Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Beineinu april | may 2017 nisan | iyar | sivan 5777

Beineinu • April | May • Cover1

table of contents Announcements Jewish Continuity

The Power of 10 | pg. 3-4 Chevra Kadisha | pg. 4 The Ritual of mikvah: a 'total body' experience | pg. 5 The Cuba Family Archives | pg. 6 In Memoriam | pg. 7 In Deepest Gratitude | pg. 8 From the Rabbis | pg. 9-10 Kesher@AA | pg. 11 Ahava ELC | pg. 12 Passover | pg. 13-14

Capital Campaign News

transforming the future: aa's capital campaign moves forward | pg. 15 Donor List | pg. 17 Donor Profile | pg. 18

Social Action

you can help the hungry - here's how | pg. 19 JF&CS Atlanta Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | pg. 18 Blood Drive | pg. 18

Cultural Arts and Education

The Safrai Story by Susan Sandler | pg. 21-22 Eizenstat Lecture | pg. 23 calendar and volunteer | pg. 24-26

Corrections for beineinu feb/march issue We regret the following errors from the previous edition of Beineinu:

pg. 5 | Announcements>Babies>elliott samuel fineman

Not listed: Great-granparents, Muriel Feldman, Myra Fineman, and Ira Altfeder and Elliott's brother, Benjamin

pg. 15 | A Letter from Nancy Canter Weiner, congregant and Operation Isaiah Founder

Operation Isaiah was an idea that originated from United Synagogue in 1989 or 1990. In 1991, the program was inaugurated by Bruce Donnelly – Atlanta Community Food Bank: Rabbi Arnold Goodman – Ahavath Achim Synagogue: Doris Goldstein – Social Action Chair, Ahavath Achim Synagogue; Mayor Maynard Jackson; Operation Isaiah Co-Chairman Gloria Hecht and Bob Beer; and Bob Bolling with the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Back Cover

Our newsletter is funded by a grant from the Center Family Foundation, not "the Dave Center and The Center Family Foundation".

1 • Beineinu • April | May

ANNOUNCEMENTS babIes

Parents Rachel and Benjamin Miller Grandparents Randy Farrow, Bill Knopf, Suzy and Gary Miller Great-Grandparent Bobbie Knopf

Claire Eden Miller

Sister Dana Miller

born February 5

welcome back

b'not mitzvah

olivia jordan lerner

Olivia Lerner will be a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 6, 2017. For her Mitzvah Project, Olivia took part in Yom Tzedakah by working the land to clear invasive, non-native plants - a daunting, physical, and hard task. In addition, she is participating in the Am Yisrael Chai! Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Program and the Neve Michael Children's Village Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program in Pardes Hana, Israel. Olivia is the daughter of Michelle and Jonathan Lerner and granddaughter of Sheila and Norman Portnoy, Paula and David Schneider, and Earl Lerner. She has two brothers, Matthew and Josh.

zoe madison siegel Zoe Siegel will be a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 13, 2017. For her Mitzvah Project, Zoe is helping feed the hungry at the Zaban Center. Zoe is the daughter of Debra and Philip Siegel and granddaughter of Susan and Stuart Schlansky and Helene and Stuart Siegel. She has a brother, Zack.

Mr. Jerome shure

Have You Seen Our Monday Motivation Eblasts?

Every Monday our eblast features a different congregant, a cause that is meaningful to him/her, and the organization he or she is involved in to support the cause. If you would like to expose "your" cause and teach others how they can get involved, please reach out to Director of Marketing, Anne Cohen, at acohen@aasynagogue.org.

share your skills

Do you have skills (or expertise) you’d like to share? For example, do you have a background in Public Relations, Writing, Event Planning and/or Coordination, Volunteerism, Fundraising, Teaching, Customer Service, Research, Education, Sales, or anything else? We’d love to know about it! Please email Director of Marketing, Anne Cohen, at acohen@aasynagogue.org with information about the skill-set you're bringing to the table.

yasher koach Ann Alperin

To who is being honored with the Service to the Community award by the Agnes Scott Alumnae Association on April 21 for her role as an outstanding alumna.

Beth and Gregg Paradies

To who are being honored with the Selig Distinguished Service Award by the American Jewish Committee of Atlanta on May 24.

Beineinu • April | May • 2

jewish continuity the power of 10 W

hy ten? Why do we care about that particular number? Our tradition tells us that to stand before God as a community, ten Jews must be present - our prayers are truncated with anything less. Are we not worthy without this number in our midst? Are the expressions of our hearts not acceptable to Hakadosh Barakhu unless we arrange a carpool and ensure there are the requisite number of bottoms in the pews? Although these are ancient questions that each generation of Jews have asked, the answer continues to change… however, the number stays the same. Today we ask the question and need to understand that the answer has to confront a new list of human values that we Jews have assimilated into our consciousness. The modern Jew might say to themselves, “I feel God’s presence most acutely when I am alone on the trail or in the mountains or by the sea - not when I am sitting in shul”, “ I thought God cares for each and every one of us individually - why does it matter who I pray alongside? Doesn’t God hear and know all? Why can’t God hear me when I pray alone?” Although it is true that Judaism believes in the prayer of the individual, there is a power in the collective that cannot be achieved alone. Judaism does believe that numbers less than ten have a holiness to them. We learn in the Talmud that when two people study together over a holy text, God hovers above them and when three people sit and form a court to judge and offer spiritual guidance to the people, God sits among the three. However, the Talmud goes on to tell us that when ten people begin gathering for prayer, God proceeds them to the house of worship and awaits their company. For many years, congregations like ours have used the pull of yartzeits as the gravitational force that should bring people to minyan. Honoring a loved one with recitation of Kaddish or even making minyan a part of your weekly practice to ensure that ten are always available for

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by rabbi laurence rosenthal

somebody else, are incredible altruistic acts and much reward must await in the world to come for those who make that commitment. However, for others, this meaning doesn’t hold fast anymore. But the number still stands and our Minyan still happens every day – morning and night.

disposition. With less time to decompress in the car, we arrive home with our work life and home life glued together.

Judaism understood that a set time focused on prayer could change one’s outlook on life. Like an Eastern spiritual practice of saying a mantra, a daily set time along with In my attempt to compel us all to make repetition found in the prayer book helps communal prayer a regular practice, not build an awe of God within us. It’s like early just on Shabbat, but for another time childhood education – if you teach your during the week or month, I would like to children to say please and thank you, you offer a new, but ancient thought - another are more likely to end up with courteous idea that comes from the Talmud. and grateful children than if you never introduced the words to them. We learn Of all the obstacles to prayer, repetition is in Tractate Sukkah 49b that our sages high up on the list. “Rabbi," the annoyed bring down a teaching from Rabbi Eleazer, parishioner might say, “When I read the extolling the work of lovingkindness and prayers in English it’s all the same. God justice as a way of fulfilling Psalm 33:5 – is great, God is wonderful, over and over God loves charity and justice, the world is again. I can cut down the service to fortyfull of the lovingkindness of the Lord. The five seconds and be on my way. Why come teaching concludes by offering one last in the morning for almost an hour or the point. A person who stands in awe of God evening for thirty minutes?” True, there is a satisfies a companion verse in Psalms – But lot of repetition in the prayer book, but it is God’s lovingkindness is for all eternity purposeful and in truth, necessary in order towards those who are in awe of Him. to be counter cultural! (Psalm ten3:17). We live in a world that appreciates efficiency. Our computers and phones are faster so we don’t have to wait. We use the Israeli navigation system, Waze, in our cars so we don’t spend a second longer in traffic than is absolutely necessary. We even have cut down our conversation time to fragmented txtng and the use of emoji’s :) rather than words.

