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18 Sivan - 24 Sivan 5772, Vol. LXXXVII No. 23
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UNITING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 85 YEARS.
L’CHAIM: MOVING BEYOND PAGE 8
Passions merge in Israel
THE ELLIS ISLAND FALLACY
JUNE 8, 2012 - JUNE 14, 2012
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Why Blaming Others Keeps You Stuck
DANCEJERUSALEM EXPERIENCE
COMING BACK TO DIXIE Author of “Saving Ruth” talks inspirations, aspirations & more Q & A, PAGE 16; BOOK REVIEW, PAGE 17
TARATOOT PHOTOGRAPHY
‘Les Fleurs’ featured at Hartsfield-Jackson | Page 14
AJT
NEWS
Local Brandeis committee chapter closes 2011-2012 year
T
NEW PRESIDENT INSTALLED he Atlanta Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee held their closing luncheon and installation
of 2012-2013 officers on May 9. Serving as guest speaker was Tammy Stokes of West Coast Workout, whose addressed the topic of “Being the Best You at Any Age.”
Joyce Natbony was installed as
president to succeed immediate past presidents Melissa Rosenbloum and Rhonda Bercoon. Barbie Perlmutter was honored with The Helen M. Goldstein Volunteer of the Year Award.
Shavuot at Huntcliff Summit NEW ARK DEDICATED Top RIght: (From left to right) outgoing co-presidents Melissa Rosenbloum and Rhonda Bercoon, with Barbie Perlmutter, recipient of the Helen M. Goldstein Volunteer of the Year Award. Right: Joyce Natbony was installed as chapter president for 2012-2013. Above: Tammy Stokes of West Coast Workout spoke on “Being the Best You at Any Age.” PHOTOS/courtesy Judy Feldstein
, W p i m t a h C L ove m o r F JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
Left to right, members of the Huntcliff Summit Minyan who participated in the project Marianne Neiman, Roy Server, Dr. Morris Miehl, Penny Bowman, Evelyn Rick with (back row) Roy Hammaker, who constructed the ark, and Bob Bahr, who coordinates the Jewish living program at Huntcliff Summit. PHOTO/courtesy Huntcliff Summit
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S
havuot was celebrated at Huntcliff Summit in Sandy Springs with the dedication of an aron kodesh, or ark, for the senior living community’s Torah scroll. The ark was designed and built by residents of the community and their families for use during religious holidays and weekly Friday night services.
**Calling All Jewish Campers, CIT’s and Counselors!**
Are you going to a Jewish Summer Camp? Don’t forget to write “home” and tell us about your fun experiences! We’ll publish one letter each week beginning the first week of camp through the last. Share with your community the adventures, new friends and discoveries of the season, and send pictures, too! Email us (or scan your child’s letter) with subject line “From Camp With Love”: submissions@atljewishtimes.com You can also mail us your letter directly: 270 Carpenter Drive, etc. Att: To Camp With Love.
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AJT
MAZEL TOV
Goldstein in First Democratic Women’s Hall of Fame Class YEARS OF SERVICE RECOGNIZED
M
axine Shapiro Goldstein of Milledgeville was recently included in the group of original inductees into the Georgia Federation of Democratic Women’s Hall of Fame. Goldstein has a strong background in political involvement. In 1982, she was elected Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia and held that position for nearly 10 years; she also served as acting Chair of the State Party, during which time she founded the Select Committee on Women’s Issues, a committee that influenced legislation affecting women’s rights. She later served on Georgia’s Status for Women Commission, as a member of the State Committee, as president of the Georgia Federation of Democratic Women and as an active member of the National Democratic Committee. Additionally, Goldstein gives of her time and effort to other groups and causes, including the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah, Georgia College and State University, Fair Employment Practices Commission, the Governor’s Human Relations Commission, among others.
MENSCH OF THE MONTH Email nominations for people who
go out of their way to show kindness and generosity to others.
The winning nominee win the title “Mensch of the Month” and will have an article written about them and photograph published in the newspaper.
1. The contest is open to everyone, except relatives, by blood or marriage, of AJT employees. Self-nominations accepted. 2. All submissions become property of AJT to use, reproduce, edit, distribute, or discard as it sees fit in its sole discretion. 3. Submissions must be in Microsoft Word and may not exceed 500 words, explaining what the nominee did and why the nominee should be Mensch of the Month, as well as who is making the nomination and why. Nominations must include the name, occupation, address, email, and phone number of the nominee and of the person making the nomination. 4. Entries are due noon on the second Friday of each month for consideration as Mensch for the following month. Email to contest@atljewishtimes.com with “Mensch of the Month” on the subject line. 5. The decisions of the judges are final and non-reviewable.
Emory’s Prof. Lipstadt Honored
BEN-GURION UNIV. CONFERS HONORARY DOCTORATE
B
en-Gurion University of the Negev presented renowned historian, eminent scholar and author Deborah Lipstadt with a prestigious honorary doctoral degree at the 42nd Board of Governors Meeting on May 15 in Beer-Sheva, Israel.
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
Since 1993, Prof. Lipstadt has been the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University in Atlanta, where she founded the Tam Institute of Jewish Studies.
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At the ceremony, BGU President Prof. Rivka Carmi said that the degree was being conferred “in recognition of a highly regarded historian whose comprehensive studies advance the understanding of the atrocities perpetrated during the darkest period in human history and the world’s reaction to them.
“The degree is an acknowledgement of an eminent scholar who fights fearlessly against Holocaust denial, tirelessly traveling the world to perpetuate the memory of the Holocaust amongst the international community,” Carmi said. “I feel deeply privileged to receive this honor from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev,” Lipstadt said. “I have tried in my scholarly work to not only hew to the highest standards of academic research, but to also reach out to the broader world and help them learn about topics such as the Shoah, Holocaust denial and, most recently, the Eichmann trial. “To be honored by a university which has made such a difference, not just here in the Negev but throughout Israel and the world, is something that I shall long treasure.”
AJT
IF YOU ASK ME
Israeli and Jewish and Proud NOTHING TO HIDE By Noga Gur-Arieh AJT Columnist
I
n this column, I would like to talk to you about an experience I’m sure most of you know well: Jewish summer camp. But since you know it so well, I would like to tell you about this experience from the Israeli side. Last summer, I was honored to be a part of a delegation sent by the Jewish agency to Camp Coleman in Cleveland, Ga.; it took six months from the day I sent my application forms to the day I boarded the plane. In those six months, there were eight hours of examination on my work within a group and by myself; an interview in English with the camp director; a five-day preparation semi-
nar; an endless line to get my visa; three days of packing; and more. Being so busy preparing really got my mind off the excitement. It was only when the camp bus driver, Jon, picked us up from the airport in Atlanta, when the butterflies snuck into my stomach. We went through that very detailed preparation so we’d know exactly what to expect; luckily, my summer was full of good surprises. When we Israelis go abroad, we make a great effort in hiding both our Israeli and Jewish identities. In fear of having an unfortunate incident with an anti-Semitic violent group or Israel-haters, we avoid speaking in Hebrew aloud and wear no clothing with Hebrew letters on it.
When we are outside of our Israel
safe-zone, we have to hide who we are. I don’t like doing it, but it is necessary, and I got used to it.
had the campers write about what Israel is to them and what they think Israel looks like.
But camp was the very first time I was proud of being an Israeli outside of Israel. My friends and I felt like we were heroes. Instead of protesting against the IDF, both the campers and the counselors saw us as brave warriors, even if we sat behind a desk for our service time.
During time off, when we toured Georgia and came back to the real world, we had to hide our identity again but anxiously waited for the day we went back to camp.
I could wear my Hebrew t-shirts proudly, and by the time camp ended, I gave two of them to my best American camp friends, who still hold on to them. At night, before my eight-yearold campers went to sleep, I would tell them stories about the beautiful Israel and answer questions. I was lucky to work as a journalism specialist, and during some of the classes, I
WellStar Medical Group welcomes a new practice to East Cobb!
For two months, the Camp Coleman Israeli delegation felt like the kings and queens of the world. I was in heaven, surrounded by Jews who are proud of being Jews and who look up to me simply because I am an Israeli. Camp was the best time of my life and a unique experience. We don’t have summer camps of the same format in Israel, so it was definitely an Continued on page 21
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CHANA’S CORNER
The Credit Card Conundrum ONE SURPRISE LEADS TO ANOTHER BIGGER ONE By Chana Shapiro
der to buy the perfect gift.
I
Then, suddenly and without a word of thanks, he disappeared. I didn’t give it a moment’s thought because I wanted to get back to my own shopping.
