Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCV NO. 19, September 15, 2020

NEXT ISSUE: YOM KIPPUR

VOL. XCV NO. 19

SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 26 ELUL 5780

L'Shana Tova

PUBLISHER

MICHAEL A. MORRIS

michael@atljewishtimes.com

MANAGING PUBLISHER & EDITOR KAYLENE LADINSKY

kaylene@atljewishtimes.com Executive Assistant

JODI DANIS

jodi@atljewishtimes.com

EDITORIAL Associate Editor

RONI ROBBINS

roni@atljewishtimes.com Staff Writer

PAULA BAROFF

paula@atljewishtimes.com Contributor & Proofreader

LEAH R. HARRISON leah@atljewishtimes.com

Contributor & Proofreader

FRAN PUTNEY

Contributors This Week ALLEN H. LIPIS BOB BAHR CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER FLORA ROSEFSKY JAN JABEN-EILON LOU LADINSKY MADISON TOMASO MARTINE TARTOUR PATRICE WORTHY

ADVERTISING

Senior Account Manager

BRENDA GELFAND

brenda@atljewishtimes.com Senior Account Manager

MICHAL BONELL

michal@atljewishtimes.com Account Manager

LORI GLUCK

lori@atljewishtimes.com

CREATIVE & MEDIA Creative & Media Designer

LILLI JENNISON

lilli@atljewishtimes.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Community Events & PR Manager

AMY SEIDNER

amy@atljewishtimes.com Intern

ELIANA WEISS

GENERAL OFFICE 404.883.2130

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 www.atlantajewishtimes.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC © 2020 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

THIS WEEK Sweetness of the Season How is this high holiday season different than all others? Our Rosh Hashanah community responses, alone, give you a clue. The essay prompt suggested was, “What did you learn during 5780 to take into the 5781 New Year?”. Most of the contributions focused on sheltering in place during a global pandemic and what a difference a year makes. Others offered advice about how to make next year a better year and what’s important to focus on during the holidays.

Also in this issue we bring you a who’s who among Atlanta-area synagogue shofar blowers. In addition to meeting the faces behind one of the most anticipated aspects of the holiday season, the shofar blasts, you will learn how they got their start, what motivates them and their plans for tooting their horns this pandemic year.

We share the significance of the shofar notes and how shofar blowing is being handled in the Orthodox community of Toco Hills and elsewhere. Plus, what’s planned for Tashlich, the casting of sins, considering its one of the few high holiday rituals that can bring the community together outdoors, even if in limited numbers this year. Similarly,

the upcoming holiday of Sukkot, also based outside, may not be the same as previous years, you’ll discover.

Looking back, the AJT reviews what the community has experienced in the past six months since COVID-19 took hold here, rocking the Jewish communal world. We return our focus to the Orthodox community in our news section and how it is tracking COVID in Toco Hills. Plus, there’s the directive from a group of Orthodox leaders, including the rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Jacob, about how religious values should guide the political process.

From swastikas in East Cobb to alumni of The Weber School calling for more diversity in education, there are a number of stories in this issue about our differences. More specifically, Black-Jewish dialogue arises in several forms in our op-ed pages. You’ll also find a pair of book reviews, a new podcast and streaming service, a feature about a hairdresser to the stars, and our Treasure Trove clown lover.

Get ready to laugh and maybe shed a few tears as we take a look back and then forward to the New Year. ì

Cover image: Dr. Stanley Fineman, a world-renowned allergist, is one of the community’s longest-serving shofar blowers.

CONTENTS NEWS ������������������������������������������������� 6 BUSINESS ��������������������������������������� 16 ISRAEL NEWS ������������������������������� 18 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 20 ROSH HASHANAH ���������������������� 30 ART ��������������������������������������������������� 92 COMMUNITY ��������������������������������� 96 CALENDAR ����������������������������������� 102 SIMCHA ����������������������������������������� 106 KEEPING IT KOSHER ���������������� 110 BRAIN FOOD �������������������������������� 111 OBITUARIES �������������������������������� 112 CLOSING THOUGHTS ��������������� 116

l’shanah tovah to all of our friends and family.

BAGELICIOUS Tom, Carol, Alex, Hannah, Landon & Jaxon Bagels Breads Appetizers Salads Deli catering 1255 Johnson ferry road, suite 37, marietta, ga 30068 770-509-9505 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 5

NEWS When COVID-19 Turned Jewish Atlanta Upside Down

By Dave Schechter

brought “Coronavirus Impacts Jewish Programs and Life.” And four days later “Jew“Indecent,” a play with distinctly Jew- ish Atlanta Adapting to New Reality.”

That new reality remains the current ish themes, opened March 4 at Theatrical reality. Much of life Outfit in downtown will never return to Atlanta to positive re“the way it was.” views for its cast and Back when staging. “In fact, the friends hugged, delicate ambience kissed or shook achieved in this play hands at synagogue. is unlike any I’ve ever Back when fingers seen. It’s very difficult touched a mezuzah to talk about; it must or a Torah scroll. be seen,” wrote the Back when hands reviewer for Atlanta grabbed food at the Intown.

Theatre director Mira Hirsch said, “it Veteran Atlanta broke my heart” when COVID-19 forced the post-Shabbat oneg. theatre director and curtain to come down early on “Indecent,” Before virtual Shabwhich had opened to strong reviews. bat services, Torah educator Mira Hirsch was looking forward to a monthlong run. study, Jewish education and b’nai mitz“I don’t remember really thinking about vah. Before funerals and shivas were conCOVID as an issue prior to our opening ducted online.

Before synagogues halted in-person night, the week of March 1. At the time, it seemed to be a regional crisis, concentrat- worship; before parents became comed in the Northeast. But as we moved into bination tutors-hall monitors-cafeteria opening weekend, it became clear that we workers for children sent home to virtual were not going to be spared at least some schooling; before museums and recreation ramifications of the virus,” Hirsch said. centers closed their doors and moved programming online; By the second week, before concerts, lecaudiences expected tures and films were to be nearly full were canceled. Before the half that. elderly were confined “Contrary to to their apartments what most people and homes. might think, the bigBefore the figest concern about nancial landscape of continuing the run of Jewish Atlanta was this show, and others, shaken. Before the wasn’t necessarily community respondthe audience, but the “I think that moving forward the ed by donating nearly safety of the actors.

Jewish community is going to find $5 million to an emerWhile it would have itself to be a much stronger, much gency fund created by been possible to conmore cohesive community,” said Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, senior rabbi the Jewish Federation tinue the run for a bit at Ahavath Achim Synagogue. of Greater Atlanta. longer with audience Before Zoom meetings. capacity capped at 50 people, there was no Before everyone asked: What are we way to ensure the safety of the actors, who were performing very intimate scenes, and going to do about Passover?

The AJT asked some of those featured singing and dancing in very close proximin those early COVID stories to look back ity,” Hirsch said.

The curtain fell after the Sunday, and discuss the lessons they’ve learned.

At the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, March 15 performance, two weeks before Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal several months the scheduled closing.

March 2020 was when, as Rabbi Steve earlier had assumed status as senior rabbi, Lebow, then nearing retirement from succeeding Rabbi Neil Sandler. Rosenthal Temple Kol Emeth, put it, “The entire world readily credits Sandler with urging him – Jewish and otherwise – is turned upside early on to take seriously the threat that COVID-19 might pose to their synagogue down.”

The first AJT article about COVID-19 and the community in general.

The idea that the synagogue would and the Jewish community — headlined “Being Jewish in the Time of Coronavi- close for any significant length of time rus” — appeared March 11. The next day “was beyond comprehension,” Rosenthal 6 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

said. Yet on March 13, the congregation was sources of PPE, the most unique being informed that Ahavath Achim would be through a Berman Commons family with closed “for at least the coming week” and a son working in China, and secured access to a lab that provided quick turnaround of that worship services would move online. high-sensitivity tests.

Six months By the end of June, later, an important JHL resumed famlesson has been “how ily visits at Berman important we are all Commons — albeit to each other,” Rosenoutdoors and tightlythal said. “I know it controlled — though sounds like a real group meals and acfeel-good thing, but tivities have not. it’s more important “The lesson we than that.” have learned is how As president important masks and of the Atlanta RabEarly in the COVID-19 crisis, “it was testing are in reducbinical Association, alarming at how difficult it was to ing transmission.

Rosenthal praised his obtain enough PPE to protect the residents and staff,” said Harley We learned from our peers for “really stepTabak, CEO of Jewish HomeLife. own experience early ping up” and finding ways to bring together groups in the com- in the pandemic that wearing masks is esmunity that may not have interacted. “The sential to stop the spread. Even now, if we community has been communicating with have a team member who tests positive, it each other in ways I’ve never seen and it’s does not spread to the residents because really wonderful. It really shows me, we our staff takes the wearing of PPE so sericould do this,” he said. “We really could ously,” Tabak said. “The same applies to still see each other in a shared destiny. … testing. Waiting 7 to 14 days for test results I think that moving forward the Jewish was not an option for us. We have residents to care for 24/7 and community is going needed to know test to find itself to be a results immediately much stronger, much and with accuracy.” more cohesive comBy August, JHL munity.”

— with assistance Jewish HomeLife, from Federation which operates senior -- was able to offer care facilities at three its COVID-19 testing metro Atlanta locaservice to Jewish day tions and provides schools and other edhome services, was ucational programs, dealing with COVJared Powers, CEO of the Marcus so that they might ID-19 before most of JCC, remembers mid-March as welcome back stuthe community. The being “exhausting, with so many dents with a higher virus has been a stubdecisions that needed to be made, in a thorough, well thought-out degree of confidence. born foe for operamanner without a real play book.”

There was no tors of long-term care facilities. Indeed, more than 40 percent of handbook for running a school during a the deaths in Georgia tied to COVID-19 have pandemic, no guide for the rapid change been individuals who lived in those settings. from Friday teaching students in classIn late March, four residents of the rooms to Monday teaching students at memory care unit at the Berman Com- home in their kitchens, living rooms and mons assisted-living facility tested positive bedrooms, said Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head for COVID-19. Soon after, six employees of school of Atlanta Jewish Academy. “We tested positive. They and others who later went online very quickly, but we didn’t have detailed pandemic policies and protested positive eventually recovered.

“We were put to the test very early on, cedures in place. March was emergency and that experience enabled us to be bet- learning. Online learning will be truer ter prepared than most organizations like learning now.”

The spring months provided educaours. Initially it was alarming at how difficult it was to obtain enough PPE [personal tors with experience they can apply as they protective equipment] to protect the resi- open their doors again, all the while aware dents and staff,” said Harley Tabak, CEO that there is no guarantee they will stay of Jewish HomeLife. In time, JHL developed open. The virus will be the determining

NEWS factor, Leubitz said. “You can look at what the same category as ‘Where were you when our situation was then and you can argue JFK was shot?’ or ‘Where were you when that six months later we’re no better off or the Twin Towers fell?’ It holds that kind of perhaps in a worse situation,” Leubitz said. importance in my memory,” JF&CS execu“On some level it’s ironic that we’re open- tive director Terri Bonoff said. “We knew it ing schools in a situation that’s not better.” was coming. We had been discussing it for The Marcus Jewish Community Cen- a few weeks. We knew that we were going to be put to the test ter of Atlanta was and asked to deliver severely impacted by services with greater COVID-19. Cleaning intensity and comprotocols and social pletely virtual.” distancing mandates Looking back, were increased, but “We should have on March 13, after the invested in technolthreat simply became ogy infrastructure too great, the doors on day one rather closed. Anticipating a than piecemeal as significant loss of revthe needs became so enue from member“On some level it’s ironic that we’re great they were an ships and program opening schools in a situation that’s not impediment to our fees, the MJCCA laid better,” said Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school of Atlanta Jewish Academy. work,” Bonoff said. off or furloughed If JF&CS’s staff was going to care for more than half of its staff. A summer at Camp Barney Medintz was lost, though ab- the community, then JF&CS needed to care breviated day camps were saved. A phased for the staff. “Most things were collaboratively decided. Certain things were simply reopening of the MJCCA began in June.

“I remember the time period, back in stated,” Bonoff said. Everyone would keep mid-March, as being exhausting, with so their jobs. Paychecks would not be intermany decisions that needed to be made, rupted. COVID-related absences would in a thorough, well thought-out manner be paid without question. Taking care of without a real playbook for management family was the first priority. “When you believe in your staff, during a global pantake away any fear or demic. It was a time insecurity of job loss, when the managepeople stand up and ment and leadership deliver results that of the MJCCA spoke far surpass what is morning, noon and predictable or imagnight, weighing inable.” every possible opOne thing was tion and thinking clear early on, Bonoff through myriads said. “We needed to of scenarios,” CEO raise more money for Jared Powers said. “It “We knew that we were going to be put to emergency financial was a lesson in bethe test and asked to deliver services with assistance and food.” ing nimble, agile and greater intensity and completely virtual,” Funding to meet flexible as well as said Terri Bonoff, JF&CS executive director. immediate needs leaning on every expert in every area — finance, legal, health, and then to shore up the communal insafety, operations, etc. — before we made frastructure came from Federation, which has conducted regular conference calls to final decisions.”

“As we went virtual in all of our pro- assess the needs of various sectors of the gramming, it was a lesson in innovation, community. Jewish HomeLife, the JCC, accommodation and dedication as our in- JF&CS and the day schools have been macredible staff met the community where jor recipients of the emergency fund.

“The thing I remember most about they were, in their living rooms — through Zoom or Facebook Live or FaceTime – and those few days was how quickly we had to connected with tens of thousands of mem- move to virtual and how what seemed to be bers of the community who were isolated, happening was like nothing we have ever lonely, and needed the connection they rely experienced. On the one hand we had been preparing, but I still remember it seeming on from the MJCCA,” Powers said.

Jewish Family & Career Services in those few days like things were moving closed its doors on a Friday, with all ser- at warp speed,” said Eric Robbins, president and CEO of Federation. vices available virtually on Monday.

With Federation staff working from “I remember the March 13-15 time period with complete clarity. It’s remembered in home, Robbins has learned that “We can

operate remotely and still be incredibly ef- said.

Hirsch, the director of “Indecent,” fective. It doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to be fully remote. In-person relationships are is creating a new future. Her job as eduincredibly important. But there’s also no cation director at Theatrical Outfit was need to shy away from the power of what eliminated. “I spent several months completely unemployed before getting a temcan happen remotely.”

“Hindsight is always 20/20. It would porary position at The Epstein School, where I am assisting have been great to the drama and art recognize sooner that teachers in carrythis was not a shorting out their lessons term inconvenience. in the classroom. I It looks like it may guess you could call be our new reality. it my ‘COVID job,’” We still would have she said. needed to conduct Hirsch is still the same emergency smarting from the response even had shortened run of “Inwe known, but a lot decent.” “Honestly, of the future think“On the one hand we had been it broke my heart to ing may have started preparing, but I still remember it cancel this show. I sooner to create some seeming in those few days like things were moving at warp speed,” said Eric was extremely proud feeling of stability a Robbins, president and CEO of the of the work and was little faster,” he said.

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. extremely excited to As for the way forward, “I think we may be realizing that share it with all of Atlanta, but particularly, the future looks very different than the our Jewish community. I haven’t let go of past and this moment may be a real cata- the hope that one day it may be able to be lyst for a renaissance in Jewish life. What revived with the same cast and producthat future is I am not sure, but maybe now tion team at a to-be-determined theater in we will be more ready to create it,” Robbins town,” she said. ì

DON’T LET COVID AFFECT YOU IN THIS NEW YEAR!

EPA CERTIFIED/NON TOXIC DESTROY COVID & PROTECT: Your Family Your Students & Faculty Your Members Your Employees & Guests www.cleanwell.services 404.669.6178 | COVID19@cleanwell.services ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 7

NEWS

Rabbi Starr Joins AJA Staff

By Roni Robbins Rabbi Adam Starr, spiritual leader of Congregation Ohr HaTorah, has joined the Atlanta Jewish Academy high school Judaic studies faculty on a part-time basis.

Head of school Rabbi Ari Leubitz said of the new hire, “He follows in a long line of Yeshiva University Modern Orthodox rabbis as a staunch supporter of high-level women’s Torah study.” As he teaches honors Gemara to the high school junior and senior girls, “Rabbi Starr will elevate Torah learning for these young women, and we know they are beyond excited!”

He has been teaching classes virtually three days a week – one class is 40 minutes and the others, 50 minutes – since AJA began school last month.

Starr said he believes teaching will enhance his community work. “It’s a new challenge and something I believe to be a part of the mission of my synagogue. Day schools are a vital element of modern Orthodoxy.

The success of day schools is essential to our philosophy.”

Plus, AJA is training the next genera-

8 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

tion of modern Orthodox leaders who will support Ohr HaTorah and other similar institutions, Starr said. “This is a unique new opportunity and a challenge for me to teach high school students. I hope I can give them the skills and love of studying Torah.”

About half of his class are congregants, including his daughter, which offers the rabbi a chance to connect in deepening new relationships. “For me, that’s really important, to connect with teenagers within the congregation.”

Leubitz reiterated Starr’s connection to the school.

“Not only is Rabbi Starr a community leader focused on adult education, he is also deeply invested in the growth of our youth and specifically their growth in Torah learning. He is a proud AJA parent (of current students and alumni), and he and Talya are regular fixtures (pre-COVID!) at all AJA events and programs.”

Leubitz told the AJT having a congregational rabbi on staff is not common. “They tend to do drop-ins, but not be a member of the faculty.”

Starr has been the spiritual leader of

Ohr HaTorah – formerly Young Israel of Toco Hills – since 2008. Under his leadership, the synagogue’s membership has grown to 240 member units, according to its website.

He said AJA approached him to lead the class after its previous teacher decided not to continue. “I feel very strongly about Jewish education. This is my way to help. Talmud is something that I spent a lot of time studying in my Orthodox rabbinical training. This is an area that I thought I could contribute to by teaching at AJA.” Leubitz said of the position, “Content knowledge as an AJA educator is essential.

Equally important for me is the ability of our educators to model our values, serving as a role model and being able to inspire our students. Rabbi Starr is someone who embodies this and thus was a natural fit. I made the ask and am so grateful that the rabbi agreed.”

The position brings Starr full circle. Before he became a congregational rabbi, he thought he would be a day school teacher, he said.

Starr served on the executive commit-

Rabbi Adam Starr teaches virtual classes at AJA three days a week.

tee of the Rabbinical Council of America, its Atlanta Regional Beth Din for Conversion, and he is the past president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

He grew up in Silver Spring, Md., and studied at Yeshivat Sha’alvim in Israel for two years. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Yeshiva College and has rabbinical ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University.

Before coming to Atlanta, Rabbi Starr was the associate rabbi at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale in New York for eight years. ì

NEWS

East Cobb Swastikas Unite Interfaith Leaders

Photo by Stephen Boyd // Cobb County Police Chief Tim Cox told those gathered police detectives are trying to solve the crimes and asked for anyone with information to call the department.

By Roni Robbins An interfaith effort to train the public how to respond and stand up to hatred and bias began last week and will continue after the high holidays in response to recent appearance of swastikas defacing the perimeter of several East Cobb neighborhoods.

More than a dozen faith leaders, police and government officials from East Cobb joined last month in the lobby of Temple Kol Emeth in a unified response to the recent anti-Semitic graffiti in the nearby suburban residential community.

Just down the road, a handful of incidents were reported to police last month of swastikas painted outside neighborhoods on fences, utility poles, a political sign and stone pillars. Also scrawled in the area was the acronym MAGA, which stands for Make America Great Again, a slogan used by President Donald Trump’s political campaign.

Police continue to investigate the crimes, Chief Tim Cox told those gathered Aug. 31.

At the interfaith event, the Anti-Defamation League announced it would begin A Call to Action: Becoming an Ally sessions, which began Sept. 9 on Zoom and are expected to resume late next month to teach about prejudice and how to react to and combat it.

Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of ADL’s Southern division, said the training states “loudly, emphatically and clearly that this hate does not define this community. We are taking action to ensure it is not our future.”

She said the two-hour bias training sessions will teach the public how to respond to hate, how to spot implicit and explicit examples and what to do if it escalates. In addition, the facilitators will provide strategies and basic skills to be an ally and stand up when incidents occur, to

Photo by Stephen Boyd // More than a dozen interfaith and community leaders

Photo by Stephen Boyd // Kol Emeth

“continue to fight hate for good, to build became action. The initial show of commua community that is truly intolerant of nity solidarity was neighbors of different faiths coming together to clean up the vanhate.”

Among the speakers who lent their dalism outside the subdivision’s entrance Aug. 23, Buyce voices to the onesaid. hour event at Kol “We knew it Emeth were leadcouldn’t stay. It ers of Muslim and goes against what Christian houses we believe in as a of worship. Soucommunity, what maya Khalifa, we are taught; it’s executive direcan affront. We tor of the Islamic had a very visSpeakers Bureau ceral reaction and of Atlanta, didn’t it ended up bespeak but shared Photo by Roni Robbins // About a dozen ing a community with the AJT she police officers were present at Kol Emeth for the interfaith event, inside with those day to meet our joined the intergathered and outside to ensure safety. neighbors and do faith community some good work.”

He said the effort, into show support. “I wanted to be here with tent on removing the graffiti, in essence, my Jewish brothers and sisters in solidar“completely neutralized” the vandalism. ity. Any hate that is targeted at the Jewish Sernovitz, who led Monday’s gathercommunity is targeted at my community ing, pointed to a Torah scroll in the Marias well. We need to be together.”

Also in attendance was Brad Buyce, etta synagogue’s lobby that survived the Holocaust while a member of Kol the residents in Emeth and the the Eastern EuKings Farm neighrope village were borhood where killed. “We stand swastikas were here today represpray painted last senting millions month. He reportof our brothers ed the vandalism and sisters that to his rabbi, Larry perished in the Sernovitz, who Holocaust.” The subsequently orgathering recogganized the Aug. nized that swas31 gathering. tikas, a symbol Buyce said Photo by Roni Robbins // Blake Singer, Kol Emeth cantorial soloist, begins interfaith associated with that when he gathering with song that urges listeners Nazis, continue called to report to “build this world from love.” to evoke painful the swastikas, he was basically looking for advice on how memories for Jews, he said.

Anat Sultan-Dadon, Israel Consul to explain it to his young children, “how to talk about it, how to frame it.” The rabbi General to the Southeast, said that despite told him “in general, this too shall pass. We COVID, anti-Semitism has continued. need to stay together.” The next day words “Over 75 years after the Holocaust, ‘Never

Again’ does not resonate with everyone.”

She said she’s concerned “because antiSemitism is not only confined to the past, it is still on the rise.”

Despite the recent signs of hatred, Sernovitz stressed a need for love and education, quoting the late Holocaust survivor and noted Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel.

“Hatred is like a cancer and it spreads if not stopped,” the Marietta rabbi said.

He and others reiterated the call to never forget the Holocaust, sending a strong message that Cobb County is no place for hate, and stressing the need to educate the community that it’s not OK to dehumanize others, Sernovitz said. “’Love your neighbor as yourself’ is mentioned 36 times in the Torah, 36 times, more than any other commandment,” he continued. For that reason, the community needs to love deeply and show that “we have chosen love over hate, … we’ve chosen to turn ‘the other’ into ‘another.’”

The Reform rabbi closed the program by repeating a statement by Wiesel, “Silence only emboldens the oppressor.”

In a follow up conversation, PadillaGoodman told the AJT about the new interfaith initiative that began last week. “This is not a moment to roll over these events. It’s a great learning opportunity, [a chance] to build bridges and build community.”

The three-part series of interactive workshops will explore such topics as privilege and bias.

After the gathering of community leaders last month, Sernovitz told the AJT, “We want people to change their hearts and minds and do the right thing. That’s critical in all of this.” He said the incidents in East Cobb are indicative of what’s happening all over the country. “To be silent is to abrogate our responsibility as leaders.”

Cobb County police asks anyone with information about the vandalism to call Precinct 4 criminal investigation unit at 770499-4184. ì

attended the event to show support or speak at the gathering.

Rabbi Larry Sernovitz organized and led the press conference.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 9

NEWS

Letter Urges Orthodox to ‘Vote as Jews, Not Partisans'

By Dave Schechter In an open letter titled “Sinai, Not Washington,” an eclectic group of Orthodox Jews decry an “unhealthy confusion of Torah values with politics” and warns “We must not allow ourselves to be co-opted by any party.”

The seven signatories to the letter, published in late July

by Cross-Currents, an online journal of Orthodox writers, include Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Jacob.

Feldman told the AJT by email from Israel, where he lives, that the letter was intended “to be a wake-up call to Jews, to stress 1) that Jews should not view ourselves as simply another bloc of voters, a la the Hispanic vote, the Black vote, the suburban vote, the female vote, etc.; and 2) that classical Jewish values — Torah values — should not be forgotten by Jews in the heat of this election season.”

“On a practical level, we feel that it is unwise for the Jewish community to fall into a knee-jerk identification with any single political party. No one should feel that we are safely in their pocket. We can have much more influence with a party when they do not take our support for granted,” Feldman said.

Though “Sinai, Not Washington” was directed at Orthodox Jews, “non-Orthodox Jews are invited to listen in,” he said.

In addition to Feldman, the signatories were: Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, editor and publisher of the Intermountain Jewish News in Denver; Jeff Jacoby, a columnist for The Boston Globe; Eytan Kobre, a Manhattan attorney; Yosef Rapa-

10 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

port, a media consultant; Rabbi Avi Shafran, public affairs politicians and media figures with whom we share neither director of Agudath Israel of America, and Aviva Weisbord, values nor worldview,” the letter says. “We are a people a psychologist and executive director of SHEMESH, which charged with modeling and teaching ethical behavior and morality to others. It should be inconceivprovides educational support services to able for us to be, and be seen as, willing Jewish schools in Baltimore. disciples of deeply flawed people who are “Moral degradation infects a broad now the de facto arbiters of what is morswath of the American political specally acceptable. We should be ashamed trum. In the camps of both liberals and when Torah leaders seem to have been conservatives, many political players are replaced as our ethical guides by people on a hyper-partisan quest for victory at all of low character and alien values.” costs,” the letter says.

The letter addresses the challenge of In that quest, “Good character and striking a balance between religious bebenevolent governance are devalued, lief and engagement in the state: “As Orcontrition is seen as weakness and humilthodox Jews, we live in a benevolent host ity is confused with humiliation. Many “The letter was designed to society to which we have rightly given our politicians and media figures revel in diremind Jews that we operate loyalty. It is thus important that we not be viding rather than uniting the citizens of from an eternal standard, and not a sliding scale of values that regarded by the American public as turnour country. Others legitimize conspiracy shifts with the wind,” Rabbi ing a blind eye to the degradation of our theories. None of this is good for America, Emanuel Feldman said. moral climate in exchange for political and certainly not for us Jews.”

The letter also cautions that “The integrity and impact support for parochial interests.”

“There are issues of great importance to us, like educaof what we convey to our children and students ... are rendered hollow when contradicted by our admiration for, or tion funding, anti-discrimination laws and the affordability even absence of revulsion at, politicians and media figures and safety of our neighborhoods, and we rightly advocate whose words and deeds stand opposed to what we Jews are for our positions,” the letter says. “But we must reject the efforts of those who, for self-serving electoral gain, seek to called upon to embrace and exemplify.”

“Serious moral issues — truth, loyalty, contrition, ven- turn Jews against any party or faction.”

The letter also urges: “We must ensure that Israel is not geance, tolerance — are at the heart of much of today’s political discourse. Whether we realize it or not, many of us used as a political weapon. We must oppose efforts to turn have come to be guided in such matters, at least in part, by support for Israel from a broad consensus into a wedge issue. Although we may rightly be concerned about trends regarding Israel in some corners, indicting an entire party as anti-Israel is not only inaccurate but has the potential of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nor should any party’s strong support for Israel become a justification to blindly support its politicians in every other matter. We should advocate for Israel’s security and other needs without painting ourselves into a partisan corner.”

The letter concludes: “When we vote, let us do so as Torah Jews, with deliberation and seriousness, not as part of any partisan bandwagon. We are not inherently Democrats or Republicans, conservatives or liberals. We are Jews – in the voting booth no less than in our homes – who are committed, in the end, only to Torah.”

Feldman said that while the response generally has been positive, “Some have read the letter as being antiTrump, but that is a mis-reading. The letter was not intended to be anti- or pro- any candidate. It was intended to be pro-sanctity, pro-Gdliness. We deplore all kinds of immorality and dishonesty and unethical behavior, from whatever source. No party has a monopoly on it. Each political party has more than its share of such things.”

Feldman expressed concern that “if openly anti-Semitic individuals and groups are given legitimacy – such as [Speaker of the House] Nancy Pelosi’s recent endorsement of the anti-Semitic Rep. Ilhan Omar – and society continues to cave in to outrageous demands of BLM [Black Lives Matter] and BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] then American Jews could face some problems. We are fully aware and concerned about the negative influence of such groups, but that was not the thrust of the letter.

“The letter was designed to remind Jews that we operate from an eternal standard, and not a sliding scale of values that shifts with the wind,” Feldman said. ì

NEWS

Weber Alumni Urge Anti-Racist Education

By Dave Schechter

resources as tools in combating racism.

“Our students and community need Early in this summer’s national to pursue an antiracist education, which reckoning on race relations, a group of centers the experiences and identities of alumni from The Weber School reflected BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of on their education and urged the Jewish Color) ... Presenting Ashkenazi Judaism high school to take a more active anti- as the norm is a form of Eurocentrism and cultural racism within our Jewish racist stance.

In a letter issued under the banner community. The stories, cultures, and exTzedek Nirdof (“Justice We Shall Pursue,” periences of Mizrahi Jews, Sephardi Jews, Black Jews, and all from Deuteronomy Jews of Color are es16:18) former students sential to our colleccalled on their alma tive Jewish identity,” mater to “engage in a the letter said. process of teshuvah” The alumni (repentance) and said called on The Weber that the school “could School to: “Publicly have better prepared communicate how us to understand and antiracism, anti-opaddress our country’s pression, and justicehistory of racism and seeking efforts are esits current manifestasential to the school’s tions.” overall mission and The letter read, will be further incor“We recognize that in porated into the faba society plagued by ric of the school.” racism, an institution The school’s misthat is not actively sion statement reads: anti-racist, plays a role in maintaining “While some viewed the letter as radical, “The Weber School existing racial ineq- I saw it as an application of our Jewish prepares its students uities. Therefore, we values/tenets and basic human decency,” for success in college said Victoria Raggs, a Weber School and in life, inspiring are seeking to underparent and a consultant in the field of stand how Weber, a diversity, equality, inclusion and justice. them to be knowledgeable, thinking, Jewish high school responsible Jewish committed to Tikkun Olam, can work to be actively antiracist.” adults, by weaving together the pursuit Following a mid-June call involving of academic excellence; a commitment school administrators, alumni and facul- to Jewish values, the Jewish people and ty, the former students organized under Israel; and a responsibility to serve our the Tzedek Nirdof banner. Their letter community and improve our world.”

Among the action items sought by was posted online to alumni in July. As of early September, it had been endorsed Tzedek Nirdof: • “Hold antiracism training for adby more than 100 former students who graduated between 2003 and 2019, as ministration, leadership, and teachers as well as parents of alumni, former teach- part of annual professional development, ers, community supporters, and at least beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.”

• “Implement regular and culturally three members of the school’s board of responsive antiracism programming for trustees.

The letter quotes Black activist and students.”

• “Commit to the hiring, retention, academic Angela Davis: “In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we and development of BIPOC leadership and faculty in a variety of disciplines.” must be anti-racist.”

• “Reassess the admissions process The letter struck a tone of collective obligation: “As a community whose mem- and dedicate scholarship funds to supbers largely benefit from white and class port students of color and low-income privilege, we have a responsibility to use students.’

• “Create supportive spaces for stuthese privileges to dismantle racism and oppression. As American Jews educated dents of color and other affinity groups, in a private high school, it is important e.g. LGBTQIA+ students.”

• “Appoint or hire a dean of diversity, that we acknowledge our collective role in perpetuating systems of oppression equity, and inclusion whose role is to and use our current access to power and oversee related programming and initia12 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ti-semitism. We must commit to step up tives.”

• “Adopt an antiracism policy, in ad- for other marginalized people, not only dition to the existing anti-bullying policy, for ourselves. Topics regarding race and white supremacy are often uncomfort...”

In an article published in June, We- able topics to discuss, but learning to be ber social studies teacher Rachel Roth- open and listen to others are skills just as stein told the Forward that as they study important as learning math and science racism, “My students jump to anti-Semi- in school.”

In response to questions from the tism, and want to draw parallels, because that’s their frame of reference, and most AJT, the authors of the letter and the school’s board of of them haven’t been trustees issued stateexposed to much ments. more beyond that The alumni frame of reference.” statement: “The letIn recent years, the ter was created after American history and a town hall in which literature curricula members of the fachas been revamped to ulty and administrainclude more instruction shared how the tion on racism and the school is addresscivil rights movement, ing racial injustice. including 11th grade Following the call, trips to Montgomery the administration and Selma, Ala. asked us to provide Among the signafeedback on what we tories to the letter was hope to see at Weber.

Victoria Raggs, who is We decided to create African American and and share this docuworks professionally ment in the spirit of as a diversity, equality, Michael Rosenzweig, a co-founder of The Weber School, said that he signed transparency and inclusion and justice the letter “because I think as a general with a desire to invite (DEIJ) consultant. Her proposition these are appropriate the Weber commuchildren have attendmatters that we should be sensitive to.” nity into the process. ed the Atlanta Jewish Academy, The Epstein School and The We are excited that the Weber administration has expressed desire to hear from Weber School.

“As a current Weber School parent its alumni and look forward to working and a DEIJ Consultant, I was very proud together to shape meaningful change for of the Tzedek Nirdof letter. I found it the next generation at Weber.

“In a moment when people across brave, concise, and frankly long overdue.

While some viewed the letter as radical, our country are reflecting on racial injusI saw it as an application of our Jewish tice, we wanted to bring the conversation values/tenets and basic human decen- to our most immediate and meaningful cy,” Raggs said. She added, “In my opin- communities. Weber is an institution ion, every Jewish organization starting that we hold dear to our hearts and that with the Federation, the JCC, Jewish day we feel can be a positive force for change. schools, Jewish summer camps, religious As alumni we have been inspired by schools, Hillels, and synagogues should the school’s mission for its graduates to all engage with the mission of the Tzedek serve our communities and improve our world. Our hope is that current students Nirdof group.

“I especially appreciated how the let- and future alumni will be better able to ter specified definitive actions be taken confront and engage with issues of racial because statements of solidarity alone injustice,” the alumni statement to the are not enough,” Raggs said. “The white AJT said.

“The Weber School’s mission capAshkenazi institutional Jewish community must recognize that Jews cannot tures our deep ‘responsibility to serve our be neutral or bystanders to issues of in- community and improve our world.’ The equity and racial justice. It’s incumbent recent, unprecedented challenges facupon us to actively work as anti-racist ing the world around us have reaffirmed because the more we are in partnership Weber’s work in this pursuit. That comwith people in other communities, the mitment is demonstrated through our more we can actually break through and educational programming, our words, have our own voices heard to combat an- and our actions. We are proud of our

NEWS

Photo of the Weber School campus.

Weber School alumni request more anti-racist education.

curriculum in general and Jewish studies, which incorporates the study of great literature, robust discussions, and field study to address historical and ethical issues surrounding civil and human rights. We encourage open discourse and diversity of thought in our complex discussions on race, ethnicity, gender and religion recognizing that diversity makes us a stronger kehillah (community).

“As a Board comprised of current parents, alumni parents, community leaders, and alumni, we have great confidence in our dedicated professional leadership and teaching faculty as they develop curriculum and policies that reflect the mission and values of our school. We deeply value our alumni who embody Weber’s mission with their commitment to tikkun olam, repairing the world. We look forward to continuing our dialogue with the group of alumni who have come together under the banner Tzedek, Tzedek Nirdof and the broader Weber community as the school continues to strengthen our program during these unprecedented times.”

Judy Robkin, a board member whose daughter was part of Weber’s first class of students, said, “I think that the fact that the alums came together as a group and said we think that the school needs to talk about it and we want answers really speaks highly of the school.

“It raises awareness. It makes everybody take a second look. And even if the school is doing what they need to be doing, could they do more?” Robkin asked. “That empowerment is a very positive thing. They care about the world.

They want their voices heard. If they had gotten a lousy education at Weber, it wouldn’t be important to them.”

Another signatory, Michael Rosenzweig, was among the school’s founders and is a past president still serving on the board. “I signed, first of all, because I think as a general proposition these are appropriate matters that we should be sensitive to.” Rosenzweig said that he signed “to honor the effort” of the letter’s authors, adding that he was “very impressed by the spirit that moved the alumni to do that.” ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 13

NEWS

Tracking COVID-19 in Toco Hills

By Dave Schechter

years at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Harpaz designed an online system In public health terms, the “mixing pattern” of Orthodox Jews sets them apart by which members of the Toco Hills community can report, anonyfrom less religiously obsermously if they choose, their vant Jews and the populaexposure to COVID-19. tion in general.

Respondents are asked Understanding that whether their suspected difference is important case of COVID-19 was “suswhen tracking COVID-19 pected (self-diagnosed, no in the Toco Hills neighborlab results),” “probable (phyhood of Atlanta, with its sigsician diagnosed, no lab nificant Orthodox popularesults),” or confirmed by tion, according to a resident a lab test. The survey asks who is providing several about the source of the illsynagogues with informaRabbi Ilan Feldman is the ness, whether a “known extion gathered through an senior rabbi at Congregation posure from local Orthodox online survey.

Beth Jacob, one of the community” or a known “I’m mindful of the fact synagogues encouraging exposure from outside the that the rates of COVID in members to use the online COVID registry. local Orthodox community, Georgia reflect what’s going on in places like Valdosta, Athens, and whether the source is unknown but the inSt. Simons Island, and have very little rel- dividual works in a high risk occupation, evance to us in Toco Hills, and even rates in or unknown but the individual either travDeKalb County have only partial relevance eled or interacted with an out-of-town visito us in Toco Hills,” said Dr. Rafael Harpaz, tor. Those reporting are asked whether the a specialist in vaccine-preventable and vi- rabbi may contact them if more informaral diseases, who recently retired after 26 tion is needed, while noting that in some

Shana Tova!

Laura K. Schilling, J.D., CPA, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Certified Senior Advisor (CSA®), is principal and founder of Financial Innovations, LLC and Laura K. Schilling, Esq, CPA, CSA, Estate Innovations, LLC. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia and Florida. Laura has been published in Forbes Magazine as well as Best Self Magazine.

Clients benefit from Laura’s legal, accounting, and financial planning expertise. This diverse background enables her to review a client’s financial situation from many different perspectives.

Securities offered through Triad Advisors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Financial Innovations, LLC. Financial Innovations, LLC is not affiliated with Triad Advisors, LLC. Over 4000 Jewish Atlanta voters participated in this year’s readers’ choice, to nominate and vote for their favorite business in a variety of categories. Laura Schilling won top ten place in the category of Best Investments and Financial Services in the 2020 Special Edition “Best of Jewish Atlanta: Readers’ Choice Awards.

Laura K. Schilling, J.D., CPA, CFP®, CSA® Financial Innovations, LLC and Estate Innovations, LLC

6111 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Suite F101 Atlanta, GA 30328 Main 404-458-0065 laura@financialinnovations.biz www.financialinnovations.biz 14 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Congregation Ohr HaTorah, formerly Young Israel of Toco Hills, encourages its members to use the virtual registry.

situations the public health department may need to make contact.

Congregation Beth Jacob and Congregation Ohr HaTorah, along with two or three smaller synagogues, have encouraged their members to use the system. Harpaz and his family are members of both Beth Jacob and Ohr HaTorah.