Our sages might have been concerned about the comparison – those who do acts of lovingkindness and pursue justice in the world surely must be offering more to the success of filling the world with God’s lovingkindness than somebody who does nothing except stand idly with a sense of awe?! Our sages elaborate on Rabbi Yehuda’s teaching and Psalm 103:17 by explaining that those who stand in awe are Efficiency is great but we must know more likely to find lovingkindness in the there is a cost. Once upon a time, world. They understood that if, through those long drives home allowed for prayer, we teach the Jewish people to daily decompression - a sort of solitary acknowledge God, to show gratitude and confinement trapped in our cars where we appreciation for all of God’s work in the could get out all our anxiety and frustration world, to see your own life and human from a long and stressful workday. We condition as intertwined and enveloped in could bang on the steering wheel and the will and love of God, that this state of dashboard or sing from the top of our lungs mind will helps us to see God in the world. to our favorite song on the radio before walking in the front door - helping us to This is one of the many things let the day go and encounter our family accomplished by Jewish prayer. Yes, there and home with a more peaceful and loving is a lot of repetition. However, to pray the

siddur is to become inundated with a sense welcome too!) of awe and awesomeness of God and His • Prayer leading: Learn how to lead the place in the world. The real spirituality prayer service (ask your local AA Rabbi happens not in the chapel but when you how) and volunteer to lead any one of the walk outside. After a while, God willing, three services (morning, afternoon or prayer will help us see more lovingkindness evening) each week or once a month. and justice in the world. And when we don’t see it, prayer helps us feel empowered and embolden to make it happen. So that’s my share on prayer. But it doesn’t necessarily encourage us to come to minyan and be counted for the ten. One might say: If I developed a home prayer practice couldn’t I accomplish the same thing?!?! Maybe. However, the ten help to keep you honest. It’s like belonging to a gym when you have a treadmill at home. Sure, you can work out in your basement anytime you want, but odds are slim that you will. Instead, the workout machine becomes the most expensive clothing rack of all time. Having nine people that are counting on you, a place where everybody is doing the same thing, facing the same way and going through the same motions really helps. Yes, you can pray at home, but God is waiting for you to show up for services any day of the week. You can’t get a better coach than that.

chevra kadisha by ahavath achim Chevra Kadisha

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any congregants have no idea what the Chevra Kadisha or Sacred Society really is. Most, even if they think they know, may have misconceptions believing that the task is unpleasant, depressing, mysterious, or even morbid. Some may believe that it is just another antiquated Jewish practice that is no longer relevant. Since death, and all that surrounds it, is a service industry in our society, we think these tasks are best performed by professionals. It is for this reason that most of us distance ourselves from what should be not only a Jewish communal responsibility, but an opportunity to take care of our own.

another. In Judaism, there is a continual theme of communal responsibility, or Arevut. We are all appendages of the same body. As such, when we are charged with tasks like “love your neighbor as you would yourself,” the real message is that we should love our neighbor like we love ourselves because our neighbor is part of us as we are part of him. Being an active member of the Chevra Kadisha is perhaps the most poignant manifestation of this ancient Jewish idea.

While our Chevra Kadisha customarily perform this mitzvah for members of our congregation, occasionally there are times So what is the Chevra Kadisha and why do many of us participate? First, it isn’t a secret when an unaffiliated Jewish family in the Below are some tips to make communal community wishes to have a traditional society; there are no secret handshakes, prayer a habit. I don‘t recommend taking burial for their deceased. When called no secret passwords or mottos. Anyone too much on at one time-habits take time upon, our Chevra Kadisha members can join and all are welcome, though to instill, so it’s best to have a plan. Here graciously volunteer to assist. traditionally Kohanim do not participate. are some easy ideas to help find a time to We are an all-volunteer group of both come to minyan on a regular basis: Recently, the Men’s Chevra Kadisha men and women who have taken it performed a Taharah for an unaffiliated • The Birthday Day Plan: Come once a upon ourselves to honor the deceased Jew, Dr. Morris Steinberg. Dr. Steinberg month on the day of your birth which by respectfully preparing the body for was not a member of the Atlanta Jewish happens to fall every month (e.g., My burial in accordance with Jewish custom. community. He wasn’t even a fellow birthday is February 26 so I would come This ritual cleansing and dressing of the Georgian; he had resided in a neighboring to minyan on March 26 and April 26, and deceased is called a Taharah. state. What made this unusual was that Dr. so on). Steinberg had no family, no children, and Observant and marginally observant, we • Expand Your Yartzeit List: Send the his wife, living in an assisted care home in are united in the recognition that it is our synagogue the entire list of family Alabama, could not attend the funeral for honor to usher the deceased from their members' yartzeits (not just mom and health reasons. There would only be Rabbi physical presence in this realm to their dad). Make a commitment to come Rosenthal and two attendants from the afterlife. There is little more spiritually to honor aunts, uncles, cousins, great funeral home present at the internment. and personally rewarding than one Jew grandparents, etc. Make a commitment to come to minyan on the day of all those serving another in this way. It is considered Knowing that they would understand the importance of Dr. Steinberg having a the highest mitzvah one can perform yartzeits, not just the corresponding proper Jewish funeral, Rabbi Rosenthal as the beneficiary cannot thank you or Shabbat. reciprocate. The task of the Chevra Kadisha reached out to the Men’s and Women’s • Women’s Minyan Tuesday: Join the is indeed true Chessed Shel Emet, the most Chevra Kadisha inviting them to join him Tuesday morning women’s minyan graveside for the burial. This is how on that group lead by Barbara Feinberg. (Men are selfless act of kindness one Jew can do for cold December morning, fourteen

Beineinu • April | May • 4

members of our congregation gathered to stand with our Rabbi as we performed our communal duty and laid Dr. Morris Steinberg to rest with dignity and compassion. The Rabbi delivered a beautiful eulogy. Mourner’s Kaddish was

recited. It wasn’t just another funeral; it was more profound. We may have been strangers to him, but from that day on, we were Dr. Steinberg’s family and friends. And as such, the Chevra Kadisha continued to say Kaddish through the

thirty day Shloshim period. We do our work anonymously and without fanfare. We do it from our hearts. We do it for them. Kavod Hamet…we honor the dead.

