STYLE Magazine: Atlanta Jewish Times Present Spring 2022 by Atlanta Jewish Times

Spring 2022

STYLE Jewish Atlanta’ Atlanta ’ s Stylish Simchas and Celebrations

Same couple featured on our summer 2020 cover

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STYLE Magazine

Jewish Atlanta’s Stylish Simchas and Celebrations

SUMMER 2021

STYLE Simcha s and Celebr ations Jewish Atlant a’’ s Stylish

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The Atlanta Jewish Times is printed in Georgia and is an equal opportunity employer. The opinions expressed in the Atlanta Jewish Times do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper. Periodicals postage paid at Atlanta, Ga. POSTMASTER send address changes to Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328. Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite www.atlantajewishtimes.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED BY SOUTHERN ISRAELITE, LLC © 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES Printed by Walton Press Inc. MEMBER Conexx: America Israel Business Connector American Jewish Press Association Sandy Springs/Perimeter Chamber of Commerce Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com

SPECIAL SECTIONS

14 SIMCHA SECRETS

24 WEDDINGS

28 MITZVAHS

38 SIMCHAS

CONTENTS

12 Editor’s Letter 14 Event Expert Provides Practical Tips 16 Yona’s Floral Design Business Blooms 18 Preserving Your Picture-Perfect Memories 20 Dazzling Disposable Tableware 22 Alexandra’s Alterations Serves Loyal Clientele 24 Eisenberg Engagement at Under the Cork Tree 26 ‘Masked’ Pandemic Cover Couple Tie the Knot in Florida

28 Swartz Twins Celebrate Double Mitzvah

32 Izzy’s Basketball Bat Mitzvah Bash 36 Atlanta Bat Mitzvah Makes Bracelets for a Good Cause

38 Sid Kirschner Turns 87 at the Buckhead Club 40 Novel Spotlights Love in Atlanta’s Sephardic Community

42 How I Met Your Father... 46 Josiah Benator’s One Hundred Years of Service 50 Advertisers Directory 53 Marketplace

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Editor’s Letter

Secrets for Springtime Fun

t’s an exciting time of the year with lots of simchas in the air and we have lots of “simcha secrets” for you in this Spring issue. Martha Jo Katz goes on the record with tips on making sure you ask all the right questions when planning your next swanky affair. Need your special dress or suit updated for your next party? Well, here’s a little secret: Alexandra’s Alterations has served our local community since her family arrived here from Ukraine. We interview Yona Benstock Friedman, who shares her secrets of success for any occasion’s floral bliss. Next in line with tips is Rivka Halpern, owner of Gifts to Dazzle, who sells beautiful disposable tabletop items for you to dazzle any guest at your table. Do you know what to do with all those photos on your phone? We have the answer in “Preserving Your Picture-Perfect Memories.” This issue’s cover features the same couple we featured on the cover of our Summer 2020 issue, remember the cute couple attempting to kiss while masked. We are so lucky to now be on the other side, starting to heal from the pandemic, and now we have the opportunity of featuring Jordyn Aronowitz and Blake Simon again, but this time it’s their beautiful wedding photo on the cover of this year’s Spring issue. Speaking of engagements and weddings, you will also get the details of Hanna Hier and David Eisenberg’s engagement party at Under the Cork Tree in Sandy Springs, and the small secret David kept to share with his future bride. The AJT dives into a novel about love in Atlanta’s Sephardic community. You may know the author’s father, who ran the popular Roxy Deli in Midtown Atlanta for many years. Our Roving Reporter was busy this week, working her magic in Jewish Atlanta, on a mission to uncover all the romantic stories of “How I Met Your Father …” with then and now photos to double the fun. How about the secret of living a long life? Well, at Josiah V. Benator’s 100th birthday celebration in Toco Hills, well-wishers gathered to ring in not just the scoutmaster’s birthday, but also to share in some of the amazing accomplishments of his long life. Speaking of birthdays, did you know that Sid Kirschner has had a standing tradition to celebrate his birthday at the Buckhead Club for the last 40 years? His advice for a happy life is to “Never say ‘no’ to a request for help; and do good where you can.” So, I will wrap up my secrets with a couple of mitzvahs, starting with the Swartz twins, Gabrielle (Gabi) Claire and Tyler Benjamin, who celebrated their b’nai mitzvah at Ponce City Market. We feature Isabelle “Izzy” Winarsky’s bat mitzvah party, in her basketball shoes and a beautiful blue dress, where everyone got to dance and shoot some hoops. Last but not least is a story about a unique bat mitzvah project by Zohar Holland that aims to build connections between soldiers in Special in Uniform, a Jewish National Fund-USA program and their American friends and supporters. Now don’t go out and share all our secrets at once, our next issue, full of summertime fun, will be here before you know it. Sincerely,

Kaylene Ladinsky Kaylene Ladinsky Editor & Managing Publisher ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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13•STYLE MAGAZINE

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Event Expert Provides Practical Tips

SIMCHA SECRETS

Martha Jo Katz has directed social events for some of Atlanta’s biggest hotels, with a resume that includes The Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, Swissotel and InterContinental. Since 2011, she has worked as an event site selection consultant. “Planning an event should be an enjoyable element in the simcha journey, as well as a guidepost to avoid common mistakes or later regrets,” she counsels. “I found the most important part is By Marcia Caller Jaffe finding the venue, so after retiring from many years of being director of social events, I assist clients in finding their venue and give them referrals for vendors.” Below, Katz lays out a roadmap to ensure that your event runs smoothly. Find out where to place the bar, who pays for what and

how to have that difficult conversation.

Jaffe: What about the Jewish formula that the groom pays for liquor, rabbi and band? Katz: The old days are gone, and new times bring in “Nothing is out of the question!” It all depends on the circumstances of the families. Most of the time, the bride pays for the wedding and groom pays for rehearsal dinner … but there are many exceptions in our current age. Some families split it down the middle … other where groom’s family paid for everything. The answer to that question is anything goes. Jaffe: Where should I have my event? Katz: First things first. Decide on the area of town you seek. Chose three places in that area. Draft a guest list to estimate the size of the area versus capacity, if seated or buffet or stations.

Martha Jo Katz uses her decades of event planning experience to provide a useful guide to having a simcha.

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Outdoor wedding reception in tent. Jaffe: How do I pick a date? Katz: If your date is flexible, give the venue three dates. If not flexible, you narrow your chances of booking a preferred space. Most Saturday nights book faster than Sunday evenings. Check previous weather on the dates to gain an upper hand on weather patterns with clues not to book something outside if it’s a very hot or very cold in weather history. Always have an alternative space for an outside event. Jaffe: What should I ask before signing a contract with an event specialist? Katz: There are several items that you should consider when signing contracts. Whether you’re working with an event specialist or the venue directly, I have 25 questions that should consider: 1. What are the food and beverage minimums? If not reached, can I add food and beverage to reach it? If rental, will it be waived if I hit my food and beverage minimum? 2. What time will be allowed for a florist to set up? 3. Do you provide staging for a band or DJ and is it complimentary or is there a charge? 4. What is the maximum number of guests pre-function for cocktail reception? 5. Ask the caterer to send a menu package and proposal for food and beverage costs, and a customized proposal detailing all costs. 6. Do they have packages that include food and beverage? 7. Are there charges for bartenders, servers? 8. Do I pay for a bottle of wine if one drink is poured if I don’t do a per person price? 9. What is the service charge and tax? Service charges are taxable! 10. What colors, sizes, underlays to the floor linens are provided? 11. How many staff members per guest? How many captains

and beverage managers? 12. How many bars per person? Should be one per 75 and ideally located all together in the center of a pre-function for pre-reception, then in the corners of a ballroom. 13. Do you pass wine for the first 20 minutes of an event? (That takes some people off the bars and makes your event flow better). 14. Are bartender fees waived if you hit the food and beverage minimum? What are cancellation policies? 15. What deposit is needed? 16. When is final payment due? 17. What are guest room rates for the hotel? 18. Make sure there is no penalty for guest rooms not picked up by having a cutoff date three weeks prior for a group rate. Put the cutoff date on the save the date card! 19. Can we have a tasting for a seated dinner/and hors d’oeuvres sampling and how many people can attend? 20. Parking? Valet and self? Special rates for events? Will they take a credit card for payments? 21. If in a hotel, do they provide a guest room or suite for the night or weekend of your event? 22. Do they have a list of vendors they prefer? Some off-site venues have certain vendors you must use. 23. Any charge for coat check? 24. Is there a piano available? 25. Do they provide audio visual services? Make sure to get a break down of the charges for each service. Finally, Katz concludes, “The number one thing in planning is that there are always alternatives, so don’t let something upset you in this process. Sometimes the alternatives are the same or better!” ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Yona’s Floral Design Business Blooms

Growing up, Yona Benstock Friedman would often visit her grandparents — who were Holocaust survivors — in Denmark. So, when she founded Flowers by Yona in 2012, designing arrangements for special simchas, social and corporate events, it was the culmination of all that she had learned about flowers on those childhood visits.

