Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCIII No. 39, October 5, 2018

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NEXT WEEK: EDUCATION

VOL. XCIII NO. 39

OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 26 TISHREI 5779

LEGAL GUIDE

Jewish Law vs. Judicial Law

Still Life with the Open Torah by Alex Levin

ATLANTA REFUGEES NOT SMART FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS TO APPLY FOR REFUGE IN ATLANTA. PAGE 6

COVER STORY, PAGES 14-15

SUKKAH GALLERY

A COLLAGE OF SUKKOT AROUND TOWN, BEAUTIFUL ENOUGH TO BRING DOWN THE HOUSE. PAGES 25-27

LEGAL DIRECTORY

GET TO KNOW LOCAL JEWISH ATTORNEYS & SEARCH OUR INDEX. PAGES 18-24


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PUBLISHER MICHAEL A. MORRIS michael@atljewishtimes.com

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Contributors This Week ALLEN LIPIS BOB BAHR DAVE SCHECHTER JAN JABEN-EILON LOGAN C. RITCHIE MARCIA CALLER JAFFE RABBI DAVID GEFFEN RACHEL FAYNE

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The Scales of Justice Justice, justice shall you pursue. The famous biblical verse from Deuteronomy helps guide us in our legal issue this week as we explore the basic laws of Judaism and talk to a variety of high-profile and accomplished attorneys. From Randy Kessler, divorce lawyer to the stars, to Steve Labovitz, former Atlanta chief of staff who pulled the strings behind some of the city’s main entertainment destinations. We’ve got an interview with David Schoen, a regular on “Hannity” who takes on Islamic terrorists after having defended such ruthless clients as the Mafia and international narcotics dealers. Defending those who are wrongly convicted is a job for the new chairman of the Georgia Innocence Project, Walter Jospin, who we profile in this issue. We also spotlight a high school sophomore who started his own nonprofit legal firm providing free legal advice to those who can’t afford it. Doing the right thing, it seems, is a Jewish law. Whether enforced or not, un-

like our American judicial laws, Jews are required to help others, we learn through rabbis and Jewish law experts consulted for our cover story. In local news, we report how the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Florence relief effort is helping a flooded Jewish community in North Carolina. Whiteville, N.C., happens to have a relationship with the Atlanta-based Jewish Community Legacy Project, which is helping formulate a plan for the community’s eventual dissolution. While flood victims may get a helping hand, international refugees seeking asylum in the U.S. may not want to apply to Atlanta, according to HIAS president and CEO Mark Hetfield, who visited the Jewish community last week. Welcoming friends, relatives and community members into their makeshift outdoor shelters, check out our gallery of Jewish Atlanta’s most photogenic sukkot, including a few from area day schools. As the Jewish high holidays end, we

THIS WEEK still have other Jewish events to commemorate, including the historic bombing of The Temple on Oct. 12. We take time to remember what happened in this community 60 years ago that changed ethnic relations and continues to inspire us. From the civil rights movement to the legal battles fought in today’s courtrooms, our goal is to continue documenting the justice pursued for all.

CONTENTS REFLECTIONS ��������������������������������� 4 LOCAL NEWS ���������������������������������� 5 BUSINESS ����������������������������������������� 7 ISRAEL NEWS ��������������������������������� 8 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 10 COVER STORY ������������������������������ 14 LAW �������������������������������������������������� 16 LEGAL GUIDE �������������������������������� 18 COMMUNITY ��������������������������������� 25 CALENDAR ������������������������������������� 30 BRAIN FOOD ���������������������������������� 36 OBITUARIES ���������������������������������� 37

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CONTACT INFORMATION GENERAL OFFICE 404.883.2130 kaylene@atljewishtimes.com The Atlanta Jewish Times is printed in Georgia and is an equal opportunity employer. The opinions expressed in the Atlanta Jewish Times do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, Ga. POSTMASTER send address changes to Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328. Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta, GA 30328 © 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

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REFLECTIONS Simchat Torah in the USA After WWII In the 19th century, the initial refer- be possible. When the time comes, we ences to Simchat Torah in the USA were should all get our dancing shoes ready.” from New York, Boston, Chicago and Simchat Torah can be characterized Philadelphia, but as the Jewish popula- as the holiday that was not supposed to tion grew in the western sector of North be. In the second Temple period, the ToAmerica, the joyous holiday was celebrat- rah text was followed: Just one day of obed there as well. servance at the end of SukThis story appeared in kot, Shemini Atzeret. The the San Francisco Call newsday after that began as Isru paper Oct. 5, 1879: “On SimChag (bind the holiday) and chat Torah, all the sephorim, ultimately earned the name scrolls of the law, were taken Simchat Torah for the manout of the Ark, curled in ner in which joy and Torah procession around the synawere combined. gogue.” Until the 1950s the holiIn Atlanta, my uncle, day was a part of the Jewish Rabbi Samuel Geffen (z’’l), Rabbi David men’s preserve. As the parhad the Shearith Israel reli- Geffen ticipatory rights of women gious school kids primed to grew, Simchat Torah offered sing "Sisu V’ Simchu B’ Simchas Torah" the opportunity for innovative additions on the eve of the holiday 1936, for the first in the services at the Reform and Consertime over WSB radio. vative synagogues. While the country had weathered a Rabbi Stuart Geller of Jerusalem, a depression, Geffen’s Simchat Torah cel- Reform rabbi in USA before retiring and ebrations were so innovative each year, making aliyah 14 years ago, offers a dethey influenced 60 new families to affili- scription of what a standard ritual was ate with Shearith Israel by 1936. like in many synagogues like his: “The As he left to study for ordination, the major observance of the chag in our ReSouthern Israelite weekly Anglo-Jewish form Temple on Long Island was on erev paper, noted: “Samuel Geffen is a very tal- Simchat Torah. At the service we comented educator. The children increased pleted the reading of the Torah and then their Judaic knowledge through classes, began with Bereshit. However, people organized assemblies for each holiday, did come to the morning service because and performances of Hebrew and Yid- we chanted the Yizkor prayer for loved dish songs on WSB radio. We wish Mr. ones.” Geffen well; it is certain he will be a real Geller notes further: "The scrolls success in the Judaic field.” were paraded around the synagogue for The observance of Simchat Torah in one hakafah, and then we marched out synagogues rose in the 20s and 30s in the the doors into the street. The police were USA. Then the catastrophic Holocaust accommodating by blocking off the area pushed the holiday into the background. around us from moving traffic. About “Now that the war is over,” Rabbi Hyman 500 people were present; the volunteer Friedman noted in January 1946, “the choir sang many songs, sometimes using most enthusiastic celebration of Sim- world-famous melodies with Hebrew inchat Torah and other holidays will again serted into them.”

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He explains what happens next: “The many scrolls were returned to the ark of the synagogue; just one remained outside. We carefully unrolled it, giving adults a chance to hold the scroll and listen to sections read. Of course, we finished Devarim and started with Bereshit. Then the Torah scroll was rolled up and there was much Israeli-style dancing, starring the children who formed a long line for ‘Yesh Lanu Tayish.’” Food was there too. “Finally, back into the ballroom for an elaborate Kiddish. I stood in the sukkah for everyone who wanted to bench lulav, usually about a hundred people.” What was fascinating in the 60s, 70s and 80s was how the spirit of Simchat Torah was used to bring more American Jews into the battle, forcing the former Soviet Union to liberate Jews held behind the Iron Curtain and permit them to go to Israel or other countries. Certain individuals in the United States, in particular the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Rabbi Pinchas Teitz, had been secretly sending tallitot, tefillin and siddurim to the refuseniks who so wanted to practice their Judaism openly. When Golda Meir was in New York for Simchat Torah in October 1969, she spoke movingly before the United Jewish Appeal and other national agencies, giving an “overwhelming tribute” to these forgotten Jews. She labeled Simchat Torah as an International Day of Solidarity and called on all the Jews in the USA and throughout the world to stand up and be counted in this “war.” The following year, with a great deal of planning, Rabbi Haskel Lookstein and his wife appeared in Moscow for Simchat Torah. With much help from refuseniks and the American embassy, Lookstein assembled thousands of Soviet Jews outside the main synagogue of Moscow and led them in singing and dancing. During Chol HaMoed Sukkot in 1971 a Simchat Torah Freedom Procession marched to the Soviet Mission in Glen Cove, Long Island. As the New York Times reported, “100 Torah scrolls were carried; Hebrew songs were sung with gusto; freedom slogans were shouted over and over.” On Oct. 12, 1971, Simchat Torah itself, 10,000 Jews in New York marched. The hakafot created tremendous energy in “publicizing their concern for the plight of Russian Jews.” In 1974, Simchat Torah, Oct. 4, witnessed rallies in 50 American cities: New York, Chicago, Dallas, St. Louis, Philadelphia and many more, to intensify the

Courtesy of William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum archives

Torahs in Savannah, Georgia during April 1962.

campaign to free Soviet Jews. From then on, year after year, the holiday rallies grew and grew, until 1988 when the doors were opened. My wife, Rita, and I were in the former Soviet Union in August 1988, visiting refuseniks in little towns like Bendery. At the hotel where we stayed in Kiev, we witnessed the first visit by Israelis who had parents and siblings living in the Ukraine. Certainly, the growing interest in the hatan Torah, hatan Bereshit, and the kalat Torah and kalat Bereshit raised those annual Simchat Torah honors to a higher level. Honoring sisterhood and brotherhood presidents as the kalot and hatanim infused Simchat Torah with an aura never previously seen. The energy of women who have become a dynamic part of the Simchat Torah celebrations is found in Rabbis Jill Jacobs and Jill Hammer. Jacobs once wrote, “The image of ‘dancing in the face of darkness’ as Jewish women became liberated on Simchat Torah meant much to me because in my synagogue we burst out into the chilling fall night air dancing with the Sifrei Torah. As we danced, we were fortified with strength and energy for the challenges ahead.” In her guide and commentary to Simchat Torah, Rabbi Hammer wrote, “I have never in my adult life missed Simchat Torah. I have danced with the Torah in student chapels, in formal synagogues, in the seminaries and in the streets of New York and Boston.” Then she stressed how important the holiday has been to her. “To join a dance circle, I have run down 40 or more stairs. I have crept through crowds to make sure I was dancing. Simchat Torah is the holiday I look forward to all year ... not only because of its celebration of joy, motion and music, but because it’s a celebration of G-d as changemaker. For me, Simchat Torah celebrates the possibility of rereading the Torah in a new light.” ■


LOCAL NEWS Chabad Intown Enjoys Prime Lantern Parade Route By Rachel Fayne For as long as the Lantern Parade has illuminated the Atlanta BeltLine skies each year with brightly colored large and small lanterns, Chabad Intown has participated. Since the parade’s inaugural year in 2010, Chabad had been involved in small ways, but 2018 was different. This was the first year Chabad had a building on the route. As a result, the Saturday night parade Sept. 22, attended by more than 60,000 people, brought more to Chabad’s location on the route than ever before. In December, Chabad raised enough funds to purchase a building that happens to be directly on the BeltLine and in the path of the Lantern Parade. The building off of Ponce de Leon Avenue has been in use since February, and plans are even being made for a Chabad café and co-working office space inside. The parade began directly in Chabad’s path on the Eastside Trail, where it crosses Irwin Street and Lake Avenue, and continued north to Piedmont Park. The Ponce location is at the tail end of the parade route, and Chabad took advantage of the prime real estate for the event by setting up a VIP section for parade onlookers outside its building. Chabad Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman and helpers arrived before the 8 p.m. start time with water bottles, adult beverages, lantern-making supplies, and activities for the children. More volunteers arrived later with easy-to-assemble lanterns, LED lights for children’s lanterns, and glow sticks, as well as other party favors. The crowd eventually swelled to at

least 50 people, more than Chabad Intown has ever seen at the parade. Rabbi Schusterman explained the increased interest. “We’ve had more people than ever at high holiday services,” he said. “This is also one of the best spots in the city to watch the parade. We’re literally on the BeltLine. Most buildings around here are set back, but our parking lot is directly in front of the building where the BeltLine is. It’s very convenient for most people who want to join us.” Children, parents, teens, and young adults also participated in the traditional Chabad activities to mark the end of the Sabbath. Havdalah blessings were said over candles and wine. The group sang together in the musical service for the first opportunity of the week to thank G-d for giving light. Candles were passed around, as well as the traditional spices for smelling. “The idea to be involved in the parade like this came from the idea that lanterns are all about providing light, and that’s what we’re celebrating here,” Rabbi Schusterman explained. “I think Jewish people everywhere are looking for meaningful experiences in a communal setting, and traditional Jewish events that are religious, but also bring the community together, are needed. People are thirsty for Judaism and Jewish meaning in their lives where they are today, not necessarily in a synagogue. A lantern parade isn’t just a lantern parade. It’s an opportunity for Jewish meaning. A walk down the BeltLine also becomes an opportunity to walk into a sukkah for a minute. That’s what Chabad Intown and this event are all about.” ■

Lanterns in all shapes and sizes are carried down the Atlanta BeltLine.

Kids and teens work on crafts and creating their own lanterns.

Chabad Intown’s new building boasts a prime location on the Atlanta BeltLine.

Rabbi Schusterman and friends prepare supplies for the Lantern Parade.

On the Eastside Trail, where the parade crosses Irwin Street and Lake Avenue, continuing north to Piedmont Park.

Danielle Seligmann, Jodi Salomon, and Stefani Newman stand at the Intown Chabad booth and enjoy the parade.

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LOCAL NEWS

Asylum Seekers Not Smart to Apply in Atlanta By Logan C. Ritchie When the Trump administration announced last month the proposed refugee resettlement ceiling of 30,000 for FY 2019, HIAS stepped into action. It is the lowest number set by any president since Jimmy Carter was in the White House. In Atlanta last week, HIAS president and CEO Mark Hetfield called the Presidential Determination a betrayal in America’s history and global leadership. HIAS is a 130-year-old global Jewish nonprofit organization that aids refugees through advocacy, resettlement, legal services and international protection. “By setting the refugee number this low, this administration is betraying the commitments we made after World War II – followed by decades of bipartisan support – to ensure that the world never again turns its back on innocent people seeking safety. “During a period of unprecedented crisis, America has signaled it is a nation in retreat, and as a result the outlook for refugees looks even more bleak,” said Hetfield, who raised money and met with community leaders during his Atlanta visit. In 2016, the refugee ceiling set by President Barack Obama was 110,000; in 2017, President Donald Trump set it at 45,000. Cabinet officials had not approved the proposed 30,000 refugee ceiling as of press time earlier this week. While in Atlanta, Hetfield met with Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and spoke at Congregation Shearith Israel. His message was clear: It is a Jewish value to welcome the stranger. “We used to help refugees because they were Jewish. Now we help because we are Jewish. You don’t have to look far back into history to find someone in your family who

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Gili Getz/HIAS // Mark Hetfield, HIAS president and CEO, welcomes hundreds to the Jewish Rally for Refugees in New York, February 12, 2017. The gathering was one of several nationwide convened by HIAS and co-sponsored by Jewish organizations.

A community Havdalah at Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, D.C., 2016, part of a National Day of Jewish Action, organized by HIAS refugees. Hetfield speaks about the refugee crisis, and how the Jewish community's experience prompts us to help refugees today – not because they are Jewish, but because we are.

was a refugee,” he said. In Georgia, HIAS partners with the International Rescue Committee in Atlanta, New American Pathways, Lutheran Services of Georgia, World Relief and Catholic Charities. Jewish Family & Career Services closed its resettlement services around 2009 because it did not have the expertise to accommodate people coming from different countries and situations. In Greater Atlanta, resettlement

Christie Materni/HIAS // Hetfield with Hammon Alawad, a recently

resettled Syrian refugee in Toledo, OH, September, 2015.