the ritual of mikvah: a 'total body' experience by macom's rabbi judith beiner

“My sister’s immersion reminded me how powerful Jewish rituals can be,” wrote Elizabeth in reflecting on her sister, Deborah’s, experience of immersing at the Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah (MACoM) just prior to her wedding. Indeed, rituals greatly impact our lives. Writer and Professor Vanessa Ochs notes in her book, Inventing Jewish Ritual: “Rituals reflect the Divine will, connect us with our ancestors, hold ultimate meanings and guide us wisely”. You are familiar with many Jewish rituals, for holidays, life cycles, daily activities and special occasions. With each, we can infuse mundane acts with sacredness, imbuing moments with holiness. Immersion in the mikvah is one such ritual. Women and men immerse for a variety of reasons, both traditional (i.e. taharat hamishpacha – family purity, before marriage or as a part of conversion) and contemporary (celebration of milestone birthday, mourning a miscarriage, enabling a time of healing). Irrespective of the occasion, immersion in the mikvah is a potent experience. What could be more powerful? Stripping down to your ‘birthday suit’, taking a cleansing shower, and then dipping your whole body into a warm, calming pool of water? The waters of the mikvah purify, wash away the past, reawaken the body and spirit. The mikvah is a mitzvah we experience with our entire body. Jewish rituals belong to all of us to embrace in our own way. Perhaps you would like to consider how the ritual of mikvah could be impactful in your life. For more information, visit MACoM www.atlantamikvah.org. Rabbi Judith R. Beiner is the JF&CS Community Chaplain, and an enthusiastic supporter of MACoM and mikvah use.

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the cuba family archives

The Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History at the Breman Museum (named after long time members of the congregation, Ida Pearle and Joseph Cuba) are the proud home of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue Records. The records span from the establishment of the congregation in 1887 until 1988, and contain the articles of incorporation, meeting minutes, annual reports, bulletins, correspondence, financial records, membership records, building records, photographs, and artifacts. In fact, the original minutes book of the congregation, as well as a piece of stained glass from the old building on Washington Street can be viewed in the exhibition, 18 Artifacts: A Story of Jewish Atlanta, on display at the Breman until the beginning of June. This past month, staff members at AA and the Archives have worked closely to survey what new materials after 1988 need to be transferred to the archives in order to preserve the congregation's most recent history. Uncovered in the basement were meeting minutes, cemetery records, membership files, and a deluge of records that document the history of the congregation. These documents will be transferred to the archives to be preserved in a climate-controlled environment, catalogued, and made accessible to researchers and genealogists. If you have records related to AA, your own family history in Atlanta, or other towns or cities throughout the South, please contact Jeremy Katz, Archives Director, at jrkatz@thebreman.org or 404-870-1862. Max Cuba (left) and Abe Goldstein (right) removing the cornerstone from the Washington Street Building, 1958.

Rabbi Harry Epstein at the pulpit of the old AA building on Washington Street, Thanksgiving day 1954. Groundbreaking of the Peachtree Battle location, February 18, 1955. Rabbi Harry Epstein (far right) and Joseph Cuba to his immediate left.

Stacks in the Archives at the Breman Museum.

Beineinu • April | May • 6

in memoriam

May God comfort the friends and family of...

David Brochstein

leonard kringold

marshall sussin

• Father of Michael, Robert, and Brenda

• Father of Gail (and Michael) and Steven (and Debra) • Grandfather of Lauren and Ben, Craig and Julie, and Rebecca and Eric • Great-grandfather of Lola, Sam, Jacob, Allen, and Lily • Brother-in-law of Roz, Muriel, and Harold and Johanna

• • • •

jack freedman • Father of Robyn (and Ed) and Douglas (and Genie) • Grandfather of Ali (and Marc) and Justin (and Jaime) • Great-grandfather of Dani and Bella

thelma gold • Mother of Hazel

alexander granot • • • •

Husband of Jaffa Father of Dan Father-in-law of Wendy Grandfather of Hannah, Ava, and Olivia

lorraine "jackie" green • Mother of Michelle (and Bruce) • Grandmother of Brian (and Sara), Morgan, Stacy (and Tom), and Elliot

delia harris jacobs • Daughter-in-law of Kitty • Wife of Charles • Mother of Brian

minnie kaliser

rabbi leonard lifshen • Husband of Faith • Father of Michelle

lester davis little • Brother of Laura (and Alan)

howard margol • Husband of Esther • Father of Bruce (and Jan), Gary, Maury (and Elise), and Felice • Brother of Hilbert (and Betty Ann) and Bernice

ellen mills • Sister of Richard (and Linda) • Sister-in-law of Sharon • Mother of Jodi (and David), Lauri (and Jeffrey), Jonathan (and Yaffa Leah), Karen (and George), and Brian • Grandmother of Suzanne and Jack, Shayna, Jacob, Melissa, Matt, Zach, Ari, Jake, and Ben

• Mother of Estelle Lynn and Bill and Alan and Janice • Grandmother of Erica, Steve and Johanna, and Beth and Rob william rubin • Great-grandmother of Ally, Ben, Hannah, • Husband of Sariece and Rachel • Father of Rick (and Stacey), Bonnie (and Larry), and Hal (and Dana) • Grandfather of Sharon, Lori, Robert, Rachel, Zachary, and Freda

Husband of Louise Father of Pamela Father-in-law of Todd Grandfather of Cleo

frances wainess • Sister of Estelle (and Herbert) • Mother of Terri, Steven, and Robert (and Lynn) • Grandmother of Adam (and Hallie), Jocelyn (and Noah), Jacob (and Andrea), Flint, Reid (and Erin), and Rebecca and Elliot • Aunt of Sharon (and Robert) and Laurie (and Steven)

paula weberman • Mother of Kirsten (and Philip), Meggin (and Allen), Brett (and Hindy), and Alisa (and Jonathan) • Sister of Corey (and Robert) • Grandmother of Sarah and Elli, Michael and Andrew, Jamie, Josh and Jonah, and Max (and Jim)

Rita goldstein wolfson • Wife of Harold • Mother of Aleta (and Howard), Anne (and Curt), Armand, Andrew, and Adam (and Beth) • Sister of Simon (and Ellen) • Grandmother of Alana (and Jack), Tonja (and Justin), Blair (and Matt), Jesse (and Laura), Willow, Leah, Jared, Michael, Elianna, and Nicotiana • Great-grandmother of Miles, Rune, and Lennon • Step-mother of Jamie (and Phillip), Cindy (and Larry), and Gary (and Fernanda)

along with the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem 7 • Beineinu • April | May

in deepest gratitude “The sound of the shofar kept getting louder and louder.” Exodus 19:19

When a person blows the shofar, its sound gets fainter over time. At Sinai, however, the miracle was that the sound of the shofar continued to increase in volume. I am reminded of this teaching about the Sinai shofar as I reflect on the twenty years that Rae and I were blessed to be at Ahavath Achim and our continued relationship during the past fourteen years since we moved to Jerusalem. Much like the Sinai shofar, our love for Ahavath Achim and our relationship with so many of you has not diminished with the passage of time. Following Rae’s sudden death, my family and I were strengthened and comforted by the personal notes of consolation we received and by the generous gifts in her memory to the Goodman Learning Institute and to other Synagogue

programs and funds. I was, and remain, deeply touched by your love and support, as I know Rae would have been as well. She loved being an integral part of the Ahavath Achim community and your magnificent responses reflect the depth of that relationship. On behalf of my entire family - Ari and Ciporit of Jerusalem, Daniel and Judy of Atlanta, and Shira and Wes in Boston - and our grandchildren and great grandchildren - my deepest thanks for your love and friendship that, like the Sinai shofar, has remained undiminished by time. You have strengthened us in our time of grief and as we strive to rebuild our lives without our beloved Rae at our side. May God bless us all with future tidings of simcha and joy.

