. “We know that the national epidemic of loneliness is impacting people of all ages and believe that Shabbat can be an opportunity for meaningful con-

nection and interaction. We want to help make that possible for those aged fiftyfive and above as much as we do for those who are younger.”

With the launch of Together @OneTable in Atlanta, interested community members can become hosts at gettogether.onetable.org and start connecting with peers. OneTable’s DIY approach to Shabbat includes tailored support, coaching,

and online resources that allow Shabbat to become personally meaningful. From the OneTable platform, hosts can post and manage their Shabbat dinners, and potential guests can find and RSVP to a dinner in their area.

“OneTable’s work is always about community building, and Together @ OneTable aims to lower the barrier to entry into the Jewish community,” said Eric

WBL Awarded ‘Best Firm to Work For’

WBL CPAs + Advisors (WBL), the Atlanta-based, award-winning accounting and advisory firm, has received the top award for small accounting firms across the U.S. Accounting Today and Best Companies Group announced the members of the 2023 Best Accounting Firms to Work For list, with WBL CPAs + Advisors leading the pack. The annual survey and awards program is designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best employers in the accounting profession.

Bruce V. Benator, CPA, WBL’s managing partner, was excited to share the news with staff, clients, and prospective employees.

“We are immensely proud to receive this award. Our firm is our people, and it is particularly important to us to be a ‘great place to work’ for them and for our clients. The award is a testament to the culture we have been able to build over the last 40 years,” he said.

Jamie Burak, human resources manager, said the leadership at the firm works hard to make WBL a wonderful place to work with a focus on flexibility and growth.

“We have participated in the ‘Best

Accounting Firms to Work For’ program for 10-plus years and have been included high on the list each year, but to be named the No. 1 firm in our category is truly an honor. A significant component of the selection process is employee feedback via surveys which means that our associates feel our culture, growth oppor-

tunities, and focus on work-life harmony resonates with them,” said Burak. Benator emphasized that happier professionals translate into better work and dedicated staff.

“When accounting professionals have so many opportunities available, it is critical that we offer them an envi-

Robbins, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. “Like other OneTable programs, its goals include supporting participants in personalized Shabbat dinner rituals and practices, and enabling local events and partnerships. This will be a program that brings incredible meaning to many lives.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

ronment where they can have career advancement, an opportunity to learn and grow, a strong financial package with the benefits that are important to them, and the work/life balance they need for their personal happiness and wellbeing.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

OneTable has expanded its offerings to those aged 55-plus with its Together@OneTable program, set to launch in three cities: Atlanta, Denver, and Palm Beach, Fla. // Photo Courtesy of OneTable

Atlanta accounting firm, WBL CPAs + Advisors, named “Best Place to Work For” by Accounting Today.

Harry Norman, Realtors Continues ‘Cares’ Initiative

Chambers HNW Recognizes MendenFreiman

Harry Norman, Realtors, the premier luxury real estate firm in Atlanta, announced that its 2023 Harry Norman Cares initiative will benefit Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities for the second year. From Oct. 2 through Oct. 23, Harry Norman, Realtors offices will be collecting donated items from the public to support children and families at ARMHC.

“As a company, we are dedicated to enriching the communities in which we serve. Partnering with Ronald McDonald House Charities for our ‘HN Cares’ initiative gives us the opportunity to do just that – give back with care, compassion, and generosity,” said Jenni Bonura, Harry Norman, Realtors President and CEO. “To embody this commitment, we are delighted to allocate time and resources to those who need them most, and with help from the public we hope to surpass last year’s donation of 1,185 kits.”

Donated items will be used to create different themed care kits, including personal care kits, laundry essentials kits, grab-and-go snack kits, and enter-

tainment kits. Items being collected for donation include travel-sized shampoos and soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, laundry pods, individual dryer sheets, mini hand-sanitizers, non-perishable food items like sweet and salty snacks, individual packages of mac and cheese, mini juice boxes or water bottles, holiday, and seasonal comfort items, and more. Items must be able to fit within gallon-sized Ziploc or clear bags.

Donations can be made at 13 Harry Norman, Realtors offices, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning Oct. 2 through Oct. 23. Donations purchased online can be shipped directly to an office if needed.

At the conclusion of the donation drive, Harry Norman, Realtors agents and employees will package the donated items into care kits to be delivered to ARMHC. For more information, visit www.harrynorman.com/harry-normancares-drive.

Compiled by AJT Staff

MendenFreiman has once again been recognized with a prestigious ranking in the 2023 edition of Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) annual guide. MendenFreiman and Lawrence H. Freiman have been recognized as a leading law firm and lawyer, displaying exceptional talent and expertise in the international private wealth market.

MendenFreiman is pleased to announce that several of their attorneys have been the Best Lawyers in America 2024 List. Co-founding partner, Lawrence (Larry) Freiman, has additionally been named 2024 “Lawyer of the Year” in Atlanta for Business Organizations (including LLCs and partnerships).

2024 “Lawyer of the Year” - Atlanta Edition:

Lawrence H. Freiman - business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships)

2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America:

Lawrence H. Freiman - business organizations (including LLCs and partnerships)

Lance G. Einstein - tax law

Roger A. Kirschenbaum - trusts and estates

Christopher A. Steele - tax law, trusts and estates, and corporate law

Matthew S. Paolillo - litigation and controversy - tax and tax law

George D. Menden - trusts and estates

2024 Edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch:

L. Ashley Duel - tax law

Harrison B. Alex - tax law, litigation, and controversy – tax

Compiled by AJT Staff

Care kits will support children and families in times of uncertainty.

MendenFreiman has once again been recognized with a prestigious ranking in the 2023 edition of Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) annual guide.

Jewish Future Pledge Hits Landmark 25K Pledges

The Jewish Future Pledge recently eclipsed the landmark total of 25,000 pledges.

The pledges, made by an alliance of philanthropic family foundations, individuals, and families, represent an extraordinary commitment of just over $2.4 billion that has been set aside to help ensure a vibrant Jewish future for generations to come.

The 25,000 individual pledges are each estimated to be valued at $25,000. This amounts to a total of just more than $625 million. Additionally, JFP has secured 41 substantial pledges from prominent family and charitable foundations. When these pledges are included, the funds set aside for Jewish causes, or the State of Israel to date increases to $2.446 billion.

“Today, we have witnessed not just an achievement but a testament to the immense power of a community bound by unity, unwavering commitment, and a shared vision that transcends individual existence,” said JFP Founder Mike Leven. “This monumental feat we’ve achieved goes beyond mere statistics. It is a profound affirmation of the strength forged in solidarity. Each one of our 25,000

pledges is more than a simple promise. It is a sacred commitment that bears the weight of our collective determination to honor, uphold, and cherish our Jewish

heritage. Each pledge is a bold proclamation of faith in the future - a future we are shaping together. This promise is fueled by the generosity, foresight, and daring

spirit of each individual who has stepped forward to make a difference.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

The Jewish Future Pledge has secured more than $2.4 billion in commitments for Jewish causes and Israel.

Emory Soccer Star Battles Back from Injury

This fall, many soonto-be-graduating college athletes can’t help but look back at how their post-high school careers got off to an inauspicious start. For some, COVID completely wiped out their freshman seasons in fall 2020 and they had to resort to unsanctioned, impromptu workouts; for others, the games went on, but not without nagging interruptions, awkward social distancing, and sparse (or in some cases, nonexistent) crowds.

David Ostrowsky

Now, imagine also missing another entire season, one playing out amidst a return to normalcy, due to injury.

Such an unfortunate situation befell Emory University senior Olivia Friedman, who, following her sophomore/ rookie season for the Emory women’s soccer team, suffered an ACL tear during a March 2022 scrimmage before undergoing surgery and going through months of rehab that rubbed out her junior campaign.

For many college athletes, such a devastating injury would have been the final chapter of their careers.

“I never thought of it [ACL injury] as the end of my career,” said Friedman. “I honestly never even cried about it. At that point, there’s nothing you can do about it.”

But, as she also has to acknowledge, “I never imagined my college soccer career to look like this.”

So much so that she is contemplating staying at Emory another semester next fall to get one more season in, even though she could graduate this May. For someone who’s been playing soccer since the late 2000s even when her father had his doubts about the sport’s exacting demands; served as a four-year captain at Anthem Preparatory Academy in Arizona where she had to recruit classmates so they could have a full roster; and was once really close to committing to Division I Northern Arizona University before realizing that playing at Emory was a pretty ideal scenario, a college career that amounts to playing 40-some-odd games may not suffice. Especially considering the months of rigorous weightlifting, aerobic training, and general physical therapy, all while watching from the sidelines as her teammates reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA tournament last

autumn.

“It [rehab] definitely was very, very time consuming,” added Friedman, who is also heavily involved in a biomedical research lab on campus and has designs on going to grad school for forensic science.

But the nearly year-and-a-half regimen of physical therapy, while at times grueling, could not mentally prepare her for returning to game action for the first time since fall 2021 when she recorded three goals and three assists in her first taste of college action – as well as continuing to come off the bench.

“I was scared the first time I went on, not because of my knee and getting hurt again, but no matter how hard you work during physical therapy – I was running all the time, working on my ball skills, and immersing myself in the team culture so I could still get as much out of it as I could –nothing can prepare you for actually playing,” she noted days after playing in her seventh game back (a 0-0 tie against Sewanee) during which she finally felt more like herself. “There’s just nothing like it in terms of speed of play and competition. There’s a little bit of a learning curve coming back that I wasn’t expecting.”

The lack of gameday competition two years ago was a rude awakening of sorts. After a standout career at Anthem Prep during which she posted 66 goals and 26 assists for 158 career points and was a First Team All-Conference selection in 2018-19, not starting in fall 2021 presented its own challenges.

“That was definitely an adjustment for me, coming from playing a full 90 [minutes] to starting on the bench,” said Friedman, who’s also had to transition from her normal position, forward, to defense as a teammate has also undergone ACL surgery. “I think that’s an adjustment that a lot of college athletes have to make. The first goal I scored [against Covenant on Sept. 14, 2021] I was so angry that I wasn’t playing.

“It was an adjustment and honestly it still is because I’m a very competitive person and I want to play. I care a lot about this team and how we perform. It can be hard to take a step back and pull away from that ‘Why am I not playing?’ Still, to this day, I have to remind myself it’s OK.”

Although she hasn’t yet cracked the starting lineup, simply being able to take the field and play meaningful minutes

– like she did against Illinois Wesleyan back on Sept. 15 when she fired three shots on net – is gratifying. No longer does she have to worry when sprinting up and down the field about her knee buckling or feeling like the top of her leg is sliding over…and wondering what the root cause may be.

“Especially after the ACL [injury], I’ve just grown to be grateful for the time that I get,” Friedman pointed out.

Irrespective of whether she plays for Emory next fall, she does not see herself playing overseas after college – a fairly common route for college athletes who aren’t yet ready to hang ‘em up.

“I love soccer, but I’ve never been too attached to soccer as a sport outside of the fact that I’m with all my best friends and it’s fun,” Friedman explained. “I love playing soccer, but I don’t think I love it enough to really have that mentality to put in all that work without the people that I do it with.”

Fortunately, with Emory expected to play deep into November in pursuit of an NCAA title – and a possible bonus season ahead for her in 2024 – it is not something Friedman has to worry about for a little while. ì

After seeing her freshman and junior seasons slip away due to the pandemic and injuries, respectively, Emory senior Olivia Friedman is hoping to help the women’s soccer team return to the NCAA tourney this fall // Photo Courtesy of Olivia Friedman

Friedman, Kasten Lead LA Through Turbulent Season

By David Ostrowsky

For the past couple months, it has been widely assumed that the only thing standing in the way of the Atlanta Braves capturing their second National League pennant in three years is the Los Angeles Dodgers. While playoff baseball isn’t an exact science — last year, a 111-win Dodgers team was expected to meet the Braves in the NLCS before the San Diego Padres, managed by Jewish skipper Bob Melvin, and Philadelphia Phillies crashed the postseason party — both teams ran away with their respective division titles this summer and entered October baseball as the heavy favorites to advance past this week’s NLDS.

But for the Dodgers, a franchise led by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and President and CEO Stan Kasten, both of whom are members of the Los Angeles Jewish community, the relative ease with which they captured their tenth NL West title in the past 11seasons has belied some internal issues engulfing the ballclub all year long.

The primary culprit has been the team’s pitching staff, which has been decimated by injuries (impending free agent/longtime staff ace Clayton Kershaw only made 24 starts this year) and the unceremonious departure of two veteran pitchers, Trevor Bauer and Julio Urias, the former being released back in the winter amidst sexual misconduct allegations; the latter placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball due to allegations of domestic battery.

Subsequently, when the Aug. 1 trade deadline loomed, Friedman, who formerly served as the executive vice president of baseball operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, following a career in corporate finance, was expected to green-light a trade for a big-ticket pitcher such as future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander to support a rock-steady lineup anchored by former Brave Freddie Freeman. Ultimately, no blockbuster trade went down — a situation eerily similar to this past offseason when the Dodgers were notably outspent by the Padres — and the perennial NL West champs entered the stretch run without any splashy upgrades. (The Dodgers had agreed to acquire Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez before the veteran southpaw invoked his no-trade clause to nix the deadline deal.)

When speaking to reporters in the Dodgers’ dugout shortly after the trade deadline passed, Friedman said, “For us, the top end of the market, we were ag-

gressive in pursuing. From our standpoint, we knew that with one of those top-end guys, it was going to be really challenging, especially if one other team was involved. From our standpoint, we feel really good about the team that we have.”

Apparently, Friedman’s hunch was correct as the Dodgers, without having to part ways with prized prospects, got so hot in August that they essentially wrapped up the NL West title by the time the Braves came to town for their Labor Day weekend showdown. A couple weeks later during an extra-inning win in Seattle, Los Angeles extended its decade-long run of regular season dominance by once again clinching the NL West — something that was certainly not considered a foregone conclusion back in April when the team was playing .500 ball following an uneventful off-season.

“The amount that this group has overcome — it’s hard to compare years to other years — but this feels as together and united of a group that I’ve ever been around,” said Friedman minutes after the Dodgers clinched their eighth division title under his stewardship, which began in 2015. “It’s been a really special year, with what feels like a lot of things we’ve dealt with.”

