FRANK VIEW
The son of one of Leo Frank’s killers takes a public stand in defense of the 1915 lynching. Page 4
PARTY TIME
EXTERIORS
Congregation B’nai Israel celebrates 13 years of Rabbi Lou Feldstein’s spiritual leadership. Page 8
Preparing to head outside for Sukkot, we visit three of the Jewish community’s wilder home gardens. Page 23
Atlanta VOL. XC NO. 36
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
SEPTEMBER 25, 2015 | 12 TISHREI 5776
Anti-Israel Conference In Atlanta
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Dance the Night Away
Photo by David R. Cohen
Jewish singer David Lee Roth, once again fronting rock band Van Halen, helps bring Music Midtown 2015 to a close with a post-Shabbat set Saturday, Sept. 19. More festival photos, Page 22
DAVIS BUILDING
The Davis Academy is raising $7.5 million in a capital campaign for a 600-seat auditorium, a sanctuary, a dining hall and flexible learning spaces. Page 16
ISRAELI LESSONS
A new program involving three student teachers is strengthening ties among the University of Haifa, Georgia State and the Epstein School. Page 17
Israel
INSIDE
3 Business
19
Calendar
9 Arts 20
Candle Lighting
9 Sukkot
Opinion
23
10 Obituaries 27
Health & Wellness 13 Crossword 30 Education
16 Marketplace 31
repare for a wave of anti-Israel propaganda between Yom Kippur and Sukkot when hundreds of proPalestinian activists gather for the 14th annual national conference of the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. Based at Atlanta’s Holiday Inn & Suites Airport North, 1380 Virginia Ave., the conference runs Friday to Sunday night, Sept. 25 to 27. The full conference experience costs $90 to $200, but each night’s main event is free to all. Under the theme of “Advancing a Mass Movement,” the conference aims to connect the Palestinian fight against Israel with U.S. civil rights efforts. The opening night at First Iconium Baptist Church is called “From Atlanta to Palestine” and portrays the frequently violent Palestinian cause as an extension of the nonviolent marches in the South 50 years ago. The speakers include Ruby Sales, a Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee organizer in the 1960s, and Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. The conference closes with a First Intifada documentary, “The Wanted 18,” which also will be part of the Atlanta Palestine Film Festival from Oct. 15 to 25. You can get the whole schedule at www.endtheoccupation.org. The conference was held in Atlanta once before, at the end of July 2005. The online report says more than 130 people attended, and the star of the show was Cynthia McKinney, then still in Congress. Nearly 400 people reportedly attended last year’s conference in San Diego, where the focus was on bringing the BDS movement into the mainstream. ■
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ISRAEL NEWS
Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home
A smarter bed. Ramat Gan-based EarlySense is launching a smart-bed solution, myEarlySense. Under-the-mattress sensors record data on how you are sleeping, such as tossing, turning, waking, sleeping and breathing, as well as your heart rate. It can also turn on heaters and make the coffee. Virus testing in South Africa. Petah Tikva-based Ilex Medical has won a tender issued by the South African National Blood Service for its Panther blood-testing systems to detect and identify viruses. Detecting cancer using nanopores. Technion scientists are the only team working for European research consortium BeyondSeq on early diagnosis of cancer. They are using tiny silicon nanopore scanners to detect molecular DNA biomarkers in cancer cells. Israel sixth for healthy lives. The World Health Organization ranks Israel sixth in the world in healthy life expectancy, with the average Israeli living without a terminal illness to age 71.5. Israeli men have the world’s fourth-longest total life expectancy of 80.2 years. For women, Israel is 10th
with a total life expectancy of 84 years. Deer rescue. The Israel Defense Forces’ Judaea Regional Brigade rescued a number of deer being held illegally and in harsh conditions in a Palestinian village in the West Bank. The deer will be rehabilitated at nature reserves, then released back into the wild. Israel to host space legal debate. The International Astronautical Federation reports that three judges from the International Court of Justice will preside at October’s Manfred Lachs Space Law Moot Court Competition in Jerusalem. Law students will argue the legal issues of a near-miss asteroid event. Resolving Brazil’s water crisis. Beni Lew from the Volcani Center in Bet-Dagan is advising hundreds of Brazilian water experts on how to deal with their water shortage. Speaking fluent Portuguese, Lew has encouraged attendance at Tel Aviv’s WATEC 2015 in October. Conexx is leading a delegation from the Southeast to that water conference. A smarter front door. The ENTR system from Yavne-based, Swedish-owned Mul-T-Lock elevates the simple door lock to a high-tech, Bluetooth-enabled device using algorithms from U.S.owned Freescale Israel. The combination of global marketing and Israeli ingenuity opens up huge possibilities. A fruitful new year. A week before the start of the Jewish year 5776, Haifabased Frutarom made its 10th acquisition of 2015: Spain’s Nutrafur, which specializes in natural plant extracts
Israel Photo of the Week
Fellowship of the ’Right
R
yan Kaplan (left), the Birthright Israel engagement associate for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and a Birthright alumnus, joins nearly 100 other Jewish professionals in Chicago earlier in September for training in the third group of Birthright Israel Fellows. The professional development program from Birthright and the iCenter for Israel Education aims to increase the quality of the Birthright experience. “Birthright Israel participants have the most impactful, meaningful experiences when their trips are led by high-quality staff,” Birthright Israel International CEO Gidi Mark said. “The Birthright Israel Fellows program will continue to develop even more of these educational leaders.” A new group of fellows is trained every six months. Kaplan’s group will be leading trips this winter. ■
and antioxidants for food and health products. Frutarom has 31,000 products and sells in 145 countries, and its 2015 revenues could reach $1 billion. Switzerland buys six Israeli drones. The Swiss government has approved the purchase of six Hermes 900 unmanned planes from Haifa-based Elbit Systems for $256 million. The Swiss De-
fense Ministry said the aircraft will be used for surveillance by border guards. Gas milestone. Output from Israel’s Tamar natural gas field has reached 1 billion cubic feet per day. Compiled courtesy of verygoodnewsisrael. blogspot.com, Globes, Israel21c and other news sources.
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SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Liver cancer treatment on the fast track. The Food and Drug Administration has granted fast-track designation to the CF102 treatment from Can-Fite BioPharma for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most common liver cancer. A CF102 trial is about to start on 78 patients with Child-Pugh Class B cirrhosis who were not helped by the only FDAapproved treatment, Nexavar.
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LOCAL NEWS
Lyncher’s Son Defends Frank’s Hanging By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
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white-haired man took the microphone Monday night, Sept. 21, and turned a Leo Frank discussion on its head. “My name is Emmett Burton, and my father and uncle were in the back seat of the car with Leo Frank,” he announced during the question-andanswer period of a panel discussion on media coverage of the Frank case. He instantly had the full attention of the more than 100 people crowded into a room at the Kennesaw State University Center, and he quickly defied the expectations of anyone who thought he would echo the Frank-sympathetic tone of the panelists and of the events held in August to mark the centennial of Frank’s lynching. Burton said he had heard the panelists talk about the mob lynching Frank, but he had looked up the meanings of both words. A mob, he said, is a
Local Briefs
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Still the Champion The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which in February became the biggest Jewish film festival in the world in terms of attendance, has fended off the first challenge to its crown. The San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the first of its kind and the largest until this year, ran for the 35th time from July 23 to Aug. 9 and had a total audience of “over 35,000,” according to the newly named Jewish Film Institute’s post-festival report. That total leaves San Francisco well short of the attendance of 38,631 at the 15th Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, even though the West Coast festival showed more movies at more venues for a much larger Jewish population. The news that Atlanta is No. 1 apparently hasn’t reached California yet: The San Francisco festival’s press releases still declare it “the world’s first and largest Jewish film festival.” The AJFF will have a chance to reinforce the message at the 16th annual festival, set for Jan. 26 to Feb. 17. Rabbis Launch Service Corps Clal’s Rabbis Without Borders network has launched the RWB Service Corps to meet the needs of “small but proud” Jewish communities. Those are communities that aren’t served by Jewish organizations but could benefit from the free services of 4 a rabbi, according to Clal — The Na-
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group of gangsters, and a lynching is a hanging without a trial. But Frank had a trial, was convicted of the murder of Mary Phagan and was sentenced to death, Burton said. “These gentlemen were carrying out the order of the court.” He argued that the men who abducted Frank from the Milledgeville prison and hanged him in Marietta were following the law, as the court and the people of Georgia wanted, and that Gov. John Slaton had bucked the law by commuting Frank’s sentence to life in prison. Burton emphasized that his father, Emmet, and uncle, Luther, were lawand-order men. They fought in World War I, and his father became a deputy sheriff and served as a law officer for 50 years. His uncle was a longtime business owner. The moderator of the night’s discussion, former Cox Newspapers President Jay Smith, asked Burton whether his father ever talked about the hang-
ing. The silence in Cobb County about the lynching and who carried it out has been cited by “And the Dead Shall Rise” author Steve Oney and others as a reflection of communal shame. Burton sees the complete silence differently. “To me,” he said, “if you talk about it, you’re bragging about it.” None of the panelists — former Gov. Roy Barnes, Marietta Daily Journal Editorial Page Editor Joe Kirby, Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editor Kevin Riley and Emory University film professor Matthew Bernstein — called him on it, but Burton was wrong about the definition of a lynching. It’s a killing, not necessarily a hanging, that is carried out as a punishment without legal sanction. Frank had a trial and was convicted, but once Slaton commuted the sentence, as the law allowed, the Marietta leaders who plotted and carried out Frank’s execution were operating illegally. They were a lynch mob. Burton’s defense of the lynch-
ing sounded like an editorial that The Marietta Daily Journal published in the days after the hanging and that Kirby read earlier in the program: “We regard the hanging of Leo M. Frank as an act of law-abiding men.” Burton never commented on whether Frank killed Phagan, only that he was convicted of the crime and was properly executed. Barnes, whose wife learned with the publication of Oney’s book in 2003 that her grandfather was part of the lynch plot, answered Burton by explaining both Slaton’s legal right to commute the sentence and his own belief in Frank’s innocence. The ex-governor said he believes that if the trial judge, Leonard Roan, had not suffered a fatal illness during Frank’s appeals process, the judge would have ordered a retrial because of his doubts about the case. ■ Why the “Newer South” needs Frank to be exonerated, Page 11
tional Jewish Center for Learning and need a rabbi to provide pastoral care. and employment fields. Zisholtz held Some may need a rabbi to provide Jew- positions at Federation including projLeadership. “There are countless Jewish com- ish education opportunities for either ect director for the Naturally Occurmunities who do not have access to a children or adults.” ring Retirement Community. Grant money will enable rabbis rabbi for a variety of reasons and are Two longtime JF&CS employees spread across the United States,” said to go to these communities without also moved into director positions: Rabbi Rebecca Sirbu, the RWB director. charging them. Follow-up may involve Rena Harris, the director of Develop“As a community, we cannot abandon Skype or web learning platforms. mental Disabilities Services — Tools these people. Rabbis for Independence; and Dan Without Borders has Arnold, the director of clinimade a commitment cal services, putting him in to serve them.” charge of Counseling SerThe network has vices — Tools for Life and more than 150 rabbis Child & Adolescent Services across the denomina— Tools for Families. tional spectrum, including at least five in Tolerant Essay Contest Georgia: Michael BerSeventh- and eighthnstein of Congregagraders have until Nov. 16 (From left) Faye Dresner, Bonnie Klein and Deborah Zisholtz tion Gesher L’Torah; to submit entries for B’nai Hillel Norry, formerly of Congregation B’rith’s annual Enlighten America esShearith Israel; Rachael Bregman, for- New Faces at JF&CS say contest, which encourages racial, Jewish Family & Career Services religious and ethnic tolerance and merly of The Temple and now with Temple Beth Tefilloh in Brunswick; has entered the new year with several equality. Ruth Magder-Abusch, who arrived this new faces in prominent positions. The top prize is $100, and all enJF&CS has hired Faye Dresner for trants will receive certificates. The summer from Be’chol Lashon in the San Francisco area; and Pamela Gott- the new position of chief program offi- theme is respect for diversity in race, fried, who is teaching Jewish literature cer. The former Year Up Atlanta senior religion, national origin, gender, disdirector of programs and Jewish Feder- ability and sexual orientation. at the Weber School. People in small but proud commu- ation of Greater Atlanta director of enEssays should reflect on tolerance, nities should fill out the Request for gagement provides strategic oversight equality and respect for all people as Service form at rabbiswithoutborders. of all JF&CS programs to maximize im- those concepts are seen through the org/what-we-offer no later than Oct. pact and service excellence. eyes of the United States’ Founding FaBonnie Klein now leads Career Ser- thers. The writing should use a specific 14. The RWB Service Corps will match vices — Tools for Employment; Debo- quote from George Washington or anrabbis to the communities. Rabbi Sirbu said the corps expects rah Zisholtz is in charge of Aviv Older other American president or commua variety of requests: “Each community Adult Services — Tools for Aging. nity leader. Klein is a lawyer with more than is unique. Some may need a rabbi to For the rules and more informaofficiate at lifecycle events. Some may two decades of experience in the legal tion, visit enlightenamerica.org.