With my deepest gratitude, Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman

Beineinu • April | May • 8

from the rabbis

Scholar-in-residence weekend with rabbi bradley artson april 21 - 23, 2017 by rabbi laurence rosenthal to ask questions, pose dilemmas, and challenge him on anything from an obscure Biblical passage or a difficult school policy. Rabbi Artson created a place where anybody could engage him, be heard by him and grow in friendship and in learning with him.

I tried to take it one step further. Call it chutzpa, but one day I decided that I reate for yourself a teacher and acquire for wasn’t getting enough learning time with yourself a friend (Pirkei Avot 1:6). him. With no regard for the enormity of his job and the stress of running such an These words from Rabbi Yehoshua have institution considering all the students, always been a source of great intrigue but also a wonderful charge offering a purpose faculty, and administration (not to mention his own scholarly endeavors in all my personal and professional including writing books and a weekly Dvar encounters. One of the greatest things Torah eblast sent to tens of thousands of about being a rabbinical student was spending many years making and acquiring subscribers), I marched into his office and told him I wanted more face-time with both friends and teachers from almost everybody I met. The deep friendships that him and asked if we could learn together. Without batting an eye, Rabbi Artson I fostered between the other rabbinical committed himself to 2 years of one-onstudents provided me with individuals one study with me, reviewing any number who also became my greatest teachers. of obscure philosophical papers, most And conversely, those who were set to of which he would end up explaining to be my professors and teachers quickly me after having read them. It truly was became my friend and even my family. My an amazing time and helped me to fully relationships in rabbinical school were understand the brilliance and uniqueness deep and crucial to my development as a Rabbi. One of these powerful relationships of Rabbi Artson’s mind and Torah. for me was with the dean of our rabbinical I felt blessed to be not just a student school, Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson. Rabbi of Rabbi Artson but to be his talmid, a Artson was seated in a wholly different student of his Torah. My departure from place from the rest of the rab students or Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies gave professors. As dean he worked to ensure me the challenge of taking the Torah that the financial, educational and directional I learned from him, mingling it with my future of the school. He also taught a 1st own emerging Torah voice and sharing it year seminar and a 5th year seminar to with my own students, congregation and rabbinical students which meant that we community. So when Sally and Phil Kaplan all had the honor of learning with him came to me and asked what it would take upon entering and upon leaving the school. to get Rabbi Artson to be a Scholar in During my tenure at the Ziegler School of Residence, I was elated to work on making Rabbinic Studies, Rabbi Artson also began it happen. Through the Kaplan’s generosity a monthly Lunch and Learn for students

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it is really an honor for me to have my teacher join us for the weekend of April 2123 to share with us his wisdom and Torah. The weekend will begin with a congregational Shabbat dinner where Rabbi Artson will give a talk, God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology - a conversation about taking time to explore the divine – in reason, science, and Jewish sources – to uncover the God you already know and actually love. The following day he will offer a sermon followed by a Post Kiddush Beit Midrash text study on the topic of, What Are We Doing When We Pray? He will addresses many questions such as, "Does prayer simply surrender to magic and superstition?" and "Are we indulging a nonsensical childish dream? Distilling overwhelming emotion into words so we can release it?" Perhaps, but it’s hard not to suspect that our acts of praying outstrip our understanding of prayer, that our moments of sincere outpouring are more real than the ideas we filter those acts through - so let’s follow our hearts as we reflect on what prayer really is. Finally, on Sunday, join Kesher@AA and the Jewish Abilities Alliance for A House of Prayer for All: Life Lessons from My Autistic Son, a story from Rabbi Artson's personal Torah about his son, Jacob, who struggles with severe autism and works to live a life of meaning and joy. See full weekend schedule on page 25. This weekend will prove to be inspirational and maybe even transformative. I am sure you will join me in showing our appreciation to Sally, Phil, and the Kaplan family for making this special weekend possible. The best way to say thank you is to show up, learn, and engage. We are looking forward to creating and acquiring our learning and friendship together.

Sally & Philip Kaplan Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Bradley Artson Friday, April 21 - Sunday, April 23 RSVP to the Friday night dinner at http://bit.ly/2nRrybY. For more information about Sunday morning’s program, contact Lindsey Grossman at lgrossman@aasynagogue.org. For more information about the weekend events, contact Jill Rosner at jrosner@aasynagogue.org or

scholar-in-residence weekend with rabbi Arnold goodman may 20 - 21, 2017 by rabbi neil sandler We look forward once again to welcoming our congregation’s Scholar-in-Residence, Rabbi Arnold Goodman, who will be with us for Shabbat and Sunday, May 20 - 21. Each year this special opportunity to be with Rabbi Goodman allows us to hear his wise insights, to study with him, and to gain his perspectives on Israel today. On Shabbat morning Rabbi Goodman will deliver the sermon during the course of our service. At 12:45 pm, he will facilitate a Post Kiddush Beit Midrash discussion on the topic, God’s Plan and the Human Actor. William Shakespeare said, “The world is a stage and the men and women are just actors.” If true, who is the playwright? God? Each of us? If God, is our destiny predetermined from the moment of birth? Is each birth part of a Heavenly master plan? How does Judaism perceive the purpose, the value, and the

freedom of each human life? In God’s eyes? In ours? The Biblical account of Joseph and his travails provides insight in considering these existential questions and very human concerns. On Sunday morning, May 21, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm, we look forward to welcoming Dr. Robbie Friedmann who will join Rabbi Goodman in conversation, Rabbi and Robbie...Again. Dr. Friedmann is the founding director of the Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) and Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice at Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy. Rabbi Goodman and Dr. Friedmann will address important current issues and concerns regarding Israel. Coffee and light refreshments will be available at 10:00 am.

Beineinu • April | May • 10

kesher@AA

Kathryn Reisner with The Unique Jews (2nd and 3rd grade), Selena Kleber with The Crazy Israelites (4th and 5th grade), and Jeremy Colton with The Green Hippies (6th and 7th grade).

madrichim and mit

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ne of the key components of the new Kesher@AA program is our revamped Madrichim program. Madrichim is the Hebrew word for Counselors. At Kesher@ AA, they are the high school students who have chosen to spend their Sunday mornings with us as assistants and role models. Each madrich or madricha is paired with a Rosh Eidah (group leader) and spends every week with the same group of children. By having each madrich/a specifically assigned to an eidah (group), they are able to become a part of the fabric of that learning space and learning community for the year. The madrichim assist with material preparation, facilitating small group break-outs, providing individual support to children with additional needs, and assist with behavior and safety oversight. This year we have Ethan Aftergut with The Dreidels (Pre-K/Kindergarten/1st grade),

Jeremy Colton, 6th/7th grade madrich, chopping apples in preparation for his class to bake apple cake

Ethan Aftergut, PK/K/1st grade madrich, dancing along with his kids in Tefillah Lab

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The madrichim are compensated for being a helpful and vital part of our Kesher@ AA community. Each madrich/a has a fund set up that can be used toward any Jewish learning experience. This could be Jewish summer camp, Israel programs, Etgar36 trips, the annual TAAglit trip, Chai youth conventions, etc. The amount that goes into their fund is dependent on how many years they have been working as a madrich/a. Additionally, we are happy to sign off on volunteer hours to go toward college scholarships or anything else that has a community service component.

half of their day discussing and learning about the roles and responsiblities a teen leader has in an eidah’s learning space. We read Jewish and secular texts pertaining to leadership, explore different leadership best practices, and then delve into specific lessons on what it means within the context of Kesher@AA. The second half of their Sunday morning is spent observing in the eidah learning spaces. They are split up and assigned to an eidah for about 30-45 minutes of observation. They are looking for effective teaching styles from the roshei eidaht, actions that the eidah madrich/a took to be a helpful force in the space, and the different learning styles and needs of the children enrolled in Kesher@AA. Our pilot class has seven wonderful, bright, inquisitive future madrichim: Matthew Aftergut, Tyler Avchen, Lily Citron, Zoe Glickman, Hope Lindner, Ethan Povlot, and Nora Rosenfeld.