Mark Hetfield visiting refugee camps in Eastern Chad in 2007.

often lands refugees in Clarkston and Stone Mountain. Hetfield said Atlanta has one of the harshest immigration courts in the country. “Asylum seekers are smart to not apply in Atlanta. Once you declare your intentions at HartsfieldJackson [Atlanta] International Airport, you are automatically detained,” he said. He explained that judges in Atlanta are infamous for denying status. Detainees are sent to Stewart Detention Center, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Lumpkin, Ga., about 150 miles south of downtown Atlanta. Stewart is widely reported to be unsafe, riddled with drugs and a steep staff turnover. Hetfield said volunteers, once welcoming refugees and asylum seekers with resettlement, are switching gears since restrictions on refugees narrowed. “The feedback we receive is frustration waiting for refugees to arrive,” he said. “People want to help.” HIAS now encourages supporters to engage with candidates and politicians. “Advocacy is the way to go. So many people want to volunteer and so few refugees are coming in. It is easier to get engaged as an advocate,” he said. HIAS’ welcome campaign encom-

passes 420 synagogues across the U.S., including seven in Atlanta: Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Congregation Bet Haverim, Congregation Shearith Israel, Temple Beth Tikvah, Temple Kehillat Chaim, Temple Sinai and The Temple. Hetfield believes refugees are a net gain to the economy. He said cynics, more likely to be first generation American Jews, cannot deny that our ancestors are like the people coming to the U.S. today. Millions of refugees live in the United States, and not one has committed a single act of terror. On Oct. 19-20, HAIS’ National Refugee Shabbat program engages the Torah portion Lech Lecha, which details the beginning of Abraham leading the Jewish people in a search of freedom. Bet Haverim plans to participate. ■ According to the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, 737 refugees were accepted into Georgia between Oct. 1, 2017 and Aug. 31, 2018. Below are the countries from which the highest number of refugees arrived to Georgia. Afghanistan: 39 Bhutan: 108 Burma: 172 Democratic Republic of Congo: 263 El Salvador: 35


BUSINESS First Israel-Atlanta Women’s Accelerator Announces Participants

Hub Central and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta announced the 11 participants in the city’s first Israel-Atlanta women’s accelerator to benefit the local community. Those who won the right to participate in ATL+Israel from a pool of 20 applicants include women whose ideas range from wellness and alternative therapy to sports and educational tools. The five-week, project-based accelerator helps Jewish women ages 21 and older develop their startups – at various stages of development – and take them to market. The female innovators may have a great idea, but need help taking their concept, project or small business to the next step. They can connect with Israeli entrepreneurs and companies and learn how to apply innovative techniques and technologies. The program will meet once a week for three hours and there will be relevant and independent work in between for participants to complete on their own. Mentors will be available throughout the accelerator to offer support and guidance. The program runs from Oct. 15 to Nov. 14 with a session to pitch to potential investors Dec. 13. The winning participants are: Jo Chitlik, Investment Climate Statements – reports for analyzing foreign investment Jamie Drummer Fox, Botanic Springs – DIY aromatherapy Lani Preis, chick*u*do – family dynamics independent empowerment tools Karen Callen, Mozi – app for encouraging families to connect Rachel Gurvitch, Catchball – all-female catchball league practicing at Marcus JCC. Karen Zion, Israel-themed charm bracelets – jewelry evoking aspects of Israeli society, food and modern culture, and charms for Birthright Israel participants Liat Philipson, Awareness Space – workshops/retreats inspired by yoga and spirituality teaching and therapies Galia Sabbag, Shira Books – book project promoting love and appreciation of Jewish holidays Tiah Tomlin, My Style Matters – improve patient care, holistic view of healing Alison O’Neil, Senior Select Seal – seal to show that product works for older adult, also for anyone with disability of lowered capability. Laura Sladkus, VEGO (Vacation Exchange-GO) – international corporate travel experience allowing children of employees to stay with another employee’s family. Michele Weiner-Merbaum, Platinum Platters – corporate edible gift bags and baskets, particularly with themed desserts. ■

Forbes also offered these statistics about the team: Blank paid $545 million for the team in 2002. It earned $451 million in revenue last season ($34 per fan) and had $113 million in operating income. It received $74 million in gate receipts and incurred $220 million in player expenses. ■

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Atlanta Falcons More Valuable to NFL The Atlanta Falcons are the 13th most valuable franchise in the National Football League, according to Forbes rankings released Sept. 20. The team, owned by The Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank, ranked 15th in 2017 and 19th in 2016. Its current valuation is $2.6 billion, a 5 percent increase over the previous year, according to the Forbes ranking. Dallas Cowboys ($5 billion) and the New England Patriots ($3.8 billion) ranked first and second, according to the annual list. The Cowboys have topped the list for the past 12 years. “The first year at the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium was a hit for the Falcons, with local NFL revenue up 70 percent by Forbes’ count. The team made news with its cheap concessions, like $2 hot dogs and sodas and $5 beers,” Forbes wrote. Fans got to the stadium earlier and spent more money with prices 50 percent lower than the previous year, the publication reported. The cut in concession prices also “created goodwill with season ticket holders who were forced to pay personal seat licenses as high as $45,000 for the right to buy tickets. Some $200 million from bonds backed by the Atlanta hotel-motel tax revenue is going toward construction of the stadium, and around $700 million of additional dollars from the same tax will go toward costs of financing, operating and maintaining the stadium over 30 years. So giving a little back could go a long way with the faithful.”

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ISRAEL NEWS Trump Supports Two-State Solution in Israel On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week, U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time publicly expressed support for a two-state solution in Israel. “I like a two-state solution,” Trump said at a joint press conference after meeting with Netanyahu. “That’s what I think works best.” Asked if he thought the Palestinians would return to the table, Trump said, “Absolutely, 100 percent.” He said he expected to release a peace plan in the next two to four months. Trump also said he supported Israel’s strong military stand. “We are very much in favor of what Israel is doing as far as their defense is concerned. They’re aggressive, and they have no choice but to be aggressive. It’s a very difficult part of the world.” During the press conference, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his hardline position to the U.N. against a corrupt terrorist regime in Iran. Trump had urged the U.N. to isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran over its failure to comply with international law.

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“Iran’s leaders sow chaos, death, and destruction. They do not respect their neighbors or borders, or the sovereign rights of nations. Instead, Iran’s leaders plunder the nation’s resources to enrich themselves and to spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond,” Trump said. “The Iran deal was a windfall for Iran’s leaders. In the years since the deal was reached, Iran’s military budget grew nearly 40 percent. The dictatorship used the funds to build nuclear-capable missiles, increase internal repression, finance terrorism, and fund havoc and slaughter in Syria and Yemen.” As a result, the U.S. “has launched a campaign of economic pressure to deny the regime the funds it needs to advance its bloody agenda.” In August, the administration began “re-imposing hard-hitting nuclear sanctions that had been lifted under the Iran deal.” More sanctions will resume Nov. 5, he said. “And we’re working with countries that import Iranian crude oil to cut their purchases substantially. “We cannot allow the world’s lead-

Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters.

President Donald Trump meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York.

ing sponsor of terrorism to possess the planet’s most dangerous weapons. We cannot allow a regime that chants ‘Death to America,’ and that threatens Israel with annihilation, to possess the means to deliver a nuclear warhead to any city on Earth. Just can’t do it. “We ask all nations to isolate Iran’s regime as long as its aggression continues. And we ask all nations to support Iran’s people as they struggle to reclaim their religious and righteous destiny.” Netanyahu recognized Trump’s alliance with Israel against Iran. “You backed up your strong words with strong actions. And I think the fact that you brought American sanctions to bear has cut the cash machine of Iran and its campaign of carnage and conquest in the Middle East. And we, we live in the Middle East. Israelis are there who are subject to this Iranian danger and want to thank you, especially. Secondly, I want to thank you for the extraordinary support that you have shown for Israel in this building, in the U.N. No one has backed Israel like you do, and we appreciate it.” He pointed out that it was their first meeting since the U.S. moved its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. “You’ve changed history. And you’ve touched our hearts.” Netanyahu also thanked Trump’s “robust defense of Israel’s right to self-defense, which you just expressed. I think everybody should understand that Israel will continue to do what is necessary to defend ourselves against Iranian aggression in Syria and Lebanon, anywhere else.”

The next day, on Sept. 27, Netanyahu told the U.N. that Israel exposed a secret atomic warehouse in Tehran “for storing massive amounts of equipment and material from Iran’s secret nuclear weapons program.” As a result, “Israel will do whatever it must do to defend itself against Iran’s aggression. We will continue to act against you in Syria. We will act against you in Lebanon. We will act against you in Iraq. We will act against you whenever and wherever we must act to defend our state and defend our people.” He said he was proud of Israel and hoped that Europe’s leaders would take stronger action. “Instead of coddling Iran’s dictators, join the U.S., and Israel and most of the Arab world in supporting new sanctions against a regime that endangers all of us and all of the world.” If the Iran deal had one positive result, Netanyahu admitted, it was that “by empowering Iran, it brought Israel and many Arab states closer together than ever before … in an intimacy and friendship that I’ve not seen in my lifetime and would have been unimaginable a few years ago. And you know, when you form friendships around a threat, around a challenge, you quickly see opportunities, not only for security, but how to bring a better life for our people which Israel can help and wants to help do. Israel deeply values these new friendships, and I hope the day will soon arrive when Israel will be able to expand peace, a formal peace, beyond Egypt and Jordan to other Arab neighbors, including the Palestinians.” ■


News From Our Jewish Home

ISRAEL PRIDE

Israel Empowers Women from Russian-Speaking Countries

Israel held a seminar several weeks ago promoting gender equality and sustainable development for female professionals from Russian-speaking countries. Held at the Golda Meir MASHAV Carmel Training Center in northern Israel, Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Through the Use of Information and Communication Technologies addressed the issue of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The course was held in cooperation with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Israel periodically holds such courses for women around the world, most recently for women of Ghana. Established in 1961 and later named after Israel’s first female prime minister, Golda Meir, MCTC helps train women engaged in community work in the newly emerging states in Africa and Asia. Since the establishment of MCTC, some 20,000 participants from more than 150 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, Central Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Oceania and the Caribbean have attended more than 650 capacity-building programs and workshops and 29 international conferences for women leaders, conducted in Israel. MCTC also leads between 20 and 30 institutional capacity-building programs in partner countries each year and for hundreds more trainees throughout the developing world. MASHAV is Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Good Results for Colon Capsule Scan

Israeli biotech company, Check-Cap Ltd., last month announced positive interim results for its colon capsule scan. Check-Cap’s capsule detects cancerous and precancerous polyps in patients without them having to undergo a colonoscopy or even any preparation. Check-Cap is a clinical-stage medical diagnostic company engaged in the development of C-Scan, an ingestible capsule-based device for the preparation-free, colorectal cancer screening. The company received promising results with its post-Colonoscopy Endoscopy approval study of the C-Scan system Version 3. Data from the multi-center clinical investigation showed the positive results for detecting patients with polyps in an unprepped colon. The objective of the study was to assess safety and clinical performance of the C-Scan system Version 3 in detecting patients with polyps. In a recent multi-center study on 31 evaluable patients, the C-Scan system Version 3, equipped with improved algorithms, demonstrated a sensitivity (ability to correctly identify polyps) of 76 percent with specificity (ability to correctly identify lack of polyps) of 80 percent for polyp detection, when using the full patient population with a gender-based analysis. Confirmatory colonoscopy and C-Scan system results analyses were performed by independent expert investigators who were blinded to corresponding test’s results. Improvements to the C-Scan system version 3 include better scan imaging density, 2-D/3-D imaging and a new motility analysis algorithm that was recently tested on two years of continued clinical study data.

Natural Protein to Treat Osteoporosis

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev scientists have discovered a natural protein in the body that can be tailored to treat osteoporosis. The protein can be modified to inhibit its standard bone destruction function, which avoids many of the side effects common with current treatments, according to an Aug. 24 journal article in Public Library of Science (PLOS) Biology. There is great demand for new highly efficient and specific drugs to treat osteoporosis, a chronic disease affecting millions worldwide, the journal states. “Many bone diseases –including osteoporosis, in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue – are characterized by excessive and uncontrolled bone resorption by bone-destroying cells known as osteoclasts. Therefore, controlled and specific inhibition of osteoclast activity is a desired outcome in treatments for bone diseases,” according to the journal summary. “This study thus introduces a versatile platform for the creation of new-generation therapeutics with high efficacy and specificity for osteoporosis and other bone diseases. “It also provides new tools for studying molecular mechanisms and the cell signaling pathways that mediate osteoclast differentiation and function.” ■

Today in Israeli History

This telegram from Henry Morgenthau on Aug. 31, 1914, inspired American Jews, led by Jacob Schiff and Louis Marshall, to raise $50,000 for Jews in Palestine.

Oct. 5, 1941: Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish member of the high court, dies at age 84 in Washington. His embrace of Zionism made its support more acceptable among American Jews, and he helped secure U.S. support for the Balfour Declaration in 1917 and the British Mandate in Palestine in 1922. Oct. 6, 1914: Gold worth $50,000, raised by American Jewish leaders in response to a plea from Henry Morgenthau, arrives in Jaffa on the U.S.S. North Carolina to help the Jewish community in Palestine. Morgenthau, the U.S. ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, sent Jacob Schiff a telegram Aug. 31 about his concerns that World War I would cut off European support for the community. Oct. 7, 1985: Members of the Palestinian Liberation Front seize the Achille Lauro off the Egyptian coast four days into an 11-day cruise out of Genoa, Italy, with 748 passengers. The terrorists fatally shoot wheelchair-bound American Jewish passenger Leon Klinghoffer. They surrender Oct. 10 at Port Said, Egypt. Oct. 8, 1576: Ottoman Sultan Murad III orders 1,000 Jewish residents of Safed to be moved to the city of Famagusta in

Cyprus in the hope that they will spur economic development on the island. An additional 500 Jews from Safed are forced to move to Cyprus a year later.

Sarah Aaronsohn killed herself with a revolver hidden in her Zichron Yaakov home.

Oct. 9, 1917: Sarah Aaronsohn, a resident of Zichron Yaakov and a leader of the Nili spy network sending information from Palestine to the British, dies eight days after being captured by Turkish authorities and four days after shooting herself in the head to avoid further torture and interrogation. Oct. 10, 1983: Yitzhak Shamir becomes Israel’s seventh prime minister after fellow Likudnik Menachem Begin resigns for health and personal reasons. Shamir serves until elections in July 1984 result in a national unity government, with Shimon Peres as prime minister for two years, followed by Shamir for two years. Oct. 11, 1938: Arab leaders conclude a four-day conference in Cairo by adopting the Resolutions of the Inter-Parliamentary Congress, a response to the proposal of the British Peel Commission in 1937 to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. The Arabs reject partition and call for an end to Jewish immigration but accept the “sacrifice” of allowing Jews already in Palestine to remain. ■ Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details.