It hasn’t been all doom and gloom away from the diamond for one of baseball’s legacy franchises. Following a 2022 season in which the club unveiled the

marvelous Sandy Koufax statue outside of venerable Dodger Stadium before hosting the 2022 All-Star Game, another franchise icon, Fernando Valenzuela, was rightfully honored by having his jersey number ‘34’ retired this past August as part of a three-day festival, appropriately dubbed “Fernandomania.”

As chronicled in Erik Sherman’s book, “Daybreak at Chavez Ravine,” Valenzuela was a transcendent figure who single handedly galvanized Southern California’s Mexican American community and, in so doing, transformed the cultural make-up of Dodger Stadium for eternity.

It was, in fact, Kasten, a man with strong Atlanta roots dating back to 1979 when, as a 27-year-old, he became the youngest general manager in NBA history by being tabbed GM of the Atlanta Hawks before later becoming president of the Braves and Atlanta Thrashers, who was a particularly staunch advocate of such an honor being bestowed upon the cult hero lefty affectionately known as “El Toro.” This did mean, however, maneuvering around the organization’s unofficial policy of only retiring uniform numbers of players who were elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

“Fernando [Valenzuela] means as much to me as he does to any fan,” a choked up Kasten told a gaggle of reporters during the team’s FanFest event back in early February when the official an-

nouncement was made. “He really does. I was running another team way back during his heyday. As a businessperson, I marveled at the phenomenon of ‘Fernandomania.’ And as a competitor, I was terrified in those years of having to face him.

“If you’re a baseball fan of any kind, you appreciate how exceptional Fernando has been. And if you’re a Los Angeles fan, you realize how exceptional Fernando’s connection has been to this fan base.”

The ebullience that the current Dodgers fan base experienced during the Valenzuela celebration didn’t entirely dim the pockets of lingering discontent over the front office passing on a bigtime trade. But, as Friedman pointed out in the aforementioned press conference, this season, even more so than last when the expanded playoff format was first introduced, quite a few teams were trying to figure out whether they were serious contenders who could justify parting with promising farmhands; naturally, more potential buyers drove up the asking price for acquiring coveted stars.

Both the Braves and Dodgers, of course, were not in such a mid-season predicament, as October baseball was all but a given. And ultimately, both clubs did pass on making any above-the-fold moves before storming through the balance of the regular season en route to the postseason. ì

A longtime Atlanta sports executive, Stan Kasten, 71, is hoping to shepherd the Dodgers to their second World Series title in four seasons this October // Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers

Ever since he transitioned from Wall Street to Major League Baseball front offices in the mid-2000s, Andrew Friedman has been one of the most innovative and successful executives in the sport / Photo Courtesy of Los Angeles Dodgers

SPOTLIGHT ON TALENT

Art Show & Sale

The Temple Sinai Fine Arts Committee is delighted to announce an Art Show and Sale featuring congregational members' work as well as a number of local artists spanning a variety of media.

Saturday, October 14

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Reception, Art Show & Sale

Pre-Registration Requested*

Sunday, October 15 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Art Show & Sale

Temple Sinai Atlanta

5645 Dupree Drive Sandy Springs, GA 30327

*For more information and to register for Saturday evening, visit www.templesinaiatlanta.org/artshow

OPINION

Bystanders to a Family Tragedy

In the fall of 1985, shy of six months after we married, my wife and I put our belongings into storage and went to Israel.

why, in 1985, there were some 450 Schechter descendants in the country. The number no doubt is far greater now.

Which brings us to the Hamas attacks inside Israel.

Beginning early on Oct. 7, as I read journalist reports and watched television, I assumed that, given that large number of Schechter descendants in Israel, there likely were some who lived in the areas suffering rocket fire, or worse, the terrorist attacks.

From Where I Sit

We were enrolled in a language and culture immersion program for post-graduate age, Englishspeaking young adults, based in what Israel called a “development town” in the Negev Desert, not far from the Dead Sea.

Before leaving the United States, I had been given the names and phone number of Israeli relatives, about whom I knew nothing. About two weeks after we arrived, with the help of an Israeli in our program’s office, I called them.

Are you coming to the mesiba? they asked, using the Hebrew word for a “party.” There was to be a Schechter family gathering that coming weekend.

“Sure, we’ll try to attend,” I replied, without knowing how we would get there or what we were getting ourselves into.

We traveled by bus for a few hours, to Be’er Sheva and from there to Tel Aviv and finally to a small city located just inside the “green line,” the somewhat artificial dividing line between Israel proper and territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Six Day War.

With an address in hand, we walked to a nice-looking house on the outskirts of this city and, on arrival, haltingly introduced ourselves. We were astonished to find about 150 people present. Oh, this is nothing, we were told, there are another 300 who could not make it.

An elderly woman, probably in her 80s, was brought to us. Without saying a word, she placed one hand over my mouth and her other on my forehead. Looking into my eyes, she declared in Hebrew, “You’re a Schechter.” In photographs, there is a resemblance in my eyes to those of my father, and his father, and his father’s father.

My great-grandfather, who was born in Romania, was given the name Shneur Zalman at birth, but over the course of his life, as he steadily moved west, eventually to England and the United States, that became Solomon.

His twin brother, Yisrael (Israel), took a different path, in the late 1800s moving to Palestine, where he was one of the founders of the city of Zichron Ya’akov. Israel married twice and had 11 children, which explains

The answer came in a text from my nephew to his mother (my sister), about a message he had received from a third cousin, thrice removed, in Haifa, whom he’d met on his travels. She wanted him to know that a couple of the relatives were among those missing, possibly kidnapped and taken to Gaza.

It later turned out that upwards of 10 relatives were missing and believed to have been kidnapped, from two communities in southern Israel, close to Gaza. Among them were young children and the elderly, families, and individuals.

I am not including their names or where they live, though some of this has been reported in the Israeli press. This is a terrifying period for their extended family throughout Israel. We, the several times removed family members in the United States, are bystanders to this tragedy.

At that family gathering in 1985 a family tree, a few dozen pages stapled together, was distributed. That document is evidence of the inter-connectedness of the world’s relatively small number of Jews. This crisis attests to what anyone who has lived in Israel knows: In a country that small, when something happens, if it does not directly involve your family, it likely touches a friend, a neighbor, or a co-worker.

The degrees of separation in such instances can be quite small.

Many Jewish Americans have family and friends in Israel and have been reaching out to check on their welfare. These personal connections, some with exceptionally long histories, exist across national borders.

As I digested a considerable amount of information about the Hamas attacks in Israel, I read the names of these distant relatives and about the horrors in their communities without knowing that they were descended from my great-grandfather’s twin brother.

I do not know whether I met any of them at that family gathering those many years ago. I do know that it adds a distinctly personal angle to what is happening in Israel. ì

Dave Schechter

Letters to the Editor

The AJT welcomes your letters. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to kaylene@atljewishtimes.com.

Letter to the editor,

All Atlanta local community leaders:

My son has had a difficult time with religion for much of his life. Now as a young man, as he is trying to figure out his place in life and what kind of life he wants, he is weighing his Judaism carefully. Does it make his life better or worse, will it be an extra burden or will it be a joy? He was on the fence last week when he decided last minute to attend a synagogue during the Neilah service, the final service of Yom Kippur before the gates of judgement closed. He arrived late and there were no seats. He had no ticket either since he hadn’t planned on going at all. When he arrived and there were no seats, a nearby congregant told him there was no room for him and he should leave. My son said he was happy to stand and didn’t need a seat, but the congregant asked him to leave anyway. So, he left.

This was very hurtful to him. He is a sensitive soul. He said he didn’t want to be like the “observant” Jews and has decided to take some time off from Judaism. I don’t know if he will ever come back to it.

Please be kind to everyone at your temple, especially the young people who are watching and deciding how to live their lives. Judaism has much to offer in so many ways. But if the people who observe it are not acting how the young people want to be, they might just leave it forever.

Elaine Miller, RN, Atlanta

Letter to the editor,

A couple of the ladies on The View felt it was okay for a schoolteacher to pick up some extra cash by selling pornography performed by her and her husband. School teachers don’t make enough money.

Problem is that pornography is often demeaning to women and destructive of family formation and marital stability in men.

Also, if this woman got a big bump in her teacher salary, I bet she would keep on doing porn anyway because it is such a fabulous moneymaker. Americans today have an insatiable desire to build larger and larger mansions for themselves, while neglecting other important priorities. It’s that “golden calf” syndrome that has been around for a while.

One of the ladies suggested that a woman must have the right to control her own body. That gets votes in elections but doesn’t always play so well in legislatures and courts. Think about the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade and unwilling men who are conscripted into mandatory war-time service to sacrifice their bodies on foreign soil like during the Vietnam War.

Finally, when you take away society’s reasonable control over individual freedom, you take away democracy. Pornography is a very efficient vehicle for promoting anarchic behavior like adultery, casual divorce, youthful misbehavior, and communication of sexually transmitted diseases. We sacrifice the future of our loved ones on the altar of our own momentary pleasure.

Bright women should know better.

Kimball Shinkoskey, Woods Cross, Utah

Disclamer to our readers:

This section of the newspaper is a forum for our community to share thoughts, concerns and opinions as open letters to the community or directly to the newspaper. As a letter to the editor, we proof for spelling and grammatical errors only. We do not edit nor vet the information the letter contains. The individual signing the letter is accountable for what they share.

Letter to the editor,

In the last few years, we have witnessed a surge in antisemitism worldwide. Georgia unfortunately has not been exempt from this rising scourge. It is one matter when individuals from the cesspool of society gather in front of a synagogue to spew their hatred but it is quite another when it is a former member of the Democratic Party who served six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

We are of course referring to Cynthia McKinney, no stranger to the deplorable realm of Jew hatred. McKinney has a long history of voicing her antisemitic views. From her bag of lies she brandishes all of the old antisemetic tropes, some of which would put the Nazis to shame. According to McKinney, the Jews are responsible for everything from 911 to slavery. When she’s exhausted her borrowed venomous accusations she’ll resort to inventing a few of her own, some of which can be quite creative. Of course Israel is the focus of many of her deranged rants. The Holocaust Deniers and an entire host of other miscreants find her a strong voice in the chorus of “The Jews are the Problem!”

The apple, of course, never falls far from the tree. Her late father, Billy McKinney, never shied away from voicing his antisemitism. When asked about his daughter using an old endorsement for her primary campaign he retorted that the endorsement would not matter because “Jews have bought everybody. Jews. J-E-W-S.”

Cynthia McKinney is an affront, not only to the Jewish community but to civil society. She is an affront to everything our beautiful state and country stand for; Equality, Freedom From Hatred, Harmony and Unity. If McKinney was just another virulent Jew Hater, we wouldn’t be so upset. We’ve unfortunately seen their kind before. McKinney, however, enjoys a large cohort of followers and believers. Her years in politics endow her with a substantial profile which she leverages to spread her venom.

So what can be done as a community? The Jewish people are not powerless. We have learned much from the Holocaust. We know how hateful lies slowly morph into truths when delivered by skilled propagandists. We remember when good people do nothing in the face of threats and violence. McKinney must be denounced by our community and the rest of Georgia’s citizenry.

Let’s start by demanding that the Billy McKinney Highway (between I-20 in northwest Atlanta and I-75 near Cumberland Mall) be renamed. There are multitudes of African American Georgians who are far more deserving of this recognition.

Let’s alert our congressional representatives, our senators and mayors to Mckinney’s mendacity. Let our voices rise in protest. We shall not be cowered and remain silent in the face of evil no matter the source.

Jeff Chernofsky, Atlanta

By Sasha Heller

Atlanta Jewish Academy 2023 Sukkot in the Community

AJA’s sukkah was hand built and assembled thanks to the high school students and AJA faculty and staff members. Once it was up, the students’ classrooms moved into the sukkah for the week. They took part in lessons surrounding the holiday while being immersed in the customs. Lower School even played games together in the sukkah. With the help of their teachers, they worked together in teams to win at Bingo. Their talented teachers dressed up in costumes as fun clues to get the students excited to work together and win.

Atlanta Jewish Academy students seek refuge in the school’s sukkah.

AJA students and faculty were hard at work last week constructing the sukkah.

A pair of AJA students are pictured celebrating Sukkot.

Even the teachers got into the festivities during Sukkot.

AJA students and faculty worked to hang the sukkah.

One of AJA’s teachers really got into the spirit of the holiday.

The Weber School

As with Jews worldwide, Weber transitions from the reflective mood of Yom Kippur to the joyousness of Sukkot through several traditional practices, including the mitzvot (commandments) of ‘dwelling’ in the sukkah and waving the Lulav and Etrog. Throughout the week, students had the opportunity to eat lunch and attend classes in the sukkah. Weber also held a special evening Night Under the Sukkah event for students featuring food, music, and outdoor games.

Weber’s Dean of Jewish Studies, Rabbi Adam Mayer, taught his students how to bless and shake the Lulav and Etrog in Weber’s sukkah.

Hebrew teacher Morah Ben-Haim and her freshmen Hebrew students gathered in the sukkah for class.

Students gathered in the sukkah to bless and shake the Lulav and Etrog.

The Epstein School

Every year, Epstein’s eighth-grade students work diligently to build the school sukkah. It’s a rite of passage, a beloved tradition, to build the space where their peers will gather by class for lunch during Sukkot. It’s the space where Epstein’s third- and fourth-grade families will hold their grade-level evening celebration. And it’s the space that symbolizes the shelter, bounty, and feeling of kehillah (community) that is Epstein. Many traditions are followed, many rituals and practices are taught, and many memories are created during Sukkot at Epstein.

Michelle Young, Epstein’s Early Childhood Program, and kindergarten Judaic coordinator, shakes the lulav in the sukkah with her ECP students.

During Sukkot, students gather by grade for lunch in the sukkah at Epstein.

Micah Bank, Epstein Class of 2024, helps build the school sukkah with his class.

Epstein eighth-grade students, Liam Shemesh and Daniel Weinisman, help construct the school sukkah.

Epstein ECP student, Myers Bock, is learning the blessings to recite with her lulav and etrog in the sukkah.