“Dr. Harpaz has been an indispensable resource in addressing the dozens and dozens of questions individuals and institutions in our community have had to resolve. His patience and generosity know no limits,” said Rabbi Ilan Feldman, senior rabbi at Beth Jacob.

Harpaz provides weekly reports to rabbis at the participating congregations.

“It’s not rocket science. It’s just an additional system of surveillance,” he said. “It’s data for action. It’s information for action.

We need to have a compass. We’re making plans for opening schools. That’s part of the mix, about what the risks are. Any information we can collect is useful,” he said.

Toco Hills primarily is in zip code 30329, a designation that covers a geographic area stretching from near the intersection of Buford Highway and Clairmont Road south to near Emory University, and from the intersection of Buford Highway and Northeast Expressway east toward where Clairmont Road intersects North Druid Hills Road.

The DeKalb County Department of Health said that it could not break down COVID-19 zip code data into smaller segments. As of Aug. 23, the 873 recorded cases in 30329 were nearly 5.5 percent of the county’s total of 15,969.

“Right now it’s much better [in Toco Hills] than in 30329 in general,” Harpaz said in late August. “There was a period of time back in late March and April when there were a number of cases, through keeping an ear to the rail, people knew about a fair number of cases.

“Right now there is not a problem in

the Orthodox community compared with the general community. One can expect that it will be different because the mixing patterns will be very different. We are not more protected or less protected compared with other communities. It’s just a matter of who you’re mixing with,” he said.

In Toco Hills, “social patterns are defined by being Orthodox and living within walking distance of shul,” Harpaz said. Even though they may work outside of the neighborhood, people likely walk to the same synagogues and shop in the same stores. Their children likely play together and attend Orthodox schools and camps. Multiple infections in a single residence, while serious, may be less worrisome than multiple cases with unknown sources spreading in the same neighborhood.

Then there are people who live in one suburb, work elsewhere, and drive into the city or another suburb to attend synagogue, whose children go to different schools and have friends in different neighborhoods, and who frequent a larger variety of stores and restaurants. So many interactions over such a wide area increases the difficulty of knowing where someone may have been exposed to the virus.

In his years with the CDC, Harpaz worked on numerous disease outbreaks, including measles, hepatitis, herpes zoster, influenza and polio. “I have had a lot of opportunities in my career to foray into Orthodox communities, too,” he said, citing incidents of measles and mumps in sections of New York City.

Harpaz benefited from having “cultural fluency,” including about the way members of those communities lived, worshipped and engaged socially. Now he is applying that understanding to his own neighborhood as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact how the Orthodox community lives, worships and engages socially. ì

NEWS

Ties That Bind Jews and Blacks

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

icons Rev. C.T. Vivian and Rev. Joseph Lowery, Lewis was honored More than 100 during the evening. students from several “The allyship between U.S. cities and abroad Blacks and Jews” was came to Atlanta – via Lewis’ legacy, said Caleb Zoom – to hear about Barco, a recent Morethe remarkable relahouse graduate and one tionship between the of the panelists.

Jewish and Black comStudent particimunities. The starpants from around the studded panelists led country asked questhe conversation that tions of the various was preceded by onpanelists, who includline screenings of the ed former Atlanta Maydocumentary, “Shared or and Ambassador Legacies: The African to the United Nations Former Ambassador to the United Nations Andrew Young American-Jewish Civil Andrew Young and forwas told by his father that white Rights Alliance,” which mer NBA all-star player supremacy is a sickness. premiered at the AtlanIsiah Thomas. Consul ta Jewish Film Festival in February.

General Anat Sultan-Dadon opened the The educational program last month program, which featured three separate was co-sponsored by groups of panels. the Consulate General Thomas spoke of Israel to the Southabout the close assoeast, the Martin Luther ciation between Blacks King Jr. International and Jews in sports.

Chapel at Morehouse “This is a community College and the Spill that’s always been tothe Honey Foundation, gether,” he said, pointwhich developed and ing out that the foundproduced the film. Acer of the Globe Trotters cording to Dr. Shari was Abe Saperstein.

Rogers, president of “Lots of sports team Spill the Honey and diowners are Jewish.” rector of the documenThe basketball cetary, the film might not leb referred to the sumRev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, pastor of have been produced if mer-long civil rights Ebenezer Baptist Church, stressed it had not been for Atprotests in America the importance of condemning lantans. bigotry “wherever we see it, whether sparked by the killing it’s racism or anti-Semitism.”

“Atlanta helped me of African American raise the funds for the film,” she told the George Floyd by Minneapolis police in participants. “Atlanta is really the model May, saying he is encouraged by “what’s for the rest of the nahappening on the tion” with regards to streets and the world Black-Jewish relations. coming together. None Among those who of us could have gothelped spearhead the ten to this point in time making of the film without our Jewish was Sherry Frank, brothers and sisters.” president of the AtHe told the student parlanta section of the ticipants, “Your generaNational Council of tion can stop the instiJewish Women. Frank tutional racism” in the was executive director country. of the Atlanta chapter Young spoke about of the American Jewgrowing up in New Ornba.com // The generation of the ish Committee when leans not far from an participating students “can stop she helped create the office of the American the institutional racism” in the Atlanta Black-Jewish Nazi Party. He said his country, according to former Coalition along with father taught him not NBA star Isiah Thomas. the late Congressman to get angry at “sick John Lewis. people.” White supremacy “is a sickness, In addition to Atlanta civil rights and you have to learn to live with people

who are different. Never get emotional, between former Temple Rabbi Jacob Rothschild and Marstay calm and cool,” tin Luther King Jr. In was his father’s advice. fact, Rothschild helped Young’s father was a organize the first intedentist and the dental grated dinner for the supply companies were late civil rights leader.

Jewish owned.

Both clergymen “I grew up in a comBerg and Warnock munity bound by comspoke about the immon beliefs,” Young portance of the book said. The National Conof Exodus. “This is ference of Christians the central narrative and Jews was the first of the Jewish people,” international meeting Berg said. “All holidays he ever attended. deal with the story Frank recalled the “Atlanta is really the model for the of Exodus.” Warnock launching of the Atlanrest of the nation” with regards to quoted the late Rabbi ta Black-Jewish CoaliJewish-Black relations, according Joshua Heschel after tion in the early 1980s. to Dr. Shari Rogers, producer he marched with King “We built coalitions by of the documentary, “Shared Legacies: The African Americanfrom Selma to Montgetting to know each Jewish Civil Rights Alliance.” gomery, Ala. “It felt like other. We created a tamy feet were praying.” ble to hear each other’s issues.”

Speaking to the participants, WarThe third panel consisted of The Temple’s Rabbi Peter Berg and Rev. Dr. nock stressed the importance of conRaphael Warnock, pastor at Ebenezer demning “bigotry wherever we see it, Baptist Church. The two congregations whether it’s racism or anti-Semitism. have a long history of working and pray- We lose some of our credibility when we ing together. Berg noted the relationship don’t.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 15

BUSINESS

Mask Maker Shares Success Story

Equality Lives Here Movement Gains Traction

An Israeli startup was affirmed by indepenthat used its technology dent laboratory bodies to to create anti-pathogen retain its antimicrobial fabric facemasks is the activities against bacteria focus of a virtual webinar and fungi after more than Sept. 16 hosted by the At65 washes. Reused face lanta Israel Coalition, AJC masks typically otherwise Atlanta, Temple Emanu-El harbor micro-organisms and others. that can impact respira“Behind the Scenes tory health, he said. It also with Sonovia” explains has lab-verified anti-viral Atlanta Israel Coalition members how the Israel-based comactivity against COVID-19 show off their original SonoMasks, pany helped provide a soto destroy the virus it which formed the basis for a lution to stop the spread comes in contact with, acrelationship with the Israel-based startup that produced them. of COVID-19. cording to the email.

AIC founding director Cheryl “The mask technology is a result of Dorchinsky, Sonovia co-founder Shay Her- 15 years of academic and clinical research shcovich, Dr. Jason Migdal, and key team and two granted patents, and represents members were to talk about how Sonovia several significant improvements over transitioned from a startup to a successful disposable American and European FFP commercial international business in the (filtering facepiece) benchmarks,” Migdal midst of a global pandemic. said.

In addition to AIC mask users, nurses The online webinar will be held 11 a.m. at the Emirates Specialty Clinic are among to 12 p.m. Sept. 16. Registration in advance the first recipients of the product in Dubai is required at https://us02web.zoom.us/ under the Israel-UAE treaty. webinar/register/WN_FrsQYafJR0i47WtThe SonoMask, https://sonoviatech. 5PHVwJQ. com/shop/, is made from a high-quality Other promotional partners from Atcotton-polyester fabric that offers a level of lanta include B’nai B’rith Atlanta-Achim/ barrier viewed by the World Health Orga- Gate City Lodge, Hebrew Order of David, nization as protection from COVID trans- and the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival. mission, Migdal, a microbiology R&D stratFor more information, visit www.faceegist, said in an email to the AJT. The mask book.com/events/799912904152967/

Equality Lives Here, a grassroots effort started in Atlanta by Billy Kramer, is reaching out to businesses and individuals nationwide – restaurants, hotels, retailers and members of the community – offering them a storefront decal that indicates “all are welcome here.”

Kramer explained, “This really is a very simple concept. Everyone, regardless of the color of their skin, their religious beliefs or sexual orientation, should feel welcome no matter where they are, where they’re going, or what they want to do. Equality Lives Here is one step in a long road, heading in the right direction.”

Within the Equality Lives Here brand, there are several more specific categories geared towards other businesses and organizations. Equality Learns Here, Equality Shops Here, Equality Drinks Here, Equality Plays Here, Equality Works Here, and Equality Eats Here.

Restaurant owner Kramer proudly displays the latter on his website and storefront. He started @BillysBurgers pop-ups and NFA Burger, which opened its first permanent location in Dunwoody in December.

One of the first Atlanta business owners to come on board with Equality Lives Here is Kevin Gillespie, chef-owner of Red Beard Restaurants. “Real hospitality can only exist where everyone, regardless of circumstances, is welcomed with open arms,” Gillespie said. “One of the founding principles of Red Beard Restaurants is that all guests are treated like VIPs, and now more than ever it’s incredibly important that we live that mantra. It begins internally, by creating a safe haven for our staff where they can thrive, and continues into our dining rooms by ensuring that all guests are celebrated. I want my restaurants to represent

Atlanta Partners Make Best Lawyers List Gaslowitz Frankel LLC announce that its two named partners, Adam Gaslowitz and Craig Frankel, were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2021.

In addition to this distinction, Gaslowitz was named 2021 Lawyer of the Year for trusts and estates litigation in Atlanta.

Best Lawyers is believed to be the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, made up of over 100,000 lawyers in 78 countries. Only the top 5 percent of practicing attorneys nationwide achieve this annual recognition. Once an attorney is nominated, they are subject to an extensive peer review and feedback analysis process before officially being recognized.

As a founding member of Gaslowitz Frankel, Gaslowitz said, “I understand the enormous emotional stress most of my clients experience when faced with conflict among family members or business partners, and I know that a client-first approach and an understanding of what drives these types of conflicts truly makes a difference,” He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America every year since 2009, and he was first recognized for trust and estate litigation 16 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Adam Gaslowitz and Craig Frankel were named The Best Lawyers in America 2021.

in 2011.

Frankel said, “I believe a successful result must resolve both the financial and emotional challenges of my clients.” Beyond the courtroom, he dedicates a considerable amount of time speaking at continuing education programs and in pro-bono work. He has been included in the list of Best Lawyers every year since 2013, when he was first recognized for trust and estate litigation.

Gaslowitz Frankel legal team specializes in representing individuals, executors, trustees, investors, shareholders and corporate fiduciaries in all aspects of complex fiduciary disputes involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships and businesses.

Billy Kramer, who began Equality Lives Here, is the owner of @BillysBurgers pop-ups and NFA Burger, which opened its first permanent location in Dunwoody in December.

the future of Atlanta and its proactive approach to equality and prosperity.”

Discover Dunwoody also supports the concept of ELH. “Discover Dunwoody proudly embraces the Equality Lives Here initiative because it directly reflects Dunwoody as a destination,” says Melanie Watson, communications manager. “We always tell visitors that anyone and everybody is welcome here. This type of initiative amplifies that message and physically shows them.”

Kramer said, “We are so pleased with the response that Equality Lives Here has received. … Our goal is to eventually compile a comprehensive directory of businesses starting, with Georgia and growing from there, who all share the same underlying viewpoint: that all people are created equal,” he said.

“During one of the most turbulent periods of our country’s history, it is incumbent on all of us to come together and support one another. Equality Lives Here allows us to do that in a cohesive and tolerant way.”

For more information visit equalityliveshere.com or contact billy@equalityliveshere.com.

New Atlanta Jewish Foundation Chair Beth Paradies has recently assumed the role of chair of the advisory board of Atlanta Jewish Foundation, a service of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta that stewards over $325 million in philanthropic assets for individuals and organizations in Atlanta. The Foundation provides planning and financial expertise. Donations help the mission of strengthening the Jewish community.

“We are working to build one of the best community foundations in the Southeast,” Paradies said. “Our lofty growth goals will enable more philanthropic contributions to Jewish and other philanthropic causes and provide for a richer future for our community and beyond.” Learn more

Beth Paradies is the new chair of the advisory board of Atlanta Jewish Foundation.

about the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, www. atlantajewishfoundation.org.

Honeymoon Israel Makes Slingshot’s 10 to Watch This month, Honeymoon Israel will be featured as one of Slingshot’s 10 to Watch.

The organization, which moved its national headquarters to Atlanta last year, offers trips to Israel for young couples with at least one Jewish partner.

Slingshot is an organization that empowers young Jewish philanthropists. The 10 to Watch list highlights organizations and projects in North America that are making positive change and responding to current and timely needs, according to its website.

Honeymoon Israel uses subsidized group trips to Israel as a catalyst to create local community. Its goal is to bring Judaism into participants’ homes and help make it part of their daily lives in a personal, meaningful way.

The organization’s founders and CEOs Mike Wise and Avi Rubel have close, personal ties to the Atlanta Jewish community. Wise lives in Atlanta and served as the CEO of the Marcus JCC. Rubel now lives in Tel Aviv, but his parents live in Atlanta and are active in the Jewish community. His mother was one of the leaders at The Epstein School.

Honeymoon Israel’s offices in the Armour neighborhood are open to fellow community organizations to use, as Honeymoon Israel wants to become a hub for or-

Honeymoon Israel founders and CEOs Mike Wise and Avi Rubel have ties to the Atlanta Jewish community.

Dana Neiger is the Jewish co-owner of HIVE Talent Acquisition Firm.

Veronica Jenkins co-owns the HR consulting firm that is promoting T-shirts to raise money for Black businesses hurt by the pandemic.

ganizations serving young adults, especially couples. Before the pandemic, Honeymoon Israel opened their doors to share its space with Birthright Israel, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s young leadership, 18 Doors and OneTable.

Honeymoon Israel is supported by local donors, including the Jewish Federation, The Marcus Foundation, and The Molly Blank Fund of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. Thanks to that support, Honeymoon Israel in pre-pandemic times sent three trips out of Atlanta to Israel each year.

To date, there have been 10 trips and nearly 200 couples from Atlanta. Nationally, the organization has offered 114 trips with more than 2,200 couples.

The Black and Jewish co-owners of an Atlanta human resources/recruiting consulting firm are promoting T-shirt sales to raise money for Black-owned businesses hurt by the pandemic. Dana Neiger is the Jewish co-owner of HIVE Talent Acquisition Firm, which is promoting its HoneyDrips!

Merchandise vendor partnership. Her coowner is Veronica Jenkins. The mission of the partnership is to “connect, network and create an extra stream of revenue for black-owned businesses. This call to action is to advocate for and support black-owned businesses” that have been affected by the pandemic, according to a HoneyDrips! flyer.

Specialty T-shirts will be personalized for each partner business with a percentage of sales revenue returning to those companies. Additional marketing will be provided through social media and search engine optimization, according to the promotional flyer.

HIVE is a three-year-old Atlanta business with eight employees that assists jobseekers and companies looking to hire, helps youth participating in internships find full-time employment, and provides human resources consulting for small- or medium-sized businesses that may not have an in-house human resources department.

Israel Bonds Marks 70th Anniversary

Israel Bonds President and CEO Israel Maimon said the 70th anniversary is marked by a higher than typical campaign goal.

Israel Bonds President and CEO Israel Maimon said that the organization has seen great support from the Jewish community even in this time of uncertainty.

The 70th anniversary of Israel Bonds, founded in September 1950, is being celebrated this month. Maimon emphasized that Israel Bonds is vitally important, especially during the economic troubles caused by the pandemic. “It’s supposed to be a quiet, pleasant date,” he said of the anniversary.

“This year found us in the heart of a campaign to secure additional capital. During the last six months it’s even more obvious that the role of Israel Bonds, with the bigger needs of the government and economy of Israel … is a crucial resource.”

Maimon said that even with current

BUSINESS T-Shirt Sales for Black-Owned Businesses

uncertainty, they’ve seen a positive response from people who are willing to give money, even during troubled economic times. “The last 70 years we developed such a great infrastructure of true supporters, … they are the first target audience to approach,” he said.

This year, the financial goal of Israel Bonds is $1.5 billion, which is 50 percent more than a regular year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. “First, [the goal is] to meet the higher than regular goal that we need to sell Israel Bonds,” Maimon said of planning for the next year. “Second, I’m not forgetting for a second the future is with the young and the next generation.” Israel Bonds has a strategic goal to expand its database to new, mainly younger clients.

Maimon said he wanted to praise and thank the Atlanta Jewish community, which has been central to the support of Israel Bonds. “It’s not only by the amount of dollars that was sold, but also with the commitment of the leadership Israel Bonds has in Atlanta.” He mentioned Atlanta’s Chuck Berk, chair of the Israel Bonds national campaign. “I visited Atlanta something like a year ago and had a very nice dinner with the key leaders of Atlanta, and I could feel the love and commitment.”

Sh

ana

Tov

a!

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 17

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

Greg Solomon/Fulbright // Tel Aviv University’s

professor Noam Eliaz with staff in his lab.

U.S. Honors 3D Print Whiz, ‘Self-Healing’ Cars Visionary Israeli 3D printing pioneer Noam Eliaz has become a senior member of the National Academy of Inventors, making him the first scientist based outside the U.S. to attain the status.

“It’s acknowledgment for my research, but also, in a sense, a mark of respect for Israeli science,” Eliaz, professor of material science and engineering at Tel Aviv University, told The Times of Israel.

Eliaz said that he sees the accolade as a reflection on his past work, but also as a mark of confidence in his current projects.

He hopes those endeavors will lead to new applications for 3D printing, including the groundwork for “self-healing” cars and aircraft.

The academy said it chose Eliaz in recognition of his “technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society,” and “contributions to

Today in Israeli History Sept. 15, 2009: Judge Richard Goldstone presents his U.N.-sponsored report criticizing Israel and Hamas for their actions in the 2008-2009 Gaza war. In April 2011 he recants suggestions that Israel intentionally killed civilians.

Sept. 16, 1977: Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan holds secret talks in Morocco with Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Hassan Tuhami to assess each side’s willingness to negotiate toward peace.

the innovation ecosystem.”

Eliaz runs a new center at Tel Aviv University dedicated to 3D printing technology. He has a chair for 3D printing at India’s Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Eliaz is trying to enable the use of increasingly complex materials in 3D printing to produce items that combine numerous different substances.

One project is a “smart composite material” containing several different components, for making parts for cars and airplanes. Parts would be 3D printed, with an inherent capability for “self-healing” if there is a crack, he said.

“Cracks will be closed, and this will increase [the] reliability and safety of car parts.”

Reflecting on his new position in the NAI, Eliaz said, “As inventors and entrepreneurs, our job is to constantly look for the next professional challenge and develop the new groundbreaking invention, for the benefit of society and technology.”

Arab-Jewish Startup Aims to Bring Fun to School An Arab-Jewish startup BlockIT is making educational toy kits where users can touch, feel and play with parts that also Sept. 19, 1988: Israel becomes the ninth nation able to launch a space satellite when it sends the 340-pound Ofek 1 into Earth orbit from an undisclosed location near the Mediterranean Sea. Sept. 20, 1890: Rahel Bluwstein, considered the founding mother of modern Hebrew poetry, is born in Russia. She is one of the first modern poets to write in Hebrew in a conversational style.

Sept. 17, 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sign the Camp David Accords, brokered by President Jimmy Carter. The accords lead to the March 1979 peace treaty.

Sept. 18, 1949: The Compulsory Education Law goes into effect. It requires all children ages 5 to 15 to attend school, provides free elementary education, and facilitates alternative public school systems for Arabs, religious Zionists and Haredi Jews.

18 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

have a parallel digital presence, The Times of Israel reported. Tel Aviv resident Gal Dvir, 38, joined forces with three other ambitious entrepreneurs: Kareem Abu Al Filat, 25, who lives in Jerusalem and has a background in software and hardware; Sally Awad Asfour, 39, of Nof HaGalil who has a background in education; and Nicola Mansour, 28, of Rameh with a background in engineering and business.

Dvir and his partners found each other by joining 50:50 Startups, an initiative that creates startup collaborations between Israelis and Palestinians to show they can create “partnerships of equals.”

Coming from different backgrounds, each member of BlockIT had their own rationale for seeking out 50:50 Startups. Some, like Dvir, wanted to make a change in the region; Abu Al Filat wanted to take advantage of the mentorships and partnerships offered by the initiative; while Mansour was seeking partners to team up with. To Asfour, the program’s diversity was appealing, bridging between Arabs and Jews in entrepreneurship.

The four applied and were accepted into 50:50 Startups’s first cohort in fall 2019.

Early in the program, when members spend time getting to know each other, Abu Al Filat and Mansour met Awad Asfour, who introduced them to Dvir. The four figured they had good potential, given their vari-

ous educational backgrounds, and asked the program managers if they could form a team. They then spent the early months of 2020 developing the idea through the program’s various accelerators and incubators.

BlockIT won second place at the Aug. 4 virtual Demo Day for the program.

Dvir had the original idea behind BlockIT after he attended a virtual reality show in Munich. Fascinated by the idea of virtual reality, he wanted to find a way to combine it with storytelling.

Awad Asfour said the idea is to make learning fun.

“For me, the education aspect is very important, and I think that we have a lot of things to do and to improve the system here in Israel, in the classroom,” Awad Asfour said. “So, what we tried to do in our startup is to find some solution that can involve the digital world in the classroom.”

Dvir said, “I didn’t feel that there’s a big difference. Every one of us wants to do something new in the world — and special — with technology. Maybe the background is different, but the goal is the same.”

Besides building groundbreaking technology, the mission and vision is to “build a diverse company — an equal company between Arabs and Jews, and women and men,” Dvir said. The intent is to bring on a “wave of diversity” and set an example for others in the region, he said.

form a government, a Knesset election is held in February 2009.

haftig, a founder of the National Religious Party and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, dies at age 96 in Jerusalem.

A native of Belorussia, he made aliyah in 1947.

Sept. 22, 2000: Yehuda Amichai, the poet laureate of Jerusalem, dies of lymphoma at age 76. Themes of war, peace and loss are prominent in his poetry, which has been translated into more than 40 languages.

Sept. 23, 2003: Simcha Dinitz, whose long career as an Israeli diplomat included serving as ambassador to the United States from 1973 to 1978, dies at age 74. He helped secure an emergency airlift of U.S. weapons during the Yom Kippur War. Sept. 24, 1950: Two planes carrying 177 Jews to Israel from Aden mark the final flights of Operation Magic Carpet, the airlift of nearly 50,000 Jews from their ancient community in Yemen.

Photo by Ohayon Avi, Israeli Government Press Office // Prime Minister Ehud Olmert

(right) submits his resignation letter to President Shimon Peres on Sept. 21, 2008.

Sept. 21, 2008: Facing corruption charges on which he is later convicted, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigns. After new Kadima leader Tzipi Livni can’t

Sept. 25, 1917: Amir Gilboa, one of Israel’s leading poets, is born as Berl Feldmann in Ukraine. His contemplative, often heavy poems draw on his military experiences and biblical issues of morality.

Sept. 26, 2002: Rabbi Zerach War-

Sept. 27, 1950: The Third Maccabiah Games, originally scheduled for 1938 but canceled by the British, begin in the 50,000-seat stadium in Ramat Gan with 800 athletes from 20 countries.

Sept. 28, 1995: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, known as Oslo II, at the White House. It establishes the elected Palestinian Authority.

Sept. 29, 1923: Under borders drawn primarily by the United Kingdom and France after World War I, the new nation of Syria is given control of the Golan Heights.

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

ISRAEL NEWS Complexity of Israeli High Holiday Restrictions

By Jan Jaben-Eilon If Atlantans think the coronavirus guidelines affecting their observance of the upcoming high holidays are complicated, they should consider the restrictions in Israel. Even Israelis are confused.

To somewhat understand the complexities involved, one must remember that there is no separation of synagogue and state in Israel, and that there are ultrareligious political parties that make up the coalition government. That means those parties can put pressure on the government to accommodate the wishes of their constituents.

Also, in contrast to Atlanta and most of the United States, in Israel the majority of the synagogues are small. On a typical residential street in Jerusalem, there could be several small congregations. According to the municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo – considered among the most secular city in Israel -- there are about 450 synagogues.

What IS similar to the United States is that Israelis are fighting frightening COVID-19 infections. On Sept. 8, nightly curfews went into effect in 40 towns and neighborhoods. Starting Sept. 18, the eve of Rosh Hashanah, a two-week nationwide lockdown will go into effect. During that time, Israelis will be limited from traveling beyond 550 yards from their homes.

The Israeli government issued its preliminary guidelines at the end of August for attendance at high holiday services, based on the size of the synagogues. The regulations were announced in the context of an overall plan approved by the country’s virus czar Ronni Gamzu that went into effect Sept. 6, and after the two-week nationwide lockdown, will go back into effect. The overall plan set by Gamzu, referred to as the “traffic light” plan, differentiates each city and town based on its COVID-19 morbidity rate, with “red” cities subject to the strictest restrictions, followed by “orange,” “yellow” and “green.”

The exact number of prayer-goers allowed at each venue – indoors or outdoors – is based on the color-coded classification of the area, the size of the venue, the number of entrances and the space per worshipper, according to the guidelines. Up to 1,000 people will be allowed indoors in huge venues, or one person for every 4 square meters, or about 43 square feet. Worshippers will be divided into permanent groups, with each group assigned an entrance. People who don’t live together will be seated at least 6.2 feet apart, with at least two empty seats in between them. And each group will be placed in an area separated by a physical

The Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv is just one of some 450 synagogues in the municipality.

IDI Director Dr. Gilad Malach recommends that the country allow a select group of Breslav chasidic leaders to travel to Uman, Ukraine, for the high holidays.

border with at least another 6 feet in between to prevent anyone moving between the areas.

The regulations further call for someone to be assigned to supervise the seating and entry provisions. To assist worshippers entering the synagogue, signs are to be posted explaining the requirements and naming the person in charge.

If a high holiday service is planned for outdoors, worshippers must be separated into groups of no more than 20 people in each area. Those areas must be separated by at least 6.2 feet with physical demarcations such as ropes or ribbons. Again, people will be designated as enforcers of the groupings.

The guidelines further state that if more than 250 worshippers are expected, indoors or outdoors, drawings of the seating and separation plans must be approved by the authorities. Health Ministry guidelines include wearing of masks and temperature checks.

In June, the Tel Aviv-Yafo City Council invested nearly $300,000 to improve accessibility to about 150 synagogues located in municipal buildings.

“The right to prayer and religious gatherings is fundamental, and everything will be done in order to permit tens of thousands of worshippers to carry out the holiday commandments – even under the health restrictions,” stated Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo. “From the very first days of the first Hebrew city, Jewish tradition has been of great importance in our daily life. As Meir Dizengoff, the first mayor of the city, said: ‘We are striving so that the spirit of Judaism will be in harmony with our enterprise and this city – so that the spirit of brotherhood, peace and love will prevail.’”

That peace and harmony, however, appeared to be lacking between the ultraOrthodox political parties and the government they are a part of. Housing Minister Yaakov Litzman threatened to withdraw his United Torah Judaism party from the governing coalition if a lockdown is enacted for his community during the high holidays.

In the spring, several ultra-Orthodox areas were under lockdown after widespread COVID-19 infections were reported there.

“Ultra-Orthodox political leaders have been sharply criticized by their constituencies for the fact that in the first months of the COVID-19 outbreak, they aligned themselves with the Ministry of Health’s directives and did not advocate vigorously enough on behalf of the interests of the ultra-Orthodox public and insist that synagogues and yeshivas remain open,” reported Dr. Gilad Malach, director of the Ultra-Orthodox in Israel program at The Israel De-

mocracy Institute.

Malach further stated that this criticism is the basis for the latest controversy over the annual pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine. “The annual pilgrimage is the most significant event on the calendar of the Breslav Hasidic sect and of the many Jews who identify with elements of this sect. In an average year, about 30,000 people travel to Uman during Rosh Hashanah and the high holidays to pray and prostrate themselves on the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslav.

Due to the pandemic, mass travel to a densely populated event is deemed unacceptable by all health officials, due to the fear of a spike in corona cases upon their return to Israel.”

Malach suggested that a possible solution to this crisis would be the “approval of a symbolic gesture allowing a select group of rabbis and community leadership to travel to Uman.”

A recent survey by the IDI showed that nearly two-thirds of ultra-Orthodox Israelis believe that their trust in their political parties has been “harmed” to some extent by the coronavirus crisis. ì

L'Shanah Tovah Happy New Year!

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

from, THE SONENSHINE TEAM Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team

direct 404.250.5311 | office 404.252.4908 Follow Us On Facebook Debbie@SonenshineTeam.com | www.SonenshineTeam.com ©2018 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Operated By a Subsidiary of NRT LLC.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 19

OPINION John Lewis Bent the Arc

Rabbi Neil Sandler served as the senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 2004 to 2019.

By The Rabbinical Assembly As we continue to mourn the death of Rep. John Lewis and celebrate his life, we, as rabbis, naturally do so, in part, through the prism of our tradition. Rabbis Arnold Goodman and Neil Sandler, former senior rabbis of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, share personal reflections on their experiences with Lewis. Goodman’s tenure included the first half of Rep. Lewis’ time in Congress; Sandler’s tenure coincided with the second half. Both colleagues are grateful to The Rabbinical Assembly for inviting them to share their thoughts.

The Israelites’ fate was sealed after a rebellion that came in the aftermath of the spies’ report that moving into the Promised Land would be no cakewalk. God punished them duly for their absence of faith, and decreed that none of them then alive, save Caleb and Joshua, would live to see the people’s entrance into the Land of Israel.

For Moses, Caleb was a profile in courage, who calmed the rebellion and then led the community through its 40-year trek and then into Canaan. He assured his disciples Caleb and Joshua, as he prepared himself for his own death, that with faith in God the two of them — and their people — would prevail.

As the former senior rabbis of Atlanta’s Congregation Ahavath Achim, Rabbi Goodman, serving from 1982 to 2002 and Rabbi Sandler from 2004 to 2019, they both had the occasion to work firsthand with the late Rep. John Lewis — a Caleb for our time.

Rabbi Goodman first met John Lewis in 1986 when he was the underdog candidate for Congress. He came around for a morning cup of coffee, and impressed Rabbi 20 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Rabbi Arnold Goodman was the senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 1982 to 2002. He is now the synagogue’s senior rabbinic scholar.

Goodman with his candor and humility. His leadership role in the civil rights movement was well-known, and he was widely respected as a champion for human rights issues.

He narrowly won that election, and served in Congress for over 30 years until his recent death. He quickly became the conscience of the Congress and was not only a voice for justice for the African American community, but also for Soviet Jewry, the state of Israel and those who found themselves oppressed and held down.

Some years ago, our Atlanta-area congregation organized a one-day mission to visit the national Holocaust museum in Washington, D.C. Rabbi Goodman contacted John Lewis and invited him to meet with us in the museum’s rotunda. He graciously accepted and spoke with great sensitivity about the Holocaust and the challenge of quashing evil before it takes permanent root. He ended with the affirmation of “Never Again.” We sensed that had there been individuals with Lewis’ passion for justice and with his courage to speak truth to power, the Third Reich might not have taken root in Germany.

Rabbi Sandler saw Rep. Lewis speak before large audiences, interacting with him in large groups and in small settings. Always the same John Lewis. Always the same countenance. Humility that, ironically, was overpowering. He showed none of the guile and modulation so common to men and women who enter into public life.

In meetings, Representative Lewis gave his full attention. “Perfunctory” and “autopilot” were not words or expressions in his lexicon. He did not phone it in.

Rep. Lewis focused on people, especially on young people. Rabbi Sandler recalled

John Lewis nearly died on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., in 1965 marching for Black rights.

a meeting in Lewis’ office with about 20 people. Rep. Lewis invited everyone to introduce herself or himself. When he reached the youngest member of the delegation, a teenager, Lewis stopped the flow of introductions. He asked questions of the young man. He probed. He was interested in him, and he appreciated that this teenager had taken the time to visit him in Washington, D.C. And, as always, he encouraged the young man to learn and to “get into good trouble.” A civil rights icon and a man admired by many people treated a young man in his office as if he were the guest of honor in this gathering. What humility!

In May 2013 Rabbi Sandler was with Rep. Lewis in his office on a Tuesday. In a rather offhanded manner, he mentioned he would be at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York two days later. Lewis was excited to go to the institution he associated with a man he greatly admired, Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel, of blessed memory.

Dr. Heschel and Mr. Lewis had made that fateful march together across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965.

Rep. Lewis didn’t tell Rabbi Sandler why he would be going to JTS. Only later that day did we learn he would be receiving an honorary degree and serve as commencement speaker! He was too modest to say exactly why he was going to the seminary. Two days later Rabbi Sandler beamed as he sat in the audience and listened to the congressman. His humility, shaped by the gratitude he felt in being honored by the institution he associated with the man he called “Rabbi Herschel,” was evident to all

who were present. We sometimes forget how wide-ranging the humiliation and depredation inflicted on African Americans in the Old South was. During a recent speech at the Georgia Governor’s Mansion, where he appeared to discuss his memoir, “Walking With the Wind,” Lewis reflected on the time that he applied for a library card in Alabama and was turned down. When he grew up, the government was all too often an enemy of people of color. His presence at the mansion of the governor of a historic Southern state was significant, but there was — and is — still a long road ahead.

His is an American story. This son of a sharecropper in rural Alabama rose to be a leader in national and state government. Yet he never backed away from his deep-seated commitment to speak truth to power. He was rightly called the conscience of the Congress; more appropriately, he was the conscience of so many of us. This modern-day Caleb awakened every morning to continue his life work of “bending the arc of history toward justice.”

Completing this task is more than a 40-year trek. It is an ongoing mission to arrive at the day when “Justice shall well up as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos 5:24) May he rest in peace and may his memory and example be a lasting guide to us all.

The Rabbinical Assembly is the international association of Conservative rabbis. Rabbis of the Assembly serve congregations throughout the world, and also work as educators, officers of communal service organizations, and college, hospital and military chaplains. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 21

OPINION

Holding Space for Black Jews Recently, I partnered with OneTable.org to launch “Soul: A Black Jewish Dinner Series.”

The mission is to re-create Shabbat with Black Jews and Patrice Worthhy n o n -Jew i s h Blacks around the table or, in this case, the computer screen. My co-host Lilli Stordeur, New York City field manager at OneTable, decided it is time to bridge the gap between the Black and Jewish communities while bonding with other Black Jews and Blacks in the diaspora. It’s a lofty goal, but after the inaugural dinner on Juneteenth and in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers, I knew this intimate space was necessary for Black folks to refill our proverbial cups.

Our second dinner featured guest Maayan Zik, a Black Hasidic woman from Crown Heights who organized a Black Lives Matter protest in her community that land-

22 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ed her on the pages of Vogue. During this dinner Aug. 14, we were joined by Stordeur’s aunt Rain Pryor, comedian and daughter of late comedian and actor Richard Pryor, and Rachel Baylor, founder of Evolving Lives Body & Mind. Baylor is a yoga instructor offering classes at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Each of us gathered knowing the gravitas of Zik’s actions.

We held space as she talked about instances of racism within the Hasidic Jewish community that no one should have to face. Zik inspired us with her determination to live a life of normalcy as a Black Jewish woman.

We listened closely as she described how being born and raised in America to a Jamaican family informs her outlook on racism in the United States. Zik’s humble confidence combined with her background gave her the grace to organize a 200-person protest in Crown Heights, and casually talk about it as if it was just another day in her life. Everyone in attendance looked on in awe at a woman willing to risk being ostracized from her community for the sake of Black Lives.

The experience was transcendent and

when children began to appear on a couple of screens it felt like a real Shabbat – a Black folks Shabbat. There was an ease that is almost indescribable. I listened to Black mothers, both Jewish and Christian, talk about how they will send their sons out into a world that will greet them with hostility.

In this space, our pain was no longer a spectacle, and our disappointments weren’t being used as teaching tools to convince others of our humanity. Instead, we shared stories of our separate journeys, just like many of our ancestors, in times much like these.

They found solace in each other’s presence sitting around in parlors, at dinner tables, churches, synagogues and tents, planning for a better future. And in that tradition, we created a sanctuary where our individual journeys became one.

We took turns describing what Blackness would look like in an ideal world. We lit Shabbat candles, said Hamotzi and Kiddush while enjoying the spirit of the moment.

“Thank you for asking us to dream.

It’s hard to dream when you’ve been busy surviving,” said an attendee as she held her baby boy.

But that’s what Judaism is all about: us-

ing your gifts to create an ideal world. And in my ideal world, Black people are free to voice our opinions, free to see ourselves in ancient biblical text, and free to be Jewish without recrimination. “Soul: A Black Jewish Dinner Series” was created to give us this sacred space in time, so that for at least a few hours at the end of the week we can enjoy Shabbat in all the glory of our Blackness.

Looking forward to the New Year, we have planned more dynamic programming carefully curated for the Black Jewish community. Check for “Soul: A Black Jewish Dinner Series” on OneTable.org.

L’Shanah Tova. See you in October. ì

OPINION

Black-Jewish Unity Is Personal BlackJewish unity is a topic of immense personal meaning to me. I am Jewish and my long-term best friend Othello is Black. We Madison Tomaso have always Guest Columnist had conversations about the necessity of a healthy relationship between our communities.

When I heard about [last week’s] #BlackJewishUnity Week of the American Jewish Committee and National Urban League, I knew I had to be involved.

Othello and I grew up in Augusta.

Growing up there as someone who is not white or Christian can be a painful experience. I had to endure several experiences with antisemitism. Some were passing jokes that stuck with me for years; others were swastikas drawn on my homework.

Othello has faced similar hate too, with racial profiling and slurs. Our experiences illustrate why unity is so crucial.

In 1982, Atlanta’s Black and Jewish communities came together to advocate for the renewal of the Voting Rights Act. In that same year, President [Ronald] Reagan renewed the act. Although credit cannot be attributed solely to the newly formed Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition, the coalition certainly helped. Moreover, the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition reinvigorated the bond between our historically marginalized groups. 2020 has challenged both communities once again. In the wake of despicable police brutality against Black Americans and a violent resurgence of antisemitism, we should

remember how much we can accomplish together.

There are ways in which I have more privilege than Othello. I can hide my Judaism; he cannot hide his Blackness.

But we have grown closer based on our shared reality: both of us have never felt accepted by the majority. We have both faced discrimination, albeit in different forms. Our communities both have to deal with the pain that comes with being different. We may not ever be able to fully eradicate this pain, but we can try to ease it.

Othello’s friendship has helped me find confidence in my identity. He has always supported me and my Judaism, attending all of the educational seminars I have hosted at my synagogue. I’ve jokingly asked him when he is going to join the tribe, but in sincerity, his support has meant so much. And it goes both ways.