“The flower arrangements in Denmark were different than what I’d seen here, the usual roses and Gerbera daisies,” she recalled. “I loved seeing gardens, flower stores and carts with flowers around Copenhagen. Years later, after studying at Emory and working in public relations, I was still thinking about the flowers. When I moved to Israel, I decided it was time for a career change. I learned mechanics from an award-winning designer in Tel Aviv; and went to floral design school in Holland. After school, I went back to Israel, where I

worked with some of the best design companies.” Israel happens to be one of the world’s largest exporters of flowers, sending tons of sunflowers, lisianthus (prairie gentian), tulips and anemone abroad. There, Friedman worked mostly with what was in season and locally grown, adapting to the peculiarities of Israel’s wedding industry. “In Israel, they have weddings every day except Saturday,” she explained. “Most of the design work is done on-site the day of the event. Long days in the hot sun taught me how to work with flowers in the heat … but also how to work fast.”

Indeed, weather is often her first consideration: is the event taking place inside or outside? “Make sure it’s a time of year that you’re comfortable being outside,” Friedman counsels. “If you have an outdoor event, make sure you have a rain plan! Most of my experience has been in outdoor events. The indoors is nice because everything is there; you don’t have to consider too many factors. Outdoors consider bugs, even/uneven ground (can’t have a wobbly table), heat/ rain/snow/cold, lighting, flowers that can handle the weather (example - hydrangea won’t last great in the heat).”

Left: Yona Benstock Friedman first learned to love flowers from her grandparents in Denmark. // Credit: Melissa Schollaert

Below: Flowers appear to grow out of the table for this double baby shower at the St. Regis Hotel. // Credit: Anna Shackleford

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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2 3 The flowers, which come from a local wholesaler or are flown in from California, South America or Holland, are stored in coolers in Friedman’s studio, where they “drink water for a while.” Unnecessary leaves are stripped, the flowers get a fresh cut and go in a bucket of water. “Some need to be refrigerated and some stay out,” she says, “it all depends on the flower and its opening stage.” Currently, Friedman offers three main services: full floral design, full event design (including flowers, linens, furniture rentals, drapes and lighting) and bouquets and boutonnieres for wedding parties, which are pick-up only. She’s also worked on special events, such as ESPN’s coverage of the Super bowl, for which she created floral football accessories. Friedman enjoys thinking out of the box, which “is whenever I get a chance to do something different, a new hanging installation, a new ceremony backdrop, a new color palette that shouldn’t go together, but does.” The COVID pandemic didn’t

help things, but Friedman has persevered. With events canceled, farmers were forced to burn and discard their flowers. And, not knowing how 2021 would end, they didn’t plant as many the next year. “The first 18 months were rough,” Friedman acknowledged. But, due to the end of pandemic restrictions in some places, she expects a “wedding frenzy” to hit the U.S. this year. “Everybody is ready to get married,” she said. “2022 is going to be the biggest year for weddings (globally, but especially in the U.S. in decades). Supply was short and wholesale prices for designers skyrocketed. Most people can probably expect higher flower prices to continue through the year.” Friedman predicts that we will also “continue to see a lot of garden style florals. Lush florals, dancing flowers (movement like scabiosa, ranunculus). We will start to see less greenery and more flower-forward designs. I think there is going to be a lot of color in weddings this year.” ì

4 5

1 A beautiful, outdoor summer wedding at Barnsley Gardens called for a bright colored, organic looking chuppah.. // Credit: 6 of Four Photography 2 A soft palette of blush, white and lavender suited this bride for a spring wedding at the Atlanta History Center. // Credit: Amy Arrington Photography 3 This head table had a long runner of flowers and candles, with modern chandeliers hanging above. // Credit: The Willetts Photography

4 This staircase at Summerour was meant to have flowers cascading down to a huge floral puddle. // Credit: The Willetts Photography

5 A grand head table with a custom backdrop was what this couple wanted at their reception at the Four Seasons Hotel. // Credit: The Willetts Photography 17•STYLE MAGAZINE

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Preserving Your Picture-Perfect Memories

If you love snapping cell phone photos, you most likely have an endless array of photos by now, either saved on your phone or uploaded to the cloud. Some of them are priceless, your favorite memories, deserving of your attention and best preservation efforts. These picture-perfect shots remind us of special times and pay tribute to our loved ones. Local photo expert Chuck Wolf, who helps customers preserve their memories, said, By Robyn Spizman “Sometimes you’ll never know Gerson the value of a moment until it’s a memory. Photos help you hold on to timeless moments. Imagine the joy you’ll bring to a loved one with the gift of a distant memory brought back to life in a photo gift.” Here are some fun and creative ways to transform your photographs into memorable treasures:

Sendheirloom.com lets you feature a ten- or twenty-minute video in a greeting card.

Heirloom Video Greeting Card

Heirloom helps you create custom video-playing books to send to someone you love. Created originally by grandkids Ashley and Zack as a gift for Grandma Fran, who was confined at an assisted living home during the pandemic, the video book is now a soughtafter gift. Each book comes fully charged and loaded with your home videos, which play automatically when the cover is opened. Upload up to 10 (or 20 minutes) of your home videos on the Heirloom website and select from one of 12 fun video book covers. Heirloom then ships a video-playing book right to your loved ones. Each video book is rechargeable, so it can be cherished for a lifetime. https:// sendheirloom.com/

LoveCube

Chuck Wolf transforms photographs into gifts and works of art at his photo design bar in Buckhead.

Chuck Wolf’s Photo Design Bar

This Buckhead “design bar” is simcha central and one of Atlanta’s favorite places for photo-related gifts. Talented staff designers can help you edit a photo or design a work of art. Popular items include photo books, easel back canvases, wall décor, mugs, mousepads, calendars and a universe of creative memento ideas. A visit to Chuck Wolf’s Photo Design Bar will help you turn your photographs into keepsakes, gifts and more. www.photodesignbar.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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LoveCube is a love letter in a box filled with your favorite memories and photographs.

LoveCube is a personalized photo-filled keepsake box. A LoveCube consists of up to 60 cards with messages and images customized for your special someone. Create a LoveCube by sharing photographs and adding details to the back. The messages can be edited, and any images can be replaced with your own photographs to make the gift even more personal. www. lovecube.com

The Reel Viewer is a retro-style toy that’s fun and creative.

Create Your Own Reel Viewer

A Reel Viewer, reminiscent of the vintage toy, curates snapshots of your favorite memories. Once you receive your made-to-order reel, pop it in the viewer and enjoy all of your favorite memories. www.uncommongoods.com

Photowow.com

Photo Wow offers colorful photo options, including personalized welcomes, simcha sign-ins and beautiful works of art.

Known for their four-panel pop art portraits, Photo Wow also makes sign-in canvases for bar/bat mitzvahs and simchas. Whether you love a modern look or a comic-style blurb bubble, Photo Wow offers forty unique, fun and colorful design templates. Photos are ready in 3 days or less, after you approve the proof. The finished piece can be shipped to your door. www. photowow.com

An acrylic photo tray is the ideal gift to preserve memories.

Photo Collage Tray with Family Name

Capture your memories on this fully customizable acrylic tray with a modern photo collage arrangement of four of your favorite photographs. This custom tray makes a great gift for someone special, like grandparents, and is a unique and elegant way to bring your favorite family photos to life in your home. (Photo by Shanna Russell Photography). www.zazzle.com

The Memory Keepsake Dish Set is a beautiful photo gift ready for your trinkets, rings and jewelry.