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OPINION The Temple Bombing Echoes Across Six Decades Sixty years ago, in the pre-dawn of Sunday, Oct. courthouse as Hoffman read that poem, and others 12, 1958, 50 sticks of dynamite detonated at the north from a recently published collection titled “Memory & entrance of The Temple, the Reform congregation on Complicity.” Peachtree Road. “a gaping hole blasted The blast tore through brick and mortar, through in the north side of the building offices and classrooms – where hours later dozens of where just hours before we’d been dancing Jewish children would have been present – and through to Elvis Presley, Perry Como, the psyche of Atlanta’s Jewish community, particularly and the Kingston Trio.” those old enough to remember the lynching of Leo The blast shattered not only stained-glass windows, Frank in 1915. but also the innocence of youth. A group calling itself the “Confederate UnderJanice Rothschild Blumberg remembers the teleground” claimed responsibility, as it had for the bomb- phone call that shook her and her husband, Rabbi Jacob ings and attempted bombings of synaRothschild, from their sleep. gogues in the Southeast in the months If the bomb was intended as a message before. These terrorists acted as the self-apto just one person, it was to Rabbi Rothspointed representatives of a segment of the child, who had become a vocal advocate for population uneasy with changes underway civil rights, delivering a message of racial in American society. equality from his pulpit. Eve Hoffman, then 15 years old, had “For us at the time, ‘the bomb that worn a yellow dress – purchased at Rich’s healed’ applied specifically to healing the department store, where her grandfather long-festering wound of the Leo Frank was an executive – the night before. That’s case,” Rothschild Blumberg said. “After the when she was installed as president of the Dave bombing, the overwhelming support of the youth group at the synagogue her great- Schechter gentile population, from city officials to the From Where I Sit grandparents had helped found in 1867. likes of those who in 1913 shouted ‘Kill the “I felt pretty – really, really pretty,” HoffJew’ outside the courthouse windows, fiman wrote in a poem entitled “The Yellow Dress.” nally convinced us that we were safe here. Its broader A few weeks ago, during the Decatur Book Festi- meaning at the time referred to the fact that, thanks to val, several dozen people sat quietly upstairs in the old Mayor Hartsfield’s instant, forthright response, people

10 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Southern Israelite Oct. 17, 1958 who knew that segregation was wrong were emboldened to say so. “It’s still ‘the bomb that healed,’” she said. “I might even go so far as to call it the first event in a series, followed by the Atlanta dinner honoring Martin Luther King for winning the Nobel Peace Prize, that led to the Olympics and other signature happenings which brought Atlanta to its current prominence.” Five men were charged in the bombing. The trial of the first defendant ended in a hung jury, and then an acquittal. The other four were never tried. Sixty years later, the echoes of The Temple bombing reach us at a time when a segment of the population is expressing unease about America’s changing demographics. A subset of these people feel emboldened to vent their hostilities in public. Disturbing images of marchers carrying symbols of oppression from the last century and the century before that, and of chanted threats that seem to change little with time shock and sadden those who strive to improve relations between people of different races, religions and ethnicities. If those who bombed The Temple thought that 50 sticks of dynamite would deter the growth of Atlanta’s Jewish community or deter Jews from supporting the civil rights movement, time has proven them wrong. The Jewish community of Atlanta, some 14,000 in 1958, is today nearly 10 times that number. The messages preached today, from the pulpit of The Temple and from pulpits at congregations throughout metropolitan Atlanta, speak of the values of equality and diversity and inclusion. The echoes of The Temple bombing reach us as a reminder that change, however inexorable, is not always universally accepted and often is not achieved without struggle. ■



OPINION Letter to the Editor: Jewish Democratic Women's Salon, Atlanta is disheartened to see that Brian Kemp’s campaign is trying to mislead voters about Stacey Abram’s long-standing support of Israel. Again and again, Stacey Abrams has proven herself to be a progressive champion and a staunch ally of the Jewish community. She is a highly accomplished political and business leader, and JDWS is proud to support her in her bid for governor. Abrams has a close and longstanding relationship with our Jewish community: As Ms. Abrams wrote and published in the AJT, November 2017 “Let me be clear: I unequivocally support a two-state solution as the path to resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, with Israel as the national homeland for the Jewish people. Moreover, I reject the demonization and delegitimation of Israel represented by the BDS narrative and campaign.” In 2011, she traveled to Israel with the American Jewish Committee’s Project Interchange to better understand the issues facing our community, and she’s an alum of the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition’s Marvin C. Goldstein Project Understanding Young Leadership Retreat. She’s been an enthusiastic participant in AIPAC’s annual legislative Georgia events, and she has always engaged with us on the most important issues affecting our state. And yet, some still try to sow doubt about her commitment to the Jewish community. Stacey Abrams supports both Israel and our core Jewish values. For example, Abrams advocates for high-quality education, including keeping public dollars in public schools. She has been a fighter for women’s rights – from paycheck fairness to reproductive justice to maternal health care. She has made access to health care – particularly expansion of Medicaid – a core tenet of her campaign. She believes in sensible gun safety laws that are designed to protect our families. She has defended our state from legislation that discriminates against our LGBTQ community, and she has stood in fierce opposition to laws that infringe on the true meaning of religious freedom. Stacey Abrams has actively supported our community’s charitable and civic work, including raising awareness and visibility for the Jewish community in the halls of our state legislature. Georgia has a long history of investing in Israel bonds and Stacey Abrams is committed to continuing a thriving business relationship between Israel and Georgia.

Stacey Abrams believes in the core tenets of our democracy, including freedom of religion and freedom of speech. She listens to all Georgians, no matter who they are or where they come from, and she takes the time to understand the issues that impact them. She is a centrist with a proven track record of reaching across party lines to represent the best interests of all Georgians, and she always puts Georgians first. Stacey Abrams’ commitment to addressing all of our concerns with honor and integrity has left us certain that she is the most principled, qualified, and visionary leader in the race for governor. The Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon stands with Stacey because she stands with us – with our community, with Israel, with our families, and with our values. We trust her leadership, and we are proud to support her gubernatorial campaign. Jewish Democratic Women’s Salon, Atlanta Letter to the Editor: I am an Atlanta native, having attended Henry Grady High, going to school and associating with many Jewish students and friends, even on a few occasions enjoying the facilities at the AJCC. In my college years I came upon Savannah, which I had read was an undiscovered gem of great architecture. That was in the mid 70s. In more recent years, while brainstorming on civic and economic improvements for the city, I came upon a surprising bit of knowledge. Surprising, due to its historical significance and that I had up to that point considered myself rather educated regarding Georgia’s colonial history. I discovered the now-demolished residence of a Jewish family on Orleans Square. This find opened up for me a whole chapter of fascinating history. Discovering that Jewish families were among those who settled the forested bluff in 1733 came as a major shock. To investigate further, I learned of their contributions to the survival and growth of the colony and later to the struggle for political independence from Britain, and the almost seamless integration into the social fabric, while also maintaining their faith. This became a story which I felt needed to be told. My own interest in seeing restored to Savannah some of its lost gems now took on another meaning as well. In this case, there was synergy to be found in combining the two. There could be little better for countering ethnic and religious stigmas, fomented by lack of knowledge and association, than to herald these notable and heroic stories of a shared history. I cannot in a short letter convey the many events which illustrate the integration of Jewish-Americans into the life of Savannah, Ga., and the American South. I have composed an online ‘white paper’ for those interested. A rebuild of the Minis House, whose plans are in the Library of Congress, thanks to the WPA (Works Progress Administration), is an opportunity to present this history to a far larger non-Jewish audience than that which is drawn to Philadelphia’s National Museum of American Jewish History. Savannah, Ga., and those interested in Jewish-American history, have a unique opportunity. The original lot has minor development, permitting today a purchase which in the future could be more problematic. I hope I can inspire the right parties to take up this opportunity. A history museum in a rebuilt Minis House would, unlike the sterile commercial national museum in Philadelphia, be operationally self-sufficient. It would be as or more inviting than any museum in Savannah, noted by a sign in front as the Home of Georgia’s First Family. Aldin Lee, Atlanta native ■ The AJT welcomes your letters. We want our readers to have an opportunity to engage with our community in constructive dialogue. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

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COVER STORY

Jewish Law vs. Judicial Law You accidentally knock over and break a jar of spaghetti sauce in an American supermarket. Jewish law says you should do the right thing and pay for it. But, of course, no one does that in modern America because the law of the land takes precedence. We might alert a store associate to the mess so it can be cleaned, and apologize. But we generally aren’t compelled to pay for the damage. Doing the right thing. In American judicial law, there’s no obligation to compel one to do it. But Jewish law does require such in- Roni volvement, such as when someone needs Robbins help, Michael Broyde, an authority on Jewish law, said in a phone interview from Israel. He’s on sabbatical from Emory University School of Law since August, and soon to begin teaching about Jewish law as a Fulbright Senior Fellow at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. The difference between Jewish law and American law largely comes down to ethics, obligations and punishment, according to the rabbis and Jewish law experts consulted for this story. When it comes to Jewish law, enforcement isn’t even the end-game. Education is, said Broyde, an ordained rabbi who was a member of the Beth Din of America – the largest Jewish law court in the country – and once served as its director. “Many aspects of the law are not enforced. They are designed to remind us how to conduct ourselves.” In the case of being an active bystander, Broyde explained in a recent essay about the Jewish obligation: “Each exhortation of the Jewish tradition needs to be looked at individually to determine whether the Jewish 14 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

legal system is intending to provide court-ordered sanctions for a violation, or secondary enforcement, or was making a purely religious claim that even it did not intend to be enforceable.” Still, Jewish law’s demand for “active intervention – in some cases even to the bystander’s own small risk or detriment … but certainly with time and money – expresses a distinctive core value of responsibility for one’s neighbors’ safety and well-being,” Broyde wrote. Despite the Good Samaritan Law, which exempts liability when becoming an involved bystander, “the common law legal tradition denies the central obligation of anyone to help anyone else, even when the help is easy to provide, without any risk to the provider and of enormous benefit to the recipient. Grounded in a historically libertarian view of law and society, and predicated on the idea that the most the government can do is instruct its citizens what not to do rather than what to do, the law simply never mandated that people help other people who are in distress.”

Rabbi Michael Broyde

Caring for others may not be an American law, but it’s certainly a Jewish one, said Broyde, who was also founding rabbi of Young Israel of Toco Hills. “For me Judaism is way of life in terms of ritual and ethical practice,” said Rabbi Joshua Heller, senior rabbi of Conservative Congregation B’nai Torah. “Jewish law guides me how I treat other people and my relationship with G-d as well.” But how Jewish law is interpreted depends on which denomination you consult, said Heller, considered an expert on Jewish law and practice. He is a member of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly and serves on its rights and rituals subcommittee. “The Conservative approach to Rabbi Joshua Heller Jewish law is based on a balance between precedent and adaptation.” While Conservative Jews see the law as binding, they believe implementation can be based on interpretation, he said. For example, certain prayers that require a minyan can include women in the 10-person quorum. And while he and other Conservative rabbis may agree to that stipulation, he understands his more religious grandfather, who was also a rabbi, might not have approved any change in the traditions of 2,000 years ago. Jewish law is generally divided into four areas, Broyde explained: Daily law, including Sabbath and holidays; family law, including marriage, divorce and child


COVER STORY

1903 painting of a Jewish wedding from the book "Jewish Art," edited by Grace Cohen Grossman.

custody; commercial law; and ritual law, including keeping kosher and respecting your parents. One case that might be referred to a rabbinic court or beit din, he said, is if a rabbi has a dispute with his congregation over the parameters of his job. Or an organization that believes it received a donation of stolen funds might seek the advice of a Jewish court, Heller said. While enforcement can’t be ensured, there’s an understanding that the ruling of a rabbinic court is binding, he said. “Sometimes people want to do the right thing even if no one is forcing them.” Reform Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder often sits on a beit din for conversions. When she was in Guatemala five years ago, she helped conduct 35 conversions in two years. “There was a very extensive Jewish knowledge test.” In general, the main rabbi guiding the candidate’s conversion invites two colleagues to help decide the case, said Abusch-Magder, who is rabbi-in-residence of Be’chol Lashon (In Every Tongue), an organization recognizing racial and ethnic diversity in the Jewish community. Conversion involves a Jewish education, demonstrating an understanding and commitment to the religion and a vow to only believe in one G-d, she said. The candidate also offers a statement of belief, what they know about Judaism and why they want to become Jewish. She only recalls once in the 10 years she’s been a Reform rabbi having to turn away a conversion candidate for not being ready. Different denominations have their own understanding of what it takes to become a convert, she conceded. In Reform circles, most males are required to be circumcised, or if they already are, the hatafat dam brit involves a symbolic drawing of a drop of blood. The candidate also is required to be spiritually cleansed in the mikveh. Abusch-Magder believes there’s something very compelling about someone choosing to convert to Judaism. It’s not easy being Jewish, but there’s a sense of history and family and community that resonates with someone who is considering conversion, she said. “It’s an extraordinarily powerful thing to witness.” ■

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LAW Wrongful Conviction By Jan Jaben-Eilon Walter Jospin last month became chairman of the Georgia Innocence Project, which helps free innocent prisoners, primarily using DNA testing and analysis. A former director of the Atlanta regional office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Jospin was a logical choice for the position. “I have a history of working with social justice programs,” said Jospin, a lawyer with Finch McCranie. He was a past chairman of the regional office of the Anti-Defamation League, the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, the Georgia Legal Services Program and the Zaban Paradies Center for homeless couples. Jospin also served as general counsel and co-chair of major gifts for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. “Walter is going to be a strong leader,” says Clare Gilbert, executive director of GIP, which also includes Alabama. “He will ramp up fundraising and he wants to triple the size of our budget.” Explaining his willingness to take on the new responsibility, Jospin says the GIP is a “worthy organization. I’m aware of the outrageous stories of usually low-income minorities who are sentenced to life for offenses they didn’t commit because of a confluence of issues such as misconduct by the prosecutors, racism or not having enough money to pay lawyers.” The GIP’s mission is not only to free innocent prisoners, but also to educate the public about wrongful convictions, prevent others from sharing the same fate and connect exonerated people with resources to help them rebuild their lives. Perhaps not surprisingly, Jospin is not the only Jewish member of the GIP board. In fact, “all the board members are Jewish,” says Jospin, providing the list. That includes his wife, Senior Judge Wendy Shoob, Julie Seaman, David Balser, David Sarnat, Robert Sheft, Mark Hackner and Garrett Van de Grift. One of Jospin’s goals, however, is to increase the size – and diversity – of the board. He also wants to establish more relationships with law firms in Georgia and Alabama that will take on pro bono cases. He points to the example of King & Spalding, which took on the case of State vs. Dennis Perry, in which a white man in Brunswick, Ga., was accused of murdering a black woman. “The poor guy was in prison for 15 years for a crime he did not do. It was a terrible injustice. The judge (who convicted him) has since been removed from the bench for unethical conduct.” According to Jospin, the GIP is “not lacking for business. That’s why we need

Walter Jospin is the new chairman of the Georgia Innocence Project.