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Remember When 10 Years Ago Sept. 23, 2005
■ Only the National Council of Jewish Women, among national Jewish organizations, is strongly opposing the nomination of John Roberts to be chief justice of the United States, while the Union for Reform Judaism has expressed “strong concern” and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism has called Roberts “well-qualified.” ■ The bat mitzvah ceremony of Regina Maurie Broda of Dunwoody, the daughter of John and Mindy Broda, was held Saturday, June 4, 2005, at Temple Emanu-El. 25 Years Ago Sept. 28, 1990 ■ The rabbinically approved Oak Stump Farm Trap promises protection from swarming yellow jackets while your family celebrates Sukkot by eating meals in a suk-
YOU
kah. Simply hang the trap outside the sukkah, bait it with meat or fish and some sticky, sweet juice, and the stinging insects will wind up trapped in a glass jar. ■ The bar mitzvah of David Alan Silber of Atlanta, the son of Barry Silber of Pensacola, Fla., and Ava and Bill Feldman of Atlanta, will take place at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at B’nai Torah Synagogue. 50 Years Ago Sept. 24, 1965 ■ An all-out campaign to aid the victims of Hurricane Betsy is under way in the 105 B’nai B’rith lodges in cities covering the seven states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. The B’nai B’rith Supreme Lodge in Washington presented $500 to the Salvation Army and $500 to the American Red Cross. ■ Lynda Joyce Epstein, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Epstein of Atlanta, became the bride of Joel Schaffer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Abe Schaffer of Atlanta, Aug. 22 at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue.
are invited! “These songs will charm and engage young children while teaching them about Jewish concepts. They intertwine Hebrew with English words in a way that children will learn them seamlessly. I love the ‘Hashkiveinu’ lullaby for just that reason. I found myself singing ‘Who Built the Teva’ in my head because it is so catchy. I use ‘Oh Shabbos Come In’ with elders as well as with children.” Rabbi Cherie Koller-Fox President, NewCAJE
Sunday, October 4, 2015 FREE and open to the pubic!
Party/Concert celebrating the CD release of
the NEW album from
10:00 AM – Caterpillar puppet-making workshop 10:30 AM – Concert Marcus Jewish Community Center 5342 Tilly Mill Rd, Dunwoody GA 30338 www.baalshemtones.com
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SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Atlanta
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LOCAL NEWS
Labor of Love
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everal hundred Jewish Atlantans and out-of-town guests headed into the North Georgia mountains for Labor Day weekend and the seventh annual LimmudFest organized by Limmud Atlanta + Southeast at Camp Ramah Darom from Sept. 4 to 7.
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Photos by Joseph Aczel
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SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
A: Rabbi Rachael Bregman of Temple Beth Tefilloh in Brunswick, formerly the leader of The Temple’s Open Jewish Project, attends LimmudFest with her daughter, Lilith. B: Sammy Rosenbaum, who recently released his debut solo album, takes center stage during the musical extravaganza arranged by the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival on Sunday night. Other performers included the Baal Shem Tones, Sun Moon Pie and Andrew Hahn (the Kirtan Rabbi). C: Rabbi Michael Bernstein of Congregation Gesher L’Torah leads an egalitarian minyan, one of several minyanim offered each day. D: The LimmudFest community gathers for Havdalah. E: Limmudniks make blintzes during a session on reimagining Ashkenazi cuisine presented by Liz Alpern of the Gefilteria (www.gefilteria.com) in Brooklyn. F: LimmudFest has strong involvement from the under-30 crowd, drawn in part by Limmud’s YAD leadership development program. G: Acro-yoga is one of the activities at Camp Ramah@Limmud, which serves children ages 5 to 12. H: Adina Rudisch and her mother savor the sweetness of Shabbat during Havdalah. I: Chabad Intown Rabbi Ari Sollish and Gregg Brenner relax at LimmudFest. J: Limmud involves multiple generations learning together, such as (from left) Paulette Fuchs, Netanya Norry and Ana Robbins. K: LimmudFest serves as a family reunion weekend for some, including (from left) Phyllis Weiser, ModernTribe’s Jennie Rivlin Roberts and Isabelle Roberts.
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What’s the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon in October? Just ask Dexter Caffey, and he’ll tell you it’s volunteering for Super Sunday. In fact, Dexter, who is not Jewish, began volunteering for Federation more than four years ago and is honored to support Super Sunday and Federation’s Community Campaign. Dexter’s early life was challenging. He raised the funds to send himself to a private school by working at the local private Jewish country club. During his tenure, a member who frequented the club took Dexter under his wing and mentored him, sharing Jewish values of discipline and dedication to help motivate Dexter towards his future. Dexter lived by the lessons he learned from his mentor, ultimately becoming the successful business owner he is today. Dexter decided to give back to the community that supported him through those difficult years. He chose Federation as the Jewish organization that would help him pursue this goal, and immediately became a Super Sunday volunteer. This past July Dexter was inspired on his first trip to Israel, accompanied by 70 Federation volunteers and professionals from around North America on a seven-day mission. During the mission he had the opportunity to hear from individuals and families who have benefited from Federation. Countless experiences and individuals touched Dexter, further exposing him to the various ways in which Federation helps Jews in need around the world. This year, Federation has moved Super Sunday from December to October 18. Dexter is ready. In fact, he’s already inspired friends to support the people he met this summer. He’s excited to help more. Get ready for a call from Dexter and other Federation volunteers…or sign up to volunteer yourself at JewishAtlanta.org/supersunday.
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ONEDAY ONECALL ONECOMMUNITY
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October 18, 2015 8:30 am - 7 pm The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy
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JewishAtlanta.org/supersunday For questions, call Lisa Lebovitz at 678.222.3721 We are proud to continue our Community Incentive Program and Golden Phone Award Don’t forget to brin your g cell ph one!
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Chairs: Dexter Caffey, Ellen Goldstein, Adrian Grant, Beth and Jeffrey Kess Campaign Chair: Betty S. Sunshine Campaign Vice Chair: Mark Silberman
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Dexter’s calling...
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No Butts About It
Kosher BBQ Competition is set to get smoking in mid-October By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
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he Atlanta Kosher BBQ Competition is back after a year’s hiatus with a new presenting organization and a beefier location. Last held in October 2013 at Congregation B’nai Torah, the former presenter, the Atlanta Kashruth Commission-supervised festivities are moving to Dunwoody’s Brook Run Park under the Hebrew Order of David. With four times the space at Brook Run Park, the event could draw 3,000 to 5,000 between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, said one of the organizers, Jody Pollack. At B’nai Torah, 1,000 to 1,200 people attended. Pollack said the competition (www.theatlantakosherbbq.com) was nearly an HOD production from the beginning. Adam Waxman, the current president of the HOD Bezalel lodge in East Cobb, and Pollack were talking about a kosher barbecue event to raise the HOD profile when they learned that B’nai Torah already was planning a competition for October 2012.
So HOD helped B’nai Torah, including assembling grills and cleaning. “It was just a really wonderful event,” Pollack said. “Completely exhausting, but a wonderful event.” About a dozen teams competed in the inaugural event, and 19 entered in 2013. But B’nai Torah was a massive construction site a year ago and couldn’t host the third-annual event. With renovations continuing this year, three of the four local HOD lodges happily took on the festival. “We got the presidents together and said we’re doing this. Everybody is 100 percent behind us,” said Pollack, who leads the HOD lodge in Alpharetta. The lodges in East Cobb and Sandy Springs also are involved. The lodge in Toco Hills couldn’t participate as a group, but some members are, including Atlanta Jewish Music Festival head Russell Gottschalk, who is organizing the musical entertainment. “HOD being community-oriented, this is a phenomenal way to showcase what we do,” Pollack said. The proceeds from the competition will go to charities designated by the lodges:
Jewish Home Life Communities’ Weinstein Hospice; Jewish Family & Career Services’ JETS transportation system; the Atlanta Community Food Bank; JScreen; Gift of Life; and I Care Atlanta. B’nai Torah remains a sponsor and is where about 30 teams are expected to gather Thursday night, Oct. 15, for food preparation. By 10 that night, all the food will be locked into a mobile refrigerated container at B’nai Torah. The competitors have a good time while doing good. Pollack said the atmosphere during the low-and-slow process of barbecuing brisket, beef ribs, chicken thighs and beans is like “a summer camp around the campfire” as teams sample one another’s sauces, of-
fer tips and share some of their secrets. A rabbi lights the cooking fires Saturday night after 9; the food goes to the judges around 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Noncompetitors can sample teams’ food for $1 per nibble and can purchase more food from kosher vendors. In addition to music, attractions include inflatables, face painting, a mechanical bull, Circus Camp, the Purple Hippo and a pickle-eating contest. Adult attractions include a Big Green Egg cooking demo and raffle. Plus, attendees will have a say in choosing the winner of the coveted Marvin Rembo Fan Favorite Award. “It’s a great way to spend a day,” Pollack said. ■
Show Your Sizzle
If you and some friends want to get in on the fun of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Competition, contact Matt Dickson right away at BBQTeams@TheAtlantaKosherBBQ. com. There’s no official registration deadline, but organizers wanted to have the lineup mostly set by Rosh Hashanah. The entry fee is $425 — which covers two Weber Silver Elite kettle smokers, 15 hours of charcoal, the meat and kosher food ingredients, all the utensils and other implements, and two tables and chairs — plus a $100 cleaning deposit. A clever team name, a creative booth design, and a mouth-watering recipe for a rub or sauce also help.
Fond Farewell for Rabbi Feldstein
Congregation B’nai Israel is ready to celebrate its spiritual leader Photos courtesy of Congregation B’nai Israel Left: Rabbi Lou Feldstein has been the spiritual leader of Congregation B’nai Israel for 13 years. Right: Rabbi Lou Feldstein has some fun during Simchat Torah.
By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
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he only rabbi Congregation B’nai Israel has known in the 13 years in its current home in Jonesboro is retiring, and the south-side synagogue is celebrating Rabbi Lou Feldstein with a community party Saturday night, Sept. 26. “He’s very important to all of us,” B’nai Israel President Sharon Hudgins said. “He’ll always be a part of the congregational family.” Rabbi Feldstein, known to many north of Interstate 20 from his time leading the young-adult outreach organization Atlanta YAD and his service as the chief operating officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, has held the Reform congregation’s pulpit on a part-time basis since 2002. He has led services for High Holidays, simchas and other special occasions, and the occasional Shabbat; Susan Burden has filled the gaps as the congregation’s rabbinic lay leader. But Rabbi Feldstein has had to commute from north of Atlanta — he’s
a member of Congregation Beth Shalom in Dunwoody — and has built an organizational and change management consulting business, Dynamic Change Solutions, which has taken his time and attention the past three years. So he’s moving to emeritus status in October, and the 89-family congregation is bringing in a part-time rabbi from Washington state, Rabbi Rick Harkavy, who will live in the Fayetteville area. “It’s just time to have somebody in the community,” Hudgins said. Rabbi Harkavy is due to arrive the first week
“It should be a lovely evening,” she said. Although the RSVP due date was Sept. 16, Hudgins encouraged anyone who wants to honor Rabbi Feldstein to join the business-casual party and pay the $15 admission at the door. “He’s just a very important part of our congregational family,” Hudgins said of Rabbi Feldstein, “and through him we’ve been able to survive and grow south of Atlanta.” ■ of October. But first B’nai Israel is holding its family celebration of Rabbi Feldstein at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, at the synagogue. The party will include heavy hors d’oeuvres and adult beverages, a few words from each of the four congregational presidents who have worked with him, and some surprises Hudgins didn’t want to give away.
What: Celebration of Rabbi Lou Feldstein Where: Congregation B’nai Torah, 1633 Highway 54 East, Jonesboro When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 Admission: $15 per person or $50 for a family of four Information: shudgins@bnai-israel.net
CALENDAR
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SUNDAY, SEPT. 27
Sukkot open house. Chabad Intown welcomes the community to celebrate the first night of Sukkot at Rabbi Eliyahu and Dena Schusterman’s sukkah, 990 St. Charles Ave., Virginia-Highland, for sushi, scotch or other cocktails, and socializing. Story time for children is at 6:45 p.m.; adults are welcome at 8. Free; dena@chabadintown.org.
CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES
Parshah Ha’Azinu Friday, Sept. 25, light candles at 7:12 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, Shabbat ends at 8:06 p.m. Arlington Sukkot Gathering key documents. Jewish Park at 7:10 p.m. Sunday, Sept.Memorial 27, light candles Home Life Communities presents Part SanDy Monday, Sept. 28, lightSPRingS candles after 8:03 p.m. 1 of “Preparing Your Top Drawer File,” Tuesday, Sept. 29, yontif ends at 8:02 p.m. 404-255-0750 ArlingtonMemorialPark.com a program providing information and Shabbat During Sukkot tools to create your own file of imporFriday, Oct. 2, light candles at 7:03 p.m. tant medical, legal and financial docuSaturday, Oct. 3, Shabbat ends at 7:56 p.m. ments to ensure that your care preferShemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah M1726_0437_ArlingtonMP_PNT_Comm_4-44x11-75_C.indd 1 ences are followed, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sunday, Oct. 4, light candles at 7 p.m. the William Breman Jewish Home, 3150 Monday, Oct. 5, light candles after 7:54 p.m. Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. Free; RSVP Tuesday, Oct. 6, holiday ends at 7:52 p.m. to 404-351-8412 or JewishHomeLife.org.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30
Sukkot open house. Berman Commons, 2026 Womack Road, Dunwoody, invites the public for food and fun from 2 to 4 p.m. Free; RSVP to 678-222-7500 or info@bermancommons.org.