Collage.com transforms your photographs into puzzles.

Memory Keepsake Dish Set

Personalized photo puzzles from Collage are unique gifts that can be enjoyed again and again. Easy to design and fun to assemble, these custom photo puzzles range from 110 to 1000 pieces and come in a lovely photo display box. Collage enables you to transform your favorite photos, milestone events and even children’s artwork into coveted keepsakes the entire family can enjoy. All products are printed in the U.S. www.collage.com ì

Add a new dimension to your treasured memories by turning your photographs into small trinket dishes. Choose and upload the images you want to preserve and ceramicist Melissa Reddick glazes each (in timeless black and white) onto a stoneware catch-all with a sparkly gold rim. All three dishes are one-of-a-kind — just like your memories. Handmade in North Carolina and available at www. uncommongoods.com.

Photo Puzzles

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Dazzling Disposable Tableware

By Chana Shapiro

Gifts to Dazzle is a new source of high-quality disposable tableware, known for attention to individual customer taste and personality. Owner Rivka Halpern runs her boutique business out of her home in Toco Hills, and ever since the personalized shopping experience opened in the summer of 2021, it has gained a following of hosts and hostesses who want to set a chic, eye-catching table for Shabbat, Jewish holi-

days and other special occasions. Halpern, who has a background in sales, decided to work for herself by opening a homebased business. Being able to set her own schedule allows her to spend more time with her children and meet clients at mutually convenient times. “I decided to start this business because I want to share my passion for beautiful things for the home that are unique, particularly things that are practi-

Table setting for a customer’s party.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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cal,” Halpern said. “I want to help people set one-of-a-kind tables, and at the same time give them less stress with freedom from having to wash dishes after the meal. My husband and I love hosting, especially on Shabbat, and with the disposable tableware I carry, it’s much easier for us to have a lot of guests now!” The ample inventory of tabletop items at Gifts to Dazzle enables even last-minute shoppers to walk away with every-

1 thing they need to create an outstanding table setting, and many customers purchase distinctive items to coordinate with their own dishes and flatware. “I love to help people choose things that will create a special look, or I may make suggestions of color combinations,” Halpern says. “It’s fun to mix things up. I have a lot of color options, as well as the classic neutrals. And I enjoy working with people who bring me pictures of their homes and dishes in order to pick something that will enliven or compliment their own table settings. My paper goods, which can effectively change the look of the set table, are very popular.” One of the big draws is the extensive inventory of hard-tofind tablecloths that Halpern claims are easier to purchase in large cities like New York and Lakewood, N.J. “You cannot get things like the cloths I carry in big box stores, or even online,” she says. “They are distinctive items, like all the quality paper and plastic goods I carry. People find that my onsite stock is large enough to quickly manage most sizeable orders.” Halpern offers discounts for large orders and anticipates being busiest during Purim, Pesach and the High Holy Days season. Gifts to Dazzle carries disposable plates of several sizes, flatware, glasses, tablecloths, napkins, napkin rings and disposable and non-disposable chargers. All tablecloths are washable, and some of them are spill-resistant. In addition to tablecloths, Halpern has swatches for dozens

of fabrics from various suppliers, as well as swatches for vinyl tablecloths. She can custom order any of the tablecloths in any size, and she recently made a custom tablecloth for a customer who has a large, unusually shaped one-of-a-kind table. She stocks popular sizes but welcomes special requests, with matching and coordinating napkins that can be ordered as well. For custom tablecloths, Halpern tries for a 2-3-week turnaround, “However, with the global shipping and materials crisis, I cannot guarantee any timeline,” she says. Halpern continually expands her merchandise. She stocks classic items and, at the same time, closely follows trends to accommodate the needs and interests of her customers, many of whom have large families and who frequently welcome numerous guests to their Shabbat tables. “I recently brought in acrylic wine glasses that are white with gold trim, which are all the rage up north; beautiful chargers are on their way, and in response to multiple requests for reusable plastic tablecloth protector covers, I just received a shipment.” Now, Halpern wants to create more opportunities to showcase her goods. “I have done some pop-up sales, and would love to do more,” she says. “If you think you or your friends would enjoy looking at my products and would like to host a Gifts to Dazzle pop-up event, please reach out! The host will receive a percentage of the proceeds.” ì

3 1 Table set for an intimate family Shabbat meal. 2 Table setting for a customer’s elegant dinner party.

3 Some of Gifts to Dazzle’s large in-house stock.

4 5

4 Rivka Halpern with her husband, Dov. 5 Napkin with napkin ring.

6 Swatches of tablecloth and napkin options.

6 21•STYLE MAGAZINE

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The Korman family enjoys time by the sea, which reminds them of their hometown, Odessa.

Alexandra’s Alterations Serves Loyal Clientele

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

Walk into Alexandra Korman’s busy alteration shop, Alexandra’s Alterations, and you’ll likely run into some of the most fashionable people in Atlanta. For some two decades, she has attracted a following of loyal ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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customers who trust her every stitch. Located at Mount Paran Walk shopping center in Sandy Springs, Korman’s shop is bustling and filled with clothing. Hers is a success story earned through dedication and hard work. Korman is from Odessa, a

city on the Black Sea in Ukraine. She and her husband, Alexander, and children, Igor and Flora, immigrated to the United States in 1990. At the time, the Kormans did not yet speak English, but with the help of the Atlanta Jewish community — who sponsored them that fateful March

— they were able to get settled in their new home. Eventually, Alexandra was able to open her own business. Her husband, an expert wallpaper hanger, also began his own business, Atlanta Wallcoverings. “We had a case worker who spoke English and Russian and

Alexandra Korman owns and operates Alexandra’s Alterations, located at Mount Paran Walk.

Alexandra and her husband, Alexander, who immigrated to Atlanta from Ukraine, are grateful for the Jewish community’s support.

taught us everything we needed to know,” Korman recalled. “It made all the difference in the world. We left Odessa because we couldn’t practice being Jewish and wanted a better life for our kids and for their future.” She said that, in Ukraine, “we did not have hot water in the summer or nighttime. When we immigrated, we did not have to worry about hot water, it was available any time you needed it and that was amazing to us.” Odessa was also where Korman learned her craft. “All my tailoring talents were learned from my mom’s father and grandfather, who was a tailor in Ukraine,” she said. “Even when I was a young girl, I made all the clothes for my dolls. I studied, graduated college and am educated, and my grandfather listened to my ideas as a young girl.

tions. Over that time, Alexandra has come to know me and my family, making sure we always look our best for our most important life events. But Alexandra is not just an expert at alterations. She is someone who cares deeply and brings warm feelings into your life. That is why my mom would bring all of her alterations with her each time she visited from Florida. Seeing Alexandra was an essential part of any visit to Atlanta.” Korman is intensely proud of her work inside the shop and out. “I would not be proud of my life if it was just my success,” she says. “I’m so proud of my family, who grew up to be really good people. My entire family is my pride. After 9/11, my son, Igor, decided he wanted to give back, protect his country and enrolled in the Marines. He is married

We learned from each other.” Now, after years in business, she can recognize hundreds of customers by their clothing. “I opened Alexandra’s Alterations at Fountain Oaks for 16 years and relocated to Mount Paran Walk,” she recalled. “I have a wonderful staff from Israel, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Russia, and they all speak Russian. I love what I’m doing and enjoy seeing people and making them feel beautiful, which is most important.” Loyal customer Marty Alterman said, “Alexandra is like the ever-ready battery. She never stops until her husband insists. Also, she is an incredible person, talented, kind and humble. I just love her.” Another customer, Lori Simon, mused, “For 20 years, I have used Alexandra’s Altera-

and has three children.” Her daughter, Flora, graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in business management. Flora and her nine-year-old daughter, Ava, help Korman in the shop occasionally. Ava, something of a budding entrepreneur herself, told her grandmother to “please wait for her to grow up, so she can have the business.” Korman says she’ll be working “until I’m a 100, God willing.” “I am a Jewish woman,” she says, “we enjoy the Jewish holidays and I surround myself with family. I love feeling a part of a simcha and I want to see photographs and hear all about how the entire party was from my customers.” She laughs and adds, “Of course, then right back to work!” ì 23•STYLE MAGAZINE

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Eisenberg Engagement at Under the Cork Tree