Following school tradition, Epstein Class of 2024 students, Layla Niess and Leighton Tritt, help build the school sukkah.

Torah Day School Atlanta

Torah Day School of Atlanta kindergarten teacher Morah Dena Friedman invites her kindergarten students to her sukkah. They are entertained with magic by TDSA eighth-grade student Zevi Schulgasser. Morah Dena’s husband, Rabbi Binyomin Friedman, regales the students with a story!

Eighth-grader Zevi Schulgasser performs magic tricks for the kindergartners.

Torah Day School students enjoy lunch in the sukkah.

Davis Acadeumy

Sukkot was a joyous holiday and a time of great celebration at The Davis Academy. Students in Mechina through eighth grade decorated the beautiful sukkot on both campuses. The school welcomed families to sing and spend time together as a kehilah. In addition, students created edible sukkot, conducted science labs, studied, and even studied in the sukkah. While doing all of these activities in the sukkah, the school remembered where we had come from and also what truly matters in life—the simple blessings of family, health, and shelter. Focusing on these simple blessings made Sukkot truly live up to its name: the season of our rejoicing.

Eighth-grade students Matilda J., Jayden B., Ross B., Spencer G. decorating sukkah in the Middle School campus.

Fifth-grade student Adi S. helps Mechina student Poppy G. build an edible sukkah.

Mechina student Jane P. in a science lab in the sukkah.

Lower School families joined to sing and spend time together under the sukkah.

A pair of Davis students celebrate Sukkot.

A Davis Academy student samples the etrog. A Davis student samples the goods at the sukkah.

A student helps assemble the sukkah.

Etz Chaim Unveils Redesigned Sukkah & Pavilion

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

The Festival of Sukkot is a time of celebration. As such, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch and Congregation Etz Chaim picked this autumnal time to refresh, replant and replace the Conservative synagogue’s sukkah with the motivation that it will also serve as a much-needed pavilion for other occasions.

During the pandemic, synagogues rediscovered the outdoors, and the trend has not dissipated. When Etz Chaim hosted large crowds for Tot Shabbat in the parking lot during the pandemic, Rabbi Dorsch recognized that -- aside from its terraced outdoor sanctuary -- the synagogue lacked a purposeful outdoor gathering space; and he also recognized how congregation members traditionally revel in the multi-generational aspect of building community.

This past second day of Sukkot, on Sunday, Oct. 1, more than 200 people gathered to dedicate the new Hammer Pavilion. Following holiday services, people of all ages joined for a cookout cele-

bration alongside the Hammer family as they dedicated the new pavilion together.

Past president Allison Saffran said, “I’m so appreciative that Jack and Shir-

ley Hammer sponsored this pavilion. It’s wonderful that they have donated this beautiful outdoor space where we can come together for a committee meeting

or outdoor class. The space is very versatile; and I suspect it will get a lot of use moving into fall weather.”

The Hammer Pavilion replaces the

Congregation Etz Chaim dedicated its new Hammer Pavilion which will serve as a sukkah and gathering space for other outdoor events.

previous sukkah that was built by Aaron Feldser, son of Etz Chaim’s retired bookkeeper, Ellen Feldser, as an Eagle Scout project more than two decades ago.

Rabbi Dorsch stated, “Alongside the growth of the congregation, many Sukkot events like Ribeyes with the Rabbis and Sukkot Wine Tasting were selling out due to the previous sukkah’s limited seating capacity.”

In the past, to try to increase capacity, Etz Chaim took its drive-through sukkah (a favorite in the early days of the pandemic) and moved it to the end of the previous sukkah to create more space. Rabbi Dorsch continued, “But it was clear this was only going to be a temporary fix. It was therefore time for Etz Chaim’s previous sukkah, one that was made from wood boards and showing signs of wear and tear, to go into retirement. The need for this pavilion, which is a patio and pergola that can be converted into a sukkah, was apparent.”

Sisterhood co-president Neda Gayle added, “What I liked most about the new pavilion and its dedication was bringing the expansion full circle with generations -- children, young families, all mixed with the senior crowd on such a beautiful Sunday.”

Additionally, Etz Chaim’s Sisterhood and Men’s Club contributed toward the

purchase of indoor furniture for the new pavilion. And in addition to the Hammer family’s generosity, Etz Chaim’s retired executive director, Bob Bachrach, and its current facilities director, Aram Blankenship, played instrumental roles in seeing the project through.

Since its completion several months ago, the Hammer Pavilion space has already played host to preschool lunches, a USY end of year banquet, kiddush lunches on Shabbat, and b’nai mitzvah Shabbat dinners.

Board member Alex Peskin stated, “The new sukkah feels so welcoming. Our family loved spending time with other families, celebrating the holiday together and enjoying lunch and fun with the community last Sunday.”

Educator and longtime member Linda Weinroth agreed, “It was wonderful to be a part of this event celebrating Sukkot and community and watching the multi generations together in this newly dedicated space. It was a perfect day in every way.”

Rabbi Dorsch concluded, “As we complete a year of Hakhel that began last Sukkot, a year where we celebrated togetherness in the Jewish community, it is a blessing that we were able to bring the East Cobb Jewish community together to celebrate our renewal in our new Sukkah.” ì

On Oct. 1, Congregation Etz Chaim celebrated old and new generations in its new outdoor gathering space.

Andy N. Siegel CPCU, CIC, AAI Sheldon Berch

Andy N. Siegel CPCU, CIC, AAI Jonah Siegel Sheldon Berch

SUKKOT Laughing Our ‘Kishkas’ Off at CBT Comedy Night

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Comedian Mark Schiff appeared for Comedy Night at Congregation Beth Tefillah on Oct. 4 following a dessert reception in the sukkah at the Atlanta Jewish Academy.

Pre-show, Schiff mingled with the guests wearing a backpack and colorful kippah. The Los Angeles-based Schiff is and has been the opening act for Jerry Seinfeld for the past 25 years, in addition to multiple appearances on Johnny Carson and other top-tier talk shows.

As told to the AJT, he has a special connection to Atlanta as his daughter married into a Dunwoody family. Schiff, who appeared at the Atlanta Punchline 35 years ago, said, “I am a Zaydie to two of the most wonderful grandkids and my machuthim, Atlantan Steve Strauss, makes 150 pizzas a week for the community here, and that’s no joke!”

Local doyenne Miriam Levitas said, “I saw Mark perform here decades ago, and he came over for Shabbat dinner. My father and I were comedy fans and

thought him to be in the style of Myron Cohen.”

Moving inside the AJA auditorium, local treasure, former president of CBT, actor, DJ, and now realtor, Jimmy Baron

warmed up the crowd.

“Welcome to Club Beth Tefillah, where we don’t have to wear a mask and sit 50 feet away…meeting in the sukkah first was fun, but I was worried it might

fall down, just like housing in LA. And coming off of Yom Kippur, did you ever wonder why we have the ‘appeal’ for donations then? Why not Purim where people are drinking and are not starving?”

Andrew

University of Georgia

“Walker fostered my love of learning by teaching me how to speak up for myself and establish lasting relationships with my teachers and peers.”

“The most important things that I have learned at Walker are the importance of challenging yourself and pushing yourself to be the best that you can be.”

“Walker made it easy for me to introduce myself to a variety of activities, clubs, sports and people.”

Mira Linado, David and Jessica Kratznick, Candice Keilen, and Anthony Naturman queue up pre-show in the Atlanta Jewish Academy sukkah.

Baron, who could have done an hour set himself, continued about donating to “Shteiblers, who really know how to raise money, but I stopped short of sponsoring a rabbi to make a flight just so he could earn Platinum status.”

Schiff took the stage and bemoaned Atlanta traffic to the point of him selling leftover lulav and etrogs to shake and direct the cars. Stein gave his all as he did a full set about his personal life, storied career, with new- and old-fashioned Jewish humor -- most of which hit home as relatable. Some of the set was physical comedy a la Sebastian Maniscalco, the newest rage.

Schiff said, “I just like the feeling of being Jewish and standing in line at a bagel place and listening to the guy in line on the cell phone asking his wife what to order.”

In a smooth delivery, Schiff segued

into hilarious scenarios like shopping at the Dollar Store, IKEA, and Costco, most of which were on the edge of believable.

He said, “I shop at Costco for the free food samples. I see a guy with cases of Drano and toilet paper. Like what is he eating?” He then rolled into his shtick about buying one’s own coffin, which they do indeed sell at Costco. “Is that an impulse buy? Shall I keep it in the garage? Or wait and get it at IKEA and put it together myself?”

An unusual experience was meeting Bob Dylan and inviting him over to his small NYC apartment. “Dylan actually shows up at my house with 60 people. “Schiff did a good intonating Dylan slurring murmur imitation, capturing Dylan’s nasally ehhh whine.

Schiff has tremendous admiration for Jerry Seinfeld with whom he travels for performances on the latter’s private plane…even to Israel. He revels over Seinfeld’s craft as a comedian, working on finding just the right word -- maybe taking six months to a year…writing notes wildly on a legal pad…and his generosity. Schiff now drives a classic Mercedes that Jerry gifted him, but only after Schiff asked him to fix the radio first. On a touching note, Schiff spent time with Rodney Dangerfield, his inspiration for going into comedy, at his death bed reciting the “Shema.”

Post-set, Schiff sat down with Baron and took questions from the audience. A mensch of a guy and a winning event for CBT.

Schiff will appear at the Book Festival of the MJCCA on Nov. 15 promoting his new book, “Why Not: Lessons on Comedy, Courage, and Chutzpah.” ì

Dassi New, who organized the event, welcomed Mark Schiff in the sukkah.

Dessert was served in the AJA sukkah.

SUKKOT Israeli Pro-Democracy Sukkah Brings out Hundreds

By Jan Jaben-Eilon and Bob Bahr

Starting with Yom Kippur and continuing through Sukkot, hundreds of Atlanta Jews attended programs at their synagogues led by local Israeli ex-pat protest leaders.

“They got to hear from us about our fears and concerns and why this is different from anything done before,” said Dotan Hapak, who orchestrated the Atlanta Israeli Democracy Sukkot program. He was referring to the nearly 10-month consistent show of dissension in Israeli streets against the proposals and direction of the Israeli government which they say is weakening Israel’s democracy.

About 10 Israelis now living in Atlanta led the various programs held at nine local congregations. They were chosen, Harpak explained, to denote the various political perspectives represented by the larger Israeli ex-pat community that has been protesting in Atlanta for months. Harpak spoke at The Temple, Congregation Ahavath Achim, and Temple Beth Tikvah.

Yael Manes, an associate professor of history at Agnes Scott College, who has lived in Atlanta since 2011, volunteered to speak at the programs at Congregation Or Hadash and at The Temple.

“It felt desperate for me to do what I can here thousands of miles away from Israel,” she said, referring to the outreach of Israelis to the American Jewish community. Her family in Israel – including an 81-year-old uncle who received a top award for his actions as a tank commander of the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 – have been protesting against the current government and its agenda.

Although she is used to public speaking, Manes said she was nervous before the Or Hadash program on Sept. 30, attended by about 40 people, including children, after the Shabbat kiddush in the Sukkah. “I didn’t know what to expect. I felt responsible for presenting what’s a very important movement and I didn’t want to push people away. I’m not an activist. This is the first time I’ve been involved in activism.”

Like most of the synagogue programs, the Israeli leaders – in Q & As with the congregational rabbis –were greeted with more curiosity and interest rather than skepticism. Rabbi Ari Kaiman of Congregation Shearith Israel said the only “antagonistic questions” at his Oct. 3 Sukkot program came at the end.

A capacity crowd of about 65 people, mostly seniors, attended the Oct. 6 program at Temple Sinai. Interviewed by Senior Rabbi Ron Segal was Amit Mayer, who has been in Atlanta for about 10 years and works for an international healthcare company. Like Manes – with whom he spoke at Or Hadash a week earlier –he had never been a political activist until he became aware of what the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was proposing in Israel.

“We have a coalition in Israel that is actively pursuing laws that would take away each and every mechanism that can keep it in check, that can balance the power that they have, that could limit the power that they have, that could regulate what they can and can’t do,” he said. Mayer pointed out that the government isn’t trying to hide its intentions.

“They clearly state that they have plans that are very, very extreme, whether those are on the political scale or the religious scale or whatever it is,” he said. “They have plans that would never exist, would never be allowed in a country where there are checks and balanc-

es on the power of the government. They want to take those checks away so that they can do…whatever they want. And if that happens, then Israel stops being a democracy and becomes something else, something that is really hard to imagine.”

A capacity crowd of mostly seniors attended the Israeli Democracy Sukkot program in Temple Sinai’s sukkah.

Temple Sinai Rabbi Ron Segal (right) led the discussion with Israeli Amit Mayer on Oct. 6.

The question of whether and how American Jews can support the pro-democracy movement in Israel was raised time and time again. Mayer noted that “all of those things that Israel has represented throughout these 75 years have been a source of pride and protection, a shield for us as Israelis and as Jews worldwide. If that goes away, if Israel becomes similar to what our enemies or adversaries say that Israel is, then that chain goes away. That source of pride would be eroded.”

Harpak said, in general, the Israeli ex-pats encountered “shock and disbelief about some of the facts and acts of this government and its agenda,” as well as about some of the members of the coalition government. “Everywhere I spoke there were honest questions,” he said of his interlocutors. “The conversations were very thoughtful, open and productive.”

“It was affirming for me,” Harpak added. “There was a thirst for knowledge about what has been happening in Israel.”

The learning, however, didn’t flow just from the Israeli speakers to the various synagogue congregants. Manes said she “felt like I got to know the metro Jewish community through this program. It was a really deep conversation. The people were very interested in what’s going on and what they can do. We all felt that.”

She also emphasized that the pro-democracy protests both in Israel and in Atlanta are “not against Israel. It’s against the Israel the government wants to turn it into. I’m protesting for the safety of Israel and the ideals that sustain it.”

As far as any follow-up to the unique program that hadn’t been tried in any other U.S. Jewish community, Harpak said his group will stay in touch with the synagogues. He also recommended that those interested go to the Atlanta for Israel Democracy Facebook page. ì

Amit Mayer and Yael Manes spoke at Congregation Or Hadash at the beginning of Sukkot.