Othello has taught me so much about the Black community and the issues they face. Our friendship has made me a better ally. #BlackJewishUnity Week is something I have always wanted to be involved with. Will it solve all of the struggles our communities face? No, but it will make a difference. Our communities forged a deep bond during the Civil Rights Movement. Today, in an age where hate against Black and Jewish people has increased, we should return to that alliance. Through education and advocacy, we can support each other. The people that hate us are not waiting. Neither should we.

Madison Tomaso is an alumna of AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow (LFT) Jewish advocacy training program for high school students. ì

Diamonds!!!

1820 Independence Square # C, Dunwoody, GA 30338 (770) 396-3456 Max Haviv www.hajewelry.com Graduate Gemologist

Haim Haviv

Owner ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 23

Be a part of Israel’s Future JNF Since 1901, Until Infinity Let us count the OMAR

1. BLUEPRINT NEGEV • 100 New Homes • Ber Sheva River Walk & Amphi Theater • Central Park – Revitalizing the City 2. ALEXANDER MUSS • High School Studies for our children – 28,000 Alumnes 3. KIRYAT SHMONA CULINARY • Global Culinary & Hospitality Center for Excellence 4. HATLUZAH • Helping Relocation of our people from Gaza and developing a successful prosperous community on the Eg yptian Border • Infrastructure/Greenhouses/Reservoirs/Housing/Medical Center/Playgrounds 5. JNF HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND • Making housing affordable in the NEGEV & GALILEE • 930 Lots in the NEGEV & 408 Lots in the Galilee under development 6. AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & WORLD EDUCATION LEADERSHIP • 1,000 students per year complete training and go to their homes to develop their communities as well as become ambassadors for Israel.

7. AMMUNITION HILL MEMORIAL • Remembering and honoring Israeli soldiers & Jewish soldiers from ALL OVER the world that have served their countries honorably.

8. OFI KEEM • Once a city of 30% unemployment, now a world class facility for special needs and training school for Doctors &

Nurses. The City is flourishing.

9. TREES & WATER • Planting 2.5 million trees annually • Built 275 Water Treatment Reservoirs • Parson’s Water Development • Supporting Faming & Fishing • Creating Jobs, Making the Desert Bloom GO TO JNF.ORG AND BE A PART OF ISRAEL – TODAY & TOMORROW LA SAHANA TOVA 5781

Michael, Valerie, Megan Miller JNF Trustee 24 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

OPINION

Letter to the editor, “Perdue Campaign Removes Ad Ossoff Called ‘Anti-Semitic’” (July 28) It was NOT a Jewish nose ...

I saw the supposed “anti-Semitic” nose on Jon Ossoff in the David Perdue political ad. Although the nose was enlarged in the style of “Pinocchio” perhaps, it was NOT AN ANTI-SEMITIC NOSE. Look at the history books on this.

David Perdue’s voting record has always been PRO-ISRAEL. The fact that he immediately took the “nose” ad down, let us know that it was in error. Otherwise, he would have left it up.

This ad was a reminder of the true alliances of Jon Ossoff. In Ossoff’s 2017 campaign, he was linked with Nancy Pelosi as a puppet. He is presently linked with Chuck Schumer as a puppet. Jon Ossoff was recently endorsed by Bernie Sanders, ... a declared socialist.

Go back and look at Jon Ossoff’s history and other connections: He has been endorsed by J Street. Please do not take my word for it but do your own research on J Street. They claim to be pro-Israel, pro-peace. Research will prove all these claims are false. J Street has donated to Ossoff’s campaign and he was their JULY CANDIDATE OF THE MONTH. J Street has consistently welcomed BDS lobbyists to its national convention. J Street supports anti-Israel, pro-BDS candidates.

Also, Ossoff has worked with Al Jazeera through his film company on several occasions (approximately 10 films), the Al Jazeera that is a vocal anti-Semitic and antiIsrael voice.

When Ossoff was running for Congress in 2017, his ads mentioned that he worked as a foreign policy staffer for U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, the Hank Johnson who is supported by J Street as well. Remember Rep. Johnson compared Jewish Israeli settlers to “termites.” Rep. Johnson’s voting record has been predominantly pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel.

Also, back in 2017, Ossoff’s ad for J Street laid out his ties to Hank Johnson and voiced support FOR the Iran Deal. However, when he advertised his full-page ad in the Jewish Times, he didn’t mention his connection to J Street, his support for the Iran Deal nor his ties to Rep. Johnson. Coincidence?

The socialist arm of the Democratic party is increasingly becoming the most powerful sector in that party and they are openly anti-Semitic. Do your own research. Get the facts. Learn which publications and groups have “caved” to the socialist agenda.

OUR FREEDOM DEPENDS ON IT. Barbara Cohen, New York

Letter to the editor,

OPINION

“Weber Alumni Urge Anti-Racist Education” (Sept. 9) To paraphrase Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I hope for the day when all people will be judged by the content of their character rather than their skin color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender or choice of life partner. Certainly, I support education that prepares students to be accepting of a wide range of beliefs and values. Yet, I am disturbed by the language in the letter from the Weber alumni, which accepts the tenets of the BLM movement.

While I agree that black lives matter, I am saddened that BLM feels that way only when an African American dies in police custody, but doesn’t seem to mourn the black children killed by rioters, the black officers killed while defending black-owned businesses, or the black families who have lost their livelihoods because of vandalism and looting.

While I agree that we should always strive to do better, I do not see systemic racism in a country, which twice elected a black president, whose congressional representatives and senators include whites, blacks and Asians, as well as Christians, Jews and Muslims.

I hope that Weber alumni, faculty and staff recognize that equal opportunity does not necessarily result in equal result. It is fine to seek out Jews who are not Ashkenazi, but don’t think that Weber is racist if its student body and personnel don’t exactly reflect the distribution of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrachi, black … Jews in the Atlanta area.

My final concern is that many of today’s “woke” people have classified Israel as “evil.” A Jewish-founded school in Baltimore was recently attacked for “tolerating Zionism.” I trust that Weber students, faculty, and staff recognize that, while respecting the Divine Image in others, we must demand their respect for the Divine Image in us.

Toby F. Block, Atlanta

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 25

OPINION Letter to the editor, One hears that the new ethnic studies curriculum specifies that Jews are a privileged white racial group, and one model suggests that students “will write a paper detailing certain events in American history that have led to Jewish and Irish Americans gaining racial privilege.”

Irish privilege? What is that, specifically?

What is Jewish privilege? Fighting against university admission quotas? Having to build hospitals so Jewish doctors would be allowed to train and practice? Fighting real estate restrictive covenants? Why not have ethnic studies students write a paper detailing these issues?

Perhaps referencing Asian Americans as “privileged” because of their great success would have elicited too much pushback from this large group, so the Irish were chosen as a safe substitute.

How about Nigerian privilege, since the success rate for this group of immigrants is “disproportionately” high. But wait, as blacks, aren’t they victims of “systematic racism”? Why did they seek to immigrant [immigrate] to a country Rep. Ilhan Omar says is characterized by “centuries of racial neglect and oppression”?

The ethnic studies curriculum will have no actual oversight, no “guardrails,” because there will be no one in the classroom monitoring to determine if some teachers push for political advocacy and activism that will subvert the educational mission of schools.

Regarding COVID-19, one constantly hears “We are all in this together,” but apparently this is not seen as applying to the future of this country. E Pluribus Unum, not resentment-fueled racial balkanization, is the only way forward for our country.

Julia Lutch, Davis, Calif.

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.

26 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Alluring

cosmetic & Family Dentistry

Shana Tova!

COSMETIC, IMPLANT & GENERAL DENTISTRY FOR THE FAMILY.

An international leader in cosmetic, implant and general dentistry for more than three decades, Dr. David Mastro’s patients travel world-wide for his Atlanta cosmetic dentistry and report that he is one of the country’s top cosmetic and general dentists.

NOT YOUR ORDINARY DENTIST, NOT YOUR ORDINARY DENTAL OFFICE.

DR. DAVID MASTRO 80 Mansell Road Roswell. Georgia 30076 770.642.9900 1.888.SeeMySmile alluringcosmeticdentistry.com

Dr. Mastro is a unique dentist with his artistic expression developed through years of hand crafting crowns, veneers and bridges. Today, with the aid of the most advanced technology available, Dr. Mastro can care for patients’ complete dental needs from oral surgery and implants to fillings and general cleanings. Dr. Mastro is legendary for quality dentistry and for transforming smiles for people from all walks of life.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 27

OPINION

‘May You Be Inscribed’ Means More This Year I need a haircut.

My last was in early February before a trip to Wa s h i n g t o n , D.C., to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday.

At the time, Dave Schechter COVID-19 was From Where I Sit a “developing story,” but that weekend I heard relatively little talk about the virus.

When I returned to D.C. in the first week in March to attend a journalism awards dinner, COVID-19 had developed into a “breaking news,” medical and political crisis. Still, few people were masked on my flights, nor in the hotel where I stayed, nor on the streets during an afternoon walk in the nation’s capital.

The pivot in Jewish Atlanta came at the end of the second week in March as schools, synagogues, communal offices, and cultural and recreational facilities closed their doors and moved into the virtual world. The scramble for masks, toilet paper, and disinfectant wipes took on

28 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

proportions akin to what happens when the local weather forecast mentions ice or snow. More than one phone interview was interrupted by a parent needing to admonish a child whose classroom was now in their kitchen or living room.

In the past six months, I have been to my oncologist’s office, for tests and treatment, as often as I have been anywhere else. I have avoided the hair salon down the street. I finally updated the prescription for my glasses. I’ve dropped in at my favorite neighborhood eatery only a couple of times for takeout.

A mask is required for entry at these places. Mask requirements are neither a violation of my constitutional rights (which amendment would that be, anyway?) nor an impediment to my quest for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The mask is not a political or cultural statement, but a prudent measure to protect your health.

“Being Jewish in the Time of Coronavirus,” which appeared online on March 11, was the first article I wrote about COVID-19 and the Atlanta Jewish community.

I’ve lost count of how many I’ve written since; several dozen, I’d guess. Given the

uncoordinated and inconsistent application of regulations at multiple levels of government, and then their premature relaxation, as well as the cultural and political divide over everything from masks to opening schools, and in the absence of a vaccine proven reliable and safe, there will be more.

Meanwhile, I have a laundry list of articles about candidates and issues to write in the runup to the Nov. 3 election.

While it may be true that two Jews can hold three opinions, the latter don’t matter if the former do not register to vote, so here’s a reminder that the deadline to do so is Oct. 5.

I continue to socially distance from home. The last of the blackberry, blueberry and raspberry crop was picked in June and the last tomato in late August.

At present, we are eating cucumbers, cantaloupes, green beans, sweet potatoes, and various herbs grown in the front and back yards.

My kingdom continues to stretch from the end of the driveway to the backyard fence, but even an introvert wants at least the option of going out, taking all prudent precautions, of course. I have

one last chance for a week’s visit to that cabin in the woods by a lake in Maine and, with a qualified green light from my doctors (so long as I’m careful), the trip is on.

There are places closer to home if all I want is a change of scenery, but none has the emotional attachment of that cabin, with its eight decades of family history. There was a time when the only telephone there was a party line among several houses, but today a cellphone call can be made deep among the trees. There was a time when only a few radio stations and sometimes one television channel penetrated, but today, with the phone’s hotspot, internet access is possible.

I am looking forward to as many outings in the kayak as I can muster, cutting back the brush, reading the books I’ll bring, and, hopefully, progress on a seemingly never-ending book project.

We are in that period of the calendar when Jews wish each other a happy and sweet new year. After all that the community has been through the past six months, that prayer for continued inscription in the book of life is imbued with even greater depth of meaning. ì

OPINION

Publisher’s Note I received a New Year’s greeting from a friend of mine and guest columnist Chuck Berk that ended with the following Michael A. Morris s e n t i m e n t : Publisher “and back to normal, normal, ... not new normal.” I had to read it a couple times to make sure I understood the message, but when its meaning sunk in, I truly appreciated the concept.

Now I do not think that Rosh Hashanah will begin to usher in a return to pre-COVID life, but I do believe that pre-COVID life will return in our new year, and more importantly, I am not hoping for a new normal. I am anticipating normal, normal, as soon as possible.

The first indication that we will ultimately return to normal, normal, is to take our cues from the past. World War II was certainly more devasting to the worldwide economy than our current economic shut down so far (and caused the death of over 80 million people).

Yet just a few years after, the world’s economy, and specifically America’s economy, flourished to the likes never before seen. Comparing apples to apples, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 on the heels of World War I – considered the deadliest in history – infected an estimated 500 million people (more statistically relevant, one-third of the world’s population) and killed between 20 to 50 million people. Compared to COVID, there are about 30 million confirmed cases (four-tenths of 1 percent of the world’s population) and 1 million deaths.

Even if both of these benchmarks increase significantly, I think it is fair to say it most likely will not reach Spanish flu levels, and clearly, the world bounced back completely from the Spanish flu pandemic.

Another telltale sign is the amount of resources we have invested in nor-

mal, normal, combined with the human spirit. I can’t envision the human condition where social distancing is the norm, but I see a sea of pent-up demand for normal activities that must represent a quarter of our GDP. They include going to restaurants, bars, music venues and dance clubs; attending college and professional sporting events or concerts, dance, comedy and theatrical performances; and being part of in-person business meetings, school (at every level), shopping, and even just family visits and dinner parties.

The physical buildings will not disappear, the outpouring of creativity will not wane, the need for people to become productive again will not dissipate, the desire to pursue leisure activities will never be cast aside, and the need to spend quality time with family and friends will never vanish. Zoom has served us well and will continue to be an important tool in our toolbox, but it will never be more than one arrow in a quiver. I do not believe we will start to disassemble our economy and radically change our behavior because of a virus of this magnitude. We should be learning from how well our massive food chain and healthcare delivery systems have coped with this pandemic.

I have no interest in a new normal, nor do I think our economy wants it, and I certainly do not believe we are relegated to it. It is a defeatist attitude from which I will distance myself.

As we head into Rosh Hashanah, our high holidays and our New Year, let our spirits be raised by the prospect of getting back to normal, normal. Let that be the shining light at the end of the tunnel, the unwavering goal for ourselves, our family, our friends and the entire community.

P.S.: During this fall season, take the opportunity to thank a police officer, or better yet, buy them lunch or a cup of coffee. Defunding, disrespecting or challenging the very people that keep us safe, day-in and day-out, is a new norm concept. Throw it out. Let’s get back to normal, normal, as it pertains to our courageous and dependable men and women in uniform as quickly as possible! ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 29

ROSH HASHANAH For our annual Rosh Hashanah issue, we asked community members to tell us what they learned during 5780 that they will take into the 5781 New Year. Many spoke about what they learned sheltering in place during the global health crisis, the big event of the year. Their experiences, reflections and advice should help set the scene for the holidays.

Rabbi Spike Anderson At this moment of writing I sit in my home-study, the early morning quiet contoured by impending rain clouds that promise a wet Atlanta morning.

The clock on the wall, set above my ordination degree bearing signatures of my teachers before me, softly ticks and tocks with each second. The sound both soothes and beckons me with potential and with challenge. And in front of me, a blank page stares back, demanding words to share that are ripe with inspiration, aspiration and meaning.

Perhaps in the space between the ticking seconds, and through the glaring white page, the metaphor calls out to us, “Yes, it is right here.

Open your eyes and be awake!”

The high holidays are around the corner. Each year the weeks leading up to them are heavy with a certain weighted intensity that our Jewish tradition fosters as a positive and necessary experience. The backdrop of the harvest (yesteryear), the new semester, an uncertain economy, and the shifting sands that come with COVID-19 are all part of the atmosphere. But the real pressure that Judaism prescribes is the proverbial tick of the clock and glaring white pages of our lives still to be lived. There is a spiritual urgency that stirs in us.

This year especially we ask the question: What will we do with our time to make the very most of the days that we have left? (tick … tock) In the Book of Life (Sefer HaChayim) where we implore God to inscribe us each new year, what will we choose to write on that glaring blank page? For the pen is in our hands, as are the stories, words and deeds…

These questions form the backbone not only of our high holidays, but of synagogue life, and of our collective lives. The stakes presented in these existential questions are far from hypothetical, but rather are intensely personal.

For this reason, the high holidays are often referred to as the Yomim Noraim, the Days of Awe, for it is with “awe” that we are cautioned to approach the honest assessment we are asked to make of ourselves and our lives. Our liturgy calls this a Heshbone HaNefesh, an Accounting of the Soul.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel helps us understand the concept of “awe,” and our approach to it, by asking us how we might approach the Grand Canyon. Perhaps you have been there. Imagine standing right on the edge, looking out and down. It is vast. It is truly incredible. It makes us simultaneously feel insignificant and luminous. With our toes on the edge of the precipice, we gaze into the abyss, all the while knowing that our feet rest on firm and unshakable ground. That is “awe,” a mixture of elation and fear. Elation for what we could yet achieve with our lives, our relationships, and our ability to appreciate the invaluable worth of each moment. Fear of falling far short of our potential, squandering our relationships, and closing our eyes 30 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

to the beauty and meaning that permeates our precious days.

On Rosh HaShanah when we pray to be inscribed in the book of life, we are not just praying for more time on earth, but we are jolting ourselves awake to really, truly live! ‫ אב'נו מלכנו כתבנו בספר ח''ם טוב'ם‬ Avinu Maleinu, kotveinu b’sefer chayim tovim.

Our benevolent God, inscribe us (and may we have the courage to inscribe ourselves) in the Book of Lives Well Lived. May our people, and good people everywhere, be blessed; and in turn, bless one another. And may this year be a sweet year for us all.

Rabbi Spike Anderson is senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El.

Shaked Angel As we conclude the year and prepare to usher in a new Jewish calendar year, I sat down to think about what message I, Shaked, would like to pass along in 5781. ‫התשפ"א‬ After giving this a long thought, I realized that this coming year should be about contemplation. I need to stop for a moment, think and take a hard look within myself, and ask all the tough questions I shy away from during normal times.

Carl Jung said: “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside awakes.”

I intend to look inside, and ask myself: Am I a good father? Do I prioritize my family? Do I spend enough time playing with my boys and teaching them about the world and life?

Am I a good partner to my wife? Do I make her smile? Are we happy when waking up for work? Is my job challenging and engaging? And perhaps the most important question, is my life balanced?

For me this will be a year of reflection. Try to pause, take a bird’s eye view at 10,000 feet and have a look at who I am and what I should change to be a better, more productive human being.

The realty with COVID-19 is that we got a caseload of lemons; now we need to make a sweet, saturated lemonade. And the best way to do that is take a good hard look and be honest with myself and my surroundings.

I wish the Atlanta Jewish community happy new year, Shana Tova. May this year be a year of health, happiness and prosperity; may we become a more unified and stronger community as we continue to support one another.

Shaked Angel is regional director of the Israeli-American Council in Atlanta.

ROSH HASHANAH Rabbi Peter S. Berg Embracing the New Normal We have learned these last seven months more than just how to wash our hands well. We have acquired a new vision of neighborliness. In Israel, for example, the pandemic has created bridges between Jews and Muslims. Sick Palestinians are getting care from Jewish medical staff that they might otherwise avoid. They are fighting together a common enemy: Covid-19. Israeli hospitals are being seen around the world (the way we have always seen them) as a model for the highest level of care and neighborliness. As the pandemic has worsened, our sense of caring for others has heightened.

What we have learned is that the well-being of our neighbors is a precondition for having a healthy neighborhood. Our calling is to provide resources to the entire neighborhood for the sake of all our neighbors.

And, we are discovering the wisdom that we are more competent than we ever imagined. In the early days of the pandemic, panic set in. We were going to have to do everything without help from anyone. Some of us learned that we can actually cook; others realized that we can create 12 straight activities for our children that don’t involve leaving the house; others, still, learned to cut their own hair.

We have learned so much during these days at home. In addition to that sense of neighborliness and competence, we have made family a priority, we have eaten meals slowly, and we have read some of the pile of books that once seemed insurmountable.

The question is – when we are all vaccinated and the coast is clear – will we retain the values that we have embraced during this time or will we go back to our old ways?

The shofar calls out to each of us to take a good look into the mirror of consciousness. What do you see? You are a little older than you were. Are you a little wiser, nobler and kinder too?

So much is so rotten in the world - so much hatred and violence and sickness – it’s easy to throw up your hands and say, “What’s the use? What can I do? “ Being God’s handiwork, we are endowed with the capacity to look ahead and think in terms of possibility in spite of what we know and see around us. We can choose. We can grow. We can change. Each person is a vessel containing within her or himself the potential for holiness that can transform the world.

How often have we heard the phrase “this is our new normal”? What if we were to embrace it? What if we were to reimagine our best selves in this new normal?

God is present and will see us through this pandemic, but what really happens to this world depends on whether we have the courage and imagination to devise new ways of being human together or whether we go back to the way things used to be.

Rabbi Peter S. Berg is spiritual leader of The Temple.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 31

ROSH HASHANAH Sid Besmertnik

Terri Bonoff

I look back at the start of 2020 and hold tight to the silver linings.

First, we have been able to attend MORE religious activities, but remotely. Zoom and livestreaming have allowed us to attend services from four different local synagogues. We hope that a hybrid of services in person and remote will be offered in the future for those interested.

My wife and I learn and exercise from Facebook Live and Zoom programs locally from the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) and around the world. We even took two virtual bus tours of Israel with the Jewish National Fund (JNF). One focused on many programs in Israel for persons with disabilities. We learned from ORT how school systems around the world are coping with COVID remotely. While I hope all schools will restart in person soon, “distance learning” opened an opportunity for us and for school children to enhance their education.

Local organizations have stepped forward to provide more to the community and in different innovative manners, whether it is food pantries or helping seniors or helping provide financial assistance. We should be very proud and thankful for what our local agencies have done and are capable of sustaining. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) and Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta (JIFLA) are just some examples of leadership in these areas.

I have been very involved with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for nearly 30 years. I have seen great improvement in respect, inclusion and services. The biggest hope I have for 5781 is greater inclusion for this population. How can each of us treat persons with disabilities with full inclusion in ALL our community’s programs and provide opportunities for employment?

The principles of faith, renewal, forgiveness, reflection and hope are more important than ever before.

The fabric of our communities is unraveling at warp speed, fear and insecurity abound, our sense of relatedness is reduced to screen time. How can we make sense of this? What words of comfort and inspiration can see us through and shine light on darkness?

We do not look outside for leadership. It lies within.

We are all imperfect and yet together we are as strong as the thickest rope. We have resolve and resilience. We each are the leaders of today – young and old. We see it all.

We are not the “judgers,” we are the doers. We see something, we say something, and we DO something. As Jews, we will not be divided by who will vote for and who wears a mask and who does not. (Wear a mask!) We are too wise for that. We link arms enlightened by our several thousand-year history and know that together we have what it takes to bring peace and healing to our world. We do this from whatever perch we sit on; it is our moral imperative. We see divide, we build a bridge. We see pain, we work to wipe it away. We see need, we find a way to give. We love our families, our children and our neighbors as if life depended on it. It does. Only a will of steel to bring love, light and healing can wash away the dark shadows that surround us.

On Rosh Hashanah we begin anew. May our world be inscribed in the book of life in G-d’s image. May this be the year of global transformation, where peace reigns throughout the land, tolerance, acceptance and love prevail, and health and prosperity is shared among nations.

Terri Bonoff is CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services.

Sid Besmertnik serves on the boards of JF&CS and ORT America, and is a member of the Jewish Abilities Alliance committee.

Rabbi Ronald Bluming Our Jewish tradition instructs us to gather as a community during the High Holy Days. We need to begin our collective examination of our behavior during the past year. We stand together to recite sins that have been committed so that no individual is embarrassed to be asking for forgiveness.

This year, however, is different for us. In the midst of a pandemic, we cannot come together as our tradition demands. We must distance ourselves and rely heavily on computer or telephone to hear prayers and messages of atonement.

The Torah refers to Rosh Hashanah as “The Day of the Sounding of the Ram’s Horn.” Can we hear the ram’s horn via computer or telephone? Yes! Can we hear prayers and messages of the season via computer or telephone? Yes! Legends have surrounded Rosh Hashanah, and many important events have come to be associated with the New Year. Examples include: -Rosh Hashanah is the birthday of our patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

-The Jewish New Year is the day that Joseph was released from prison in Egypt.

-This was the day that Moses appeared before Pharaoh demanding, “Let my People go!”

Even though there will be physical distance between us during the Holy Days this year, we still can be encouraged to love ourselves and each other as we navigate through these unique challenges. God will be at our side, urging us to make good and positive choices for personal growth.

What heroic choices will you make as we welcome the year 5781? Gather (electronically!) with your community, your congregation, and your family. You just might discover that the physical distance will not limit your spirituality.

L’Shanah Tovah!

Rabbi Bluming has been the rabbinic chaplain at the Renaissance on Peachtree since 2012.

32 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Kelly Cohen My computer was balanced next to the stove where I was making pancakes, still in my pajamas and hair unbrushed. The host of the Zoom meeting I was attending was having technical difficulties. She disappeared for a few minutes, struggling with her Wi-Fi. My children were most likely also screaming in the background. A typical pandemic morning.

In a Zoom-fatigued world, a delayed meeting can feel like a burden in an already harried day. That is on top of all the other ways that we are struggling to connect with others through the new norms of interaction.

The amazing thing was that in this delayed meeting, no one was upset. Rather than feeling drained, it felt for a few moments like I was hanging out with friends in my kitchen as we chatted and caught up. A moment of potential frustration was turned into a moment of joy, and it was only made possible because of strong relationships we had built between us.

The irony of quarantine and social distancing is that it has taught me again the power of relationships. If we are lucky, we have friends that no matter how much time passes, we can pick up right where we left off. In 5780 all of our relationships were put to this test.

The high holidays are a time to come together with friends and family. This year many of those faces may just be boxes on a screen. Let us not be weighed down by this new reality but let us be blessed in 5781 to continue to build and maintain strong relationships that will endure in even the most difficult times. We are so lucky to have each other.

Kelly Cohen is the director of JumpSpark, Jewish teen education and engagement.

ROSH HASHANAH Cheryl Dorchinsky During these challenging times it seems easy to wish the time away in the hope we can get back to how things were before COVID. I am learning that “hope” is more than wishing for things to pass. Hope is reframing my thinking. It is trying to cultivate a new mindset in the here and now. It is a cliche, but a truism that the only thing we have with any certainty is the present, no matter how difficult that may be. By reframing my thinking, I am learning to turn the present into a gift. I’m trying to grasp the present and not “wish it away.” I want to use what I am learning to strengthen my family and my wonderful community. Our interaction with others may have changed in form, from in-person to Facebook, Zoom or a myriad of other social media. Yet, as humans we are still able to laugh, cry and help others, whether it means filling food pantry shelves, organizing and distributing Sonovia masks throughout the community, or offering up advice to a struggling friend. For example, in the Jewish Moms of Atlanta Facebook group, I have seen mitzvahs occur often and at lightning speed as mothers help each other and the community navigate a myriad of challenges Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said that no one swims in the same river twice. It’s one of my favorite sayings. We tend to view a river as the same body of water. It is easy to forget that we are looking at infinite droplets that evaporate, change and meet us again in the form of rain refreshing the earth.

So no matter our circumstances, our friends, family and wider community are also in an invisible process of change.

As we enter the new year 5781, let us find ways to live in the moment together, build bridges and unite during these uncertain times. Wishing you a meaningful and happy new year.

Cheryl Dorchinsky is founding executive director of the Atlanta Israel Coalition and manages several social media groups.

SHANA TOVA! MONDAY-SUNDAY 11AM-10PM

Proudly serving the community for 17 years! Now, Atlanta's only FULLY KOSHER Ice Cream Parlor (AKC Certified). We have plenty of space, bring a blanket or a lawn chair and please remember socially distance! Ask about our catering services for your next corporate event (options available), wedding, party, Bat Mitzvah, and other special occasions!

Toco Hills Shopping Center 2095 LaVista Road, Atlanta, GA 404-320-7166 caterbrusters@gmail.com

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 33

ROSH HASHANAH

By Rabbi Daniel Dorsch In February 2008, I overslept my flight from Israel to New York to propose to my then girlfriend.

As my friend and I rushed in a taxi to the airport, he left me with one piece of advice from his Turkish grandfather: “In life, there are two kinds of problems. Problems that can be solved with money, and problems that can’t. Problems that can be solved with money aren’t really problems.”

As we find ourselves in the midst of a worldwide global pandemic, I can’t help but think how the year 5780 has helped us to better understand and define the scope of “a problem.” So many of us live our lives taking for granted everyday comforts, including our homes, safety and security. We stress about the things that we see as giant obstacles.If we choose, some could be solved with the push of a button. Or better still, by a shift in attitude or a change in our behavior.

As we approach the Holy Days of 5781, we are reminded: are there any gifts more precious than our lives and our health? These are gifts that, no matter how much money we have, are of priceless value and can never truly be bought.

In 2008, I made it to the airport. A sympathetic El Al ticket agent sold me a ticket at a steep discount. My girlfriend said “yes.” Amy and I have now been happily married for 11 years. May all of the world’s problems in 5781 find such an elegant solution.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch is the senior rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim.

Robbie Friedmann Jews and Public Safety in 5781 As 5780 is coming to an end, we are eagerly awaiting 5781 in the hope it will be a better year. We have experienced an unprecedented disaster on a global scale. The spread of a lethal virus has brought the world to a standstill. Empty airports, lines of airlines parked on the tarmac, and empty streets provided for an eerie picture. News of hospitals flooded with dying patients were unnerving. Due to the enforced closure, the public health disaster resulted in an economic disaster of an unprecedented magnitude. If that was not bad enough, the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer ignited massive social protests, some of which have turned violent and destructive. The sense of personal safety and community safety was no longer taken for granted.

Yet for Jews there was an added worrisome dimension. Old blood libels have resurfaced, and Jews were blamed for creating the virus, spreading it, and benefitting (financially) from developing treatments against it. The protests were troubling when turned violent, but for Jews it was doubly so: In addition to damage to Jewish property, synagogues were vandalized and graffiti “kill Jews” was scrawled on the entrance to Beverly Hills. The ADL reported that antisemitic incidents in the U.S. reached the highest on record in 2019. Such incidents are on the increase around the world.

The protests against police brutality also had an added antisemitic flair. The socalled Jewish Voice for Peace perpetrated the blood libel that police exchanges with Israel train American police to kill minorities, and this was elevated by claims that Minneapolis officers were trained in 2012 to brutalize minorities, thus implicating Israel in the killing of George Floyd. These blood libels use the Big Lie technique, promoting an egregious lie and repeating it numerous times until people start to believe it as fact. Needless to say – or perhaps it is important to say – that such charges are unfounded not only because there is no evidence but because it is simply not true. I know the Israel police instructor who trained the Minneapolis officers and I know the content of his briefings. He focused on how Israel handled terrorist incidents and did so from personal experience. He was the chief of the Netanya Police, who experienced terrorist bombs in the city mall and in the Park Hotel (the Passover seder massacre).

Teaching brutality is simply not part of his curriculum, nor is it the training curriculum of the Israel police. I know firsthand as I have been conducting exchanges with the Israel Police since 1992.

The artificially forced invented causation that Israel is responsible for U.S. police brutality is particularly worrisome with the Black Lives Matter leadership. Feeding off the Nation of Islam and the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement to defame Israel, its police force, and any exchange programs with Israel, such as the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE), ADL and the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), is increasingly rampant. The Jewish community is caught between wanting to support a just grievance on one hand and being defamed as the “problem” on the other.

This coming year, more than ever, we should focus on friend-raising. Reaching out to other communities, promoting dialogue and understanding and doing so without having to hide our identity as proud Jews who support Israel is key to navigate these stormy waters and reach a more solid ground. In these difficult times, there is room for hope. The normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the pending agreements with additional Arab countries is refreshing and invigorating. Maryam Al-Zaabi, a 19-year-old student at Sorbonne University in Abu Dhabi, wrote that “As an Emirati, what I truly hope for is for us and Israel to have real and warm relations.” When the new generation thinks in terms of friendly coexistence, it augers well for the future, and when peace will flourish in the Middle East, the BDS will lose its very reason for existence.

Shana Tova.

Robbie Friedmann is a professor at Georgia State University and founding director of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange.

34 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 35

ROSH HASHANAH Beth Gluck Chiseled into the cement cornice at the entryway of Taylor Allderdice High School, my high school in Pittsburgh, is the school motto: “Know Something.

Do Something. Be Something.” I’ll always remember that advice. I’ve wondered if it is a linear directive to take knowledge from high school and do something with it to define who we are? Or, are the three suggestions meant to be relational so each action affects the status of the others?

When I was younger, I probably considered life to be three steps: know, do and finally …. be …. who you’ve become …. Period. But now, as a “more mature” woman, I recognize life as a pingpong ball bouncing from learning to doing, to contented well-being. And in a second cycle, the ball jumping back again to a life of curious exploration, driven action, and a desire to redefine your position in this world.

This Jewish new year, I wish for all, regardless of stage in life, the blessing of a mentally and physically active life. May a vibrant flow of knowing-doing-and-being feed your soul and bring you and yours great peace and happiness.

Beth Gluck is executive director of the Jewish National Fund of Greater Atlanta.

Rabbi Brian Glusman The greeting we exchange during this time of year is Shana Tovah U’Metukah, a sweet New Year! We express our hope and wish for sweetness not only in words but in action as we perform the popular ritual of dipping apples into honey and exchanging Rosh Hashanah cards.

The prevalent custom is to use bee honey rather than date honey. Both are sweet, so why is bee honey preferable? Perhaps the reason is that date honey is simple to produce. It doesn’t take much effort to make date honey. On the other hand, bee honey takes a lot of work. It takes up to 2 million flowers and 556 bees to make one pound of honey. A hive of bees must fly over 55,000 miles, gathering nectar from flowers, to produce a pound of honey – that’s over twice around the world! The average worker honeybee makes about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime.

It is during this season we are reminded that authentic teshuva, repentance, doesn’t happen without effort. Success, happiness and loving relationships take a lot of work and depend on sincere exertion. May all be blessed with the strength and determination to do the work ahead, and may the results be sweet and everlasting!

My family joins me in wishing the Atlanta community a happy, healthy, meaningful and sweet New Year.

Rabbi Glusman is the rabbi at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and visiting rabbi at Shearith Israel Synagogue in Columbus, Ga. 36 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Margo Gold Vantage Point As president of an Atlanta synagogue, I was honored to sit on the bimah, a very special vantage point. While the congregation was facing east, from my seat the view was west; I had the wonderful privilege of seeing everyone’s faces. The foyer door would open, a worshiper would enter, and their eyes would sweep the room with anticipation. Only then did they take their usual seat.

In this topsy-turvy, one-day-at-a-time year in which we’re separated from loved ones, I look with my own anticipation for the door to open on a new year and to reveal our place and our path. As I approach the threshold, I am taking stock of how I feel, what I anticipate and what will help propel me to a familiar spot.

In March, the world became a scary place and familiar surroundings morphed to sources of apprehension. Six months later, I’ve learned how deeply we can reach within ourselves for strength, fueled by determination and fortified by respect for one another’s safety. Whoever would have imagined that Dr. Fauci would become our rabbi, our teacher, our mara d’atra?

As I reach for the door, I am in fact eager to enter the sanctuary of 5781. I have been witness to the kindness of people reaching out in support of others and of me.

This is a congregation of which I want and need to be a part. It is an affirmation that normal people do normal things, caring for one another, speaking respectfully, distancing, wearing masks, listening, all a testimony to the sanctity of life and our recognition we are each created in God’s image.

This new year, it’s not a sanctuary with walls that I will enter at Rosh Hashanah. When I Zoom with a screen of faces, many familiar and some unknown, what thrills me is knowing we are each seekers, literally coming together from our separate spaces. Kitchen, study or porch ... our surroundings create the mishkan [tabernacle] for our souls and our prayers. Not all embrace an online platform as a halachic or a worthy vessel, but who would ever have conceived of an ark for such purpose, either?

As I move to take a seat in 5781, I seek a new vantage point with a resilient outlook. Our six-year old granddaughter explained that Rosh Hashanah is when the world was born. Oh, would that it be reborn this year. May it be a year in which we see one another face-to-face. May the masks we wear be only those we put on to protect one another. May we each reach our destined place in 5781, arriving with determination, strength and hope.

Margo Gold is past international president of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. In Atlanta, she served as president of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 2010-12 and as president of Congregation B’nai Torah from 1991-1993.

ROSH HASHANAH Rabbi Arnold Goodman We Are Adaptable Living with the pandemic is an ongoing challenge. Changes in our lives have affected relationships and altered how and where we do our work. It has not been easy. The story of Abraham’s concubine Hagar gives me perspective during these days of trial and challenge.

One of the episodes in the Torah selection for Rosh Hashanah is Abraham’s banishment of Hagar together with their son, Ishmael. They are dispatched to the desert with only bread and water. Wandering in the vast wasteland, their water soon gives out. Overcome by thirst and dehydration, a weeping Hagar, awash in self-pity, collapses opposite an immobilized Ishmael. It is then that an angel of God calls her to open her eyes to behold the well of water within her sight. She and Ishmael drink, fill the bottle of water and continue on their journey. They successfully exit from the desert to build new lives.

Hagar survived by transcending her self-pity. Surviving the pandemic likewise requires overcoming the tendency to be immobilized by the challenges of the moment. The human capacity to adapt is an amazing blessing, but self-pity neutralizes the capacity to adapt to trying circumstances and difficult situations.

Facemasks are uncomfortable and social distancing robs us of the experience of intimacy. We have, however, discovered the power of Zoom and other technologies to enable us to convert our homes to office workspace, classrooms, and most significantly, into virtual venues for family gatherings, for both simcha and sadness. By successfully overcoming the Hagar response, we have transcended much of the pain and frustration caused by the pandemic.

Our synagogues and temples have proven to be innovative in adapting to various limitations imposed by the pandemic. High holiday services will be different this year, but they will nonetheless be inspiring and meaningful. May the prayers that our lives speedily return to normal be fulfilled, and may the strength and resolve demonstrated during this crisis be an ongoing source of inspiration for all of us.

Arnold Goodman, a senior rabbinic scholar living in Jerusalem, was senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 1982 to 2002.

Leslie Gordon As we look toward the high holidays, we celebrate the sweetness of life while looking back somberly, reflectively hopeful that we may achieve a renewal of the spirit. I work at The Breman Museum, so I personally have the chance to inhabit a place of sweet celebration and of reflective remembrance on a daily basis.

The Breman aims to embody these values. Exhibitions and performances celebrate the many Jewish contributions to the arts – the visual arts, music and dance. But even as we celebrate creative achievement, our space maintains a serious and reflective look toward the past.

Through our Weinberg Center, we teach the necessity of tolerance as we remember all those, not just Jews, murdered in the Shoah. And through our Ida Pearle and Joseph Cuba Archives for Southern Jewish History, we are dedicated to remembering, celebrating and preserving the stories of Atlanta and the region. I am inspired daily.

Looking back, 5780 has had many challenges. The world has faced a pandemic unlike any in 100 years. We’ve had to confront forces of division and intolerance in the United States. Yet I’ve taken inspiration by the multiplicity of ways I’ve seen our community working together as one great family – all of us despite our differences.

The Breman may be closed right now but we are virtually very much open, drawing new audiences from all over and expanding our collections. As the area’s only Jewish museum, we are proud to be here to share our (your) stories. Through our archive and our dedication to Holocaust education, we actively teach that all our stories matter. No story is unimportant, and each and every one of us has a story to tell and to keep.

This year, we come together to share apples and honey and hear the shofar virtually rather than in person, but we remain together, united as a connected and vibrant community. Let us welcome 5781 with bright hopes for ALL of us.