Clare Gilbert is executive director of the Georgia Innocence Project.

more lawyers to help us. These cases are time-consuming.” As it is, GIP supervises a number of law students as interns each semester, Gilbert said. She provided statistics to back up Jospin’s point about the number of wrongfully convicted prisoners. “Studies estimate that between 3 and 6 percent of men and women are innocent of crimes for which they are imprisoned,” she said. Since the prisoner population in Georgia is 54,860, with an additional 27,109 in Alabama, that means a minimum of 2,459 prisoners in those states are innocent, GIP reports. The most frequent factors leading to wrongful convictions, Gilbert said, include government misconduct, eyewitness misidentification, inadequate defense, incentivized informants, false confessions and flawed forensic science. Since its inception, GIP has received more than 7,100 requests for assistance from prisoners, said Gilbert, who started as a volunteer in April 2015. “My first case got me hooked,” she recalled. “I’ve always kind of been driven by a sense of fairness. I feel I can have a voice and help people advocate for themselves. These cases are heartbreaking.” Jospin credits the book, “Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption” by attorney Bryan Stevenson, for inspiring him to get involved in GIP. Stevenson is founder and director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Ala. EJI created The Legacy Museum, known for focusing on the history of lynching in the United States. Oct. 2 was the fifth annual International Wrongful Conviction Day, which began as an effort of the Innocence Network, organizations providing pro bono legal and investigative services to people trying to prove their innocence of crimes for which they’ve been convicted. And, Saturday, Oct. 6, Emory University is holding an all-day conference entitled “Miscarriage of Justice: Examining Factors that Lead to Wrongful Convictions.” ■


LAW

High School Sophomore Starts Legal Nonprofit Firm AJT Staff While many of his peers are just starting to plan for future careers, Gabriel Weiss already has a nonprofit legal firm under his belt. The venture began two years ago as an outgrowth of Weiss’ efforts to help his father, attorney Cliff Weiss, provide free legal advice to Emory University employees and students. Emory University Student Legal Services was staffed by 40 to 50 law students who acted as paralegals, said Gabriel, a sophomore at Atlanta Jewish Academy. And his father was the only lawyer for 28 years. “In recent years, Emory placed an emphasis on helping mostly people who were deemed indigent, which did not apply to many employees at Emory, nor to students who were mostly dependent upon their parents. Finally, last spring Emory decided that the program was unnecessary and cancelled it,” Gabriel said. “Knowing that there was a need for such a program, and having seen for myself how effective SLS was in providing assistance to clients who had nowhere else to go for legal advice, I told my father that I wanted to start my own legal services program. That is how Legal Aid for All began.” Once SLS ended, Gabriel began researching other legal aid services around Atlanta, and learned that the two main organizations are Georgia Legal Services Program and Atlanta Legal Aid Society. “Both of these organizations have several offices around the metro Atlanta area, but they only assist people who are below or a little above the poverty level. This confirmed my belief that something should be done to assist the lower middleclass people who earn significantly more than the poverty level, so they do not qualify for free legal aid, but still cannot afford to pay the legal fees that most lawyers charge today.” After realizing the need for a new kind of legal aid program, Gabriel researched how to start a nonprofit corporation. “My father assisted me in completing the documentation and filing. I used some of my own money to pay for filing and registration fees, and my parents donated the rest of the money that was needed.” But Gabriel’s age became a sticking point. Georgia law requires members of the board of directors of a corporation to be at least 18 years old. “Since I am only 16, I cannot be on the board.” So the board’s directors became Gabriel’s dad and Terry Flynn, who “has a long history of working with nonprofits and has been a wonderful addition to the organization," Gabriel said. "My role is to manage the daily operations and handle all of the marketing and website, as well as screen all of our clients, gather information about their cases, and refer them to the volunteer attorney who can best help them.” Legal Aid for All is an approved nonprofit corporation that provides legal services for anyone in the metro Atlanta area, regardless of their income, Gabriel said. “Unlike the other legal aid organizations, Legal Aid for All is available for everyone, not just people who fall near the poverty line. Reduced fees are charged to clients on a sliding scale, with low- to middle-income people paying only a small fraction of regular legal fees,” he said.

Gabriel’s involvement with the indigent had another consequence. “Due to the political climate over the last few years, I have become more interested in politics, economics and sociology. It seems to me that the working poor and most of middle America have been left out, with no help from the government or most charitable organizations. I have seen and heard about all types of programs for people who are indigent or do not work, and I know that those programs serve a necessary, humanitarian purpose. The problem is that there are many more people in our society who need assistance.” Through his work with Legal Aid for All, Gabriel has seen the struggles first-hand. “With lawyers commonly charging from $250 to $750 per hour in Atlanta, most working families simply cannot afford to hire lawyers to represent them, unless they are involved in some type of contingent-fee injury case,” he said. “Our organization makes legal representation affordable for everyone, with rates ranging from $25 to $75 per hour or based upon reasonable flat fees for entire cases. This enables clients to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars instead of tens of thousands of dollars for litigation.” There’s also a level of dignity that comes into play. “I have heard from clients and lawyers who say that clients who actually pay something for legal representation feel better about their cases. People act more reasonably because they have some of their own money at stake. Clients feel like the services they are receiving are more valuable. Most importantly, there is less stigma of

Sixteen-year-old Gabriel Weiss, founder of nonprofit, Legal Aid for All.

feeling like a charity case since the clients are paying something for their legal representation, and that seems to make them feel better about their situation.” Legal Aid for All currently has six attorneys who have agreed to provide free initial consultations and advice, and then handle further representation at agreedupon, reduced rates and flat fees for clients on a broad range of legal issues. “We are always looking for more attorneys to agree to take cases from time to time at reduced rates and flat fees, and we certainly appreciate all referrals.” To make a tax-deductible donation, or if you or someone you know could benefit from Legal Aid for All, contact Gabriel at gfweiss@legalaidforall.org, or call 770-375-1668. ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 17


LEGAL GUIDE Get to Know Five Attorneys from Jewish Atlanta A handful of Atlanta’s most influential lawyers grace these pages. They represent some of the most prestigious law firms and a variety of specialties and clients. Among the lawyers featured, Steve Labovitz rubbed elbows with the likes of Bill Campbell and Maynard Jackson. David Schoen is a regular guest of Sean Hannity’s and Randy Kessler took on divorce cases involving Ludacris and Usher. Kara Gordon Silverman of Arnall Golden Gregory challenged the good ole’ boy network in the health care and regulatory arena, and David Schulman of Greenberg Traurig represents video game and eSports publishers. Read about their challenges and adventures here.

Just as importantly, he is anchored in Jewish values and volunteers for the community. Men Looking Ahead magazine selected him as one of “Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Lawyers.” He is recognized as a “Georgia Super Lawyer” for 2011-2013 in the area of government law by Atlanta magazine and was named to Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite in the area of governmental affairs.

Jaffe: You have been a catalyst in implanting many important developments downtown. Labovitz: I would call it “redevelopment.” Recently I have been involved in the Georgia Aquarium’s expansion, as well as previously working on the Coca-Cola and children’s museums, and some residential housing. I am proud of the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium as a true partnership between the (Atlanta) Falcons organization, the state and the city.

Jaffe: Of what project are you Jaffe: How did you the most proud? wind your way into Labovitz: Other than my famthis type of law? If you have been to Atlantic Station, Steve Labovitz, partner at Dentons. ily, Atlantic Station, … the wonderful Labovitz: I spent the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, or Philips Areretail, entertainment and business the early part of my cana (now State Farm Arena), Pittsburgh na- Marcia blend, which began as an environmental nightmare – reer as a litigator. In 1994, serendipitously, tive Steve Labovitz’s shadow is there. He’s a Caller Jaffe built by a steel mill’s environmental waste. This took I became the chief of staff for the City of matchmaker, visionary, catalyst and rainapproximately 10 years and involved a great deal of govAtlanta as my law partner, Bill Campbell, was asked maker who ambled out of Emory Law School into a legal ernment interactions, incentives from the city, county by Maynard Jackson to run for mayor. I worked on the career formulating public and private partnerships. Labovitz had his hand in many of the museums, campaign, and after Campbell won, the city was prepar- and school board, which ultimately made it viable. arenas and stadiums we so proudly tout as the redevel- ing for the 1996 Olympics. One of the major projects was Jaffe: How does Judaism interplay with your caopment of downtown Atlanta. If companies have busi- keeping the Atlanta Hawks downtown as, at the time, reer? ness issues with the government, and governments are they were thinking of moving to the suburbs. I gained Labovitz: My practice is tied into my beliefs. How interested in privatization or outsourcing tasks, the an understanding of how the intricacies of government I treat people, “giving back to the community” defines senior partner at Dentons law firm, is the “go-to” guy. work and how it intersects with business. who I am. I have been chairman of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for many years; the last four being significant as I assisted in the negotiation of the separation of the Festival from the American Jewish Committee as an independent 501c3. I believe in Jewish Family & Career Services and have served on its board. For a short time, I led the governmental efforts of the Atlanta Jewish Federation.

Labovitz Shapes Atlanta

Smile

MORE MORE REASONS REASONS TO TO

Jaffe: What do you enjoy in your leisure time? Labovitz: We love to travel the world: Iceland, Israel, Australia, New Zealand were all terrific. South Africa was my favorite. Heading soon to Berlin with the American Jewish Committee in October.

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Jaffe: What do you think of the recent turmoil in the Atlanta city government administration? Labovitz: I feel that newly elected Mayor Bottoms is hampered by dealing with the leftover issues and problems created by the Reed administration. The Atlanta City Council has many new members who are learning, but I believe they have the potential to be one of the best councils ever. They are very bright and determined! Jaffe: Who is your personal hero? Labovitz: Political hero is Hubert Humphrey, but my everyday hero was my father-in-law. Hubert Humphrey had a valiant but failed run for the presidency; but I loved his philosophy of taking care of others, especially those who do not have the ability to take care of themselves. My father-in-law felt the same way. We are both fiscally conservative, yet “socially liberal.” I feel very lucky of how blessed my life has turned out and I am passionate about helping others!


LEGAL GUIDE Kessler Takes on the “D” Word Jaffe: I know you also have many liberal views and cannot be pigeon-holed. Do you think that President Trump is good for Israel? Schoen: I am often at odds with friends about Trump’s support on this topic. Israel might be the only right-wing issue I hold. The U.S. has recently chosen to cut off funding (Taylor Force Act signed by Trump) to the Palestinian Authority since they continue funding violence and terrorism. We need not fuel this. Personally, I am tired of being so nice for this long. Also note Israel’s new plan to deduct money given to the PA for the murder of Israelis. It’s a small step.

High above Atlanta in spacious artclad offices, Randy Kessler is known nationwide as an expert in family law. Having served as chairman of the family law section of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia, Kessler was told by his cab-driving grandfather that he was destined to be an attorney. Surprisingly mild-mannered, Kessler has shelves of signed memorabilia from topshelf entertainers and sports figures. He said, “I can’t disclose many details, but I was involved (one side or another) with Dominique Wilkins, Ludacris, Usher, Neyo …” Jaffe: Some say the divorce rate is related to the economy? Kessler: My experience is that in “poorer” economies, people are more stressed and more likely to divorce. Divorce went up after Hurricane Katrina. Divorce is economy-proof. Jaffe: Do you attempt to counsel couples to reconcile? Kessler: That is not my role. I do, however, have a creative tool, the “Post Nup.” If someone feels the marriage may be salvageable over time, we can separate them financially, etc., until a decision is made. I advise folks not to file for divorce unless they are 100 percent sure. Contrary to popular belief, there is no particular advantage in filing first. Jaffe: How important is “getting a get” (Jewish divorce document)? Kessler: Some clients do want this. If the spouse is unwilling, we have ways to motivate behavior, like financial penalties until it’s done. Jaffe: What percent go to trial? Kessler: Ten to 20 percent. I try very hard to first settle. Jury divorce trials are becoming a lost art. I teach a course on it. Jaffe: Many same-sex divorces?

Randy Kessler, founding partner of Kessler & Solomiany, LLC.

Kessler: Absolutely. It was trickier before it was made legal by the Supreme Court. I chair a seminar on “Family Law for the Modern Family.” There is a process even for those who are pseudo-married – like the division of real estate.

Jaffe: I keep informed with what you put on social media. Schoen: Yes, but I post cute animal videos too!

Jaffe: Do you think Middle East peace is a possibility? Schoen: I’m afraid that Israel is in a tough neighborhood, and it will always remain so. Jaffe: Thoughts on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian 2016 election intrusion? Schoen: I disapprove of his team who all have the same point of view.

David Schoen, federal criminal defense and civil rights attorney.

Continued on page 20

Jaffe: Are you doing many pre-nups? Kessler: Yes, as incomes rise, and millennials are financially wiser and waiting later to marry. Jaffe: Are Jews more likely to divorce? Do we have a higher degree of acrimony? Kessler: We have more than our share of Jewish divorces. Acrimony has no religion. My approach is not to begin belligerently. If pushed, I can indeed be VERY tough. Sometimes the philosophy must be: “To get peace, prepare for war.” But my preference is to “kill them with kindness.” How we resolve a divorce can help pave the way for future interactions between couples, who may still need to cooperate well for the sake of their children.

Schoen a Frequent Guest on Hannity Watch “Hannity” Fox News Channel, where local attorney David Schoen gives his expert opinions on a range of very hot topics related to criminal defense. Schoen, who lives in Toco Hills, has offices in New York and Alabama, and is known as a relentless pit bull who goes after Islamic terrorists for damages to Americans overseas. He has represented the Mafia, accused rapists, capital murderers, and international narcotics dealers. Yet the

He had a full universe of lawyers from which to choose. His chief attorney, Andrew Weissmann, is the single most unethical prosecutor from my personal experience.

sanctity and security of Israel remains among his top priorities. Schoen recently emceed a panel on terrorism at the United Nations. Jaffe: “Hannity” is the most-watched show on cable TV. What’s it like being a media star? Schoen: I am also on his radio show … at least once a week, sometimes more …. often with a few hours notice on a breaking news topic. It’s also one of the most hated shows, so I occasionally get flack.

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LEGAL GUIDE Continued from page 19

A Young Lawyer Practices Her Craft, Takes on “Old Boys Club” Atlanta native Kara Gordon Silverman specializes in defending hospitals, nursing homes, hospices, and other longterm care providers. As an associate at Arnall Golden Gregory, she defends her clients against disputes with the government, fraud and abuse investigations, payment and reimbursement disputes and other regulatory matters. Jaffe: Out of law school four years, is the practice of law what you anticipated? Silverman: Overall, the practice of law is what I expected. I chose to go to a “lifestyle firm,” which affords a good work-life balance where 60-hour weeks are atypical. Even on my hardest days, I am grateful that my childhood dream of being an attorney has manifested. Although I am no Erin Brockovich (environmental activist), an average of 25 percent of my schedule is spent outside of the office – meeting with clients, assisting with an internal regulatory investigation, defending depositions, and appearing in court. I love the variety which allows me to escape my desk and get my hands dirty.

Jaffe: What case are you most proud of winning? Silverman: One of my victories involved predatory advertisements that a plaintiff’s firm brought against one of our nursing home clients. These advertisements included false statements about the care that my client provided, and were placed in local newspapers to solicit prospective clients. We successfully obtained a restraining order to prevent further dissemination of the ads. The case is now on appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court.

a hearing in an outlying county, opposing counsel – in front of my client– attempted to argue his position by stating that he has been doing this a lot longer than me and even asked how old I was. I politely responded that regardless of age, I can read the law just as well as he can, and believed his position was incorrect. In the end, my client appreciated how I stood up for myself. And thankfully, the case resolved in our favor.

Jaffe: Being female, have you experienced any condescension from the “old boys club”? Silverman: One of the biggest reasons I was attracted to AGG was the number of female partners. We have a great culture and foster equality despite our differences. Many of the lawyers in our firm have large families – with four plus kids – and manage to balance it all with a budding practice. But outside my firm, the old boys club remains strong. In one instance at

Greenberg Traurig’s David Schulman came from a family of academics, which exposed him to science and technology at an early age. Growing up in Israel from age 3 to 15, he was primed to become an attorney on the crest of the wave of the burgeoning dot-com era in what became the tech industry. His knowledge of Israel and Hebrew as his first written and spoken language puts him front and center of the cross-border super deals between American and Israeli companies. And then there are video games and eSports.