EDUCATION

European School of Music Marks 30 Years

Music is like love – to feel its greatest effect, it should be shared with someone. And like love, a passion for music can be nurtured so it flourishes and grows into its own unique beauty.

The European School of Music, located in Sandy Springs, does just that. Led by its founder, Angela Oyzboyd, the school has been nurturing young students’ interests in music for decades and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

The European School of Music method of teaching significantly develops music abilities, focus, concentration and attention, and an understanding of music theory. The students also learn relaxation techniques that can aid in their performances as well as their daily lives.

“It is foundational knowledge about basic techniques that involve complete relaxation of body and arms, and using gravity to make a full tone that could express, for example, the genius music of Beethoven. If this technique is learned from the beginning, young children can easily do this, portraying the character and the feelings in the songs they play,” Oyzboyd said, adding that the lessons apply not just to classical music, but to all forms, including popular, folk, and Jewish music.”

Oyzboyd said the students can learn how to make beautiful singing tones that imitate the human voice simply by using the piano.

“It doesn’t depend on musical talent. Any student could do this if they follow this teaching,” Oyzboyd said. “This allows them to play with a panel of colors and inspires them to practice as they enjoy the end results.”

The school’s curriculum stresses that the most important goal is to teach the students how to connect with the music they are playing and make it their own.

Oyzboyd and her staff are proud of the litany of alumni who have graduated from the ESM and been accepted into leading conservatories and universities, including Harvard University, Columbia University, Oberlin Conservatory, the Eastman School of Music at Rochester

University, Manhattan School of Music, Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, Boston Conservatory, Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University,

University of Edinburgh, Duke University, Cornell University, Washington & Lee University, Amherst College, Middlebury College, Emory University, California In-

stitute of Technology, University of California-Berkeley, University of Chicago, Brandeis University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and more.

Sasha Heller

The European School of Music, founded by Ukrainian immigrant and music professor, Angela Oyzboyd, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year.

A piano duet, “Flight of the Bumblebee,” by Vedant, a talented student from India, with his teacher, Jo. Vedant was preparing for a piano competition in the spring.

Gavriel playing.

From the teacher’s ensemble performance that was included at the end of the concert -- they are singing “Happy Birthday” to the school. The teacher on the left is Juliana, a Jewish voice teacher from Brazil. The teachers at the piano are Susanna, who came at 8 years old to the U.S. from Moscow, and Jo, who has a double major in piano and clarinet and just discovered that he has Jewish roots. Misty, in the red dress, has been with the school for 27 years.

“Our teachers from Europe and the United States have been working together at the European School of Music for three decades. They are highly educated and trained professionals, united by a mutual teaching philosophy and European teaching method.”

Oyzboyd noted that the European School of Music is a 501(c)(3) -- nonprofit educational organization. The school, along with the Southeast Nature Society, are part of The Conservatoire, a nonprofit established in 1993.

The school is looking to expand its facilities and is currently accepting donations and financial contributions. The ESM depends on volunteer support as well as the community’s generosity to help fund concerts, facility services, equipment needs, and scholarships for students identified as especially gifted

and students from families who cannot afford music lessons.

“One of our goals is to build an outside auditorium in a nature setting on our campus. This will enable us to share our performers’ beautiful music with more people from the community, in addition to our indoor performances.”

Oyzboyd said she chose the name, The Conservatoire, as it reflects her school’s mission: teaching students to understand the importance of conserving beautiful music and beautiful nature, and developing a lasting love for both, and passing on this spiritual value of music and nature to their children.

The European School of Music is located at 5187 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. For more information, call (404) 255-8382 or visit www.euroschoolmusic. org/index. ì

Susanna with her student, Aina, who came from Spain, playing chamber trio with Mariya in a rendition of “Vivaldi’s Spring.”

Shender is a Certified ‘Baby Whisperer’ EDUCATION

Caryn

Levy Shender lends her expertise as a pediatric sleep specialist and coach to give parents better time management and happier children with good sleep habits.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, sleep problems affect up to 50 percent of children; and approximately 3,400 cases of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Syndrome (SUIDS) occur every year with 90 percent of infant deaths occurring in first six months.

Thus, practicing safe sleep reduces the risk of infant death. Shender works with parents with kids aged 0-6 years with one-on-one coaching programs and classes. What parent hasn’t questioned, rock or don’t rock? Feed or not before sleep? Or how much is too much napping? Both practical and non-judgmental, Shender addresses these hot topics as she personalizes the approach to every child and family.

Shender is a certified pediatric sleep consultant through the Center of Pediatric Sleep Management, incorporating extensive training on evidence-based sleep research. She was initially inspired by her own daughter, who, at two months old, was diagnosed with ALCAPA, a rare congenital heart defect affecting 1:300,000 births and required two emergency open-heart surgeries.

Shender recalled, “Even with all that, she was the best baby! Rarely fussy, always happy. When she’d cry, my panic alarms would go off. I’d lay awake watching the monitor to assure she was breathing. Turned out, she was a normal sixmonth-old. I dove into all things ‘sleep’ and realized the importance of quality rest. My confidence as a parent improved. My husband and I were well-rested and had more time and energy. I’ve always been passionate about making a difference…improving sleep for families can transform lives.”

Shender added that her experience with her newborn daughter also inspired her book, “My Scar is Beautiful.”

Shender understands the factors that lead to sleep problems. Parents start with being well meaning. Sleep can be misunderstood because of overwhelming available conflicting information with opinions disguised as facts.

She mused, “It’s hard to sort through the noise. The most common sleep issues in children are often the result of being under or overtired due to schedule inconsistencies and not following nap and night schedules.”

Shender prescribes using age-appropriate schedules and wake windows. Another factor is when a baby relies on dependent sleep associations like being fed or rocked to sleep. Parents may unintentionally contribute to sleep problems by interrupting the child’s opportunity to fall back to sleep when they rush in after the baby wakes up crying.

She continued, “Being consistent and sticking to boundaries is essential, especially for toddlers and preschoolers, who are known for pushing limits. By doing so, parents can help their child understand what is expected of them.”

Shender explains the misconception of Cry It Out (CIO). While CIO is the most controversial method, there are other sleep methods.

She said, “No parent likes to hear their child cry, but it’s my responsibility to help families choose the appropriate approach to achieve goals. Another

Shender wrote, “My Scar is Beautiful,” because she wanted her own daughter and those of any age to be proud of their own scars as proof of bravery and survival. The book is available on Amazon or to order signed copies, visit www.myscarisbeautifulbook.com.

misconception is that it’s psychologically damaging to the child. A 2012 randomized clinical trial found that non-sleep-trained 6-year-olds were no different than kids who had been sleep trained as babies with regards to emotional development, psychological health, parent-child closeness, and parental attachment. Sleep training is just teaching children to fall asleep without parent-led assistance.”

and classes.

Shender teaches a monthly crashcourse at Studios Brookhaven on everything essential for baby and toddler sleep. Leave feeling empowered with actionable steps. For kids aged 4-24 months. Stay tuned for her newborn class coming in 2024. For more information, visit www. sleeptightonight.com.

Shender closes her correspondences, “Sleep tight and sweet dreams.” ì

Shender’s Five Practical Tips:

1. Follow wake windows: an age-appropriate max time that baby can be awake between sleeps. Use wake windows to find your child’s sweet spot to avoid being undertired or overtired.

2. For 3 months-plus, have baby sleep horizontally whenever possible. If baby is used to sleeping plush and cozy during the day, they won’t want to sleep on a horizontal, firm mattress at night.

3. Drowsy is the enemy of sleep. Put baby in the crib calm, chill, ready to sleep and awake.

4. Eliminate dependent sleep associations: A sleep association is where baby is dependent on help to fall asleep like being rocked or fed to sleep, relying on a swing or car, needing the pacifier replaced or holding/laying with them to sleep.

5. Don’t keep baby up later at night in hopes they will sleep later in the morning. This will cause fragmented sleep and early wakeups. Opt for an extra catnap or early bedtime but not before 6 p.m.

Shender helps parents overcome misconceptions and get real information about healthy sleep habits from her one-on-one coaching

Caryn Levy Shender gives parents solid tools to avoid fragmented sleep and sleep dependent associations.

Marcia Caller Jaffe

AJA to Host Young Women in STEM Event

By Sasha Heller

The Atlanta Jewish Academy will host the Young Women in STEM Career Fair from 12 to 4 p.m., Nov. 5, on the school campus.

The programming features a day of immersive activities for young Jewish women in grades 7 through 12, including a panel discussion with seasoned STEM professionals from Sony Pictures Imageworks, Emory School of Medicine, the U.S. Forest Service, and Coca-Cola. The event also features hands-on experiments led by representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia Intellectual Property Alliance, Abbott, and Invisible Thread.

The students and guests will also be able to network with fellow STEM enthusiasts and accomplished women who have carved out successful careers in aerospace engineering, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, medicine, and music technology.

The event will also feature career booths where students can gain insight

into various industries, register for the Young Women in STEM mentoring program, and receive information about STEM internships and educational

camps.

The STEM Career Fair, which is presented in collaboration with JumpSpark, is also a proud grantee partner of the Jew-

ish Women’s Fund of Atlanta. AJA is located at 5200 Northland Drive, Atlanta. To register for the event, please visit www.aja.fyi/STEM. ì

Atlanta Jewish Academy will host the Young Women in STEM Career Fair from 12 to 4 p.m., Nov. 5, on the AJA campus.

Students and attendees can learn about various industries at the Young Women in STEM Career Fair, set for Nov. 5 at Atlanta Jewish Academy.

BOOK FESTIVAL PREVIEW

MJCCA Book Festival Returns with All-Star Lineup

The 32nd annual edition of the Book Festival of the MJCCA is here! This year’s lineup of authors and guests will be sure to have the seats filled and arms ready to raise for post-program Q&A sessions.

Some of the more notable authors and presenters at this year’s festival include actors Millie Bobby Brown, John Stamos, Henry Winkler, and comedienne Judy Gold; Sheila Johnson, the first Black female billionaire and co-founder of BET; politicians like former Georgia Congresswoman Stacy Abrams and former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, and many more.

One of this year’s highlights will be on Nov. 4 when bestselling author Walter Isaacson presents his newest work, “Elon Musk,” a biography that delves deep into the controversial tech titan, and head of Twitter, SpaceX, and Neuralink.

Special thanks to presenting sponsors Greenberg Traurig, Barbara and Ed Mendel, and Fifth Third Bank.

The festival will run from Oct. 28 to Nov. 19 and will be held at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are available and range in price depending on the speaking engagement. Copies of the books are typically included with the cost of admission and some events may feature refreshments, a book signing, and photo line. For more information, please visit www.atlantajcc.org/bookfestival.

Event Previews

The following previews are for events and book signing during the first half of the Book Festival of the MJCCA. The second half of event previews will be published in the following AJT edition, Nov. 15.

“Nineteen Steps,” Millie Bobby Brown

“Nineteen Steps,” the debut novel from acclaimed actress Millie Bobby Brown, is a poignant tale based on the personal history of her family’s experiences during World War II. The book follows 18-year-old Nellie Morris, who pains for normalcy in her life in the midst of the chaos that surrounds her. Inspired by her nanny, Ruth, Brown said, “This book is very personal and close to my heart. I grew up listening to stories about time living through the war. I’m honored I get to keep her story alive.” Event was held Sept. 20.

“The Eucalyptus Cookbook,” Chef Moshe Basson

In a conversation with Roey Shoshan, Chef Moshe Basson shares about his experiences running his world-renowned restaurant in Jerusalem, Eucalyptus. The book includes sumptuous recipes and mouthwatering photography. Event has been postponed due to the conflict in Israel.

“Women Mean Business,” Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman, and Andi Simon

“Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights

From Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success,” highlights the immense impact women have had throughout various industries and eras. The book aims to help inspire women to break through the perceived glass ceiling and find their own success. Event will be at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 23. Tickets are $18 for MJCCA members and $22 for non-members.

“If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir,”

John Stamos

In a conversation with Holly Fifer, popular actor and author John Stamos will discuss his new book, “If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir.” Stamos penned this autobiography that lets readers in behind the scenes of his personal world. He covers topics like love, friendship, and fatherhood. Event is at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28. General tickets are $40 and include a copy of the book; Premier tickets cost $75 and also come with the book; please note there will be no book signing at this event – copies of the book come pre-signed. There will be a photo line the guests can access with their ticket purchase.

“The Einstein Effect,”

Benyamin Cohen

In a conversation with Rodney Ho, author Benyamin Cohen will discuss his new book, “The Einstein Effect: How the World’s Favorite Genius Got Into Our Cars, Our Bathrooms and Our Minds.” Cohen, who serves as Albert Einstein’s official social media manager, writes about how the work of Einstein is still relevant in today’s world. Event will be at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29. Tickets are $13 for MJCCA members and $16 for non-members.

“Rogue Justice: A Novel,” Stacey Abrams

In a conversation with Gail Evans, Abrams, the former minority leader in the Georgia State House of Representatives, and also a former No. 1 bestseller with her previous book, will discuss her newest novel, “Rogue Justice: A Novel.” The tale follows Supreme Court Clerk Avery Keene as a murder, and potential international crisis, unfolds. Event is at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 29. Tickets are $20 for MJCCA members and $25 for non-members; please note there will not be a book signing for the event; all books will be presigned.

BOOK FESTIVAL PREVIEW

“Inseparable: A Holocaust Survival Story,”

Faris Cassell

In a conversation with Stuart Eizenstat, author Faris Cassell will discuss her book, “Inseparable: A Holocaust Survival Story,” which was written with special guests Marion Lewin and Steven Hess. “Inseparable” is a vivid account of one family’s attempt to survive the Holocaust, and a young mother and father willing to sacrifice everything for their children. Event is at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 30. Admission is free with a reserved ticket.

“I Could Nosh…,”

Josh

Cohen

In a conversation with Steven Satterfield, author Josh Cohen will discuss his new book, “I Could Nosh… Classic Jew-ish Recipes Revamped for Every Day.” In his follow-up to the hugely popular, “Jew-ish,” brings Cohen signature style to some traditional (and not so traditional) Jewish dishes. Event is at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 1. Tickets are $40 and include a copy of the book and dessert.