The newest piece of our madrichim program is the Madrichim-In-Training (M.I.T.) year. We have created a leadership training program that consists of 10 sessions throughout the school year for our 8th grade students. On the Sundays that MIT has a session, the 8th graders spend

The Kesher@AA community is lucky to have such a talented, generous group of teenagers who choose to spend their Sunday mornings continuing their Jewish education by role modeling and giving back to younger children on their Jewish journeys.

Hope Lindner, MIT, assisting Elliott Mekelburg with a project

Selena Kleber, 4th/5th grade madricha, helping Sienna Kooby and Rowan Mateyak complete their building activity

Kathryn Reisner, 2nd/3rd madricha, helping Ariela Rosenthal create a birdfeeder to celebrate Tu B’Shvat

The MIT group (Lily Citron, Nora Rosenfeld, Hope Lindner, Tyler Avchen, and Ethan Povlot) discussing active listening techniques

MITs Lily Citron and Ethan Povlot serving a healthy snack to our Kesher@AA kids (pictured: Ma’ayan and Naftali Rosenthal)

The MIT group using the Madrikhim Handbook to learn classroom- specific leadership techniques

ahava early learning center from the director by hannah aranson williams

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few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of spending extra time in Ellman Chapel with the 3's-5's class after our regular Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday morning. Just as we did every week, we gathered as a school, lit the Shabbat candles, raised the Kos Kiddush (Kiddush Cup), and ate our delicious challah. We discussed that week's parsha, Yitro, which tells the story of the Jewish people receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Just as we do at other times during the year, we took the Torah out of the ark for a closer look! We sang and danced with the Torah with all of the children and, after the younger children left, the oldest class had the opportunity to stay a little longer to examine the Hebrew writing inside the Torah close up! Rabbi Laurence held the Torah up, while I showed the children the yad, and read a few lines in Hebrew for them. We discussed that Hebrew is read in the opposite direction as English, and even how the letters are written by a scribe with a quill! I love these special moments with our children, and look forward to sharing more moments like this with even more children!

Have you seen Ahava lately? Our preschool continues to grow by leaps and bounds: There are currently 44 children attending Ahava Early Learning Center, and 61 children are registered for the 2017-18 school year! Our infant, toddler, and two year old rooms currently have a wait-list to enroll, and there are just a few spaces remaining in our 3's-5's classrooms! If you would like to schedule a tour of YOUR preschool, please email or call: hannah@ahavalearning.org or 404-900-9411. Have you "liked" us on Facebook? When you check out our Facebook page, you never know what you will find there: Everything from articles on parenting and child development, current trends in Early Childhood Education, information about our next Jewish holiday, school and synagogue events or even pictures of your children in action! We hope that you will find our Facebook page to be a useful resource and communication tool! Ahava is part of the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Kroger Community Rewards makes fundraising easy! All you have to do is shop at Kroger and swipe your Plus Card and you can help raise money for Ahava. Parents, family and friends may begin enrolling online now. Thanks for your support! Please register online at krogercommunityrewards. com. Ahava's NPO number is: 45819.

aha a

CREATING EARLY LEARNING MOMENTS

• Atlanta’s newest Reggio Emilia inspired Jewish preschool • State-of-the-art facility • Ages 12 weeks to 6 years old • Warm and welcoming community • Flexible schedule options • To schedule a tour or for more information on enrollment, contact Hannah Williams, Director of Ahava ELC, at hannah@ahavalearning.org or 404.900.9411 • Learn more at www.ahavalearning.org • Significant scholarships available for our Pre-K class through the Alef Fund - now registering for 2017-18!

Love of learning starts here Beineinu • April | May • 12

proper passover observance at home What is Chametz? If wheat, barley, oats, rye or spelt come in contact with water after being cut off from the ground, it becomes fermented or chametz. The term chametz also applies to dishes and utensils which have been in contact with chametz food during the year.

of any chametz that we may have inadvertently missed.

What foods require no certification? Pure, natural coffee-instant or ground, sugar (not confectioners or powdered brown sugar), Be’ur Chametz: Monday Morning, April 10 saccharin, tea, salt, pepper, vegetables (dried The burning of chametz should be carried out beans and peas are forbidden, string beans on Monday morning, April 10, prior to 12:30 pm. are permitted), pure garlic, onion powder, Then we recite the Be’ur Chametz declaration. dried fruit, honey, Hershey’s cocoa, pure From this moment on, the entire house should unadulterated saffiower or soy bean oil, nuts What is Matzah? be “Pesadik.” No chametz dishes, utensils or pots (except legumes), dish detergents and scouring Matzah is made from the same five grains listed may be utilized. powders. These items should be bought before above as chametz. But, unlike chametz, matzah Pesach and remain unopened until Pesach. is one of these same flours mixed with water and Mechirat Chametz Fruits and vegetables are permitted for Pesach baked in less than 18 minutes. Matzah is both the We are not always able to destroy or get rid of all when packaged in water or their own juices. bread of affliction and the bread of freedom. the chametz. It may be economically disastrous. Avoid cans or packages containing added So the rabbis ordained a symbolic sale and later ingredients. Can we eat legumes (kitniyot)? buy-back of chametz. (See form on page 12.) In the fall of 2015 the Rabbinical Assembly’s May tuna and salmon be used? Committee on Jewish Law and Standards passed What foods require rabbinic supervision? Oil packaging introduces an uncertain element two responsa which permit the consumption of Matzah, noodles, candies, cakes, beverages, possibly contain­ing additional ingredients. legumes (kitnyot) by Ashkenazim. For specific canned and processed foods, butter, jam, Therefore, use the packed in “spring water” guidance, please consult the rabbis. cheese, jelly, relishes, wines, liquors, salad variety and purchase it before Pesach. Tuna with oils, canned vegetables, gelatin, shortening vegetable broth is not permitted. Why must we clean our house thoroughly? and vinegar. The “Kosher LPesach’’ label or tag The rule against chametz during Pesach applies without rabbinic signature is of no value. This May milk without a Hechsher be used? not only to eating but also to enjoyment applies to products made in America; Europe or With modern production, there is little chance (hana’ah) and so involves removing all the Israel. for milk to contain any chametz. Milk produced chametz from one’s home. No chametz is even before Pesach is permitted, so buy milk before allowed to be in the possession of a Jew during What foods may not be used during Pesach? noon on Thursday, April 21. Milk may be frozen. Pesach. To facilitate this cleaning, the following All these foods are considered chametz and may rituals are part of Pesach preparations. (The text not be used during Pesach: leavened bread, May I continue to take my medicine? for the ceremonies can be found in a Haggadah.) cakes, biscuits, crackers, cereals, wheat, barley, Since chametz binders are used in many pills, oats, rye, spelt, rice, peas, dried beans and the following guide­lines are followed: if the Bedikat Chametz: Sunday Evening, April 9 liquids which contain ingredients made from medicine is required for life-sustaining therapy, We search for chametz using a candle, feather grain alcohol. it may be used for Pesach. In all cases, caplets are and disposable spoon. We renounce ownership preferable.