WEDDINGS

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

On Jan. 31, guests converged at Under the Cork Tree on Roswell Road to toast Angelino Hanna Hier and Sandy Springs native David Eisenberg’s engagement. The couple met in Haifa, at a mutual friend’s birthday party, and felt an immediate connection. Eisenberg had been living in Israel for over four years at the time, and Hier had

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recently made aliyah. “Although we grew up on opposite ends of the U.S., we hit it off right from the start,” Eisenberg said. “We both attended Jewish day schools and grew up in traditional families with a focus on family, Judaism and a strong connection to Israel. We’re both big sci-fi buffs and grew up watching a lot of the same shows, like “Big Bang Theory,” and “How I Met Your

Mother.” Little did Hanna know that she would soon meet David’s mother, Suzanne Hanein Eisenberg, along with his dad, Joel Eisenberg. Eisenberg fulfilled his childhood dream of making aliyah in August 2014, a few months after he graduated from Georgia Tech with an engineering degree. He served in the Israeli Armored Corps of the IDF from 2015 to 2017, and most recently worked

Hanna and David share a love of sci fi shows.

for Taliaz, a healthcare startup company. Hier went to Israel in 2017, after graduating from the University of California, San Diego with a degree in management science. She is currently a data scientist with startup Well-Beat. Her grandfather, Rabbi Marvin Hier, visits Israel frequently and is the founder of the Museum of Tolerance and the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles.

A cheerful poster of the couple greeted guests.

The Hanein family came to the U.S. as refugees in 1963 — with sponsorship from HIAS and via France — after being expelled from Egypt. Paying tribute to their Sephardic roots, the crowd let out a raucous ululation as an expression of joy and celebration. Eisenberg’s father, Joel, toasted the couple: “We are so excited to welcome Hanna into our family, and we could not be happier with David’s choice. She is truly the perfect match and temperament for him.” “This party was last minute and impromptu when we found out that David and Hanna were planning on coming to the U.S. from Israel for her sister’s wedding in Oregon,” Suzanne said. “The U.S. had many restrictions on foreign travelers entering the country, but finally eased up about a week before they traveled. We definitely wanted our family and friends to meet Hanna and to celebrate with us before they went back to Israel. Our family has had a tough year and we wanted a chance to finally celebrate a happy occasion as well as the special couple. As Joel told Hanna when they told us of their engagement, ‘We will soon get the daughter we always

wanted!’” With COVID precautions in mind, the engagement venue had to have a large outdoor patio and space heaters. The Eisenbergs landed at Under the Cork Tree in the Prado. After a threeday cold snap, the temperature rose to 55 degrees the evening of the party. Eisenberg’s maternal grandmother, nicknamed “Lollipop,” said, “David is my oldest grandchild. We have always had a special bond because his parents would drop him off at my house on the weekends; and my husband and I would take him to Or VeShalom with us. I can’t wait to dance at his wedding and celebrate this wonderful union.” Although both of them still love Israel, the difficulty of traveling internationally and having to constantly take COVID tests to enter the U.S. has made the couple realize that they need to be in the same country as the majority of their family. Eisenberg’s family in Israel includes his mom’s surviving aunts and uncles, her 17 first cousins and over 50 second cousins. Because of the couple’s impending move back to the U.S., a wedding date and location has yet to be finalized. ì

5 1 Suzanne Hanein’s University of Florida college roommates Becky Califf and Frieda Marhee flew in to honor the engaged couple.

2 David’s Father Joel’s toast included his happiness in bringing a “daughter” into the family.

3 Eisenberg’s maternal grandmother, Laurette, known as “Grandma Lollipop,” with Suzanne and Joel. 4 The winter weather brought unexpected sunshine.

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‘Masked’ Pandemic Cover Couple Tie the Knot in Florida Jordyn Aronowitz and Blake Simon are ready to party and celebrate their marriage. // Credit: Mavila Photography

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

For the past two years, Jordyn Aronowitz and Blake Simon have been looking forward to getting married. The power couple met eight years ago, in their first year at Emory Law School. Like many brides and grooms, they were forced to reschedule their wedding date to ensure that family and friends could attend. They finally made the decision to marry on 2-20-2022, a memorable date that sounded just ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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right. The couple graced the cover of the AJT Style issue in summer 2020, in surgical masks, just as the COVID pandemic was beginning to lead to event cancellations and postponements. The scene of the proposal was staged for Jordyn by Blake at her home in Plantation, Fla., where she grew up. Family and friends joined in via Zoom, and the celebration took place in spite of the pandemic. The couple selected Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El —

where Jordyn’s mother and father, of blessed memory, had also wed — as the setting for the ceremony. Guests stayed at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa, with its private beach and resort ambiance. In the months leading up to the wedding, Jordyn and Blake moved back to Atlanta from Manhattan, where they had been working. Both landed their dream jobs: Jordyn is now a real estate litigation associate at Arnall Golden Gregory

and Blake is an associate at Austin & Byrd, working in the litigation and trial practice group. The festivities began on Saturday night with a fabulous welcome dinner hosted by the groom’s parents, Lori and Arthur Simon, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale. Food stations, memorable toasts and a dessert extravaganza with an ice cream truck delighted the guests. At every turn, there were meaningful details reflecting the bride and groom’s

love of family, their interests and personable style. (The ice cream truck had been a familiar feature at Blake’s birthday parties while growing up.) On Sunday night, a memorable black-tie wedding was hosted by the bride’s mother, Lisa Aronowitz. Blake’s tallis was placed on the chuppah and the couple was wrapped in the same tallis that Jordyn had used 17 years ago, during her bat mitzvah on the same bimah. The bride wore a glamorous and timeless Pronovias gown. The creative appetizer hour featured fun foods like mini tacos and mini margaritas, little burgers with small Dr. Peppers and fried chicken and waffles. “The food choices at the wedding and appetizers were all Blake,” said Jordyn. “His excitement about the food was important and we wanted everything (from the food, the band, to the photobooth) to be fun and different. The unique appetizer stations were a big part of that.” Even the wedding cake was original, iced in gold and white with a replica of the bride and groom and their beloved cockapoo, Bruce. Fusion band Rock With U provided the entertainment — a combination of DJ and live band. The couple’s first dance was to “I’ll Never Break Your Heart” by the Backstreet Boys. “Before we began dating,” Blake said, “we bonded over late ‘90s and early 2000s pop music, which obviously includes boy

bands. Our first date was actually an Aaron Carter concert (one of the Backstreet Boys’ little brothers), so it only made sense to include the Backstreet Boys as our first dance song.” Floral decorator Dalsimer Atlas created the bride’s bouquet, while the bridesmaids carried their own bouquets, composed of calla lilies wrapped in Jordyn’s father’s ties. “My father passed away when I was 11,” Jordyn said, “and my mom saved his ties along with a favorite tie that I got him for Father’s Day. It was important for us to feel like he was incorporated into the wedding.” After two nights in South Beach, the couple headed back to work. “We are hoping to honeymoon next year, ideally if the world is back to normal, in South Africa,” the bride said. “We are so grateful to Jordyn’s mom and my parents for planning the welcome dinner,” said Blake, “because we’ve both been so busy between moving states, finding new jobs, finding a place to live, and it’s been a whirlwind. We leaned on our parents a lot and they came through to make this a wonderful weekend for the two of us. Our wedding exemplified everything that we hope for in our marriage: love, joy, happiness, fun and creating memories with those who matter most. The entire weekend was perfect and exactly how we envisioned sealing the deal.” ì

1 Bride and groom make music together. // Jeff Kolodny Photography 2 The bride and bridesmaids carried modern floral bouquets wrapped in Jordyn’s father’s ties. // Jeff Kolodny Photography 3 Jordyn and Blake pose at the temple where Jordyn grew up in Plantation, Fla. // Jeff Kolodny Photography 4 Jordyn and Blake celebrate their long-awaited wedding. // Jeff Kolodny Photography 5 Jordyn and Blake in an ice cream truck at their rehearsal dinner. // Mavila Photography

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Swartz Twins Celebrate Double Mitzvah

MITZVAHS

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Gabrielle (Gabi) Claire and Tyler Benjamin Swartz celebrated their b’nai mitzvah last May at Temple Sinai. The son and daughter of Kimberly and Jonathan Swartz — and younger siblings to Madeline — had the parsha Naso, which also

happened to be Maddie’s parsha in May 2018. During the service, they wore tallit purchased by Maddie during her eighth-grade trip to Israel with Davis Academy. While reading from the Torah, Tyler also wore a tallit that belonged to his maternal great-grandfather, Benjamin

Dornfest. Then the post-ceremony festivities began at the popular Ponce City Market. For the party, Gabi wore a silver sequined Jovani dress with custom painted Nike Air Force One high tops. Tyler wore a Brooks Brothers khaki suit and Vineyard Vines tie.