Legal Tekkie Guru Connects Israel

Jaffe: How did you settle in Atlanta and in this field? Schulman: I went to Emory Law School. I intended to stay through the Olympics in ‘96, but I made great friends, had good career opportunities, and decided to stay. That coincided with the growth of the internet and the technology industry. Not a lot of people had expertise in the area, and my knowledge in software and computer programming made me uniquely qualified to represent these companies. In 2000 I became the general counsel of Radiant Systems. In 2004, we divested BlueCube Software, a division of Radiant, which we sold to JDA Software. I help found BlueCube Software and joined Greenberg Traurig when it was sold. Jaffe: And you have an Israel legal practice? Schulman: Yes. Technology is a major sector of the Israeli economy and many Israeli companies seek to do business in the U.S. I’m fluent in Hebrew and travel to Israel two to three times a year. I work with Israeli companies in the U.S. and I also represent U.S. companies doing business in Israel. I’ve helped American companies buy Israeli companies or make investments in Israeli companies. Jaffe: How did you start working with video game companies? 20 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Kara Gordon Silverman, healthcare practice associate at Arnall Golden Gregory.

David I. Schulman, shareholder at Greenberg Traurig.

Schulman: Back in 2004, the founder of Radiant Systems, Erez Goren, started a video game company. That company has grown into Hi-Rez Studios and I’ve been fortunate to support them ever since. With time, I developed an expertise in video game publishing and eSports and that has led to representing additional studios like Tripwire Interactive, Survios, The Void, the Israeli company Plarium, and others. Jaffe: As a parent of youngsters, do you regulate their use of technology? Schulman: Exposure to technology is an important tool; kids should learn how to use computers and iPads. There are also excellent education apps. But passive entertainment is different, and there need to be boundaries. Jaffe: Do you think violent video games incent people to do bad things? Schulman: No, I don’t. If someone is unstable, they act out with or without games. Jaffe: How do you unwind? Schulman: I love spending time with my family. Last week I taught my middle daughter how to ride a bike. I read a lot. And of course I play Smite. ■


LEGAL GUIDE

Jewish Atlanta Legal Guide Though comprehensive, this Jewish Atlanta legal guide features only those lawyers who submitted their information for publication. The guide includes attorneys from a variety of practices, including: adoption and fertility law, business law, criminal law, employee benefits, estate planning, family law and mediation, immigration law, intellectual property, labor law, litigation, personal injury, real estate, and tax law. If your services are not included, contact our office at 404-883-2130 for more information about our community directory opportunities.

Local Lawyer Highlights Clifford Maxwell Weiss

Clifford Maxwell Weiss has the highest AV Preeminent peer review rating given by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in its Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Weiss is also recognized by Corporate Counsel magazine as a legal leader in employment law and received fivestar and perfect 10 ratings from Avvo. Weiss represents both employers and employees in the areas of labor and employment law and general litigation. He also develops programs for employers in the areas of employment discrimination and harassment, workers’ compensation, unfair labor practices, disability claims, wage and hour claims, unemployment claims/taxes, employment contracts, severance agreements, non-compete, non-solicitation and non-disclosure agreements, wrongful discharge, Occupational Safety and Health Administration charges, employee handbooks, and supervisory training. He also represents employees in negotiating employment contracts, severance agreements and all types of employment litigation. Prior to forming Fox and Weiss, P.A., he practiced labor and employment law in the Atlanta offices of two nationwide law firms. He earned his undergraduate and law degrees from Emory University, where he received numerous awards and honors. Weiss has been an adjunct professor of law at Emory’s School of Law, and has taught courses in wage and hour law, trial techniques, legal research, writing and appellate advocacy. He also served for 28 years as counsel for Emory’s Student Legal Services. Weiss was appointed by governors Zell Miller, Roy Barnes and Sonny Perdue to be a state administrative hearing officer for the Georgia Department of Community Health and the Georgia State Health Planning Agency.

Douglas S. Weinstein

Douglas Weinstein practices across a broad range of intellectual property law and many technical areas, including electronics, semiconductors, telecommunications, software, medical devices, and mechanical arts. He drafts patent applications and performs patent prosecution for a variety of small, medium and large clients. This includes U.S. prosecution and coordination of world-wide prosecution. Weinstein leads complex licensing negotiations between large and medium-sized companies and licensors/licensees. He has also frequently acted as outside intellectual property counsel for small- to medium-size enterprises, assisting them with a wide range of IP and other issues that arise in their businesses. He provides strategic IP planning services to clients of all sizes to better protect, mine and exploit their intellectual property. Weinstein has litigated in many federal district courts and Delaware Court of Chancery. He assists clients with challenges faced by third-party IP, including assistance with design-around efforts, as well as rendering infringement and validity opinions on third-party patents. Weinstein also has experience on IP due diligence in the mergers and acquisitions context. He has been a frequent speaker at legal, industry, and business meetings, and drafter of multiple articles.

Scott I. Zucker

Scott Zucker is a partner in the Atlanta law firm of Weissmann Zucker Euster Morochnik & Garber, P.C. and has been practicing law since 1987. He represents companies throughout the country on legal matters, including property development and construction, employment and landlord rights, and assists in resolving commercial disputes in state or federal courts and through alternate dispute resolution. Zucker obtained his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and his law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He is a frequent lecturer at national real estate conventions and is a contributing legal writer for trade magazines. Zucker is a past president of Temple Sinai, a certified mediator and arbitrator, a fiction novelist and an advocate for creating ethical wills. ■

Fox and Weiss, P.A. Attorneys at Law

Proud to support the Atlanta Jewish Times Representing Both Employers and Employees in Labor & Employment Law 3348 Peachtree Road Tower Place 200, Suite 700 Atlanta, Georgia 30326 cmweiss@foxandweiss.com 770-317-1767 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 21


LEGAL GUIDE Adoption and Fertility Law > Business Litigation

> Entrepreneurial/Start-Up

> Non-Compete/Trade Secrets

> Executive Employment & Severance Agreements

> Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Finance > Labor and Employment > Real Estate Litigation > Banking & Creditors' Rights > General Corporate > Family-Owned Businesses > Commercial Real Estate > Succession Planning

> Drone Law/Unmanned Aircraft > Estate Planning

Lynn Holland Goldman, Esq. Claiborne| Fox| Bradley LLC

60 Lenox Pointe Atlanta, Ga. 30324 404-442-6969 ext.3 Lynn@gababylaw.com Our firm specializes in adoption, surrogacy, egg, sperm and embryo donation. Other partners: Lila Bradley, Ruth Claiborne and Amy Fox

> Alcohol Licensing

Business Law

> Hospitality Industry

Berman Fink Van Horn

> Zoning and Land Use > Alternative Dispute Resolution > Not-For-Profit Organizations

Awards & Recognition

3475 Piedmont Road, Suite 1100 Atlanta, Ga. 30305 Berman Fink Van Horn is a local law firm that provides a broad scope of business services and depth of expertise. Practice partners: Benjamin Fink, Esq. 404-261-7588 bfink@bfvlaw.com Jeffrey N. Berman, Esq. 404-261-1850 jberman@bfvlaw.com Charles H. Van Horn, Esq. 404-261-8650 cvanhorn@bfvlaw.com

3475 Piedmont Road, Suite 1100 Atlanta, Georgia 30305 404-261-7711

www.bfvlaw.com follow us @bfvlaw

Kenneth N. Winkler, Esq. 404-261-3988 kwinkler@bfvlaw.com Lawrence Kasmen, Esq. 404-693-8302 lkasmen@bfvlaw.com

Cantor Colburn is one of the largest and most productive full-service intellectual property law firms in the country – and is in top 10 in patents and trademarks – serving clients worldwide.

Neal Weinrich, Esq. 678-681-6016 nweinrich@bfvlaw.com Lea Dearing , Esq. 678-681-6014 ldearing@bfvlaw.com Tom Sowers, Esq. 678-681-6015 tsowers@bfvlaw.com William Piercy, Esq. 404-693-8399 wpiercy@bfvlaw.com

Charles I. Pollack, Esq. Fryer, Shuster, Lester & Pollack

Douglas S. Weinstein, Counsel 1180 Peachtree Street, N.E. Suite 2050 | Atlanta, GA 30309-7525 404-607-9991, ext. 2112 dweinstein@cantorcolburn.com

1050 Crown Pointe Parkway, Suite 410 Atlanta, Ga. 30338 770-668-9300 cpollack@galegal.com Fryer, Shuster, Lester & Pollack, P.C. is a general practice law firm located in the Perimeter Center area in North Atlanta. Other parters: Keith E. Fryer, Michael H. Shuster and William R. Lester Also handles: family law, real estate, civil litigation

Evan M. Altman, Esq.

8325 Dunwoody Place, Building Two Atlanta, Ga. 30350 770-394-6466 evan.altman@laslawgroup.com Thirty years experience, AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, Legal Elite by Georgia

22 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Trend magazine. Also handles: bankruptcy, catastrophic injury

JJ Gotlieb, Esq. DLA Piper

1201 West Peachtree St. NW, Suite 2800 Atlanta, Ga. 30309 404-736-7833 jj.gotlieb@dlapiper.com JJ assists companies and investors in a variety of corporate matters, including venture capital and private equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, corporate governance and other legal and business matters.

Matthew Ames, Esq. Balch & Bingham LLP

30 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., NW Atlanta, Ga. 30307 404-962-3531 mames@balch.com Experienced trial lawyer who specializes in resolving business disputes. Also handles: intellectual property

Neil A. Moskowitz, Esq. The Moskowitz Law Firm, P.C.

5755 North Point Parkway, Suite 284 Alpharetta, Ga. 30022 678-775-3557 neil@moskowitzlawfirm.com Thirty-two years of legal experience, specializing in commercial landlord tenant disputes, commercial collections, repossessions, and creditor rights.

Theodore I. Blum, Esq. Greenberg Traurig, LLP

3333 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 2500 Atlanta, Ga. 30305 678-553-2100

Scott Zucker, Esq. Weissmann Zucker Euster Morochnik & Garber, P.C.

3495 Piedmont Road, Building 11, Suite 950 Atlanta, Ga. 30305 404-364-2300 Scott@wzlegal.com Other partners: David Weissmann, Paul Morochnik, Mark Euster and Ron Garber Also handles: real estate, banking and construction

Criminal Law Brandon Rosenbloom, Esq. Michael D. Barber and Associates, PC

500 Sun Valley Drive, Suite G-3 Roswell, Ga. 30076 404-445-8494 brandon@barberlegalcounsel.com A team of former prosecutors ready to help with criminal and civil matters. Free consultations.

E. Jay Abt, Esq. The Abt Law Frim, LLC

2300 Henderson Mill Road, NE, #300 Atlanta, Ga. 30345 800-NOJAIL-9 jay@abtlaw.com www.abtlaw.com


LEGAL GUIDE Ryan Schwartz, Esq. Schwartz Trial Law

4470 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, #303 Dunwoody , Ga. 30338 678-460-7568 Ryan@schwartztriallaw.com

Employee Benefits Anne Tyler Hall, Esq. Hall Benefits Law

270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 325 Atlanta, Ga. 30328 678-439-6236 dhall@hallbenefitslaw.com Hall Benefits Law is an ERISA and employee benefits law firm focused on helping your company design and implement the best benefit plans possible so you can attract and retain top employees while avoiding costly legal non-compliance errors.

Estate Planning Leonard F. Bittner, Esq. Magellan Legal

4170 Ashford Dunwoody Rd. NE, Suite 480 Atlanta, Ga. 30319 404-257-8811 jennifer@magellanlegal.com Magellan Legal provides comprehensive planning to minimize family liability and taxes, and to maximize privacy. Other partner: J. Kevin Meaders

Michelle W. Koufman, Esq. Davis, Pickren, Seydel & Sneed LLP

21 Standish Avenue NW 285 Peachtree Center Ave., Suite 2300 Atlanta, Ga. 30303 678-371-6148 mwpkoufman@gmail.com

Family Law and Mediation Alyson Lembeck, Esq. Ellis Funk

3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 400 Atlanta, Ga. 30309 404-233-2800 alembeck@ellisfunk.com Alyson has 16 years experience practicing exclusively divorce and family law. Alyson cares for clients, advocates strongly, and provides high quality work and practical solutions. Alyson received the Atlanta Jewish Times Reader’s Choice Award for being one of the top attorneys.

Dawn Smith, Esq. Smith & Lake LLC

One West Court Square Decatur, Ga. 30030 678-595-7211 dsmith@smithlakelaw.com Smith & Lake is a law firm dedicated to assisting individuals and children to obtain fair and favorable results in family law matters. Dawn Smith and Sheri Lake bring decades of experience to the issues facing today’s changing families. Other partner: Sheri Lake

J Pia Koslow, Esq. Koslow Law Offices, LLC

3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 400 Atlanta, Ga. 30305

404-872-0900 pia@koslowlaw.com Focus is on facilitating a personalized and effective divorce process.

Samantha O. Lennon, Esq. Hunter, Weinstein & Sometstein, L.L.C.

1000 Abernathy Road 400 Northpark Town Center Suite 1425 Atlanta, Ga. 30328 770-512-7776 Sl@hbwslaw.com Samantha practices in the areas of divorce and family law. Her office is located in Sandy Springs.

Immigration Law Dale Schwartz, Esq. Schwartz Posel Immigration Law Group

5500 Interstate North Parkway NW Suite 450 Atlanta, Ga. 30328 770-951-1100 dale@immlawfirm.com We have over 100 years of combined experience in representing clients in business and personal immigration matters. Other partners: Laine Schwartz Posel and Martha Maria Garcia

Intellectual Property Douglas Weinstein, Esq. Cantor Colburn LLP

1180 Peachtree St., NE, Suite 2050 Atlanta, Ga. 30309 404-607-9991 Dweinstein@cantorcolburn.com Specializing in patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, transactions and litigations.

Gregory J. Kirsch, Esq. Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

Criminal defense attorney Jay Abt has the experience to obtain a not guilty verdict. Been Arrested? If you or a loved one face Georgia Criminal Charges, turn to the Abt Law Firm, LLC. We specialize in felony and misdemeanor cases related to: Drugs, DUI, Weapon Possession, Theft, Domestic Violence, Violent Crimes, and Sexual Offenses. Our criminal defense lawyers are aggressive, proactive, and strategic to protect your rights. Our results are outstanding. In fact, most of our cases never go to trial: they are dismissed or reduced to NO CRIMINAL RECORD and NO JAIL TIME. Abt Law Firm LLC., also has exceptional results reducing bonds and in probation violation hearings. Practice Areas: DRUG CHARGES VIOLENT CRIMES SEX OFFENSES WEAPON POSSESSION THEFT/ROBBERY DOMESTIC CHARGES DUI CHARGES

1230 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 3100 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 404-815-3737 gkirsch@sgrlaw.com We’re a general practice law firm practicing across a wide variety of legal fields.

Labor Law Cliff M. Weiss, Esq. Fox and Weiss, P.A.

3348 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, Ga. 30326 770-317-1767 cmweiss@foxandweiss.com Representing both employers and employees for over 28 years. AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Recognized in Corporate Counsel magazine as a legal leader in employment law.

Litigation Julie Liberman, Esq. Julie A. Liberman, LLC

7000 Central Parkway, Suite 1100 Atlanta, Ga. 30328 678-871-7104 Julie@JLibermanlaw.com Represents individuals and businesses in a variety of real estate, business, and employment disputes. Expertise in homeowner association disputes.

The Abt Law Firm, LLC www.abtlaw.com 1-800-NOJAIL-9 (1-800-665-2459) 2300 Henderson Mill Road ● Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30345 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 23


LEGAL GUIDE 678-775-3557

Personal Injury My 32 years of experience has prepared me to provide you with ongoing counsel for all of your company's needs. It’s my goal to form a relationship so you always know where to turn when you have legal questions about your business.