AJT Columnist
was shopping on a Monday morning, the half-price day at my favorite re-sale shop. I was having a grand old time making my way through racks of children’s clothing when a friendly man approached me. He said he was trying to buy some blouses for his niece and would appreciate it oh-so-much if I could help him choose and evaluate possible purchases. So together we amicably assessed the fibers, sizes, necklines, buttons, seams and colorfastness of each blouse he showed me. Even though our cooperative search-and-select venture was absorbing my valuable shopping time, I was happy to oblige. Obviously, the poor fellow needed my expertise in or-
About 20 minutes later, my cell phone rang. It was my husband, telling me we had a call from one of our credit card providers; someone was using my card at places the provider considered questionable. I checked my wallet. Sure enough, while that friendly gentleman discussed blouses with me, an accomplice removed my wallet from my purse, which dangled conveniently and loosely over my shoulder, vulnerable under my busy right arm. I left my overflowing shopping cart with the store manager and rushed home to cancel all my credit cards. By that time, two more purchases
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I searched the internet, which had not failed me in the other cancellations, but no matter what number I tried (and, believe me, I called them all) there was no way to get to a site or human to cancel that card. I was beside myself. Finally, a couple of hours into my psychological unraveling, I found a new number. It was answered by an extremely courteous man with a charming French accent. I told him my sad tale and begged him for help. He was eager to cancel my card for me, but, try as he might, he couldn’t access my card. I kept spelling, carefully pronouncing, and re-spelling my name, C-H-A-N-A S-H-A-P-I-R-O, and going over every piece of personal data possible. As he checked everything he could think of, we chatted about this and that. I knew he was on my side, but try as he might, nothing was working. Suddenly, he stopped short. “Where are you?” he asked.
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had been charged to another card, but within a few hours I closed everything…except one, my Sears card. I figured it would be just my luck that the thieves would use that very card to purchase a riding lawn mower, front-loading washer/dryer set, 12-piece suite of lawn furniture, a couple of kitchen appliances and a chain saw, all before I could stop them.
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“Atlanta, Georgia. you?”
Where are
“Canada!” he cried out. “Now, I understand why I can’t find you in our system.” “Don’t leave me!” I begged. “I have nowhere to turn but you!” I admit that was a bit over-the-top, but I felt that drama was called for at a moment when my fiscal life was hanging in the balance. I could just picture those thieves riding around on
the mower I would pay for while their clothing spun around in the state-ofthe-art washing machine charged to me.
“I’ll save you!” my hero promised. A half-hour later, he found the secretof-all-secrets number and cancelled my card and cheerfully reported that the card had not been used. “You’ve been wonderful!” I sighed. “It’s been a pleasure talking to you. I enjoyed helping you,” he responded gallantly. “I’m going to tell your supervisors how great you are,” I declared. “Please tell me your name.” “Abdul,” he answered. It took me several seconds to process that. “You know my name’s Chana, right?” I asked. “Of course,” he responded. “You repeated it and spelled it many, many times.” “Thank you, Abdul,” I said. “You’re most welcome, Chana,” he laughed. Editor’s note: Chana Shapiro is an educator, writer, editor and illustrator whose work has appeared in journals, newspapers and magazines.
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JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
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AJT
L’CHAIM
Why Blaming Others Keeps You Stuck THREE KEYS TO MOVING BEYOND By Janis Cohen AJT Columnist
B
lame is one of the surest ways to stay in a problem. In blaming another, you give away your power.
When you solely focus on what someone else has done, you rob yourself of precious time that can be experienced in freedom from pain, anger and betrayal. You cannot change the past. The past is done. You can let it go now. All too often, you hang on to the emotions connected to past experiences. Unless it provokes positive change within you, it serves no other purpose than to keep you cemented in unnecessary emotional and spiritual darkness. There are three practices that I teach clients to utilize when they are stuck in blame.
1. Awareness of thoughts without judgment. There is no shortage of critical voices in your head. Most of the time, you aren’t even aware of how quickly you go to your default setting of “let me beat myself up a little more.”
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
Practicing awareness without judgment means that you resist the urge to condemn your thoughts as you think them. Once aware, let your thoughts just be there, noticing how you feel as you think them.
8
After all, our thoughts let us know how we are doing. Should you realize that what you are thinking about doesn’t best serve you, understand that you can shift your focus instantly. When the critical voices turn up the volume in your head, tell them, “Hey, I know you want to make me
feel bad right now, but I am not going to allow that. So, just go away. Enough!”
2. Forgiveness of self is a “must have” when you decide to move forward from pain inflicted upon you by another. Month after month, year after year, you carry the weight of your wounds. They grow heavier and heavier, don’t they? Their shape carves itself out into they way you live your life, and before you know it, you have become someone you dislike, wishing for a different life for yourself. It’s like that mattress commercial: “Over time, your mattress becomes weighed down with sweat and dust mites, and you need to get a new mattress.” It’s the same with the pain you carry. Over time, the residue builds up, and you must decide whether to trade it in for a new, clean place to rest or hold on to what you have accumulated over time. Forgiveness isn’t about letting the perpetrator of your pain off the hook; it simply means that you choose not to carry around the aftermath of your wounds for one moment longer than this moment right now. When you forgive yourself for carrying pain from your past, you give yourself the chance to exhale easily, as if you were sitting by the ocean, closing your eyes, and letting the sound of the waves regulate your breathing. You are soothed and safe.
You can now re-define yourself.
3. Having compassion for the person who hurt you can be very challenging for some and next to impossible for others. But, it is the key to living a clean life.
When you realize that the person who has caused you pain is operating from a limited emotional, psychological and spiritual place, you can then look at their behavior from a perspective where you see the pain they inflicted on you as theirs, not yours. It becomes your experience of them and their limited self. Perhaps out of their own insecurities, they try to dominate and control. Maybe they are scared and frightened, just like all of us are at times in our lives, and say and do mean things to fend off potential rejection and pain of their own. Their ego and need to feel significant can drive them to exploit you, causing you great pain.
Regardless of their motivation – which, by the way, you don’t need to spend your time figuring out – people hurt people because they have yet to be enlightened about a better way to be. They are on their own path of self-actualization, even though they don’t know it yet. Blaming others for your pain keeps no one but you imprisoned. We are all here to transcend our limitations and to recognize our own magnificence and divinity. You have the ability to see things and others as they are: imperfect, flawed and with compassion.
Louise Hay, founder of Hay House Publishing, offers this prayer to find peace from your past pain:
“In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole and complete. The past has no power over me because I am willing to learn and to change. I see the past as necessary to bring me to where I am today. I am willing to begin where I am right now to clean the rooms of my mental house. I know it does not matter where I start, so I now begin with the smallest and the easiest rooms, and in that way, I will see results quickly. I am thrilled to be in the middle of this adventure, for I know I will never go through this particular experience again. I am willing to set myself free. All is well in my world. ” Let all be well in your world and refocus on what is happening in your “now.”
It’s all that you have.
Editor’s note: Janis R. Cohen, LCSW has helped to better the lives of children, adults and families for 21 years, adding a spiritual and strategic touch to her clinical work in private practice. She can be contacted at jrcohen@cohenfamilycounseling.com; find out more at www.cohenfamilycounseling.com.
AJT
COMMUNITY
Ketura Hadassah Book Group Meets Author COHEN TELLS OF HIS ‘JESUS YEAR’ By Joan Solomon
local Atlanta places of worship, where
was a learning experience as well as
and opinion.
For The Atlanta Jewish Times
he learned the churches’ methods of
a way to satisfy his long-standing cu-
membership engagement and reten-
riosity. In the book, he relates that
tion. “My Jesus Year” is part-memoir
he owes Christianity a huge debt of
and part-story, relating his personal
gratitude, because it taught him to
spiritual journey with a great deal of
appreciate Judaism more.
T
he May 21 meeting of the Ketura Book Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah featured Benyamin
candor and humor.
He sent one draft with great trep-
idation, as it depicted an argument between him and his dad.
His father’s only comment?
“You left out a comma!”
Cohen, author of “My Jesus Year,” as
What was his wife Elizabeth’s re-
guest speaker.
action to this approach?
What lessons can we take away from
The discussion, facilitated by
Elizabeth, a convert to Judaism,
his experience?