“Choosing a twin mitzvah party theme isn’t easy, especially with a boy and girl,” said mom Kim Swartz. “As native Atlantans, we decided that our hometown could be a great theme, with the slogan, ‘Raise the Roof.’ Kim was doodling one day and figured out that ‘ATL, GA’ incorporated both

Gabi and Tyler spend lots of time together but still maintain separate interests. // Photography by Chuck Robertson

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2 1 1 Young guests file out of the elevator at Ponce City Market to have fun with Gabi and Tyler. 2 The Swartz’s theme incorporated what makes Atlanta great.

3 Guests enjoy Skyline Park with a Coney Island-style boardwalk. 4 The twins display their golf and soccer-themed pillows.

Tyler and Gabi’s first initials, so the design team got to work on creating logos. Gabi used a soccer ball next to her G and Tyler had a golf club propped against his T. The centerpieces included Coca-Cola bottles and Delta airplanes.” The twins, who are eighth graders at Davis Academy, are best friends, choosing to spend a good deal of time together. They are both excellent students, but also have different

interests in and out of the classroom. Gabi has been playing select soccer since she was eight. She enjoys traveling to tournaments around the country with her teammates, while Tyler prefers to focus on individual sports such as golf and sailing. Tyler also has a passion for history and geography and enjoys traveling to many of the places about which he has studied. All three Swartz kids have attended Camp Seafarer and

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Maddie, Tyler, Kim, Gabi and Jonathan get the party started.

Bold Catering provided a copious buffet touting the South.

Vendors:

Event Planning: Bluming Creativity Invitations and Logos: Simply Put by Ashley Woodman DJ: Rhythm Entertainment Photos: Chuck Robertson Videography: Blue Orchid Décor: YES Catering: Bold and Five Daughters Bakery Greenscreen: Button It Up Party Favors: Jeckil Promotions

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Camp Sea Gull on the North Carolina coast, so for their mitzvah project, Gabi and Tyler raised money to send less fortunate kids to camp. They want more children to be able to experience sleepaway camp as they have, growing in self-confidence, independence, resilience and the ability to learn new skills and make new friends. Tyler used his sailing expertise to race Sunfish sailboats in a camp regatta, raising $2,000, while Gabi joined her mom and sister in the annual Charleston Half Marathon and 5K with a team of camp friends and counselors. Their “Run a Kid to Camp” team raised enough funds to send several girls from single-parent households to camp. Participating in their mitzvah projects was a rewarding experience for Gabi and Tyler. They plan to continue volunteering with the camp and

other philanthropies in the future. Party planner Tara Kornblum, of Bluming Creativity, was no stranger. Kornblum had worked with Tara previously on Maddie’s bat mitzvah at Summerour Studio. “It was a ‘no brainer’ to use Tara and many of our same vendors,” Kim said. “The twins’ original mitzvah date was May 30, 2020 — for which they had been specifically studying. Because of COVID, after a few stressful weeks, we decided to reschedule. Waiting an entire year seemed excessive, but it turned out to be the best solution. We were fortunate that most everyone was vaccinated by then; and since we were outdoors on the rooftop, masks were optional. Our family couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. The party began with a cocktail hour for the adults, while the kids had the op-

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portunity to play retro games in Skyline Park with a Coney Island-style boardwalk including mini golf, horse derby race, basketball, SkeeBall, and break-a-plate.” The catering options featured cedar plank salmon with grilled vegetables and several salad choices; a Korean bulgogi station; and a South City Kitchen southern food station. Desserts included bourbon peach pie, key lime pie, a soda “pop” station where chefs prepared sabayon on dry ice blocks and a mini doughnut display from Five Daughters Bakery.ì

“Raise the Roof” held extra meaning from the top of PCM.

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Izzy’s Basketball Bat Mitzvah Bash Izzy’s love of basketball was the main theme.

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

Isabelle (Izzy) Winarsky and her parents, Karen and Mark, breathed a sigh of relief after Izzy’s bat mitzvah went off without a hitch last November. With COVID still raging, plans were up in the air until the week prior to the big day. But, with the help of the talented Marci Miller, of The Perfect Party, back-up plans were in place should anything need to change last-minute. The bat mitzvah turned out to be an oasis of togetherness. And the best part, for the Winarskys, was being able to have their closest ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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friends and family attend in person. Izzy prepared like most mitzvah students, with weeks via Zoom and masked tutoring sessions. A 7th grader at Westminster, she has followed in her mother Karen’s footsteps, attending both Westminster and The Temple. “Since Izzy goes to a private school, it was also important to become a bat mitzvah,” Karen said. “She worked super hard and did the bat mitzvah with Charlotte Sommerfeld. They worked well together and did an amazing job which was important to both families. Because

of COVID, they had all heard so many stories of canceled events. We were crossing our fingers and toes if it would come together and we’d all be in the sanctuary and have the celebration. We got lucky on November 6, there was a little window of time that felt possible. Family and friends came from all over the country attending, even up until the very last moment, people came.” The weekend festivities included catering by Endive, with a Friday night dinner at Endive’s restaurant venue for 40 family and friends who had traveled from far away. Karen added, “Izzy’s bat mitzvah was filled

with meaning. Rabbi Lapidus officiated, and she had officiated many of our family’s simchas, including my mother Elaine Koenig’s funeral.” A kiddush followed the ceremony and the girls rented centerpieces (called “renterpieces”) through JF&CS. Since she loves to bake, Izzy’s mitzvah project was a sweet one, baking pastries for a program at The Temple that reaches out to people convalescing, or in need of something to brighten their day. “Saturday night the party was incredible and Marci, who is such a pro, helped us pivot through the pandemic and had

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a ton of ideas for décor, including a logo and Izzy’s name enlarged,” Karen said. “The party venue had included an outdoor tent, and with plan b in place, the goal was still to make everyone feel comfortable. The event was bright with blues and purples and Marci did a phenomenal job. We had Atlanta Fever as

the DJ and they did a lot of fun things with Izzy’s love of basketball. Because of COVID, the kids had not had a lot of parties and mostly girls attended, dressed up, hair done, and they were all into it. The food by Endive was delicious and a buffet included a Poké Bar, lots of different dishes and received rave reviews.”

1 Izzy Winarsky celebrated her bat mitzvah in November 2021.

2 Dad Mark Winarsky, sister Sara Winarsky, Izzy and mom Karen Winarsky. 3 Izzy’s favorite colors and theme—basketball—were everywhere. 4 The guests celebrated Izzy with her name in lights. 5 Father daughter dance

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Izzy and friends dance at her bat mitzvah.

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Since Izzy is a huge basketball fan and loves the Atlanta Hawks, photographer Dani Weiss had a ball shooting Izzy on the court (before the mitzvah) and dribbling a basketball in her high-top sneakers. “The Winarskys are such a friendly, outgoing family, with a photographic and beautiful daughter,” Weiss said. “I love documenting a family’s history and telling the story of their simchas.” The highlight of the party, Karen said, was when the family “walked into the room and there were huge letters that said IZZY and balloons and everything popped. Izzy’s excitement was huge, and, after all the planning, she saw this was all for her, especially after working so hard, it was such a good feeling.” Event planner Marci Miller said, “The first thing we did was to create a logo with Izzy’s colors of aqua blue and purple with the help of Jen Leitman of Mitzvah Memos. I wanted to do something fun and different,

and the logo was a springboard and incorporated the design. I was involved from start to finish and as a full-service event planner. The one thing that I loved, which showed up in the photographs, was we did Izzy’s name in 5-foot light-up letters, which was so cute. You could see it in every direction. We also did a really cool organic balloon on the ceiling, different sizes, by Funorama Parties. It was very colorful, grabbed your eye and gave it a whimsical touch.” Focusing on the safety of the guests was the priority, Miller said. “I think smaller parties are actually more fun than the larger ones. Izzy and her family were a delight to work with and the nicest family, which made it such a memorable event for us all.” As Izzy’s simcha came to an end, her sister, Sara, was about to find out the date of her bat mitzvah. Hopefully, said Karen, “We won’t have to worry about the pandemic since it’s two years or so away.” ì

6 Izzy, the basketball lover, dribbles into the party in her high-top sneakers. 7 Izzy stands at the pulpit, ready to read from the Torah.