Leslie Gordon is the executive director of William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

Rabbi Joshua Heller It’s an understatement to say that a lot has changed these past six months. A year ago, my greatest fear was what would happen if someone showed up at the synagogue wearing a mask, and one of my greatest annoyances was people using electronic devices during services. The good old days. Now, it seems clear to me that if anyone remembers who I am in 300 years, it will be as the guy who convinced hundreds of Conservative congregations around the world that it was OK to Zoom on Shabbat.

There has been so much about these last six months that has been challenging and terrible, so much loneliness and suffering, but I believe there are blessings that come from this time as well. That’s certainly true on a communal level. There have always been those who have been isolated and unable to leave home to participate in Jewish life. Even when life returns to whatever “normal” is, I hope we are able to retain our sensitivity to the needs of that segment of our community. My congregation has suffered some terrible losses, but we’ve found that Zoom shiva has its blessings; it forces the visitors to focus on the mourners and the deceased, rather than how to be first at the deli platter. Families have been forced to think about what really matters as they plan celebrations.

I think there is an opportunity for us to gain and grow as individuals as well. For many families (including my own) the absence of business travel, meetings and activities means that we have had family dinner together far more often. Missing in-person interactions with others drives us to appreciate them far more What have you gained during corona-time? What new skills have you learned?

What new values do you appreciate?

Rabbi Joshua Heller is the senior rabbi at Congregation B’nai Torah.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 37

ROSH HASHANAH Meliss Jakubovic

Marcia Caller Jaffe High Holidays: A Sonnet for Strategy and Reevaluation It’s hard to find a silver lining in a pandemic.

The cards are out as to how we as individuals arrive at the other end as more centered and introspective.

We all agree on a more solid appreciation of home and hearth, food, and the importance of socialization. Jokes abound about natural hair color, living in the same four gym outfits, doing our own house cleaning, and gaining weight/ or losing weight with extra time to swim and hike. I seek out structure walking with rotating buddies and attaching (as never before) to Netflix and “Shark Tank.”

My mother said, “The things that you worry about are not usually what gets you.”

Last high holiday season, no one could have predicted our “new normal” outside the realm of vision. The pandemic has redefined our thinking about time. Initially we considered a 90-day shutdown experience as unthinkable. What if we knew up front that it might be a year?

Taking for granted living in a multi-family residential community, I had an enlightening experience. Weeks ago, in 90-degree weather and the preciousness of food storage, my refrigerator/freezer crashed. Panicking in the pandemic, homeowners are buying up secondary appliances to keep in the garage for overflow. I found that stock was backed up for weeks. A silver lining was the appreciation and value of neighbors.

I had three neighbors storing my melting food. Another three rotated ice deliveries.

My young family neighbors showed up in masks with insulation and ice blocks. I texted them once at 10 p.m. to leave one frozen ice cream bar at their front door.

Think of William Wordsworth’s sonnet (1807) “The World Is Too Much with Us” lamenting man’s connection to materialism and away from nature. Somewhere in the middle, we will find our balance. One day we will again shop for lipstick. For now, it doesn’t do well under masks.

Marcia Caller Jaffe is a regular contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times.

As the new year approaches, there is a lot that I learned. Obviously, COVID-19 is the hot topic that I’m sure many will speak about, but what is really enthralling is that I asked for this. I didn’t ask for sickness and sadness of course, but I asked for a moment in time where I would be able to slow down, enjoy the present moment intentionally, and focus on the things that desperately needed my attention.

You see, before the pandemic, I was running my online marketing agency, teaching six Israeli dance classes a week, caring for my kids and my dad, trying to maintain a social life, and always on the go. The time I had for myself was short and there were things in my mind that I wanted to create but didn’t have the long bursts of openness and space to do such a thing.

I asked for strength to keep going, time to slow down, a moment where I could pause my classes and devote time to building my online empire, and spend more time with my kids without all the activities and busy schedules of everyone else. I asked for a cleaner planet and less traffic. I asked for a sense of everyone coming together.

And although I know this world isn’t perfect, and riots and pain have plagued our country, I feel the shakeup and the transition in the works. I know that change is on its way. With more people at home, everyone is going through this together and that brings us closer and allows us to have more understanding of one another. People aren’t driving around as much, which leads to less pollution and less traffic. Kids are at home, and although that brings its own challenges, this time together is a gift.

I was able to slow down, and my business has seen a lot of growth due to my undivided attention and focus.

The point is, I did not ask for COVID-19 but I did ask for all these other things and I choose to see the positive in the situation. When I ask, and I believe that it is possible, it is given. And so what I have learned this year is that anything is possible (although I already knew that and believe that with all my heart) and I will continue to look back at 2020 or 5780 as a year of growth and learning for the entire planet to be kind to ourselves and each other and to find the opportunities in every challenge.

Meliss Jakubovic is an online marketing strategist and Israeli folk dance instructor.

L’Shana Tovah

Andrea Jaron Your GO TO Specialists for all YOUR REAL ESTATE Needs

RE/MAX AROUND ATLANTA David Shapiro Jon Shapiro DShapiro@remax.net JonShapiro@mindspring.com 404-252-7500 404-845-3065 404-845-3050 www.jonshapiro.com 38 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

What I learned during 5780 that I will take into the 5781 New Year is that there is great power in people working together, that the potential for a more significant impact lies in a willingness to collaborate, and that the ability to think differently can result in creative solutions. 5780 was a challenging year in many ways, and certainly the last six months have been unprecedented in forcing so many of us to think differently, both in our professional and personal lives.

I hope this next year will be one of possibilities and that we can take the lessons of 5780 and use them to help others, whether through offering support to our neighbors, helping a friend or family member with a challenge, or finding a way to be kind to ourselves and each other.

Andrea Jaron is the executive director of Second Helpings Atlanta, a food rescue organization.

ROSH HASHANAH Laura Kahn

Susanne Katz

Back in April, someone shared with me the term “Covid dividends,” and I have tried to focus on them ever since. Covid dividends are the good things that have come out of this very trying situation.

My family is very blessed to be financially unharmed by the pandemic. So our biggest challenge has been around seeing family members in various states of quarantine. Having to choose between which children and grandchildren to see is not fun!

But there are those dividends. With my working from home, my partially retired husband and I have spent more time with our 2- and 5-year old grandsons than I would have ever dreamed possible. Whole mornings of blow-up pools, Barbie games and crayons. Starting back on Cinco de Mayo, I have met with a group of four girlfriends every Monday for patio, socially distanced cocktails; I would never have seen all of these friends every week. I get to spend more time hanging out with my best friend, my husband of 39 years. And I have learned to adapt at work. If you told me that I could work effectively for five months without access to a single piece of paper, I would have said you were crazy!

And, weirdly, I have become more accepting of imperfection. Being at home all the time, I would have thought that all the little things would bother me more. Instead, that scratch on my car, the unmatched hangers in my closet, a mess of crayons on the kitchen table … eh, who cares? I have danced around the kitchen to the “Frozen” theme song with my grandsons and, indeed, have learned to “let it go.”

So, here is to finding the best in any situation and to being able to hug everyone we love at some point in 5781!

Growing up in Atlanta, my first memories of synagogue life were high holidays at The Temple. Each year my mother would take me to Lenox Mall to buy my new outfit for the holidays. As I sat in a pew during Rosh Hashanah services, I would often stare at the beautiful light coming through each of the glass windows, and I wondered if I would see something different through each one. As I grew older and attended services occasionally with my friends at other synagogues, I stared through the windows and again wondered if I would see something different through each one.

As I grew up, I began to associate different viewpoints through each of these windows and realized that I would see a different perspective through each one. Life and religion, both could be seen from divergent perspectives, depending on one’s vision and point of view.

And I learned that everyone sees the world through their own window, so if I would look through their window with their vision, I could see and understand what could bring new meanings to my mind. I learned an appreciation for different points of view.

This year, during a different and frustrating time, I am listening to new perspectives and new ways of coping. This year will bring challenges, but I am reminding myself to look through windows to see new visions of the world we are living in now.

Laura Kahn is president of the Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta.

Elliot B. Karp One of the most stirring prayers in our High Holy Day liturgy is the “Unatana Tokef,” which we will recite just before the “Kedusha” during Musaf. The melody and words are haunting. It is a recitation of who will be born and who will die; who shall attain their days of life and who will not. Who will find tranquility and who will be tormented? It is as if the rabbis who composed this centuries-old piyyut had us and COVID-19 in mind.

Against this litany of trials and tribulations, the prayer concludes with tremendous hope as we pray u’Tefillah (prayer), u’Teshuvah (repentence), u’Tzedakah (charity) will avert the severe decree. This powerful prayer gives us the unique opportunity to alter our lives in the year to come.

Tefillah is not merely prayer. It is spiritual belief that we are created in the image of God and have the opportunity to live our lives with a higher purpose. Teshuvah is more than repentance. It is a return to the Jewish values and ethics that inform and guide our lives. And Tzedakah is far greater than charity. It is a commitment to seeking justice in the world.

I believe that when we come out on the other side of the pandemic to our “new normal,” we will have a community and world that will appreciate the power of Tefillah, Teshuvah and Tzedakah.

Why do I believe this?

Because I see it every day at our Hillels of Georgia. I see it in the passion, dedication and commitment of our Hillel students. I see it in their care, concern and compassion for themselves, their peers and their communities. I see it in their diligent efforts to create a more just society free of racism, bigotry and hatred in all its ugly forms. And I see it in their pride and joy in being Jewish, celebrating dynamic Jewish life and support for Israel.

May we be inscribed in the Book of Life for a Shanah Tovah u’Metukah … a happy, healthy and sweet New Year filled with all of God’s blessings.

Elliot B. Karp is CEO of Hillels of Georgia.

Susanne Katz is a contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Compassionate and ResponsiVe Family law RepResentation sinCe 1991.

Compassionate and RESPONSIVE

Family Law Representation Since 1991.

L’Shana Tovah

Attorneys pictured left to right: Rachel Shockley, Louis Tesser, Sara McCormack, Dennis Collard, Marvin Solomiany, Randall Kessler, Thad Woody, David Sarif, Sean Ditzel, Rob Miller, Lindsey Dodson

Offices in Buckhead and Centennial toweR Downtown Atlanta 101 maRietta st., suite 3500 atlanta, GeoRGia 404.688.8810 30303 404.688.8810 www.ksFamilylaw.Com www.ksfamilylaw.com mail@ksfamilylaw.com

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 39

ROSH HASHANAH Mitchell Kaye

Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller

We are now at the end of the month of Elul, just before the great days of awe, judgment and forgiveness. I am reminded of the adage “Man plans and G-d laughs!” Approaching the year 5781, we do not know how the COVID pandemic will play out, the timing of an anticipated vaccine, nor who will win the fiercely contested national election that has divided the nation and pitted brother against brother.

The stresses and strains of events out of our control are wearing thin on many. Maybe it is time to shut off the internet, turn off the evening news and talk radio and focus on what really matters in life and the relationships important to us.

The Second Temple was destroyed due to sinat chinam, baseless hatred. As we usher in the new year, we should double and redouble our efforts and seek a renewed commitment in reaching out to our brothers and sisters in kindness and baseless acts of love.

For each of us, we need to step back and take in the big picture. My mentor Rabbi Ephraim Silverman of Chabad of Cobb is fond of saying the person most responsible for our individual happiness is the one we look at in the mirror every morning! Not the president, governor or mayor, but ourselves.

Happiness is a choice and we must proactively choose!

From my family to yours, prayerful and traditional blessing for a good and sweet new year both materially and spiritually, kesivah vachasimah tovah! “

In 5780, I became a first-time mom ... under a global pandemic. Due to the pandemic, I had to labor and give birth in a mask. Our family could not meet our first child on the timeline we had imagined. And, we had to reimagine the systems we had in place to care for her in the first months of life. But I’m not alone in these experiences. Lifecycle events, birthdays, graduations, work, school, and major life milestones all looked different from their original plans as we faced the last six months of 5780.

From this experience and in helping counsel others through their experiences, I learned: That crying on the phone can be deeply healing; That it’s okay not to be okay; That we can sit in silence, pause our work, and the walls of our world won’t come crashing down; That Judaism provides an incredible platform of ritual to keep us grounded, even when our practice is done entirely at home; That people in our community really care about one another; That small, thoughtful gifts can make really big impacts; That people are resilient.

As we enter the unknown of 5781, I pray that our world finds the global healing we so desperately need. I pray that those who are hurting the most find the courage to reach out for help, and that there still people and organizations there to provide them with what they need. And I pray that our communities survive these circumstances and can strengthen one another into the future.

Mitchell Kaye served five times in the Georgia House of Representatives, has three children and two grandchildren, and lives in east Cobb with his wife Amy.

Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller is an associate rabbi at Temple Emanu-El.

40 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH Rabbi Shalom Lewis Still mired in the pandemic, an ancient message resonates across the centuries. In a critical time in Israelite history, The Almighty admonished our ancestors: “Behold, I place before you a blessing and a curse.� It was a reminder and a warning that within every human decision can be benevolence or malevolence. Building up or tearing down. The explosive potential of deed.

In the old days, consequences were serious but limited. The impact, benign or malign, was regional. Vast swathes of humanity were unaffected. Today, however, technology and science has gutted and amplified the parochialism of the past. A silent, unseen killer fugitive can travel the globe in but days on a Boeing 777 or a Holland America cruise liner. The invisible stowaway can unleash ruination and panic bringing great nations to their knees. We have born witness to this curse with COVID-19 and yet, the very same technology and science that scattered the virus worldwide provides us with remarkable tools to combat this wretched plague.

The pharmaceutical industry is working tirelessly on treatments and cures. Vaccines, with unprecedented speed, are in development.

Our quarantine is mitigated with an incredible array of electronic systems. Zoom has become a savior for billions and the verb-noun has entered our lexicon. Trains, planes and vans keep us stocked and plump and satisfied. Netflix entertains us as we binge into the wee hours. The scourge is awful. Debilitating. Nasty. But from the depths of human ingenuity come tools that enable us to combat and ultimately defeat this devilish assault. From the same place comes the disease and the cure. The curse and the blessing. Imbedded in every moment there is divergence. Annihilation or creation. Despair or hope. Tragedy or resolution. Fire can incinerate or provide warmth.

The internet can destroy lives or connect them. A split atom can vaporize a city or generate limitless energy. With each dawn there is sacred opportunity. Within every human invention there is an uncharted path towards either heaven or hell. Every deed and every thing can be reduced to a blessing or a curse. As we stand poised to enter a new year, let us joyously welcome the healing of bracha and bid an enthusiastic farewell to the agony of kelalah.

Rabbi Shalom Lewis is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Etz Chaim.

42 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH Michele Merbaum Shana Tovah U’metukah!

When sitting down to write, I couldn’t help but wonder what the others who were given the privilege of contributing a New Year’s message would write. I don’t want to be redundant. Yes, not such a great year due to this pandemic, polar political differences, racial tensions, etc. I don’t need to remind anyone of these things; after all, we’re living it.

I try to be a positive person. Why dwell on the bad things when there is ALWAYS positives that come out of the negatives. Sometimes we have to dig deep, way deep, but they are there, and every moment is an opportunity to learn. Ahh, and that’s the beauty of a new year. Well it’s our new year, Rosh Hashana. A new beginning; a chance to have new perspectives and fresh knowledgeable views. Now that’s something to celebrate.

My mother had many expressions, and as I grow let’s just say “more mature,” they come back to me and their meanings and relevance resonate. One of her faves when she got older was “Every day you open your eyes is a good day” – how true. It’s what we do with the day and how we appreciate the gift of life is what builds the framework of our lives in every situation.

We crawled, we walked and now we are running. Once isolated and secluded, we were forced to swim in unchartered waters. We learned to embrace technology. In fact, with technology we have remained connected to family and friends. We’ve even been able to be with, albeit virtually, people we would never have had the opportunity to see unless we traveled and had the resources to visit. A wonderful example of this is our Chesed Awards. This year, forced to be virtual, allowed grandparents, teachers, speakers from all over the country and beyond to attend and kvell. Even rabbis from Israel attended to honor these amazing trailblazing Atlanta students. Something positive that came out of what we first perceived would be a negative. We crawled through the unknown. We walked as we started exploring how technology could assist us.

Finally, we ran with the wind blowing through our hair and a huge smile on our faces as an excellent program came to fruition beyond our wildest dreams. We overcame and found the good.

The world continues to spin and life goes on. There is work to be done. That doesn’t stop and it never will.

Tikkun olum mandates that we take care of the earth and its inhabitants. It is needed now probably more than ever in our lifetime. At Hadassah we are called the “Women Who Do.” Three simple words that don’t change, nor do the expectations of what we do. Pandemic be damned, we lobbied virtually and had letter campaigns to pass the No Hate bill. Our Young Women’s Network set up and continue to fill the Atlanta [Community] Food Bank to feed our community’s hungry through AmazonSmile, and of course your generosity… Our groups reach out to our over 3,500 members in and about Atlanta EVERY Shabbat to let them know they are not alone and are thought of even though we practice social distancing. We all need to reach out.

And although we worry about COVID-19, the illness and disease that was here before the virus still exist. That is why we still find ways to raise awareness and funds for Research and Treatment of breast and ovarian cancers as well as many neurological diseases that affect us all in one way or another.

With all this said, it all comes back to how we handle things. Are we going to sit back in self-pity or are we going to grab this new year with purpose? Purpose is positivity. Let’s all roll up our sleeves, practice tikkun olum and perform chesed, acts of goodness. COVID-19 won’t last forever, but the effects of what we do and how we handle things will.

From my family to yours, L’shana tovah!

Michele Merbaum is president of Hadassah Greater Atlanta.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 43

ROSH HASHANAH Rabbi Max Miller

Rachel Miller

I learned to listen to Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Shoah and famed psychologist, who believed that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs wasn’t quite right.

Maslow claimed that our most basic human needs are food, air, water, shelter and warmth. However, Frankl’s life experience, especially in the Shoah, proved that that is not always the case. Frankl had little to none of those most basic physiological needs.

Instead, Frankl said that a human being’s most basic need is to create meaning; without meaning, there is no life. Certainly, no experience can equal the extreme horrors of the Shoah, but we can learn from Frankl’s experience about what truly matters in our own difficult times: creating work, shared experiences with other humans, and the mindset we take toward suffering.

Just after Rosh HaShanah 5780, I thought I was attuned to my gratitude for my friends, family and greater community; however, after six months into the global pandemic, I now realize how much I rely on the work I do, the people I meet and my mental health to persevere. Yes, we need food, air, water, and warmth to feed our bodies, but no amount of any of those needs will nourish my heart, mind or soul.

Entering into the new year I am savoring each day that I am able to serve the Jewish people, digitally connect with friends and family, and find new meaning and purpose in each day.

May 5781 be a meaningful and fulfilling year, a year abounding with ahava and shalom, love and peace, and a year made complete by the purpose to serve one another in joy.

In this very unfamiliar time of the COVID-19 pandemic I’m doing a familiar activity. I’m walking. I’m walking in the places I have walked for many years, but now each step helps me push my mind toward calm and away from things that create doubt and fear. Because so many routines in our lives have changed, walking is now as necessary for my peace of mind as it is as a purely physical activity.

Enjoying the full trees and bright flowers; watching baby geese grow under mothers’ watchful eyes; observing a young child’s pride when learning to ride a two-wheel bike all remind me that formerly traditional designated spaces can have multiple purposes. Much happiness comes from being out of my confined spaces of home and office. I am learning to define safe spaces and take advantage of them as many others are doing.

Being with friends during this sequestered time reminds me of how valuable these relationships are. I am truly grateful for their continuous support and encouragement. As [actress] Carrie Fisher said, “My short list of long-term friends” is invaluable.

I am proud of the Atlanta Jewish community walking in lockstep to help one another during the pandemic and thankful for my colleagues who are working to keep all avenues and opportunities for education open around the world.

As I step out of 5780 and into 5781, my wishes and hopes are for a vaccine to eliminate COVID-19, and a more socially just and equitable world to be shared with my family and friends.

Rabbi Max Miller is an associate rabbi at Temple Emanu-El.

Rachel Miller is director of ORT America, Atlanta region.

Wishing the Greater Atlanta Jewish Community La Shana Tovah On behalf of SEDAR - Synagogue Executive Directors Atlanta Region.

Ahavath Achim Synagogue (Barry Herman), Congregation Ariel (Denise Jacobs), Congregation Bet Haverim, Congregation Beth Jacob (Rabbi Yitzchok Tendler), Congregation Beth Shalom (Loli Gross), Congregation B’nai Torah (Natalie Sarnat), Congregation Dor Tamid (Stacey Jahanfar), Congregation Etz Chaim (Martin Gilbert), Congregation Gesher La’Torah (Doug Konkel), Congregation Or Hadash (Scott Allen), Congregation Or Ve Shalom (Adam Kofinas), Congregation Shearith Israel (Jodi Salomon), Temple Beth Tikvah (Becky Sullivan), Temple Emanuel (Stephen Blick), Temple Kol Emeth (Chris Wilson), Temple Sinai (Jack Feldman), The Temple (Mark Jacobson), Congregation Ohr HaTorah (Leslie Mallard), Congregation Beth Tefillah (Stephanie Allen Morrison) 44 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 45

ROSH HASHANAH Melanie Nelkin

When you learn something it’s not necessarily a lesson. You can also be reminded of something and learn it again.

Most of what I learned in the past year has been driven by a pandemic that has blighted facts, freedom to travel, attend lifecycle events and hug friends and family.

Early on, the environment wreaked of stress and anxiety, but my husband and I managed to successfully temper it with a puppy who has thrived in COVID-lockdown with 24/7 attention. After six years without dogs it’s been a welcome and needed return to the stress relieving unconditionallove-wrapped-in-fur that exponentially increases your smile factor.

Returning to routines unrelated to feeding and walking the puppy has also been instructive and helpful. For decades, our Shabbat family favorite challah came from storebought frozen dough. The lockdown motivated me to return to my long-lost bread baking days. Kneading my own creation every Friday has been a great stress relieving therapy.

Perseverating over personal and family health while witnessing the toxic rise of public discourse and violence has felt more poisonous than COVID-19. My rabbi’s recommendation was to read “Settings of Silver,” a comprehensive primer on Jewish history and discuss each chapter. Returning to history can be incredibly instructive. This book reminded me that dialogue, not dogma, is foundational to the Jewish way of thinking and learning. The Talmud has a lot to teach us about “cancel-culture.” Compiled centuries ago, the rabbis decided to leave in the dissenting opinions, conversations and practices. Our sages knew then that serious and respectful dialogue only strengthens us as individuals.

Teshuvah literally means “return,” and this year I’ll plan to find merit in returning to the lessons I may have known all along.

Melanie Nelkin is the immediate past president of American Jewish Committee-Atlanta, currently serving on the AJC National Executive Council.

Jody Pollack I am honored to have the opportunity to share my wisdom and recommendations for how to look at the positive side of what is happening in the world today.

It’s interesting that my thoughts and opinions are now considered wisdom; I must really be getting old.

In the past, I was usually told to keep my thoughts to myself. It was safer that way. In some ways, the culture of today has distorted the “norms” and is forcing many to play it safe by keeping our thoughts to ourselves lest we jeopardize our standing in the workplace and community.

This “self-filtering” is nothing new for our people. At times we had to keep our faith in secret, practicing our rituals and customs in the shadows lest we be called out as heretics and worse. Have you ever wondered how many came before us that were found in the shadows and did not have the opportunity to leave a legacy? I am not referring only to the 6 million of the Shoah but also all those that came before them.

We, the Jews of today, are the living results of our ancestors who withstood all the purges, pogroms and genocides. And let’s not forget assimilation. Yet we are still here and thriving. We will withstand the coronavirus, the cancel culture and whatever other hardships are thrown in our way – as well as the ones we create for ourselves.

We will do more than just survive. We will continue to excel and achieve and grow our community in spite of the winds in our faces. We have learned how to be self-reliant, how to remain a community and how to leverage our faith in God. As this new year approaches and we enter the Days of Awe, remind yourself that your very existence in this land of liberty, religious freedom and unfettered freedom of speech is, in fact, awe inspiring.

L’shana Tova.

Jody Pollack is executive director of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival.

Dr. Allison Padilla-Goodman I hope that 5780 goes down in history as the year of strength and unity.

We have been experiencing and witnessing a seemingly never-ending onslaught of challenges this year: a global pandemic that has ravaged our community; the highest rates of antisemitism in decades; the erupting of anger over centuries of systemic racism on the streets of Atlanta and other American centers; the push of bigoted extremists into mainstream platforms; and the passing of our civil rights icons. The pressure is heavy to find our way through these challenges and to plot a path forward where we can all, once again, hold hands and cross the bridge together.

Yet, to take a step back, this is exactly what we are doing (albeit over Zoom and in our homes). Through these challenges, we have learned how much we really need each other, and how we can stay connected across geography, differences, generational divides and purpose, no matter the hurdle. Our relationships and partnerships bring us tremendous meaning every day, even through our screens.

Through the challenges, we have learned how strong and resilient we all are and more importantly, how strong and resilient we are together. We face the loneliness of a pandemic through non-stop Zoom meetings and programs, never letting the isolation win. We face surging antisemitism by constantly standing up and ensuring it isn’t normalized and doing so arm-in-arm with our non-Jewish friends. We dive into the momentum around addressing systemic racism by educating ourselves and learning how to be true allies and advocates. We fight extremism in coalition with all who are impacted by it. And we take the stories of our civil rights icons to give us purpose, strategy and tenacity as we move civil rights forward.

We turn challenge into determined strength, together.

Dr. Allison Padilla-Goodman is the vice president of the Southern division of ADL. 46 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jared Powers The sound of the shofar calls us to take a pause and reflect on the past year. As we look back on 5780, I know for many the challenges will be most pervasive in our minds. While there is no doubt that the trials of this past year were significant and complicated, there were also many moments of great strength, resilience and renewal.

As the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta has been an integral part of my life since I was a young boy, I know intrinsically how vital it is for the community. For more than 60,000 people every year, it provides an irreplaceable connection to the Jewish community, one’s Jewish identity, old and new friends, and the best version of one’s self.

While I will never forget the many moments and decisions that were heartbreaking this past year, during this time of reflection I also feel a great sense of pride in the MJCCA and the Atlanta Jewish community.

At the MJCCA, we evolved in so many meaningful ways and remained committed to being an innovative, inspirational, and impactful agency for the many in our community who rely upon us. There are so many examples throughout the whole Jewish community of coming together, rising to the occasion, and working to meet the needs of the community.

As we prepare to welcome 5781, let us remember how we drew strength from each other this year and how we are inextricably linked to each other. I look forward to the days when there is high-fiving, fist bumping and hugging at the MJCCA, but I know that in many ways we have never been more connected.

On behalf of my family and the MJCCA, I wish you L’shana tova!

Jared Powers is CEO of the Marcus JCC.

ROSH HASHANAH Eric M. Robbins

Flora Rosefsky

Not Even A Pandemic Can Break Our Bonds

Why I Need the Extra Day: Shemini Atzeret This Year

What did I learn in 5780 that I will take into 5781?

I have a love-hate relationship with Zoom.

The irony is that the Zoom platform allowed our Federation team to move effectively into virtual remote working and to engage the hearts of this community to raise more than $4.3 million for the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund in about six weeks!

The downside of Zoom is not simply the “fatigue” of relating to people in a “Hollywood Squares” grid every day. I am someone who believes that relationships and human interactions are everything.

I miss seeing people; I miss the depth of panim-al-panim (face-to-face) conversations.

My prayer for 5781 is that we restore those precious human connections.

There are many times when I say to myself or to family and friends, how I wish there could be an extra day of the week to do nothing, where appointments written out on my Planner Pad calendar or AJT article and art project deadlines noted in red on certain pages would instead show a blank space. In today’s pandemic, one would think I would have had more time to unwind, to relax since my husband and I shelter in place as much as possible, but it seems that Zoom has taken over along with taking on new projects and assignments to fill up each day, plus continuing to lead the different roles of being a supportive wife, parent and grandmother.

So where can I ever find that extra day? Is it a figment of my imagination to have it exist? Shabbat’s 24-hour respite had its own rhythms, but it’s not a totally new day without a program.

When wanting to learn more about Jewish holidays, I use “The Jewish Holidays: A Guide & Commentary” by Michael Strassfeld with illustrations by Betsy Platkin Teutsch (Harper & Row, 1985). From that book, I found how Torah prescribes the extra day that I long for, called Shemini Atzeret, known as the eighth day. From Numbers: 29:36, the Torah reads that “On the eighth day, you shall hold a solemn gathering (atzeret); you shall not work at your occupation.”

Just as with so much of Jewish text, rabbis and individuals continue to interpret the words of Torah, to make sense for the modern world. Even though there are no specific rituals to conduct commanded by Torah, it comes at the end of the seven-day festival of Sukkot.

In biblical times, according to Strassfeld, the prayer for rain for the coming year prevailed as the main ritual for Shemini Atzeret, reflecting its agricultural roots. Today the recital of Yizkor also takes place. But for me, the best part of having this “extra day” allows me a full day to daydream, to let me imagine what life can be like in the coming year. I can sit out on my porch with a cup of tea, and if there is a sukkah, to linger in it one more day. Taking time to connect with the natural world with a sense of quiet and reflection is what I need now. Shemini Atzeret inspires me to actually do that this year, before rejoicing with the Simchat Torah agenda, and going back to those appointments and deadlines to finish. One eighth day a year is probably not enough, but it’s a start.

Atlanta has incredibly talented Jewish communal professionals.

It’s not a brag; it’s the truth. The seemingly overnight pivot to remote working increased the workload of every single Jewish professional in town and tested their creativity. It wasn’t overnight; our IT and planning professionals anticipated lockdown and were prepared.

As the Jewish community’s “convener,” Federation reached out to our partners to discern the dimensions of community pain points. Loss of jobs. Isolation. Food insecurity. Lack of PPE. Family stress. With input from our professionals, we were able to assess community needs and quickly grant out funds from the Emergency Response Fund that prioritized people first.

Not even a pandemic can break our bonds.

Our community responds passionately in a crisis. Rather than everyone turning inward and focusing on their own challenges, we come together. The efforts we have made to build a culture of collaboration have paid dividends. Our agencies have worked closely and creatively together to address all the complexities this crisis has created. But this didn’t just happen because of the crisis. I will take into 5781 the idea that intention is the key to building a community culture that is resilient and unbreakable.

Eric M. Robbins is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Flora Rosefsky is a regular contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 47

ROSH HASHANAH Casey Rosner The thought of another year coming to pass has always been uncomfortable for me. The simple thought of the new year is sufficient to send me stumbling through the first few days.

I spend the first day of the new year breathing life into my imagination and my future, hoping that this year will be better than the last. I’m convinced my life is on an upward trend, and I‘m already on my way to achieving my goals.

The second day, I deflate. Inevitably, the newness wears off, like the tide returning to shore after a night in the deep end, and I slowly gather my ambition and paddle to safer harbors. The workout leggings I found online yesterday still sit pending in my shopping cart. The journal I bought last year and never touched is a reminder of lost ambitions from the year before.

This year feels uncharted, even amorphous, like we’ve ventured into the deepest of waters. Do I actually know where I stand in my “5-year plan,” or is revisiting it every year my small way to assert my self-efficacy? My ability to be a change-maker in my own life is something that was important to me in 5780, but this global pandemic takes all the control out of my hands. This moment in time gives me pause to reconsider what is really important in my life (beyond my carefully crafted 5-year plan).

What I do know is this: quarantine has given me what Rosh Hashanah normally brings only once a year –the feelings of anxiety – but also the perpetual hope for change, opportunity and a better year to come.

It feels like this change of pace is a necessary obstacle for each and every one of us. I urge you to consider this in your second-day ambition hangover. While it might feel like we drown in the deep end of the unknowns of our lives, remember: these are our swimming lessons.

Casey Rosner is one of five residents at Moishe House Atlanta – Buckhead.

Phil Rubin [Community Means] Remembering That We Are All in This Together, Especially When it Comes to Hate In our divided country and increasingly polarized community, togetherness is largely missing, both figuratively and literally. But largely doesn’t mean entirely, and that’s important to remember as we – meaning together – observe this season.

Recently I heard from some in our community regarding another egregious antisemitic incident. This happens a lot. But it was not referencing local incidents such as those in East Cobb or one of several Georgia candidates embracing antisemitism. Rather it was the Oakland A’s assistant coach making a heil Hitler salute at a baseball game, for which he at least apologized.

While the failure to equivocate these things was disturbing, it underscores exactly why we must remember that tikkun olam requires us working together as a community.

In June, after decades of effort, Georgia finally passed a hate crime bill. It was sponsored and supported with true bipartisanship and now Georgia is one of 45 states to have such a law. The bill has received support from the corporate community and through a letter jointly signed by political leaders from both parties, including former senators Max Cleland, Johnny Isakson and Sam Nunn, former governors Roy Barnes and Nathan Deal, former Attorney General Sam Olens and others.

While passing a hate crime bill doesn’t stop the hate, it’s a huge step and an important reminder that together we can make progress.

The letter referenced above closed, “Hate not only corrodes, but destroys everything it touches. It is the poison which spreads like wildfire and lays waste to everything in its wake. It divides and dissolves our nation into polar opposites. Hate harms all people of all colors, political persuasions and ages. This is not a partisan issue, it is a human one …[and] we can do better.”

Phil Rubin is immediate past board chair of ADL Southeast and the current board chair for the Center for Israel Education.

48 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH Rabbi Neil Sandler ‘On Rosh Hashana it is Written and on Yom Kippur it is Sealed.’ (From the high holiday machzor prayer book) How can we utter these words? I believe the pandemic of 2020 contributes a unique backdrop as we struggle with this prayer.

Fires, floods, famines, AND coronavirus are not “acts of God.” “Olam k’minhago noheg, the world acts in accordance with its own course.” (Talmud) If so, our liturgy is a statement about reality in our world.

People will perish this year by any number of means, including COVID. The presence of God – within our world and ourselves – urges us to respond to this challenge.

What will you do?

How will you express God’s presence through your actions? Here is the prayer’s response: “But repentance, prayer and acts of tzedakah can lessen the severity of the decree…”

Repentance: Many, if not all, of us have failed people at times in their darkest moments. We didn’t know what to say or do. Now is a time for teshuva – for change – to be the presence of God with those who suffer by listening to them and acknowledging their pain.

Prayer: Let people know that you are praying for them.

Pray that they be able to express the divine within themselves, the resilient spirit that will aid their recovery.

And finally, acts of tzedakah: Reach out to support those who have suffered grievous loss. One divinely inspired human being, joining with others to support someone in a time of need, brings profound healing.

In what will likely be a difficult year for many people, let us not speak of a God who harshly punishes, but rather of the ultimate Healer.

Let us, as God’s instruments, seek to bring healing to those in need through our listening ears, the words of our consoling lips and the actions of our sustaining hands.

May the year ahead be a healthy and healing one!

Rabbi Neil Sandler was senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 2004 to 2019.

Maayan Schoen

This summer, I have learned that often the bridge between knowing what you’re supposed to do and doing it, is doing something.

On par for the circumstances of 2020, I have recently spent many long hours thinking about myself. I began feeling heavy with regret for things I have done and said, things I haven’t done or said, and things I continue to do and say wrongly. In this season, regret, charata, has redemptive potential. It is a foundational step in the process of teshuva (repentance) we are meant to undergo. Regret attuned me to a need for change, but it was not productive or inspirational on its own; it was a mental and physical downer. I wanted to harness the potential of regret into something uplifting. I looked for small ways to restart each day’s physical actions, like responding to five texts, making breakfast, signing up for a meditation app even if they weren’t strictly related to my ruminations. Incremental changes in behavior invest me with the strength to change more.

An interesting shift occurs in the last line of Psalm 27, a psalm we have the custom to recite during the month of Elul. The speaker, who has been addressing G-d throughout, suddenly addresses himself: Look to the LORD; be strong and of good courage! This shift reminds me of a sudden interruption in Devorah the Prophet’s mostly third-person account of victory, the Song of Devorah. March on, my soul, with courage! she commands herself, the Metzudat Zion commentary asserting that she means to emphasize I, myself must do this.

The pandemic has served as an interruption in our personal stories, desires and progress. The month of Elul, with the blowing of the shofar as symbol and catalyst, is supposed to give us pause for thought too. We can utilize these interruptions by taking each day as an opportunity to restart with small, strengthening practices that not only mitigate feelings like retroactive regret, but give new life to our habits, from which we can continue to derive inspiration.

Maayan Schoen graduated from Torah Day School and Atlanta Jewish Academy. She studied in the Migdal Oz Beit Midrash for Women in Israel and is now a sophomore at Yale University.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 49

ROSH HASHANAH Dena Schusterman

Rabbi Beth Schwartz

If life is a journey and 5780 was a road trip that started as a bucolic drive through the countryside, it eventually veered off into a dark forest ditch. It then got further kicked and rolled until it hit a cliff, and now it hangs suspended and creaking off of a boulder on a ledge where it teeters as it slowly threatens to make its descent into the frigid waters below.

Welcome 5781.

What will this year bring, you ask? We have no way of knowing; we can only hope. Typically on Rosh Hashana, I am hopeful that God, in His abundance of mercy and kindness, has a good year in store for all of us.

I pray.

I accept Hashem as sovereign.

I make good resolutions.

And still, if I look back and notice that it was a challenging year for me, I take comfort in knowing that it was a great year for someone else. But this past year was unusual for everyone, with many real hardships and many actual deaths.

Amidst the pandemic’s chaos and drama, where can I find the hopefulness and joy that I need (this Rosh Hashana more than ever) to center myself? The hopefulness and joy I need to manifest into my year ahead?

I search within and without for something.

It’s been a scary year, and fear is rampant with the pandemic, elections, economy, racial tensions, etc.

Fear is a necessary (uncomfortable) emotion that can be good or bad.

If I am running in Piedmont Park and suddenly realize that I am in a wooded area alone, my fear of getting mugged will cause me to run faster to a more lit or populated place. In this way, my fear protects me from a potential attack and empowers me to think of myself as competent and capable.

So when is fear disempowering and debilitating? When there is no real danger--such as the fear of rejection and disapproval. This kind of fear gets in the way of living our best life; this is the kind of fear that cripples productivity and inhibits happiness and hope.

We get into this pattern of unhealthy fear when we attribute power to things and people. It is a co-dependency with the universe that says: anyone or anything that can make me, can break me.

In reality, it is me — my power. And I get it from God. And God doesn’t break me.

The mystics teach us that on the holy day of the coronation, on Rosh Hashana itself, the world is imbued with the ability to gather into our being all of the healthy empowering awe and fear of heaven, the kind of fear that saves lives.

If we are aware of this energy (mindful of it because it is unseeable, thus harder to access, yet, easier on Rosh Hashana) our soul can tap into the power of Hashem in our lives. Collecting this energy, and then using its strength when fearful, is what subdues the angst, timidity and rankling self-doubt that runs rampant. With this knowledge, I will center myself on Rosh Hashana; I will place my trust in God’s hands, for He alone is worthy of my awe. There is hope. There is joyfulness.

I have learned this year that the members of my community are resilient and strong. I have learned that physical distance is not social or spiritual distance. Ours is a community with deep roots in our city and many branches that reach well beyond Columbus. The Jewish network is tight-knit, and yet it is expansive and welcoming. I have learned from my congregants that once you are in, you are in, and it has been my privilege to see ideas inspire more ideas, and action. Whether the pandemic has been a factor or not, I have seen that despite political and social polarization, there are people who will decide not to engage in differences, but rather in common causes. I have heard, “Well, Rabbi, we don’t need to go over that ground now,” and “That’s a conversation for another time. There are more important things to do right now.” Yes, the last half of 5780 has been very challenging. I know I have learned to adjust expectations, sometimes downward and sometimes sideways, but also upwards. Am I tired of all this learning? On some days the answer is that I am. But there are also days when I am grateful, and I am learning to cherish those days. May 5781 bring us happy lessons, contentment and blessings.