Ketura member Nancy St. Lifer, fo-
was not enthusiastic about this
cused on the man behind the book
and tried to explain to him that
rather than the book itself. After a
attending church services might
brief summary by the author, a ques-
be a disappointment. She insisted
tion-and-answer period ensued.
that if he was intent on doing this, he should get the rabbi’s blessing. Cohen did receive the blessing,
What motivated him to take this
Author Benyamin Cohen receives a certifiwith this caveat – that he always cate of gratitude from Ketura Hadassah, presented by member and discussion facilita- wear a skullcap and his press tor Nancy St. Lifer. PHOTO/courtesy Joan Solomon pass.
journey? Although reared as an Orthodox
Jew whose father and brothers are rabbis, Cohen, a journalist, went on a search for some spark that would
In earlier years, Cohen’s attitude
Cohen felt that much can be
learned from the examples of great “customer service” that he found in the Christian institutions he visited, noting the warm person-to-person welcoming, inspiring music (he especially liked gospel) and even helpful signage in the hallways to guide newcomers to their destinations.
His book also teaches a lesson of
tolerance of other’s beliefs, that one should respect differences while embracing commonality.
inspire him to be a Jew by choice as
Why explore Christianity and not
toward his religion created tension
well as by birth, to approach his reli-
other denominations of his own reli-
between him and his father; how is
gion with joy and enthusiasm and to
gion, i.e., Conservative, Reform?
their relationship now?
What’s in his future?
find meaning in the myriad of com-
mandments that Jews are required to perform.
His means to this end was to ex-
plore Christianity through visits to
He candidly replied, “because I
thought it would make a more interesting book!”
He emphasized that he never con-
sidered converting, that for him this
The experience of writing this
book brought him and his father closer. Cohen shared that he would send his father, who now lives in Israel, drafts of the book for editing
Cohen is very proud that Eliza-
beth is about to receive her doctorate degree in media psychology and has landed a professor position at West Virginia University.
Mt. Scopus Group’s Installation NEW PRESIDENT AND OFFICERS
The Mt. Scopus Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah held a closing luncheon and officer installation on May 20 at the Selig Center. Installing the incoming board members was Toby Parker, past group president and past president of Greater Atlanta Hadassah. In 2012, Hadassah celebrates 100 years of dedication to the curing of disease for the people of Israel and the world.
From left to right, Mt. Scopus Group co-presidents Marilyn Perling and Susan Berkowitz; Toby Parker, past GAH president; and new officers Loretta Bernstein, Baily Olim, Sally Rosenberg, Edie Barr, Sarah Silverman (with daughter Leora), Regine Rosenfelder, Suzan Tibor and Lois Cohen. Not pictured is Julia Alvo. PHOTO/courtesy Jody Franco
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
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AJT
OUTREACH
AJC Atlanta Meets With Kwanza Hall ACCESS GROUP TALKS TO ATLANTA CITY COUNCILMEMBER From the American Jewish Committee For The Atlanta Jewish Times
A
CCESS, the young professionals division of the Atlanta Regional Office of American Jewish Committee, held its open Steering Committee meeting as its final event for the 20112012 programmatic year. The highlight of the meeting was a keynote presentation by Kwanza Hall, Atlanta City Councilmember for District 2.
Shabbat Candle Lighting Times Friday, June 8, 2012 Light Candles at: 8:29 p.m. Shabbat, June 9, 2012 Shabbat Ends: 9:31 p.m. shabbat blessings Blessing for the Candles Baruch Arah A-do-nai,El-o-hei-nu Melech Haolam Asher Kid-shanu b’mitzvotav V’zivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of time and space. You hallow us with Your mitzvot and command us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.
Blessing for thw Wine Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu Meelech Haolam, Borei p’ri hagafen Praise to You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessing for the Bread (Challah) Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu Melech haolam, Hamotzi Lechem min haaretz.
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
Our Praise to You Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
10
Atlanta is the need to improve transportation infrastructure to accommodate growth. The councilmember encouraged participants to learn about the Transportation Investment Act (TIA), a onepercent sales tax to fund transportation projects throughout the metro Atlanta region, and make sure to vote as they see fit on July 31.
As AJC and ACCESS focus on the impact of international events on AJC’s mission to foster a more pluralistic and democratic world, the attendees were especially interested to hear about Councilmember Hall’s visits to China, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and, most recently, Israel, where he spent a week on a seminar sponsored by Project Interchange, an educational institution of AJC. Councilmember Hall described the construction of mega-cities in China meant to house millions of citi- Top: Atlanta City Councilmember Kwanza Hall shares with AJC Atlanta’s zens who ACCESS Group. Above: Kwanza Hall, City Councilmember for District 2. are moving PHOTOS/courtesy Itai Tsur into urban environments; having to cancel a “It is always rewarding to exchange meeting with Filipino professional ideas with a group of emerging leadboxer Manny Pacquiao due to State ers who share my devotion to improvDepartment concerns about Al Qaeda ing Atlanta’s standing on the world threats to areas of the Philippines; stage,” Hall said. “I have always had and Israel’s remarkable success as a great respect for the American Jewhigh-tech hub despite the significant ish Committee and its contributions day-to-day existential hardships it to improving relations between Atfaces. lanta’s diverse communities, and [I] Hall, who serves as chair of the Atlanta City Council’s Advisory Committee on International Relations (ACIR), proposed that metro Atlanta learn from these other countries and adapt best practices in order to grow and thrive as an international city. One of the specific challenges facing
appreciate the opportunity to work with its next generation.”
ACCESS, the young professionals division of AJC, was founded in Atlanta in 1990 and today operates in 12 cities in the United States and in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
AJT
ISRAEL
Israel: As Real As It Gets DANCEJERUSALEM EXPERIENCE
By Leah Boresow
and works together to keep the
For The Atlanta Jewish Times
studios presentable in economi-
S
cally efficient ways. My peers from DanceJerusa-
ince age three, dance has
lem and I spent the day taking
been my greatest pas-
dance and aerobic classes with
sion. As a dance major at
the Adama company, and at
Indiana University, I’ve
night, we lay beneath the stars
happily devoted most of my energy
in the garden and then slept in
to dance.
the mud houses in the midst of
When I had the experience of a
the tranquil desert. Never before
lifetime during my first trip to Isra-
had I experienced a community
el in 2009, I was intent on finding a
of artists who found such unique
way to merge my love for dance with
ways to connect with their en-
my new interest in Israel.
vironment and with the people
Then I learned about Masa Is-
around them.
rael’s DanceJerusalem – a study
In this setting, there was none
abroad program which would allow
of the competition that is typical
me to earn credit and develop my
among dancers. Instead, every-
skills at the Jerusalem Academy of
one supported each other with-
Music and Dance – and I knew it
out judgment.
was a match made in heaven.
These new experiences were
As a student in the Academy’s
always inspiring, but what con-
dance department, I took all of my
tinued to amaze me throughout
dance classes in Hebrew alongside
my time in Israel was how real
Israeli students who soon became
the people were. In Israel, man-
my friends. Coupled by weekly He-
ners are not held in high regard,
brew classes, my immersion was
for better or worse; so what you
complete, and I completed three He-
see is what you get. It was al-
brew levels by the end of the year.
ways easy to get to know people,
My commute to school also opened
and no one ever held back.
the door to having a very real Israel
I will never forget what Jeru-
experience; because the Academy
salem was like on Israel’s Inde-
was 50 minutes from where I lived, I crowded buses, I learned an incredible amount about the people and the culture, and this was especially true in moments of uncertainty, such as the bus bombing in the spring of 2011. Though I was definitely shaken up when I learned of the bombing, I – like most Israeli commuters – did not stop taking the bus. Life seemed to go on almost immediately, which was something I did not expect. The bus route
pendence Day. The people came Dance student Leah Boresow on the steps of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Amphitheater. PHOTO/Melissa Strain
that I had never before seen. I
stayed open.
and work with real professional dance
When I asked my Israeli friend
companies. During one trip to Mitzpe
Asaf how everyone was able to simply go on with their day, he said, “If we
together to celebrate with a vigor
Ramon in southern Israel, I spent the weekend with the dance company
saw real happiness and togetherness on that day in Jerusalem. The emotional honesty that I experienced was one of the most fulfilling parts of
stopped our lives after every bad thing
Adama.
my journey in Israel.
that happens in this country, then we
Located in the “Spice Route Quar-
Editor’s note: Leah Boresow is an Al-
would have a never-ending pause in
ter,” Adama’s home is a once-aban-
pharetta native and participated in
life. We wouldn’t really be living.”
doned hangar that the company rebuilt
Masa Israel’s DanceJerusalem while a
Outside of class, I had the opportu-
with eco-friendly mud houses. The
student at Indiana University.