“Maybe Once, Maybe Twice: A Novel,” Alison Rose Greenberg

In a conversation with Emma Gray, author Alison Rose Greenberg will discuss her new book, “Maybe Once, Maybe Twice: A Novel.” The novel is filled with romance and second chances, and is about finding your own way. Event is 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 2. Tickets are $18 for MJCCA members and $22 for non-members.

“Elon Musk,” Walter Isaacson

In a conversation with Gail Evans, author Walter Isaacson will discuss his new book, “Elon Musk.” The bestselling author, who previously wrote Steve Jobs’ biography, now tackles Elon Musk, the controversial tycoon. Isaacson shadowed Musk for two years as he gathered material for his most recent work. Event is at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 4. Tickets are $38 and include a copy of the book.

by Lizzi Wolf

follows two generations of a family from the Frankfurt shtetl, swept up in cataclysmic changes brought about by the Haskalah that shook the rabbinical establishment to its core and questioned the very idea of what it means to be Jewish.

‘Extraordinary Women’ Celebrate Infinite Wisdoms  BOOK FESTIVAL

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

As a prelude event to the Book Festival of the MJCCA, author and AJT contributor Robyn Spizman will join two other prominent authors, Edie Fraser and Andi Simon, to present a wisdompacked tribute to remarkable women and their thoughts, ideas, and insights.

The evening of Oct. 23 will focus on “Extraordinary Women,” which features these three dedicated authors and their new book, “Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success.”

Fraser, one of the most influential women in business today, Spizman, New York Times bestselling author and veteran media personality, and Simon, PhD, award-winning corporate anthropologist, and author, will headline the event, which is set to be a special evening with a meaningful goal.

This accomplished trio's new book shares the page-turning wisdoms from the memorable perspectives of outstanding women.

Spizman shared, “We are honored to have been selected by the Book Festival of the MJCCA, and this is a purposeful evening sharing the wisdom of women. As we elevate and celebrate the outstanding 102 women in this book, the evening will be power-packed, whether you work, volunteer, are a stay-at-home mom or

searching for inspiration or wish to meet life-changing women. The book takes a keen look at redefining how each of us wishes to live our lives. It’s about the business of life and these women want to lift other women along the way with their remarkable stories.”

Fraser, a native Atlantan who now resides in Washington, D.C., left quite a dedicated imprint throughout her life while living in Atlanta. Fraser grew up attending The Temple and her parents, Les and Muriel Fraser, owned 15 stores of the popular clothing chain, Casual Corner. Fraser served as the first Jewish female president of The Westminster School (in 1961) and recently received from Westminster the “Most Outstanding Graduate” award.

Fraser, who has spent an entire lifetime devoted to philanthropy and helping women, added, “The women in this book remind us that giving, sharing, and

activating others mobilizes people so we all move further together. We believe that with each turn of the page, readers are empowered. This book shares the most inspiring revelations and wisdoms for all women to use in their professional and personal lives.”

Simon adds, “This book features wisdom from a never-before assembled sisterhood of women dedicated to the mission of helping women achieve the most of their potential in professional and personal arenas. The power of this book is this energizing force that women have offered. They offer wise words and deep reflections. Each on their own and together, they are pushing boundaries, smashing myths, and achieving greatness — for others, and for themselves. These 102 women want to enrich you and we authors know that the energy will sustain you. We hope to help women everywhere rise and create the new real-

ity. The book features the top five lessons learned from individual contributors, which includes leaders, entrepreneurs, activists, philanthropists and more.”

The festival’s prelude event will be moderated by the dynamic Nadia Bilchik, an accomplished media professional, former CNN producer, training expert and speaker. Bilchik’s commitment to empowering women, both in their personal and professional lives, is also highlighted in the book.

The three co-authors will speak along with special appearances from some of the women featured in the book, and also a rare assembly of women who are “making a difference.”

The event is set for 7:30 p.m., Oct. 23, at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, located at 5342 Tilly Mill Road. Tickets are on sale at www.mjcca.org. The event is sponsored by the AJT and will feature a dessert reception. ì

Co-author Robyn Freedman Spizman is New York Times bestselling author, veteran media personality, and freelance writer for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

“Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success,” will be front and center on Oct. 23 at the MJCCA. The book features the top five lessons learned from individual contributors, which includes leaders, entrepreneurs, activists, philanthropists and more.

Andi Simon, PhD, award-winning corporate anthropologist, and a co-author.

Co-author Edie Fraser grew up in Atlanta where she was president of The Westminster Schools, and whose family owned a chain of Casual Corner stores. She has spent a lifetime devoted to philanthropy.

BOOK FESTIVAL PREVIEW

Prologue Events

September 20 • 7:00 pm

BOOK SIGNING & PHOTO LINE ONLY

Millie Bobby Brown, Nineteen Steps: A Novel

October 10 • 7:30 pm

Chef Moshe Basson, The Eucalyptus Cookbook

October 23 • 7:30 pm

Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman, and Andi Simon, PhD, Women Mean Business Book Festival Events

October 28 • 8:00 pm

Open

TALK & PHOTO LINE ONLY • BOOKS ARE PRE-SIGNED

ng

John Stamos, If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir

October 29 • 1:00 pm

Benyamin Cohen, The Einstein Effect

October 29 • 7:30 pm

NO BOOK SIGNING • BOOKS ARE PRE-SIGNED

Stacey Abrams, Rogue Justice: A Novel

October 30 • 7:30 pm

Faris Cassell, Inseparable: A Holocaust Survival Story

November 1 • 7:30 pm

Jake Cohen, I Could Nosh… Classic Jew-ish Recipes

Revamped for Every Day

November 2 • 7:30 pm

Alison Greenberg, Maybe Once, Maybe Twice: A Novel

November 4 • 8:00 pm

Walter Isaacson, Elon Musk

November 5 • 7:30 pm

TALK & PHOTO LINE ONLY • BOOKS ARE PRE-SIGNED

Henry Winkler, Being Henry: The Fonz…and Beyond

November 6 • Noon

Rachel Beanland, The House is on Fire

Julie Gerstenblatt, Daughters of Nantucket

November 6 • 7:00 pm

Kristallnacht Commemoration at the Besser Holocaust Memorial Garden

November 6 • 7:30 pm

B.A. Van Sise, Invited to Life: Finding Hope After the Holocaust

November 7 • 7:30 pm

THE EVA & GEORGE STERN LECTURE

Dan Grunfeld, By the Grace of the Game

November 8 • 1:00 pm

Rosanne Leipzig, MD, Honest Aging

Fayne L. Frey, MD, The Skincare Hoax

November 8 • 7:30 pm

Joe Posnanski, Why We Love Baseball

Adam Lazarus, The Wingmen

November 9 • 7:30 pm

BOOK CLUB NIGHT

November 11 • 8:00 pm

STAND-UP COMEDY NIGHT, AN EVENING WITH

Judy Gold, Yes, I Can Say That

November 12 • 1:00 pm

Andy Lipman, The CF Warrior Project Vol. 2

Scott Zucker, Battle for Life: A Novel

Daniel Quigley, Thunderstruck: A Novel

November 12 • 7:30 pm

THE ESTHER G. LEVINE READ

Ari Shapiro, The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening

November 13 • 7:30 pm

Simon Sebag Montefiore, The World: A Family History of Humanity

November 14 • Noon

Pam Jenoff, Code Name

Sapphire: A Novel

Kristina McMorris, The Ways We Hide: A Novel

November 14 • 7:30 pm

Dan Senor, The Genius of Israel

November 15 • 7:30 pm

TALK & STAND-UP COMEDY

Mark Schiff, Why Not: Lessons on Comedy, Courage, and Chutzpah

November 17 • Noon

SHABBAT LUNCHEON & TALK

Adeena Sussman, Shabbat: Recipes and Rituals from My Table to Yours

November 18 • 8:00 pm

Adam Kinzinger, Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country

November 19 • 7:30 pm

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ARTS & CULTURE

Sandy Springs ‘Fiddler’ Features Innovative Staging

By Bob Bahr

When the curtain rises on the village of Anatevka in the new City Springs Theatre production of “Fiddler On The Roof” in Sandy Springs, it is a community reimagined.

This is not the visually sumptuous Anatevka, as envisioned by Boris Aronson in his Chagall-like sketches for the 1964 premiere performance. And this is certainly not the gaily imagined Anatevka of Norman Jewison’s Oscar-winning 1971 Technicolor film, with its loving and precise recreation of the village and its beautiful wooden synagogue.

No, in this stage set created by the innovative production designer Jacob Olson, black predominates. A large wooden tower takes up much of stage center. It is enclosed by the outlines of a structure that suggests an even bigger house, hewn from massive black posts on either side of the stage.

They dwarf the other dominant figure in the production, Tevya, the milkman, who is on stage for most of the nearly three hours of the production. He’s played by New York actor Jacob Fishel, who gives this Tevya a realistic edge and a directness that is in sharp contrast to some of the past interpreters of the role.

Although Fishel was born Jewish, he grew up with little knowledge of Jewish life. He first became interested in his heritage when he made his Broadway debut almost 20 years ago as Motel the tailor in a revival of “Fiddler,” which starred Harvey Fierstein. To prepare for his role at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center productions, he went back to the original stories of Tevya, written in the first decades of the 20th century by Sholem Aleichem, the famous Jewish writer. He found him to be something he could identify with, both physically and

psychologically.

“Sholem Aleichem describes Tevya as a small man and is roughly the same age as himself, around 40,” Fishel says. “He’s not a large man so realistically he’s not the kind of Falstaffian figure that Zero Mostel played in the original production or the kind of grandfather figure that he’s evolved into over the years. He’s younger and he doesn’t know what he’s doing as a father. So, he’s trying to figure it all out.”

As Fishel comments, Tevya has no parents to discuss the difficulties he has with his daughters. So, he’s on his own, finding himself continually surprised and because of it, having to improvise much in his life.

“He has no idea what the right thing to do is,” Fishel notes, “but we have the opening number which is about tradition. It’s the only thing that Tevya is really certain about

to the very end of the play.”

Looming over his struggles to understand all the changes that are occurring in

Czarist Russia is that black tower, that seems to have some sort of control over Anatevka. The village is suggested by a series of a

Black is a powerful production element in the stage setting for “Fiddler On The Roof.” The director of the play, Shuler Hensley, has shaped a production that mirrors both the joy and heartbreak of Jews in Czarist Russia.

Boris Aronson’s original design for the 1964 “Fiddler” premiere had a Chagall-like use of color and composition.

Jacob Fishel plays Tevya, the milkman, with a strong realistic edge.

dozen or so simple outlines of houses, also in black, lit by a single light in each. They are raised and lowered, presumably from the great monumental black tower at the center of the stage. The large structure is vaguely reminiscent of the Burning Man pyre that is built each year in the middle of the Nevada desert.

So, while the director of this production, Shuler Hensley, has given us a crisp, fast-moving, energetic production with all its tuneful melodies, there is also a fateful darkness that hangs over all the lively singing and dancing.

This is a time, around 1905, when Russia was stirred by revolutionary unrest and a harsh antisemitism that had been building through much of the last decade of the previous century. The notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zions had been fabricated and circulated by the Russian secret police. The well publicized Kishinev massacres of Jews had occurred in Russia only two years before.

So, while the villagers sing and dance the palette of the colors in the costumes is subdued, and Mike Wood’s lighting design generally mirrors the restrained production design.

In the end, Jews are forced from their homes by a Czarist decree, and they each make their way into an uncertain future. The small outlines of their homes are lifted into the air and disappear one by one until just a single one remains. And then it, too, with its one light, is extinguished.

The fiddler who has opened and closes the show with a brief, bright tune, lays his violin down at the base of the great black, mysterious structure and the stage darkens.

The star of the show, Fishel, says each performance teaches him so much.

“My heart is always full every time I’ve done this show and every performance is an education in itself.” ì

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Emotionally Rewarding Event, ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’

By Bob Bahr

Dunwoody’s Stage Door Theatre, which opened “Tuesdays With Morrie” for a three-week run Sept. 29 is a production that comes with built-in audience appeal. The book upon which the play is based, was first published over 25 years ago and is said to be among the bestselling memoirs of all time.

The slim volume chronicles the relationship between its two Jewish main characters, Brandeis University sociology professor Morrie Schwartz, who’s dying of Lou Gehrig’s disease, and his former student, Mitch Albom, who is a successful, but restless sportswriter who revisits him 16 years after his graduation.

Albom undertook the project, originally, just to help pay for Schwartz’s medical expenses, but its success has given his story a life of its own. It has sold more than 18 million copies and has been translated into 48 languages. The book continues to be an inspiring tool for countless rabbis, therapists, and medical care givers who are often called upon to

ease the pain of loss. Its universal appeal was heightened with a made-for-television movie produced by Oprah Winfrey

in 1999. The film won Emmys for its two stars, Hank Azaria and Hollywood icon, Jack Lemmon, who in his last major role, played the dying Schwartz, two years before his own passing.

Albom helped adapt the book with Jeffrey Hatcher for an Off-Broadway production in 2002 that has become a staple for regional and community theaters ever since. The latest production in the intimate Stage Door Theatre puts its audience just a few feet from the actors. It is a perfect venue for the emotional drama, which Albom subtitled for his book, “an old man, a young man and life’s greatest lesson.”

Under the capable hands of director Justin Ball, who has brought new energy to the 50-year-old Stage Door Theatre, the evening is a compelling take on the power of friendship and the important gifts we can gain from those who are facing their final hours. For Ball, part of the attraction of the play is that its message has resonated so powerfully in the past.

“This is an uplifting play and one that exposes the human character,” Ball says. “And ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ obviously has a lot of name recognition and also really pulls at the heartstrings in a lovely way. That’s sort of what drew me to it.”

Morrie’s guiding philosophy, which he framed during the decline of his health during his last few months, has been a particularly timely one during the recent days of reflection during this fall’s Jewish holidays. As he put it in Albom’s book, “You have to find what’s good and beautiful in your life as it is now. Looking back makes you competitive. And age is

not a competitive issue.”