THURSDAY, OCT. 1
Post-LimmudFest party. Limmud Atlanta + Southeast celebrates this year’s festival volunteers in Amy Price’s sukkah at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in planning the 2016 LimmudFest also is invited. Free; leslie.mallard@limmudse.org for the address. Sushi in the sukkah. Learn to roll your own sushi while socializing with YITH Young Professionals at 8 p.m. at the sukkah at Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the door; www.yith. org or 404-315-1417.
SATURDAY, OCT. 3
Sukkah brunch. The Sixth Point holds its second annual “shabbrunch” with a challah taste test in a sukkah at the Levy home, 2884 Parkridge Drive, Brookhaven, at 11 a.m. For adults only. The fee is $10; thesixthpoint.org/event/ shabbat-shabbrunch-in-the-sukkah.
Book Festival prologue. Knesset member Michael Oren speaks about his latest book, “Ally,” a memoir of his time as Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013, in a prologue to November’s Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center at 7:30 p.m. at Atlanta Jewish Academy, 5200 Northland Drive, Sandy Springs. Tickets are $18 for JCC members, $24 for nonmembers; www.atlantajcc.org/ bookfestival or 678-812-4005.
Ethics in science. Arri Eisen of Emory’s Center for Ethics addresses “The Convergence of Science and Religion” to inaugurate the Dr. Paul Fernhoff Ethics in Science Program Lecture at Atlanta Jewish Academy, 5200 Northland Drive, Sandy Springs, at 7 p.m. Free; secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=e4b126.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14
A woman’s touch. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Women’s Philanthropy Division hosts Jeannie Opdyke Smith, whose Polish Catholic mother as a teenager saved Jews from the Nazis, for an event called “One Woman Can Make an Impact.” Sign in at Congregation B’nai Torah, Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy 7/27/15 11:44 700 AM Springs, starts at 6:15 p.m.; dinner is at 7. Tickets are $54, available to those who have donated at least $365 to the 2016 Community Campaign. Any in2 of “Preparing Your Top Drawer File,” crease from 2015 donation levels to get a program providing information and to $365 will be matched. Register by tools to create your own file of impor- Oct. 6; www.jewishatlanta.org/wpfaltant medical, legal and financial docu- levent or 678-222-3702 ments to ensure that your care preferences are followed, from 2 to 4 p.m. at THURSDAY, OCT. 15 the William Breman Jewish Home, 3150 Dealing with elderly parents. AJT conHowell Mill Road, Atlanta. Free; RSVP tributor Nancy Kriseman leads a workto 404-351-8412 or JewishHomeLife.org. shop at the Renaissance on Peachtree, 3755 Peachtree Road, Buckhead, at 5 Jewish wonders. Rabbi Ken Spiro (ken- p.m. on approaching such care topics spiro.com) talks about “The 7 Wonders as moving a parent into assisted living, of Jewish History” at 4 p.m. at Atlanta giving up driving, going to the doctor, Jewish Academy, 5200 Northland Drive, and handling someone with dementia Sandy Springs. Free; www.facebook. or depression. Free; rmatthews@arborcom/events/629742260501446. company.com or 404-237-2323. Send items for the calendar to submissions@atljewishtimes.com.
SATURDAY, OCT. 10
Film and friendship. Greater Atlanta Hadassah’s Ketura Group shows “Serial (Bad) Weddings” and serves dessert in Alpharetta at 7:15 p.m. The fee is $12 ($6 for prospective members); RSVP by Sept. 28 to rsvp2mffried@gmail.com or 770-442-2854.
SUNDAY, OCT. 11
Album release party. The Baal Shem Tones celebrate the release of “8 Songs for Children” with a puppet-making workshop at 10 a.m. and a concert at 10:30 at the Marcus Jewish Community Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.baalshemtones.com.
Walk to fight cancer. Relay for Life of Ruach, the only American Cancer Society Relay for Life held on a Sunday, begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 8 at North Springs Charter High School, 7447 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Sign up at www.RelayForLife.org/ruachga.
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
SUNDAY, OCT. 4
Atlanta Hadassah holds a panel discussion on human trafficking in Atlanta and beyond with experts from the DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office, the Interfaith Children’s Movement and Covenant House at 7 p.m. at Congregation B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs. Light refreshments are served at 6:30. The suggested donation is $10; RSVP by Oct. 2 to gahprogramming@gmail.com.
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WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7
Gathering key documents. Jewish Home Life Communities presents Part
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Human trafficking program. Greater
AJT
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OPINION
Our View
Stones’ Throw
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SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
he violence on and around the Temple Mount since the day before Rosh Hashanah has demonstrated again that Israel is losing the battle for international support. Palestinians stockpiled stones and explosives at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound with plans to riot. For the safety of visitors of all faiths to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall plaza below, police moved in to seize the weapons without entering the mosque and thus fell into a propaganda trap. The Palestinians’ defense of the unrest involves rumors that Israel plans to divide the Temple Mount, to allow Jews to pray there or even rebuild the Temple — proposals that are not real. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that Israel has no desire to change the rules in place since 1967 or the Jordanian governance secured by the 1994 peace treaty. Under that status quo, the only people with religious freedom at the Temple Mount are Muslims. Muslims administer and may pray on the mount. Jewish access is limited, and Jewish prayer is banned. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas — the supposed voice of moderation — fed the incitement by declaring that Jewish feet defile what Muslims refer to as Haram Al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). Palestine Liberation Organization official Saeb Erekat, a fixture in any Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, accused Israel of trying to start a religious war. Israel’s actions have focused on protecting civilians: tourists who want to visit the holiest site in Judaism, the third-holiest site in Islam, and the site that drew Jesus to Jerusalem; people who want to pray at the foot of the Western Wall below; and even those who want to worship in peace at the mosque. While discussing permission to use live ammunition in limited situations, Israel has stuck to nonlethal methods — tear gas and rubber bullets — to quell Palestinians wielding low-tech but deadly stones and homemade explosives such as Molotov cocktails. As of this writing, the violence in Jerusalem since Sept. 13 has resulted in one death: a Jewish man, Alexander Levlovitz, 64, killed when he crashed while driving through a hail of Palestinian-hurled stones. Yet the criticism and condemnation have, of course, been directed at Israel. Egypt has called on Israel to ease the tensions, and Jordan has threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel. The U.N. Security Council issued a onesided statement Thursday, Sept. 17, that referred five times to “Haram Al-Sharif” and emphasized Muslims being able to worship in peace but never referenced “the Temple Mount” or Jewish ties to the site. Israel is stuck with the dual responsibility of ending the violence and ensuring the safety of visitors and worshippers, a no-win situation. Do nothing, and Palestinian rioters will hurt or kill people. Act against the instigators, and the world will blame Israel for provoking the violence. Resorting to deadly force would only increase the condemnation. Netanyahu’s plan to increase the punishment for stone throwers is overdue, but it’s a mistake to use live ammunition. In a frustrating situation, Israel’s best option is to respond as little as possible, ignore the international criticism, and let the Palestinians 10 grow bored with this one of their deadly games. ■
AJT
Israel’s Cameo in GOP Debate
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world, not America, would look different at the end missed the Republican presidential debate of his or her presidency. Wednesday, Sept. 16, while attending a screening Yes, four of the 11 candidates mentioned Israel, of “Rosenwald” at the Landmark Midtown Art but Mike Huckabee, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio did Cinema (see my review on Page 20). so in the context of vowing to improve relations with Imagine my surprise when I hit Twitter for instant analysis, only to find many Jewish journalists all allies. Rubio also mentioned Japan and South Korea — a smart move for pandering because the and analysts responding not to the debate itself, but United States has to this tweet from conservative 2½ times as many commentator Ann Coulter: Asian-Americans as “How many f---ing Jews do Jews. Chris Christie these people think there are in Editor’s Notebook was talking about the United States?” By Michael Jacobs Iran when he referThe dashes in the f-word are mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com enced Israel, promisCoulter’s, not mine, because, as ing not to negotiate Tablet’s Yair Rosenberg tweeted, with people who she didn’t want to offend anyone. chant “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” “Roughly six million” was the straight-faced Coulter tweeted that Huckabee seemed to be response to Coulter from the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldrunning for prime minister of Israel, but he didn’t berg. Someone else estimated how many American offer much of a platform. He merely promised that Jews were engaged in the act Coulter used as a deno one would threaten Israel or any other allies. rogatory adjective and came up with about 4,300. The only true pro-Israel pandering, surely Coulter also inspired plenty of anti-Semitic ventargeting Southern evangelical Christians more than om because that’s the Internet; if you care to sample Jews, came from Cruz, who promised to move the the hatred, search “#IStandWithAnn” on Twitter. U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem if he’s elected. That’s a Coulter, who separates herself from much of standard campaign promise from both sides of the Fox News’ blond brigade by intentionally stirring political aisle, but no president is likely to fulfill it. up outrage, later claimed staunch support for Israel The most meaningful Jewish reference came and explained her tweet as part of a series criticizing from Ohio Gov. John Kasich. He didn’t mention candidates’ pandering performance. Israel but referred to a line on his state’s Holocaust The tweet immediately before “f---ing Jews”: memorial: “If you’ve saved one life, you’ve changed “Cruz, Huckabee Rubio all mentioned ISRAEL in the world.” It’s a line he has used before, including at their response to: ‘What will AMERICA look like his campaign launch, and he got the Talmudic quote after you are president.’ ” on the memorial wrong. The actual line: “If you save My New Year’s resolution is to resist spreading one life, it is as if you saved the world.” lashon hara, so I don’t want to make this about CoulBut in a political environment in which every ter. But as one of the 6 million Americans supposcandidate expresses strong support for Israel, as edly being pandered to, I was excited to hear what the current White House resident does, I’m more the candidates had said that set her off. interested in a person’s character and encouraged by Unfortunately, her Twitter rant was misleading. Jake Tapper asked each candidate to explain how the anyone inspired by the wisdom of our ancestors. ■
OPINION
Newer South Needs Frank Exoneration Newer South. Underneath that bigger tent is a very large picnic table. At that picnic table families with the last name of Brumby and Barnes and Glover, Kirby and Kinney and Flournoy happily sit side by side with families who have last names like Olens and Pearlberg, Schuster and Goldstein. From my perspective, if Atlanta is the crown of the South, then the city of Marietta is its jewel.
Guest Column By Rabbi Steven Lebow
But, that aside, here’s what I have done for Society: In the Newer South we are prepared to struggle with a difficult past to prepare for a better future. In this South the old battle emblems of the Confederacy have been retired to the museums where they belong. And in Cobb County there is little to no opposition to same-sex marriage. In the Newer South the time has come to finally acknowledge that Leo Frank was innocent. If we, like everyone in the city of Marietta, wishes to put aside the painful legacy of the lynching of Leo Frank, then let us acknowledge that it is not possible to make the future good unless we are willing to make the past right. That is all I have ever asked for. Nothing more is needed. But nothing less will do. ■ Steven Lebow is the senior rabbi at Temple Kol Emeth.
Season Opening Celebration Saturday, October 10, 2015 • 3:00 PM
You know that option you have on your driver’s license about being an Organ Donor? My friend and I started that program in 1968. It was adopted by the Kidney Foundation and later picked up by Divisions of Motor Vehicles. I have formed Blood Banks for communities and synagogues and associations. I served as Israel Bonds chairman in Northern Virginia in 1967 and when the 6 Day War broke out, I created the method for borrowing money to buy bigger bonds. I had to explain to the DC director and the New York bank how to make it work. Others copied me Big Time!! I was Advance Gifts Chairman for the United Jewish Appeal in Northern Virginia for 2 years and gave 20% of my GROSS INCOME those years. I love providing people with Peace of Mind through providing them with quality life and disability insurance products with A+ companies. I also find and help correct errors for people who would otherwise be unaware of the pain and heartaches caused by errors in applications for insurance and other errors UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE!! Take advantage of my experience and let me review your policies for you. NO CHARGE. Then, if we do business... fine. If not, I won’t go hungry. Besides, one-half of my new commissions are pledged to 3 charities. Friends Of Magen David Adom, Friends of IDF & local Jewish Poor.
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At age 91, it would surely be sinful.