how many utensils can be "kashered"? T

he process of kashering utensils depends on how the utensils are used. According to halacha, leaven can be purged from a utensil by the same process in which it was adsorbed in the utensil ( kevoleo kakh poleto ). Therefore, utensils used in cooking are kashered by boiling. Those used only for cold foods are kashered by rinsing. Earthenware/China China, pottery, etc., may not be kashered. However, fine trans­lucent china which has not been used for over a year may be used if scoured

13 • Beineinu • April | May

and cleaned in hot water. Silverware Silverware made entirely of metal may be kashered by scouring thoroughly and then immersing in boiling water. They are then pesachdik and parve. Glassware All table glassware is permit­ted after thoroughly scouring. There is also a practice of soaking glassware for 72 hours before Pesach.

Detergents If permitted during the year, powdered and liquid detergents do not require a “Kosher LPesach” label. Pots and Pans Pots and pans wholly made of metal and used for cooking purposes only (not for baking) must first be scrubbed thoroughly, cleaned and completely immersed in boiling water. Pots should have water boiled in them which will overflow the rim. Utensils should not be used for a period of at least 24 hours between the

cleaning and immersion in boiling water. Tie a string around the utensil and im­merse completely in boiling water. For small items, a cord-netting can be used to dip several at once. Microwave Ovens These present a special case since the inside surfaces do not become hot. We recommend a thor­ough cleaning and then placing a dish of water in the oven and allowing it to boil. Dishwasher Thoroughly scour with boiling water and then run it empty for two cycles, one with soap and one without. Ovens Every part that comes in contact with food must

be scrubbed and cleaned thoroughly. Then the oven should be heated as hot as possible for half an hour. If there is a broil setting, use it. If it has a self-cleaning cycle, use it, too. Continuous cleaning ovens must be kashered in the same manner as regular ovens. Electrical Appliances If the parts that come in contact with chametz are removable, they can be kashered in the appropriate way. If metal, follow the rules for metal utensils. If the parts are not removable, the appliance cannot be koshered. All exposed parts should be cleaned thoroughly. Refrigerator Remove all chametz food and opened pack­ages. Clean thoroughly with boiling water and scour

the racks. Frozen chametz foods should be put in a special closed-off section and should be sold with chametz. Tables, Closets, Counters If used with chametz, they should be thor­oughly cleaned and covered. They may then be used. Kitchen Sink If used with chametz, thoroughly clean and cover. Then it may be used. If, however, dishes are to be soaked in a porcelain sink, then a dish basin must be used. Chametz and Non-Passover Utensils Non-Passover dishes, pots and chametz (whose ownership has been transferred) should be separated, locked up, covered and marked to prevent accidental use.

passover information *please see page 24 for a full schedule of Passover services Maot Chitim The Annual Maot Chitim drive is underway. Maot Chitim ("wheat money") is an ancient custom in which Jews provide funds to other Jews in need for the purchase of Passover food. Inspired by the passage from the Haggadah, "All who are hungry, let them enter and eat; all who are in need, let them come celebrate Pesach." JF&CS supports a group of dedicated volunteers who have taken on the responsibility of Maot Chitim in Atlanta. They coordinate distribution of food and financial assistance for Jewish families. Please visit yourtoolsforliving.org/ donate/maos to make an online donation. If you need Maot Chitim assistance, please contact JFC&S at 770.677.9300. Your call will be confidential.

Mechirat Chametz: "Sell" Your Chametz The Torah commands us that chametz shall not be found in your dwelling places during the Festival of Passover. The literal meaning is that all chametz food and utensils must be cast away. This poses a great financial hardship. Hence, we "sell" the chametz to a non-Jew who would then own the chametz for the duration of the holiday. It is customary to appoint an agent, usually a rabbi, to sell the chametz and then repurchase it. To appoint a rabbi, please complete the form below and send it to Rabbi Sandler by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21. It is customary to include a contribution to our community's Maos Chitim.

begins on the second night of Passover and continues until Shavuot. This seven-week period links Passover, which celebrates our physical free­dom, to Shavuot, which celebrates the spiritual freedom we achieve through Torah. Each night during this period we count aloud the night of the Omer. During the time of the Temple, a barley offering of an omer, a measure of grain, was brought to the Temple on the second night of Pesach, hence the name. Traditionally this period is a time of semi-mourning, in commemoration of the Temple and in remembrance of a plague which devastated the Jewish community during the time of Rabbi Akiva in the 2nd Century CE.

Sefirat Ha-Omer Commences Sefirat Ha-Omer, the counting of the Omer, Authorization of Agent to Sell Chametz

I, hereby authorize Rabbi Neil Sandler to act as my agent to sell all chametz that may be in my possession, whether at home, at place of business or elsewhere in accordance with the requirements and provisions of Jewish Law. Signature: Home Address:

Business Address: Please return to AA by Monday, April 10 at 12:00 pm

Beineinu • April | May • 14

the future of ahavath achim Transforming the Future: AA's Capital Campaign Moves Forward by rob wildstein, president

message—complete with new collateral materials—and enlisted the support of dozens of volunteers to assist with the Campaign.

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hen I took office in June of last year, we were gearing up for the next phase of our Capital Campaign. We had completed the construction of and opened Ahava, our state-of-the-art Jewish pre-school; we had installed new infrastructure, including a completely new HVAC system that ensures a comfortable atmosphere in our building year-round; we were in the process of renovating the library; and we had drawn plans to update many other spaces in our building, including the Sanctuary. Mark Cohen and Bobby Ezor did a tremendous job of chairing the lead gift phase of our Capital Campaign and they secured over $6 million in gifts—a truly extraordinary success! At the same time, we realized in order to succeed with the broader, congregational phase of the Campaign, we needed experienced professionals and a complete campaign infrastructure in place. We hired a Director of Development, Lindsay Borenstein, who has spent over 15 years in key positions in the fundraising industry, and Shana Dukette, who provides administrative and technical support to the Campaign. We were also extremely fortunate to have Jack Balser and Stacy Fialkow—two dedicated and experienced community leaders—agree to chair the congregational phase of the Campaign. Over the past six months, this team has spent an enormous amount of time reviewing every aspect of the Campaign. They’ve implemented development best practices, undertaken an audit of pledges previously made, formulated our campaign