nity to travel throughout Israel to see
company keeps a vegetarian kitchen
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
took public buses everywhere. In the
11
AJT
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Planning for Your Vacation THINGS TO SECURE BEFORE TAKING A HOLIDAY
By Steve Rothschild
your accounts; helpful information to
Communicate in-person with your
AJT Columnist
include are your dates of departure
customers and any persons not in
and return, details of who to contact
your office who are working with you
for immediate assistance and your
on this project.
apologies for any inconveniences
Knowing up-front that you will be
seeable reasons.
out of town will prevent any panic at-
Lastly, organize your desk and
T
aking
a
much-needed
break? Ensure that you will enjoy the peace and
your absence may cause.
quiet by tying up loose
You may also change your voice-
tacks by your customers. This knowl-
mail and phone messaging systems
edge will also help eliminate the need
to relay the same information. What-
for your staff to respond to questions
ever you do, don’t leave your custom-
that can wait until your return.
ends before ditching your desk. Start with your computer: Run a check and complete all software updates and then execute a full back up. For extra insurance, complete your back up on an external hard drive and store it in an off-site location. Be prepared in case of emergency requests and last-minute changes by completing a back up on an online storage site, allowing you to gain access to your files from any computer, at any time. Create a few relevant folders and save to them on a cloudbased storage site like Drop-box or on a USB drive that you can take
headache of sifting
notification that automatically replies to emails and messages sent to
G.
firms; learn more at rrbcpa. com. This article is not al-
‘Sharing’
tered in any way to give an
or ‘Remote Access’
you have covered all your customers.
Steven
work of consulting and CPA
and be sure to en-
league and, above all, ensure that
note:
One, an international net-
motely, leave it on
to delegate responsibilities to a col-
your desk, but it will be a calming
a member of Member of Ran
your computer re-
midst of a project or task, make sure
league need to find something on
itz & Bernstein, P.C. RRB is
you need to access
Confirm that your email accounts
will this make it easier should a col-
CFP at Robinson, Rabinow-
And just in case
If you are in the
office space before leaving. Not only
Rothschild is a CPA and
upon your return.
the
be out of contact suddenly for unfore-
Editor’s
hundreds
of repeat messages
able
structions should you lose touch or
ment to return to.
also save you the through
emergency contacts, names and in-
and less stressful environ-
will
mode before leaving.
tablet device. Set up an Out-of-Office
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
notifications
along. are synced to your mobile, laptop or
12
ers hanging; these
sistant or another colleague a list of
incorrect impression of the content of the original; copyright 2012, Bullseye Busi Assign a point person who can act as your stand in on all your accounts or in the event that a deadline changes or a conflict arises. Leave your as-
ness Systems Pty. Ltd., all rights reserved, reprinted with permission from ranone.com.
AJT
BUSINESS & FINANCE
Life at Home is the Key to IndependenceSM
Plan Carefully If You Win the Jackpot MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY
P
icture this: You’ve just won the lottery or received a large inheritance. You start daydreaming about all the wonderful things you’ll buy and all the vacations you’ll take. Money will no longer be a worry. Unfortunately, it may not be quite that simple. If you don’t properly plan on how to receive your windfall and invest it wisely, you could find yourself not on Easy Street but on the road to financial disaster. If you suddenly find yourself rich overnight, here is some advice you may want to consider before buying that new sports car and quitting your job: • Take lottery winnings in a lump-sum. If you’re disciplined enough not to spend the money all at once, you may want to consider taking all the money at once. Typically, receiving a lump-sum will give you more money over your life expectancy than if you take the money in payments over the years. For example, if you receive $1 million and pay half of that in taxes, you’ll end up with $500,000 to invest. At a hypothetical 10 percent rate of return, your winnings would have the opportunity to grow to more than $3.3 million in 20 years. By comparison, if you choose to receive the $1 million windfall in 20 annual installments of $50,000 and invest each year at that same 10 percent, you would end up with approximately $2.8 million – a difference of more than $500,000. The more money you can get invested right away, the better off you could be.* • Choose the installment option if you’re a spendthrift. If a bank account with a lot of money in it is too tempting for you to handle, take your fortune over a period of several years. You may not have this option with every type of windfall, but
if you happen to win the lottery, the lottery sponsor may invest your winnings for you. You may be getting a better rate of return by taking the money in one lump-sum, but that’s no use if you end up spending all of it without planning. • Keep income taxes in mind. Most likely, about half of what you win or inherit will go to pay federal and state income taxes. And remember, a multi-million-dollar payout will put you in the highest federal tax bracket, 35 percent; add state income taxes to that, and you’re may be up for losing half of your money to taxes. In cases where winning lottery tickets are purchased outside your home state, it’s possible that you would be taxed in your home state and the state where you purchased the ticket. Careful tax planning can help you keep as much of the money as possible.
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• What happens when you die? If you’re married, the money typically may be transferred to your spouse free from any estate taxes. However, if the amount totals more than $5 million this year and your spouse is also deceased, your heirs will have to turn over as much as 45 percent of that money to the federal government in the form of estate taxes. As you can see, without careful planning, a financial bonanza could become a nightmare. A financial advisor can help you make sure to take the appropriate steps to help you manage the windfall more effectively. Editor’s note: Gary Alexander is Managing Director – Investment Officer at Wells Fargo Advisors in Atlanta. Wells Fargo Advisors / Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network does not give tax or legal advice. Specific questions on taxes as they relate to your individual situation should be directed to your tax advisor. *This example is for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect the performance of any specific investment. There is no guarantee you would be able to obtain a consistent rate of return.
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
By Gary Alexander AJT Columnist
13
AJT
ARTS & LIFE
Atlanta Native’s Photos at Hartsfield-Jackson EXHIBIT EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE
P
rofessional Photographers Association of America member Barry J. Taratoot was selected by the Artists in Exhibition program at HartsfieldJackson Atlanta International Airport to showcase his works in the Atrium Gallery, located in the heart of the airport’s Main Terminal. The exhibit, entitled “Les Fleurs” (French for “the flowers”) and sponsored by the Department of Aviation’s Airport Art Program, opened March 23 and was scheduled through May 16 but was recently extended through June. The featured framed images range in size from 34 inchesby-46 inches to just shy of four feet wide-by-six feet high.
at me in disbelief, and then they ask what kind of software I used to get them to look this way.” Taratoot also photographs weddings, corporate events, bar and bat mitzvahs, wine tastings and also catalogue work for a manufacturer of fine jewelry in Boston.
Given that each piece in this collection is floral, the Atrium bursts alive with subtle splashes of color, the perfect fine art complement for an Atlanta spring and early summer. Taratoot, age 52 and a native Atlantan, is one of eight area artists invited to exhibit a photographic body of work at Hartsfield-Jackson in 2012. He does all of his own printing and finishing work in his home studio in Dunwoody. But what makes these specific works of Taratoot’s truly unique is the fact that no camera whatsoever is used to photograph the plants. Instead, he invested in a high-end scanner which employs a double-pass system: The plants are “photographed” at night in complete darkness and very high resolutions, and the images are imported to Photoshop CS-5 for color balancing, dirt and dust removal, leveling and cropping, but no other enhancement tools are used to manipulate the images. JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
“Most people who see them at first glance believe they are looking at an illustration or a painting, they don’t even identify the art work as a photograph,” Taratoot said. “That comes 14 as a real surprise to them. They look
TOP: “Les Fleurs” is to be showcased in Hartsfield-Jackson’s Atrium Gallery through June. OTHER PHOTOS ABOVE: Three of Barry Taratoot’s 18 selected works on display at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. IMAGES/Barry J. Taratoot
AJT
ARTS & LIFE
Kosher Movies: The River Wild (1994) DIRECTED BY CURTIS HANSON
For The Atlanta Jewish Times rabbihjco@msn.com
R
afting brings to mind the rafting trip that Jim and Huck Finn take on the Mississippi River. It is a metaphor for a journey from youth to adulthood and defines the travelers as they experience adventures along the way. Rafting also brings to mind a trip I took many years ago with Jan Siegelman, an Atlanta friend and veteran whitewater guide, and my two oldest boys, Dani and Elie, on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. We encountered serious rapids. My boys handled it well, but I fell off the raft three times, once getting stuck underwater for a short while until Jan freed me from between the raft and a rock. For me, river rafting was no longer just an exciting wilderness adventure. It represented risk-taking and danger. “The River Wild,” a thriller about a family rafting trip, viscerally depicts the inherent danger in navigating the rapids and also describes how a moment of crisis can serve as a defining moment in the life of a family. Gail and Tom have a troubled marriage. Tom, obsessed with work, is emotionally distant from his wife and young son, Roarke. Gail, whose father is deaf and uses sign language to communicate, looks to her mother for guidance. When Gail says that things are hard, her mother responds: “You don’t know what hard is. That’s because you give yourself an out.” Her mother wisely counsels her that marriage is by nature a challenging relationship, requiring consistent effort to endure. Gail percolates with this wisdom as she begins her rafting
trip with her son and husband who, surprisingly, joins them at the last minute.
laws that prohibit walking near a crumbling wall or an unstable bridge.