9/18/2015 11:01:09 AM
smithmayerruthg@bellsouth.net
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
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he lynching of Leo Frank, or of any man or woman, is not easily put aside. We cannot minimize the lynching or deny it, but ultimately we must get beyond it. First, it is worth it to note that the lynching happened 100 years ago. It happened in a Georgia that is now long gone. The lynching of Leo Frank was, in a way, the beginning of the end of that older South. To paraphrase Henry Grady, we are living in what I like to call the Newer South. It is a Georgia that has a completely different landscape from any Georgia that has been before. For the past quartercentury, as part of my belief in the Newer South, I have advocated for an exoneration for Leo Frank. How hard could it be for the Georgia House and Senate to pass a nonbinding resolution saying, “Resolved: In the light of history it is fair to assume that Leo M. Frank was innocent of all charges”? How hard could that possibly be? For Leo Frank and for all of us, justice is the debt that the present owes the future. All bona fide historians now agree that Frank was innocent. Clearing Frank’s name should be easy. The era of anti-Semitism and racism is long departed from Marietta. I’ve lived here 30 years and have never experienced racist remarks or antiSemitic actions. If truth be told, the people of the city of Marietta are among the nicest and most decent people I have ever met. There is a very large tent in the
Would I Lie To You?!!
AJT 11
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OPINION
The Meanings of Home
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beam of sunlight shone through a window near the sanctuary ceiling and onto my face. I removed my glasses and closed my eyes to take in the warmth. This sanctuary is home to a congregation of another faith that graciously makes it available for our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, when the combination of members and guests numbers a few hundred. Our congregation is moving into its first permanent home — even as renovations continue — after worshipping in rented spaces for nearly 30 years. The significance of this development is not lost on the membership, especially those of long standing. It was appropriate that our rabbi began the new year by discussing the concept of home in a material and spiritual sense. In your home there is no need to hide or conceal any part of your identity, as you might when seeking acceptance in the world outside. In your
home you can feel more secure and confident about your future, whether you are an individual or, in this case, a congregation. It also was appropriate to connect the congregation’s good fortune with the waves of humanity making their way from parts of the Middle East into Europe. Much of the current traffic
From Where I Sit By Dave Schechter dschechter@atljewishtimes.com
originated in Syria, where a civil war in recent years has displaced several million people, as well as South Sudan and Libya. It seemingly required the online sensation of a heart-wrenching photograph of a 3-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed ashore in Turkey to extend American awareness of this humanitarian crisis beyond those who regularly follow world events.
Fall for October Don’t Miss These Special Sections: Oct. 2 Travel Oct. 9 Health & Wellness Oct. 16 Book Festival Preview/Education Oct. 23 Simchas
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Got a story idea for any of these or other AJT issues?
AJT 12
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Atlanta
This situation defies glib suggestions made by politicians and pundits living comfortably thousands of miles away. Who is to blame for the Syrian conflict and how (and whether) it can be resolved peacefully are subjects for other times and other forums. I read articles debating whether these people are motivated by a need to escape war and oppression or (just) to secure a better economic future; whether, depending on their circumstances, they should be called refugees or migrants; whether they will be exploited to form a Muslim fifth column in Europe; and why they are less welcome in lands occupied by their co-religionists and ethnic brethren. Those issues are secondary for the masses on the move, whose immediate needs are shelter and food, and for the governments of European countries in varying degrees of economic health that are displaying varying degrees of hospitality, as thousands daily cross borders on foot, on boats, in trucks and on trains. Throughout their history, the Jewish people have known something about being forced to flee their homes in the face of attack and oppression. Seventy-five years ago, some of the European nations now facing
the quandary of how to receive “the stranger” were complicit in the persecution of the Jews living among them. During these days of introspection, American Jews might ponder how this nation — as it has often in our lifetimes — should respond to a humanitarian crisis. The Torah, in Leviticus 19:34, includes an admonition to treat well the stranger living among you because you once were strangers in the land of Egypt. Then there are the words of the poem “The New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, gracing the Statue of Liberty: “Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempesttost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” ■
Letters to Editor
of guilt or innocence. Despite its shortcomings, on balance the 1986 pardon of Frank was the right thing for the state of Georgia to do as a first significant step toward righting this wrong. Now it is time, as you have so eloquently said, for the Georgia General Assembly and/or Gov. Nathan Deal to pass and sign a resolution exonerating Frank to carry him “past the innocence finish line.” After all, Georgia’s nextdoor neighbor, Alabama, did the same thing with the Scottsboro Boys in April 2013. — Richard Mamches, Plantation, Fla.
Clear Leo Frank As one who has extensively studied about the Leo Frank case since I first learned about it in my U.S. history class at Miami-Dade College in 1972, I must say that I agree with your editorial that Leo Frank should receive final exoneration (“Our View: The Pardon,” Aug. 21). I wrote an essay about the case a few years ago, “Why the Leo Frank Pardon Is Important,” available online through the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation at jashp1. wordpress.com/tag/leo-frank, explaining how the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles’ pardon of Frank opened his case to honest dialogue and discussion and led to author Steve Oney writing the best history ever about this tragic episode, “And the Dead Shall Rise.” Though the pardon did not declare him innocent, it did say in effect that the state’s failure to protect Frank from the lynch mob (Oney exposed, named and shamed those responsible for this heinous crime) trumped the question
Dave Schechter is a veteran journalist whose career includes writing and producing reports from Israel and the Middle East.
Regarding the Iran Deal Obama’s Folly Chamberlain’s Peace Munich, 1938 Israel Erased AGAIN! — Judith Stein Golick, Atlanta Write to Us Send letters to Editor Michael Jacobs at mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com. Include the town where you live and a phone for verification.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Vicious Cycle Of Emotions, Pain, Posture than those who are healthy and confident. The upper back is often slouched, and shoulders are rounded forward. Oftentimes, the head is forward of the shoulders, putting a great deal of stress on the brainstem and spinal cord; this condition can lead to a myriad of
Guest Column By David Shapiro DrShapiro@CompleteSpineSolutions.com
health consequences. Once posture is altered, it usually will not fully recover to normal on its own, even when there is a positive change in a person’s emotional state. However, the emotional state will still be negatively affected by the poor posture, which is evidenced in published studies linking posture to emotional state. The importance of good posture is underrated. The consequences of poor posture are both mechanical and neurological: progressive degeneration of vertebrae and discs, increased risk of falls and fractures, decreased range of motion, fatigue, spinal cord tension, back pain, neck pain, headaches, decreased lung capacity, stress on organs, disability, and even mortality. These consequences of poor posture have been published in leading medical journals. To correct abnormal spinal structure, the specially trained chiropractor will scientifically and mathematically analyze current spinal structure as compared with normal, then will develop a clinical protocol to nonsurgically and objectively improve spinal biomechanics. It is by no means a one-size-fits-all protocol and can take months or even a year in severe cases. Emotional state affects physical state. Conversely, physical state affects emotional state. The takeaway: When a person is being treated for depression or other emotional challenges, consider simultaneously improving spinal structure for the quickest and best outcome. ■ Dr. David Shapiro, certified at the highest level in chiropractic biophysics, is the founder and chief wellness officer of Complete Spine Solutions in Tucker.
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SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
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n over two decades of chiropractic practice, I have noticed an interesting phenomenon. For the most part, patients seek me out to ease their physical pain. Patients in pain sometimes come in with several of the following demeanors: agitated, depressed, grumpy, curt, quiet, angry, introverted, nonsocial. Within a short period of time, as we are able to resolve their pain, either partially or fully, we usually witness dramatic changes in their emotional states. To illustrate this point, let me tell you about a recent patient I will call Mike. He came in after a recent automobile accident (car vs. deer) and would best be described as cynical, cold, curt, distrusting, and maybe even downright rude and inappropriate. In addition to his personal life being in shambles, he was now in physical pain. After a couple of weeks of care, Mike underwent a transformation. He stopped complaining. He became jovial, much more interactive and almost pleasant to be around, and he began to smile. I recently had a long talk with Mike, who was excited to share his progress. We can all relate to why, under the circumstances, Mike exhibited those negative initial behaviors. His pain was affecting his life, job and personal relationships; his physical and emotional distress manifested itself in poor posture, leading to a complete change in physiology. Our standing and sitting postures affect how we think and feel about ourselves and how others see us. When we observe people who have poor posture, we consciously or unconsciously form impressions about them. Thoughts like weak, victim, unhealthy and depressed may go through our minds. This compromised stature can have a huge life impact, such as not getting hired for a job, lacking confidence or becoming a target on the street. If you hurt, and, even worse, if you don’t have hope of your pain’s resolution, a negative mindset often will follow. People who have chronic or even a recent onset of pain can become depressed. Depression, over time, can alter posture and thereby change spinal structure. People who are depressed or sad usually hold themselves differently
AJT 13
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
WISH and Faith Fight Infertility
Support havurah’s panel of experts charts path to success By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
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aniel Shapiro, a physician who is a specialist in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Reproductive Biology Associates in Sandy Springs, has three children after 28 years of marriage and never thought of himself as a fertility patient. But as he told the inaugural communitywide meeting of the Wo/Men’s Infertility Support Havurah at Temple Sinai on Aug. 30, he and his obstetrician-gynecologist wife with each child experienced the same kinds of problems that become obstacles to many couples. They had no trouble getting pregnant and had a normal pregnancy through almost 34 weeks when Shapiro’s wife suffered a placental abruption that she, Shapiro and their OB/GYN managed to miss. If he and his wife hadn’t both been physicians, Shapiro said, they wouldn’t have reacted quickly enough, and their daughter would have died. As it was, she suffered severe
Photos by Michael Jacobs
oxygen deprivation and spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit; now she’s a senior at the University of Pennsylvania. Their second child, a son, was a breach baby and could not be turned into the proper position for a natural birth. After a break, they got greedy, Shapiro said, and decided to have a third child. Because the mother was going to be 38 at the birth, they had an amniocentesis at 17 weeks, and lost the fetus. They lost three more pregnancies before having their third child. Shapiro’s point: “There are so many things that can go wrong when
trying to family-build.” The point of the WISH program, called “From If to When,” was that you don’t have to suffer alone or in silence if you’re among the one in six Jewish couples who struggle with infertility issues. Infertility is a growing issue in part because people are waiting longer
filming
John Ford Samuel Fuller George Stevens
from Hollywood to Nuremberg
May 6 - November 20, 2015 Hollywood directors John Ford, George Stevens, and Samuel Fuller created American cinema classics, but their most important contribution to history was their work in the U.S. Armed Forces and Secret Services.
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
An exhibition by the Mémorial de la Shoah, Paris, France.
AJT 14
AtlantaHistoryCenter.com/Filming
Samuel Fuller’s Bell & Howell Camera © Courtesy of the, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, California, Coll. Christa Fuller
Atlanta History Center
Top left: Dr. Daniel Shapiro says that the level of medical knowledge about infertility hasn’t advanced much in decades. Above: The WISH panel Aug. 30 consists of (from left) Jaime Gimpelson Ackerman, Jenn Hobby, Daniel Shapiro, Lynn Holland Goldman and Angela Arnold. Left: Temple Sinai Rabbi Elana Perry welcomes about 50 people to the synagogue for the WISH program and emphasizes that “no one has to face this issue alone.”
to try to have children, and a woman’s eggs have an expiration date, Shapiro said. Radio personality Jenn Hobby, whose second child arrived about two weeks after the WISH event, said it’s easy to let egos get in the way of seeking help and to be afraid of learning the truth about problems, but knowledge is power. She drew a lot of nods when she expressed frustration about people continually asking her how the effort to get pregnant was going, or saying, “My husband just looks at me, and I get pregnant.” Lynn Holland Goldman said her own fertility issues led her to practice law in two of the expensive, legally complicated ways: adoption and surrogacy. She said adoption can cost $8,000 to $50,000, depending on whether you go through the foster system, an agency or a foreign adoption. The expenses for surrogacy can top $90,000. Fertility testing and treatments also are expensive, Shapiro said, but a new testing platform that’s coming soon will cut the cost of pre-implantation genetic testing by 80 percent to about $1,000. The good news, Shapiro said, is that success usually comes from seeking help. “Most people who come into our clinic eventually get what they want.” ■ WISH plans to meet monthly, alternating between educational sessions like the one Aug. 30 and group support sessions. Each meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs. The schedule: Oct. 15, Nov. 12, Dec. 3, Jan. 14, Feb. 18, March 10, April 21 and May 26.