Practice Areas Business Law Commercial Litigation Landlord-Tenant Law Collections & Creditor Rights

Lisa Karp Rose, Esq. Rose Litigation, LLC

Darren Tobin, Esq. Butler|Tobin

10 Lenox Pointe Atlanta, Ga. 30324 404-JUSTICE Darren@butlertobin.com Helping victims of accidents and crimes. We go to court for serious injury cases. Other partner: Jeb Butler

Small Firm Feel, larGe Firm expertiSe Family law attorney mediator Guardian ad litem Specializing in all areas of Family Law: • • • • • • •

Alyson F. Lembeck, Esq. alembeck@ellisfunk.com

Divorce Child Custody Child Support Alimony Adoptions Surrogacies Equitable Division of Assets and Liabilities • Modifications

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

• Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements • Paternity Actions • Separation Agreements • Family Violence Actions • Mediation and Arbitration

Also serves as a Court-appointed Guardian Ad Litem in custody matters. Registered Mediator with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution in the areas of Family Law and Domestic Violence to help resolve family law cases.

One Securities Centre 3490 Piedmont Road, Suite 400 Atlanta, Georgia 30305 www.ellisfunk.com | 404-233-2800 24 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Tax Law Richard C. Litwin, Esq. The Litwin Law Firm, P.C.

Real Estate 5755 N Point Pkwy, Ste 284 | Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.moskowitzlawfirm.com

533 Johnson Ferry Road, Building D Marietta, Ga. 30068 678-806-8188 Lisa@roselitigation.lawyer www.roselitigation.lawyer We are a boutique law firm specializing in all aspects of real property disputes.

Abe Schear, Esq. Arnall Golden Gregory

171 17th St., Suite 2100 Atlanta, Ga. 30309 404-873-8752 abe.schear@agg.com National landlord-tenant practice, inbound Israeli real estate investment practice. Other partners: Scott Fisher, Steve Pepper, Alan Minsk, Sherman Cohen, Hedy Rubinger, Jack Holland and Jonathan Golden

1742 Mt. Vernon Road, Suite 300 Atlanta, Ga. 30338 678-990-0600 rlitwin@litwinlaw.net Helping businesses and individuals with multistate and issues including Georgia state and local taxation.

Larry Feldman, Esq. Feldman Law Offices, LLC

1847 Peeler Road, Suite C Dunwoody, Ga. 30338 770-393-4757 larryfeldman2@gmail.com We are a boutique closing firm, where service is still in style.

Your Dunwoody Closing Attorney 1847 Peeler Road, Suite C Dunwoody, GA 30338 770-393-4757 feldman-law.net

Where Service is Still in Style


COMMUNITY

Davis Academy ate Davis' Mechina: Kindergarten Prep students celebr h. sukka oom classr own Sukkot in their very

Davis Academy Davis was honored to host students from The Torch and The Sword Kingdom Acad emy (TASKA) in the middle school sukkah.

The Weber School , we use reusable As part of the school's green initiatives past events. from ns ratio deco cle decorations and recy of 2019, it’s becoming Decorated by the seniors in the Class school's sukkah. the a tradition for seniors to decorate

Atlanta Jewish Academy Students, faculty and staff enjoyed spending time in the sukkah this week, beautifully decorated with artwork made by the third grade.

Some of Atlanta's Jewish day schools gave us a glimpse into their Sukkot celebrations. Davis Academy welcomed Christian academy students to their sukkah. The senior class of 2019 decorated The Weber School's environmentally friendly sukkah. Atlanta Jewish Academy hosted "Sukkah Wars" for its Upper School, with students constructing creative models of original sukkot designs.

Atlanta Jewish Academy of the Upper Students built scale-model sukkot in teams as part in the enter could s group nt stude The Wars.” ah School “Sukk 90 Degree No , Edible r), categories of: Minimalist, Passul (not koshe based ory categ its in d judge was h Angles, and STEM. Each sukka Four vity. creati and l appea etic aesth , design of on the criteria ding Head winners were chosen by our guest faculty judges (inclu . pions Cham Wars h Sukka of School Rabbi Ari Leubitz) as the

yet I V'vVoLved community Partners Those who prepare traditional Jewish and/or

Israeli food are welcome to apply. Space is limit­

ed, so reserve early ... all will come hungry!

The Atlanta Jewish community is rich

with organizations making a difference

in the lives of others. Festival booths are

available to community agencies looking to market their services and broaden

their client base and exposure to Jewish

Atlanta. Our volunteers are critical to the success of the

festival. There are a variety of jobs to ensure that

the event runs smoothly and our guests are hap­

py. Sign up today and, better yet, bring a friend!

AJLF is seeking a variety of artists who design and produce their own Judaica and/or Israeli work. All media, including, but not limited to,

pot­tery, painting, drawing, photography, textile art, clothing, jewelry and woodwork will be

consid­ered. Reserve your space early! Exhil::iitors will be accepted on a first come, first-served

Sponsors are vital to the success of the festival. They enable us to host this one-day celebration of Jewish and Israeli arts and culture, while bringing together the Atlanta Jewish community. Sponsorship also gives visibility to over 4,000 attendees estimated to attend the festival. Whether you want to make an impact on Jewish Atlanta or you'd like to showcase your business to a wide audience, sponsorship of AJLF will fulfill your needs.

basis.

270 carpenter or. NE, suite 320 Atlanta, GA 30328 404-883-2130 www.atlantaiewishlifefestival.com | info@atlantajewishlifefestival.com For more infOrmation, contact Lesli Greenaerg, festival director at lesli@atliewishtimes.com or 770-298-0575.

Visit www.at1antajewishlifefestiva1.com for more information! ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 25


COMMUNITY

Sukkot that Bring Down the House The AJT invited members of the community to share photos of their 2018 sukkot. We received submissions from across Greater Atlanta with personal messages cluing us in to what makes each sukkah special. From young Cub Scouts celebrating with retirement home residents, to a festive "Sukkah de Las Vegas"-themed gathering, our readers celebrated the holiday with their own traditions and style. Each submission was entered into a raffle. The winners of this year's contest are Kamy and Roya Deljou, whose beautiful sukkah brought people from all walks of life together. Congratulations and thank you for participating.

Pam & Jack Willia ms Toco Hills, GA Josh, our youngest of four sons and Kobe, our youn gest dog of two, with 27 years worth of laminated family ph otos centered around Sukkot on dis play.

Allison Barchichat East Cobb, GA The frame of an EZ up tent provides a base for branches from the yard.

26 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Doris & Marty Goldstein Whitewater Creek, GA Hosted Israeli young people teaching at the Epstein School.

Pack 1818 Cub and Boy Scouts of GA The Cohen Home in Johns Creek, GA Jewish Scouts built & decorated a sukk ah as their service project for retirement home resid ents.

oot Esther & Jeff Tarat GA , dy Dunwoo

Rowland Family Dunwoody, GA

Paul Root Wolp North Decatur/O Our large all-bam built from scratc close to 100 gue

Eric Robbins , GA Virginia Highlands partly because We bought our home r a sukkah. of this ideal place fo

Janet Beerman Sandy Springs, GA Lunch guests beneath the bamboo

Janet & George Cohen East Cobb, GA Many friends have been contributing their Jewish New Year cards to help decorate the walls of our sukkah.

Jeremy Schulman Dunwoody, GA the inside Ariella and Zachary Schulman show off . of their sukkah in the heart of Dunwoody


COMMUNITY

pe Oak Grove, GA mboo sukkah is lovingly ch each year to seat our ests over Sukkot.

o and sugar cane.

Marni Beckerman Atlanta, GA Nothing like having the family together for Sukkot!

Marilyn Shure Northlake, GA Our split-level sukkah accommodates our family (and deck) with front panels that have our grandchildren’s handprints and documen t their growth as they reach toward the top of the Sukkah.

Fred and Rita Chaiken Atlanta, GA The Chaikens set up the sukkah every year and invite different groups over each night. Submitted by guest, Robert Max.

Michael Morris Atlanta, GA Friends and family gather around for a festive feast at the home of Belinda Morris.

Kamy & Roya Deljo u Atlanta, GA Each year, the family gathers to build the sukkah . Kids contribute by makin g crafts to hang inside. Our su kkah brings family and friends from diverse backgrounds togeth er, including Jews, Muslims, Ch ristians, black, white, Europ ean, African, Middle Eastern, youn g, and old.

Cheryl & Marc Miller Johns Creek, GA nuThe Millers hosted many Temple Ema . week past this ives el friends and relat iro. Shap Rick t, gues by Submitted

Got old issues? If you discover old issues of the Atlanta Jewish Times laying around, we want them.

Stan & Rabbi Judi Beiner Atlanta, GA The theme of 2018 was Sukkah de Las Vegas.

rret Cindy & Charlie Ja GA Toco Hills, with curtains Lovingly decorated years 37 made from sheets ased rch pu it fru ago, plastic the d un aro les sa at yard es our neighborhood, pictur they were en wh children made eting gre te ori fav d young an ars. ye cards from over the

To boost our archives, we will come pick up any AJT issues from 2014 or earlier. Please call 404-883-2130 or write kaylene@ atljewishtimes.com to setup retrieval. Subscribe, Support, Sustain. As always, thank you for reading your Atlanta Jewish times. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 27


COMMUNITY

Stigma Shames People into Silence By Justin Milrad Let’s take a second and look inward, at our community, and at our families. Is there something that’s happening that we don’t want to talk about? Something that we don’t feel good about, something that could make us feel ashamed? Over the last year in Atlanta, the Blue Dove Foundation has seen more transformative dialogue about our struggles. In fact, after discussions with multiple practitioners and rabbis, anecdotally people are starting to have conversations that they likely wouldn’t have had a year ago. We recently received an email from a rabbi who, over Yom Kippur, spoke about mental health, suicide and addiction prior to making a special mishaberach for those who are or have struggled. He wore the Blue Dove kippah that signifies “raising awareness” and “creating safe spaces” for those who are struggling, otherwise known as Kippot for Change, www.bluedove-foundation.myshopify.com. “For the first time in 23 years, people came up to me and shared with me mental health and addiction issues as well as speaking about overdose deaths of children and family.” By hearing the rabbi speak on this controversial topic, his congregants instantly knew that the topic could be discussed openly. So the lesson learned over the last year is that although many are suffering

silently, our community is open, willing, able and ready to begin having conversations. Perhaps we are erroneously allowing our own shame and stigma to force us to suffer alone, when in fact, our community has shown its readiness to listen, support, and help. Let’s open up the discussion about our teens. Parents often wonder whether their child is acting like a normal teenager or behaving differently due to mental illness, drug use or behavioral difficulties. It’s pretty normal for teenagers to be moody because of hormonal, physical and brain development changes that accompany puberty. Our kids are growing up in a period of hyper connectivity, programming and pressure. Balancing the stresses of life (school, extra-curricular, social/emotional, social media, sports, family, etc.) is extremely challenging. As parents, grandparents, educators, friends, family, it may be difficult to differentiate “normal teenage behavior” from the symptoms of depression, anxiety and other emotional difficulties. It is important to know more about our kids, the data and how we can strengthen the relationship and connection. Adolescence is a critical time for mental health promotion, prevention, early identification and effective treatment.

Here are the facts: • 31.9% of adolescents ages 13 to 19 have an anxiety disorder and of those, 8.3% have severe impairment. • The prevalence of any anxiety disorder among adolescents is higher for females (38 percent) than for males (26.1 percent). • Depression affects nearly one in eight adolescents and young adults each year. • About 1 in 5 youth aged 13 to 18 (21.4 percent) experiences a severe mental disorder at some point during their life. • Half of all chronic mental illness begins by age 14; three-quarters by age 24. Despite effective treatment, there are long delays – sometimes decades – between the first appearance of symptoms and when people get help. • Suicide is the 10th-leading cause of death in the U.S., the third-leading cause of death for people aged 10 to 14 and the second-leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24. On Oct. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Congregation B'nai Torah in Sandy Springs, The Blue Dove Foundation is hosting a night filled with mental health and substance use education, awareness and prevention for adolescents and their families in part-

nership with B'nai Torah; Jewish Family & Career Services/HAMSA; Atlanta Jewish Academy; The Epstein School; The Davis Academy; The Weber School; In the City Camp; JumpSpark; Creating Connected Communities; the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; Derech Transitional Living; Jewish Pathways to Recovery; and The Berman Center. Four speakers will tell their stories of their struggles and recovery. The premise of the event is to “Quiet the Silence,” begin to communicate and ask for help, if needed. While the program is geared to parents and their teens, eighth grade and older, the event is open to all adults with or without teens. #QuietTheSilence ■ Justin Milrad is the co-founder of The Blue Dove Foundation.

CIE to Examine Shared Holy Places The Center for Israel Education will continue its monthly webinar series at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, when Yitzhak Reiter addresses the changing practices within shared holy places in Jerusalem, particularly the Temple Mount compound and the Western Wall. Reiter, a professor of Islam, Middle East and Israel studies, chairs the Israel studies department and leads the Research Authority at Ashkelon Academic College. He has written 13 books and many articles and is active in track-two diplomacy meetings regarding the ArabIsraeli conflict. Reiter is a visiting professor this semester at Emory University, the home of the nonprofit CIE. As a sacred city for the three Abrahamic faiths — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — and a hub of conflicts among religious, ethnic and national groups, especially since 1967, Jerusalem is a perfect laboratory to study the sharing of holy places. Reiter will speak about the chang28 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ing practices over the years at the city’s shared sacred spaces, which have seen shifts between dispute and tolerance. He will address stakeholder strategies, conflict management and incentives for peaceful coexistence. You can register for the free webinar at centerforisraeled.wufoo.com/forms/ k1yk24vp14199va. The webinar will be streamed live at www.israeled.org/live and at www.facebook.com/centerforisraeleducation, then will be archived at the CIE YouTube channel and on the digital resources page of the CIE website (israeled.org/blog/digital-resources). As with all CIE webinars, Reiter’s presentation will be a valuable opportunity for students, journalists and the general public to learn the history and context behind an important part of Israel’s story. The webinar will include time for the online audience to ask questions. The October webinar follows CIE President Ken Stein’s live-streamed presentation Sept. 13 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Camp David Accords.

Stein, the author of “Heroic Diplomacy,” a definitive history of the Camp David process, presented the insights gleaned from decades of document-based research, interviews and scholarship, including the recent study of detailed minutes in the Israel State Archives. Those newly-available minutes are far more complete than the comparable U.S. archives and reveal important details about what was discussed and agreed to by Egypt’s Anwar Sadat, Israel’s Menachem Begin and U.S. President Jimmy Carter. “What’s most fascinating is to see the discussions that go on within the Israeli delegations about what it is they want to communicate to Carter and what they want Carter and the Americans to take away from their discussions vis-avis the accords,” Stein says in the video. During the 48-minute webinar, also archived as a podcast, Stein explains how Sadat and Begin came to sign the accords Sept. 17, 1978, and a peace treaty the next spring after 13 days of negotiations led by Carter.

Yitzhak Reiter and Ken Stein presented a webinar last month on Shared Holy Spaces about Camp David.