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8 & 9 Colorful food selections enticed guests throughout the weekend.

Celebrate in Sandy Springs Life is filled with moments that become lasting memories, and there’s no better place for a memorable simcha than Sandy Springs. Let us be the full service connection between you and your event. With over 20 hotels and nearly 3000 rooms, we can provide customized and complimentary assistance to make sure you find the perfect hotel for your guests, as well as recommendations for venues, catering and more.

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Atlanta Bat Mitzvah Makes Bracelets for a Good Cause

Zohar has a helper, 60 bracelets down, countless more to go.

By Mara Fahl The threads binding the American Jewish community and Israel together are being strengthened thanks to a twelve-year-old bat mitzvah girl, Zohar Holland. As part of her journey into Jewish adulthood, Holland created a unique fundraising initiative, producing beaded friendship bracelets to raise money and awareness for a program empowering Israelis with physical and cognitive disabilities to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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Holland, who lives in Atlanta, was so moved by the stories of soldiers in Special in Uniform, a Jewish National Fund-USA program that integrates young adults with disabilities into the army alongside their peers, that she decided to dedicate her bat mitzvah tzedakah project to assisting them. Bracelets are just the beginning though; Holland’s unique bat mitzvah project aims to build a connection between Special in Uniform participants and their American friends and supporters. “When you wear a friendship bracelet, you feel connected to someone who cares about you,” she said. You can look at it and know your friends are thinking of you too. I want Special in Uniform soldiers to know that I’m thinking of them, and so is everyone who’s supporting my project.” A student at Atlanta Jewish Academy, Holland possesses a creative spirit that has seen her take the fundraising project to the next

Strength in numbers!

Zohar Holland chose the colors, her favorites, for the friendship bracelets.

level. She plans to write a book about children with challenges wearing magic friendship bracelets, which collect the power of all those who believe in them to impart strength, resilience and connection. She will present the books and bracelets to the soldiers on a family trip to celebrate her bat mitzvah in Israel this April. Local leaders are also supporting Holland’s philanthropic efforts with Jewish National Fund–USA. Atlanta Ambassador Alan Wolk, commending her and her family for their support and commitment, said, “We are thankful that the Holland family has dedicated their time and energy to supporting Special in Uniform. Zohar’s project is a shining example of chesed (kindness) and inclusivity and she will surely inspire her peers to deepen their connection to Israel and our community.” Holland hopes that the project’s message will spread well beyond their circle of family and

friends and reach anyone who is passionate about inclusion, accessibility and helping to empower people with disabilities. The fundraiser will run until April 12, at which time Holland and her family will travel to Israel to present the book and bracelets to Special in Uniform soldiers. Of course, the family will be wearing them too, both on the base and beyond, to continue to spread their message far and wide. As the Atlanta Jewish community marks Jewish Disabilities Awareness, Acceptance and Inclusion Month, initiatives like this bat mitzvah project turn sentiments into action. To support Holland’s fundraiser, visit my.jnf.org/siu/ zoharsbatmitzvah. To learn more about Special in Uniform and other programs supporting Israelis with disabilities, contact Beth Gluck at bgluck@jnf.org or visit www.jnf.org/disabilities. ì Mara Fahl is the managing editor of B’Yachad Magazine

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Sid Kirschner Turns 87 at the Buckhead Club

SIMCHAS

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

“Serial retiree” Sid Kirschner believes that birthdays are meant to be celebrated. His annual celebration started when his late wife, Judy, planned a surprise 40th birthday party at their home with friends and neighbors. Guests were excited to have something to celebrate during the holiday season, a week before Christmas. The party has grown every year to include colleagues, business friends, family — all the special people in Kirschner’s life. Looking back, his wife,

Carole, said, “Like almost everything that was planned in 2020, that party was limited to family, with everyone vaccinated. This year was affected, with several guests requesting a ‘rain check.’ Guests were from the 50 years Sid’s lived in Atlanta, several doctors and executives from all walks of life.” “Once you’re invited,” Sid said, “you never get off ‘the list.’” Kirschner started his career in 1973 at National Service Industries with Erwin Zaban and Milton Weinstein. Twenty years later, he retired and almost immediately went to work at

Northside Hospital for the next twelve years; then he retired again! Kirschner subsequently became head of school at The Davis Academy. Five years later, he retired again — then he went back to work at Piedmont Hospital. Each organization grew and prospered under Kirschner’s leadership. Initially, the party was celebrated at home, with catering by Affairs to Remember. As the number of guests increased, it moved to other venues, including restaurants and special facilities like “The Estate” and — most recently — the Buckhead Club.

J. Wilbur Smith’s EventScapes has been a constant vendor with glam décor. Over the years, the theme of the party has been coordinated to match the invitation. “Smith’s crew makes every effort to avoid having the party look like a holiday celebration,” Carole said. “One year he had to hide the four 20-foot-tall Christmas trees in the room. This year’s theme was built around the number 87 — done primarily in black and white with splashes of orange.” “When I started talking to Carole about the theme, she said ‘orange’,” Smith said. “I waited to

Sid Kirschner takes great joy in being surrounded by mishpocha and friends. // Credit: Glenny Brown Photography

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3 4 hear the story! Sid had a favorite orange scarf to wear to the party. So we chose to heavily accent that in a unique way — pomanders of white and orange flowers on the guest tables and orange floral designs on the buffets. Throughout the room was orange uplighting. The entrance was flanked with orange illuminated columns personalized with his ‘87’ scroll.” The menu was passed hors d’oeuvres and individual stations for seafood, beef carving, pasta, side dishes and salads. “We almost didn’t have a birthday cake — everyone thought someone else was providing it,” Carole recalled. “The day before the party, I reached out to J. Wilbur, who came to the rescue. After a frantic search, he provided a lovely cake from the Village Corner Bakery in Stone Mountain.” The music, by Magno, was, according to Carole, “flawless.” “Having a special throne for Sid to hold court was the idea that tickled me the most,” she said, “it

was the ultimate solution, allowing him to greet and visit with each guest.” “Sid is lucky,” Carole added. “He still enjoys going to work every day. He’s raising money to help Piedmont provide advances in services to the community. In his free time, he’s helping individuals solve problems. He mentors several people … and when it’s all done, he has the best time with his family: Ron and Lori Kirschner, Lisa and Mark Greenberg, Lori Anne Kirschner and the grands, Josh, Dana and Brad Kirschner; Haley, Jamie and Noah Greenberg and the mishpocha. Sid enjoys streaming television series and watching sports, either in person or on TV.” Sid’s advice is to “Never say ‘no’ to a request for help; and do good where you can, it will make you happy.” “Seeing all these folks who are important in my life is the best treat of my year,” he concluded. ì

6 1 J. Wilbur Smith had to scurry at the last minute to get a cake. // Glenny Brown Photography 2 J. Wilbur Smith’s décor built on Carole’s idea of black and white with orange splashes. // J. Wilbur Smith EventScapes 3 Smith’s exotic florals created a warm ambiance. // J. Wilbur Smith EventScapes

4 Carole (left) greets favorite Atlantans Judy Cohen Kogon, Sherry and Harry Maziar (right). // Glenny Brown Photography 5 Carole arranged for “King” Sid Kirschner to have a throne to greet guests. // Glenny Brown Photography

6 The 87 scroll at the entrance matched the invitations. // Credit: J. Wilbur Smith EventScapes 39•STYLE MAGAZINE

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Novel Spotlights Love in Atlanta’s Sephardic Community

By Bob Bahr Jeanie Franco Marx’s new novel, “Dayenu,” is subtitled “A Sephardic Story,” but the author, who grew up in Atlanta, readily admits she left an important

word out of that description. That word — and indeed the theme of this book of Jewish family life — is love. “Dayenu” is a Sephardic love story, with equal emphasis on all three words. Peering out from the cover of the book is a softly tinted photograph of a smiling, attractive couple, taken 90 years ago. This is an image of Marx’s parents, Jack Franco and Catherine Benbenisty, taken just before they married in 1933. In her book they become Yacov and Malka. Jack had arrived in the U.S. in 1924, among the last of a torrent of immigrants — including those who left the eastern Mediterranean — to take advantage of America’s

liberal immigration laws. Catherine, likewise, was the daughter of immigrants from Rhodes, who found in Atlanta a haven from Europe’s wars and social upheavals. In “Dayenu,” Marx lifts the curtain that often separated Sephardic Jews from their Ashkenazi neighbors in the heavily Jewish neighborhood just south of the state Capitol in downtown Atlanta. Marx, who married Ashkenazi men, said her first husband had never heard the word Sephardic until he met her. In her parents’ and grandparents’ days, there wasn’t much mingling between the two communities, which often had only the Hebrew language in common. Both had their own synagogues

In real life, Jack Franco, author Jeanie Marx’s father, ran the popular Roxy Delicatessen in Midtown Atlanta for many years.