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LOCAL NEWS
What Goes Around Friendship Circle Comes Around Teen volunteers and children with special needs both benefit
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abbi Yale and Rickelle New began Friendship Circle of Atlanta in December 2011, soon after the couple married. From their home in Toco Hills, they have worked tirelessly to grow the program into a thriving resource, matching teenage volunteers with children who have special needs. “When we first started, we had about 10 participants and 20 volunteers,” Rickelle New said. “We now have 80 participants and 120 volunteers.” A native of Atlanta, the rabbi grew up in Sandy Springs, where his parents, Rabbi Yossi and Dassie New, have run Congregation Beth Tefillah and Chabad of Georgia for three decades. Like the elder Rabbi New, Rickelle New is originally from Melbourne, Australia. Friendship Circle is one of the fastest-growing Jewish organizations for children with special needs. With 79 locations around the world, it has forged friendships between 5,000 kids and nearly 11,000 teen volunteers. “The teens are craving to make a difference,” Rickelle New said. “They are so dedicated to their special friends. Some started for the community-service aspect, but they continued for that unparalleled feeling of impacting someone’s life in a positive way. It changes not just their special friend, but themselves as well.” The young Chabad couple works hard to spread the word about the mission. “One of our challenges is getting Friendship Circle out there. We want to make it a household name,” Rickelle New said, “so that even if you don’t have a child with special needs or don’t volunteer, you still know who we are and what we do.” Many synagogues and schools have opened their doors to Friendship Circle and have encouraged community involvement, she said. “They see the importance of acceptance for all, as well as for empowering our teens to be leaders and institute change.” Part of the program is intended to offer some respite to the parents. “Receiving calls from parents describing the impact their volunteer has had on their family goes beyond words, and email from volunteers and their parents expressing how much volunteering has brought to their lives makes it so rewarding,” she said. “It’s this kind of feedback that makes the
hard work, late nights and challenges well worth it.” One of the highlights, the rebbetzin added, is being at the programs and “seeing those smiles.” During the annual volunteer recognition event, the 300 attendees gave thunderous applause and a standing ovation to speaker Richard Bernstein of the Michigan Supreme Court, the first blind man elected a state Supreme Court justice. He took office Jan. 1. His appearance, the News said, celebrated overcoming adversity. One mother from Atlanta — parents asked that their names not be used to protect their children’s privacy — said of her daughter’s experience: “Rachel loves belonging to a warm and caring group of people. This has given her a feeling of self-confidence when she approaches others in the community, as well as new situations. “She’s not as shy, and she is willing to strike up a conversation more freely.
She lights up when she sees someone from Friendship Circle outside of one of the programs, whether it’s in shul or at the store.” A Cobb County mother wrote: “My son, Zach, has a group to go to that accepts him as he is. He doesn’t have to worry about saying or doing something odd, and he can be himself.” The program is equally beneficial for the volunteers, with lots of similar testimony about how their lives have changed through their involvement. “Through this program, I have had the chance to get to know Marla
Photos courtesy of Chabad.org
Top left: Volunteer Ruthie Tanenbaum with Etai. Top Right: Rabbi Yale and Rickelle New are the co-directors of Friendship Circle of Atlanta.
and learn about the obstacles she and her parents face,” volunteer Michelle Nelkin said. “I believe that forming a relationship with Marla has made me a better person because she and her loving family inspire me to be more accepting, caring and patient. In all, I’ve gained perspective, appreciation and a whole lot of friends.” ■
depths to which Weberthestudents students embrace creativeembrace processthe andcreative connectprocess with whoallows they ““TheWeber them to connect with who theyandarespiritually. artistically, are artistically, culturally, ” culturally, and spiritually.” - Hilda Willis Performing Arts, Director in Residence
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By Mindy Rubenstein mrubenstein@atljewishtimes.com
AJT 15
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EDUCATION
Davis Raising $7.5 Million
Academy is adding auditorium, sanctuary and dining hall By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com
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o build new and improved facilities for a growing student body, the Davis Academy has launched a $7.5 million capital campaign for its Sandy Springs campus. The biggest addition to the Reform day school will be a $3.9 million, 600seat performing arts center. The project also includes a 3,000-square-foot spiritual and community gathering space, a dining hall and kosher kitchen, and adaptable learning spaces. The school hopes to break ground on the facilities in the spring and complete construction by December 2016. “The Davis Academy has never really rested,” Head of School Amy Shafron said. “We have accomplished so much in our 23 years, and we’re very much known for an education that is progressive, forward-thinking and innovative. Educational trends are moving so quickly that you need to have the kind of spaces and learning resources that enable kids to get the finest edu-
Top: This artist’s rendering shows the 600-seat auditorium. Bottom: The spiritual and community gathering place will provide Davis Academy’s first true sanctuary.
cation. We want to make sure that our school environment supports the most progressive, forward-thinking and advanced educational programs.” The fundraising campaign recently entered its public phase after a year of privately seeking donors. Shafron said everyone is welcome to contribute at any level, and numerous naming recognition opportunities are available. The school’s last capital campaign was more than 12 years ago and helped to establish the Middle School building, which opened in August 2005. The current campaign aims to meet increased facility needs at both buildings and to improve group-based learning and communal student interaction. “Day schools are a very important component of the Jewish experience,” campaign co-chair Jon Leven said. “I did not have the opportunity to go to one, but it was extremely impactful
on my children, who attended Davis. Whether it’s Davis or Epstein or any other Jewish day school, I just feel that we as a community should be supportive of those institutions.” The performing arts center will be 10,000 square feet behind the Lower School media center. It will be slightly smaller than the 700-seat auditorium at Atlanta Jewish Academy’s Sandy Springs campus and more than double
the size of the 253-seat theater at the Marcus Jewish Community Center. “The Atlanta Jewish community has always generously stood by the Davis Academy, helping it to become the largest Reform Jewish day school in the country,” Shafron said. “Davis has always been a community enterprise, so it’s thrilling to see generations, past, present and future, participating and helping to sustain the school.” ■
Davis Grad Named Merit Semifinalist
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
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bi Szabo, a Davis Academy graduate, is one of three North Springs Charter High School students named 2016 National Merit semifinalists this month. The others from North Springs are Lilly Webster and Luke Muehring. The school honored the trio with a surprise reception attended by their parents Wednesday, Sept. 9. The National Merit Corp. recognized about 16,000 of the 1.5 million students who took the Preliminary SAT as high school juniors last fall. About 90 percent of them will become finalists, and 7,400 will receive National Merit Scholarships. Pictured (from left) are Peter, Kate and Lilly Webster; David, Luke and Veronica Muehring; Abi Szabo and her mother, Dr. Jennifer Aqua; and North Springs Principal Eddie Ruiz. Please send information about other local Jewish National Merit semifinalists to editor@atljewishtimes.com. ■
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EDUCATION
Student Teachers Connect Haifa, Ga. State, Epstein
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ewish day schools have a need for teachers who can deliver lessons in Hebrew. The University of Haifa has a desire to establish an international identity. Georgia State University has a high-quality school of education but a low profile in the Jewish community. A new program is addressing all three situations. Three Israelis from the University of Haifa are spending the first semester of their third and final year of college in metro Atlanta. Three days a week, they take classes at Georgia State in humanities, religion and education; two days a week, they work with students at the Epstein School. “It’s an exciting, pioneering thing,” said Rabbi Hanan Alexander, who is Haifa’s dean of students and heads the study-abroad efforts. The student teachers, who ran high school classrooms last year in Israel, are not taking lead roles at Epstein. As interns, their duties include observing teachers, designing and executing lesson plans, working with
His university is the youngest of students in small groups, assessing student progress, and sharing their Israeli Israel’s seven research universities experiences, said Tal Grinfas-David, and its most diverse. Arabs, including Christians from Nazareth and Haifa Epstein’s elementary school principal. Epstein students probably won’t and Druze from the north, make up a quarter of the student body. remember anything the “Hebrew University is Israelis teach them, but the university of the Jewish they’ll remember that the people, but we’re the univerthree were here, Rabbi Alsity of Israeli society,” Rabbi exander said. Alexander said. “We reflect The student teachers Israeli society, and we’re will graduate in the spring very proud of that.” with the training to be cerThe university is in tified in Israel and the Unitthe midst of an aggressive ed States. The expectation internationalization initiais that they will return to tive that includes sending Epstein to teach for a year Hanan Alexander is abroad 70 students a year, or two, then will launch caa Conservative rabbi reers in Israel, where they as well as an academic including those in the teachadministrator. er training program. will contribute to a growAtlanta’s big Jewish ing respect for religious population, large number and high pluralism, Rabbi Alexander said. “We’re taking an Israeli university. quality of day schools, and lack of JewWe’re putting it to the service of Ameri- ish higher-education resources made it can Jewish education, and we’re tak- a good choice for the program, as did ing American Jewish day schools and the presence of Georgia State, Rabbi Alputting them to the service of training exander said. Georgia State, like Haifa, Jewish educators for Israel,” he said. is a young university with a strong “So we’re cutting through a lot of the school of education, and the two universities are collaborating in a public dichotomies.”
health exchange program. He added, “Georgia State is undergoing an unbelievable revival.” Jewish education veteran Paul Flexner is serving as the trio’s mentor at Georgia State, and Rabbi Alexander said the Atlanta Jewish community has opened its hearts to welcome the student teachers. “Southern hospitality and Jewish warmth, it’s a great thing, and it’s wonderful to see.” Stan Sunshine is leading Atlanta fundraising efforts for the program, to which Haifa is making a long-term commitment. The university is selecting five or six of its best students each year to participate in the program, Rabbi Alexander said. Epstein is the first day school participating because Rabbi Alexander knew former Head of School Stan Beiner and because the first three Israelis’ religious history makes them a good match for the Conservative school. Rabbi Alexander said an Orthodox student scheduled to come to Atlanta next fall will be a good fit for Atlanta Jewish Academy, and he hopes to spread the program to other day schools. ■
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
AJT 17
EDUCATION
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
On Pace for New Place
Georgia Tech AEPi raising money to rebuild house By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com
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he Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house at Georgia Tech has stood at 714 Techwood Drive for nearly 60 years. A fire destroyed half the building in the 1970s, and it was rebuilt. Over the years, many a resourceful engineering student has deployed do-it-yourself additions and fixes to the house. Now the fraternity is set to replace the aging structure as part of a $1.3 million campaign. “This is probably the 12th attempt at rebuilding the house over the years,” fundraising chairman Stephen Raidbard said. “We are getting to a point now where the building is becoming so dilapidated, we don’t know how much longer it will stand. We are at the point where it’s time to start over.” With a large group of alumni, Raidbard has helped raise $1 million toward the $2.5 million needed to construct a new center for Jewish Greek life at Georgia Tech. An architect for
the project is being finalized, and construction is planned to start in fall 2016. Raidbard said the group wants to raise $300,000 more before construction, then finance the remaining $1.2 million. The new house will cover roughly An artist’s rendering shows that the new AEPi house will fill basically the same footprint as the current building. the same footprint seems to be that there are more and and efforts to rebuild in subsequent but will include a redesigned interior. more critics of Judaism and Israel. years resulted in what Raidbard called Project highlights include a 20 percent There’s always an Israeli flag flying at “Band-Aid repairs.” increase in average student room size, AEPi, so having the association that exIn addition to hosting AEPi events, traditional fraternity columns for the ists right now with this building as it the house is used by other Jewish camexterior, and a modern kosher kitch- looks does not exactly equate with the pus organizations for events, including en and dining area. The building will pride that we want our undergradu- Hillel, Chabad and the Jewish student house 34 AEPi members. ates and alumni to have as being part union. Raidbard said the new building The location of the fraternity, of a Jewish fraternity.” will be much more hospitable for all directly across from Bobby Dodd StaThe Zeta Chapter of AEPi at Geor- Jewish organizations and the 900 Jewdium on the corner of Techwood Drive gia Tech was established in 1920 and ish students on campus. and Bobby Dodd Way, is one of the has been at its current location since Those interested in contributing most coveted plots of land on campus. 1956. A fire in 1973 burned down half to the new AEPi house can contact “In the fall thousands of people the house, which was underinsured. Raidbard at steveraidbard@gmail.com walk by it every Saturday,” Raidbard The resulting rebuilding effort left or visit www.aepi.org/foundation/dosaid. “The nature of the world today the Georgia Tech chapter deep in debt, nate-now. ■
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Alumni Reflections
A few Georgia Tech AEPi alumni offer thoughts on the decaying frat house. For me, living in the house was fantastic, but it wasn’t actually the house — it was the time spent building friendships and relationships that took place in the house. I can still remember details of pledge pranks, meals, meetings, many, many hours of studying, meeting in front of the TV to watch “Mission: Impossible,” the long hours spent preparing the house for our jungle parties or psychedelic parties, and of course having our pledges conduct the nightly Vrun (taking and filling brothers’ orders from the Varsity). It was being involved with all of these things in the house that made the memories. — Kerry Landis, Class of 1970 Living in a house populated by 20-year-old male engineers meant that everything was always in the process of being broken, fixed or “improved.” Since the place was so out of shape, no one cared if you ripped out the old bed to install a hammock or other equally irrational replacement. I almost killed myself once ripping out wiring without thinking to turn off the circuit breaker first; I randomly used insulated wire cutters that flew out of my hand and embedded themselves in the wall behind me. I covered the resulting hole with a poster. This freedom let us tinker and build with no limits or supervision, probably making us better engineers in the process. So I am sad that whatever new building is built will lose that, but probably overall better that the current fraternity members aren’t living in a house held together with duct tape and inappropriately gauged wiring designed and built in one night by a second-year electrical engineering major after two beers and before a midterm cram session. — Dan Buckland, Class of 2004 Every semester you were free to remove any bed frames and rebuild your own exactly how you liked it. In this way, rooms would become upgraded over time. The bars I installed into my closet were free to be used by the next tenant. What we lacked in stainless-steel appliances, granite countertops, we made back with character. — Elan Grossman, Class of 2013