The trip takes a sinister turn when they are joined by Wade and Terry, armed fugitives who pretend to be carefree vacationers on a rafting excursion. Gail and Tom try to find an exit strategy, but it doesn’t work; they are trapped by men who threaten harm to their family if she does not cooperate.
In “The River Wild,” crisis brings the family together and forever after defines them as a loving unit, committed to one another for the long haul. Roarke sums it up when he responds to the policeman who asks
The fugitives’ goal is to compel Gail, an experienced whitewater guide, to take them downriver and to safety, where they can escape the law. The problem is that they will have to go through the gauntlet, a section of the river where a rafter has recently died and another was paralyzed. It is a formidable and dangerous task. “The River Wild” says a lot about the ties that bind a family. It demonstrates that spouses need to spend time with each other and talk to one another; when there is no dialogue, relationships are hard to maintain. “Men are from Mars and women are from Venus” is not just a clever maxim; it is a reminder to married couples to spend time trying to understand each other, to appreciate the everyday interactions and kindnesses that form the bedrock of a strong marriage. Moreover, the story reminds parents to be present for their children, to engage them and to celebrate their special moments with them. And beyond these lessons about family, the film reminds us of the Torah requirement to preserve life and to avoid danger. The Talmud, in fact, states that the rules protecting us from danger are more important than ritual prohibitions. Without life, there is no opportunity to do God’s will. There are even
him what happened. Roarke, smiling broadly, says: “My mom got us down the river and my dad saved our lives.” Editor’s note: Rabbi Cohen, former principal of Yeshiva Atlanta, now resides in Beit Shemesh, Israel. koshermovies.com.
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By Rabbi Herbert Cohen
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15
AJT
LET IT BE READ
A Chat with Local Writer Zoe Fishman EXCLUSIVE AUTHOR Q & A By Jessie Miller Editorial Intern
Ruth. That first summer home was very strange for me.
reshman year of college is a life-changing experience, and returning home afterwards can seem entirely surreal. With so many changes in such a short time, it’s difficult to explain this time period, but local Atlanta writer Zoe Fishman does so in her new book “Saving Ruth.”
AJT:: While writing the book, what was the biggest challenge you faced?
F
Returning home after a year of college, main character Ruth faces many challenges and is forced to discover more about herself as she leaves childhood behind. In an interview, Fishman described the inspiration behind the book and how she imprints her own life in the pages of her work. Atlanta Jewish Times: Your latest novel, “Saving Ruth,” was released this May. Did you set out with a plan on how to write the book, or did it evolve as you were writing? Zoe Fishman: I am a big outliner, so before I write anything, I sit down and plan out what’s going to happen in each chapter so that I have a reference while writing. Every once in a while, the characters will take on a different direction organically or my editor will ask me if I want to change something.
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
But for the most part, the first draft I write stays pretty much according to the original plan just because I spend so much time trying to plan it out before I dive in.
16
ZF: The book is personal to me. Ruth is very much like me, and we have very similar stories. Her family and friends are not my family and friends, but you write what you know, so it was very difficult for me not to expose people against their will. As a writer, you have these relationships, and it seems almost unfair to bring people into your stories without their permission. I tried to be very conscious of not doing that. AJT: As a college student, I felt drawn to this book. Who was your intended audience? ZF: My dream for this book was that people my age – 35 and older – would read it and say, “I remember being 19,” and [the book would] strike a really endearing chord. To hear from you that you liked it and to hear from book bloggers who are around my age like it means everything to me. So the crossover, getting both the older and younger women to appreciate it, was my dream and goal. AJT: Part of what I love about “Saving Ruth” is how tangible and relatable she is. How did you create her character? ZF: One of the pleasures about being a writer is that you can expose yourself as much as you want on the page. I just really channeled who I was at 19, to be honest.
AJT: In “Saving Ruth,” a Southern girl moves up North to go to college. That’s really familiar to readers, especially myself. Is your move from Alabama to college in Boston reflected in Ruth’s move up North?
Also, I suffered from an eating disorder, much like Ruth, and not too severely. I wanted to portray that realness of an eating disorder, but also being rational enough to know that you need to stop.
ZF: [It’s] very, very similar. I had never really left home before, so when I went to Boston, I had never visited the school, just decided to go there at [the] last minute.
AJT: Are there aspects of yourself that you placed in Ruth without realizing it?
When I got to [Boston University], I met tons of people from different parts of the country, my eyes were opened up, and it was similar to
ZF: The last time I read the novel, there was such a sweetness about Ruth. She’s on the brink of figuring out who she wants to be, and there is
Zoe Fishman, born in Mobile, educated up North and today returned to the South as part of Atlanta’s Jewish community, published her novel “Saving Ruth” in May. PHOTO/courtesy HarperCollins Publishers
this sweetness and innocence behind that sarcastic, smart-ass persona she’s created for herself. Looking back, it’s easy to see that same behavior in myself, and reading about Ruth made it even more obvious that beneath the toughness was a boiling pot of insecurities. AJT: I really enjoyed reading about the other characters, like Khaki, and how those people shaped Ruth’s life and influenced the book, especially her brother David. Who is your favorite character? ZF: I really like Khaki. I could just see her so clearly as I was writing her. I had such love for everyone in the book because it was so personal for me. As I was writing, I was kind of back in that moment of being 19 years old, so everybody to me is loved. I don’t think there is any character who I dreaded writing about.
AJT: I thought it was interesting how Ruth’s parents seem to avoid and turn a blind eye to her eating disorder. Why did you choose this behavior for her parents, or were you saying something more about society? ZF: I chose that behavior because my parents didn’t know how to confront my eating disorder. I liked portraying the way Ruth’s mom deals with Ruth’s eating disorder because part of her brain is wired into society and that image determines someone’s worth. She’s struggling with these problems as a 55-year-old woman, and I think it’s very interesting that she was worried but also thought [that Ruth] looked great and would get out of it. AJT: In the novel, you combine themes of racism, body image and coming of age. Why did you choose to highlight these issues in a young woman’s life?
Racism wasn’t everywhere, but there was always a slight undercurrent and friends of mine definitely were outwardly racist. Because Ruth knows she’s Jewish and different, I think that fed directly into her body image issues because she looks so different from everyone else and doesn’t consider herself attractive. Once she gets to college and is around other Jewish people or [others] from the Northeast who have dark, curly hair and they look like her, all of the sudden she is attractive. All of those issues in the book are rolled into one for Ruth. AJT: If a college-age girl reads “Saving Ruth,” what do you hope she will gain from the book? ZF: I hope that she will read the book and be able to relate to Ruth. I think that having confidence in who you are and knowing you’re on a journey to figuring it out is really important. I think that what you will or will not tolerate, what you deserve and how you should be treated depends on believing in yourself before you expect anyone else to believe in you. Confidence and patience are my two hopes for college-age women. AJT: What do you hope to accomplish as a writer within the next 10 years? ZF: It would be amazing to publish a book every year and a half and increase my fan base as much as I can. I would love to take some time to devote to writing the kind of novel that goes beyond my immediate experience and that I really have to research and focus on. I love writing things that are close to me, and I feel blessed that other people can relate to these stories, but to be able to take a story and put it in another world would be a great dream of mine. AJT: When did you move to Atlanta? ZF: I moved to Atlanta last August after being in New York for 13 years. AJT: How do you like the Atlanta Jewish community? ZF: I like it a lot. I’m excited to forge my family’s own path and figure out what makes sense for our son and us. I definitely am impressed with and amazed by the depth of the community. It was a much smaller community in Alabama and in Atlanta it’s very prominent and close knit.
“Saving Ruth” an Ideal Summer Read BOOK REVIEW By Jessie Miller Editorial Intern
A
t the end of my freshman year of college, I was left feeling unsure of where I belonged. I had the school world of various activities, crowded dorms and a never-ending to do list. At home, I had a loving family, queen bed and empty schedule waiting for me. But home just wasn’t quite the same after being away for an entire year; everything changes; even I changed. In her latest book, Zoe Fishman captures these feelings and the strange existence of the summer after freshman year through the eyes of Ruth Wasserman.
age, but instead inserts them into her stories for the characters to interact with and the reader to analyze. That being said, I think this is a great book for mothers and daughters to read together, as cliché as that seems. For girls going away to college, “Saving Ruth” will show them possible pitfalls of college and a subsequent return home. For mothers, it brings them back to their younger days and can help them better communicate with their daughters.