15 • Beineinu • April | May

We initially set a goal of $10 million for the Campaign. However, in July 2016, we received construction pricing based on the plans designed by our architects. We learned that the anticipated costs of building everything we had designed would exceed our initial budget. In order to be fiscally responsible and good stewards of the synagogue’s resources, we began to modify the designs and to discuss eliminating portions of the renovations. In early January of this year, we met with our major donors (who had collectively contributed over 70% of the funds raised thus far) to discuss our revised plans and options for moving forward. We were extremely heartened by their response and their support of the Campaign. Their message was clear: While they want us to be good stewards of their money, they also want us to be good stewards of their legacy. They want the renovations to be worthy of what our parents and grandparents built. Not only should we reinforce who we are and where we have been as a community, but we must look to our future and be transformative. Rather than asking “why” – they asked “why not?!” As a result, the Board of Directors met with our Board of Trustees and unanimously voted to raise our Campaign goal to $13 million. This ambitious, but attainable, goal will enable us to update and transform our facilities. Imagine: Our Sanctuary with flexible seating to allow for an intimate setting to worship on Shabbat mornings or for sitting-in-the-round during a

lifecycle event with your children and grandchildren. A new tiered bimah that brings the clergy closer to congregants and infuses new life and vitality into services. Yet the grandeur of the Sanctuary will remain, along with many of its iconic features that are a part of our congregational history. The main foyer and Cohen Pavilion will be updated to welcome our community and guests into a warmer and more inviting space. Bathrooms that are more convenient to the Sanctuary and Srochi Hall will be added. The administrative offices and museum hallway will also be renovated, and in just a few months, we start construction to modernize the Srochi meat kitchen. We are very proud of the progress we have made thus far in the Campaign. One-hundred and seventy families have contributed over $7 million. Yet there is still much to do in order to reach our goal. We need every family to participate in the Campaign and that means we need YOU! In the coming weeks, you will hear from us either by letter, by phone or in person. There will also be a number of opportunities for us to share more of our exciting plans with you. Now is the time for every member of our congregation to invest in sustaining and securing our synagogue’s future. This is your once-in-a-generation opportunity to be the agents of change—to restore, reform and re-energize the space where we gather and worship. We invite you to join us in shaping AA’s future. In the words of the great sage, Hillel: “IF NOT NOW – WHEN?”

Beineinu • April | May • 16

thank you to our campaign donors Davis and Sandy Abrams Douglas Adair Sandra Adair Sheila and David Adelman Fred and Cookie Aftergut Ahavath Achim Sisterhood Judge Gary Alembik Judith M. Alembik Anonymous Herb and Ann Alperin Marty and Richard Alterman Sara Alterman Steve Alterman and Marci Ball Jessica C. Arluck and Douglas S. Ander Phyllis and Joseph Arnold Phyllis and Eliot Arnovitz Irene Aronin Rachel and Michael Avchen Pat and Jack Balser Cindy and Dr. Bruce Becker Betty Behr, Kara Behr, Sara and Jonathan Hoffenberg Gerald and Vicki Benjamin Diane and Marvin Bernstein Marlene Gelernter Besser and Abe Besser James Blasingame and Toby Schonfeld Jerome and Elaine Blumenthal Rita and Arthur Bodner Linda and Richard Bressler Ben Cavalier Mark and Ruth Coan and Family The Coca-Cola Company Bernard and Rae-Alice Cohen Generations Fund/Alan and Pamela Cohen Harold and Diane Cohen Mark and Tova Cohen Stanley J. Cohen Linda and Richard Collier Rachael and Jonathan Colton Stanley Cristol Doug and Margo Diamond Shelly and Allen Dollar Sam, Eddie, Liora and Amir Dressler Mark Eden Lauren Estrin and Andrew Deutsch Elisa and Bobby Ezor Ken and Barbara Feinberg

Emanuel and Stacy Fialkow Barry Fields Robert and Pat Fine Ramon and Jody Franco Richard and Phyllis Franco The Esther and Jake Friedman Family Jared and Beth Friedman Murray and Lynn Friedman Andree and Marc Frost Frances and Stuart Galishoff Drs. Stephen and Marianne Garber Melinda Gertz Don and Celia Gilner Kenneth and Madeleine Gimbel Larry and Margo Gold Dr. Daniel and Marni Goldman Bernie Goldstein Doris and Martin Goldstein Joel and Eve Goldstein Leon Goldstein and Family in honor of Betty Goldstein z"l Neil Gordon Katie and Daniel Greene Lynne and Thomas Greenfield Steve and Heleen Grossman Nikki Gugliotta and Randy Crohn Michael and Gail Habif Morris Habif Frank and Helen Hahn Alvin and Sherry Halpern The Halpern-Oppenheimer Family Foundation Hammer Family Josh Hanna and Sharon Funk Delcy Pardo Harber The Family of Rick and Lori Harber Marvin and Natalie Harris Gloria and Howard Hecht Jack and Michal Hart Hillman Stuart Harvey Hillman Gary and Jean Jackson Paul and Stephanie Jacobs Barbara and Alan Kaplan and Family Lisa Kaplan Philip and Sally Kaplan Theodore and Ann Kaplan Jeffrey and Alison Kaufman Judy and Martin Kogon

Michael and Laurie Kogon Ross and Sara Kogon Darryl and Roslyn Konter Elissa and Harris Konter Phyllis and Jerry Kraft Russell and Cheryl Kramer Lana and Richard Krebs Carlyn and Barry Kriegel Arnold and Starr Lande Linda and Kerry Landis Rhona Landis Craig and Faye Lefkoff Evelyn and Harold Lefkoff Helen Lefkoff Lawrence and Marjorie Lefkoff Michelle and Jonathan Lerner and Family Michael J. and Ann Levin Esther and Michael K. Levine Marshall and Nancy Levine Michelle and Rich Levy Dr. and Mrs. Paul Liebman Joel Lobel and Debbie Smith Malkin, Glazer and Hirsh Family Joseph and Charlotte Marcus Rhoda and Stephen Margolis Judy Marx Sherry and Harry Maziar Lee Mendel Rachel and Manuel Mesa Ivan and Shirley Millender Lori and Wayne Miller Susan Moray Vicki and Steve Morris and Family Barbara and George Nathan Dr. Philip and Donna Newman Barbara and Sanford Orkin and Family Hank Oxman Alon and Sheri Panovka Dan Paradies z"l Gregg and Beth Paradies James Paradies Jo and Louis Pichulik Alan and Sally Pinsker Barbara and Richard Planer Michael Plasker and Ellen Arnovitz Dara and Arthur Povlot Barry and Lynn Prusin Mark and Sharon Reich Ralda and Martin Reish