Dena Schusterman is a founder of Chabad Intown and founding director of the Intown Jewish Preschool and Intown Hebrew School.

Rabbi Schwartz serves Temple Israel in Columbus, Ga.

Dr. Terry Segal Every new year brings reflections of joy and loss.

In November, we welcomed our second grandchild into the world. She was given her Hebrew name at synagogue, a few days before COVID sent us scurrying to our homes.

My work as a therapist shifted from hugging clients in person to communicating through technology.

My perspective shifted, too, from frustration to appreciation for all the ways it serves us.

It was sad to see our family table set only for two at Passover, but amazing to deliver the festive meal to the homes of our children and share the “Zeder” (Zoom seder) apart/together. The kids changed their backgrounds to include family photos that made us laugh and cry.

This Yom Kippur will be odd, not gathering together in synagogue. But I look forward to communing with G-d in a raw way befitting 2020. Instead of wearing makeup, a dress, and heels to go to G-d’s house, I’ll be unadorned, barefoot, and sitting on G-d’s earth. My belly will be empty, but my heart full as we listen to the streaming voices of rabbi and cantor among the songs of cicadas, birds and frogs. I’ll lift my gaze upward to search out the stars when the gates have closed.

We’re always served up the bitter with the sweet. While it seems as if we can’t control the pandemic, chaos or violence, we can choose how to respond to it and who to become in the face of it.

I challenge myself to become a Divine spark, even when sad, angry or seemingly helpless to make a difference. For me, that means looking for the good in people and situations and responding with patience and compassion.

May we all be written and sealed in the Book of Life.

Terry Segal is a regular columnist for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

50 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH Chana Shapiro I Want to Hold onto What I’ve Learned For the last six months, my husband and I have been taking a walk around our neighborhood just after dusk. We don’t meet many people at that time of evening, and when we do see others, I’ve noticed that there’s a feeling of camaraderie, even among strangers. When we stop to converse, we pay careful attention, because most of us are wearing masks, and it’s impossible to catch facial expressions. Everyone is making a real effort to be friendly and gracious.

For the last six months, my husband and I have learned to treasure the hours of connection with our children and grandchildren. We sit outside and talk. We missed our planned summer activities this year, and there’s no way to predict when we can resume fun Shabbat meals and impromptu trips to stores, museums and parks. We’ve come to value the simple pleasure of being together without the pull of distractions. I believe our nuclear family members have gotten to know one another better because of that.

For the last six months, we’ve reached out to people, near and far who matter to us, but with whom we rarely connect. We’ve been talking to old and new friends with more honesty and intention. We treasure so many relationships, and we try to make sure these people know how we feel. It’s been reciprocal. We are strengthened to learn how much we and our friends care about one another.

For the last six months, we’ve been going through books, letters, clothing and furniture. The unearthing of priceless photographs and the purging of useless possessions have been acts of discovery and cleansing, causing delight and joy as well as pain and regret. Our siblings and other relatives are doing the same thing, and we’ve been reliving and remembering, as we send photo and letter attachments back and forth. A cousin organized a big Zoom family gathering in which we asked a lot of questions and shared information about our family. We’re now joined in a family wide history-sociology journey.

The above are four of our unexpected family experiences over the challenging past half-year. During this time, I’ve gained clarity about priorities and learned a lot about myself, my family, my friends and my community. I hope I can hold onto these simple lessons: be gracious; spend time with loved ones and friends without distractions; express emotions honestly; and treasure family lore. Eventually we’ll all be able to safely jump back into favorite activities, and that will be the big test, when I try to remember, reinforce and use what’s been revealed to me.

Rabbi Alexandria ShuvalWeiner Return human, return to your soul … Time is fleeting.

These past six months have been incredibly strange.

Individual days of seemingly endless hours with an odd sameness to each one, yet all the while the days flying by at a palpable speed. With the pandemic raging, wondering how much time would be allotted to each of us, to our loved ones?

During this period of sheltering and social distancing, mask wearing and debate over the efficacy of these practices, what has been raised in me is the following: An acute awareness that there are moments in which the world feels like an indifferent place, a place plagued by inexplicable tragedies and misery, a place where corruption, callousness and fear thrives.

Utter futility! Utter futility! All is futile! And the renewed belief that while this thinking is part of our human condition, our Jewish tradition has much to help us handle this stark reality. Teshuvah, tefillah, tzedakah soften the harshness of the decree.

Because the clock is ticking, there is no time to waste! Teach us to count our days rightly, that we may obtain a heart of wisdom. While we have little control over how much time we are allotted, the quality of our lives, and that of the world, is determined by how we choose to live.

This year, we might all focus on cultivating a lev tov, a good heart, improving on how we will each manifest greater kedusha (holiness), chesed (kindness) and rachamim (compassion) in the year to come. Let us each consider the gifts of our hands, our hearts, the words of hope and righteousness that come from our mouths and our texts, even the way we choose to pray with our feet.

As we read in Psalm 90: Satisfy us at daybreak with Your steadfast love that we may sing for joy all our days.

Rabbi Shuval-Weiner is the senior rabbi of Temple Beth Tikvah.

Chana Shapiro is a regular columnist and contributor for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 51

ROSH HASHANAH Bracha Slavaticki A man walks into a New Orleans bar and says, “I’d like two hurricanes and a corona,” and the bartender says, “That’ll be $20.20.”

This is the joke of the year in my hometown of Metairie, La., and in many ways, it seems to sum up the chaos and uncertainty brought on by a tumultuous 2020. Many of my friends seem to be nervously awaiting its end in the hopes that 2021 will have something better to offer than the anxiety-inducing curveballs we are currently enduring.

Since the beginning of time, the Jewish Nation has been warned not to seek the advice of astrologers. Interestingly enough, the Talmudic sages saw astrology and the constellations as a credible science.

Why, then, are we so careful not to look to these methods to determine our future?

The very same sages who gave credence to astrology proclaimed, “Ain mazal l’Yisrael – the Jewish Nation is not bound by any constellation.” A person does not need to fear what the constellations say about him because this does not determine his destiny; he has the power to change his fate through prayer.

The Hebrew calendar, with its own set of months, dates and constellations, lifts us up to a place that defies the logic and seemingly unbending reality of this world. If prayer can change our destiny, imagine combining the power of the Jewish new year with the forces of teshuva, tefillah and tzedaka – prayer, repentance and charity! 2020 may not look too promising, but a new Jewish year, welcomed with the sound of the shofar and a heightened state of spiritual awareness, can usher in a completely different reality.

Find a safe shofar blowing near you; let your hopes and wishes for the year ahead ride on its prayerful sound. May the challenges of 2020 fade into the dust and may this new year, 5781, bring us health, prosperity and blessings of every kind.

Bracha Slavaticki is co-director of Chabad Decatur.

52 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Rabbi Albert Slomovitz Ending the Prejudice That Surrounds Us After 9/11, Americans came together as a nation.

Flags were prominently displayed and people made a conscious effort to be polite and kind to each other.

One of our proudest moments was that Americans did not randomly attack Muslims or mosques. Isolated incidents were appropriately condemned. Sadly, however, during the current pandemic, anti-Semitism has not diminished. Recently, there have been highly publicized instances of prominent cultural and sports figures promulgating stereotypical comments about Jews and Judaism. Such incidents highlight the great need for an ongoing effort to educate nonJews about our faith, history and shared spiritual connections.

As the founder of a nonprofit organization devoted to this type of interfaith education and awareness, I have reached one basic conclusion: If we wish to reduce antiSemitism, we must do so on an ongoing basis, using all types of media. It is a fundamental mistake to assume that other faiths know and understand Jews and Judaism: They do not.

Traditionally, we as a community react to an event after it has occurred. By then, of course, it is too late to help those initially infected with the virus of prejudice and hatred. Our condemnation is correct, but does that act as an efficient antidote for future incidents? The paradox is that Christians are quite interested and willing to learn about our faith. I begin my talks by expressing the belief that Judaism is the mother faith and Christianity the child. That frames the type of relationship that our faiths should have, one of respect, dignity and understanding, as a parent and child.

As we look forward to a post-pandemic world when we can return to a new normal, let’s have in our minds a new level of interfaith awareness and understanding.

We haven’t gotten it right in 2,000 years; let’s do so now.

Rabbi Albert Slomovitz is founder of the founder of The Jewish-Christian Discovery Center, associate rabbi of Con gregation Etz Chaim and assistant professor of history at Kennesaw State University.

ROSH HASHANAH Gabby Spatt 5780 has certainly turned out to be a different sort of year than we all expected and hoped. While we are much more isolated than in the past, we have gone through it together – suffering, fearing and mourning. On the flip side, we also have celebrated, loved, prayed together. 5780 has taught me about resiliency -- both my own and that of this Atlanta Jewish community.

Professionally and personally, we have found new ways to do things. Whether through Zoom calls, curbside pickups, or even drive-by simchas, we find ways to scale the walls put up in front of us and see the world from a new perspective.

I’ve learned to rely on family and close friends in ways I may not have before. It’s impossible to get a hug from someone when they have to stay 6 feet away. I’ve learned to be stronger on my own, leaning more on the words and perspectives of those in my closest circle.

I’ve even learned some physical self-sufficiency. In addition to the decades’ worth of paper towel in my basement, my husband and I have learned to bake sourdough bread, grow our vegetables, and even do basic construction work.

It would have been easy to isolate and pretend we’re alone against the world. But we have an amazing Jewish community here in Atlanta. Watching Shabbat services from a pickup truck, a Havdalah candle lit in a cul-de-sac, or bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, and yes, even funerals performed online, I have been inspired by how our community continues to open its arms, open its hearts, and open its spirit to each other.

That is resiliency to me.

Shana Tova!

Gabby Leon Spatt is the executive director of The Blue Dove Foundation.

Robyn Spizman Gerson What Now? Virtual Honey for the New Year As I searched for something meaningful to share as the Jewish holidays approach, I chose the topic of love. Even during COVID, love is what keeps us together. Love grows in small spaces through tiny cracks we have left open even during difficult times.

I love out loud to honor the memory of my own beloved parents Phyllis and Jack Freedman, who poured enough love into me for a lifetime.

As we enter the Jewish New Year, I think of family and friends and pray for less suffering. I hope that our maskcovered smiles, hidden expressions and social distancing will not take too much of a toll on us. And as a writer and lover of words, I hope we all take this important time to really listen to each other.

Recently, one such story stood out and profoundly moved me. In 2003, the son of Atlantan and former South African native Sheryl Westerman, Darren, tragically died as a passenger in a car at the age of 18. After the service, she distinctly remembers Rabbi Yossi New sharing sage advice, “Try not to say, ‘Why me?’ Instead, say, ‘What now?’”

These words stayed with Sheryl as she took them to heart. She put her grief and talents to work and planted a beautiful garden for her Congregation Beth Tefillah at Crest Lawn cemetery. For the past 18 years she has passionately pursued this and incorporated Judaic pieces to enhance this garden. Sheryl incorporated the daffodil project Am Yisrael Chai and during Purim all the yellow daffodils come back as resilient as ever. She shared, “I think nature helps you heal, and this was a way to keep my son’s memory alive. It looks like a little garden of Eden. During COVID, this has been a particularly good place for me to spend time outdoors and feel safe.”

As a tradition each year, Rabbi New does a pre-Rosh Hashanah service commemorating those who have passed. This year, the outdoor socially distanced service continued. Sheryl said, “This year with the uncertainty of COVID, and what has happened with synagogue due to the pandemic, the garden will give people who have lost loved ones the opportunity to recite the ‘Kaddish’ prayer surrounded by beauty.”

She added, “There is always an opportunity to do good things in one’s darkest hours of sadness. The world carries on no matter what, and I try on a daily basis to spread kindness.”

Sheryl’s gardening, which surrounds her home, is pure love. For me, love is prayer. It’s an action that asks G-d to bless us, give us strength and is the deepest form of gratitude. This year, I offer virtual honey. As the New Year arrives, I pray for the front line, the everyday heroes and hold in the deepest place in my heart my beloved ones, our children and grandchildren, plus all individuals and families overcoming challenges or facing illness. I pray for and marvel at my beautiful, awe-inspiring daughter Ali, working hard to fight cancer and triumph. I am touched by my son’s at-home garden he planted with his daughter, my granddaughter Dani. I am amazed at all of our children who have become their children’s teachers and dedicated protectors. And I am encouraged how each of us can brighten even a corner of this chaotic world with love and holiday traditions and give tribute to the best of those who lived and loved before us.

As we welcome a new year, I hope we will be better, not bitter. I pray to God for small and large miracles for everyone. I feel reassured by the kind actions of caring individuals like Sheryl Westerman that fall will arrive and spring will return. And last but not least, I believe in the flowers that will bloom once again.

Robyn Spizman Gerson is a contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times and author of “Loving Out Loud: The Power of a Kind Word,” www.robynspizman.com.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 53

ROSH HASHANAH Rachel Wasserman

I have been preparing for my oldest son’s bar mitzvah since he was born. During his first Shabbos on earth, which he and I spent in the hospital (just the two of us, alone, together) I read his Torah portion out loud to him, excited to see that it contained both the “Shema” and the Ten Commandments. I remember thinking, “Oh good! This will be so easy for him to learn.”

Nine years later, during the Rio Olympics, I realized that his bar mitzvah would take place in the middle of the Tokyo Olympics, and since we live in Toco Hills, the lightbulb went off in my head that our theme should be “Toco 2020.” I immediately searched the internet for Olympics-themed paper goods. Yes, it was four years early, but I’m a planner and love a good sale!

Fast forward four years: pandemic. No Tokyo 2020. No Toco 2020.

I have mourned many things during this pandemic. Cancelled trips. Not being able to hold my dear friend’s new baby. The reality that my 40th birthday will be spent sheltering in place. I’ve also mourned the loss of Toco 2020. The theme that could have been. The bar mitzvah that I’d planned would never happen. No extended family, no party, no community celebration.

What happened in its place was something beautiful. Thanks to the incredible leadership at Congregation Beth Jacob, my son had his bar mitzvah on time and in the presence of his closest family and a few friends. As he skillfully read his portion, the same one we read together 13 years earlier in that hospital room, I came to the realization that things were exactly as they should be. Instead of focusing on multiple events, lots of out-of-town guests and a million logistics, all we focused on was my son and the important milestone he had reached. No distractions; just pride.

Nachum Ish Gam Zu, a noted sage from Talmudic times, is famous for approaching all situations with the saying, gam zu l’tova, this too is for the good. This has been my go-to saying for years, as I always try to find the positive in any situation, even when it’s difficult to see. It took me many months until I found the gam zu l’tova in the pandemic, but sitting in shul that day, it became blatantly clear.

My prayer for all of us is that the year ahead will be filled with silver linings, open miracles, and blessings in disguise.

Rachel Wasserman is the executive director of Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta.

Nancy Weissmann The best way to judge the strength and direction of the wind is to turn your head to and fro until you feel it straight-on. I have always loved that feeling!

And yet, sailing into a strong wind head-on will eventually bring you to a standstill; you must lean a bit to the left or right to move yourself forward. The more you turn yourself away from the wind, the further you stray until eventually that same strong wind will turn you completely around and suddenly there you are right back where you started facing the wind and going nowhere fast.

As 5780 nears completion, I find myself wondering how this year has come full circle. This year, which began with such promise, seemed to stall midway and is now staggering towards the finish line. And yet, so much has transpired. COVID-19 has been the headwind that forced a new path forward for everyone. The waters have been unchartered and full of both heavy cloud bursts and clear sky days.

Indeed, these past few months have been trying. I have seen individuals and families prioritize life choices in increasingly difficult circumstances. At the same time, I am cheered to see how our Jewish community has willingly stepped up to support and assist in so many ways.

Nowadays, anyone can make lemonade out of lemons. But before COVID, who could make a wedding without a minyan, siblings or grandparents? Who would have ever imagined Zoom happy hours to be so special?

I have learned to detect the smile behind the mask by looking at your eyes. I have learned that while traveling uncharted waters is scary and fraught with the unknown, it is also both exhilarating and enlightening. I look forward to facing and traveling the winds of 5781 with my newfound navigational skills and strength.

Nancy Weissmann is executive director of Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta.

Kenneth Winkler Two weeks. That was all that was left of my term as chair of the board of directors of the MJCCA. I cherished each moment of my term and I was looking forward to celebrating the agency’s successes at our annual meeting with our community. Then COVID-19 hit us in the face like a Mike Tyson uppercut.

With a blink of an eye, we went from the best of times to the unimaginable.

No doubt the pandemic has been a harsh reminder that, despite our best made plans, we do not control the world. It’s hard to accept this reality. After all, we make plans in all aspects of our lives: strategic plans, b’nai mitzvah plans, summer camp plans, vacation plans, college plans, and so on. We have grown accustomed to expecting our plans to play out with certainty.

An important lesson that I learned this year that I will take into 5781 is that while we cannot control external forces, we can control how we respond to them. We have the choice to seek happiness, even in the midst of a pandemic. I used the past several months as an opportunity to press the reset button, slow down and focus on working on what brings true happiness: healthy relationships with others and living a life of meaning and purpose. As I enter 5781, I will continue to work on positive thinking and strengthening my relationship with my family, friends, business colleagues and community.

Wishing you all a year of peace, health, happiness and humor.

Kenneth Winkler is immediate past chair of the board of directors of the Marcus JCC.

54 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

L’Shana Tova!

YOUR BEST FACE FORWARD ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 55

ROSH HASHANAH Bradley Young From the time it was created by David Ben-Gurion in 1951, the Israel Bonds organization has provided Israel’s supporters with a rewarding opportunity to strengthen Israel and participate in Israel’s economic achievements. The success of Israel Bonds demonstrates the powerful connection of Jews all over the world to Israel.

This year our priority is the need to support Israel’s recovery from the impacts of the coronovirus pandemic. Every generation – our parents and our grandparent before them – had their opportunity to strengthen and support Israel during a time of need through investments in Israel bonds. This year it is our turn.

As we strive towards attaining our expanded 2020 U.S. goal of $1.5 billion, I want to share information on Israel’s economy. Although Israel, like every country, has faced enormous repercussions stemming from the pandemic, Israel’s economy was robust coming into the crisis. Pre-pandemic numbers tell a significant story: 3.4 percent GDP growth. The lowest unemployment rate in the nation’s history with a concurrent increase in wages. An innovative tech sector that continues to be the primary driver of the economy, accounting for more than half of all exports. Israel is globally recognized as “the innovation nation.”

At the onset of the pandemic, Israel’s government moved quickly to implement a four-point plan: Allocating resources for treatment and containment. Providing a social safety net. Supporting businesses via credits arranged through banks. Infusing money into the marketplace to boost the economy. The total cost of the plan is projected to exceed NIS 100 billion [nearly $30 billion] about 8 percent of Israel’s GDP. There are certainly reasons for optimism. First and foremost is the determined Israeli spirit. Throughout its history, Israel has endured adversity and triumphed in every instance. That will be the case this time as well. The pandemic’s impact on Israel will be lower than most OECD countries, with Israel expected to emerge in good shape relative to its peers. For example, in the aftermath of the Great Recession, only a handful of countries successfully reduced their debt to GDP ratio, and the country that reduced it the most was Israel. Even as the outbreak spread, Moody’s, Fitch and Standard & Poor’s all issued “stable” ratings, a huge sign of confidence in Israel’s economy. Israel recently raised capital via two government bond issuances, which included a first-ever 100-year bond. Again, it was an amazing demonstration of confidence in Israel’s economy, this time from investors throughout the world.

From its inception, Israel Bonds has been a dependable and strategic asset for Israel. As a proven safety net, we join as one in our commitment to meet our promise to Israel.

By working together with purpose and resolve, we will succeed. Wishing a safe, happy, prosperous, and most of all healthy 5781 for you, your families and for Israel.

Bradley Young is executive director of Southeast regional office of Israel Bonds.

56 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH Rabbi Mark Zimmerman As our holiday season approaches, the Jewish spark within us begins to exert its pull. We start to make our plans like every other year. High holiday tickets? Check. Dinner invitations? Check. And if we do it right, we start to look inward to examine how we can improve our souls, buttress our communities, and make our world a kinder, better place.

This year, however, is very different. We say “Mah Nishtanah” on Passover (How different this seder night is…) but this whole year has been one of “Mah Nishtanah!”

We still feel the lure of the holidays, but everything about those holidays is different this year. In the age of COVID-19 families have been forced to be physically apart and we feel more isolated from our communities. Nothing feels certain anymore. We feel the gaping hole in our lives that this pandemic has left behind.

But in facing COVID-19, we can also learn something important from our history.

The Jewish experience has certainly been no stranger to adversity. We have endured persecution, annihilation, and exile, which has also sensitized us to the plight of others who suffer anywhere. But it also taught us how to cultivate our inner strength and resilience. With our dark past, or perhaps in spite of it, the Jew has become particularly adept at facing challenges and overcoming obstacles.

When the Temple was destroyed and our people were forced into exile, we never gave up. We reinvented ourselves, created the synagogue, and unleashed the creative Jewish spirit like never before. Likewise, COVID-19 has forced us to retool and reinvent ourselves. Some rabbis have even resorted to making cheesy “Hamilton” parody videos (guilty!) to keep folks engaged.

As I look back on my career, I realize that I have led high holiday services for over 35 years, yet this year I feel like a newly minted rabbi straight out of school who has never led a service before! The pandemic has shaken all of us up in one way or another, and we all have learned the art of resilience, patience, and how to face disappointment.

No-doubt we will do many things differently this year. Our sukkot will be smaller. We will daven differently and may not be able to hold hands and dance together on this Simchat Torah. But we will overcome. We will use that same Jewish creativity and resilience to reinvent ourselves. And God-willing, this will all be but a temporary setback and 5781 will be better than ever before.

COVID-19 has taught us what is truly important in life, and what is superfluous.

Our health, our families, our relationships, and our community. These are what truly sustains us. God-willing, we will emerge from these challenging times all the stronger, wiser, more forbearing, more joyful and more appreciative of the blessings we already possess.

Better than your Bubbie’s We do Matzoh Ball Soup (regular and Gluten Free) Kreplach Soup, Knish and Noodle Kugel.

Text or Call to order 404-821-4335 We do contactless delivery and are a delivery only service.

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman is the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Shalom.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 57

ROSH HASHANAH

Atlanta Jewish Times Shares Too Wishing Our Community

L’ Shanah Tova

From Our AJT Family to Yours Kaylene Ladinsky Pandemonium When I think of the past year, one word comes to mind. Yep, you got it: Pandemonium. The word makes me want to echo the sound, “DaDa-DA!” Dealing with the pandemic was hard enough, but then the mob mentality took hold, and many were injured, communities destroyed, and lives were lost.

The interesting thing to me is that it is textbook, according to several university studies, that the most dangerous aspect of a pandemic is social and civil collapse. Look at what we have witnessed: riots and unrestrained disorder, protesting our local authority and government, even to the extent of attempts to disband our police.

I completely support the right to protest and localization of a common voice for public assembly and demonstration, but to watch our civilization teeter on the brink of Pandemonium is a whole other matter.

I have observed events that we covered in the paper and I sort through the facts versus the fiction while reporting on the news each day. It can be discouraging to see this mob mentality and those that are instinctively gravitating to it, and I must remind you that this is a part of our very basic human instinct and psychology. Mob mentality, also called herd mentality, describes how humans adopt behaviors, buy merchandise and follow trends based on their circle of influence. It explains how one’s point of view can be easily altered by those around them.

So, what do I take with me into the new year?

Well, the truth is that I am inspired by humanity. This pandemic is affecting all of humanity right now, and even though there has been pandemonium in the streets, humanity is resilient. Most of humanity is resisting the mob mentality, staying off the streets and working to find solutions. Humanity across the globe is working together to find a cure, take care of the sick, and invent ways to work around the challenges we are facing.

In a matter of months, the world paused, and we have adapted a new way of life to cope with COVID-19 and accomplish a new way of interacting. This is quite an accomplishment. I am in awe at the response that communities globally have taken to stay safe and attempt to continue education, productive employment and social interaction.

Humanity is amazing. Going virtual in social engagements, legal proceedings, medical treatment, and the entire professional atmosphere has transformed our society. Together we stopped and pivoted in an instant, and for those who were struggling with the fast-changing environment, we took each other’s hands and helped them along. The majority of humanity is strong, and together we fight to prevent Pandemonium.

So, what do I take with me into the new year? It’s hope, inspiration and most of all, a renewed faith in our humanity. Together society has proven: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Kaylene Ladinsky is the editor and managing publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Author John Martin first coined the word "Pandemonium" in 1825, inspired by John Milton’s 1667 painting titled “Paradise Lost”.

58 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

L’Shana Tova!

Give the Gift that Keeps Giving All Year!

A gift SubScription for 1 yeAr! onLy $65 per yeAr

Subscribe at www.atlantajewishtimes.com/subscribe-to-home-delivery

Give your friends and family the gift of home delivery of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

They will love knowing what’s going on in the community and beyond!

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 59

ROSH HASHANAH Roni Robbins Turns Out I’m a People Person

When the pandemic hit hard in March and my children came home from college, activities were suspended, and my routine activities, centered largely around my gym, synagogue and office, were upended. Meanwhile, I’m sure I’m not alone in relishing the change of pace and time with family. Probably the biggest challenge for me was not being able to spin at LA Fitness, my exercise of choice, helping to balance my life. But I adjusted, just like everyone else. I used a friend’s spin bike at her home and then my boss sold me one, and I was set again. My routine was back on track.

I worked from home as I had done as a freelancer for so many years while raising my kids. This time, I worked so much harder as a member of a team adjusting to Zoom and Workplace meetings and setting up a virtual office at home with grown children in the vicinity. Oh, and I was no longer an empty nester, a positive outcome of COVID. Synagogue services were online, and I enjoyed the later start and not being “on” as shul usher, 2 ½ hours of standing, dressing up or even being seen as I ate my

60 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

breakfast and sipped my coffee incognito from “Birkot Hashachar” to “Adon Olam.”

Of course, I liked seeing the faces of the congregants on Zoom, including the rabbis in their home settings.

But as the weeks passed and I saw congregants venturing out to join the service in the synagogue’s outdoor sanctuary and Zoom eventually transitioned into Facebook livestreaming, I started to miss being there “in the room where it happens” and serving in my minor role in the production.

So while I see myself as a comfortable introvert who thrives in the quiet of solitude, especially when I’m writing, I realized I also appreciate the comradery that comes from being part of something larger than myself.

And since I’m the synagogue’s main usher, serving in that post for several years, I asked if I could be of service for the b’nai mitzvah that began weekly last month, in the hopes I’d also be needed for the high holidays. I should mention my family and I have tested negative several times and I certainly understand the seriousness of the pandemic. Still, I’ve been a germaphobe long before COVID hit, so using sanitizer and not touching others is second nature to me. Now, at least, I’m not a germ freak any more than anyone else. Having that history, I feel confident in helping to ensure the health precautions are followed in my newly revised responsibility as usher.

Personally, while I savored the late wakeup and hiding behind a blank screen, often wearing shorts and a T-shirt with only my name to show my attendance, I appreciate the role I play and the people I see when I’m standing in the back of services at the sanctuary doors.

I miss greeting congregants, catching up and seeing the service up close, not from behind a screen. (I feel the nodding heads here.) And if that means sacrificing a little sleep, having to put on a dress and sandals and a little makeup, so be it. I must be a people person after all. Perhaps we’ll all be more so once this pandemic unleashes its hold. A little friendlier and less suspicious, hiding behind our screens and masks, a little more loving to those we tried alternatively to avoid close contact with and longed to hug, to assure it’s gonna be all right and we are right here with ya. The dichotomy of a worldwide health scare. I echo the wishes of most of you dear readers hoping we’ll all be back in person soon to our favorite activities. I’ll be glad to hold the door for you when that day comes. May we all be inscribed for a year of health.

Roni Robbins is associate editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

ROSH HASHANAH Jodi Danis Changing Perspective Okay, I’ll admit I tend to be more of a “glass half empty” type of person than an optimist. Just ask my husband, and he’ll confirm that I often worry and stress (needlessly) about what can go wrong instead of what can go right.

It’s a shortcoming I have long tried to improve upon, although perhaps all of us should be given a “pandemic pass” when it comes to self-improvement right now. Even the sunniest of personalities have had a hard time dealing with the challenges of navigating this “new normal.”

So how does an admitted pessimist cope during a pandemic?

In my case, somewhat better than expected. There have certainly been fears, disappointments and reality checks during the past six months; but if I step back and try to view the positive things that have emerged, there is much to appreciate as well. So here is my “glass half full” list: For me personally, I treasured the change from an empty nest back to a fuller one. Savoring family time and deeper conversations. Wearing pajamas when I worked remotely. Expanding my cooking, baking and cocktail-making skills. Slowing down to enjoy more reading, binge-watching and game-playing. Zooming with old friends all over the country while finding new ways to reconnect locally. And finally, a call to action: a reawakened passion to fight for what is important and just.

As a society, I have seen the best emerge in our healthcare and other essential workers; they are truly heroes. Citizens are more engaged in the role they can play in a democracy. Ingenuity and creativity have flourished. Drive-in concerts, driveway dinners and online book clubs now exist. Resourceful entrepreneurs have brought us new products, new activities and new ways to adapt. Thus, it has always been this way; with adversity comes perseverance and the drive to overcome our hardships.

As we welcome 5781, may it be a sweet, healthy and meaningful new year ahead for all of us, whichever way we view the glass. Shanah tovah um’tukah.

Jodi Danis is the executive assistant to the AJT publisher and managing publisher/editor.

!

L’Shana Tova

Shopping around for insurance? Don’t.

During this difficult time, please know that Siegel Insurance is working remotely to continue to serve the needs of our clients.

PERSONAL – COMMERCIAL – LIFE – HEALTH – DISABILITY – LONG TERM CARE Serving our community’s needs for over 50 years

www.siegelinsurance.com 2987 Clairmont Road, Suite 425 • Atlanta, GA 30329 Phone: (404) 633-6332 • Toll Free: (888) 275-0553 Andy N. Siegel CPCU, CIC, AAI • Sheldon Berch

Lilli Jennison I learned how to be more virtually minded. I am a millennial, so you would think I was already as virtually minded as can be. I am the go-to person when anyone in my family has any type of electronic question.

Two years ago, my cousin, aunt, mom and I got together to discuss having a huge family reunion. We have family all over the world that we have either never met or haven’t spoken to since the last reunion in 2002. After planning a bit, the reunion fell through and never happened. Fast forward to the start of COVID and quarantining. Zoom began to be the new normal meeting space in most people’s lives. I was in a Zoom meeting at work one Thursday, as we have every week, and I thought, we can have a virtual family reunion! I posted in our family Facebook group with a date and a time that would work for most time zones: June 14, 1 p.m. EST. We had people join in from California to Israel! We had people who were at the beach join in to be a part of the Zoomunion. We all went around and introduced ourselves and reconnected; it was beautiful.

For most people, COVID has made everyone so distant. You can’t get closer than 6 feet from someone anymore. No hugs, no handshakes, no high fives. I am so distant from friends and relatives. I haven’t seen my great aunt in months and months, whereas before COVID we would go out once every few weeks for lunch. However, in this case, it brought us closer together. I met family in Israel that I didn’t even know I had. They even invited us to visit — when it is safe of course. I hope to visit these cousins one day soon when the world is healed.

I don’t know if COVID will be “gone” anytime soon. I think we have a long road ahead of us. I don’t know if hugs, handshakes and high fives will ever come back as much as before.

However, I do know that for right now, we have to cope with it. We have to live and not let this waste the little time we have on earth as it is. Things changed, and we need to change with them. In some ways it can turn into a lovely Zoomunion. Remember, wear your masks and wash your hands and we will get through this!

Stay safe and Shana Tova!

Lilli Jennison is the creative and media designer of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 61

ROSH HASHANAH Michal Bonell As I look into the New Year, it’s difficult to put my thoughts and emotions into words, so I will use writings that express my feelings: “We will not go back to normal. Normal never was. Our pre-corona existence was not normal other than we normalized greed, inequity, exhaustion, depletion, extraction, disconnection, confusion, rage, hoarding, hate and lack. We should not long to return, my friends. We are being given the opportunity to stitch a new garment. One that fits all of humanity and nature.” -- Sonya Renee Taylor, author “Nor should we long to…at least not the normal that means white collar work is viewed as important, and blue-collar or ‘unskilled’ work is viewed as somehow notessential …The normal that means some skin colors…some body shapes…some gender expressions are more valuable than others…We should not long to return to a world of redlining, and generational poverty, and food deserts. … We should not long to return to a world of inadequate health care, and predatory loans, and a frayed social safety net. We should not long to return to a world of unbridled consumption, and peak oil, melting glaciers, rising oceans, and polluted air and water. …We should not long to return to a world of hate, mass shootings, and violence. We should not long to return to a world where the claim is always that these problems are too big, too complex, and too intractable to do anything about.” — All Saints Parish in Brookline, Mass.

Michal Bonell is a senior account manager for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Brenda Gelfand What I Learned From 2020 2020 was very unexpected with so many changes. It puts life in a very new perspective for me and my family for years to come!

Family and health have always been important but now are more than ever. Staying well and not being able to visit loved ones around the country and other countries has been extremely hard for me this year. Working from home has now become the norm for many. My daughter works for NBC in New York City and was just told that they may never go back to working together. I’m thankful for Zoom and other social media to stay connected with family, friends and coworkers. Learning how to be social has also been a challenge with regards to celebrations and social gatherings, but I have found new ways to enjoy them.

2020 has taught me how to appreciate being alone, not to take anyone or anything for granted, not to believe everything you hear or read, and to live life to the fullest every day and always be grateful for your family, friends, health and happiness!

Brenda Gelfand is a senior account manager for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

62 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH Lori Gluck What I Learned From 2020 We will all remember 2020 as one of “those” times in history. Everyone will have a story to tell from 2020. Some stories will be happy, and some will be sad. For me, 2020 has taught me to remember to stop and reflect. Take a deep breath and live in the moment. Be reminded that there are no certainties in this world. What we thought was up may now be down. What was true may now be false. With the arrival of Rosh Hashana, it is a great time to take inventory of what is truly important in our lives.

COVID-19 has forced us to turn inside in a lot of ways. Inside our work or profession, inside our home and inside our brain. This year has taught me to look inside for peace and tranquility. It is so very hard to be patient in the face of uncertainty. These uncertain times call for us all to turn inside and preserve the sanctity of what’s truly important. For me, it is my family and inner circle that keeps me moving forward.

I hope we can all find something to be grateful for in 2020. Be present, be connected, and most of all, be happy. I wish you all L’shana Tova!

L’Shana Tova

Wishing you and your family a year of health, happiness and many reasons to smile!

Harris B. Siegel, DMD, FAGO Arthur H. "Skip" Dolt, Ill, DDS, FAGO Marc “Chas” Plaisance, Jr., DMD

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

Lori Gluck is an account executive for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Siegel & Dolt Comprehensive Dental Care

Druid Pointe Building • 2751 Buford Highway • Suite 302 Atlanta GA 30324 Telephone: (404) 634-1277 www.siegelanddolt.com

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 63

ROSH HASHANAH Amy Seidner Patience. Wonder. Frustration. It has been a year unlike any other in my lifetime. This year has been filled with wonderful experiences and simplicity. Because of the pandemic, my husband and I began seeing the clearest skies filled with bright stars and planets on our nightly walks, and I learned how to cherish those simple, quiet times and pollution-free skies. Streets were quiet for a time. Night sounds became louder and fireflies seemed more prevalent than before. At the same time, patience has been key; we had to relearn how to be happy and satisfied with just being.

My family once again became the center of my world.

We did projects, cooked, baked and grilled together. I learned to celebrate milestone events virtually and in doing so, was able to reconnect with friends and family across the globe. But, at the same time, this year has been an exercise in patience, at times extraordinarily frustrating.

If the previous years were moving at warp speed, in the spring of this year we came to a screeching halt. Instant gratification was no longer available. Being with friends or non-immediate family was no longer possible, and it has taken months to learn how to proceed without it. I am learning and moving forward. 5781 should be just as interesting as 5780, although I am hopeful about the possibilities.

Amy Seidner is community events and public relations manager of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

don’t miss our uPcoming issues A PodcAst

yom KiPPur

Ads due: sePtember 17

brought to you by the

voter’s guide

Ads due: october 1

AtlAntA Jewish times

booK FestivAl Preview & educAtion Ads due: october 8

AtlAntA then & now And ProFessionAls Ads due: october 22

to Advertise cAll: 404-883-2130

64 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

WHEN WHEN WHEN YOU YOU YOU LOVE LOVE LOVE WHAT WHAT WHAT YOU YOU YOU DO DO DO ITITIT COMES COMES COMES ......... naturally naturally naturally

BEFORE BEFORE BEFORE

AFTER AFTER AFTER

Atlanta’s Atlanta’s Atlanta’s Leading Leading Leading Aesthetic Aesthetic Aesthetic Practice Practice Practice 888.455.FACE 888.455.FACE 888.455.FACE 6085 6085 6085 BARFIELD BARFIELD BARFIELD RD., RD., STE RD., STE 100 STE 100100 ATLANTA, ATLANTA, ATLANTA, GAGAGA PREMIERIMAGE.COM PREMIERIMAGE.COM PREMIERIMAGE.COM

ROSH HASHANAH

Awaken to the Call of the Shofar

Stanley Fineman

By Roni Robbins With the high holidays approaching, we asked a series of questions of the longest-serving shofar blowers, or baal tekiah, at Atlanta synagogues. We inquired how they got their start, what skills prepared them for the powerful responsibility of tunefully calling the congregation to attention, their motivation, how they prepare, and their plans for this pandemic year.

Included among respondents, you’ll find a pair of rams horn tooters who’ve been sharing the honor at their synagogue for 40 years; one who has played for two Atlanta congregations and was a professional musician with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra; those who acquired the skill as children; and two rabbis, one for 56 years now.

Many of the shofar blowers believe their background playing a wind instrument helped prepare them for their big high holiday moment in the spotlight, the long and final, mesmerizing blast, the tekiah gedolah.

What this band of tooters have in common is a deep commitment to inspiring their congregations with the sounds that emanate from their instruments.

Their united mission: leaving listeners with a sense of awe – even if virtually this year – and awakening them to the importance of the holidays, to the possibilities of starting fresh in the New Year.

66 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Stanley Fineman

Congregation Etz Chaim 40 years How long have you been blowing the shofar and how did you learn?

I started in 1979 after joining Etz Chaim. My brother, who is ba’al tekiah in his synagogue in Boston, taught me how to blow shofar since we didn’t have a ba’al tekiah at our “new startup” synagogue. I recall blowing shofar at the old Cobb Civic Center, where we had our Rosh Hashanah services. When Allan [Levine] joined Etz Chaim, he offered to help with the shofar since he was ba’al tekiah in his synagogue in Chicago. We’ve been sharing shofar duties since then.

Do you have any special skills that prepared you for blowing shofar and continue to help?

I really don’t have any special skills preparing me to blow shofar. The only instrument I played is the drums.

What was your motivation and what remains your motivation?

I enjoy participating in the service, but my real motivation is the recollection of blowing shofar at the Kotel with my Dad in 1982 when we were in Israel together during Elul. I always recall that moment when I’m blowing shofar.

How do you prepare for the high holiday responsibility? For example, any special exercises for holding some notes so long?

I do practice the notes, but my secret

of breath control is swimming. I swim regularly in the summer, especially before the high holidays.

Are you blowing the shofar this year?

How do you feel about the pandemic’s effect on this annual tradition?

Rabbi [Daniel] Dorsch asked me to blow shofar in the sanctuary this year.

We’ll only have the shofar on Sunday, so I will be the only ba’al tekiah since Allan won’t be able to join us in the sanctuary.