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and their own languages (Yiddish and Ladino), which, Marx says, kept them apart. “It was just such a separate way, a separate existence, it was very different. It was also very isolating I think for the Sephardic community here and probably elsewhere, I’m sure. There certainly were other Sephardic communities across the country that felt the same way.” Aside from their differences in synagogue worship and religious customs, it was in the events leading up to marriage and the traditions that surround the ceremony itself that most distinguished Sephardic Jews from Ashkenazim. In the banyo, or the bride’s visit to the mikvah before her marriage, the ritual is festive. As Marx points out in her book, it was followed by a party with female friends and relatives. Strong Turkish coffee was served along with pastries including wedges of masapan, marzipan-like sweets made from almond paste, with three tiny silver balls pressed into each. Unlike a traditional Orthodox Ashkenazi wedding, where the bride and groom are expected to fast before the ceremony, the prenuptial dinner, as described in “Dayenu,” is festive and includes the toast: “Salud, amor y pesetas y tiempo degastarlas.” May you have love and money and the time to spend it. Prior to the ceremony at a Sephardic wedding, there was no bedeken, the Ashkenazi veiling ritual in which the groom appears before his bride and covers her face with a veil. Nor was there a chuppah, with four poles supporting it. Instead, the couple stands under the groom’s wedding tallit, which is held aloft. The bride doesn’t circle her husband seven times during the ceremony, nor do they take a break — called the yichud — to

be alone following the ceremony. In some instances, the couple uses that time together to break their pre-nuptial fast and even to have their first sexual encounter. As Marx relates in her book, some marriages in the Sephardic world in Europe involved child brides. Her grandmother told her the story of how she was married off in Turkey at the age of 13 and had to wait until she was sexually mature three years later for the betrothal to be consummated. For Marx’s heroine, the young Malka, who is married not too long after her high school graduation, the whole process of courtship leaves her somewhat bewildered. For all the festivity surrounding the nuptials, the character — based on her mother’s experiences — doesn’t feel any bells go off, as she puts it. “She wasn’t sure she was in love when she accepted Yacov’s

proposal. And it was something that grew over time. She knew that there were still going to be ups and downs in the relationship, and it’s a process. That’s what I hope comes out of the book, that that there’s a richness that has to develop in the relationship. It does take time.” In real life, Marx’s mother and father had a long and successful marriage and raised three children. Her father ran the popular restaurant the Roxy Deli, on 10th and Peachtree Street, which was a popular gathering place for decades. Writing her book, Marx says, with its title reflecting the Jewish song of gratitude, left her with a greater appreciation for her Sephardic heritage and what her parents managed to pass on to her. “I value the past and the family I came from and that’s why I wrote the book, to pass all that along so that others are able to appreciate it, too.” ì

Right: “Dayenu” is the story of a Sephardic family in Atlanta set mostly in the 1930s. The cover features Marx’s parents, Jack and Catherine. Below: This wedding photograph from 1912 is one indication of the long history of Sephardic life in Atlanta.

41•STYLE MAGAZINE

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

How I Met Your Father...

Tamar and A vi Gris today . date in vi Gris on a Tamar and A York.

New

Marcy and Arnie Schneider today.

By Chana Shapiro

Tamar and Avi Gris

In December 2013, Avi’s best friend and his wife set us up. They had been pushing Avi to go out with me for quite a while, but the timing wasn’t right. Avi was coming in from Israel for a few months to open a Los Angeles office for his company and he’d be in New York City, where I was living, for four days. Avi asked his friends to arrange a date with me. On one of the coldest NYC winter nights, our first date was at a cozy cafe on the Upper West Side. As we talked, he repeatedly said that I had a familiar energy, and that he felt we had met before. I thought he was feeding me lines and I didn’t believe him. Then he mentioned that, around 2004, he was living in Chicago and working for Colgate-Palmolive, and a lightbulb went off in my head! I had moved back from Israel to Chicago, where I grew up, and had Friday night dinner at a friend’s home. One of the other guests was this guy sitting next to me. He spent a half hour extolling the benefits of Colgate toothpaste, claiming it was medically proven to be the best toothpaste out there. He was quite charming, and I developed a small crush on him. I switched to Colgate ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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Ohio. rried in a m r e Schneid nd Arnie a y c r a M

and thought I’d never see him again. I often advised others to use Colgate because I once met a guy who convinced me that it was the best toothpaste on the market. Then, here he was exactly ten years later, and we were on a date! At that point, after the realization that we really had met, something special clicked for us, and it was the first sign that this might be bashert. During his trip to NYC, we went out three of the four nights. We had a bicoastal relationship with lots of travel, but we got engaged four months after our first date, and we got married four months after that.

Marcy and Arnie Schneider

My mother always said that she met her future son-in-law when he came to her home in order to pick up another girl for a date! At Ohio State University in the 1970s, religious life consisted of either the lively guitar-playing Shabbos services at Hillel or Orthodox services at Chabad. I grew up in a Conservative household; however, I opted for Chabad. While attending services there and enjoying wonderful meals, I met a couple of nice girls who eventually became my roommates in an apartment the next year. One of my roommates met Arnie at Chabad and starting dating him. He often came to

se rris po ete Mo P d n a lee up. eds Les ir singles gro Newlyw the

our apartment, and I enjoyed talking to him while he waited for my roommate to get ready for their date. Arnie and I both grew up in the Cleveland area. My roommate decided to come to my parents’ house with me during a school break so that she could spend more time with Arnie and also get to meet his mother. That’s how it happened that Arnie came to my parents’ home to pick up my roommate! Several months later, Arnie and my roommate broke up. The following summer, I was taking classes on campus. Arnie and I just happened to cross paths while walking there, so we stopped and chatted for a while. And then Arnie asked me out. Fast-forward a few years, and we got married. My former roommate attended our wedding and later, when she got married, we attended hers. This May we’ll have been married 42 years.

Leslee and Pete Morris

In 1981, I met Pete by chance … but I don’t believe in chance. I had moved from the swinging singles scene on Buford Highway to an apartment in Tempo Vista, another complex with many singles, near Beth Jacob. I had decided to keep kosher and observe Shabbat and the Jewish holidays. On my very first Shabbat at BJ, I met Rabbi Eli Seidman at services. Eli and Terri Seidman were a young couple who were spending a year in Atlanta while Eli was interning at a mental health facility. The Seidmans consistently hosted many singles for Shabbos lunch, and over a peri-

with Leslee a nd Pete Morris

od of six months, more than 20 of us were regularly meeting there for meals. Sometimes we stayed at their apartment all day, and sometimes we did some Torah learning.

today.

In the Seidmans’ warm environment, Jewish learning was fun, interesting and enriching. Just three weeks after I moved into the Beth Jacob “hood,” I met Pete, who was being

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Chicago. a date in n o is v a D nd Orrin Gwenn a

Gwenn a nd Orrin Davis

hosted by the Seidmans for Shabbat lunch. On Sunday, a bunch of the singles crowd went to Stone Mountain. On a fateful boat ride, Pete and I “fell in love.” We ended up talking for three hours about our lives, our hopes, our families, our dreams. After that, we knew it was meant to be, and in February of 1982, we were married at Beth Jacob. While Rabbis Ilan and Emmanuel Feldman were under the chuppah with us, Eli Seidman spoke, too. We still have his speech on note cards! Several other couples met and married as a result of Shabbat with the Seidmans. Some of us remained in Atlanta, while others moved to Baltimore, Israel, California, Savannah and Connecticut. Many of the ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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today.

original singles remain in touch, celebrating simchas together, from the births and weddings of our children to the births of our grandchildren. A few years ago, the Seidmans visited Atlanta, and we had a mini reunion. It was wonderful to reconnect in person.