However, it is easy to go beyond this cursory level and further compare Ruth’s life to one’s own or the universals of society; the topics of racism and body image in particular are handled very interestingly. Fishman does not dwell or rant on any themes, including coming of
In contrast, Ruth’s relationship with her parents seems confusing and misguided. Her parents avoid confronting her eating disorder and somehow miss the fact that her brother dropped out of school, but then eventually hold to an emotional family meeting through which all the issues are confronted at once. It seemed a bit too rushed to wrap things up with a pretty bow on top. But in the end, it’s summer time, and either bringing this book poolside or getting a little sand between its pages is the perfect plan. Despite the heavy topics, “Saving Ruth” is a light read that will make you smile and maybe even shed a tear.
Entitled “Saving Ruth,” the book immediately had me wondering just who the savior would be, and after reading the novel, it’s clear that Ruth learns how to save herself. She returns home as unconfident and unsure of herself, afflicted with an eating disorder, but the events of the summer slowly guide Ruth towards accepting and embracing who she is. “Saving Ruth” is addictive. I sped through page after page, wanting to find out what happens to the character I so connected with. Simply stated, the book is an easy read and does not require much thought or concentration to understand.
ic, especially when contrasted with her overly image-obsessed mother. Khaki’s character is smart yet innocent, and she helps Ruth begin to overcome her own eating disorder.
It’s impossible to avoid becoming attached to Ruth because she experiences so much throughout the book. Mostly, we see parts of ourselves in her or her family.
That this book is partially based on the adolescence of Fishman – who is now 35 – and yet still strikes a chord with me at age 19, speaks to the work’s potential to span a generation by capturing the voice and experiences of a teenager. Besides Ruth, Fishman creates a wealth of supporting characters, each of whom add to the novel. Khaki, the young girl who’s slightly overweight and struggles with body image, was the most dynam-
Of the coming-ofage stories I have read, “Saving Ruth” is one of my favorites because it is a modern spin on the classic bildungsroman novel that we read in high school. I highly recommend this book for its fun, easygoing nature and relatable characters. Editor’s note: “Saving Ruth” by Zoe Fishman (2012, HarperCollins Publishers) is available at Amazon. com, Barnes & Noble (and barnesandnoble.com) and many local retailers.
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
ZF: I chose those issues because, growing up as a Jewish girl in Alabama, thsoe were the issues that were most prevalent to me.
17
AJT
EDUCATION
GHA Fifth- and Sixth-Graders Conclude School Year TOURING THE ‘MUSEUM OF THE MIND’ By LEAH BRAUNSTEIN LEVY’ AJT Contributor
T
he Greenfield Hebrew Academy welcomed parents to Museum of the Mind, an exhibition of the academic achievements of fifth- and sixthgrade GHA students held in the lower middle school.
Curated by teachers Ryne Harris, Marci Kaplan and Hilary Gorosh, the Museum featured aptly-decorated rooms devoted to each academic subject,; for example, visitors accessed the poetry room, lit by softly glowing candles, via a doorway curtained by ropes of swinging crystals. Students guided friends and family members through the rooms,
stopping to point out their own work as well as others’ projects that were particularly meaningful or impressive. Humorous works by Steven Rubin (“You’ve Got to Blow Your Nose”) and Liana Slomka (“Ode to Roadkill”) also attracted a lot of fans. Hallways served as additional exhibition spaces, displaying a series of thoughtful tips for incoming fifth graders and a live art project entitled “Positive Graffiti,” for which stu-
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TOP: Gideon Levy, a fifth-grader who started the year as a newcomer, pointing out the message he added to “Positive Graffiti.”
18
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ABOVE: Sixth-grader Devorah Chasen and her mother, Hallie Chasen, proudly display “The Diary of Margaret,” a story Devorah wrote to demonstrate her knowledge of the Crusades period in England. RIGHT: Sam Salama, GHA fifth grader, shows his mother, Kelly Salama, some of the work he’s done on one of the class laptops.
dents and their visitors wrote their thoughts about the year at GHA. At last, the fifth- and sixth-graders – with a certain amount of blushing, but a great deal of pride – enjoyed watching the video exhibit documenting their takes on the challenges and triumphs of the past school year. Leah Braunstein Levy is a paraprofessional at GHA and the author of “The Waiting Wall,” a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for 2010.
AJT
TELL & KVELL
Engagements
Murow-Kolodner
Prater-Kudlats
anet Kolodner of Washington, D.C. and Atlanta is delighted to announce the engagement of her son, Joshua, and Rebecca Murow, daughter of Janie and Allan Murow of Omaha, Neb. Josh is also the son of the late Michael S. Klein. The future groom is the grandson of Mimi (z”l) and Joe Klein (z”l) of Boca Raton, Fla., and Sarah (z”l) and Meyer Kolodner of Media, Penn. Josh is a graduate of Brandeis University and received his master’s of science in environmental science from American University. He is a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton. The future bride is the granddaughter of Ruthie and Merle Potash and Estelle (z”l) and Richard Murow (z”l), all of Omaha. Rebecca is a graduate of the University of Michigan with degrees in political science and Judaic studies. She is currently the Health and Education Policy Advisor for Senator Ben Nelson. The couple met at DC Minyan in Washington DC, where they are both active in the leadership. A November wedding is being planned in Omaha.
erry and Pam Kudlats of Roswell are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, David, and Susan Prater, daughter of Rudy and Betsy Prater of Eatonton, Ga. The future groom is the grandson of Sam Kudlats and the late Sylvia Kudlats of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the late Jules and June Shulman of Houston, Texas. David is a graduate of Kennesaw State University and earned his MBA at the University of Georgia. He is currently employed at Fanatics in Jacksonville, Fla. Susan is the granddaughter of Louise Miller of Henderson, N.C. and Alice Edgar and the late Gilbert Edgar of Kingston, Penn. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia and earned her medical degree in Dentistry at the Medical College of Georgia. She is currently practicing at Camden Dental Care in St. Marys, Ga. A fall 2012 wedding is planned.
J
Photo above by: Taryn Nienaber Photography
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
J
19
AJT
special interest
Trees of the Tribe: Ellis Island Myth Exposed NAME-CHANGING VOLUNTARY By Gary Deutsch
Y
AJT Columnist
our grandfather’s name wasn’t changed at Ellis Island – unless, of course, he did it. A common myth is
that workers at Ellis Island (and the other U.S. ports of entry) changed immigrants’ names if they couldn’t understand them or thought them too long. This fallacy is often perpetuated by the movies. Remember in “The Godfa-
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ther II,” when a young Vito Andolini is silent when asked his name? The clerk instead wrote down “Vito Corleone” from a tag pinned to his coat that read “Vito Andolini - Corleone, Sicilia.” First off, in reality, Ellis Island wasn’t the only port of entry. It didn’t even open its doors until 1892; prior to that, Castle Garden accepted ships in New York starting in 1820, and other ports included Baltimore; Boston; Charleston, S.C.; Philadelphia; Galveston, Texas; New Orleans; Seattle and Angel Island, Calif. These other ports typically employed clerks who spoke most of the languages of the newly arrived passengers. People who changed their names did so either before they even got on the ship or once they arrived in America, and the usual reason was due to their friends or relatives telling them to change it so people could pronounce the name or so they could assimilate easier. Of course, there are great stories (and jokes) of why people changed their surnames. Alan King, the comedian, wrote in his autobiography that his grandfather bought a hardware store only to find out that it was less expensive to change his name than the sign.
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Now, how does this impact your genealogical research? You may have to search on both names – original and altered – to determine when the change was made. Census records can also help as your ancestors may be listed one year under one name and with the new name in the next census, but the best place to look is
in Naturalization papers, on which the person applying for citizenship entered both their current name and the name that they used upon entry. Also keep in mind that spelling is irrelevant; names were usually written down as heard by the recorder. I’ve seen one person’s name spelled four different ways on the same document. My great-grandfather, Hymie Baliner, traveled from the Ukraine to Argentina before coming to the U.S., and his passenger list indicated his name was “Jaime” since he was in a Spanish-speaking country at the time. Another example is the name “Schwartz,” for which I have seen with at least eight or nine variations in spelling – no “C,” “V” instead of “W,” no “T” and so forth. To allow for this potential caveat, remember to do Soundex searches when possible (to be detailed in a later column). If you are having trouble finding your ancestor on a passenger list, try searching the records of different ports from which ships left Europe, such as Bremen or Hamburg, Germany. Cyndi’s List (cynbdislist.com/ ports-departure) is a great resource, but be warned: one should stay focused, as it is very easy to get lost in all the links on the page. Happy digging! Editor’s note: Gary Deutsch is a former president and current webmaster of the Jewish Genealogy Society of Georgia. He hopes to provide readers with high-level news, tips and tricks for beginners in the field of genealogy.