Allan and I usually alternate the shofar responsibilities so I will miss hearing his shofar this year. We usually have all the young children come into the service to hear the shofar, so it’s a special treat to have my grandchildren there to hear it. I don’t think they’ll be able to be there this year.

Finally, tell us a little about yourself: I grew up in Atlanta and had my bar mitzvah at [Congregation] Shearith Israel. I met my wife Judy when we were students at Emory. Next year we’ll celebrate our 50th anniversary. We joined Etz Chaim when I started my allergy practice in Marietta in 1978. We have three children, two daughters-in-law, one son-inlaw, and seven grandsons. Our oldest son and daughter-in-law live in Manhattan with two of our grandsons, but since March they have been living in our lake house on Lake Lanier so we have had the opportunity to see them frequently over the last five months.

Jordan Forman

Jordan Forman

Ahavath Achim Synagogue 10 Years Your start: Rabbi [Neil] Sandler asked me to become the main shofar sounder

at AA about 10 years ago when our previous shofar sounder, Dr. Herb Karp (z”l) “retired” from that task. I learned largely through trial and error but with the help of our executive director Barry Herman, who gave me the most important tip: hold the shofar at the side of your mouth, not in the middle!

Special skills: Having played clarinet for many years as well as some saxophone and trombone, I thought it would be easy to make the transition, but at first, it was not!

Motivation: As a congregant, I know that shofar is one of the most memorable parts of the high holiday experience. I know it is supposed to serve as a wakeup call to everyone, to make oneself better in the new year than they were in the year past. Though I get up in front of the congregation to read Torah and lead services regularly, at first, this was more nerve-wracking than any of that, because it only happens during one short period each year and you want the sounds to be loud, clear and strong, to be memorable.

Preparation: First, I borrow a shofar, typically from my friend and fellow congregant Sanford Bauman each year, around the beginning of Elul, since I don’t even own one. This year, due to COVID, I borrowed from the shul itself.

Then, much like most things in life, it’s practice, practice, practice! That includes practicing the tekiah gedolah to make it last as long as possible.

This year: This year, much like in recent years, it is more of a team effort.

Others participating include our immediate past president Mark Cohen, my youth director growing up in Baltimore, and former AA education director Steve Grossman, as well as two teenagers Tyler Avchen and Frankie Silverman, all of whom do a great job. …

Coincidentally, for the first time in many years, Rosh Hashanah begins on Shabbat, so there was not going to be any shofar sounding that day regardless. However, on the second day, we are holding what can be best be described as a “drive by shofar service": people will come to the shul after services second day at staggered times, sit in their cars, open the windows, and listen to the shofarot.

Personal: Born in 1970 and raised in Baltimore. Moved to Atlanta in 1993, the day after Yom Kippur. I have been married for five years to Lori Finn, an Atlanta native who grew up at AA and whom I met at AA! She has two children, Maxwell (15) and Isabelle (12). I have two chil-

ROSH HASHANAH

Rabbi Joshua Heller

dren, Joshua (16) and Jared (z”l). I graduated Emory University School of Law in 1998 and have been in active practice since 2000. I have also been tutoring b’nai mitzvah in Atlanta since I moved here, and with AA since 1995. I have been the baal korei [master of Torah reading] at AA since 1998 and have been one of the shlichei tzibbur [Jewish prayer leaders] there since 2010.

Rabbi Joshua Heller

Congregation B’nai Torah 35 Years Your start: I’ve been blowing shofar since I was a bar mitzvah, even when I was sure I didn’t want to be a rabbi. My grandfather was a cantor and an amazing shofar blower, and my father, a rabbi, also was a great blower, and they both

taught me. I started blowing shofar in my home shul as a teen, and I’ve been leading high holiday services since I was 18. (Though only 16 years at B’nai Torah) Special skills: I’ve spent time learning the rules, but my congregants tell me that it helps most that I am full of hot air.

Motivation: I want people to fulfill the mitzvah and be inspired. I also find it to be very meaningful in my own spirituality. When I am sounding the shofar, I offer up prayers for well-being for the entire community and try to offer forgiveness to others. For many years at B’nai Torah it was the practice that only the rabbi blew shofar because they wanted to be sure it was being done “the right way.”

About 10 years ago, I had surgery right before Rosh Hashanah. The surgeon begged me not to blow, so we got a number of our congregants to help out.

Since then, I have shared the task with a whole team of people who take turns, but I’m the longest standing.

Preparation: I blow shofar every morning of Elul, so that’s a good daily warm up. I have had some lung problems over the years, but somehow they have never affected my ability to blow.

This year: Yes, I am blowing. In fact, I will be blowing even more than usual,

since we are having live outdoor shofar blowing in the parking lot. I was involved in some of the early research about shofar blowing and COVID. I really hope that we can arrange that no one has to miss out on hearing shofar.

Personal: Rabbi Heller has been the spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Torah in Sandy Springs since July 2004.

He was the president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, was founding president of the Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah, and served on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Jewish Family & Career Services. Within the Rabbinical Assembly, he served on the executive committee and as vice president of its Southeast region. Heller is a member of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the RA and was chair of its rights and rituals subcommittee. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in computer science but gave up a career in the dotcom boom to become a ninth-generation rabbi, the third generation ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 67

ROSH HASHANAH

Doug Katz

Doug Katz

Congregation Dor Tamid 22 Years Your Start: I have been blowing shofar for Congregation Dor Tamid since it was founded. Before that I was the baal tekiah for Temple Shir Shalom, a predecessor to CDT, since 1998. So this will be my 23rd Rosh Hashanah. I learned the style of blowing from our baal tekiah at Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor, Mich., where I grew up. I read up on the kavanah for blowing shofar in “The Jewish Catalog” I received as a gift from that congregation for my bar mitzvah.

Special skills: I was a tuba player in high school. But more than that, any tubular object around my house growing up became a musical instrument. I can get a tone from a plastic coffee stirrer.

When our previous baal tekiah at TSS left for college, I decided that I could do

better. I walked into Chosen Treasures on Lavista Road and picked up a short Ashkenazi style shofar and blew into it.

I got a great tone from it. The clerk asked me how long I had been blowing shofar.

I looked at my watch and said about 30 seconds. I now have a longer Sephardi style shofar. They have a much nicer brassy tone.

Motivation: I want every note to be perfect. Of course, that produces a lot of anxiety. However, if I just relax it comes out fine. I spent some time thinking about kavanah I should have in my mind while blowing. I want to represent the congregation well and help their prayers move higher. On Yom Kippur, I try to picture the gates closing as I blow as long as I can. Since I haven’t eaten, I usually see spots after I’m done. I need to be very careful walking down the steps from the bimah so I don’t trip.

Preparation: I have been very physically fit as I was a runner for many years.

It helps with my ability to move a lot of air and keeps my diaphragm strong so I can support the column of air a long time. I start practicing in early July when our temple choir starts practicing. I’m also in the congregational High Holy Day Choir.

This year: Since we won’t be together for the High Holy Days this year, our service will be streamed. Rabbi [Jordan] Ottenstein and Cantorial Soloist Mike Zuspan have a creative idea. All of the people who have been in the Shofar Choir, which is a tradition we started about three years ago, will have a note that they are to record in their homes.

These videos will be edited together into a shofar service so everyone will have the chance to continue their personal tradition of blowing shofar for our congregation. Very creative, but still we will miss being together.

Personal: I have been living in the

SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Have something to celebrate?

Share your simchas with the

Births, B’nai Mitzvah, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Special Birthdays and more ...

Share your news with the community with free AJT simcha announcements.

Send info to submissions@atljewishtimes.com submissions@atljewishtimes.com..

68 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Allan Levine

Atlanta area since 1985 with my wife Mary Frances Katz and our two sons Adam and Joel. We have been members of Congregation Dor Tamid since its inception in 2004 and were members of one the two predecessor congregations, Temple Shir Shalom since 1991. I am a professional services manager and Mary Frances is a professional musician who teaches voice and piano both privately in our home and at a local music school.

Allan Levine

Congregation Etz Chaim 40 years Your Start: I started blowing the shofar for my synagogue in a little town in Pennsylvania at age eight, which makes it about 70 years that I have been blowing shofar!

Special skills: I started playing trumpet after the shofar, but it did help to some extent. I don’t even know where my trumpet is now, but I still have the original shofar that I learned on in Pennsylvania many years ago.

Motivation: I cannot tell you what my motivation was at the beginning.

Maybe curiosity or a challenge. Regarding what remains as a motivation, I must tell you a story.

Maybe 10 years ago, when coming back to my seat after blowing an unusually strong tekiah gedolah [long, final blast] a member of Etz Chaim came up to me with tears in his eyes asking me if I was aware of how many generations of children I have affected by my doing the shofar during the high holidays. THAT

continues to be my motivation: to stand on the bimah and look down and see all of the children “feeling” the shofar!

Preparation: I generally start practicing several months prior to the high holidays-usually at night.

I was surprised several years ago to find out that one of my neighbors would go out of their way to walk in the evening around the time that I practice “to get a head start on the holidays.”

This year: Because of the pandemic, in combination with my age and “at risk status,” I will not be publicly blowing shofar this year. Etz Chaim, however, has had the advantage of having two baal tekiah: Stan Fineman and I have shared the honor every year for as long as I can remember! On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, one of us does the main body of blasts and the other one does the last 40 blasts and we switch places the second day.

We have been doing this, alternating first and second day roles, for about 40 years!

Personal: I was born and grew up in Oil City, Pa. There were only 65 Jewish families, yet we had an Orthodox synagogue that became Conservative when I was about 16 years old. That was where I learned to blow shofar.

I went to college at Washington & Jefferson College and medical school at Chicago Medical School. … I met my wife Vivian in Chicago, have been married 47 years, have four children and six grandchildren.

I came to Georgia in 1976 to practice orthopedics in the Cobb County-Douglasville area until I retired in 2002.

ROSH HASHANAH

Joel Margolies

Joel Margolies

Temple Beth Tikvah 30 years Your start: I was asked by a Rabbi [Don] Peterman, the rabbi at that time

of Beth Shalom, if I’d like to play the shofar. He gave me a small ram’s horn and told me which notes to play, and I’ve been playing ever since. I have been playing the shofar for well over 30 years, first with Temple Beth Shalom, now with

L’Shana Tova

mona@shumanfamilylaw.com

eileen@shumanfamilylaw.com

Temple Beth Tikvah.

Special skills: I guess it’s somewhat easier to play the shofar if you already play a brass instrument and I play the French horn.

Motivation: I’m motivated by the fact that it’s a great honor and huge mitzvah to be given the opportunity to play the shofar and I never forget how it reaches the soul of so many.

Preparation: I usually start weeks before Rosh Hashanah to practice the blasts a few times a day to build up endurance and get the sequence in my head so I am more than ready for the holiday.

The long note is always a challenge as the congregation looks forward to it. I’ve been told that many say their individual prayers during this time, and I am mindful of this. For me, if my setting is correct, lips on shofar and the note is steady, I feel confident the tekiah gedolah will be just that. While holding the sound, I try to go through all the names of my family, kids, their spouses and in-laws and grandkids while I play this long note. It keeps me focused.

This year: Yes, I do plan on playing the shofar this year. The pandemic will be a challenge for all of us, especially with very few people within the temple

and much of the services virtual. Hearing the shofar blast, this year more than most, may be reaching deep into the heart and soul of many. Congregants either know of someone who contracted COVID-19 or succumbed to the disease and look for someone or something to center their fear and bring peace. Besides social distancing and the challenges of this pandemic, 2020 has been a hard year. Hopefully, with the blast of the shofar, 5781 will be year of milk and honey and lots of chicken soup, which always makes things better.

Personal: I belong to Temple Beth Tikvah. I have been a chiropractor in Tucker for the past 42 years. Prior to attending chiropractic college, I was a professional musician within the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and continue to play French horn within the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra.

Josh Needle

Gesher L’Torah 13 Years Your start: I have been blowing shofar as long as I can remember; we always had shofars around the house growing up. We even have one that has been in the family

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

Mona S. Shuman and Eileen J. Shuman, of Shuman & Shuman, P.C., are family law attorneys. We work exclusively with clients who require legal representation in family related cases. Together we handle divorce, custody, child support, modifications, pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements and post-divorce issues. We provide legal guidance and understanding to clients during times of transition. We represent clients in all of the courts in Metropolitan Atlanta and the surrounding counties. We are supportive of using mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution to conclude a case. We are conveniently located off I - 285 and Chamblee Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody.

SHUMAN & SHUMAN, P.C. A Family Law Firm

1851 Peeler Road Suite A Atlanta, GA. 30338 770.790.3700 | www.shumanfamilylaw.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 69

ROSH HASHANAH

Josh Needle blows shofar at Sunrise Senior Living with his daughter Bess.

for over 50 years that was from my great-uncle’s synagogue in Dixon City, Pa. The shofar was formed and flattened to resemble the biblical form. When the synagogue closed it came to our family. It is the hardest one to blow as it is a flat shofar with a tiny opening

70 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

and it is a really high note. If you can make that one make a sound then you can make any shofar make a sound. In 2005, I was on a trip to Israel with my wife and friends and we bought a bigger shofar in Tzfat.

I have been blowing shofar at Gesher

L’Torah since 2005 following the purchase of the shofar. It used to be that anyone who had a shofar would get to participate. In 2006 or 2007 the shul moved to just one.

Myself and another shofar blower from the congregation, David Hummel, shared responsibility and eventually I ended up being the primary.

Special skills: I was an avid cyclist and collegiate rower so I think the lung capacity may have come from that but I’m not really sure. I try to stay as active as possible and I do think the exercise plays a big part of it. One year I was recovering from pneumonia and was still able to blow shofar.

Motivation: My motivation to blow shofar in the beginning was to see if I could blow the longest and loudest tekiah gedolah. … It is a blessing to be able to make the sound come out of the shofar so I am thankful for the physical ability to do it. But it is the look on people’s faces, … the way the Hebrew school kids silently cheer me on to have the longest tekiah gedolah, the way people just don’t move when the shofar is sounded, the way they are silent after the last blast, the way the sound hangs in the air, that brief moment when there is no sound but the sound of no sound. I can’t explain it but there is a moment that happens, and it feels like time stands still. I do

it for those moments that mean something special to each person individually.

At Gesher L’Torah our building was too small and we had a caravan of pickup trucks taking the ark and reading table from the shul to The Standard Club ballroom. We packed in people to the ballroom and we usually sat in the back. As I was walking back to my seat, Reuben [Berger of blessed memory] got up from his seat with the help of a walker, stood up proud.

I could see tears in his eyes. He shook my hand and gave me a hug and thanked me.

Each year I would see him, and I realized how much this moment meant to him.

Preparation: When I prepare to actually blow the shofar, I close my eyes and think about my grandfather who died in 2013.

He was born in Russia in 1918 and escaped to Israel (then Palestine) in 1920, eventually going to New York and then settling in Seattle, where I was born. … As I take that first deep breath, I feel him put his arm around me and say, “Ok Josh, let’s show ‘em what you got!” If you want to see his picture, he is now on the wall at Bagelicious in East Cobb!

Aside from exercising I do have a fun program I do with my seventh grade Hebrew school students. We have a competition called Shofar Star where I teach the kids about the shofar, teach them how to

ROSH HASHANAH make the different notes, and then we have a competition for the best sound and the longest blast. It is not only great fun but I figure if one of these kids ends up at college and someone asks if they can blow shofar, they will know how to do it with style!

I also practice with YouTube and Cantor Benjamin Warschawski of Skokie, Ill. That guy is every shofar blower’s hero!

This year: I am blowing the shofar this year but it will be outside. This pandemic has made an impact on everyone and I hope that hearing the sound of the shofar being delivered over the internet or in person brings a special moment to those who need it most.

Personal: I grew up in Seattle and moved to East Cobb, where I attended Congregation Etz Chaim. After going to UGA and moving back to town, we settled in Alpharetta and joined Gesher L’Torah, where we have raised three children and have been members for almost 20 years.

Rabbi David Silverman

Congregation Beth Jacob 56 Years Your start: Since I was 8 years old (56

Rabbi David Silverman

years – I am 64). My father brought home a Bartons candy toy shofar filled with sweets.

The shofar was plastic and had one of those party favor sound makers that you blow through in order to imitate a shofar sound.

A few hours later my dad noticed that the tip was broken and he was a little upset, but I told him I could still make the sound.

I blew into the shofar and my dad’s face lit up. He was very musical and understood I could really play it like an instrument. He took me to Reb Maury Osborne [of blessed memory] who was the gabbai at Sinai Temple of Los Angeles and with a few words of

encouragement I took a shot and literally blew him away.

Special skills: My dad took me to a music store where I tried a trumpet. I started in the elementary school orchestra and shifted to the French horn. I also went through a box of shofars at Solomon’s Book Store in LA and chose one that I practiced on for a long time. The practice strengthened my embouchure [use of lips for wind instruments] and that first year I was given the opportunity to blow shofar at the young people’s service in Temple Beth Am, where I grew up. I have been blowing shofar almost every single year since, sometimes in shul and sometimes as an auxiliary for people who missed it in services.

Motivation: I thought it was a special honor to be able to blow shofar, especially if I could do it pretty well. Over the years I became more aware of, and motivated by, the sense of responsibility connected with the mitzvah of blowing.

Preparation: Practice, practice, practice. During the month of Elul, I try to blow for several minutes each day; different notes and sometimes different styles of doing some of the sounds. I also make an effort to learn and review the laws of blowing the shofar and the meanings behind the blowing. It makes me aware of the

awesome sense of responsibility of helping our tzibur (congregation) sweeten the judgment on Rosh Hashanah.

This year: Last year, at this time, seemed like a “regular” year. I took my responsibility of representing our community seriously and did my best to blow inspiring and appropriate shofar blasts, but I had no idea that this is what the year was going to be like; a pandemic that affected the whole world! So I am doubling my efforts, as I hope everyone is, that Jews all over the world will pray and hear the shofar (on Sunday this year) which will sweeten the judgment for this coming year. There is a discussion about requiring a mask on the shofar, because of COVID considerations and I am trying to respect that decision, but I think it will affect the sound a little bit.

Personal: I am a member of Congregation Beth Jacob, where I have been fortunate to blow shofar for many years. I am the dean of the Atlanta Scholars Kollel, married to Julie and we have children and grandchildren, some of whom practice blowing the shofar as well. I grew up in Los Angeles in the Conservative movement but migrated to a more Orthodox life before the end of high school. My wife and I have lived in Atlanta for 33 years and our children live in the states and Israel. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 71

ROSH HASHANAH

Nine Shuls Join for Outdoor Shofar Blowing

By Chana Shapiro

Adam Starr. When the subject of homebound congregants arose, it was clear that all synagogues must find a way to Hearing the shofar is a central mitzenable individuals in this group to hear vah of Rosh Hashanah. In the book of the shofar.

Numbers, the Torah mandates Rosh HaFrenkel found a way to bring togethshanah, the beginning of the Jewish New er all the area congregations to deal with Year, as a specific occasion to sound the the increased numbers who will stay shofar: “It will be for you a day of soundhome because of COVID-19. He reached ing the shofar.” From this verse, we learn out, and was thrilled by the unanimous of the obligation to blow the shofar durpositive responses of all nine synagogues ing the day, not at night, and sages deterwho have homebound members living mined that the shofar blasts during the in the Toco Hills area. The result was the service coincide with the special blessformation of The Toco Hills Shofar Colings that are included in the Rosh Hashalaborative. nah prayers.

The group includes Chabad of Toco Because Orthodox shuls do not emHills, Congregation Beth Jacob, Congreploy virtual programming on Shabbat or gation Bet Haverim, Congregation Ner Jewish holy days, it was necessary to find Hamizrach, Congregation Netzach YisEly Landman is one of the two ways to offer live shofar-blowing to the rael, Congregation Ohr HaTorah, Congredozen volunteer shofar blowers increased number of members who will gation Shaarei Shamayim, Congregation not attend Rosh Hashanah services this year. Those who are Shearith Israel, and the New Toco Shul. elderly or have health concerns have been absent from conA representative of each synagogue was selected to gregational gatherings for six months; however, hearing the identify people who would like to hear the shofar in smallshofar is a key element of the High Holy Days services, and group gatherings or individuals who require a home visit. rabbis have been considering ways for this demographic to Multiple small-group shofar blowing will take place around fulfill the mitzvah of hearing the shofar live. the community and many of the volunteer shofar blowA month ago, Yisrael Frenkel, who is one of the High ers will also visit individuals who are unable to leave their Holy Days shofar blowers at Congregation Ohr HaTorah, homes to attend one of the limited gatherings. discussed this year’s Rosh Hashanah plans with Rabbi In extreme cases, it will be arranged for a high-risk or

72 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Yisrael Frenkel invited all area synagogues to identify homebound members.

severely disabled person to listen to the shofar through a window. Presently, there are more than two dozen qualified shofar blowers who will share the responsibilities.

Registration is necessary to minimize crowd size for safety. The synagogues sent questionnaires to their congregants, asking who would like a home visit or small group gathering at a specific site. The information collected from each synagogue will be entered into a database, then coordinated and managed by Frenkel and the Collaborative coordinators. Once the Collaborative finalizes the number of people requesting to meet at a certain site, respondents will be assigned a specific time slot at their requested location.

All scheduled outdoor shofar blowing will take place in the afternoon to allow the shofar-blowers to attend full services at their own synagogues and be able to lunch with their families.

Multiple shofarblowing times will take place at the following central locations: Beth Jacob parking lot, Ohr HaTorah parking lot, Calibre Woods apartments, Mikkel Hertzberg, a recent bar Post Briarcliff apartmitzvah at the time, walked more ments, and the Torah than five miles last year, blowing Day School of Atlanta the shofar at various locations. parking lot. There will also be a single session at each of the following locations: Stephens-Burton drives intersection, Lachona Drive cul-desac, Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael, and the Madison Druid Hills apartments.

Residents at the Holbrook retirement community on Clairmont Road have also requested a visit.

Those in attendance will be required to wear masks and observe social distancing. Understandably, there is legitimate concern that shofars, which are blown very forcefully close to listeners, are conduits for coronavirus spread.

Therefore, a mask will be securely attached to the end of the shofars to prevent aerosol spray. In addition, to address the virus contamination concern, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Jewish HomeLife communities are providing testing for all volunteer shofar blowers prior to the holiday. “Our goal is to help and protect everyone who needs us,” Frenkel noted. “It’s gratifying and significant that all the area synagogues eagerly got involved.” ì

ROSH HASHANAH

Shofar’s Ancient Sound Gains New Meaning

By Bob Bahr

into the other commandment of the day, the sacrificial ritual of animal slaughter in the Jordan Forman had been chanting the sacred courts of the Temple in Jerusalem.

All that would evolve over the centuries weekly Torah portion at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in the Peachtree Battle area for and eventually be set down in the Talmud, about a dozen years when he was suddenly which described the three notes of shofar asked to become the Conservative congre- sounding.

The first, tekiah, is a single long and gation’s shofar soloist for the high holidays.

Although he had long admired the ability lively note, as if one were greeting a royal to coax musical notes out of an unadorned ruler. The second, shevarim, a series of three short blasts that has been animal horn, he never exsaid to remind listeners pected to do it himself. of sobbing or sighing, and “The hardest part teruah, a long trembling was just learning to make sound of nine sharp notes a sound out of it. The exthat is likened to the sound ecutive director of the of an alarm. synagogue, Barry Herman, According to the helped me with that. Even "Mishkan Hanefesh," the though I knew how to play high holidays prayer book the clarinet, where you just of the Reform movement, blow down the middle, so the experience of hearing to speak, what I learned Jordan Forman has been the shofar is to have the is that it’s much easier to the shofar soloist at AA impact of “immediacy, do it out of the side of the synagogue for 10 years. sound passing directly mouth.”

For the last 10 years, Forman, who is the from the instrument to the ear. To hear the ritual director of the synagogue, has been message of the shofar, we need to be fully front and center for what is, arguably, one present and focused. The shofar cannot penetrate an indifferent ear or a closed of the highlights of high holiday services.

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former chief mind or heart.”

In writing about the emotional rerabbi of Great Britain, describes the experience of hearing the ancient sounds of the sponse that the shofar brings outs in each shofar as something that can’t be put into of us, the religious scholar Joel Gereboff says that the shofar first words. In his edition of the and foremost seeks to penhigh holiday prayer book etrate what he calls “the he describes the sound that Jew within.” By altering is both simple and com“our sense of our place in plex. the world and to provide “The shofar is the us with the sense of hope wordless cry of the heart and responsibility for the of a religion of words. coming year,” according to Judaism is a profoundly Gereboff. verbal culture. Yet there is “These notes, the a time for emotions that tekiah, shevarim and teruah lie too deep for words. The combined with the composound of the shofar breaks “The shofar is the wordless cry of the heart of a religion sitions of diverse liturgists though the carapace of the of words,” said Rabbi continue to call out and self-justifying mind and Jonathan Sacks, former chief bring together individuals touches us at the most prirabbi of Great Britain. and communities and to mal level of our being.”

Although the holiday of Rosh Hasha- move them to reflect upon the meanings nah is not mentioned by name in the Torah, and purposes of their lives.”

Performing before the attentive holithe first day of the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, according to the Torah, is to day worshippers at AA synagogue, Forman be a day for the remembrance with sound- says he senses that same feeling of urgency.

“It’s a call to wake up people. And I treat ing of the horn, what is called in Hebrew, it as such. It’s a new year. It’s time to change “yom zikhron teruah.”

There were no other instructions for things from the year before.”

That’s particularly appropriate this what later was to be called the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. There was no descrip- year, according to Forman, who is not allowtion of how the horn was to be sounded or ing the restrictions imposed by the pandemwhat notes were to be played and for what ic to prevent those who want to hear the purpose. Nor were there any instructions mystical sound of the ancient shofar ritual for how the shofar was to be incorporated in person. On the second day of Rosh Ha-

The shofar ritual is one of the oldest religious observances in Judaism.

shanah AA synagogue is making something very old into something very new, a “drive in shofar service,” according to Forman.

“Because we can’t crowd in a building, people will come by in their cars to the park-

ing lot on that Sunday afternoon for a few hours. And I think they’re gonna spread it out. Yeah, there will be several of us blowing our shofars from the front seat of our automobiles.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 73

ROSH HASHANAH

Tashlich Reimagined

by Flora Rosefsky Like the moving waters where sins are cast, this year’s Tashlich service remains fluid. There is no one way area synagogues are conducting the service in which sins are figurately transferred into breadcrumbs and carried away.

The ritual is based upon a verse from the prophet Micah 7:18-20: G-d “will take us back in love. … You will hurl all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

In spite of COVID-19, creative ways to fulfill the ritual of casting off sins have evolved, while remaining meaningful, according to many local sources. Non-traditional methods of observance cited include Photo by Rob Spaugh // A stream with moving water is a perfect setting for conducing Tashlich.

Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner gets ready blowing soap bubbles that float away outfor Tashlich by a neighborhood brook. doors or saying blessings while standing by a home bathtub faucet’s running water. the air is Lesser’s newest Tashlich idea. He rabbi noted that many communities have day Boxes with supplies to use for high Of course, small groups and individu- said, “I think many of us have thought of moved to wild birdseed or fish food to be holiday experiences in member’s homes, including Tashlich. The boxes are geared als can still conduct Tashlich more tradi- bubbles as a way to get children to think more environmentally focused.

Similar to CBH, Shuval-Weiner, said, towards families and children and can be tionally at a stream, brook or river as long about letting go and casting off.” Similar as they follow health guidelines to ensure to throwing crumbs in moving water, the ”with young children, we use bubbles, en- delivered to a home or picked up at AA. Instead of Conbubbles instead travel couraging them to say safety. When it comes gregation Etz Chaim through air currents. what they want to cast down to it, the concept of and nearby Temple Kol CBH Music Director off or let go, and when pikuach nefesh, protectEmeth combining their Gayanne Geurin wrote a the bubbles float away ing human life, overrides Tashlich services as blessing titled “Tashlich or pop, they have a fresh almost any other Jewthey’ve done in previon the Wind.” She said start.” She suggested that ish law or tradition, acous years, Rabbi Daniel the words recited when for very young children cording to Rabbi Joshua Dorsch of Etz Chaim blowing bubbles can be who may not be safe at Lesser of Congregation told the AJT that the enjoyed by all ages, in- the water’s edge, one can Bet Haverim. synagogue will hold use bath paints to write cluding adults.

“This year we four different Tashlich May the fragile brief words or draw pictures should feel like we have A new Tashlich tradition uses CBH’s Rabbi Joshua Lesser sites throughout the moment these bubbles, of what they want to repermission to refrain bubbles to symbolize the believes it’s important to East Cobb area, where lease and then wash it all born from my life breath from the rituals that are previous year’s sins floating connect with nature. the shofar will also be and lightness of being, away. not safe and allows us away through the air.

How are other metro Atlanta syna- sounded with appropriate blessings. float and pop, be a remindto quarantine, shelter in “These sites will be limited to the first gogues carrying out Tashlich this year durplace or socially distance ourselves appro- er that all things change and can change.

50 members to sign up in accordance with The senior rabbi of Temple Beth ing the pandemic? priately.” Tashlich falls into the category Congregation Beth Jacob’s outreach the CDC’s guidelines prohibiting large of rituals that Jews can carry out this year, Tikvah, Alexandria Shuval-Weiner, feels some form of a casting off ritual will be coordinator Rabbi Yitzchok Werbin said gatherings. All participants will also wear even if with variations.

Lesser points out that if a person, a desired. She believes many will be pray- that “BJ congregants can conduct Tashlich masks and be socially distanced. We look family or a pod of friends who were quar- ing the pandemic will end as a way to cast as in previous years, standing next to a forward to resuming our partnership with antining together want to locate a flowing many aspects of the year away, and all the source of water in the Toco Hills neighbor- Temple Kol Emeth in the future.”

To learn more about Tashlich obserbody of water, they can do Tashlich. One associated regrets. She told the AJT that hood.”

He pointed out that conducting vances this year, check synagogue high does not need a rabbi to conduct the ritual it’s important to remember about perand a minyan is not required. He said, “If sonal accountability and growth, to think Tashlich extends to Hoshana Rabbah, the holiday calendars of events online or refer one is worried for their health by leaving of ways to improve. “Tashlich invites us to seventh day of Sukkot, extending more to the resources below. their home and they are not halachic, ob- exit the doors and re-enter the world — to flexibility for when to carry out the ritual.

Resources: servant of Jewish law, they may choose to reconnect with nature, to see the beauty It involves standing by water and recitw w w. r i t u a l w e l l . o r g / s e a r c h engage in the ritual at home, where people and magnificence of G-d’s creation, bring- ing certain passages from the machzor can use their tub or their sink.” Even a hose ing a renewed sense of awe and wonder- (high holiday prayer book), a tradition that results?Q=Tashlich+ritual www.congregationbethaverim.org/ dates back to pre-Medieval times. Howcan work as a source of moving water. He ment.”

Taking the place of TBT’s well at- ever, during COVID, if a family joins other high-holy-day-diy-guides.html stated that “what is most important is how www.18doors.org/tashlich/ the ritual invites us to reflect on how we tended group Tashlich ceremony held by Beth Jacob members or neighbors during “Tashlich and the 13 Attributes: A new might practice teshuvah, repentence of a river’s edge, the synagogue this year is Tashlich, “they should keep all proper soour misdeeds. Therefore, he believes that sending Holy Day Bags filled with wildfowl cial distancing and wear masks,” Werbin translation with commentary, authorized Talmudic, Midrashic and rabbinic sources” “modifying the ritual could be preferable food and a Do It Yourself Tashlich service stressed.

Jackie Nix, director of Youth & Fam- by Avroham Chaim Feuer and Nossom to its members. People will have what they than not doing it at all.” https://www.artscroll.com/ Using a jar of bubble soap with a need to partake in the ritual individually or ily Engagement at Ahavath Achim Syna- Scherman, plastic wand to blow bubbles floating into in small cohorts of family and friends. The gogue, said AA distributes HomeBeis Holi- Products/TASP.html ì 74 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH

What are Jews doing for Sukkot?

By Allen H. Lipis Sukkot is one of Judaism’s major holidays. In the past, it was a time to celebrate the harvest, but in a major city like Atlanta, it is a wonderful time to invite friends and family to share in the holiday. As a ritual house, the sukkah in scale and architecture is closest to that of a traditional building. It is both a personal architecture and a communal ritual. The building is for personal use, and yet it connects the individual to the community. The sukkah walls and the inside roof are often decorated beautifully. One can actually live, eat and maybe even sleep in a sukkah.

Orthodox Jews take the construction of their own sukkah seriously. There is a construction manual to build a kosher one. The manual focuses on the size, material, construction method and the site itself. Without going into a great deal of detail about making the sukkah kosher, the three basic requirements are: there must be at least three stable sides to the sukkah (one side can be less than a complete side), the covering of the roof must be with only natural material that came from the ground (called sekhakh), with the most likely material being bamboo mats. The sekhakh must be placed in such a way to have small openings to let rain in and allow a person to see the stars through the roof at night. So the site should not be under any covering or tree branches. It should have direct access to the sky.

In my Orthodox neighborhood, there are upwards of 50 to 100 sukkot that are built, and the building begins right after Yom Kippur, since four days later begins the nine-day Sukkot holiday. Beth Jacob Synagogue usually builds a huge sukkah capable of holding 75 to 150 people, and the Kiddush after service on the holiday is held there.

I asked Rabbi Yitzchok Tendler, executive director of the synagogue, what the synagogue will do for the holiday. He said, “We will very likely build the sukkah, but there will not be a Kiddush there after services, and no programs on a large scale will be be held there. Social distancing will not be possible because of the sukkah’s size, and a large crowd will make it too dangerous for catching the coronavirus. However, anyone that wishes to say the prayer for their lulav and esrog would be able to do so, and anyone could study there by themselves.”

When I asked him about building his own sukkah, he was clear that he would construct one, but he would not invite a large group to attend, and probably keep attendance to his family and one other.

Marsha Kramer said, “We have a permanent structure attached to our house that is the framework for a sukkah, so we will not have to do much to make our own sukkah.” Roberta Scher said that she and her husband usually travel up north to their son’s family for the holiday, so they don’t build their own sukkah in Atlanta.

However, she said, “This year we are likely to be staying home, so we are not sure what we will do.”

Henry Benamram told me he has built a sukkah in the past and will build one this year that holds six people, and it will be the same size as in past years. Food will be served “family-style and we will not wear a mask because the number of people we invite will be less than in previous years.”

Yacov Freedman also said he will be building the

Marsha Kramer shows off the framing of her sukkah.

Henry Benamram said his sukkah fits six people.

Food will be served “family-style and they will not wear a mask because the number of people they invite will be less than in previous years.”

same sukkah as in past years and it holds seven people.

They use it only for their immediate family. They will not be wearing masks because they “will not be inviting guess except for, perhaps, my wife’s sister and her family, since we know they are isolating to immediate family.” When I asked about the difference this year, he said, “In a weird way it’ll be very welcome. Since we are now encouraged to eat outside anyway, at least we’ll also be getting a mitzvah while doing so. Also, by Sukkot, the weather is usually pretty nice.” Other friends say they don’t build their own sukkah, but usually visit sukkot of

others. They are not sure if those sukkot will be built or available for visitors.

In my own case, my wife and I have built a sukkah for many years. We constructed our home such that the frame of the roof of the sukkah would be permanently attached to our garage, but we would have to construct the walls and add the sekhakh. Our sukkah is large enough to accommodate up to a dozen or more people, but that would not be possible given the coronavirus situation. We probably will build the sukkah, but it won’t be the same celebration holiday as in the past. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 75

ROSH HASHANAH

5780 Through the Artist’s Lens

For our Rosh Hashanah issue, the AJT asked our community to submit their artistic vision of what they learned from 5750 that they will take into 5781.

Kayla Furie

11 years old Learning to Be Strong

Micah Weiss

11 years old The New Classroom

Avery Abt

13 years old A New Adventure

76 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH

Gabriella Schakett 14 years old Speak Up

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 77

ROSH HASHANAH

Shifra Czuper

9 years old What I Learned...

Grace Mailman

13 years old I Learned to Sew

78 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH

Sheina Kavka

25 years old Family

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 79

ROSH HASHANAH

Hadley Bienstock

6 years old Celebrating What I Still Have

Molly Diamant

11 years old Dancing Dancing Dancing

80 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH

Isla Gingold 10 years old Friends

Daniel Weinstein

5 years old Sweet Year

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 81

ROSH HASHANAH

Ryan Merlin

13 years old Learning About Myself

Jeffrey Allen

59 years old Untitled

82 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 83

ROSH HASHANAH

Taylor Bonnet

10 year old I Learned About Hope

Dr Barry Cohen has been a respected orthodontist since 1988 and is a Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. In mid-2017, Dr Matt Cohen joined the practice to make a strong father/son team. At Cohen Orthodontics, we provide interceptive treatment, comprehensive adolescent as well as adult orthodontic treatment with traditional appliances, metal and clear braces and Invisalign for all ages. Our goal is to work with you every step of the way to ensure your treatment is as relaxed, convenient and rewarding as possible.

Visit our website at www.bcohenortho.com Check out our Google reviews!

4721 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd Dunwoody, GA 30338 770-394-0002 84 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

500 Concord Rd SE Smyrna, GA 30082 770-432-5455

Yael Baranes

9 years old Untitled

ROSH HASHANAH

Bess Krasner 10 years old My Voice

Adam Coffsky 50 years old Life Inspired

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 85

ROSH HASHANAH

Ezra Heller

12 years old My School at Home

Holiday Move-in Specials

FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED “BEST VALUE SENIOR LIVING & MEMORY CARE” IN THE HEART OF SANDY SPRINGS ALL - INCLUSIVE RATES Community Is Almost Finished with New Updates, Call Now for your Discounted Renovation Special

CALL TODAY 404-843-8857

690 MOUNT VERNON HWY, SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30328 VERNONSPRINGS.COM

CURT@VERNONSPRINGS.COM 86 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Tyler Silberman

12 years old Learning How To Be Better

at My Sport

ROSH HASHANAH

L’SHANA TOVA

APPOINTMENTS ONLINE!

www.vintagebarbershopatl.com Marion Kogon 12 years old Coronavirus

Monday-Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

6649 Roswell Rd, Suite A Sandy Springs, GA 30328 678-967-4700

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 87

ROSH HASHANAH

Maya Rowe

11 years old The Things I Learned

Betsy Routman Marks 60 years old 2-Ply

88 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ROSH HASHANAH

"L'Shana Tova!"

Wishing You & Your Families a Sweet Healthy New Year!

Alex Leff

11 years old Zoom and Honey

For your real estate needs, Crystal Pheonix Award-winning Realtor Melanie B. White, CRS is here for you! melanie.white@coldwellbankeratlanta.com Office: 770.396.6696 | Direct: 404.915.9622

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 89

ROSH HASHANAH

Dylan Feinberg 10 years old Untitled

90 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Marin Eisenstein

10 years old Togetherness

Keeping Jewish Atlanta Connected

A PodcAst brought to you by the AtlAntA Jewish times A PodcAst brought to you by the AtlAntA Jewish times

check out Jewish time:

Just kibbitz: where moms do the mAtchmAking bringing you An interesting And timely conversAtion eAch month.

A conversAtion with Jeff kAPlAn, ceo of Just kibbitz discusses

why he creAted A new sPin on dAting sites

for moms to helP their children find their Perfect mAtch.

AtlAntAJewishtimes.com/toPic/Jewish-time-PodcAst

ART ‘Honey on the Page’ is a Sweet Read Once primarily spoken and read by European immigrants, their children and chasidic groups, Yiddish language and culture is now studied in mainstream universities, where young women and men discover its rich nuances and highly emotive power.

College students can learn Chana Shapiro Yiddish language and study its literature, but most Jewish children of today, who love the antics of Dr. Seuss characters, have never heard a hilarious tale of the Jews of Chelm in Poland.