For Ball the directing assignment had personal meaning.

“I think what is most beautiful is that we really see how human Morrie Schwartz is. It’s really easy to sort of see him in these snippets of brilliant quotes. But I think what’s so impressive is the physical struggle and the frustration that comes out at moments in this production. And its heartbreaking moments where the body is giving up before the mind. But he continues to choose optimism in each of those moments, and that is certainly something that I choose I hope to live my life by. And, you know, I’m not at an age where I have declining parents. And so, this is certainly a piece that I can relate to as well.”

The two performers in the play are Dan Reichard as Morrie, and John Romanski, as Albom, the writer who records Schwartz’s final thoughts in a series of weekly visits. Both have previously worked with Ball in Dunwoody and are personal friends. They perform well together in the play, which has, as its essential ingredient, the chemistry that develops between the two men who are separated by nearly a half-century of life experience.

According to Ball, audiences have frequently stayed after the performance, to introduce themselves to the actors and discuss the emotional impact that the play delivers.

As Albom writes in the final words of his best seller about the professor and his mature student, “The teaching goes on.” ì

“Tuesdays With Morrie” features John Romanski, left, as writer Mitch Albom, and Dan Reichard as his former professor, Morrie Schwartz.

The relationship between Morrie and his student began before Mitch Albom’s graduation from Brandeis University.

The Lowdown I Bet You Didn’t Know … Sam Olens

Atlanta is chock full of interesting “movers and shakers” - some bent on creativity, empire building, activism and/or just plain having fun and living the good life. Lean in to hear some of the “off the cuff” remarks as to what makes Atlanta legend Sam Olens tick.

Many national news outlets have featured Sam Olens as a guest expert commentator on the RICO case against former President Donald Trump, where Olens remained non-partisan and no nonsense. But Sam Olens had to make much of his own way. His mother died when he was five years old, and the three siblings were moved to live with an aunt and uncle in a rural community with vegetable and chicken farms and factories. His father subsequently died, while the family raised him with much love in the tradition of tikkun olam, repairing the world. This background instilled in Olens a desire to get an excellent education, work hard, and improve the lives of others. He said, “Not having been raised with much family, family is everything now.”

Now a partner at Dentons Law Firm, Olens served as Georgia’s Attorney General where he worked to protect the state’s water rights, update Sunshine Laws, and educate the public about the dangers of opioid abuse and human trafficking; but it was his time as Chairman of Cobb County where he was most able to assist non-profit, education, and business communities. Later, Olens was the fourth president of Kennesaw State University. He is also credited with being the first Jew to win a statewide, partisan race in Georgia.

Olens credits his success as a lawyer and public servant to the greatness of America - and the adage that hard work and integrity lead to success. He quotes Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. We must be purpose-driven and empathetic, making our community better each and every day.”

Olens is married to Lisa, has two children, and a Facebook star doodle. They are members of Congregation Etz Chaim. Read why Olens has an affinity for chickens, cooking them, and speaking Yiddish with them.

One thing I’ve learned about working on a college campus is…

Olens: The faculty and administration are often much more partisan and political than they need to be; and the decision makers often lose sight of their mission to educate the next generation.

I would describe Georgia politics as…

Olens: Much more nonpartisan than D.C. The vast majority of state legislation is not partisan, yet that is what makes most of the news. Thankfully, Georgia has strong lead ership on both sides of the aisle.

I’m reading…

Olens: “The Guava Tree,” by Andrew Diaz Winkelman. Next is “Speaking Yiddish to Chickens” by Seth Stern.

Most exotic vacay…

Olens: I love traveling to Israel. Our next vacation is Portugal and Spain. But a few days to the Georgia coast or mountains with family can’t be beat.

My cocktail of choice is…

Olens: Single malt scotch on the rocks.

Best advice I got?

Olens: My aunt and uncle taught me to give back. Even if you don’t have money, you have time and talent. Constantly, even at a young age, give back.

One thing people do not know about me…

Olens: I worked at a chicken plant and a glass plant several summers in high school. This encouraged me to seek an excellent education.

My first job was…

Olens: Working at McDonald’s. I was multi-talented…cook and work the cash register.

If I could have a “sit down” lox and bagel with one famous person, it would be…

Olens: Mitt Romney. I enjoyed working on his Presidential campaigns. His sincerity, humility, and intellectual curiosity are beyond reproach. If he were still alive, it would be an honor to sit down with Senator Johnny Isakson, too.

Atlanta to me is…

Olens: A great community because we are judged on what we do, not family background, country club, etc. Atlanta welcomes individual talent. ì

Reported by Marcia Caller Jaffe

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15

JWV Post 112 Breakfast Meeting - 9 a.m. Leadership changed with Henry Levine becoming Commander after Dr. Charles Lutin served for 3 years. 9 a.m. - Board Meeting 10 a.m. - Kosher Buffet Breakfast, Lox & All the trimmings / $10.00 Donation. Visit https:// bit.ly/3PzKg5B.

Fire Station Tour – 10 to 11 a.m. Join PJ Library East Cobb and Nurture to learn about fire safety and the important daily jobs of firefighters. We will meet firefighters, see where they work, and learn how their station operates at Sandy Springs Fire Station #2. Best for families with children ages 2-5 years old. Register at https://bit.ly/3rwvd4K.

The Long & Tragic History of Antisemitism - 2 to 4 p.m. Brendan Murphy, a renowned speaker and educator at Marist School for 28 years, presents

“For the Jews: The Long and Tragic History of Antisemitism and Hope for the Future”. Among the many awards and honors Brendan has received is the Outstanding Educator Award from the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect. He has also received recognition from the Anti-Defamation League for his educational work on the Holocaust and Anti-Semitism. Register at https://bit.ly/46v48gX.

Make a Joyful Noise - 3 to 5 p.m. The Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund presents “Make a Joyful Noise” featuring the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra! The Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, composed of nineteen professional musical artists playing on period instruments at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3tc4z1y.

Mazal Tots: Baby and Me - 9:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Welcoming a new addition to your family is a joyous occasion, and finding a supportive community to share the journey makes it even more special. Introducing Mazal Tots, a unique gathering designed to foster connections, provide resources, and celebrate the beautiful journey of parenthood. With dedicated age-specific sections, we cater to the needs of families with infants (0-5 months), movers and groovers (6-17 months), and toddlers (18 months-3 yrs), creating an inclusive space for all. Sessions are guided by Jackie Perilman, a professional with over 15 years of experience with early intervention and preschoolaged children specializing in language and communication skills. RSVP at https://bit.ly/44FlrL9.

TBT Torah Project & Opening Celebration - 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please join us for the Temple Beth Tikvah Torah Project Opening Celebration: Opening ceremony begins in the TBT sanctuary. Join us for a festival with entertainment for all ages! Food, music, jump house and more. Let them know you are coming at https://bit.ly/48ovAyO.

Juried Art Show & Sale - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The community welcomes the Temple Sinai Art Show & Sale. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3LlgPD8.

Archives Day @ The Breman - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Archives Day @ The Breman is your opportunity to learn old information about your family history and using new techniques to preserve it. There will be information about and help with preserving your family photographs, tours of The Breman Museum exhibits, and genealogy mentoring all afternoon. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3thNqnj.

Tuesdays with Morrie - 2:30 to 4 p.m. “Tuesdays with Morrie” is a touching play based on the true story of Mitch Albom’s reconnection with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz. Purchase tickets at Stage Door Players by visiting https://bit.ly/44zZFIt.

Art at the Mikvah: Steffi Nicole - 5 to 7 p.m. Join Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah in welcoming the multi-talented artist and muralist, Steffi Nicole, a true creative force. Be part of the unveiling ceremony of the magnificent mural she has masterfully crafted at the entrance to the Mikvah. Register at https://bit.ly/3ZxOXS0.

March in the Atlanta Pride Parade with SOJOURN! – 12 to 3 p.m. Bring your Jewish community to march with SOJOURN in the Atlanta Pride Parade! Every year, SOJOURN convenes dozens of organizations from across Metro Atlanta to march with a float in the parade and affirm, as always, that Atlanta’s Jewish community supports Pride. Sign up at https://bit. ly/3ESM0Cf.

Cub Scout Pack 1818 Open House and Raingutter Regatta - 3 to 5 p.m. Boys & Girls grades K-5 and their families are invited to join Cub Scout Pack 1818 on Sunday October 15th for an open house meet and greet and build-aboat Raingutter regatta race. Kids can construct a model boat and race them for recognition and prizes! Plus food, fun, games and more and you learn about Pack 1818, Cub Scouting with a Jewish Twist! Register at https://bit. ly/3ZCUU0a.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16

Canasta and Mah Jongg at Etz Chaim10 a.m. to 12 p.m. AgeWell Atlanta East Cobb/Roswell and Congregation Etz Chaim host a weekly morning of canasta and mah jongg. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3RsalGu.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17

Torah Study with the Rabbi - 2 to 3 p.m. Congregation Etz Chaim hosts a weekly Torah study with the rabbi on Tuesday mornings at Huntcliff Summit I - Independent Living. Learn more at https://bit.ly/45QdNie.

Caregiver Support Group - Dunwoody Sandy Springs - 6 to 7 p.m. Watching those we love lose their memory or ability to live independently is difficult on all levels. Taking some time to focus on your own mental and emotional well-being will help you be a better caregiver for someone else. RSVP at Berman Commons Assisted Living & Memory Care and Jewish HomeLife, at http://bit.ly/3XuB84q.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18

Pinktober Mah Jongg Mixer - 6:45 to 9 p.m. Join Etz Chaim’s Sisterhood for their annual Pinktober Mah Jongg mixer and fundraiser to benefit Turning Point Breast Cancer Rehabilitation. Register at https://bit.ly/458h7Eq.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19

Torah Study with the Rabbi - 10 to 11 a.m. Congregation Etz Chaim hosts a weekly Torah study with the rabbi on Thursday mornings. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3sTgMbk.

Single Seniors Prime Timers Schmooze & Nosh - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Temple is thrilled to host the first gathering of the Prime Timers, a group designed for Jewish single seniors ages 65+! Join us for bagels, coffee, and connection! Make new friends or be with old ones in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Open to all Atlanta-area congregations. If you aren’t a single senior, feel free to share with those in your networks. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3rvkl7a.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Torah Reading: Noach

Friday, October 20, Cheshvan 5, 5784 Light Candles at 6:39 PM

Saturday, October 21, Cheshvan 6, 5784 Shabbat Ends 7:33 PM

Torah Reading: Lech-Lecha

Friday, October 27, Cheshvan 12, 5784 Light Candles at 6:31 PM

Saturday, October 28, Cheshvan 13, 5784 Shabbat Ends 7:26 PM

Israel Briefing with Consul General - 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join Temple Sinai for an informative briefing on Israel with Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon. As we continue to celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday, we recognize that so much has happened in Israel in the past 6 months and we welcome the opportunity to sit down with Consul General Sultan-Dadon to inquire and process the various events. She has now served the Southeast US in this capacity for 3 years and her candid and engaging style has been so refreshing. Not only has she worked tirelessly on behalf of Israel’s relationship with the US, she is also very active in creating bridges with various interfaith communities. We’ll begin the event with some casual mingling over wine and cheese, followed by more formal remarks and a Q/A session. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3EWnRKW.

Great Big Challah & Cinnamon Bun Bake - 7 to 9 p.m. Join us for a special evening of challah and more! Find out more at https://bit.ly/3LGbtTb.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20

Coming Out! A Celebration of LGBTQ Culture and Identity - 8 to 9 p.m. Inspiring, celebratory, and thoughtprovoking, this performance features coming-out stories from KSU and metro area communities, performed by KSU students. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/48zUawX.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22

Mazal Tots: Baby and Me - 9:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Welcoming a new addition to your family is a joyous occasion, and finding a supportive community to share the journey makes it even more special. Introducing Mazal Tots, a unique gathering designed to foster connections, provide resources, and celebrate the beautiful journey of parenthood. With dedicated age-specific sections, we cater to the needs of families with infants (0-5 months), movers and groovers (6-17 months), and toddlers (18 months-3 yrs), creating an inclusive space for all. Sessions are guided by Jackie Perilman, a professional with over 15 years of experience with early intervention and preschoolaged children specializing in language and communication skills. RSVP at https://bit.ly/44FlrL9.

2023 Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Hebrew Order of David announces the return of the 2023 Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival. There will be something for everyone, rain or shine. Our Festival is centered around a Kosher BBQ Competition where approximately 25 teams compete in KOSHER Brisket, Beef Ribs, Chicken, and Chili categories. We have a large Vendor Village, Children’s activities, Music, Silent Auction, and of course BBQ. Admission is free. Get more information at https://bit.ly/3tgXM6x.

Coming Out! A Celebration of LGBTQ Culture and Identity - 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Inspiring, celebratory, and thoughtprovoking, this performance features coming-out stories from KSU and metro area communities, performed by KSU students. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/48zUawX.

Bagels and Books at The Breman with Dr. Fred Katz - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enjoy a bagel and relax while Dr. Fred Katz shares his photography and stories at The Breman about Holocaust memorials from around the world. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/3PtF3wa.

Temple Chamber Players Concert Series - 3 to 5 p.m. Fervor: A Journey Back in Time From Buenos Aires to Germany Featuring ASO Concertmaster David Coucheron. The Temple is one of Atlanta’s most historic institutions with the most innovative production capability—making it the perfect setting for timeless classical chamber repertoire dynamically reimagined in a new series bringing together the city’s finest artists with renowned international instrumentalists in a visually stunning space. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/48y6HRy.

MONDAY OCTOBER 23

Kid Fun Yoga - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each Kid Fun Yoga class with Jennifer Gruher at MJCCA will focus on proper breathing practices and guided meditations through affirmations and mantras. Little yogis will learn sequences and poses that focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance, all while having a ton of FUN! Classes will include yoga games, music, and mindfulness activities that build confidence. Kid Fun Yoga will leave the kids feeling a renewed sense of well-being, balance, peace, and calm. Register at https://bit. ly/3rJa6M9.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24

E. Fraser, R. Spizman, and A. Simon

- 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. A Prologue to the Book Festival of the MJCCA Presents Edie Fraser, Robyn Freedman Spizman, and Andi Simon, Women Mean Business: Over 500 Insights from Extraordinary Leaders to Spark Your Success. Business needs women, and women mean business. This book provides over 500 insights from women whose voices of mentorship will help you achieve your personal goals at every stage of your career. Discover how to build circles of influence that impact you both personally and professionally. Whether you want to be a CEO; lead the C-suite; become an entrepreneur, activist, or philanthropist; or blaze a different trail, success should be obtainable for all women. These women hope to inspire you to write your own story. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/4638uw6.