AJT
MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING
Betty Haley Danneman CANTON NATIVE, 79
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Betty Haley Danneman, 79, passed away surrounded by her family at her home. She was born in Canton, Ga. and graduated from Reinhart College and Webber University. She retired from Guernsey Petroleum after a 50-year-plus career as the Controller. She enjoyed traveling and playing cards and puzzles of all kinds, but mostly spending time with her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry Danneman. She is survived by her children Stuart Danneman (Louise), Mordechai Danneman (Ilana), and Carol Howard; stepdaughter, Alice Taratoot, and stepson, Brian Danneman (Jan); sister, Joan Turner, and brother, Joe Haley (Alicia); grandchildren: Lev, Carmelle, Rafael, Nissim, Ray (Shawan), Erik, Kyle (Britney), Lisa, Jennifer, Nikki (Jeff), Jaime (Steven); greatgrandchildren: Elecia, Brendon, Alaina and Kylee; and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held Fri., June 1 2012 at 2 p.m. at Ahavath Achim Synagogue officiated by Rabbi Neil Sandler. Interment followed at Arlington Memorial Park. Sign online guestbook at edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Congregation Ariel, 5227 Tilly Mill Road Dunwoody, GA 30338 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.
Israeli and Jewish and Proud Continued from page 5
It was two months of pure fun (or kef in Hebrew) and an everlasting smile. But it wasn’t just the livingin-a-happy-bubble-forgetting-all-myworries experience that I will forever carry with me; camp was also the time where I realized I have no reason to be ashamed of being a Jew and an Israeli. But even more importantly than my own realization, I got to see the children learning the very same lesson. I spoke with children who sometimes have bad experiences: being picked on for being Jewish or reading the international news version of the Israeli treatment of Palestinians. They may not be aware of it while being at camp because they are busy having fun, but from where I was standing, I could see them bloom as Jews and as individuals. Those children were my everything, and I am still in touch with many of my campers. Each and every one of them really influenced me in his or her unique way, and I hope I did the same for them.
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Seeing only smiles for two months and being a part of that amazing creation which is Camp Coleman was certainly a life-changing experience for me. Editor’s note: Noga Gur-Arieh visited the U.S. after finishing her military service, working at Camp Coleman. She is back in Israel now working as a journalist.
Dunwoody - 990 Clementstone Drive. Beautiful Welcomecustom home!home Private Sandy Springs - 121 Burdette Road. all on 4one Bedroom/3.5 Bath retreat on over 1 acre! level. 4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths, 2 Half Baths.Roof Walkraised out to to gorgeousopen private levelSpace. yard w/pool, pergola built-in grill. provide Living Family Room&and Screened Porch $1,195,000. each with fireplace. $574,000. SuzanneGoldstein Goldstein 404-504-0763 / 404-262-1234 Suzanne 404-504-0763 / 404-262-1234
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Atlanta Synagogue Directory CHABAD
Non-denominational
Congregation B’nai Torah 1633 Hwy 54 E Jonesboro, GA 30238 www.bnai-israel.net 678.817.7162
Chabad Israel Center 5188 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30324 www.cicatlanta.com 404.252.9508
Atlanta Chevre Minyan Druid Forest Clubhouse North Crossing Dr. Atlanta, GA 30305 www.atlantachevreminya.org
Congregation Dor Tamid 11165 Parsons Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 www.dortamid.org 770.623.8860
Chabad Jewish Center 4255 Wade Green Rd. Suite 120 Kennesaw, GA 30144 www.jewishwestcobb.com 678.460.7702
Congregation Shema Yisrael 6065 Roswell Rd., #3018 Atlanta, GA 30328 www.shemaweb.org 404.943.1100
Congregation Ner Tamid 176 West Sandtown Rd. Marietta, GA 30064 www.nertamidonline.com 678.264.8575
Guardians of the Torah P.O. Box 767981 Roswell, GA 30076 www.guardiansofthetorah.org 770.286.3477
Temple Beth David 1885 Mcgee Rd. Snellville, GA 30078 www.gwinnetttemple.com 770.978.3916
Nediv Lev: the Free Synagogue of Atlanta 3791 Mill Creek Ct. Atlanta, GA 30341 My.att.net/p/PWP-NedivLev 770.335.2311
Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 www.bethtikvah.com 770.642.0434
Chabad of Gwinnett 3855 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 770 Norcross, GA 30092 www.chabadofgwinnett.org 678.595.0196 Chabad of North Fulton 10180 Jones Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.chabadnf.org 770.410.9000 Congregation Beth Tefillah 5065 High Point Rd. Atlanta, GA 30342 www.chabadga.com 404.257.9306
Conservative Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. Atlanta, GA 30327 www.aasynagogue.org 404.355.5222 Congregation Beth Shalom 5303 Winters Chapel Rd. Atlanta, GA 30360 www.bshalom.net 770.399.5300 Congregation B’nai Torah 700 Mount Vernon Hwy. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.bnaitorah.org 404.257.0537
JUNE 8 ▪ 2012
Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy Marietta, GA 30068 www.etzchaim.net 770.973.0137 Congregation Gesher L’Torah 4320 Kimball Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.gltorah.org 770.777.4009 Congregation Or Hadash 6751 Roswell Rd. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.or-hadash.org 404.250.3338
Orthodox Anshi S’Fard Congregation 1324 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.anshisfard.com 404.874.4513 Congregation Ariel 5237 Tilly Mill Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338 www.congariel.org 770.390.9071 Congregation Beth Jacob 1855 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.bethjacobatlanta.org 404.633.0551 Congregation Beth Yitzhak 5054 Singleton Rd. Norcross, GA 30093 770.931.4567 Email: anatoliy@bjca.com Congregation Ner Hamizrach 1858 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.ner-hamizrach.org 404.315.9020 The Kehilla of Sandy Springs 5075 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30342 www.thekehilla.org 404.913.6131 Young Israel of Toco Hills 2074 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.yith.org 404.315.1417
Reconstructionist
Congregation Bet Haverim 2676 Clairmont Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.congregationbethaverim.org 404.315.6446
by Kathi Handler (bookssss@aol.com)
Reform
Chabad Intown 928 Ponce De Leon Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306 www.chabadintown.org 404.898.0434
Chabad of Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta, GA 30068 www.chabadofcobb.com 770.565.4412
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Congregation Shearith Israel 1180 University Dr. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.shearithisrael.com 404.873.1743
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Temple Emanu-El 1580 Spalding Dr. Atlanta, GA 30350 www.templeemanuelatlanta.org 770.395.1340 Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St. Roswell, GA 30075 www.kehillatchaim.org 770.641.8630 Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30062 www.kolemeth.net 770.973.3533 Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Dr. Sandy Springs, GA 30327 www.templesinatlanta.org 404.252.3073 The Temple 1589 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309 www.the-temple.org 404.873.1731
SEPHARDIC Congregation Or VeShalom 1681 North Druid Hills Rd. Atlanta, GA 30319 www.orveshalom.org 404.633.1737
Traditional Congregation Shaarei Shamayim 1810 Briarcliff Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.shaareishamayeim.com 404.417.0472
Crossword Clues Across 1. Fiedler Boston Band 5. History of the Israelites 10. Madoff’s investments 14. Golem? 15. Swift scribe 16. Agadah 17. Like shiva clothes 18. Sarah once 19. Actress with 10 down 20. Commandments 21. Sinai condition 22. Curtis and Randall 23. Finance degree 25. Wedding cover 28. Dybukks 31. Tsitsit 35. Menorah sticks 36. Egyptian bondage 37. Hug, kiss, hug 38. The Golden __ 39. Rickles hope 41. Airline 42. Shikker’s choice? 43. Seventh king 44. Mare mount 46. Seder lamb 48. Bar Ilan and Hester 49. Holiday prayer 51. King David__, Jerusalem 52. Acted the first son 55. Tref shortening 57. Yarmulke 60. “Maude” Producer 61. Men from Chelm 63. Solomon’s secret 64. First Hebrew novelist 65. Like Eden’s apple 66. Anne Frank’s pop 67. Schlump (Eng) 68. Like Jacob with the angel 69. Goldsmith Myers Down 1. Column 2. Stare 3. Thirteen __ of Rambam 4. Tefilin 5. Shamsky goal 6. Asimov and Mizrahi 7. Occasion for a bris 8. Meadow
9. High priest of Shiloh 10. Bond Girl with 19 across 11. Mark of __ 12. USA to Israel 13. Brooks and Allen 21. Samson’s strength 22. Stern 24. Israelites after Pesach 26. Sagan sightings? 27. Cohen or Levi 28. Tefillin feature 29. Singer __ Abdul 30. Israeli army 32. Jerusalem 33. Praise 34. Sandal bottoms 36. Mikveh 40. Ben Yehuda, Jerusalem 41. Paradise 43. ___ Ha Am 45. Negev climate 47. Angel 48. Hebrews in Egypt 50. Cohanim? 52. Tzedakah 53. Crest 54. Ghetto supervisor 56. Prepared shiva clothes 58. Opener for B.Greenstein 59. Balaam’s Moab mount 61. Jerusalem gate 62. Ribicoff, initially 63. Rachel to Joseph
Last week’s answers
AJT
WHAT’S HAPPENING
This Week’s Highlighted Events
Saturday
JUNE
9
Fifth Annual Take Steps for Crohn’s & Colitis, the nation’s largest walk program dedicated to raising funds and awareness for digestive diseases. Sat., June 9, 4 p.m. Georgia World Congress Center’s International Plaza. www.cctakesteps.org/ atlanta.