Gwenn and Orrin Davis

Orrin and I were both students in Chicago. In 1976, I was in pre-pharmacy school at the University of Illinois and Orrin was in med school at Northwestern University. I was active in Yavneh, a co-ed group that met in each other’s homes on Shab-

bat. Through Yavneh, Orrin was one of the singles who liked to spend time in my neighborhood, enjoying great Shabbat meals and camaraderie at different welcoming houses. Orrin claims that we first met there. I was a serious student, living at home, spending most of my time studying. One day, my mother insisted, “You have to go out; you’re studying too much!” I reluctantly agreed, and we went to a play at Northwestern University. The play was awful, and I just wanted to leave. As we were walking through the lobby, I bumped into this fellow with curly black hair and a fisherman’s cap. It was Orrin. He remembered meeting me, but I didn’t remember him. As soon as we started to chat, my parents disappeared into the crowd! However, my mother’s voice rang in my mind, “Be nice. You never know what will happen!” Orrin said, “I’ve been meaning to call you. I’ll call when I get back from [his home in] San Francisco.” Months went by. During a Shavuot all-night learning program, a lot of singles who knew each other went shul-hopping until around 4 a.m. At the closing program, men and women sat in separate semicircles. All of a sudden, some guy caught my attention and mouthed, “What are you doing Memorial Day?” That was Orrin. We ended up staying and talking; he asked me out, and I accepted. I’m a Midwesterner with an Orthodox Jewish background. Orrin was raised Conservative and had that “California vibe,” but that didn’t seem to be an issue. Our first date was to the Art Institute in Chicago. I packed a lunch, which included cheesecake, and we spent the whole day together and had dinner together that evening. We started to date in the fall of 1977. After that, we went out every Saturday night. I met Orrin when I was 17, and we started to date in 1977. We got engaged in 1979 and married in 1980. During our engagement, my pharmacy school was in a very dangerous neighborhood, and traveling between school and my home in West Rogers Park was especially grueling during the frequent major snowstorms. I realized that I would have to dorm at school to avoid the long travel time in horrible Chicago winter weather. I had another year of pharmacy school and Orrin had another year of med school to complete, so we agreed on the obvious solution. Orrin already lived downtown near my school, and I like to say that I got married out of convenience, so that we could live downtown, closer to my school.ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Josiah Benator’s One Hundred Years of Service Josiah Benator in front of congratulatory lawn signage.

By Chana Shapiro

On Feb. 3, a day before his 100th birthday, well-wishers gathered outside the home of Josiah V. Benator in Toco Hills. “He, his wife Birdie and some of his grandkids and greatgrandkids came out to greet us,” recalled Benator’s neighbor Robin Saul. “He was feted with balloons, cake and cards. Sporting his WWII veteran’s cap, he vigorously pumped his fist and said, ‘I don’t drink or smoke, and I exercise daily. We didn’t want to fool around because it’s important to us to live a long life.

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You have to take care of yourself from 70 to 80 in order to make it to 100.’” In good weather, the Benators are known to stroll around their cul-de-sac with their walkers (and their caregiver); in bad weather, they walk up and down stairs in their home. Benator was so touched by the gathering that he stayed up late that night, reading all the birthday cards and making a note of the names of his well-wishers so he could thank everyone. Birthday Zoom calls continued for the next few weeks as family, friends and fans

expressed their love and respect for the impact he had had on their lives. The family patriarch is a highly-decorated World War II veteran — and, by all accounts, the longest-serving scoutmaster in the United States. Benator is also a welcoming member of “The Greatest Generation,” who candidly shares his story of responsibility, duty and commitment. He displays a keen memory as he talks about his long and fulfilling life. Benator was born in Atlanta on Feb. 4, 1922, to a family that had emigrated from the island of Rhodes. He studied industrial

management at Georgia Tech, worked as a teacher’s assistant to pay the tuition and was an active member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). After graduating in 1943, Benator enlisted in the army as an officer. In 1944, at the age of 22, he was sent to France as a member of the 10th Armored Division. Benator still recalls it vividly. “On Dec. 16, 1944, we were in the northwestern forests of Europe,” he remembered. “It was a frigid winter, and the landscape was overtaken with fog and snow. Suddenly, mortar shells began raining down. This

surprise attack was the last-ditch effort by Nazi-controlled Germany to break apart the Allied forces in the surrounding area.” For the Americans, the Battle of the Bulge would go down in history as the bloodiest battle of the war. One month later, Benator came face to face with death. “I was in my foxhole, and a mortar shell dropped right next to me. I suffered shell shock, a serious concussion, permanent damage to my hearing and shrapnel in my hand, which required serious surgery.” After the war, he continued to serve in the military until 1946, earning a Purple Heart due to his injury in battle, a Bronze Star for meritorious service in a combat zone, a Presidential Unit Citation, an American Campaign Medal, a European-AfricanMiddle Eastern Campaign Medal with 3 bronze service stars, a World War II Victory Medal, an Army of Occupation Medal with a Germany Clasp, a Combat Infantryman Badge, a French Foreign Legion of Honor medal and many other honors. But Benator wasn’t finished serving others. When asked about his proudest achievement, he doesn’t miss a beat. “Scouting,” he answers. Benator, who reached the rank of Eagle Scout as a teen back in 1934 and has the badges to prove it, became a scoutmaster after the war, serving Boy Scout Troop 73 in that role for more than 70 years. His troop originally met at Congregation Shearith Israel, where Rabbi David Gefen and Rabbi Alvin Sugarman were two of his boy scouts. When Shearith Israel expanded their building in 1958, Troop 73 moved to Congregation Or VeShalom, which became its permanent home. Fifty-three Eagle Scouts have come out of Troop 73, which has led the annual Atlanta Purim Parade for more than 25 years. Benator also served as scoutmaster for Troop 11, at the Howard School for the Developmentally Disabled, and has been widely recognized with

numerous prestigious scoutmaster awards. His 86 years with the Boy Scouts culminated last year, when he retired at the age of 99. When Benator returned from Europe, he married Birdie Benveniste. They raised seven children and are grateful for 13 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. The couple first met when Benator tutored Birdie when she was in high school. They lived one block apart on Pryor Street and both families were active at Sephardic synagogue Or VeShalom. Birdie moved to Washington, D.C., but Benator saw her again in 1944 when he went to visit his sister in New York, and stopped in on the way. They wrote to one another during the war, and when Benator returned, he “invited Bertie to be my guest at a special celebration for war vets at Or VeShalom.” Even though she was living in California at the time, she accepted. A few days later, another party was arranged by her relatives and Benator was invited. The party was on Tuesday; the two became engaged the following Sunday. Beyond his devotion to scouting, Benator’s commitment to Jewish and secular humanitarian causes is part of his DNA. He has been honored with the Hadassah Myrtle Wreath Award for Lifetime Love and Encouragement of Children in 1975, Channel 11 Community Service Award in 1996, Community Service Award through Scouting in 2020, the Mary and Max London People Power Award in 2012 and the West Point Society of Atlanta Outstanding Citizen Award in 2019. Notable posts include serving as president of the DeKalb Grand Jurors Association and of the Sheffield Civic Club, a neighborhood association. As the birthday celebration wound down, Benator took the opportunity to don his WWII army jacket. “It still fits!” he exclaimed. One would expect nothing less. ì

1 3 2 4

5 6 1 Neighbors surprised Josiah Benator with balloons, cards and cake on his 100th birthday. 2 Benator’s Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

3 Benator poses in Scoutmaster uniform, with wife Birdie. 4 A display of Benator’s military medals. 5 Benator’s WWII jacket still fits.

6 Benator displays four medals for exceptional Scoutmaster service. 47•STYLE MAGAZINE

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

AN INITIATIVE OF ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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