Here comes Miriam Udel to the rescue with her new book, “Honey on the Page: A Treasury of Yiddish Children’s Literature,” in which she translates nearly 50 stories and poems written in the early- to mid-20th century, when Yiddish was the everyday language of children all over the world, including America.

Udel is associate professor of German studies and Jewish studies at Emory University, where she teaches Yiddish language, literature and culture. In her introduction to her young readers, she writes: The stories and poems you’ll read here were originally written in Yiddish, the language that the Jewish people spoke in eastern Europe for almost a thousand years, … that they carried with them as a precious heritage when they left Europe, … the stories and poems that I’ve trans-

“Honey on the Page” is a window into Jewish history and a snapshot of the Jewish experience between the world wars.

Miriam Udel is an associate professor of German studies and Jewish studies at Emory University.

lated into English catch a glimpse of the culture and civilization of kids who spoke Yiddish fifty, seventy-five, or a hundred years ago.

“Honey on the Page” reflects the one-time practice of Jewish teachers dropping honey on a student’s first schoolbook, to be tasted with delight and to become an embedded link between learning and sweetness. Even though the book is divided into eight distinct thematic categories, it’s fun to skip around.

I went from Zina Rabinowitz’s “Senor Ferrara’s First Yom Kippur” to two stories by Sarah L. Liebert, about an unusual girl from Brooklyn. I followed Moshe Kulbak’s allegory about the wind with Jacob Reisfeder’s folk tale, “A Boy and His Samovar.” It was hard to put the book down, underscoring that the best children’s literature speaks to adults, too.

Udel’s translations from Yiddish are so flawless that I “heard” the delightful tone and idiosyncrasies of the original. Here’s a sample from Yaakov Fichman’s “A Sabbath in the Forest:” Once upon a time there lived a Jewish tailor in a small shtetl. He was known as Lipe the Tailor. He was a simple Jew who barely knew all the prayers, and he was very poor – it shouldn’t happen to anyone. But he managed to earn a crust of bread for himself, his wife Nechama, and their children, and he never -- G-d forbid! -- had to accept charity.

Parents will read stories from “Honey on the Page” aloud until their children can read by themselves, and most stories are simple, yet clever and subtle enough for every age.

I appreciated the thoughtful foreword by Jack Zipes (well known for his expertise on children’s literature), and I found Udel’s thorough introduction to be engrossing.

Note her insight: Yiddish children’s literature, deeply preoccupied as it is with the themes of identity, narrow escapes, fortuitous twists of fate and the exercise of power, seems more relevant now than ever. Well, certainly at least as relevant!

Many charming illustrations from the original stories are included, augmented with new illustrations by Paula Cohen. Brief biographies of the authors provide a context in which the stories were written, and are, in themselves, a window into Jewish history, a snapshot of the Jewish experience between the two world wars. Owners of “Honey on the Page” will take this book off their shelf over and over for many enjoyable reasons.ì

FOREVER PLAN "Limited Time RATE LOCK"

Investing in Your Care and Lifestyle Pays Off At Inspired Living the welfare of our residents, employees and families is our top priority. During these times, we are here for you as you consider whether assisted living or memory care services is the solution for you, or a loved one. Our Inspired Living amenities include: Resort Style Living In-House Gourmet Meals 24/7 On-Sight Nursing Care Resident Engagement Activities Professional Maintenance Team Weekly Laundry and Housekeeping Sliding Scale Diabetic Care, Full Incontinence Care Assistance with Medication Management and Activities of Daily Living Forever Plan Lock-In Rates are available, in addition to current Specials offered this month.

To book a virtual tour with one of our Sales Directors, please contact us at Inspired Living!

Inspired Living at Alpharetta 11450 Morris Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30005 470-297-6866 Visit us at inspiredliving.care 92 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

“Honey on the Page : A Treasury of Yiddish Children’s Literature,” edited and translated by Miriam Udel, is to be published in October by New York University Press, but is available for pre-order, www.nyupress.org/9781479874132/honeyon-the-page/.

ART

Does ‘My Brothers’ Keeper’ Apply to Israel?

I do not profess to be a scholar of Israeli politics or military strategy. What I do know is that Israel’s safety is constantly threatened Lou Ladinsky by its neighboring Middle Eastern countries along with a countless number of anti-Semitic groups all over the globe. Whether it is groups like Hamas, Hezbollah or the BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] movement, Israel is always on guard.

While a work of fiction, Harry D. Stern’s second book, “My Brothers’ Keeper” offers a great story of a coordinated attack globally against Jews all over the world on the holy day of Rosh Hashanah.

The protagonist of the story, Joshua Canaan, a retired 48-year-old Mossad agent, is summoned back into action.

Along with his partner, Leora Bargal, they are in pursuit of Canaan’s arch rival, Abu Yusalem, who wants to inflict as

“My Brothers’ Keeper” is the second book by Harry D. Stern, former CEO of the Marcus JCC.

much damage to Jews all over the world as he can with coordinated attacks on Rosh Hashanah in Paris, Rome, Birmingham, Ala., and Israel itself. Canaan had

been relentless in his pursuit of Yusa- novel is Israel’s responsibility for prolem, however the cagey terrorist always tection of Jews in the diaspora, dispersed beyond Israel. It was interesting to hear managed to elude him.

The story takes us all over the world the opinions of the various Israeli leaders during their discuswith the political and sions on handling the military positioning imminent threat and of Israel to thwart this how each leaned on their Rosh Hashanah threat. responsibility to their We see the strategies unfellow Jews outside of fold in the impacted cittheir immediate homeies along with the strateland of Israel. The title gic alliances that need to of the book is taken from be forged to try and spoil a biblical passage in this threat.

Genesis. So what do you There is never a Harry Stern was director of lull in the action while global development at Kennesaw think, should Israel be responsible for the safereading this book. It State University, establishing academic relations with 15 ty and security of their will keep your interest from start to finish and Arab countries. Stern regularly Jewish brothers around speaks on Middle Eastern the world? Should they after reading the book, politics and Israel policy issues. be their “brothers' keepI am left hoping we can see more of the Canaan character as I er”? ì don’t think the word retirement is really “My Brothers’ Keeper,” published in his vocabulary. He reminds me of a Mitch Rapp or Jack Reacher type charac- in June. is available on Amazon, https:// ter from the excellent Vince Flynn and www.amazon.com/Harr y-D.-Stern/e/ B08B8Z2NM9?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_ Lee Child novels.

One of the main questions in this abau_000000

Atlanta’s Finest Persian Cuisine

Outside Patio  Full Bar

Outside Patio ! Full Bar

Catering For Large And Small Events

Book Your Next Holiday Party

Catering For Large And Small Events Book Your Next Special/Corporate Event!

Atlanta’s Finest Persian Cuisine

WEEKDAY LUNCH SPECIALS

SufisAtlanta.com I 1814 Peachtree St NW I Atlanta, GA 30309 I 404-­‐888-­‐9699

SufisAtlanta.com I 404-888-9699 1814 Peachtree St NW I Atlanta, GA 30309 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 93

Wheelchair Ramps

ART

AJA Grad Starts Podcast on Race

YES!

YOU CAN RENT YOUR WHEELCHAIR RAMP! • Low Cost • Rent or Buy • Free Home Evaluations • Installed in Hours/Days • Home Modification • Construction Ramps: Amramp PRO

Shana Tova!

Now Offering Stairlifts and Vertical Lifts!

Georgia’s #1 Leading Ramp Company for 10 Years!

Owners Mark and Joanne Bradley

470-808-9411 404-617-6483 www.amramp.com 94 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Eliana Goldin said that her goal is to spark dialogue in her local community.

By Paula Baroff Eliana Goldin, a recent Atlanta Jewish Academy graduate, has started her own podcast about issues of race, titled “Talking About Race at AJA.” She explained, “Back in March (and still today), there was a national conversation happening about race, and I knew I wanted to reach out to Coach Z, one of the only Black people I know, and just talk with him, ask him how he’s feeling, also get his take on everything that’s happening. I got to thinking about how the conversation we’d be having was one that the whole community should hear and the whole community should be having.”

Goldin said that although she’s not yet able to start conversations on a national scale, sparking dialogue in her local community is very important to her. “In high school, I was always looking to get people thinking about things and having opinions (and occasionally getting them riled up)” she said. Her curiosity about other people’s experiences and ideas influences the way she interacts with the world, and her love of podcasts -- she listens to two every weekday -- inspired her to start a podcast herself.

The podcasting experience has been more satisfying than challenging for Goldin, since discussing issues with people is right up her alley. “I really just enjoy talking to people and picking at their brains,” she said. She does, however, want to refine the podcast by focusing her attention more on pre-interview preparation. During her interview with teacher David Karpel, where she knew she’d disagree with some of the things that were said, “I cleared any preconceived notions and made sure that I went in

with an open mind before the interview.”

Goldin said that her job as an interviewer is to listen to the person she’s interviewing and to hear them – “fundamentally two different actions; the former physical, the second mental” – and she can’t accomplish that if she enters an interview with the assumption she’ll disagree. “I’m naturally a combative person, so I try to place that part of me to the side and use a different muscle instead,” she said.

While Goldin said she’s very excited by the positive reactions she’s received from the podcasts so far, she wishes she’d heard more pushback, encouraging those who disagree to voice those opinions to inspire more dialogue.

Goldin said that she had an extensive conversation with one AJA parent regarding her concerns with the Holocaust & Civil Rights Movement class. “I actually think that Mr. Karpel, who is a very thoughtful, caring person, would have loved to hear parents’ and community members’ concerns so that he too could engage in conversation about it,” Goldin said. “I want these podcasts to be the beginning of conversations, not the end.”

Goldin plans to continue the podcast in the future and is trying to coordinate interviews with her busy schedule. She said she’s open to suggestions for upcoming topics. For her next episode, she reached out to a local community member who’s a Native American Jew. “I think she has a really awesome perspective that I would love to hear and share,” Goldin said. ì Listen to “Talking about Race at AJA” on Spotify, www.open.spotify.com/ show/57uo3Kj4zPSp4FpRTWkPBS.

ART

ChaiFlicks Helps You Build Jewish Film Festival

The Israeli film “The Women’s Balcony,” screened at the AJFF, is a ChaiFlicks film that grossed over $1 million.

By Bob Bahr

launched the first week of the pandemic with 20 of our own titles that we already If you have been waiting and won- had. So we didn’t have to go out and get dering how and when the Atlanta Jewish anybody else’s films. And here we are, Film Festival will reappear during this now, where we’ve got 150 titles and we’re very challenging time, take heart. You growing.”

Friedman credits the explosive can create your own personal Jewish film festival and run it year-round with just a growth of Jewish film festivals around few well-placed clicks on your computer the country for creating what he calls a “voracious appetite” for films with a Jewscreen.

The prominent film distributor Men- ish theme.

“A lot of people said to us this is long emsha Films, which has over 20 years experience distributing some of the most overdue. In Atlanta you’ve seen how the popular films on the Jewish film festival Jewish Film Festival has grown and keeps circuit, has put all those classic Jewish growing. A lot of people don’t want to go to one film, they go and Israeli films on to six or eight or 10 its new streaming films at these festisite ChaiFlicks. vals each year. That’s For just under the perfect customer $6 a month you for ChaiFlicks, somecan have your pick body that really priof such favorites oritizes seeing a film from recent years as ChaiFlicks, which is streaming 150 about Jewish culture “Dough” about how films, calls itself a “niche Netflix.” or Israeli culture.” an old French JewSeveral of the larger Jewish film fesish baker strikes it rich when marijuana gets mixed in with his challah recipe, or tivals, determined to stay in touch with the charming Israeli film “The Women’s their local supporters, have done their Balcony” about how a group of Orthodox own version of ChaiFlicks. The AJFF has women stir things up in their small and a weekly rotation of free encore screenings of some of their most popular films struggling synagogue.

Both were million-dollar Jewish box from past seasons. Often they come with office hits for Menemsha, which has seen free online programs with filmmakers most of its market for new releases shriv- and actors.

The Miami Jewish Film Festival has a el as Jewish film festivals have postponed their programs and theaters have closed. selection of nearly two dozen popular seNeil Friedman, the head of Menem- lections that are available free of charge.

Those who are truly ambitious about sha, who has been working on the ChaiFlicks project for the last three years, said searching out noteworthy Jewish and Isthe advent of the COVID-19 pandemic raeli cinema can browse the website of provided the final push that helped cre- the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.

The festival, which has been Atlanta’s ate the site.

“When the pandemic hit, we said, longtime rival as the nation’s largest JewOK, we can’t wait any longer, especially ish festival experience, lists 421 films on because people are going to be at home its pay-per-view database.

But for film buffs who have even and not going to the movies. This is the perfect time to launch. We actually more time on their hands, there’s Jewish-

FilmFestivals.org, which has catalogued over 850 films with a Jewish theme and where they can be found online.

The effect of the wide availability of films online during the health crisis and the closure of many theaters has influenced the marketing of major feature films this summer. Late in July, Universal Pictures and AMC Theatres agreed to severely trim the window between the release of first run films and their screening online. What had been a 75-day window was cut to just 17 days.

The Walt Disney Studios ignored a theatrical premiere for its new live action remake of “Mulan,” a 1998 animated hit. It opened online Sept. 4 for an eyepopping charge of $30. That’s in addition to the monthly charge for the Disney+ service where the film appears.

It’s all good news for Friedman, the ChaiFlicks executive who has a goal of attracting new capital and ultimately expanding his library of Jewish classics to include an international English-speaking audience for as many as 2000 films.

“When you get in the habit of looking at Jewish films, it’s addictive. I feel like I’m doing my Ph.D. in Jewish studies.

“1945,” a stark critically praised Hungarian film about World War II and a major international hit, is a part of the new ChaiFlicks streaming service.

I’m always learning something new and so are so many other people. Our history is so broad, so lengthy and we have so many stories to tell.” ì

Shana Tova!

Paul J. Glass, M.D. Ophthalmologist Eye Physician & Surgeon Educated At Harvard, Yale, Cornell & Emory Eye Exams, Contact Lens, & Complete Optical Dispensary Treatment for All Eye Diseases including Glaucoma Laser Cataract Surgery & Intraocular Lens Most Insurance Accepted

2256 Northlake Parkway, Suite 205 Tucker, GA 30084 770- 491-0105 www.paul-j-glass-md.eyemd.org ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 95

COMMUNITY Celebrity Hairdresser Delivers Glamour During COVID

Actress Andrea Martin, from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” is a client.

mon’s special juice made of ginger, celery and dates. Discreet, but luxurious, the salon is indeed what it proclaims on the door: Hair couture.

Bensimon’s expertise earns him a Pascal Bensimon’s is a fan of yoga premium clientele. He doesn’t say anyand is crazy about his three dogs. thing about all the celebrities who pass through his place, but he points out a secret door that allows them to arrive withBy Martine Tartour out crossing the hotel lobby. “This isn’t On Mondays, the elegant hair salon New York or Los Angeles, where Jennifer Aniston’s hairdressof The Regis Atlaner is her best friend. ta hotel is usually In Atlanta, my cliclosed.

However, ents can count on on a certain Monmy discretion.” He day, the day the AJT has a sense of humor stopped by, Pascal as well. Bensimon Bensimon opened is able to entertain, for an important such as by disguisbusinessman, who ing his voice to imiflew by private jet tate French actor from Florida. He and singer Maurice won’t say more Chevalier. However, about this special The shampoo beds are for one customer he can return to the client, but we did at a time, and always with mask. notice two policemen and two body- utmost seriousness when it comes to the safety measures put in place due to guards posted in front of the salon.

Sitting 6 feet apart in comfortable the pandemic, including spacing chairs, leather armchairs, I am treated to Bensi- wearing masks and disinfecting between

96 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Bensimon with actress Melinda Hamilton, best known for her role in the Lifetime series “Devious Maids.”

Bensimon with Kathryn Love Newton from the Netflix series “The Society” and “Big Little Lies.”

clients. “Everyone implements more or passing through The St Regis, campaignless the same measures, but the way in ing politicians. But this busy man can be which each one does it can change the surprisingly generous with his time.

One client, who asked that her name perception and even the reception of not be used, has known Bensimon since these messages.”

At 59, Bensimon is unique in the At- he worked in Paris. “A month ago, he lanta hairdressing world. He is French, came as a friend to cut my husband’s hair born in Casablanca, Morocco. His biog- in our garden.”

Bensimon loves preparing clients for raphy is quite dense. At the age of 17, he had the nerve to approach Bruno their simchot. Many b’nai mitzvah have Pittini, “the most influential hair de- been passing between his hands during COVID, he said. About wedsigner of all time,” and dings, he said prefers to take became his assistant. He care of the bride’s hair withopened a salon at the age out her mother or motherof 25 in the heart of Paris. in-law. The bride typically Very quickly, he styled 40 requests that arrangement. clients a day with the help “She wants to take my adof six assistants. vice, not the whole family’s!”

In 1995, New York atSince May, with the retracted him, so he demonopening of the salon, Benstrated his craft in Jacques simon reduced his capacity Dessange Salon on Park Avto four armchairs, spaced enue. But it was in Atlanta a distance apart. Disinfecwhere he settled 25 years Bensimon admits he’s ago, along with his wife Be- gotten accustomed to the tion occurs frequently but atrice and family. First, he mask and it doesn’t bother discreetly to avoid cleaning introduced his techniques him when he’s cutting hair. in front of the client, and to at least 40 clients a day in a busy Buck- masks are required.

“We’ll probably have to work for a head salon.

In the meantime, he also designed a long time with these safety measures.” salon in Aspen, Colo., maintaining an ac- It’s going rather well. Especially after the tive schedule traveling between the two. client is initiated to the methods of the After enduring that schedule for a bit, he hairdresser.

You can call him “Doctor Color” bechose to stay in Atlanta, gaining a more stable existence. He settled in a new At- cause he can settle what blond or copper lanta location and manner of working, you really want. “Only if you understand hiring two assistants and limiting the that you must be patient, we can not get volume of clients so that he could spend it in one session. Hair has their own past, more time with each, and execute cre- their own history.”

So don’t come in with a picture of ations as varied as the individual.

When The St. Regis offered him an Israeli supermodel Bar Refaeli or Ameriopportunity to open his salon there in can actress Charlize Theron asking for 2013, he accepted, even though it was a the same look. “Before a cut, I study statbig challenge. Confidence is something ure, manner of posture, facial features.

Bensimon has never lacked. Today, his file A woman must discover what suits her. includes an incredible list of clients, old And if it has been my motto since my beAtlanta fortunes, successful CEOs, actors ginning, today it is even more true.” ì

COMMUNITY

ADVERTISEMENT - Paid for by The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation

Defining Antisemitism as a Jewish problem is a Lose-Lose Proposition

By Adam Milstein An active philanthropist and cofounder of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation

Antisemitism is an ancient problem.

Throughout Jewish history in the diaspora, Jews lacked the power and resources to do much of anything to fight Jew-hatred except condemn it. Today, however, American Jews have established themselves as one of the most successful immigrant communities in the country. Yet, in the face of intensifying antisemitism, they have done little to combat it. Instead, they have focused on merely documenting, educating about, and respectfully objecting to antisemitic acts after they occur. This inaction has normalized antisemitism and allowed the threat to rise.

Since Jews are the direct target of antisemitism, other Americans perceive Jew-hatred as a Jewish problem. So as American Jews do little to fight this bigotry, non-Jews ask themselves: why should we lead this battle?

Evidently, defining antisemitism as a Jewish problem is a lose-lose proposition.

American-Jewish community. There has been outrage against the growing hostility directed toward Jewish students on college campuses, but the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is only gaining strength. There has been outrage against growing antisemitism on social media, but there is a new scandal every day. There has been outrage against freshmen legislators for promoting antisemitic tropes, but they’ve been let off with only a light slap on the wrist.

Antisemitism is not just a problem for Jews; Antisemitism is an issue for all Americans and threatens to destroy our way of life.

Radical groups–the radical left, the radical right, radical Muslims, and the radical African Americans who champion Louis Farrakhan–are spearheading efforts to erode the core principles that make our country exceptional. Collectively, these radical groups reject the JudeoChristian values that have supported the foundation of our country and protected all minority communities in America, including Jews.

problem has been a lose-lose proposition because it has not spurred anyone to take meaningful action against it. Now is the time for all Americans to fight against this hatred and racism. Our history and increasingly dangerous reality show that the inalienable rights afforded by the Constitution cannot be taken for granted. We need to fight for our safety and security today so that tomorrow we and future generaWe need to be eagles looking tions can continue living freely and out onto the horizon, detecting proudly. We must fly into the future threats far before they grievously as brave eagles and free America from the dangers of antisemitism harm us and our country. and the extremism it represents.

There are practical actions we must take to go on the offensive against antisemitism. They include (1) inAdam Milstein is an active phivestigating and exposing the radical lanthropist and co-founder of movements that fuel the spread of the Adam and Gila Milstein this hatred by identifying their netFamily Foundation, which works, money trails, and agendas sponsored this article.

(2) increasing knowledge-sharing capabilities that inform the American Learn how you can support people about the threats and empowtheir out-of-the box efforts to er them to act (3) holding the media combat antisemitism. Contact accountable to the standards of a fair the Milstein Family Foundaand free press (4) supporting legistion at contact@milsteinff.org. lation that curbs the influence of the hate movements in our institutions.

ceiving end of this hatred. We will lose as Jews and as Americans if we continue accepting our prescribed role as the sacrificial canary in the coal mine, hoping that others may recognize the danger after it has already consumed us whole. If we are truly ready to overcome it, we must stop playing the victim and start fighting this head-on together with other Americans.

Jews are not going on the offensive to stop antisemitism, and Americans won’t fight battles for those who don’t have the courage to stand up for themselves.

Frustration but inaction encapsulates the inadequate approach of the For years, Jews have been at the re- Presenting antisemitism as a Jewish

Paid Content by The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 97

COMMUNITY

Bring in the Clowns!

Emmet Kelly left the funny, high-antic clown rubric. He created the first hobo clown, whose act is bittersweet. He became the most famous American clown, and his son, Emmett Kelly, Jr. carries on the tradition.

every spring the famous Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus appeared at Madison Square Garden, and Fintz’s mother or aunt took her and her sister to the three-ring show. Fintz was most fascinated by the clever cameo clown act. The side show, aerial feats and animals were thrilling, but when the lights went down, and hobo Weary Willy (the unrivaled Emmett Kelly) stood alone in the center ring, chasing the spotlight with his broom, Fintz was transfixed.

“Every professional clown,” Fintz explains, “has a legally-patented persona, an original face, costume and routine. Think of Charlie Chaplin. Clowns are great athletes, acrobats and gymnasts. Think of Buster Keaton. I was so impressed by This doesn’t depict a clown, but V.E. Fintz loves this collectible poster of Gunther Gebel- ‘clown culture,’ that in the early 1970s, Williams, who worked with a huge variety when I was living in the South, I went to of live animals, from lions and tigers to a regional Ringling Brothers clown audihorses. He and his family (all animal trainers) tion in Greenville, S.C. I planned to apply were circus royalty. They had their own for admission to their Clown College, residential car on the Ringling circus train. and I got an application. I met my former husband close to that time, and my

By Chana Shapiro life took a different trajectory. In an effort to rekindle that Meet V.E. dream, I applied Fintz. She lives in again 20 years later, a three-story home and I subsequently in north DeKalb framed their rejecCounty, which contion letter!” tains several differFintz, who ent collections, the holds a Bachelor most prominent of Arts in French, a being circus-relatmaster’s in educaed items. Within tion and a doctorate that category, we V.E. Fintz has clown pins from everywhere, in reading, went on focus on her remost of them gifts. She also owns valuable to teach for more markable clown and vintage pins that she doesn’t display than 40 years. She collection and claims that she began clown oil paint-bylearn from a knowledgeable enthusiast.

When Fintz was a kid in New York, numbers to avoid working on her doctor98 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

"This is a section of a long wall of clowns. I don’t group them by genre or time period; I let them guide me, until I sense that each one is in the right place,” said V.E. Fintz.

Here is V. E. Fintz at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota. Behind her is a 3-D montage of generations of famous clowns. You can spot her sister “clowning” in the background.

This Lladro porcelain was her first clown purchase.

“My classic poster collection was ate, but soon moved from two- to three-dimensional clowns. Her first purchase was ‘thrust’ upon me by friends and family. a porcelain Lladro clown, which she had One couple made it a ‘point of honor’ to to pay for in installments. A world trav- bring me a street circus or clown poster from every country eler, Fintz has collected they visited. One time clowns from Denmark, they purchased a wire Italy, Spain, Portugal, cutter and in the dead Ireland, Hungary, Indoof night ‘released’ a nesia and China, as well two-sided poster from as the United States, a streetlamp. A friend but every unique clown gave me a Murano doesn’t pass her acquiclown she’d owned since sition test. “I collect grade school because clowns that are funny, her young son kept sad, beautiful or wistful, chipping it. My nephew, but never ugly or scary,” on his family trip many she said. years ago, bought me a “I’ve never met a fapair of gigantic clown mous clown – and there shoes, instead of choosare some great ones – V. E. Fintz made this big clown ing something for himbut I enjoy watching them herself, using the shoes her nephew bought her. The self. My mechanic gave and learning about them. marionette was handcrafted me a clown, which a I love the performances of by a close friend, and the customer left him after the inimitable Bello Nock, pillow between the two was he worked on the clithe wild, orange-haired made by her sister from a ent’s clown car. Yes, it’s daredevil clown, whom I’ve classic Ringling T-shirt. gotten around that I colseen at Shriners, Big Apple lect clowns!” ì (twice) and Ringling Brothers circuses.

COMMUNITY

It’s A Pundemic

By Allen H. Lipis

1. Ran out of toilet paper and started using lettuce leaves. Today was just the tip of the iceberg; tomorrow romaines to be seen.

4. Not to brag, but I haven’t been late to anything in over five months.

2. New monthly budget: Gas, $0, entertainment, $0, clothes, $0. Groceries and beverages $2,799.

5. Nothing like relaxing on the couch after a long day of being tense on the couch.

3. Breaking News: Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended. Not so much to stop COVID-19, but to stop eating.

6. People keep asking “Is coronavirus REALLY all that serious?” Listen y’all, the casinos and churches are closed. When heaven and hell agree on the same thing, it’s probably pretty serious.

100 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

COMMUNITY

7. Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask and ask for money.

8. Coronavirus has turned us all into dogs. We wander around the house looking for food. We get told “no” if we get too close to strangers, and we get really excited about going for walks and car rides.

9. My husband purchased a world map and then gave me a dart and said, “Throw this and wherever it lands, that’s where I’m taking you when this pandemic ends.”

Turns out, we’re spending two weeks behind the fridge.

10. The dumbest thing I’ve ever bought was a 2020 planner ...

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 101

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 15-30

Virtual Classes and Events: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Brain Health Boot Camp – From 1 to 2 p.m. Join JF&CS to combat memory loss. This program provides memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education and socialization. To register, contact Georgia Gunter at ggunter@jfcsatl.org.

AJC Atlanta Virtual Celebration – From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Celebrating with AJC virtually, Melanie & Allan Nelkin are honored and the American Jewish Committee recognizes all of its generous donors. To register, www.bit.ly/304fhF6.

Selichot From the Kotel. Featuring greeting by Finance Minister Israel Katz and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, a stirring performance of “Jerusalem of Gold” by Shuli Natan, followed by an exclusive interview with Reut Ifat Uziel, daughter of Dr. Izik Ifat, famed paratrooper to be among the first to reach the Kotel during the Six Day War, and a moving experience of selichot prayers from the Kotel. To register, www. conta.cc/31soKYL

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Virtual Infertility Support Group – From 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation for a free virtual support group, open to any woman currently experiencing infertility. RSVP to receive the private Zoom link and password. To register, www.bit.ly/3eymfHJ. Israel Bonds Selichot from the Kotel – From 8 to 9 p.m. Join Israel Bonds for an extraordinary global experience:

Behind the Scenes with Sonovia – An Israeli “Start-Up Nation” Story – From 11 a.m. to noon. Come behind the scenes of an anti-COVID-19 movement with the Atlanta Israel Coalition. Discover how Sonovia has helped provide a sustainable and effective solution for defense against the contagion. To register, www.bit. ly/3gXwmHi.

out your first (or second, or third…)

W-9 form? Us too! We’re offering this new series to teach young adults the basis of finance, including information about doing your taxes, what a 401K is, investing, credit, budgeting, insurance, and more! Join NextGen for this event. Register at www.bit. ly/2DQ25wb.

and girls in Atlanta’s Jewish community. To register, www.bit.ly/3dfb1ai.

Hebrew Reading Crash Course – From 7 to 8 p.m. Join Chabad of North Fulton for this weekly class. To register, www.chabadnf.org/hebrew.

Significant Others of Addicts Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. Free weekly support group from JF&CS. This group is for spouses, partners and/ or significant others of those struggling with addiction. To register and for more information, sanderson@ jfcsatl.org.

Torah Studies, Live – From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for an in-depth analysis of the Torah portion.This program brings you the tradition of classical Jewish learning in a series of inspiring and engaging weekly classes. The lessons probe the depths of contemporary Torah thought, with a special focus on issues surrounding spirituality, the human psyche, love and relationships. Every experience offers meaningful and timely lessons from the most timeless of texts. You will walk away surprised, inspired, and knowing more about who you are—and who you can be. To join with Zoom, www.bit.ly/2VkBLjZ.

Finance Series – From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Did you need guidance when filling

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

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

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

Atlanta Community Study Recap – From noon to 12:45 p.m. Join Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta and the research team at Brandeis University’s Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies as they discuss the findings and next steps relating to their groundbreaking study of women

102 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Rosh Hashanah Cooking Class with Chef Nadia – From 6 to 7 p.m. Join NextGen and OneTable for a pre-Rosh Hashanah cooking class with local chef Nadia Deljou of Delle Dining.

To register, www.bit.ly/3h6KD4A. Think Different – From 8 to 9 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for a weekly group to study the single most transformative Jewish spiritual text written in the last three centuries with master Tanya teacher Rabbi Ari Sollish. To register, www.bit. ly/3eNGmCi. Jewish Fertility Foundation Challah Bake – From 8 to 9 p.m. Join JFF for a pre-Rosh Hashanah challah bake with Dr. Beth Ricanati, women’s health physician and author of “Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs.” To register, www.bit. ly/35hIrop.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Family Caregiver Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. This JF&CS weekly

group will provide a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings and help you to develop a network of support related to being a family caregiver. For more information, call Debbie at 770-677-9338.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 High Holidays on The BeltLine – From 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join Chabad Intown for High Holiday Services at their facility on the BeltLine. Enjoy an inspiring synthesis of delight for body and soul. The atmosphere is as physically comfortable as it is spiritually warm and inviting. Due to coronavirus, safety guidelines will be in place. To register, www.bit. ly/3gXrvWA.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

on compassionate care for ourselves and our community. For more information, www.bit.ly/2xhUsv5.

Rosh Hashanah Friday, September 18, 2020, light holiday candles at 7:21 p.m.

Saturday, September 19, 2020, light holiday candles after 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, Spetember 20, 2020, holiday ends at 8:13 p.m.

Ha'Azinu Friday, September 25, 2020, light candles at 7:11 p.m.

Saturday, September 26, 2020, Shabbat ends at 8:05 p.m.

tion. For more information contact NCJW at 404-843-9600.

“Seeing Whiteness for Anti-Racist Action” Study Series – From 7 to 8:30 p.m. NCJW members and friends are invited to an introduction to the series “Seeing Whiteness for AntiRacist Action.” To register, www.bit. ly/2Z7Nm7q.

tivities Online – Jewish art projects, videos, games, activities and more.

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

Virtual Hillel Connections – If you’re looking for community, connection and meaningful learning opportunities or if you’re just bored and need a distraction during Coronavirus cancellations, then you’ve come to the right place. Hillel has virtual meetups and online gatherings that bring you together with Jewish and Jewish students from around the world in real time! For more information: www.bit.ly/3af7wjA. Please send virtual classes and events to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

Community Services: MJCCA Fitness – MJCCA is open. Continue to work out virtually or in person! See the group exercise classes at www.atlantajcc.org/reopen.

Etz Chaim Livestreaming High Holiday Service – Join Etz Chaim for high holiday services from the comfort of your own home! Learn all the details at www.etzchaim.net/highholidays.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Elul Lunch-and-Learn: Maimonides on Repentance – From noon to 1 p.m. Join Your Jewish Bridge, Congregation Bet Haverim and Rabbi Pamela Gottfried to find out how and how often to ask forgiveness from people we’ve hurt. Learn two more laws from the legal code Mishneh Torah (Laws of Repentance, Chapter 2) and discuss how they apply to one’s own life. To register, www.bit. ly/2QXOvKt. Monday Night Parsha – From 7 to 8 p.m. Join Chabad of North Fulton for this virtual class by Rabbi Gedalya Hertz on the weekly parsha.To join, www.bit.ly/2zpsgIl.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 NCJW Atlanta Section’s National Voter Registration Panel Discussion – From noon to 1 p.m. Panel discussion on Zoom. Panel still in forma-

MJCCA Book Festival – In Your Living Room Live, click to view MJCCA’s upcoming Book Festival virtual events, www.bit.ly/3bk1mi7.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Frankly Speaking with Sherry Frank – From noon to 1:15 p.m. NCJW Atlanta is excited to continue our women’s discussion group for our members and friends. Moderated by noted Atlanta advocate Sherry Frank, this monthly lunchtime meeting focuses on current events through a Jewish lens. Due to the pandemic, the meetings are held on Zoom. To register, contact christineh@ncjwatlanta. org.

BBYO – Tune in to BBYO on Demand, a virtual experience for teens worldwide. Enjoy amazing programming and global events. Some of the sessions will even be led by our very own Greater Atlanta Region BBYO members. For more information, www.bit.ly/2QFlCD2.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

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

ACT Orientation – From 7 to 9 p.m.

Join JWFA for the first official meeting of the newest class of the acclaimed Agents of Change Training Program. For more information, www.jwfatlanta.org.

PJ Library – PJ Library is bringing fun, crafts, stories, Q&As, scavenger hunts, food demos and so much more.To join in and for more information, www.bit.ly/2WzFFqh.

Ongoing: Chabad.org Presents Jewish Kids Ac-

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

Repair the World – Repair the World welcomes you to sign up for its programming. Join them from the comfort of your home for a discussion

Atlanta Community Food Bank Text for Help SMS Function –The ACFB’s mission to provide nutritious food to the people who need it has reached a major milestone toward access to food for all. The Text for Help is ‘findfood’ (no space). An automated response will be activated. When a person texts to 888-976-2232 (ACFB), they’ll be prompted for their zip code or address to enable location services for food pantries closest to them.

Responses will include a list of three ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 103

different nearby pantries and their contact information. For more information, www.acfb.org.

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

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

Israel American Council – IAC @ Home brings you the most innovative content online while helping build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens, young professionals and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli and Jewish heritage, online activism and to one another.

IAC @Home lets you enjoy a coastto-coast community right from your own home. For more information, www.israeliamerican.org/home.

plans and support for you and your family. Call AgeWell at 1-866-AGEWELL (1-866-243-9355) to find out how they can help. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

Jewish Federation of Great Atlanta COVID-19 Resources – The unsettling, fast-moving and unpredictable world of life with COVID-19 is upon us. As we’re all discovering, a worldwide pandemic disrupts everyone on an unprecedented scale. For updates and more information, www. bit.ly/3ahrNVM.

JF&CS – Emergency Financial Assistance – JF&CS is here to provide emergency aid for individuals and families. Please call 770-677-9389 to get assistance. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

JF&CS – Telehealth Older Adult Services – Aviv older adult staff are there to help provide resources, care 104 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Temple Sinai Livestream Services – Temple Sinai has live Shabbat services on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. For more information and to view services, www. bit.ly/2BXRfTF.

Congregation Etz Chaim – Erev Shabbat Musical, Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

Shabbat morning services at 9:30 a.m. Join in for weekly livestream Shabbat services and discover for yourself why Rabbi Dorsch calls Etz Chaim “The Shul with the Neshama (soul) of the South.” To join in, www. bit.ly/3gWL02s.

The Temple Livestreaming Services – Find live streaming services here, www.the-temple.org.

Please send synagogue and temple streaming services to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

Congregation Or Hadash – Shabbat Services Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday morning services at 9:15 a.m. Minyan Sunday and Tuesday mornings. To participate and get Zoom link, www.or-hadash.org.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Marcus JCC Updates – Please visit www.atlantajcc.org/reopen to learn about all the details and procedures – including hours of operation – for engaging with the JCC during our reopening. For more information, www.bit.ly/2QEAuRX. Please send community service opportunities to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

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

For more information about our therapy services or to make a telehealth appointment, email us at therapy@jfcsatl.org or call 770-6779474.

Congregation Beth Shalom’s Virtual Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 6:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Zoom minyan Sunday at 9:30 a.m. For more information, www.bit.ly/3gY0mUK.

Creating Connected Communities: www.bit.ly/3bekKNI Ways to Help Through CCC: www.bit. ly/2vAXqdN Provide a Meal to Homeless Women: www.rebeccastent.org.

Congregation Shearith Israel – Daily and Shabbat services will continue at regular times through Zoom.

They are counting participants in these Zoom services as part of a minyan, allowing members to recite full prayer services including Mourner’s Kaddish. To participate via phone, dial 929-205-6099 and then enter the meeting code 404 873 1743. To be a part of services, visit the Zoom link, www.bit.ly/2wnFWlD. Temple Emanu-El Livestreaming Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10 a.m. Join in on Facebook, www. facebook.com/TEAtlanta/.

Synagogue Livestreaming Services:

Temple Beth Tikvah Livestreaming Services – Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m. To join on Facebook, www.facebook.com/TempleBethTikvah/ or www.bit.ly/2ZlCvrr.

Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Shabbat evening services at 6:30 p.m. Shabbat morning services at 9:30 a.m. To watch and for more information, www.bit.ly/38dS4Ed.

Temple Kol Emeth Services – Shabbat services on Fridays at 8 p.m. View our services on www.kolemeth.net or www.facebook.com/Temple Kol Emeth-Marietta, GA.

Package and Deliver Meals Through Open Hand Atlanta: www.openhandatlanta.org/volunteer JF&CS Kosher Food Pantry: www.jfcsatl.org.

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

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

Connector Chatter Directory Spotlight www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Chattahoochee Nature Center

Congregation Beth Jacob

In conversation with Rabbi Yitzchok Tendler How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

Congregation Beth Jacob was founded 77 years ago and has been servicing the Orthodox Jewish community since then.

In conversation with DeAnn Fordham How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

The Chattahoochee Nature Center opened its 127 acres in 1976.

How do you cater to younger members of the community?

CNC’s education department works closely with schools and teachers in both onsite and in-school programs. Programs are created for each grade level and are aligned with current Georgia Standards of Excellence. CNC’s scouting program works with scout leaders and parents to help children earn merit badges. Camp Kingfisher is one of metro Atlanta’s longest-running summer camps, with additional sessions scheduled for school breaks in fall, winter and spring. Kids from 4 to 14 enjoy activities from canoeing to craftmaking, and high school kids get leadership training by being counselors.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

The CNC will continue to be Atlanta’s local outdoor playground and connect the community with the wonders of nature!

In conversation with Evan Charles

How do you cater to young members?

While it is one of the oldest synagogues in Atlanta and has many “old-timer” congregants, the more than 500 member families include a sizable cohort of young families who are planting the seeds for the next generation of committed Atlanta Jewish leadership.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

In authentic Jewish fashion, our answer to that question is the same as it has been for the past 2,000 years: in 10 years we hope to see ourselves in Jerusalem. In the event that doesn’t happen, we see ourselves doing what we always have done and always will do: standing strong for traditional Jewish observance and practice while adapting to the the opportunities and challenges each new decade brings. Our membership continues to grow with families from elsewhere in the United States attracted to what we stand for, and we look forward to growing together as a community and building a communal infrastructure that sanctifies the name of God.