Stein tells why the essential man for the deal was Sadat, who likely didn’t realize he was risking his life to make peace, and how Carter and Begin clashed in ways that had enduring effects on the U.S.-Israel relationship. Stein also examines what the agreement did and did not include, how the Palestinians were nudged aside, who were the key players, aside from the three heads of state, and why it took 15 years, another war, the First Intifada and first accord under the Oslo process for Israel to achieve its next treaty with a neighbor (Jordan). ■


COMMUNITY

Atlanta Extends Lifeline for Flooded Jewish Community By Jan Jaben-Eilon The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta had already been collecting supplies for the Carolinas, flooded by the recent Hurricane Florence, when it learned of the needs of the small Jewish community in Whiteville, N.C. Former Federation executive Noah Levine contacted the Federation to tell it about a truck coming from Birmingham to Atlanta and headed to water-logged Whiteville. The town is between Wilmington and Myrtle Beach, among the most devastated areas. “We had been planning the logistics when this opportunity came up,” said Yisrael Frenkel, Federation vice president of donor services, who is coordinating the effort. The “opportunity” Frenkel mentions is the brainchild of Jennifer Kamin Kulbersh, who was born in Atlanta, grew up in Whiteville, and now lives in Birmingham with her husband and three young children. She and her sister, Heidi Kamin Enzor – who evacuated to Birmingham with her son as the storm approached – were talking about the needs of Whiteville, a town of about 5,600, with only four Jewish families left in what was once a relatively thriving Jewish community. “It’s a struggle for a small town,” said Kulbersh, who works for her father’s ad specialty business in Dunwoody. Hurricane Matthew had hit Whiteville two years ago and it was just getting back on its feet when Florence hit. The downtown area once populated by Jewish merchants was totally flooded, with some buildings drowning in five feet of water. A relative of Kulbersh’s step-father, Gary Kramer, still owns a downtown building in Whiteville. “We had 20 inches of rain in our building,” he said. Kramer, who recently moved to nearby Leland, which also was flooded, is still very connected to Whiteville. “My family lived there for 100 years. My grandfather came in 1917 and, after peddling in the area, opened up a dry goods store, which closed 10 years ago. I was the last one to leave.” In 1959, when there were still about 20 Jewish families in town, they opened Beth Israel Center, otherwise known as the Temple. “I had the first bar mitzvah there and my nephew was the last. It’s still active,” said Kramer, who attends high holiday services there. On Rosh Hashanah, 22 people attended services. Unfortunately, they had to cancel Yom Kippur services because of the storm, but fortunately, the Temple itself was not damaged.

A few years ago, however, Kramer and the other remaining Jews in Whiteville – most older than 60 – worked with Atlanta-based Jewish Community Legacy Project to formulate a plan for the community’s eventual dissolution. “David Sarnat helped us with that,” said Kramer, referring to JCLP’s founder. Sarnat and Levine help Jewish communities in small towns with dwindling populations plan their legacies. Kramer and his wife also evacuated to Birmingham as Hurricane Florence bore down on the area. “Our efforts are for those, mostly poorer people, who were displaced from their homes,” Kulbersh said. “Whiteville is surrounded by swamps and marshes.” Nearby towns in the devastated counties will also get contributions from the collection that Kulbersh and her sister will have trucked and distributed to the area. Kulbersh and her husband are active in the Birmingham Jewish community: she with the Levite Jewish Community Center and he with The Birmingham Jewish Federation. One of their good friends works with trucking firms and donated the 18-wheeler that is expected to arrive in Atlanta Monday, Oct. 8. Material collected at the six Atlanta collection sites by Oct. 5 will be brought to a central location for sorting by high school volunteers on Sunday with the truck arriving in Atlanta the next day, see www.jewishatlanta.org/florence-relief/. Kulbersh said Levine “has been instrumental in getting everyone to work together,” but she’s also effusive about everyone at the Federation. “Yisrael has been incredible. It’s been so mindboggling to me how much the Atlanta Jewish community has been on board. They were all over it. I cannot say how impressed and thankful I am.” The Federation has a decades-long history of offering assistance to communities devastated by natural disasters. So, it was practically instinctive for the organization to react when Hurricane Florence threatened the Carolinas with historic rain and flooding. “Once we realized the severity of the storm and we realized how the Jewish and wider community would be impacted, we worked with people on the ground and the Jewish Federations of North America,” Frenkel said. “We have been running a supply collections drive,” he explained. Six collection sites accepted donations of such items as cleaning products, diapers, toothbrushes, flashlights and water bottles. They included Congregation Or VeShalom, Jewish Family & Career Services,

Downtown Whiteville flooded by Florence.

Beth Israel Center in Whiteville escaped damage from the recent hurricane.

Temple Beth Tikvah, Temple Kehillat Chaim, Congregation B’nai Torah and Congregation Shearith Israel. “This is in line with the [Federation’s] Front Porch

principles,” Frenkel said. “We’re rising up to strengthen people in need. The Federation has always been there for people in need.” ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 29


CALENDAR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5

preschool age children and their families. Free. For more information, www. bit.ly/2oIZ5GX.

Family Shabbat Experiences – Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway NE, Marietta, from 5 to 7 p.m. Celebrate Shabbat with other families with young children once a month with songs, Torah stories, crafts, challah and more. For more information, contact Lauren Chernau, lchernau@ yahoo.com or call 770-310-3231

Intown Shabbat Project – Marcus JCC, 3542 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. A new program that seeks to connect Intown families over Shabbat dinners. Sign up to be a host or be hosted and MJCCA Intown will take care of the rest. They will match four families by age of children and neighborhood. MJCCA Intown will provide the funds for Shabbat dinner, a Shabbat kit, and some fun kids' activities. Free and open to the community. For more information contact Lauren Chekanow, lauren. chekanow@atlantajcc.org.

Toco Hills Infertility Support – Pri-

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Bereishit Friday, October 5, 2018, light candles at 6:58 p.m. Saturday, October 6, 2018, Shabbat ends at 7:52 p.m. Noach Friday, October 12, 2018, light candles at 6:49 p.m. Saturday, October 13, 2018, Shabbat ends at 7:43 p.m. Chapel Road, Dunwoody, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet Rabbi Zimmerman and other members of the Kehillah. Free. For more information, bethshalomatlanta.net or call, 770-3995300.

“Live from New York” the Folksbiene Yiddish Theatre presents "Mama's Loshn Kugel" – Wood-

Pine Lakefest – 4610 Lakeshore Drive, Pine Lake, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Interactive festival that features handmade arts and crafts by 45 local and regional artist vendors, live music by a dozen performers and bands. For information and a complete events schedule, pinelakefest.com.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

Temple Emanu-El 40th Anniversary Gala – Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Atlanta, from 7 to 11 p.m. Forty and forward 40th anniversary celebration gala. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2IhEwdE.

Jewish Family & Career Services Presents Operation Isaiah – Atlan-

ruff Arts Center, Rich Theatre, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, from 1 to 5 p.m. The Eternal Life-Hemshech event will honor Atlanta’s Holocaust survivors. A screen with English translations will run throughout the show. For tickets and more information, www.bit.ly/2zwev7E.

from 3 to 5 p.m. Author Matthew Rozell speaks about his book, “A Train Near Magdeburg.” Book signing and dessert reception to follow. Free. For more information, www.bit.ly/2xE1wzI.

ta Community Food Bank, 732 Joseph E Lowery Blvd. NW, Atlanta, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sort out kosher food from ACFB and take it back to JF&CS Kosher Food Pantry. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2DGKEOe.

Jewish National Fund 11th Annual Golf Tournament –The Standard

Worship in Pink – Ahavath Achim

Prospective Member Shabbat – Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters 30 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

MJCCA Arts and Culture Presents “The Ugly Duckling” – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta. Two shows, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. $12 for member child and $14 per adult member per show. $14 for community child and $16 for community adult. For more information and to purchase tickets, www.bit.ly/2IhuKIA.

Shalom Baby Toddler Tuesday: Little Builders – Marcus JCC, 3542 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Little Builders is a playgroup geared toward children 18 months to 3 years old with a caregiver. Free and open to the community. Advance registration required, bit.ly/2OTeIHw.

Congregation Children of Israel Presents the Holocaust Education Series – 3005 Walton Way, Augusta,

MONDAY, OCTOBER 8

Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, NW, Atlanta, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Shabbat service honors cancer survivors, participants of Susan G. Komen 3-Day or 2-Day Walks and lost loved ones. For more information, contact Rina Wolfe, rinawolfe10@gmail.com.

vate home, from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Free. In partnership with Congregation Beth Jacob, Young Israel of Toco Hills, New Toco Shul and Chevra Ahavas Yisrael. RSVP for address, www.jewishfertilityfoundation.org/support. For questions, ashley@JewishFertilityFoundation.org.

Club, 6230 Abbotts Bridge Road, Johns Creek from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Early bird special golf participant, $250, golf participant under age 35, $200. For more information, contact Evan Alberhasky, campaign executive, ealberhasky@jnf.org or call 404-236-8990, extension 853.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9

The Davis Academy Cub Club at Little Acorns at Avalon – 2200 Avalon Boulevard, Alpharetta, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Crafts and music geared toward

Jewish Mindful Meditation LEARN – Marcus JCC, 3542 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A six-week class on Tuesdays for beginners as well as experienced meditators who want to refresh the fundamentals of their practice. $100 for members, $125 for the community. For more information, www.atlantajcc.org/.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 10

Oakland Cemetery Tour – Oakland Cemetery Visitor Center, 248 Oakland Avenue SE, Atlanta, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum for its next Historic Jewish Atlanta Tour at Historic Oakland Cemetery. Free for members, $10 non-members.

JumpSpark Presents: Improv & Screenwriting Workshop – elementATL, 691 John Wesley Dobbs Avenue NE, Atlanta, from 6 to 8 p.m. Three-part workshop series hones teens’ creativity and explores their future in Atlanta’s film and digital media industries. Taught by re:imagine/ATL, teens will get practical training in im-


OCTOBER 5-14 prov and screenwriting from industry professionals. $60 for students in grades 9 through 12. For more information and to register, bit.ly/2ONiEJv.

6th Annual

Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival

of music and prayers. Food and wine available for purchase. This interactive Shabbat-themed experience is sponsored by AJMF and The Weber School. Free. For more information, www.bit.ly/2nVTxbJ.

Presented by the Hebrew Order of David & the Atlanta Jewish Times

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13

Cub Club’s Li’l Shabbat in the Garden – The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy

Cake Decorating Fondant – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 7 to 9 p.m. Learn about cakes and decorating techniques, how to make fondant and use it to properly. Wine will be served. $50 for members, $65 for non-members. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2IiBF4h.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11

Parenting a Digital Generation: Fact, Myth and Strategy – The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy Middle School, 7901 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, from 7 to 8 p.m. Join Ben Halpert, founder of Savvy Cyber Kids, Inc. and cyber security expert for advice about how to be positive influences in your children’s digital lives. Free and open to the community. For more information, www.davisacademy.org/.

Middle School, 7901 Roberts Drive, Atlanta, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sing, explore and nosh. For preschoolers and their families. Free. For more information, www.davisacademy.org/.

Book Festival Prologue: Mitch Albom – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 8 to 10 p.m. Mitch Albom will discuss his book, “The Next Person You Meet in Heaven.” $30 for members, $35 for non-members. For more information and to purchase tickets, www.bit. ly/2NKwpfA.

SAVE THE DATE Sunday, Oct 21 11 AM - 3:30 PM City Springs in Sandy Springs Kosher food vendors! Live Music! Our famous Kosher BBQ Competition!

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14.

The Epstein School Alumni Young Families Playdate – The Epstein School, 335 Colewood Way, NW, Sandy Springs, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 2nd annual playdate on the playground. Program is geared for alumni with kids ages 0-6. For more information, www.epsteinatlanta. org/.

L’dor V’dor Food Tour – Grant Park, At-

Quieting the Silence – Congregation B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Highway NE, Sandy Springs, from 7 to 9 p.m. The Blue Dove Foundation, with B’nai Torah, The Berman Center, Jewish Family & Career Services among others, will host a night of mental health and substance abuse awareness, education and dialogue. Minimum age: eighth grade. Free. For more information, www.thebluedovefoundation.org/.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12

Acoustic Shabbat Café – San Francisco Coffee Roasting Co., 1192 North Highland Avenue NE, Atlanta, from 7 to 9 p.m. Join Rabbi Glusman, Drew Cohen and teen musicians from Weber for an evening

lanta, from 1 to 4 p.m. Teens and grandparents are invited to connect over a delicious tour of Grant Park’s unique food scene and Atlanta history. Try 12 modern and Southern fusion tastings from five locally owned food stops on this threehour small group tour by Atlanta Food Walks. For more information, grantpark. org/.

Atlanta Bar and Bat Mitzvah EXPO – The Westin Atlanta Perimeter

Participate in the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival

Become a SPONSOR or VENDOR or sign up a TEAM TODAY!

North, 7 Concourse Parkway NE, Atlanta, from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Plan your celebration in just one afternoon. Meet and get ideas from dozens of vendors, win fantastic door prizes, sample food and drinks and interactive activities for kids. Admission is free. To pre-register and for more information, www.bit. ly/2IkxyEG.

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

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. Please contact community liaison, Jen Evans, for more information at jen@atljewishtimes.com.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

1 Galambos Way • Sandy Springs, GA www.theatlantakosherbbq.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 31


COMMUNITY

Decked out in FIDF Ride gear, cyclists await the start of the event, which benefits Israeli soldiers and their families.

FIDF Rides Again More than 130 cyclists rode through the North Georgia mountains Sept. 23 for the first inaugural Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Southeast Bike Ride. Cyclists chose between two routes: a 36-mile (twice chai) loop or 70 miles in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary. The riders were equally divided between the two routes, which started and finished at Sosebee Cycling Park in White, Ga. FIDF got the idea to hold the bike ride based on similar ones sponsored by its sister organizations around the country, including Chicago, Cleveland and San Francisco, and in Israel. The five-day FIDF ride in Israel is Oct. 13, taking riders on 50- to 60-mile courses through the Golan Heights, Dead Sea and Jerusalem. The original goal of the Georgia ride was to attract 100 people, so organizers were delighted with the turnout, said Seth Baron, executive director of the FIDF, Southeast region. For about 60 percent of the participants, it was their first involvement with the FIDF, Baron said. Proceeds from the Georgia event will benefit the soldiers and families of the FIDF wounded and fallen soldier program, he said. â–

Wearing FIDF Southeast Region shirts, a group of riders pose with a motorcycle. 32 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES


COMMUNITY

Signage displaying FIDF Ride's sponsors and donors.

Seth Baron, executive director of the FIDF, Southeast region, welcomes participants.

Some riders traveled on motorcycles.

Cyclists prepare for the ride. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 33


COMMUNITY OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM...