BUSINESS
www.atlantajewishtimes.com
Israel Helps Drive Retail Innovation By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
Herzliya, also presented its retail inno- decision at a store. Or shopping in per- picked up at another store. He said, “We vations to the crowd at IBM. The com- son could lead to a networked termi- were able to be relevant to our custompany provides customer experiences to nal in a store and an online purchase ers’ changing preferences.” ■ igh-tech innovation in Israel close the gap between digital and physextends to the retail world, as ical retail channels. The retail interface demonstrated July 22 at a dis- integrates customer-facing employees cussion organized by Conexx: America to answer questions so people buy inIsrael Business Connector. stead of abandoning virtual carts. Representatives of three Israeli Shannon Wu-Lebron, a portfolio companies — leader for IBM’s Screemo, EZFace global retail and Spreo — business, said teleconferenced retailers were into a gatherusually too risking of about 60 averse to tread people at IBM’s on the cutting Sandy Springs edge, but the sucoffices to demoncess of onlinestrate their retail only retailers innovations. such as Amazon Tel Avivhas forced brickbased Screemo and-mortar recreates mobile tailers to invest Photos by Michael Jacobs experiences for in research and retailers to en- IBM’s Bruce Kopkin and Shannon Wu-Lebron d e v e l o p m e n t play host to the Conexx retail discussion July 22. gage with cus- Kopkin noted that IBM has operated in Israel and innovate. tomers on the While some since 1972 and employs 1,500 people there. move. The key in the audience is to make those questioned how interactions fun through customized real retailers can survive in an increasgames that run on mobile phones and ingly virtual world, Wu-Lebron said keep the retailer in the potential cus- the millennial generation’s interest in tomer’s mind. The games create calls to being local, green and socially responaction that drive up sales and produce sible is expected to lead to a resurgence a buzz in social media. in people buying local instead of shopEZFace enhances the makeup ping online in the next five years. shopping experience with a free mobile Nitin Bhaskaran, who manages app called TryItOn. The app addresses the customer experience at the online a big problem in the $6.5 billion make- checkout for up market: Women buy a product, try the Home Deit once, then realize it’s not right for pot, said the them and never use it again. TryItOn trend is toward photographs and analyzes a face with the integrated, 6 Beds | 5 Baths | Finished Terrace Level extreme precision, then shows exactly o m n i c h a n n e l A Forever Neighborhood, Forever Great what a particular makeup will look like retail world Schools, Forever Great Home… This on that face after the woman scans a supported by Home is Smashingly Great! From the product code while shopping. The app Jacada. includes social sharing so friends can Bhaskaran views of the lake to the enormous rooms. see and comment on how the blush, lip- said the retail Renovated Granite and Stainless Kitchen stick or eyeliner will look. process is ciropens to Family Room, Bedroom and Full Spreo, which was founded by Is- cular for Home Bath on main, Living Room and Dining raelis Avi Sacajiu and Lior Meller and Depot customRoom. Master Retreat with renovated maintains research and development ers, who can enMaster Bath with heated stone flooring. 2207 LASALLE DRIVE in Haifa while being based in New ter and exit at Offered at $699,000 Finished Terrace level. Park-like backyard Marietta, GA 30062 York, takes Global Positioning System- any point. They and private lake. This beautiful home style navigation where GPS can’t go: might conduct is nestled in desirable Easthampton indoors in complexes such as shopping the entire prowith wonderful amenities that include malls, warehouses and hospitals. Using cess online or Clubhouse, Swim, Tennis, Playground, Bluetooth beacons, WiFi signal finger- in a store. Or Fitness Facility, Park and Lake. printing and a proprietary indoor loca- they might purtion algorithm, Spreo can help shop- chase online pers plan and carry out trips to the but pick up an PEGGY FELDMAN LAURA D. MOYE AMY BAROCAS 404-310-0895 Cell 404-316-8694 Cell 404-790-0913 Cell mall or help retailers locate scattered item at a store peggy.feldman@harrynorman.com laura.moye@harrynorman.com amy.barocas@harrynorman.com items to fulfill orders. or browse on4848 Ashford Dunwoody Rd • Atlanta, GA 30338 | www.harrynorman.com • 770-394-2131 Office Jacada, which has operated in At- line but make The above information is believed to be accurate but is nor warranted. Offer subject to errors, changes, omissions, prior sales and withdrawals without notice. 19 lanta for 25 years and has offices in the purchase
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EAST COBB, WALTON HIGH SCHOOL, EASTHAMPTON ON THE LAKE
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‘Rosenwald’: Eye-Opening Black-Jewish History By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
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ulius Rosenwald is one of the most important Jewish Americans of the first half of the 20th century. Whether you know why will go a long way to determining whether you like or love the documentary “Rosenwald.” The film represents 12 years of labor by Jewish filmmaker Aviva Kempner, known for her documentary about baseball star Hank Greenberg. Rosenwald was the Americanborn son of an immigrant from Germany, Samuel Rosenwald, who, just before the Civil War, combined success as a peddler and in the selection of a bride (the sister of the owner-operators of the store he worked for) to open a store in Springfield, Ill., across the street from a lawyer named Abraham Lincoln. Julius Rosenwald, born in 1862, followed his father and uncles into the sale of clothes, which led him to a partnership in Chicago with an up-and-coming retailer named Richard Sears. In 1895, Sears forced out his original partner, Roebuck, and sold half the company to Rosenwald and Rosenwald’s brotherin-law, Aaron Nusbaum, for $75,000. In a little more than a decade, Nusbaum and Sears were both gone, and Rosenwald alone ran a company that pioneered catalog sales, industrial-level retail fulfillment and stock ownership. Rosenwald was the retail world’s Henry Ford — a comparison that no doubt would have upset the anti-Semitic Ford — but because his name wasn’t on the company, his role in business history is often forgotten. Rosenwald should be remembered for the philanthropic work he did with his Sears fortune. By his death in 1932, he had given away $62 million, much to benefit the black community through: • The construction of 27 black YMCAs across the nation, including one in Atlanta. For each one, he pledged $25,000 as long as the community
came up with an additional $75,000. • The building of 5,357 schools for blacks in the South through a program inspired by Booker T. Washington. Rosenwald put up a third of the cost of each school — some of which were burned and rebuilt multiple times — while the black community put up one-third as well as the sweat equity to make the schools a reality. The white communities, usually meaning the public education authorities, contributed the balance of the money to keep up the fiction of separate but equal facilities. • A major housing development, the Michigan Avenue Garden Apartments, for blacks who migrated to Chicago from the South. The complex is being renovated to reopen by the end of 2016 under the Rosenwald name, something the man universally known as J.R. in his lifetime would have hated. • Career-making financial grants for many of the great academics, writers, painters, photographers, dancers, singers and other artists of the mid-20th century. As Kempner’s documentary tells it, the Rosenwald Fund essentially financed the Harlem Renaissance. It is fascinating to learn about the boost this Jewish philanthropist gave people such as Gordon Parks, Langston Hughes and Charles Drew, as well as a long list of people I wish I had heard of and plan to learn more about. The film is most powerful and most successful in showing through interviews with Rosenwald’s beneficiaries, descendants and admirers how he pursued tikkun olam. You cannot see the documentary without becoming an admirer of Rosenwald and his ideals. What gets lost, however, is the man himself. Until about 1912, when Rosenwald celebrates his 50th birthday by donating $687,500, we get a detailed biography, but the film then increasingly focuses on the effects of his philanthropy.
Much of that is understandable; after all, Kempner made the documentary to teach people about his importance, not his family life. But when Eleanor Roosevelt’s granddaughter explains the first lady’s role in Marian Anderson’s Lincoln Memorial performance and in the success of the Tuskegee Airmen, we’ve strayed
far from the subject of the film. That’s a shame because while we’re certain of Rosenwald’s importance and his shining example, we’re left with the essential question: Why? Why did he devote so much wealth and time to lifting up American blacks? The film offers partial answers: the Lincoln influence; Jewish ideals; the efforts of Booker T. Washington; the recognition of parallels between European pogroms and Southern lynchings. But the result is unsatisfying. Still, that’s a quibble, not a complaint. If what Rosenwald did is new to you, you’ll be amazed by Kempner’s work. If you know the basics of his sto-
Courtesy of Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library Booker T. Washington takes Julius Rosenwald on a tour of the Tuskegee Institute in 1915. Photo by Bruce Guthrie Aviva Kempner says a chance encounter with Julian Bond on Martha’s Vineyard 12 years ago inspired her to make “Rosenwald.”
ry, the details will delight you. And if you happen to be a Rosenwald scholar, or at least read Peter Ascoli’s 2006 biography of his grandfather, you’ll get a kick out of the clips Kempner assembled, including Clint Eastwood trying to pronounce Yiddish on “Rawhide.” ■
Film Helps Bond Give Back to Benefactor SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
“Rosenwald” director/producer/ writer Aviva Kempner credits civil rights leader Julian Bond with sparking her interest in Julius Rosenwald when he talked about his family’s connection to the Jewish philanthropist during a meeting on Martha’s Vineyard in 2003. Bond died Aug. 16, exactly a month before the special Midtown Art Cinema screening of the documentary 20 organized by the Atlanta Jewish Film
AJT
Festival, the Atlanta Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, and the Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition. But his presence was felt throughout the night. Parts of two interviews with Bond are scattered throughout the film. Along with writers Maya Angelou and Rita Dove and Congressman John Lewis, Bond is one of the standout interviewees in the documentary. He also was a focus of the post-
screening discussion among Kempner, Atlanta Daily World Publisher Emerita Alexis Scott, and Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond, Bond’s son. “It was lucky for me that he inspired me and lived near me” in Washington, Kempner said about Bond. Michael Bond explained that the Rosenwald Fund helped his grandfather launch his academic career. “There are many good philanthro-
pists around the country,” he said, “but I don’t think there’s anyone who has helped out the African-American community as Mr. Rosenwald has.” Kempner said she hopes the story of Rosenwald’s donation of $62 million during his lifetime, equivalent to almost $1 billion today, leads to more charity and more tikkun olam. “Let this film inspire more changes in the country. We need them.” ■
Leaving Us Laughing
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when he said that he should marry a enny Marcus, a three-time Palestinian and that their offspring David Letterman guest, did his would be “suicide bankers.” “And how homework to charm Atlanta on do you Southerners do gluten-free Saturday night, Sept. 12, at the Marcus with the biscuits?” Jewish Community Center. • Marcus said he looks like a cross He began by bragging about our “swank Jewish Community Center that between Bill Gates and Jerry Lewis. He considers himself nerdy and is often looks like a university campus,” espeasked to fix computers. His concierge cially because it’s named after him, gave him a knife to protect himself, Marcus. After all, his father’s name is Bernie Marcus, just not that Bernie Marcus. Marcus contrasted the Jaffe’s Jewish Jive melodious street names of By Marcia Caller Jaffe Peachtree and Tilly Mill, mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com which he often intentionally referred to as “Milly Till Lane,” with rough names but “I would only know how to use it if in New York. He goaded the Southern I got attacked by a bagel.” audience for “having nothing better • He has mixed feelings about CVS to do on this Saturday night. Waiting and his health. He doesn’t want to die for a visit to the Cheesecake Factory? Or you could be working on your Dun- saving $5 on a flu shot. Suppose they mistakenly put Windex in his syringe? woody field trip to Aruba? This is an “And why do they sell regular vs. extraolder crowd; anyone for canasta?” strength products? Do you want to Like a mild Don Rickles, he interrelieve only a half a headache?” acted with audience members with • Jewish mild insults. mothers are When he did the queens of his Costco stupid quesshtick, Martions, such as cus tangled waking him with a man from a nap to in the second ask whether row, the only he’s hungry. one to raise Or “Is that his hand for what you are buying conwearing out?” doms in lots His answer: of 100. “Who Photo by Marcia Caller Jaffe “No, I’m weardoes that?” Comedian Lenny Marcus (left) mingles with Cheryl Isaacs (left) and David and Christy Toltzis. ing my tutu, “He then changdanced on the ing into a gorilla costume in the car.” border of good taste,” said one audi• Marcus sparred with a young ence member, Ken Levy. “He spaced nephew aghast because his Uncle out his four-letter words, but it was Lenny doesn’t know about Dora the nothing like Andrew ‘Dice’ Clay.” Explorer. His defense: “I know about David Toltzis loved the Costco things you don’t, like colonoscopies, jokes, as did Phil Isaacs, who cracked, paying taxes, and how to get a psycho “I howled when Marcus said he buys chick out of your apartment at 2 a.m.” hundreds of packages of toilet paper, • Marcus is not a Caitlyn Jenpaper towels and Tampons at Costco, so if the car falls into a lake on the way ner fan. “As a Jew, I believe everyone should live his own life, but a reality home, he wouldn’t drown.” show is a money ploy from sitting Marcus also poked fun at the sale around watching the Kardashians do of coffins at Costco — or should he nothing. Caitlyn out-bitched them.” wait to buy one online? Later in a private conversation, Other comedic scenarios: Marcus acknowledged “finally” having • Marcus, who is single, said he is a girlfriend, but he cautioned: “You having trouble finding regular women never know. It’s early; it might not last. who are not gluten-free (he takes them to Central Park to eat grass) or overeat- They’re always nice at the beginning.” The crowd left buoyed on the eve ers on his meager budget. He said he of the High Holiday season. Adrian wants to marry an Ethiopian orphan Grant said, “I thought he was really who eats on 6 cents a day, “but don’t hysterical.” ■ worry: I’ll get two.” The crowd roared
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SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
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All in the Multiethnic Family
Steve Solomon brings one-man comedy show to Atlanta By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com Steve Solomon is the star and creator of one of the longest-running oneman comedy shows in history. “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy” has run more than 12 years and has been seen by nearly 1 million people. On Sept. 30, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native will bring the show to the Earl Smith Strand Theatre at Marietta Square. The show shines a comedic light on Solomon’s upbringing in New York and covers his life and interactions with both sides of his family, Italian and Jewish. In a phone interview, Solomon talked about his show, his comedic influences and his early years in Sheepshead Bay, N.Y. AJT: Where have you been so far on tour, and where are you headed next? Solomon: Next is, of course, Marietta at the Strand Theatre. I have a few local tours here, and my other actors are touring across the country. The heavy touring starts in September and October. Then I’m nonstop until March. The show is busy.