Israel Bonds

How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

Israel Bonds has been in Atlanta since 1954.

How do you cater to younger members of the community?

Many are first exposed to Israel Bonds during their bar/bat mitzvah, when they get married or have children. Israel Bonds are a generational touchstone that carries a tradition of creating a meaningful connection to the State of Israel and learning the true value of investment with monetary value and moral value. We have a history partnering with synagogues, other Jewish organizations, and recognizing community leaders by holding large events. As a result of the current situation, working remotely and not having any large gatherings, we are learning how to more effectively engage with our investors and potential investors through the use of social media and holding virtual events. These trends will continue even after we get back to a sense of normalcy and also help us connect to a younger generation.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

We have achieved $1 billion in investment for Israel in the U.S. for seven consecutive years. As Israel confronts the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the Bonds legacy of partnership was recently reiterated through its commitment to Israel’s Finance Ministry to help strengthen the economy in this challenging time. We will continue to meet the goals Israel sets for us each year and engage more and more of diaspora Jewry and supporters of Israel in the importance and relevancy of including Israel Bonds in their investment portfolio and making them a regular part of their simcha gift-giving.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 105

SIMCHA SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Birth Announcements Caleb Yehoshua Shleifer

Gavi (Shleifer) and Harold Hershman of Woodmere, N.Y., announce the birth of their son Caleb Yehoshua on June 2. Grandparents are Dr. Nison and Helene Shleifer of Atlanta, and Bonnie and Ezra Hershman of West Hempstead, N.Y.

Tyler Shay Simon

Alyse and Daniel Simon of Atlanta proudly announce the birth of their son Tyler Shay Simon on June 12, 2020.

Happy grandparents are Karin Vickers and Steven LeMieux and Rachelle and Barry Simon of Atlanta. Great-grandparents are Irene Morris of New York, Aileen Berzack and Mervan Berzack of South Africa, and Salome Simon of Australia.

Tyler’s middle name Shay is in honor of his great-grandfather Selwyn Simon.

106 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Shana Tova

The High Holidays may look different this year. Let’s take time to increase our mental well-being by taking care of our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits.

Visit thebluedovefoundation.org/5781 for meaningful affirmations and tools for this holiday season and throughout the year.

thebluedovefoundation.org // @BlueDoveFoundation // #QuietingTheSilence

SIMCHA

Engagement Announcements Feinstein-Fishman

B’nai Mitzvah

Beth and Evan Fishman happily announce the engagement of their son Sam Harrison Fishman to Ali Feinstein.

Ali is the daughter of Susie and Allan Feinstein of Plano, Texas. Sam is the grandson of Arnold Fishman of Boynton Beach, Fla., Carole Fishman of Atlanta, Bruce and the late Trudy Aaron of Boca Raton, Fla. Ali is the granddaughter of the late Lucia and Leon Scharf, and the late Dorothy and Hy Feinstein, both of Toronto, Canada.

Sam and Ali met at the University of Maryland, where they both graduated with bachelors’ degrees in government and politics. Sam recently graduated from the SMU Dedman School of Law. Ali is employed in her family business, Maui Foods International An October 2021 wedding is planned in Dallas.

Eden Tejeda-Taffel

Eden Tejeda-Taffel, daughter of Alison Taffel and Carlos Tejeda and granddaughter to Bruce and Sheila Taffel and the late Carmen Yolanda Garcia Gonzalez, was called to the Torah as a bat mitzvah Aug. 8, 2020, at Congregation Shearith Israel.

Her d’var Torah message from Parshat Eikev is that actions have consequences and that we should carefully contemplate our intentions before we act. Eden’s preparations for her bat mitzvah during a pandemic is testimony to her dedication and makes her achievement particularly remarkable.

Eden is a rising eighth grader at David T. Howard Middle School in Atlanta, where she has excelled academically. Her extracurricular interests include drama, film, chorus, guitar and dance. She also loves spending time with her friends, developing a keen sense of humor and keeping up with the latest technology.

Kaye-Girson

Have something to celebrate?

Births, B’nai Mitzvah, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Special Birthdays and more ...

Share it with your community with free AJT simcha announcements.

Send info to submissions@atljewishtimes.com submissions@atljewishtimes.com..

108 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Amy and Mitchell Kaye of Marietta announce the engagement of their daughter Jenna Ruth to Jason Alex Girson, son of Dr. Mark and Lindy Girson of Dallas, Texas.

Jenna is the granddaughter of Lynda Lind of St. Pete Beach, Fla., and the late Donald Lind, Ellen Mae Kaye of Roslyn Heights, N.Y., and the late Elliott Kaye.

Jason is the grandson of Beryl Lubner and the late Harold Lubner, formerly of Vereeniging, South Africa; and the late Joan and David Girson, formerly of Johannesburg, South Africa.

Jenna graduated from the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas with a bachelor of business administration in finance. She works in product development and strategy at Chobani.

Jason graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of arts in economics and history. He is an associate on the investment team at Sunny River Management.

An Atlanta wedding is planned.

From our family to yours, Wishing You A Happy and Healthy New Year and May You Be Inscribed In The Book of Life

Paid for by friends of Brian Kemp, serving all 159 rural and urban counties in Georgia

ConneCtor Chatter ast 2020 readers’ ChoiCe awards Best of Jewish atlanta

Podc

listen here: WWW.BIT.LY WWW.BIT.LY/ /30UR04D listen to 4 of our 2020 1st plaCe Best of Jewish atlanta winners. find out how they survived during the CovidCovid-19 pandemiC and what it means to them to Be a highly regarded Business in Jewish atlanta.

ConneCtor Chatter guest pannel first plaCe insuranCe Company

andy n. siegel

gastroenterologist

first plaCe loCal tourist attraCtion

first plaCe attorney and legal serviCes

dr. marC sonenshine

dr. Brian l. davis

eileen J. shuman

first plaCe

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 109

KEEPING IT KOSHER Maple Glazed AppleWalnut Cake

JEWISH JOKE

Start to finish: 1 hour 45 minutes Servings: 15 Preference: Pareve Difficulty: Easy Occasion: Rosh Hashanah Diet: Vegetarian, pescatarian This delicious cake makes a classy dessert, pleasing to the eye and the palate.

Cake: 2 ¼ cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup oil 4 eggs ¼ cup maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups peeled and grated Granny Smith apples (about 3) 1 cup golden raisins 1 cup chopped walnuts Glaze: 1 ½ cups maple syrup 2 tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted For the Cake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 10-inch tube pan (the type with a non-removable bottom). Line the bottom with parchment paper and spray with oil spray.

In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir in oil, eggs, syrup and vanilla extract. Add fruits and nuts until well combined. Spoon batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top.

Bake 1 hour or until skewer inserted comes out moist, but clean. Run knife around edge of pan and center of tube to loosen cake. Invert onto a rack and remove the parchment. Carefully turn topside up to cool completely.

For the Glaze: Toast walnuts on baking sheet for 6 to 8 minutes.

In a medium saucepan, combine syrup and cornstarch, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently until mixture thickens slightly.

Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract. Set aside 3/4 cup of glaze to cool to room temperature.

Stir walnuts into remaining glaze. Allow to cool. Spoon glaze with walnuts over the top of the cooled cake, letting glaze drizzle down the sides. When serving, spoon reserved glaze over each slice.

Source: Dining In Photography and Styling: Chavi Feldman Food Prep: Chaya Ruchie Schwartz

Reluctant to Attend Services On the morning of Rosh Hashanah, Rivka went into the bedroom to wake her son and tell him it was time to get ready to go to the synagogue, to which he replied in a dull voice, “I’m not going.”

“Why not?” Rivka demanded.

“I’ll give you two good reasons Mother,” he said. “One, they don’t like me, and two, I don’t like them.”

Rivka replied in an exasperated voice, “I’ll give you two good reasons why you must go to the synagogue. One, you’re 54 years old, and two, you’re the rabbi.”

Joke provided by David Minkoff www.awordinyoureye.com

YIDDISH SLANG OF THE MONTH e-chazerai-schmerz Anxiety over the number of accumulated unanswered emails in your inbox.

“My kishkas (intestines) are in a tumult from all those emails piling up. It makes me feel like a failure. Oy, have I got e-chazerai-schmerz!”

From the Yiddish chazerai, meaning a mess, and the Yiddish schmerz, meaning pain, often emotional or existential pain, as in weltschmerz, Yiddish/German for world weariness.

Yiddish Slang provided by Daniel Klein from his book “Schmegoogle: Yiddish Words for Modern Times.”

110 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Starts of the New Year?

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

2

3

4

5

17

18

20

21

23

8

9

10

28

29

32

50

51

40

42

53

31

37

39

44

30

26

36

35

41

13

22 25

38

12

16

24

34

11

19

27

52

7

15

14

33

6

43

45

46

47

48 55

54 60

49

56

57

58

59

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

BRAIN FOOD 22. Deliver a diatribe, e.g.

24. One eyed Marvel hero 25. Crackling noise, in radio 26. Recipe abbr.

28. Mums' mums 29. Authoritative order 30. Skirt opening 31. Little one 32. Plant starter 33. Ancient Peruvian 34. Gunk 35. Favor one leg 39. One from New Zealand 40. ___AQ, NYSE competitor 42. Victory letters 43. Quasimodo rang them 45. Alpaca relatives 46. "___ doin'?" (“Friends” catchphrase) 49. Cash, casually 50. Angels might have them 51. Big boy band in 2000 52. Land between hills, poetically 53."Boee" singer Raichel 54. Beach, mostly 55. They sang 56-Down 56. State that was a hit for 55Down 59. Summer mo., in Australia 60. "Barefoot" Garten in the kitchen 61. When doubled, a cracker

48. Best Actor winner in 2017 52. They aren't given to Israelis in 1. Annoys some countries 5. Not live, as on TV 55. Batman's hood 10. Snake sound 57. Some kosher symbols 14. Mine finds 58. First name?

15. Kemper who played Kimmy 59. The tale of Jonah?

Schmidt 62. Del Rey or Turner 16. Moab's state 63. Legendary composer Mor17. Trips couples are unlikely to ricone take over 10 Tishrei 64. Dershowitz of note 19. Prefix with phone, tron or bytes 65. They might be split 20. Leb. neighbor 66. Linda Ronstadt hit "Blue ___" 21. Mimicked 67. Fem. counterpart 22. Big name in Jewish camps 23. Chew on a baby toy, say 25. "The Man" Musial DOWN 27. Building a sukkah near them is 1. Like a rare baseball game a bad idea 2. Got up 33. Cold home 3. 38-Across, e.g.

36. Make into a movie, maybe 4. Tel Aviv to Hebron dir.

37. Soap ingredient 5. Short fuse, so to speak 38. "Dark" film 6. Sunburn soother 39. Makes mittens, in a way 7. Slog (through) 40. "Just Do It" brand 8. ___ Gedi, Israel 41. . follower 9. Moines preceder 42. Da follower, in art 10. Compassionate 43. With ___ breath (showing 11. Tabloid twosome anticipation) 12. Long tale 44. They can remind people to 13. Iran ruler, once burn more (Rosh Hashanah) 18. Where many play Fantasy calories Football 47. Hawaiian necklaces

ACROSS

LAST ISSUE’S SOLUTION 1

2

R

14

U

T

4

N O

A

M

I

L

L

S

M E S

U

23 27 30

36

S

15

6

7

8

U M O

O R

A

E

R

L

I

L

I

T

S

T

E

R

S

T

O

L

E

S

Y

24

37

O C

43

5

H

A

17

18

T

E

E

N

N

12

A

13

I

R

E

N O

19

A

I

L

B

R O O

K

L

Y

S

R

S

T

U

L

S

A

B

I

O

B

O

P

E

E

P

M A

C

C

E

S

T

A

N

E

I

38

33

34

31

28

44

A

E N

E

T

Z

E

R

Y

O D

A

A

N

A

T

Y

E

T

I

S

H

N

A

A T

58 61

32

A

E M O O N 53

35

51

22

29

B

U

E

21

D

39

L

48

T

25

B

60

E

11

V

S

57

T

B

16

A

R

50

10

S

E

A

52

9

T

20

T

47

49

P

45

E L

46

40

N

41

I

N 26

N

42

S

B

O N

Y

A

I

S

N

P

U

L

L

S

U

R

A

L

I

T

O N

E

E

E

L

S

E

V

E

T

R

E

E

54

T

Y

59 62

55

C

56

E

happened was for the first time,” said Rabbi Binyomin Friedman. “There are certain things we’d thought of doing [in the old building], but I didn’t want to attract a large crowd. We didn’t have the room. Now I really feel we’re open for business.” ì Jewish Family Services and the Atlanta Jewish Federation teamed up to form the Jewish AIDS Network of Atlanta. “Ultimately we hope people with HIV or AIDS will feel safe among their fellow Jews, to feel they can come to their own people for AIDS programs and that the community is willing to give them comfort and compassion,” said Leslie Levy, who was hired to coordinate JANA.

Remember When

15 Years // September 16, 2005 ì The Weber School broke ground on their building Sept. 18. The building was scheduled to open in fall 2006. “At this the Weber School will take its place in the community and not be thought of as a school that has its house in modular units on the JCC campus, but be a school that has a full and complete campus that complements its already full and complete curriculum,” said Steve Berman, the president of Weber’s board of trustees. ì Rabbi Joshua and Wendy Heller announced the birth of their daughter Amelia Mae on April 28, the fifth day of Passover. A simchat bat was held at Congregation B’nai Torah on May 22. Amelia was given the Hebrew name Amalia Meira in memory of a great-grandfather Rabbi Avraham Meir Heller.

3

50 Years // September 11, 1970 ì Mr. and Mrs. Sandor Bernstein invited relatives and friends to attend the bat mitzvah of their son Jeffrey Sept. 12 at Temple Sinai. A kiddush followed the ceremony. ì Rita Jane Kaufmann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kaufmann, married William Garfield Leventhal III Sept. 5 at The Temple. Rabbi Jacob Rothschild and Rabbi Richard Lehrman officiated. A reception followed at Friendship Hall in The Temple.

The Weber School broke ground Sept. 18, 2005, and was expected to open in fall 2006.

25 Years // September 15, 1995 ì Congregation Ariel celebrated its first Shabbat in its new building. “Everything that

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 111

OBITUARIES

Hugh Malcolm Berger

Leon Shelton Cohen

Hugh Malcolm Berger, 88, of Atlanta, passed away Sept. 6, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19, bravely battling against it in the last several weeks. Hugh was born in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 26, 1931, to Hyman and Sally Gerhardt Berger, of blessed memory. When Hugh was born, he arrived 2 ½ months early and weighing less than 2 pounds. The first few weeks of his life were spent confined in a small chicken coop-like box illuminated by a light bulb. His fierce inner strength and determination to survive then served him well throughout his life.

When he was barely a year old, his older brother Gerry bestowed upon him the nickname “Cutie,” which he proudly answered to throughout his life. After graduating from Murphy High School, Hugh enrolled at the University of Alabama and he soon realized scholarly pursuits were best served by others.

He proudly enlisted and served in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s, recalling fondly that, luckily, he was stationed in Germany during the Korean War conflict. Upon his return to Mobile from serving his country, he joined the family pawn shop business. In the late 1950s, he had the good fortune that two of his childhood friends, the Roth sisters Sandra and Lois, had moved to Atlanta and set him up on a blind date with Rachiel Alhadeff. On Sept. 13, 1959, Hugh and Rachiel became husband and wife and shared over 60 wonderful years of marital bliss, raising their young family in Mobile until 1972. Then they relocated to Atlanta, where their daughter Nanci could seek the medical care she needed that was only offered

by Scottish Rite Hospital at the time.

While his work life involved him working tirelessly in the retail jewelry industry, Hugh always found time to pursue and excel in the things he loved. He was an exceptional dancer, an exquisite baker, storied joke teller and always loved spending time with family and friends. Hugh loved to travel, especially on cruise ships, and one of his traveling highlights was becoming a bar mitzvah at the age of 81 on a trip to Israel several years ago.

If you were fortunate enough to have attended one of the annual open house celebrations at the Atlanta Group Home, where Nanci has resided since 1984, you were treated to an untold amount and variety of desserts and delicacies that were single- handedly prepared by Hugh in his spare time with his loving hands and heart. He was a kind, sweet, considerate, humble, proud, devoted and loyal son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend to many.

Nothing was more important to him than being with family and friends. Much like his wife’s mother Rebecca Alhadeff, of blessed memory (who was “Mama” to him) there was no distinguishing between lineal family members or in-laws, a term that easily fell out of the family’s vocabulary. In addition to his loving wife Rachiel and his daughter Nanci, he leaves behind many adoring family members and friends, including his sons and daughters Harold and Sally Berger and Mark and Lori Berger; grandchildren Terry, Julius and Nathan; brother and sister Gerry and Joan Berger; sisters and brothers Linda and Josh Brener and Stella and Stanford Firestone; sister Jeanette Arogeti (predeceased by his brother Jimmy, z’l); many nieces and nephews and other extended family and countless friends.

Two very special angels who came into the latter part of his life Pansey Burke and Carol Malcom have provided countless hours of devotion, care, comfort and happiness for the last few years.

Due to COVID-19, a private family burial was held Sept. 8, 2020. A celebration and remembrance of Hugh’s life will be conducted in the near future when it will be safe and appropriate to do so.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to honor Hugh’s life may be made to the Atlanta Group Home Foundation, Inc. 3095 Margaret Mitchell Court, NW, Atlanta, Ga. 30327 or the charity of one’s choice. Funeral arrangement made by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770451-4999.

Leon Shelton Cohen passed away Aug. 1, 2020. Born Nov. 7, 1934, he was a proud native Atlantan for 85 years. He was the son of Louis and Sarah Raider Cohen and brother of Stanley Cohen, all of blessed memory. He graduated Grady High School and the University of Georgia, where he was a member and officer of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity. Leon served in the U.S .Air Force as a radar and missile controller, rising to the rank of captain. He entered the business world, owning his own company until health issues forced his early retirement in 1997.

He is survived by his wife Judy; sons Brad (Jackie) and Michael (Lisa) Cohen of Atlanta; daughter Debbie (Marc) Andres of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Jared (Ally), Reid and Matthew Cohen, Kyle and Ryan Cohen, Louis, Miles and Elise Andres; brother Ronald (Judy) Cohen; sister-in-law Shirley Cohen; Judy’s children and grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A private graveside service was held at Arlington Memorial Park Aug. 3.

Contributions in Leon’s memory may be made to the Stanley and Shirley Cohen Building and Grounds Fund or the Ronald and Judy Cohen Facility Improvement Fund at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30329, https://www.templesinaiatlanta.org/.

88, Atlanta

112 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

85, Atlanta

Rita Feld Geffen 78, Jerusalem

Rita Feld Geffen, formerly of Atlanta, died in Jerusalem Aug. 29, having lived 43 years in her eternal city. Born in Brooklyn on Sept. 15, 1941, Rita grew up in Queens, N.Y. In 1950s-era New York, there was great fear of a Soviet attack from the Atlantic Ocean. The children had regular drills in which they would scramble off their chairs and hide under their desks.

At Forest Hills High School, Rita was an honor student. There was a duo in her class then known as “Tom and Jerry,” who became far more famous as Simon and Garfunkel.

In 1978, the summer after Rita immigrated to Israel, she was traveling through the country with her sister, also a Forest Hills High School graduate. They visited the Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot in Tel Aviv. Paul Simon, who was appearing in Israel, showed up at the museum with a bodyguard. Rita memorably went up to him and said, “Mr. Simon, I was in the same class with you at Forest Hills High School. My name is Rita Feld, now Geffen.” He looked at her kindly and said, “Yes, I remember you.”

Rita’s greatest contribution to Israel, in addition to having three children and four grandchildren in the Israel Defense Forces, was related to Sjogren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disease that produces dry eyes and a dry mouth. She had been diagnosed with the syndrome in 1970s and suffered from it up until her death.

No one in Israel – doctors, professors or specialists – knew anything about the syndrome when Rita made aliyah in 1977. Around the beginning of 1978, she asked Judy Siegel of The Jerusalem Post to write an article. When the piece appeared on a Friday with the newspaper’s phone number, nearly 50 people called. “We finally know what we are suffering from,” they said.

Rita formed a support group that lasted 25 years. On her own she visited doctors around Israel, educating them about the syndrome. Now when sufferers go for an examination by a doctor or go to the hospital and state they have Sjogren’s syndrome, it is immediately recognized.

In August 1988, Rita and husband David went to what was then the Soviet Union to visit refuseniks. In Kishinev, Moldova, a female KGB agent confronted Rita. “We know what you are doing with our Jews,” she said. “They are our Jews.” The fearless Rita looked the agent straight in the eye and walked away. No other KGB agent confronted her or her husband in the 12 remaining days of their mission.

She is survived by three children Avie (Orit), Elissa (Chemi) and Tuvia (Keren) and eight grandchildren. She was buried Aug. 30 in the cemetery of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel in Jerusalem.

OBITUARIES

Shirley Dunn Reisman

Jerome “Jerry” Schlesinger

Shirley Dunn Reisman, 91, died Sept 12. She was a force upon this world like few have known. Born Aug. 23, 1929, Shirley was raised in the small Southern town of Dublin, Ga., with the smallest of Jewish communities. She grew up to be a strong woman, graduating from University of Georgia, where she met her husband Donald Reisman of Atlanta. They met at the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority party with Alpha Epsilon Pi from Emory University, and he was immediately attracted to her energy, intelligence and beauty. They were married 69 years this past August.

No one was ever a stranger to Shirley; if she knew you she probably loved you.

She spent her younger years playing ALTA tennis, participating in the Ahavath Achim Sisterhood and raising a family of three boys and a girl. Recently, she spent her social time playing mahjong and bridge, and going to lunches and her weekly cocktail parties.

Shirley’s family was at the top of her list. She effortlessly cooked her famous Passover matzah balls, chicken soup and homemade horseradish, which was strong enough to clear a stuffy nose any time of year.

She was the matriarch of the rowdy Reisman brood of four children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, along with seven spouses and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Time with her family were her most precious moments. She leaves behind a lasting legacy of 35 years of Thanksgiving and Jewish holiday traditions to be carried on for generations.

Shirley is survived by her husband Donald Reisman; children Lisa, Howard (Linda), Gerald (Lisa) and Bruce (Vickie); grandchildren Jared (Tristyn), Brandon, Brooke (Gavin), Nicole (Ben), Julia (Danny), Ethan, Jacob and Zachary; great grandchildren Jace, Reese, Leo and Max; and nieces Judy Landey and Charlotte Kaminsky, who were like daughters to her.

Please make donations to the Ahavath Achim Synagogue and Jewish Family & Career Services. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Jerome “Jerry” Schlesinger, 91, passed away peacefully Sept. 5, surrounded by family. He was born in the Bronx at the height of the Depression and as a child he loved comic books, stick ball and Joe DiMaggio. Jerry had a lifelong love of baseball that never wavered.

He joined the Navy during the Korean War and though he never saw combat, he did get into a bar fight once in Memphis, Tenn. Shortly after the war, he married Arlene and moved to Atlanta to begin a career in jewelry that lasted for over 40 years. Jerry was a salesman by trade, but also was an accomplished artist. After retiring, he spent a few years in real estate and then worked at Nordstrom until he was 87 years young. He was a devoted husband, a wonderful father and a terrific sales guy. He had charm, grace and loads of style. Jerry was always quick with a smile, a joke or an interesting story to tell.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 66 years Arlene; children Sue Ann, Kathy and Michael; son-in-law, Jim Bowhall; sister-in-law Rosalind Aussenberg; and nephew, Neil (Liz) Aussenberg.He is preceded in death by his parents Millie and George Schlesinger; brother-in-law Lou Aussenberg; and niece Elyse Aussenberg. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

91, Atlanta

Miriam B. Sargon 101, Boston

Miriam B. Sargon, 101, a resident of Boston, passed away peacefully Aug. 31, 2020 at Hebrew SeniorLife in Roslindale, Mass. She was born in New York City June 6, 1919, and moved to Boston when she married David Goldstein in 1942. David died in 1958 and Miriam married the late Benjamin Sargon in 1970. She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hunter College. Miriam taught English at Newton North High School for 29 years.

Survivors include her son Jonathan Goldstein of Carrollton, Ga., brother Sidney Bludman of Chevy Chase, Md., and many nieces and nephews.

Special thanks are due to her long-term care giver Susan Madow.

Due to the current health concerns, services are private. In accordance with Miriam’s last wishes, memorial donations may be made to the Sargon/ Goldstein Scholarship Fund, Attention: Rabbi Ron Gray, Boys Town Jerusalem, PMB 6250, 1 Penn Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10117-3490

91, Atlanta

Tosia Schneider 91, Atlanta

Tosia Schneider passed away peacefully Sept. 6, 2020. She was born the second child of Jacob and Genia Szechter in the province of Galicia, Poland, April 4, 1929. She led an idyllic childhood, surrounded by a large, loving extended family. But from 1939 through 1945, she suffered through unimaginable pain and devastation in the ghettos of Horodenka and Tluste and the labor camp of Lisowce. By the time World War II ended, the world she had known as a girl was destroyed, and all of her immediate family and most of her extended family had been murdered.

She came to the USA in the spring of 1949 and soon reconnected with the English teacher she’d met in Germany after the war, who had not only introduced her to the English language but also art, music and poetry.

This man, Alfred Schneider, became her husband and the two celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this past August. With “not two pennies to rub together” they built a new life together and raised a loving family. With her characteristic determination, and despite the fact that so many years of life and learning had been robbed from her, Tosia taught herself to type, drive, cook, garden, keep house, learn new languages, become a life-long avid reader, raise children and build a loving and supportive marriage.

When living in New York, Tosia studied at the Hebrew Union College, and she taught Hebrew school in Reform congregations, including The Temple, for over 30 years. Through Alfred’s work they moved across the country from New York to New Jersey, Baltimore, Illinois, South Carolina, Boston, and eventually Atlanta, where they lived for over 30 years. Tosia’s affable and caring nature enabled her to make close friends wherever she went.

Although the Shoah cast a pall of loss and pain over Tosia’s entire adult life, she fulfilled the promise made to her mother to “survive and tell the world.” In her later years, Tosia dedicated herself to public speaking about her experiences during the war, ensuring that future generations never forget the lessons of the Shoah. Her inspiring memoir was published in three different languages and has been read by thousands of people across the world.

All those who passed time with her marveled at Tosia’s fierce strength, unflinching bravery, ingenuity, kindness, passion and grace.

Her family was her greatest pride and joy, and she never wavered in her dedication to those she held dear. She joins her husband Alfred Schneider, daughter Hedwig, brother Julek Szechter, and parents Jacob and Genia Szechter. Tosia leaves her sons James, George and David; grandchildren Lilly, Isabel, Samuel, Benjamin and Zachariah Schneider; and a network of loving extended family across the world.

Due to COVID-19, the funeral was limited to immediate family only and was livestreamed.

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 113

OBITUARIES

Leonard (Lenny) Norman Simon

Sarah Snyder

Leonard (Lenny) Norman Simon, passionate runner and cyclist, successful business consultant and loving husband, father and grandfather passed away Sept. 11 at the age of 83. He and his wife Jane recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. In true Lenny fashion, when the pandemic forced them to scrap plans for an international celebration trip, he embraced a close-knit family dinner with culinary favorites flown in from New England.

Lenny was an active member of Atlanta’s Jewish community and a longtime congregant of Congregation Etz Chaim. He was born and raised in New York and graduated from Alfred University. After completing his Army service as a second lieutenant, he began working at IBM and stayed there until his first retirement. Never one to stay still, Lenny immediately began his second career in business consulting, which provided the opportunity to relocate to London and build on his lifelong passion for travel and exploration. He and Jane traveled the world, often accompanied by their children and, later, their grandchildren.

After finally leaving the business world 20 years ago, Lenny found volunteering at Jewish Family & Career Services, a most rewarding experience. He also sang with Bob’s Broadway Chorus, regularly performing at many local retirement homes and spreading his love of musical theater to those who were most appreciative.

Lenny and Jane have two daughters, Julie and Deana, who were his joys never to be exceeded until he was blessed with two grandchildren Isabella (Bella) and Dylan. To ask him was to know that they were the smartest, most lovable and fantastic grandchildren that were ever born. He is also survived by his sisters Lucy and Janet and his 80-pound golden retriever, who was never far from Lenny’s side. From all of us who Lenny enriched by sharing his time and talents, we wish him God speed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to Etz Chaim at www.etzchaim.net or any charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Sarah Snyder, age 96, died peacefully Aug. 29, 2020, in Atlanta.

Sarah was born March 13, 1924 in Boston. She grew up in Akron, Ohio, with her parents, of blessed memory, Max and Rose Kantrovitz. Sarah was the oldest with three younger siblings. She married Sam Snyder, who grew up on her street in Akron, in 1943. Sam joined the Army the day after their wedding. After the war, Sarah and Sam moved to Dayton, Ohio. Their three children Gary, Larry and Marilyn grew up in Dayton.

Sarah was very popular in Dayton, had may friends and was active in Jewish community activities. She was a member of Beth Abraham Synagogue and a life member of Hadassah.

In 1986, Sarah and Sam moved to Atlanta to be closer to their grandchildren. Sam passed away in 2001.

Sarah is survived by children Gary (Ellen Monk), Dr. Larry (Rene) and Marilyn (David) Flemming; grandchildren Nikki (Randy) Weisburd, Dr. Marla (Jeff) Barkoff, Robyn (Jonathon Shirley) Flemming, Tim Flemming and Justin Snyder (Danielle Wolfe); great-grandchildren Hilary Weisburd, Ryan Weisburd, Emmett Barkoff and Raina Barkoff. She is also survived by brothers Jack Kent in Akron and Mel Kent in Boynton Beach, Fla., and many nephews and nieces.

Burial was Sept. 2 in a family plot at Anshe S’fard Congregation Cemetery in Akron.

Donations can be made to The William Breman Jewish Home. Funeral arrangements by Dressler Funeral Home in Atlanta and by Gordon-Flury Memorial Home in Akron, Ohio.

83, Atlanta

‫זיכרונה לברכה‬

114 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

96, Atlanta

OBITUARIES

Steven J. Zier 82, Atlanta

Steven J. Zier, 82, passed away peacefully Aug. 22, 2020. His beloved wife of 60 years, Ilene, was by his side, as were his children and grandchildren. Steve was born in Trenton, N.J. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in geology and received a graduate degree from Tulane University, where he and Ilene met. After 48 years working as a financial advisor, Steve retired in 2012 to pursue other passions. He audited classes at Emory University in archaeology, biblical studies, classical literature and history, and served as a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. He also studied with the Atlanta Scholars Kollel and was an active member of the Atlanta Jewish community.

Steve’s endless curiosity and thirst for knowledge led him to explore a variety of hobbies throughout his life, including photography, traveling, gardening, reading, spirituality, fishing and golfing. He was most content smoking a cigar and drinking a single malt scotch in his backyard or surf fishing at Flagler Beach with his family.

The greatest love of Steve’s life was undoubtedly his family. He is survived by his wife Ilene (Bock); brother Roger (Ellen) Zier of Raleigh, N.C.; daughters Lisa Zier, Amy (Zier) Rosenthal and Julie Zier (Davidorf); sons-in-law Ross Rosenthal and Brad Davidorf; grandsons Myles and Alec Rosenthal; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A graveside service was held Aug. 24 at Arlington Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Congregation Or Hadash or Rabbi Donald A. Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770.451.4999. Please sign online guestbook at www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com.

Death Notice

Ira Hefter died peacefully Sept. 12, 2020. He was the father of Temple Sinai member Jennifer (Greg) Fink and grandfather of Spencer, Alexandra and Peter Fink. A private funeral to mark the significance of his life was held Sept. 15 in New York. The family will schedule a memorial to celebrate Ira’s life when communal gatherings are permitted in the future.

Those wishing to offer condolences may send notes to Jennifer and Greg Fink, 5102 Sapphire Drive, Marietta, Ga. 30068.

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

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 115

CLOSING THOUGHTS The Talking Treatment My husband and I got to know a couple who were avid fans of unusual happenings and out-of-the-box events.

They spent every Chana Shapiro weekend doing something new, often veering far off the proverbial beaten path. I was in awe of the scope of the couple’s exploration of the interesting world around them. This duo knew every gallery, music venue and theater like the back of their hands and visited arcane places I’d never heard of. Because of their adventurous spirit, we were eager to hear more anecdotes about activities and venues beyond our family’s experience. We had occasionally been with the couple socially, and it was now time to invite them for Shabbat dinner.

Our guests cheerfully entertained us throughout the meal. The Kiddush and Hamotzi (blessings for wine and challah) reminded them of a Beltline bistro wine-tast-

ing event and an Alpharetta challah-making workshop, but that was just the beginning.

Between the fish and soup they told us about a mime performance in a warehouse near Spelman College; during the entrée they dramatically (with a brief, spontaneous demo) described a salsa dance competition in Newnan. After that, we learned the wonders of a Korean flea market in Duluth, and the dessert portion of the meal was enriched with details of a farm-to-table benefit tour near Conyers.

The intrepid explorers explained that it wasn’t easy tracking down a novel activity every week. Each new opera staging, museum blockbuster and theater premiere was thrilling; and more significantly, locating and sharing truly off-the-grid experiences stimulated and enriched their relationship.

Their search for novelty was well worth it: they always looked forward to being together over the weekend.

Therefore, Zvi and I were stunned when, after her husband capped the evening with a story about a truck and tractor show at a country fair on the Tennessee border, the wife turned to me, “But, Chana, you and Zvi don’t have to find things to do

all the time,” she stated. “We’re sure that you two always have something to talk to each other about.”

This couple had handily proved that adventuring and talking go together, and they offered some compelling suggestions; so, soon after that Shabbat meal, Zvi and I decided to venture through new cultural doors. Then COVID-19 closed them.

Long, long ago, before Facebooking, texting and tweeting made communication fast, easy, superficial and ungrammatical, generations of people communicated by talking. Zvi and I are seasoned, confirmed talkers. This under-appreciated characteristic has come in handy during the present plague because we’re home together most of the time, and we can spend hours dissecting and debating the news, books and articles we’re reading and the current educational situation at the various places in which our daughters teach and in which our grandchildren learn.

Zvi and I wonder about the peripatetic couple who visited us. People aren’t out and about as safely or frequently as before the pandemic, but all of us can talk. Human nuanced verbalizing, unique to each one of us, is powerful and useful, and not only among

those near and dear to us. I know people who are now checking up on others with whom they have only a casual acquaintance. The deadly confluence of coronavirus, national and international disasters and vitriolic politics is driving us to communicate in deeper and more thoughtful ways than are possible on Facebook and Twitter.

A lot of folks go to YouTube to be nurtured and energized, which is great, but YouTube is a pipeline, a tool, not a relationship. I’m moved by the give-and-take of live people reaching out to one another.

Those Shabbat guests were right. Talking is a way my husband and I bond, and it’s the way I do my best connecting with others, too. This year, observing a new kind of High Holy Days at home, I’ll miss the support of communal prayer. My plan is to have a serious one-on-one conversation with God, Who I understand is an excellent listener and Who, I pray, will nurture and energize those of us who, for the time being, do the best we can with words. ì Our family wishes each of you a new year of optimism, fortitude, connection and continued good health.

Transform your kitchen & bath into a beautiful and functional environment.

6555 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

770-441-1681 Norcross, GA

Major Home Renovations to Minor Refresh & Repair

www.ucigranite.com Visit our extensive gallery to choose your stone and cabinetry. Our design team will help you craft your vision.

Granite | Marble | Quartz | Glass Shower Enclosures | Walk-in Showers | Cabinetry | Vanity Tops | Paint | Carpet | Tile Backsplash 116 | SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 | 117

MARKETPLACE PHOTOGRAPHY

Quality Professional Photography, Weddings, Events, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs.

Right Image Company 404-452-2333

TUTOR

Stella Tarica Gordon Tarica Tutoring Stellagordon835@gmail.com 678-592-3155 call or text • Writing and reading comprehension • Certified in 5-12 grade English curriculum • ACT and SAT prep • College bound and grad school essays • Georgia Milestone preparation 5-8

Serving students since 1986

CARS

BUY • TRADE • SALE

PLOTS FOR SALE 2 –Side by Side Plots in the Beth Shalom Serenity II section of Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. (Lot52C, # 3 & 4) Must be a member of Beth Shalom. Listed for $6,995/each but will sell both for $11,000. Contact owner: 917-822-6884

WE BUY

Cars, Trucks, Vans & ATV'S (running or not) ALL MAKES (damaged or not) Professional hassle free pick up.

Fair cash prices paid on the spot.

CLEANING

COLLECTIBLES

THE DUSTY COIN, LLC

“Shekels For Your Collectibles”

• Coins • Bullion • Jewelry • Sterling •

404-263-2967 Strict Confidentiality • References Upon Request Member: ANA, NGC, PCGS & PMG

Development Corp. for Israel | 404-817-3500 Eleventh Series Jubilee Bonds 2.14% Eleventh Series Maccabee Bonds 2.00% Eighth Series Mazel Tov Bonds 1.68% Eighth Series eMitzvah Bonds 1.68%

FOLLOW

:

FINANCIAL HELP COVID Financial Worries? We can help. Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta. Call Elizabeth 470268-5665. www.JIFLA.org

ART

PLOTS FOR SALE Two Cemetery Plots for Sale with adjacent bench area . Shalom Section of Arlington Cemetery Call Dr. David Cohen - 404 -775-8555

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

w w w. At l a n ta J e w i s hTi m e s.c o m F O R M O R E O F W H AT YO U N E E D We Never Miss a Spot At V Cleaning, we provide you with expert cleaning, warm customer service, and excellent attention to detail.

Serving clients around the Atlanta, Georgia area, you get to take advantage

LEARN

Learn Canasta on Zoom LEAGUE of AMERICA

678-271-7373 404-484-7130 v_cleaning@hotmail.com

Patti Wasserman Certified Canasta Instructor 561-350-7124 playcanasta@yahoo.com

MARKETPLACE HOME

COMPUTER

FAKAKTA COMPUTER BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

DESKTOP & LAPTOP REPAIR HOME/BUSINESS NETWORKING

COMPUTER

COMPUER HOUSE CALLS

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

Voted #1 by Atlanta Jewish Community

10% OF PROFITS THROUGH

770-527-3533

PERFORMANCE UPGRADES2019 WILL BE DONATED TO APPLE DEVICE SUPPORT

JEWISH CHARITIES.

VIRUS/SPYWARE REMOVAL

Closets, pantries, garages, offices and more!

404-255-0589

Atlanta Custom Closets Rick Moore www.closetpro.net

404.954.1004

CALL SERVICE

As Seen On

Same DayDAMON.CARP@GMAIL.COM Appointments • Reasonable Rates • All Services Guaranteed

10% OF PROFITS THROUGH 2020 WILL BE DONATED TO JEWISH CHARITIES.

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

www.HealthyComputer.com

• Same Day Appointments • Reasonable Rates • All Services Guaranteed

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

APPLIANCES

ALL TECH APPLIANCE SERVICE We Service All Major Appliances

It’s Time to Call for Help!

HOME

STANLEY PAVING

Asphalt Paving, Patching & Seal Coating

Office Call or Text 678-906-1881 Over 30 Years of Experience 1 Year Warranty On All Repairs HOME

We handle all phases of drywall and perform most handyman services

TRAVEL TO ISRAEL

Specializing in driveways & small parking lots Family Owned & Operated since 1969

CALL NOW FOR 10% OFF SPECIAL 770.962.7125 770.480.1698 cell

ADVERTISE WITH THE

Over 30 years’ Experience Stand behind every job we complete and we make customer satisfaction our number one priority! www.thingshoneywontdohomerepair.com

678-789-8634

404-883-2130