Sunday
JUNE
10
Community Bas Mitzvah Celebration and Brunch for women & girls, the end-of-year celebration for the Bas Mitzvah Club. Sun., June 10, 10:30 a.m. Sponsorships available, RSVP requested. Congregation Ariel. (404) 991-8295 or rabbimordy@congariel.org.
Rabbi Lazer and The Garden of Emanua, presentation by Rabbi Lazer Brody, one of leading Rabbis of the Breslev movement in Israel. Sun. June 10, 8 p.m. Free of charge. Congregation Ariel. A Night to Honor Israel, show your support for Israel, while listening to speakers, Pastor John Hagee, Governor Nathan Deal, and Congressman Tom Price. Sun., June 10, 6 p.m. Tickets required. Bill Heard Theatre, Columbus, GA. www.tickets.com.
Monday
JUNE
11
Yugntruf Yiddish Literature Competition, for writers up to 35 years of age. Deadline Mon., June 11. Submit prose (max 2,500 words) or poem (max 60 lines) in alef-beys (not transliterated) to zhurnal@yugntruf.org. yugntruf.org.
Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting. Sun., June 10, 4 p.m. Roswell United Methodist Church. (678) 819-3915 or rcleveland@visitingangels.com. fri., June 15 Tot Kabbalat Shabbat, kids ages 2-5 and their parents are invited to celebrate Shabbat. Come create arts and crafts, light the Shabbat candles, sing, and dance. Fri., June 15, 6 p.m. RSVP requested. Congregation Ariel. (404) 991-8295 or rabbimordy@ congariel.org. Sat., June 16 Meet-the-Artist: David Clayman. Event Sat., June 16 at Gallery 4463 in Acworth; exhibit runs Memorial Day weekend 2012 through May 2013 at the World of Coca-Cola. davidclaymanart.com or lewitt@bellsouth.net. Sun., June 17 Touch-a-Truck. Sun., June 17, 11 a.m. $10/family. Congregation Ariel. Red Cross Blood Drive. Sun., June 17. Appointment requested. Congregation Ariel. (404) 486-3578. Tues., June 19 Thriving Beyond Surviving, personal stories of rising above loss in childhood, adulthood and old age, the first in a series of forums presented by the Vi & Milton Weinstein Hospice and the William Breman
Jewish Home. Tues., June 19, 7 p.m. Free, open to the community. Breman Home’s Garson Auditorium. (404) 352-4308 or wbjh.org. Wed., June 20 Travel to Cuba with the MJCCA. Wed., June 20 through Wed., June 27; applications due May 10. shaindle@atlantajcc.org. Sun., June 24 Get Screened, get tested for 19 Jewish Genetic Diseases. Sun., June 24, 10 a.m. $25 maximum fee. Advanced registration required. Atlanta Women’s Health Group. http://www.atlantajewishgenescreen. org. Wed., June 27 Israeli Scout Friendship Caravan, boys are invited to come and watch the caravan preform. Wed., June 27, 12 p.m. Chabad Israeli Center. (770) 587-3019 or lisa@malli.com. Sun., July 15 Pathways in the Park, join the MJCCA and other interfaith families and adults for dinner, hike, crafts and more. Sundays July 15, 23 and 30, 5 p.m. $18/ family or $5/individual. Morgan Falls Park. suzanne. hurwitz@atlantajcc.org or (678) 812-4160.
Tuesday
JUNE
12
Jesus for Jews: A Jewish Understanding of the New Testament, class with Steve Chervin and the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning. Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. beginning June 12. Congregtion Beth Shalom. (770) 399-5300. 11th-Annual Eagle Star Awards Gala, the flagship event of the AICCSE, this year honoring Robert Deutsch and the Israel Economic Mission to the Southern U.S. and featuring keynote speaker Jonathan Medved. Tues., June 12, 7 p.m. Westin Atlanta Perimeter. 2012.eaglestargala.com or (404) 843-9426. Congregation Or Hadash Men’s Club Cookout, ‘hang out with the guys,’ burgers and dogs grill-out. Tues., June 17, 7 p.m. $15/person. RSVP requested by Fri., June 7. Congregation Or Hadash.
Thurs., July 19 Life Line Screening, a stroke screening. Pre-registration is required. Thurs., July 19. Congregation Beth Shalom. 1-(800) 324-1851 or (770) 399-5300. Sun., July 22 Essentials for Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond, presentation with guest speakers, Mayim Bialik, PhD, midwife Ina May Gaskin and other parenting specialists. Sun., July 22, 11 a.m. Holiday Inn Atlanta Perimeter. www.belliestobabiesfoundation.org. CBS Night of Baseball, Gwinnett Braves v. Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Sun., July 22, 5:05 p.m. (770) 804-9721 or office@bshalom.net. Tues., July 31 God and the Brain: Mind, Body & Soul, class with Steve Chervin and the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning. Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. beginning July 31. Congregtion Beth Shalom. (770) 399-5300. National Jewish Retreat, “Experience Heaven on Earth” with the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. Tues., July 31 through Sun., Aug. 5. Hyatt Bonaventure in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (877) 573-8732 or jretreat.com.
Wednesday
JUNE
13
MJCCA Beth Shalom Pool Party. Wed., June 13, 6 p.m. RSVP requested by June 6. Zaban Park. (770) 399-5300 or office@ bshalom.net. Chabad of Cobb Women’s Book Discussion Group, focused on contemporary classic “Holy Days.” Wed., June 13, 7:30 p.m. Whole Foods Merchant Walk Community Room. (770) 565-4412.
Thursday
JUNE
14
American Diabetes Father of the Year Awards Dinner, honoring Craig Kaufman, Randall Kessler, Robert Stargel Jr. and Gary Stokan. Thurs. June 14, 6 p.m. InterContinental Buckhead hotel. (404) 320-7100 ext. 3045.
Wed., Aug. 1 Siyum Hashas 2012, the 12th cycle of the worldwide Daf Hayomi Program celebrating the completion of the entire Babylonian Talmud. Wed., Aug. 1. Check of $54 reserves a seat in Congregation Ariel’s section. MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.). (770) 390-9071. Wed., Aug. 8 Spring Awakening, presented by MJCCA’s Company J. Wed., Aug. 8 through Sun., Aug. 19. Tickets starting at $12. Morris and Rae Frank Theatre at Zaban Park. (678) 812-4002 or atlantajcc.org. Wed., Aug. 16 Sophie Hirsh Srochi Discovery Center Drop-In, for moms in interfaith marriages and their children. Thurs., Aug. 16, Wed., Sept. 19, Tues., Oct. 23, Mon. Nov. 19, 9:30 a.m. Free. MJCCA’s Zaban Park. suzanne.hurwitz@atlantajcc.org or (678) 812-4160. Ongoing Support Through Divorce for 50 and Under, facilitated by Elisheva Funk, LSCW of JF&CS. First and third Tuesdays, 7 p.m. (eight sessions). MJCCA. allison. feldman@atlantajcc.org.
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