AJT: You say other actors; are there other people who perform your shows? Solomon: I have four different shows. I’m doing the original one in Marietta, and I have three other actors. They work everywhere from South Africa to Canada and all over the United States. They all do at least two of my shows. AJT: Tell me a little bit about your original show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy.” What can people expect? Solomon: They can expect to have a good time. The show ran on Broadway for two years, and it’s a lot of fun. You don’t have to be Jewish or Italian to relate to it. Everybody can identify with something in the show. In the 12 years since we started, almost 1 million people have seen the show. AJT: The show is based on your upbringing in Brooklyn, N.Y. Tell me about your background. Solomon: I was born and raised in Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn amid a great ethnic diversity there of Italians and Jewish people. I was bar mitzvahed. Half my cousins beat me up because my mother was Italian; the other half
beat me up because my father was Jewish. It was a wonderful environment. The story is everything from Day 1 to why I’m in therapy.
AJT: What else AJT: You tour can you say about all over the United your show? States. Do you find Solomon: Peothat your jokes transple are going to have late better in certain a great time. They’re places? going to love the Solomon: The show. I’ve been tourstories relate to evSteve Solomon has kept his show going for 12 years. ing for 12 years witheryone. Part of the out one letter of comreason it translates well is just the shock of the characters. plaint. I should also mention that it’s All of the sudden you hear these voices deliciously politically incorrect. So if coming out, and I become my 3-year-old you want a little playful political incorgranddaughter, or I become my son, or rectness and a little insight into what I become both of my grandparents, and my life is about, come to the show. ■ that’s part of the big laugh of the show. Who: Steve Solomon The biggest joy I have is when people are walking out of the theater holding What: “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy” their sides saying, “That was my uncle” or “That was my father.” I think that’s Where: Earl Smith Strand Theatre, 117 N. Park Square, Marietta why the show has been successful. AJT: Who are some of your comedic influences?
A Jewish Music Mini-Festival
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
The 2015 edition of Music Midtown brought around 125,000 people and an eclectic mix of artists to four stages at Piedmont Park on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19. Hitting the stage after Shabbat were two rockers with Jewish roots: David Lee Roth, performing with Van Halen, and Lenny Kravitz. Canadian Jewish rapper Drake also performed at the festival, as did such non-Jews as Elton John, Sam Smith, Hall and Oates, and Vance Joy. ■
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Original Van Halen lead singer and ’80s Jewish heartthrob David Lee Roth shows off his trademark charisma in a variety of outfits as his band closes out Music Midtown 2015.
Photos by David R. Cohen
Lenny Kravitz, whose father is Jewish, rocks out for one of Saturday night’s largest crowds.
Solomon: No question, Jonathan Winters and George Carlin. I opened for him a couple of times, and he was just incredible.
When: Sept. 30 to Oct. 18 Tickets: $30 to $45; earlsmithstrand.org
SUKKOT
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Glamorous Gardens for the Sukkot Season
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sually I take our readers into the interiors of some of Atlanta’s most intriguing homes, but recently I have been asked, “Did you see So-and-So’s incredible back yard?” Atlantans know that autumn is our most pleasant season, and it coincides with our joyful harvest festival, Sukkot, when we are urged to spend time looking at the stars, eating outdoors and shaking our symbolic greenery. Gardening is the No. 1 hobby in the nation, according to Scarborough Research, and 100 percent of the investment in landscaping returns as increased property value, according to Gardening World. Walk outside to three of Atlanta’s most spectacular, well-tended gardens.
matian (acquired on Edgewood Avenue in 1980) sitting on his throne drinking a Bud. Our housekeeper, Sherry, just happens to be a master refurbisher. This is one of her redos. “We enjoy sitting outside in these iron chairs — red, lilac, lemon and blue. I had a client 25 years ago who was an ironworker; I bought these from her
Chai-Style Homes By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com
house. This is the original paint.” “We probably have 70-plus pieces out here, including a cow from the Atlanta Cow Parade,” Dave says. “Howard Finster, a preacher (on display at the High Museum) who has designed album covers for rock stars, was one of our inspirations to collect folk art. He was a visionary.” In deference to this accumulation of large structures, I ask: “What will be your legacy? Where will this vast collection go?” Sandy says, “My dream is to donate it to a children’s hospital to establish a garden where it can bring the most joy.”
Heleen and Steve Grossman A decade ago, Heleen and Steve Grossman began work on their 120-by60-foot iron sculpture garden. Inspired by the walkways in European gardens such as the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, Austria, and Versailles outside Paris, they designed quadrants to display their collection of predominantly musical scrap-metal sculptures. “We wanted to take the best part of each of the world’s famous gardens for our backyard design,” Heleen says. Other than the retaining wall, Steve did the work himself, including building the gazebo. Continued on the next page
Photos by Duane Stork
Top: Sandy and Dave Abrams enjoy the hand-crafted metal chairs in their 70-piece back yard. Bottom left: Folk artist Tubby Brown created “The Four Swimmers,” which the Abramses purchased during a drive to Athens. Bottom right: The Abrams family housekeeper refurbished the Dalmatian sitting on his throne drinking a Bud, a work Sandy and Dave Abrams bought on Edgewood Avenue in 1980.
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Sandy and Dave Abrams I have reviewed many homes, but this was certainty the most fun. The Abrams’ yard is a treasuretrove in layers of history, travel, totem poles and whimsy. Married for 54 years, the Abramses banter with Yiddish, folk art and contagious joy. “Who started all this? Who is the real collector?” I ask. Dave smiles and says: “Sandy definitely has the art bent, but I jumped in like a duck to water. We agree on most things.” Sandy elaborates: “I started with this totem pole by famous folk artist Tubby Brown. He also did the ‘Four Swimmers’ (bought during a drive to Athens), flanked by the R.A. Miller Life Guard. One of my favorites is this Dal-
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“We have scrap-metal figures playing a violin, trumpet, clarinet and trombone (designed by Kathy Walton), in addition to the frivolity of bunnies and butterflies (some made of PVC tubing). Most of what we have was acquired at regional art shows,” Steve says. Heleen adds, “We want to support outdoor artists; we believe that metal will last the test of time.” No stranger to the arts, the Grossmans own Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs. Steve also is on the board of Art Sandy Springs, which promotes art in public places. Within their gallery-size, musically studio-ed house, they host shows throughout the year to support the arts. Metal, music and art blend and
Randy and Jay Cohen He took three years to research and experiment with multiple strains of grass to determine what to plant in his front yard. Jay Cohen, owner of Sports Performance Gear (SPGGEAR. COM), comes home, kisses his wife, Randy, and heads for his back yard of 8-foot ledges and 18 waterfalls he constructed. At age 9, Cohen, an Atlanta native, stood on his father’s 2-ton boulder in his back yard and declared his love of gardening. That rock now stands in his own front yard.
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www.atlantajewishtimes.com “It took four months to artfully lay 400 tons of rock and boulders in this back yard. Each boulder weighs around 2,500 pounds and can take up to two hours to place,” Jay says. The 100-foot-wide, 28-foot-high rock garden has its own ecosystem that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Jay got his elephant ear bulbs, which grow to 10 feet tall, as a gift, and eight koi came from his neighbor. The koi have propagated, resulting in two healthy ponds with over 110 fish. The koi control their own population based on the size of the pond. “Installation is important, but maintenance is everything,” Jay says. It’s breathtaking to witness the brightlemon, sunset-orange, gray and brightwhite fish swirling about.
Randy says: “We drilled our own well that provides the water. With a total of 18 waterfalls, we are recycling the water using a pumping station that pumps about 11,500 gallons of water an hour.” She adds: “The elephant ear leaves span 30 inches; every season we dig up the bulbs to store in the garage to replant in the spring. I especially enjoy the family sentimental ornaments we have around the waterfalls and rock garden. “Jay likes to eat dinner in his back yard, and he works in it about eight to 12 hours on most weekends. He definitely enjoys the journey.” It’s truly a paradise. They’re in it for the long haul because koi live 50 years. ■
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A Sukkah Festival Photos on facing page by Marcia Caller Jaffe unless otherwise specified
A: Heleen and Steve Grossman took inspiration from the world’s great gardens in designing their back yard.
B: This scrap-metal portrayal of a trombone player reflects the Grossmans’ love of music. C: Photo by Steve Grossman The Grossmans use four areas in their back yard to highlight their sculpture collection. D: A cat chases a butterfly in one of the Grossmans’ scrap-metal sculptures. E: This dragonfly is one of the fun, frivolous metal sculptures in the Grossman back yard. F: Randy and Jay Cohen have stocked their back yard with sentimental sculptures, many of which are Asian. G: The Cohens have 18 waterfalls in their back yard. Photos on this page by Jay Cohen
H: The Cohens started with eight koi from a neighbor; they now have more than 110 fish in two ponds. I: A pumping station moves 11,500 gallons of water an hour through the Cohens’ ponds and waterfalls. J: Jay Cohen spent four months laying the rocks and boulders in the back yard.
Every sukkah is different, an expression of the flare, creativity and craftsmanship of its owners. Help us celebrate Sukkot and these unique reflections of Jewish Atlanta. Email us photos of your sukkah (as high in resolution as possible) to submissions@atljewishtimes.com by Friday, Oct. 2, for inclusion in our community gallery.
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
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SEPTEMBER 25 â–Ş 2015
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www.atlantajewishtimes.com OBITUARIES - MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING
Malvina Baron Bechor 75, Atlanta
Malvina Baron Bechor, age 75, died peacefully in her sleep Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2015, after a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. Malvina was born in New York, N.Y., and lived in Atlanta for the past 42 years. Malvina worked for 10 years as a librarian at the Emory Law Library and nearly 20 years as an archivist at the Georgia Department of Archives and History. Malvina was a longtime member of Congregation Or VeShalom and an active member of the Jewish community of Atlanta. She and her husband, Sasson, were avid travelers and had a passion and love for learning about new cultures and visiting new places. Together they visited over 75 countries around the world. Survivors include her husband, Sasson, with whom she recently celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary; her two sons, Yaron, who lives in Orlando, Fla., and David, who lives in Kfar Saba, Israel; six beautiful grandchildren, Susie, Amanda, Matthew, Mia, Eden and Emma; a sister, Ann Steiner of New York; and a brother, Robert Baron of New York. An online guestbook can be signed at www.hmpattersonarlington.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. A graveside service was held Friday, Sept. 18, at Arlington Memorial Park. Services by Greenlawn Jewish Funeral Directors at H.M. Patterson & Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road NE, Sandy Springs, Ga. 30328.
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group. They traveled all over the world. Family mattered the most, and she always enjoyed being with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren every year at Lake Lanier during the summer and at Hilton Head Island during Thanksgiving week. She enjoyed celebrating Shabbat and Jewish holidays surrounded by her loved ones. She was liked, respected and admired by all who knew her. Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Sadye and Morris Cohen; brothers Bernard W. Cohen (Rae Alice) and Gerald Cohen (Helen); and son-in-law Sam Schatten. She is survived by her husband, Leon Goldstein; children Bobby Goldstein (Liz), Steven Goldstein (Karen), Gail Goldstein Heyman (Lyons Jr.) and Janet Schatten (Richard Friedman); grandchildren Adam Goldstein (Kim), Sherri Nighbert (James), Mindy Goldstein, Blair Beasley (Zack), Jared and Scott Heyman, Carly Heyman Godzdanker (Roy), Jeff Schatten (Kimary), and Alan, Todd and Michael Schatten; five great-grandchildren; sister Harriet Miller; sister-in-law Betty Ann Shusterman; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Graveside services were held Monday, Sept. 21, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs with Rabbi Neil Sandler officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770451-4999.