Dear Utterly Befuddled, What a frustrating encounter! People can be difficult and complex. eir I don’t think you did anything wrong. In the observant believe it or not, th n of its own, but m lu co e el, om ol ch ro wh ed Ra community, it is very common to ask friends and neighbors a e-b ar De could require ily has a thre are coming! That g about. Our fam s in w t rit -la es w in gu y I’m of M for guest space, so it’s not like your request was outlandish. n ! ch lp tio He extra in r the situa that there is not an ly the backdrop fo ng on yi is sa t al ou riv ar ith Part of doing someone a favor is showing a good attitude, ext w en immin live. It goes me and four kids d, an e sb ar s hu e w er uding warmth and a smile. And if a person can’t or doesn’t -la in wh house since my . That means that ox e. od us m th to ho Or r ss want to do a certain kindness for any number of reasons, let ’re ou ce ac we in space have easy mind that so that they can rtant to keep in e po nc im sta s di it’ g d in her explain nicely that it won’t work for her at this time. an lk , Oh y within wa ays, they must sta lid s). ho ay e lid th r ho Agreeing to help someone, while concurrently comfo or g comin e Sabbath e don’t drive on th (W e kr? gu Su fo go r ds na fo plaining about the difficulties involved, leaves a bad taste for en sy us e fri and th what are en they join ing up the phone, r my in-laws wh fo ck pi , om ed ro ur ve fig the beneficiary. Neighbor number two would have been my ha I , , So any chance na, … do you, by Ila s it’ ar , er cle th ly Es choice, too! nt i, da “H it abun oceeded to make s However, we never really know what someone else wed, and then pr ha d an kot?” ing help and plan ed an m cle m e he e hires full-tim rised me. She rp sh su gh er ou sw th an has going on behind closed doors. Maybe Esther is going en r ev He her room – want to lend out ly al ere pr ’t d dn an di through a difficult situation, just heard bad news. That g e in that sh e of pack we’re in the middl liday. en ho e wh ey th th ts r es e, fo os gu ay doesn’t justify her behavior, but it can help you be empar pp fo aw to be y house yes, uh, I su r me to prepare m take it as is. But, fo to rd ve ha ha ly l al u’l re thetic. ’s yo “It able to clean it; p. So, I won’t be just Regardless, the scenario has played out and Esther is paring for our tri ate, I would have dn’t been desper ha I if d an e, e.” upset, even though her reaction seems unjustified. Is there bl m rta can co uncomfo e me extremely anything you can do? Her reaction mad r place. and found anothe m so grateful!” “I’ ay r e. yw he id an pr of r y e he m us Here’s my thought. Even though you were not at d g e in ke th than swallow ly offered much,” I gushed, ay and generous aw y g pp in ha go s s fault, what about writing Esther a nice note of appreciawa wa e e “Oh, thank you so ld me sh mey, and sh other neighbor to s pristine and ho wa om ro t es tion? Send her some flowers or cookies accompanied by gu Two days later, an ming. Her flow company co er ov d ha we a warm thank you for her willingness to extend herself. e. if e on hous for the ph r. Then I reached fe r! y of rr r vo fa he wo e g at th in e th I think it could soothe her hurt and hopefully mend the pt m ce ke to do u can ta efully ac I whispered, grat ed out. So, now yo rk wo e els ng hi tear in your relationship. et “Thank you, G-d,” “but som ay,” I told Esther, dy to A little warmth can go a long way. “Thank you, anyw d my cleaning la r, that’s fine. I aske tte be .” ck ns .” io pa ad at e he m od Best of luck, Ilana! ■ ur lp m off yo her accom s she can he “well, if you like necessary. I gues be t n’ f. wo lie at re th “Oh,” she huffed, w ith news w ready, but no e would greet my y to get the room e, as I thought sh ris Atlanta Jewish Times Advice rp come an extra da su by e m action took amends. Column at your plans d, trying to make Once again, her re re th fe er of rli I ,” ea e lp m he g ld tra cleanin ish you had to w do I ut “B e. “I’ll pay for the ex m Got a problem? Email Rachel Stein sured cessary,” Esther as at oyvey@atljewishtimes.com, “That won’t be ne ain.” ag u d ul yo co describing your problem in 250 d.” nk I ge ha at an “T . wh ch ad had my he ggestions on ” Puzzled, I shook words or less. endship? Any su fri r ou in ru st “I just found out… ju balloon. Did I d re e? tu nc nc re pu ffe a di e e at’s th We want to hear from you and Now I feel lik e it’s too late, so wh get helpful suggestions for your ntly? But I suppos re ffe di ne do ve ha situation at the same time! Signed, led Identifying details will be changed Utterly Befudd upon request.

Yiddish Word of the Week

Jewish Joke of the Week

nebech

What a Coincidence! Maurice and Isaac found themselves sitting next to each other in a New York bar. After a while, Maurice looks at Isaac and says, “I can’t help but think, from listening to you, that you’re from Israel.” Isaac responds proudly, “I am!” Maurice says, “So am I! And where might you be from?” Isaac answers, “I’m from Jerusalem.” Maurice responds, “So am I! And where did you live?” Isaac says, “A lovely little area two miles east of King David’s Hotel, not too far from the old city.” Maurice says, “Unbelievable! What school did you attend?” Isaac answers, “Well, I attended Yeshiva University.” Maurice gets really excited, and says, “And so did I. Tell me, what year did you graduate?” Isaac answers, “I graduated in 1984.” Maurice exclaims, “Amazing! This is bashert. Hashem wanted us to meet! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same bar tonight. Can you believe it? I graduated from Yeshiva University in 1984 also.” About this time, Moishe enters the bar, sits down and orders a beer. The bartender walks over to him, shaking his head, and mutters, “It’s going to be a long night tonight. The Goldberg twins are drunk again.”

Joke provided by David Minkoff www.awordinyoureye.com

34 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

An interjection meaning "unfortunately;" or a noun used to describe an unfortunate person. With Slavic origin, nebech roughly means, "You poor thing!" Example: Nebech, his father died when he was very young. From the Hebrew: ‫– נעבעך‬ meaning poor, unsuccessful.


COMMUNITY SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

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Birthday Mazel Tov

Subscribe today and support your local Jewish newspaper. Be a part of helping to sustain the AJT for another 94 years. Arthur Morris Blank is an Atlanta businessman and a co-founder of The Home Depot. Today he is known for his ownership of the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League, and Atlanta United in Major League Soccer, and for the establishment of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation in 1985. In 2010, Blank signed The Giving Pledge, specifying that the majority of his wealth would be gifted to charity. He was born Sept. 27, 1942 in Sunnyside, N.Y.

Birth Announcement

Nadine and Stephen Raidbard of Atlanta announce the birth of their son, Solomon Myles Raidbard, on April 1, 2018. He weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19 inches long. The proud family includes grandparents, Hannah Garrick and Rochelle Raidbard of Atlanta, and loving big sisters, Amaya and Mikayla Raidbard. Solomon Myles is named in memory of Sally Raidbard (Steve’s grandmother), Sarah Zwaig (Nadine’s grandmother), Sam Dwortz (Steve’s grandfather), Marshall Raidbard (Steve’s father) and Morris Garrick (Nadine’s grandfather). His Hebrew name, Avraham, is in memory of Arthur Garrick (Nadine’s father), Abe Zwaig (Nadine’s grandfather), Albert Raidbard (Steve’s father), Arlene Simon (Steve’s Aunt) and other relatives. ■

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BRAIN FOOD What Do You Know? By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Easy 1

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15. In the center of 16. “Rocky” actress Shire 17. Jewish counting time (with “the”) 18. Telephoned 19. Exhausted 20. *Jews pray for the third one 22. “Rock of Ages” by ___ Leppard 24. “Gotcha” 25. Stars and Stripes land 27. Brother of Todd Flanders on “The Simpsons” 29. Word before meter or zirconia 33. ___ Torah (the Giving of the Torah) 36. “Fawlty Towers” airer 39. Load to bear 40. Recurring Matt Damon title role 41. London lav 42. Learning about God?...or what the starred clues in this puzzle offer 45. @@@ 46. Red gems 47. Europe’s highest volcano 48. Bronx nine, on scoreboards 49. Mosquito relatives 50. Tribes number 51. A dwarf 52. Minyan number 54. Richard of “Runaway Bride” 57. 71-Across’s is at Ben Gurion

60. *Charles created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby 65. PDF company 67. “___-Am” (Dr. Seuss character) 69. “___ additional cost!” 70. Employee reward 71. See 57-Across 72. Army reserve gp. 73. *Goldblum’s “Independence Day” co-star 74. *What some Sefardim enjoy on Passover 75. *The New one has way more Jews than the original

slide 28. First-floor apartment number 29. Lauren of “The Walking Dead” 30. Togetherness 31. Mobster Siegel 32. It means “sort of” 34. Fearful request by the IRS, to some 35. Most faithful 36. Charge the quarterback 37. Daniel, Debby, or Pat 38. Comic who brought his show to Israel in 2017 40. Midmorning meal 43. As a result 44. Fabi of auto racing or Manti of the NFL 50. Paternity identifier 51. First public appearance 53. “Place” for Napoleon or Moses 54. Schmoozes 55. Esau’s nation 56. “Rice-a-___, the San Francisco treat” 58. ___ name (Waze tag) 59. Island near Java 61. Diversify 62. “Me as well” 63. Play’s ___’acte 64. Water producer, for Moses 66. Word before Tamid or Kodesh 68. Cheese partner, often

DOWN 1. A movie’s can be thin 2. Zenith 3. Lab class, briefly 4. Lawman Wyatt 5. Challenges 6. Actress Thurman 7. Bar brand 8. Barely beat 9. K-Pop band with a Billboard #1 album in 2018 10. Speedy 11. Cheers, in Seville 12. Passover cupful 13. Basketball’s Archibald 21. Côte-Saint-___, Montreal 23. Former French coins 26. Creature on a microscope

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15 Years Ago // October 3, 2003 ■ Elie Wiesel, Nobel laureate and winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, released his new book, “Wise Men and Their Tales: Portraits of Biblical, Talmudic, and Hasidic Masters.” “Wise Men” brings a series of lively lectures starring many of Judaism’s marquee names, as well as interrogations of each member of the dramatis personae. ■ The bar mitzvah ceremony of Joseph Asher Winograd was held Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003 at The Temple. Joseph is the son of Harry and Jennifer Winograd. Joseph is a seventh-grade student at Haynes Bridge Middle School.

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High Museum of Art entitled “Annie Leibovitz: Photographs 1970-1990.” Leibovitz is well-known for her imaginative portraits of very famous people for magazines such as Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. The exhibit displays a broader range of her work than rock and Hollywood megastars. ■ The bat mitzvah of Marcy Sara Rosenberg of Atlanta took place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Marcy is the daughter of Jill and Chester Rosenberg of Atlanta.

50 Years Ago // October 4, 1968 ■ B’nai B’rith announced this week the re-election of Maurice Steinberg of AuPhotography by Annie gusta to a second three-year term as a national commissioner of its Anti-DefLeibovitz is featured at amation League. Mr. Steinberg, an attorney, is a past president of B’nai B’rith the High Museum of Art. District 5. ■ Dr. and Mrs. Zale H. Smilack of Columbus, Ohio, announce the birth of a daughter, Debra Lynn, on Oct. 3. Mrs. Smilack is the former Joyce Hershberg of At25 Years Ago // October 1, 1993 lanta. Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Al Hershberg of Atlanta and Mr. and Mrs. ■ The work of photographer Annie Leibovitz was featured at an exhibition at the Lester Smilack of Winter Haven, Fla. 36 | OCTOBER 5, 2018 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES


Joseph Perling

OBITUARIES

101, Atlanta

Joseph Perling, 101, of Atlanta, died peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 24, 2018. Joseph was born in St. Paul, Minn. He served in the 1st Infantry Division during World War II in North Africa and Europe. He met his wife, Doris, while stationed in England. They celebrated their 74th wedding anniversary in April. After retiring from a career in sales, he worked at Publix, where he was much admired, until the age of 93. Survivors include his loving wife, Doris Perling; children, Melvin Perling (Marilyn) Gay Perling-Hoflich, and Lester Perling (Martin Kainec); grandchildren, Heather Blank (Adam), Adam Perling (Kristie); great grandsons, Aaron and Jonah Blank, and Gavin Perling. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Weinstein Hospice, Beth Jacob or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Funeral services are pending. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. Sign online guestbook, www.edressler.com.

Ernestine Moscowitz Kasriel 94, Jacksonville

Ernestine Moscowitz Kasriel, 94, died peacefully at the River Garden Hebrew Home in Jacksonville, Fla., Sept. 30, 2018. She was married to Dr. Robert H. Kasriel, of blessed memory, for 61 years. She was born and grew up in Newport News, Va. Ernestine attended Duke University and graduated from the Richmond Professional Institute of the College of William and Mary with a bachelor’s degree in social science, and she worked in child protective services. Ernestine met her beloved husband, Bob, when he was stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. After a short engagement they were married in Mississippi, where Bob taught at the U.S. Maritime Academy. In 1954, Ernestine, Bob and their young family moved from Virginia to Atlanta as Bob took a teaching job at Georgia Tech. Ernestine, ever the seeker of academic achievement, went back to school and earned a master of education degree from Emory University in 1961. She was a speech-language pathologist at the Atlanta Speech School, where she taught for over 20 years. She was an active member of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta during her working and retirement years, taught at the religious school, was selected as Mother of the Year, and was a Girl Scout leader. In retirement, she volunteered with Bob at the William Breman Jewish Home in Atlanta, where she was a life member of the auxiliary. Ernestine was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was predeceased by her devoted daughter, Sarita Kasriel, of blessed memory. Ernestine is survived by her son, David Kasriel, and daughter-in-law, Catherine Rhodes Kasriel of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and grandsons, Joseph Kasriel (Tania Celis Leyva) of Atlanta, and Daniel Kasriel (Anthony Coleman-Kasriel) of New Orleans. Graveside services were held Wednesday, Oct. 3 at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Rosenthal officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, River Garden Hebrew Home in Jacksonville, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. Sign online guestbook, www. edressler.com. ■

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Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

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www.JewishFuneralCare.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES OCTOBER 5, 2018 | 37


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CLOSING THOUGHTS

Changing Who You Are At 17 years old, I was a junior in high school in Brooklyn. I was naïve, quiet and wanting to be better, much better. I knew so many kids my age who were smarter, more outgoing, more physically fit, more mentally sharp, and capable of doing much more than me. I wasn’t dumb; I was ambitious, but I didn’t know how to improve. What I had was a desire to be better and the courage to change, but there was no one to show me the way. When the opportunity to select a public speaking class was open to me, I jumped at the chance. I had no idea what the class was like, but I knew that I wanted to im- Allen prove, and this class could help. The deci- Lipis sion was just instinct without much more information than that. The teacher, whose name I have long forgotten, took 36 kids for the class and put them into six groups of six each. The objective of the class was to learn to speak in front of the class four times during the semester. I wanted to learn to speak formally in front of an audience, but did not know how. That class changed me by forcing me to deal with my overwhelming fear of speaking in front of a group. You can say and do almost anything once you get beyond your fear. Well, I suffered for five months, day after day, worrying about the four speeches I had to give. At times, the fear of standing in front of my peers and saying something useful without looking like a fool was all-consuming. I thought about my speech day after day, often throughout the evening when I was doing homework. I dreaded the prospect of coming up with the content of what I would say, and dreaded even more the thought that I had to stand in front of the class and speak alone, being evaluated by my teacher as well as the entire class. Keep in mind that the class was full of very talented

students, since this was a one-of-a-kind class. For many of them, speaking in front of the class seemed like an easy thing for them to do, so I was up against very stiff competition. Perhaps other students were scared, but none of them gave me that impression. I was all alone with my fears, and those fears were incredibly debilitating. I worried that I would fail miserably. After all, the only speech I had ever given was at my bar mitzvah, several years earlier, and I almost didn’t give it because of my fear of speaking to an audience. It was only at my father’s urging that I managed to get through it. I had that fear in the back of mind, thinking about speaking in front of my classmates. If you have ever feared something, like going to the dentist, or a medical procedure, or taking an important test, or making a difficult decision, then you know what it’s like. The fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, the fear that other people will judge you poorly all played on my mind day after day. That class changed me so much for the better. I had to speak four times, and each time it was a battle in my mind. I am sure that I did not improve over those four talks, but it was a five-month process. I couldn’t escape; I didn’t have my father or mother to help me, and I couldn’t share my fears with anyone. But, the process had an effect on me. It wasn’t a dramatic change immediately, but it was the start of a process for change. If I could speak and not die in front of the class, it convinced me that I could do more. The teacher wasn’t my mentor as much as the curriculum was. I put myself in what I thought was harm’s way knowing I couldn’t be physically hurt. Bottom line: There may be a risk of failure, but often that risk is worth it. Sometimes you just have to jump. ■

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