Bat Mitzvah Club @ Chabad Intown

- 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Your daughter's approaching Bat Mitzvah marks a significant milestone for her as a Jewish woman. While the celebration is essential, its true importance lies in shaping her identity as a Jew for the long term. We emphasize that it’s not a graduation from Judaism, but rather the beginning of a vibrant Jewish life. To ensure this, we’ve established the successful Bat Mitzvah Club. We provide a space for girls aged 11-13 to learn, enjoy, and connect with other Bat Mitzvah girls. The club meetings are open to all, regardless of where they plan to celebrate their Bat Mitzvah. Register at https://bit.ly/44VT1ND.

An Evening of French Melodie - 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of French art songs performed by Bailey School of Music voice faculty artists and Eric Jenkins, piano. Find Tickets at https:// bit.ly/45bp1gr.

Fall Undergraduate Research Forum - 2 to 3 p.m. Undergraduate student presentations from the School of Art & Design, Bailey School of Music, Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, and the Department of Dance. Find out more at https://bit. ly/45a2pws.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27

Tot Shabbat - 5:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat at Congregation Dor Tamid is a Shabbat Program geared for children to laugh, meet new children, make new friends, and explore the wonders of Judaism in an exciting fun way! The service is filled with songs, prayers, blessings, stories, snacks, and a place where a kid can be a kid when they pray to God. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3rBmduN.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25

ACT Session - 12 to 2 p.m. Gathering for JWFA’s 5th cohort of the Agents of Change Training (ACT) program. Learn more at https://bit.ly/45RyhYE.

KSU Concerto Competition: Final Round - 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of performances by some of the most talented student performers in the Bailey School of Music, as they compete in the final round of the annual BSOM Concerto Competition. Purchase tickets at https://bit. ly/3ERKe4e.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26

Torah Study with the Rabbi - 10 to 11 a.m. Congregation Etz Chaim hosts a weekly Torah study with the rabbi on Thursday mornings. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3sTgMbk.

Gan Katan -10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Congregation Or Hadash is thrilled to introduce a monthly drop-off preschool program at Machon Hadash this year! The program is designed for 3-5-yearolds and is taught by a wonderful, warm, experienced Jewish preschool teacher. After the children finish up each week, we invite parents and kids to stay for child-friendly snacks and schmooze, and for kiddush lunch, too. All are welcome - you do not need to be a member of Or Hadash. Register at https://bit.ly/3KtkKxb.

John Stamos, If You Would Have Told Me: A Memoir - 8 p.m. We think we know John Stamos. The beloved actor of television (Full House, ER, General Hospital), film, and Broadway grew up in front of the cameras and drummed his way into our hearts as an honorary Beach Boy. In this candid memoir, readers can peek into the heart of this familiar face. It’s a rollicking insider look at Hollywood, fame, fortune, and failure. It’s a tender treaty on love, friendship, and fatherhood. Throughout it all, Stamos maintains a sense of wonderment captured in the title If You Would Have Told Me. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/3PTVKRR.

NCJW Atlanta Section Mitzvot-in-Motion - 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tikkun Olam: Mitzvot-in-Motion Evening Edition. Wine and cheese provided. Find out more at https://bit.ly/45hyzu.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29

Mazal Tots: Baby and Me - 9:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Welcoming a new addition to your family is a joyous occasion, and finding a supportive community to share the journey makes it even more special. Introducing Mazal Tots, a unique gathering designed to foster connections, provide resources, and celebrate the beautiful journey of parenthood. With dedicated age-specific sections, we cater to the needs of families with infants (0-5 months), movers and groovers (6-17 months), and toddlers (18 months-3 yrs), creating an inclusive space for all. Sessions are guided by Jackie Perilman, a professional with over 15 years of experience with early intervention and preschoolaged children specializing in language and communication skills. RSVP at https://bit.ly/44FlrL9.

Benyamin Cohen, The Einstein Effect - 1 p.m. Former Atlantan, award-winning author, and journalist Benyamin Cohen has a bizarre side hustle as the manager of Albert Einstein’s official social media accounts, which have 20 million followers more than most living celebrities. (Einstein has more Facebook fans than Tom Hanks!) According to Cohen, Einstein’s influence is seen in much of the technology we use every day: GPS, remote controls, weather forecasts, and even toothpaste. But it’s not just his scientific discoveries that continue to shape our world. Get more information at https://bit.ly/3PHlQHE.

Bat Mitzvah Club @ Chabad Intown - 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Your daughter's approaching Bat Mitzvah marks a significant milestone for her as a Jewish woman. While the celebration is essential, its true importance lies in shaping her identity as a Jew for the long term. We emphasize that it’s not a graduation from Judaism, but rather the beginning of a vibrant Jewish life. To ensure this, we’ve established the successful Bat Mitzvah Club. We provide a space for girls aged 11-13 to learn, enjoy, and connect with other Bat Mitzvah girls. The club meetings are open to all, regardless of where they plan to celebrate their Bat Mitzvah. Register at https://bit.ly/44VT1ND.

Faris Cassell, Inseparable - 7:30 p.m. Inseparable is the vivid account of one

family’s struggle to survive the Holocaust. When caught in childish mischief, Stefan and Marion ran from SS soldiers, making a game of seeing who could get closest to the guard towers before being warned he would be shot. They witnessed their father beaten beyond recognition, dodged strafing warplanes, and somehow survived in a place where “the children looked for bread between the corpses.” Above all, this is the unforgettable story of a young mother and father who were willing to sacrifice everything for their children. Find tickets at https:// bit.ly/3LEn0Cd.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31

Brain Health Bootcamp - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join a Fun, Social Class to Strengthen Your Mind and Body to Stay Sharp! With age serving as the greatest risk factor for cognitive impairment or memory loss, JF&CS is taking action with the Brain Health Bootcamp. The first of its kind in Atlanta, it is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education, and socialization. Join by visiting https:// bit.ly/451GNDC.

AVAILABLE HOMES FOR

Play Tamid - 9:15 to 11 a.m. Play Tamid is led by Rabbi Jordan of Congregation Dor Tamid. Enjoy crafts, songs, fun activities, and more. Play Tamid is for kids under 4 years old with their parents/guardians. Register at https://bit. ly/44Dl0BF.

STEAM Storytime – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Families with children ages 3-5 are invited to join us for a morning of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (S.T.E.A.M.). Ignite your imagination and curiosity at hands-on discovery stations that combine your favorite books with a STEAM activity. Learn more at https://bit.ly/46Lw9kT.

Stacey Abrams, Rogue Justice: A Thriller - 7:30 p.m. Drawn from today’s headlines and woven with her unique insider perspective, Stacey Abrams combines twisting plotlines, wry wit, and clever puzzles to create another immensely entertaining suspense novel. Purchase tickets at https://bit. ly/3PUP86M.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 30

Kid Fun Yoga - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each Kid Fun Yoga class with Jennifer Gruher at MJCCA will focus on proper breathing practices and guided meditations through affirmations and mantras. Little yogis will learn sequences and poses that focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance, all while having a ton of FUN! Classes will include yoga games, music, and mindfulness activities that build confidence. Kid Fun Yoga will leave the kids feeling a renewed sense of well-being, balance, peace, and calm. Register at https://bit. ly/3rJa6M9.

OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM���

Dear Rachel,

It’s that time of year again, the Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur season: a time for resolutions, a time to take stock of what type of person I hope to be and the steps I need to take to accomplish that. Yet, year after year, I fall back into the same patterns. Someone says or does something I don’t like, and my temper flares. And sometimes my behavior is not kind or loving, especially if I’m having a hard day. In addition, there are many needs in the community, yet I shy away from big projects and don’t get involved. Is there a way to pull myself out of the cycle of negativity and really achieve growth and self-mastery?

Sincerely, Slumped

Dear Slumped,

What a beautiful question! Surely your sincere quest to improve, even if you fail, is appreciated by G-d and all those who know and love you.

Regarding your question: Are there practical steps to take for self-improvement? I believe there are. Let’s take the example of anger. A family member does something that upsets you. You can choose to speak softly rather than yell, and that will tone down the experience. Hopefully, the family member will be able to hear and internalize your words since they were expressed calmly. However, more needs to be done. Can you delay your reaction and take some time for introspection? Is there any way to reframe the event so that you don’t perceive the perpetrator as evil, insensitive, forgetful, or characterized by any host of unflattering adjectives? Did the person hear the instruction? Was s/he distracted rather than forgetful or insensitive? Is s/he normally helpful and kind, and this was just a one-time aberration? If you can delve into your feelings and try to be objective, often you can figure out how to judge the person favorably, and your anger and righteous indignation will diminish. Sometimes, if you can’t do this for yourself because you’re too close to the situation, you can ask someone close to you for help in reframing the situation.

I recently heard a story about a father-in-law whose married children were staying in his home. The father-in-law called out to his son-in-law, intending to ask him something, and suddenly, the door of the son-in-law’s room slammed shut. The father-in-law was understandably appalled. Did he slam the door on me? What was that all about? Do we not have the relationship I thought we had? Later, he found out that his daughter and son-in-law had switched rooms with the housekeeper. The slammed door came from the housekeeper who was not prepared to greet her employer since she was not dressed properly.

Frequently, we don’t see the whole picture. We think we know all the pieces, but how can we? A comment that was hurtful, an invitation that we never got, a promise unfulfilled- so many hurts are inflicted, and our tempers ignite. Yet, the antagonist may have myriad reasons for acting the way s/he did. And certainly, texts and emails are easily misconstrued because we can’t see a person’s expression and we can’t hear the tone of voice- and those make all the difference. With all those variables in mind, can you try to judge others the way you want to be judged?

You also mentioned helping the community. One suggestion for navigating self-improvement is to carefully assess each choice you make. When an opportunity comes your way, can you invest time into deciding if this is something you can do? So often, we make snap, knee-jerk decisions. Perhaps you CAN serve on a board for an organization or help plan an event. Maybe you can call someone who needs a listening ear or visit a lonely person in the hospital. The list is endless. Keep your heart open to saying yes, as long as it does not come at the expense of your health and well-being or that of your family, and see where that takes you.

Wishing you a beautiful, healthy, and happy New Year, Rachel

Atlanta Jewish Times Advice Column

Got a problem? Email Rachel at oyvey@atljewishtimes.com 250 words or less describing your problem. We want to hear from you and get helpful suggestions for your situation at the same time! Identifying details will be changed upon request.

Army of G-d

Rabbi Landau was, as usual, standing near the synagogue exit shaking hands as his congregation left.

But as Max was leaving, Rabbi Landau grabbed his hand, pulled him aside and said, “Max, I think you need to join the Army of G-d!”

“But I’m already in God’s Army, Rabbi,” said Max.

“So, how come I don’t see you in shul except on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?” said Rabbi Landau.

Max whispered, “I’m in the secret service.”

YIDDISH WORD

Phudnik

n. An irritating bore with a PhD; any overeducated bore.

“Ever since Barney got his PhD in social psychology, he starts every sentence with the phrase, ‘Existentially speaking…’

It is to genets (yawn), like with all phudniks.”

From the Yiddish nudnik, meaning “a pestering, irritating bore.”

What’s for Breakfast?

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

ACROSS

1. “I Left My Heart ___ Francisco”

6. Biggest President

10. Word for a woman

13. Indian bread?

14. Prefix for China

15. Jewish no-no (with or without cheese)

16. Fitting cereal for a talmid chacham?

18. Calgary’s prov.

19. Big ones often get people in trouble

20. “Enchanted” title character

21. Place to bathe in mud

23. Lament

24. You, right now!

26. Bench-clearing brawl

28. Cereal that could be a one-off hechsher?

30. King Solomon’s Jerusalem, perhaps

32. June 6th, 1944

33. Catches on

34. Apt cereal for the Chofetz Chaim?

36. Some brews

40. Gait faster than a walk

42. End a furlough

44. Cereal that sounds like something sefardim do on Passover?

48. Moshav product

49. Where to find Chad

50. Reddi-___ (dessert topping)

52. 9th letter

53. Orb with a monthly prayer

54. Gary who played Lieutenant

Dan

56. Cone head?

57. Cereal for a yarmulke wearer

eating matzah?

61. Animal with antlers

62. ___ Shabbat

63. Get past, as a tag

64. The “S” of GPS: Abbr.

65. Auction entries

66. Fabulous

DOWN

1. Tax org.

2. Book after Lev.

3. According to this show you need

Jews to have a hit on Broadway

4. Prefix for “dynamic”

5. Controversial Karta

6. Bestows 10%, say, in synagogue

7. Santa ___ (winds)

8. H.S.T.’s predecessor

9. Wee one

10. One of a kind Band from Israel

11. It’s said towards the end of a 24-Down

12. Set off

17. Man with a cholent-like name

20. Invisible guest at a 24-Down

21. Arrogant

22. Alonso of the Mets

24. Epic Jewish meal

25. Tuber contained in “avocado”

27. Brian or Theo

29. JPEG alternative, perhaps

31. Oahu “Shalom”

35. Suffix for “Israel” or “Canaan”

37. “Now hear this!”

38. A Great Lake

39. Belz or Breslov, e.g.

41. Western US kosher org.

43. Egyptian, Roman, and Galactic

44. Egyptian figure in Exodus adaptations

45. “Don’t I wish”

46. Ganevs

47. Vessels for Luke Skywalker or Wedge Antilles

51. LLC alternative

54. Made like Keanu Reeves in 1994 action hit

55. “Enterprise” helmsman

57. It’s pretty corny

58. ___ ledodi...