Betty Cohen Goldstein Betty Cohen Goldstein, 86, a native of Atlanta, devoted wife and mother, and inspirational grandmother and great-grandmother, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. As a teenager, she was regional president of Young Judaea. When she graduated Girls’ High, she was awarded a four-year scholarship to attend any public college in the United States. After attending Indiana University for one year, she married her young love, Leon, and later got her degree in special education from Georgia State University. She lovingly taught and inspired kindergarten students for 20 years at the Ahavath Achim (AA) preschool (later to become the Epstein School). Betty’s leadership roles included serving as president of the Atlanta chapter of Hadassah as well as being an officer of the AA Synagogue Sisterhood. She was actively involved in her children’s lives and regularly volunteered in the PTA at Margaret Mitchell Elementary School, which her four children attended. Her symbiotic love for her husband of 67 years continued to grow as they adored each other’s company and shared interests. Betty and Leon were lifelong learners and avid readers. They attended Elderhostel (now Road Scholar) and B’nai B’rith Learning Institute for many years. She enjoyed attending Shabbat services at AA Synagogue and the study
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
86, Atlanta
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www.atlantajewishtimes.com OBITUARIES - MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A OBITUARIES – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BEBLESSING A BLESSING
Ruth ‘Rifka’ Weiss Gross 89, Atlanta
Ruth “Rifka” Weiss Gross, 89, died Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015. Born Aug. 12, 1926, in Nelipena, Czechoslovakia, she was the third of 11 children. Ruth survived the Holocaust concentration camps, including Auschwitz. She was married to the love of her life, Bernie Gross, for 69 years. She met Bernie on her birthday at her sister’s wedding. They escaped from the Soviet Union by hopping a freight train. They immigrated to Ellwood City, Pa., in 1949. They raised their children in Youngstown, Ohio, and moved in 1973 to Atlanta, where they were members of Congregation Beth Jacob. They retired to Pembroke Pines, Fla., where they led full and active lives, before returning to Atlanta in 2010. A devoted couple, they were dedicated to their family and the Jewish community. Ruth was an exceptional balabusta and an artist in the kitchen, much to the joy of her children and large extended family. A talented seamstress, she owned a fabric store in Niles, Ohio, helping to break the blue laws by being closed on the Jewish Sabbath and open on Sundays. After moving to Atlanta, she joined her husband at Bernie’s Tailor Shop. Even when she had small children, Ruth volunteered to help others through the synagogue, Pioneer Women, Amit and other organizations. She regularly recounted her Holocaust experiences at public schools to very warm receptions. Her intelligence and generosity of heart touched many in and out of the Jewish community. Ruth is survived by her husband, Bernard Gross; her children, Edward Gross, Estelle Bogdonoff and Evelyn Gross Stettin; daughters-in-law Linda Gross and Robin Ross Gross; son-in-law Alan Bogdonoff; nine grandchildren; three greatgrandchildren; a brother; and many other relatives who loved her dearly. She was predeceased by a devoted son, Marvin (Moshe Aaron), two sisters who survived the Holocaust and seven other siblings who did not. The family requests that memorial donations be made to Amit Building Israel (www.amitchildren.org) or Congregation B’nai Torah, 700 Mount Vernon Road,
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Sandy Springs, Ga. 30328. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770451-4999.
Gay Lenner 60, Marietta
Gay Lenner, 60, of Marietta passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 20, 2015. She was born in Columbus to Peggy and Charles K. Hecht. Gay is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Rick; daughter Alison; son Jonathan; sisters Lorrie Taylor (Ben) and Kim Harding (Mike); brothers Chuck Hecht (Jane) and Randy Hecht; and her mother, Peggy. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. Graveside services were held Monday, Sept. 21, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs with Rabbi Ronald Segal officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Temple Sinai, the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund or the University of Gynecologic Oncology. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Sydell Beck Little 80, Atlanta
Sydell Beck Little, 80, a native Atlantan, died peacefully in her sleep Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, after her courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Sydell worked for over 29 years at Verizon Wireless. She was a lifetime member of Congregation Shearith Israel and a lifetime member of Hadassah. She was dearly loved and will be missed greatly by all who knew her. She was a true Southern lady. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Owen and Nicole Schoolsky of Maryland; daughter and son-in-law Sandye and Tom Horne of Sevierville, Tenn.; daughter Ilene Schoolsky of Atlanta; sister Phyllis Kurtzman of Atlanta; sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and Ted Krick of Nashville, Tenn.; grandchildren Emmerie, Luke, Madison, Alexander, Chandler and Thomas; nephew Lenny Krick; nieces Staci Carper, Barbara Fulmer and Robin Kurtzman; stepchildren Lisa, Stephanie and Jody; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Eileen and Arnold Perlman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sheldon Little, of blessed memory. Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite, Congregation Shearith Israel or Weinstein Hospice. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
Death Notices
Anne Frohman, 91, of Atlanta, widow of Joseph Frohman and mother of the late Barbara Parmenter, on Sept. 15. Fannie Richer, 85, of Knoxville, Tenn., wife of David Richer and mother of Congregation Beth Shalom member Ron Richer, Gayle Beth Glazer and Sandra Edwards, on Sept. 15. Barbara Rothkin, 76, of Roseville, Calif., sister of Temple Sinai member Beverly Zoblotsky, on Sept. 17.
SPORTS OBITUARIES – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
Falcons Start 2-0
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he Atlanta Falcons are off to a perfect start under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, producing two nail-biting comeback wins: 26-24 over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Georgia Dome and 24-20 over the New York Giants in New Jersey. Quinn, the former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator, is the first head coach since Jim Mora in 2004 to start his Falcons career 2-0. Quinn’s former team, meanwhile, has lost its first two games after playing in the past two Super Bowls. The Falcons head to Arlington, Texas, on Sunday, Sept. 27, to play the 2-0 Dallas Cowboys, who will be without injured wide receiver Dez Bryant (foot) and quarterback Tony Romo (collarbone). Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Fox 5. Keep an eye out for opportunities in the AJT to win tickets to see Arthur Blank’s team play at home. ■
Giving thanks
for life’s blessings. In celebration of the joyous festival of Sukkot, we join with family and friends to reflect on tradition and the simple blessings of life. Rejoice and give thanks for the bountiful harvest of autumn. Chag Sameach from your local Dignity Memorial® professionals.
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CLOSING THOUGHTS OBITUARIES – MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING
When One Hand Washes the Other
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uring the High Holidays, we catch up with faraway friends and family. This report came from Brooklyn. Harold was in a bad mood when he entered synagogue on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. The prayers were beautiful, and the sermon was uplifting, but he was in a state of agitation because of what had happened the previous day. Harold and his wife were expecting their entire family for lunch. They had left their back door unlocked to allow their children and grandchildren to conveniently enter their home because the extended group attended four different houses of worship that let out at four different times. Harold’s grandson, the first to arrive, immediately noticed that they’d been robbed while everyone was at services. The table, set with the family’s heirloom silver and bone china, hadn’t been touched. The candlesticks were still on the sideboard, and various valuable bibelots around the living and dining rooms were in their rightful place. The thieves took only one thing: the portable piano keyboard that had been purchased as a gift for Heshy, the grandson who discovered its disappearance. Harold was beside himself. “What chutzpah! To rob people when they’re in shul!” I silently questioned the wisdom of leaving a door unlocked on a day when canny thieves knew that most people in their neighborhood would be out of the house for many hours. Harold continued: “Heshy comes to us every day after school while his parents are still at work. He does his homework and practices piano. He wanted to take lessons, but we don’t have our big piano anymore. It turned out that the keyboard was even better because Heshy could move it around, and it never needs to be tuned. Now we’ll have to buy him a new one.” “That’s a shame. How much did it cost?” I asked out of idle curiosity. Money was no object with Harold when it came to his grandchildren. “Well, that’s a little story in itself,” Harold said with a chuckle. “That type of keyboard usually costs at least $350, but I got it for $50.” “You bought a used one?” I ques30
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CROSSWORD “Those ‘70s Shows”
Editor: Yoni Glatt (YoniGlatt@gmail.com ) Difficulty Level: Challenging
tioned. It wasn’t like Harold or his wife to buy anything that wasn’t top of the line and brand new. “I have a friend,” Harold explained. “This guy has connections, and he gets really expensive stuff very cheap.” “Like what?” “Oh, you know. Sometimes he has
Chana’s Corner By Chana Shapiro cshapiro@atljewishtimes.com
computers or musical instruments. Things like that.” “Where does he get them?” “See, he doesn’t get the stuff himself. He has contacts who bring things to him. Friends who work in factories, warehouses — you know, places like that. ” “In other words, you’re angry that somebody stole an item from you that was actually stolen itself,” I concluded. “Am I getting this right?” “Look,” Harold explained, “it’s just the way things work. This guy and I go way back. Before he was married, he practically lived with us, and my daughter drives his grandkids to youth group. One hand washes the other.” “Are you going to ask him for another keyboard?” This was a side of Harold I’d never known. “Why not? As I said, one hand washes the other. I’d do the same for him.” Harold put his wife on the phone, and we talked about our families and the old neighborhood. She mentioned the first-day Rosh Hashanah robbery, confident that Harold would soon get another keyboard from their friend. I didn’t know what to say. On Yom Kippur, we recite a confessional for the transgressions we commit intentionally or unintentionally. I wonder if my silence — and the complicity and silence of others along the way — encourages Harold and his friend. I could have debated the merits of Harold and his friend’s mutual handwashing, but I didn’t. I now have one more line of that confessional prayer to concentrate on this year. ■
ACROSS 1. “Skyward” carrier 5. “… have I given wisdom so ___ they …” Exodus 36:1 9. Unlikely city to play dreidel in 14. Spiner role 15. Org. similar to Nefesh B’Nefesh 16. Winehouse hit 17. Weddings, brises, etc. 19. Make like Kinsler stealing second 20. Letters for Walken in Cronenberg’s “The Dead Zone” 21. They make Arad bearable in the summer, for short 22. Sch. of Al Michaels 24. Farmar, once 25. “You’re joshin’!” 27. Puts into the Knesset 29. What Jesse might have said about his sons 33. Shylock’s first one starts “How like a fawning …” 34. One might be forgiven during a jubilee year 35. A review, the ___ of Deuteronomy 38. Black or Red 39. “___ Boot” 42. Start of a 1947 Miller play 44. “Seinfeld” uncle 45. Minyan groups 47. Set to get to Ben-Gurion 49. Solomon compared to Adonijah 51. Abraham’s visitors 55. Ginsburg’s group might do this 57. Tries on an Allen set 58. Her second husband was Artie 59. Sound made by Israeli imports of the 1930s 61. Jonathan, to David 62. Traif trio 65. Foe (and occasional ally) of Lee’s Spider-Man 67. Jewish festivals, hopefully 70. Give power unto, like G-d to Moses 71. Shmonat ___ Chanukah
72. Ingredient in a Cajun cholent 73. Report involving Lewinsky 74. Caesar and others 75. One in Sayeret Matkal might have a lot of it DOWN 1. Morleigh Steinberg, wife of The ___ 2. The least anti-Semitic country in the world in 2014, according to the ADL 3. At the summit of Sinai 4. Yeled 5. It’s similar to krav maga 6. Some hands on necks 7. Frehley who played with Gene and Paul 8. Ki ___ 9. Colleague of Capt. Kirk 10. You can’t get it at kosher sushi restaurants 11. Sam Simon rescued over 400 of these animals 12. Guttenberg in “Police Academy” 13. Makes like Elisha to Elijah 18. Tried some maror 23. Where Yelena Shushunova won Olympic gold 25. JTS offering 26. Chinese dynasty when the Talmud was being compiled 28. Schnitzel ingredient 29. Prayer point? 30. “Hevanti!” 31. Animal involved in a 2014 agreement between Israel and China 32. Biblical daughter involved in an inheritance dispute 36. Gertrude Stein’s “Wars I Have ___” 37. Disraeli party 40. Singer who apologized for making anti-Semitic remarks in 2009 41. Eugene who wrote “The Wander-
ing Jew” 43. How Jacob (eventually) walked 46. He in Tsfat? 48. Borough Park zone 50. Chevron alternatives 52. Back of a Tavor rifle, perhaps 53. Like the salaries of Cuban and Reinsdorf’s teams 54. Rare, striped kosher animals 55. Goes meshuggah over 56. A simcha 60. Some seder questions 62. Make challah 63. Nicholas of ___, 13thcentury Jewish apostate 64. Ruler mentioned in “Fiddler on the Roof” 66. “___ Idiot Brother” (Rudd comedy) 68. Horowitz who directed the documentary “U.N. ME” 69. Hebrew National, e.g.
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AJT 31
Become a Fernbank Member and see both exhibits for FREE!
On view Sept 26 – Jan 3
FernbankMuseum.org/Sheba
Searching for the Queen of Sheba is organized by Contemporanea Progetti and the Polo Museale del Lazio / Museo Nazionale d’Arte Orientale ‘G. Tucci’, Rome, Italy. Sponsored locally and in part by The Rich Foundation, Inc.
SEPTEMBER 25 ▪ 2015
ON VIEW SEPT 26 – JAN 3
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LY N S E Y A D D A R I O
NATIONAL PRESENTING TOUR SPONSOR
FernbankMuseum.org Women of Vision is organized and traveled by the National Geographic Society.
Additional support provided by