59. A B followers

60. Word for a woman

Sarah Berlin 109, Atlanta

Sarah Berlin, age 109, of Atlanta died on Oct. 2, 2023. Sarah was born in Atlanta on March 25, 1914, and lived in only four different residences her entire long life. Her parents (Lefkoff) were founding members of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, and her in-laws were founding members of Beth Jacob. She earned a master’s in education from Oglethorpe University.

As a young adult, she volunteered for the Red Cross and later taught third grade at James L. Key Elementary School. She loved cooking, canasta, opera, and attending lectures. She volunteered at Emory University Hospital for 40 years and stayed healthy by eating whatever she wanted, taking vitamins, and walking three miles each day for more than 30 years. Her guiding principles were to complement others, always say thank you, and to enjoy doing things, and as she advised, even if you don’t like something you must learn how to like what you are doing. When she was asked how she got to be so old, she said it was due to living a true and honest life. She smiled all the time, always complemented and rarely complained.

Sarah is survived by her sons, Charles Berlin, Dr. Arnold (Myra) Berlin, and Leonard (Denise) Berlin, many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Her many gracious caregivers included Silvia Friedman (niece) and Jackie and Bobbi Horowitz (niece), and Esther and David Tarnopolsky (cousin). Graveside services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 3, at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Ira Rachelson 80,

Atlanta

Ira Rachelson, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend to many, sadly passed away unexpectedly on Oct. 5, 2023, one month after celebrating his 80th birthday. Ira was born in Atlanta and grew up in Columbus, Ga. He attended Emory University for both his undergraduate degree and law school. A member of the Georgia Bar for almost 55 years, he had a highly successful practice until his recent retirement. Ira loved watching the Atlanta Braves, often in person, but always on TV if he was not at the game. He also loved Georgia football, and from many years ago, Atlanta's first NHL team, the Atlanta Flames.

Every year, Ira enjoyed Thanksgiving at Cousin Billy's and the fishing trip in Florida that always followed—no matter the weather—with Billy, Ira’s son, Benjamin, and multiple generations of cousins. A fierce fighter on behalf of his clients, he was kind and generous to those he loved. Ira is survived by his loving wife, Ducie, whom he adored for almost 50 years; his children, Rebecca (Scott) Kanov, Benjamin (Nora), and Claire (Joe Robb) Rachelson; his six grandchildren; his sister, Lynne Rabinowitz; his sister-in-law, Kay Rachelson; and many nieces and nephews. Ira was pre-deceased by his brothers, Stanley and Joel Rachelson. Graveside services were held at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 8, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770.451.4999.

Molly Segall Rosenfield 89, Atlanta

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of our mother, Molly Fay Segall Rosenfield. She passed peacefully on Oct. 3, 2023, with her daughter by her side. Molly was the daughter of Nathaniel Segall and Mollie Liberman Segall.

Molly is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Lyall Rosenfield. Molly was born in Savannah, Ga., and grew up in Charleston, S.C., where she graduated at the top of her class from the Medical University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. After her marriage in 1955, they lived in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. She worked as a nurse at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and at Lynn Hospital in Massachusetts. When Molly worked at Lynn Hospital it was right at the end of the Polio epidemic, the invention of the iron lung machine as well as the new polio vaccine was developed. Molly said in her 45 years as a working RN, this was one of the most important times in her professional history. Working with patients on the iron lung machine changed medicine in a huge way.

They moved to Atlanta in 1967 where she worked in nursing management at Grady Hospital and Saint Joseph’s Hospital. It was another exciting time in nursing, because a new procedure called angioplasty was created. There were also heart transplants, and this was a thrilling new concept.

Molly loved to travel and visit places around the world. She loved art and culture. She drew, sang, and was in the school theater. She also always loved gardening. She continued singing throughout her life. She taught songs as a Girl Scout Leader, and she was a member of the choir in Lynn Massachusetts at her Temple, and also in the choir at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta.

Molly was active as a volunteer in many Jewish and professional organizations. She achieved honors at Jewish Family and Career Services and was a founding member of the Healthcare Professionals Council of Greater Atlanta Hadassah. She was a member of Beth Tikvah synagogue and the Marcus Jewish Community Center, where she was active in many educational groups to help the community. Molly was active in the PTA and worked as a volunteer school nurse.

Molly is survived by her four daughters, Nancy Doan, Harriet Hodges, Ilene Rosenfield, and Lisa Rosenfield, as well as four grandchildren, Amanda La Hue, Charles Jackson, Brittany Hodges, and Trey Hodges. Molly also had three great grandchildren, Ava La Hue, Jackson La Hue, and Parker Ward. She is also survived by many loving cousins and family who meant a great deal to her.

A graveside service was held Oct. 9 at 10:30 a.m. Arlington Memorial Park, Temple Beth Tikvah section, 201 Mount Vernon Hwy, Atlanta, GA 30328. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999

Scherrer-Diamond Outreach

Linda Ruth Ruben 75, Atlanta

Linda Ruth Ruben, 75, peacefully passed away on Sept. 16, 2023, in Atlanta, Ga. A lifelong Atlanta resident, she graduated from Briarcliff High School and attended the University of Georgia.

Linda lived life by her own moral rules and was a true friend to others. She was dignified, caring, honest and authentic with a wry and witty sense of humor.

Linda’s sparkling personality served her well as she was a highly successful career saleswoman at Brooks Brothers Clothiers. Her integrity was a key ingredient in her success as her motto was “ I will not let you buy anything that doesn’t make you feel and look great.” She may have lost an occasional sale, but she made a customer for life. Linda lived her motto as she was always impeccably dressed no matter what the activity.

Linda was an avid reader of both classics and modern literature and regularly completed the Sunday New York Times Crossword Puzzle in ink. She enjoyed birding and conscientiously ensured that all neighborhood birds were well nourished. While Linda was fond of bringing both foreign and domestic cooking and baking shows, she proudly proclaimed that she did neither. As she would say when asked to cook a regular meal, “I’d like to, but it seems like a lot of trouble.” However, on those times that she did endeavor in the kitchen the result was a delicious meal with all the trimmings.

Recognizing the shortest distance between points, Linda often counseled others on their convoluted life issues and was known for suggesting a solution “in ten words or less.”

An extraordinary judge of character, she held the unequivocal belief that no one was perfect. This allowed her to accept others for who they were and if they had a caring, honest, and compassionate heart, she would shower them with empathy and support.

Linda was preceded in death by her nephew, Nathan Ruben. She is survived by her life partner, Gary Nadler, and his daughter, Stephanie Levi, brother, David Ruben, sister-in-law, Roxann Ruben, niece, Rebecca Miller, nephews, Frank Ruben and Charles Lisk, grandnephew, Harrison Lisk, granddaughter, Lillian Levi, and many special cousins including Bobby and Fred Bleiberg.

A graveside service was held on Sept. 18, 2023, at Crest Lawn Cemetery, Atlanta, Ga. Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz officiated. In lieu of flowers, Linda’s wish was for her friends to donate to a charity of their choice in their own name.

Hyman Isaac Shapiro 84, Atlanta

Hyman Isaac Shapiro, 84, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Aug. 30, 2023. Born May 8, 1939, to Myer and Fannie Shapiro, Hyman was a first generation American on his father’s side, the youngest child within the only Jewish family of Wagener, S.C. As a teenager, he obtained his personal and formal Jewish education in Augusta, Ga., to which he traveled frequently for B’nai B’rith occasions and where he devoted a year to living with relatives for his bar mitzvah training. Until his married life, summers were happily dedicated to working as a counselor at Camp Blue Star in Hendersonville, N.C., and as a ‘relief busboy’ in the Catskills Mountains of New York.

As the only college graduate of his immediate family, he attended The University of Georgia, where he proudly graduated within 12 quarters and was an active member of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity. As a senior at UGA, he met Loretta Pike, his beloved and dedicated wife of 62 years.

To immerse themselves and their children within a more Jewish environment, ‘Hy & Lo’ moved to Atlanta to pursue his career in sales, most of which was dedicated to successful professional performances at Rich’s Department Store, 3M, and Artlite Office Supply. In addition to his enthusiasms for magic and American Presidential trivia, Hyman’s volunteer work served as an altruistic role model, contributing his time and energies to such organizations as the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Indian Guides, the Cub Scouts, AZA, Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, Camp Sunshine, The Temple, the Breman Museum, and Atlanta’s Pinchitter relief programs.

His amiable nature and gregarious personality will long be remembered by those whose lives he touched and genuinely enhanced.

Hyman is predeceased by his parents, Myer and Fannie Shapiro, and his siblings, Gerald Shapiro and Shirley Sonenshine. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Pike Shapiro; son and daughter-in-law, David Shapiro and Ilene Alter; daughter and son-in-law, Naomi and Larry Salberg; son, Matt Shapiro; and grandchildren, Alex, Charli, Dianne, Ferrin, Hannah, Max, Olivia, Ryan, and Scott. Memorial donations may be made to The Temple, Atlanta Community Food Bank, and Weinstein Hospice. The funeral was held Sept. 1 at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Peter Berg, Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, and Cantor Emerita Deborah Hartman officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999

Bernard Tuvlin 87, Alpharetta

Bernard, “Bernie” Tuvlin, of Alpharetta, passed away on Sept. 9, 2023, at the age of 87. Bernie grew up in New Jersey and later served in the Army where he was stationed in Alaska and played trombone in the army band. After marrying Rita, his wife of nearly 60 years, he moved his young family to Atlanta where they lived for the next 52 years. Bernie loved big band music, Frank Sinatra, and listening to Mel Brooks tapes with his family. He loved Waffle House breakfast, his daughter’s brisket and matzah ball soup, and Dairy Queen chocolate dipped cones. He loved travelling, music, art, and photography. He was an artist at heart and enjoyed working with his hands. Photography, stained glass, woodworking, and gardening kept him busy throughout his life. After retiring from corporate America, he returned to his true passion of music where he found himself playing for at least three different bands in Atlanta: The Atlanta Wind Symphony, Sentimental Journey Orchestra, and The Callanwolde Concert Band.

Bernie is already profoundly missed by those left to carry his memory: his children, Stephanie and Warren Lampert, Jeffrey and Jennifer Tuvlin, and Michael and Vickie Tuvlin, as well his grandchildren, Danielle, Noah, Maddie, Andrew, Ethan, Jared, Jeremy, and Hayden along with so many friends who became family in Atlanta and around the country.

The Tuvlin and Lampert families are grateful to the many amazing people who cared for both Bernie and Rita, especially those at Village Park Milton and Melissa Hyatt from Premier Care Management of Georgia.

Bernie’s funeral was officiated by Cantor Nancy Kassel of Temple Beth Tikvah with Shivas being led by Rabbi Brad Levenberg and Rabbi Ron Segal of Temple Sinai.

To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com. The family requests that donations be made to The Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University or to the Callenwalde Concert Band.

Sukkoth and Thanksgiving

low) and the Etrog (citron), and take their meals in sukkoth (booths). There are blessings, prayers, and rituals -- the purpose of which is to recognize the Creator as the source of all our blessings and as Sovereign of the Universe, as well as to reflect on the unity of humankind.

Rabbi Richard Baroff DD

A Thanksgiving festival is one in which grateful people thank G-d for the harvest and for other bounties which pious people do not take for granted. This is true for the ancient Israelites and, later, the Jewish people as they celebrated the festival of Sukkoth. It is also true for the Pilgrims and, later, the American people as the November holiday of Thanksgiving took shape over the centuries.

The Israelites were commanded by G-d in the Torah to observe a week-long feast in the seventh month welcoming the fall harvest in the Land of Israel. They were commanded to take up the four species and to dwell in booths. Accordingly, Jews celebrate Sukkoth beginning on the 15th day of Tishri for 7 days (or 8 days), take up the Lulav (palm, myrtle, and wil-

The Pilgrims who fled England to Holland, and then sailed to the New World on the Mayflower, wished to live a life strictly based on Scripture. As part of the Puritan movement in England they strongly felt that the Church of England, like the Roman Catholic Church from which it broke away, was not sufficiently based on Scripture. Rather, they thought that G-d’s word was mediated by layers of Church tradition controlled by a complex hierarchy of clergy.

As is well known, the Pilgrims’ first winter at Plymouth (in what would become Massachusetts) was a tragic disaster -- almost half the settlers died. With the help of the Wampanoag people the second winter went much better, and so the English colonists invited the Wampanoag to a Thanksgiving Feast in 1621. What is not common knowledge is that

the idea for the first Thanksgiving was based on what the Pilgrims called, “Tabernacles,” the festival described in Leviticus Chapter 23.

The Pilgrims had been living in Leiden in the Netherlands for about 10 years before sailing for the New World. Leiden, famous for its university, is in the southern part of Holland on the Rhine River.

It is an old city, established during medieval times. It is known that the biblical languages of Hebrew and Aramaic were taught at Leiden University when the Pilgrims resided there. There may have been a few Jewish students there, though a fully established Jewish community, as existed in Amsterdam, had yet to develop. But it is clear that the Pilgrims were well aware of Jews and Judaism, so that years later they naturally drew on the Festival of Tabernacles -- the means of giving thanks to the Almighty for the successful second harvest in Plymouth. The Pilgrims also identified with the Hebrews, and later the Jews, as refugees from religious oppression, in search of a new home—their “Promised Land.”

The Calvinist traditions of the Pilgrims at Plymouth colony, and one decade later, the much larger Puritan colony at Boston, informed the culture of what would become the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and, later, the region of New England. One aspect of this is the importance of the Old Testament text, which corresponds basically to the Hebrew Scriptures, albeit arranged differently and translated at times with a Trinitarian emphasis. Given this theological frame of reference, it would be no surprise that these Protestant Reformers would be inspired by the very ancient Hebrew feast day of Sukkoth when they wished to formally express their gratitude to Providence for the successful harvest with an autumnal feast. It is within this cultural environment that Thanksgiving eventually took root in the United States, becoming such an important day in the American collective psyche. The Hebraic Biblical contribution to American civilization is mostly indirect, but nonetheless is very substantial. So, this Thanksgiving remember its roots in Sukkoth. ì

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The exhibition features over 130 yad(s) contributed by artists and craftspeople from diverse backgrounds and religions, representing a wide range of artistic mediums. This showcase celebrates the boundless creativity of both historical and contemporary artisans.

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