Shirley and Donald Reisman Andrew and Susan Canter Reisner David Rhones Bruce and Barbara Ribner Lori Rich Joel and Jennifer Rosenfeld Carl and Rosalie Rosenthal Brooke and Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Ralph Sacks Susan and Rabbi Neil Sandler Milton and Virginia Saul Linda and Abe Schear Ray and Susan Schoenbaum Alan and Judy Schulman Irma Shulman-Weiner Marianne Shultzberg Betty Ann Shusterman Andy and Caryn Siegel Philip and Debra Siegel Barry Silver Brenda Silverman Susan E. Simon Judy and Allen Soden Jack Spielberg z"l Jennifer and Kevin Spindel The Srochi Family Allen and Merna Stein Howard and Irene Stein Stanley and Marilyn Steinberg Toby and Gayle Steinberg Steven and Lynne Steindel Mark and Tamar Stern Dr. Alan and Betty Sunshine Rick and Cathy Swerdlin Ben and Julie Taube Jeannie and Bob Tepper Karla Tievsky and Seth Kirschenbaum The Vantosh Family Drs. Nancy and Mark Weiner The Wildstein Family Larry and Sheila Wilensky Joel and Hannah Williams Sue and Jon Winner Jack and Rina Wolfe Sharon J. Zinns Jeannette and Michael Zukor Jack and Sophie Zwecker

It is time for every member of our congregation, and every person and organization who values our Jewish heritage, to invest in sustaining and securing our synagogue’s future. The Campaign for Ahavath Achim honors AA’s legacy and prepares it for generations to come. In the coming weeks, you will receive information about participating in the capital campaign. We hope that you will join this effort. For more information, please call the development office at 404.603.5759.

17 • Beineinu • April | May

donor profile featuring rick harber, vp of finance

Tell us a little about your company, Decision Digital, and the services you provide. Decision Digital began as a small computer networking company in the basement of my old house, in the fall of 1997. Day 1 it was a computer, a desk, and a picture of Albert Einstein, saying "If you can't explain it clearly, you don't understand it well enough." Today, some 20 years later, we are a comprehensive IT firm that serves a referral-only, worldwide customer-base across multiple industries and vertical markets. And the same picture of Einstein still hangs in my office. Decision Digital designs, builds and manages computer networks for other companies. That means we connect offices, people, and devices just about everywhere they work and everywhere they travel, to their office networks or our data center servers. Technology enables our customers to use our massive data center servers, instead of buying their own, from nearly anywhere. In addition to building networks, we help businesses better define and refine their "way of doing business," using technology as a tool instead of a solution. What services have you specifically donated in-kind to the synagogue? Decision Digital built the shul's first real modern Windows network, some ten or so years ago, donating all of the equipment and time it took to build and to establish the network. As the shul has grown and evolved, so have its technical needs. Today’s shuls need to be nimble, agile and competitive, without extensive overhead. Technology helps us narrow this gap. However, just as with all changes, the increase in technological capabilities also triggers a shift in the technological demands.

18 • Beineinu • April | May

You know the ones that didn't exist 20 years ago? Things like employing a technicallycompetent staff, perpetually updating websites, offering electronic payment processing, e-blast communication, and streaming videos; all of which are not expected but demanded, as those types of offerings are now the norm in our culture. Technology touches every aspect of synagogue life. Every single one. Decision Digital has continued to provide the necessary support for the synagogue’s evergrowing and changing technical needs. Our most recent donation is the shul's new WiFi network, which I might add was no easy feat to accomplish in a building that is built to nuclear-containment specifications. The new WiFi network is an invisible blanket that drapes over the entire building. From the corner of the meat kitchen to the edge of the Ahava playground, we're covered. We also plan to further expand its range and capabilities once the capital campaign construction begins. Why did you decide to support the synagogue in this way? How do you feel about making this gift? Lori and I know that everyone has different ways of giving back, yet, they all begin with the same feeling: love. To that end, we both are in the habit of compelling others around us to "feel the love." For some, love is a gift of time or perhaps money. For others, love is a gift that is characteristic of themselves or their passions. Lori and I felt that donating the WiFi network was remarkably characteristic of us, while remaining a wonderful expression of love. A subtle, yet impactful, gift to be enjoyed by nearly everyone who works for or visits our majestic synagogue – the WiFi network – seemed like the perfect donation. As the Vice President for Finance, talk about the impact a gift of this kind has on the synagogue. I think about the Hebrew word for synagogue: Beit Knesset. It means house of assembly: A place where people are supposed to gather. Wireless access is an

amenity enabling our staff, congregants, and guests to make their time at the shul even more meaningful. The more people come to the shul, the better chance we have to grow our community; and, that makes me smile. Think about it: You can walk through our memorial garden while reading our history online, and you have the ability to share information instantly between all sorts of different people. We are able to effortlessly include people in the special moments at life-cycle events that, without technology, would not be able to “attend.” It is incredible. Also, thanks to a strong WiFi network, we can place cameras and other security measures into locations that used to be impossible for us to reach and monitor effectively. Now, our building can become "smarter," reducing overhead and increasing efficiency. Is there anything else you’d like to share with others about this gift or about making in-kind gifts in general? Our deep love for each other, our rich history, and our unwavering devotion to the institution created by generations of congregants before us form the foundation and walls upon which our shul, the AA, was built. We owe it to them, and to ourselves, to change "was built" to "is built." We owe it to future generations to be a place where people give in a meaningful way more than a measurable one. Everyone in the AA Family has something worthwhile he or she can give. Everyone. It is what we are supposed to do: To depend on each other for the greater good of our Beit Knesset - our shared home. There is a reason our name is Ahavath Achim. It means Brotherly Love. I often tell other business owners it is not their job to make others successful. It is their job to enable others to succeed. Giving to the shul is not the gift. What you enable the shul to do because of what you have given, that is the gift.

Beineinu • April | May • 18

social action

you can help the hungry - here's how by harold kirtz, co-chair and co-founder of the hunger seder “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” says the Haggadah. During this coming Passover, the community will learn how to help those who do not have enough to eat.

level to provide assistance to those who are hungry or suffer food insecurity for parts of the year. We will offer practical actions that each participant can take to help our neighbors as they battle hunger. We will also be taking direct action by packing our leftovers and taking them downtown after the seder to distribute on the street to those who are immediately hungry.

On April 13, on the fourth night of Passover, we will hold the seventh annual Hunger Seder. The Jewish Community Relations Council and Ahavath Achim are co-sponsoring this seder, along with a number of other synagogues and community organizations, We are asking those who have participated in past years and those in order to develop advocates for food and nutrition programs. who are new to the concept to join us for a most meaningful seder. Please visit https://form.jotform.com/70264020524140 or AA's We will learn about several initiatives at the federal and local Facebook page to register, and become a Hunger Advocate.

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What is the hunger seder? The hunger Seder is a traditional Passover Seder. Passover is the Jewish holiday celebrating the exodus from slavery in Egypt. During the meal you will get to hear stories about hunger in the Atlanta community and learn more about becoming an advocate for change. $36 cost covers a fully catered, Kosher (Jewish dietary laws) meal. Any donations are appreciated and any surplus money helps The Hunger Project grow. Everyone can participate, and kids are encouraged to join! Register through the slider on the AA website or at https://form.jotform.com/70264020524140. To learn more about The Hunger Project, contact Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal at lrosenthal@aasynagogue.org.

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jf&cs atlanta

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services by Sheri Schwartz, JF&CS Atlanta disabilities have a hand in directing their services and a voice concerning their future. The programs promote selfdetermination and the right of those with special needs to choose their own destinies. Programs and services include Supported Employment, the Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living Program, Community Access Services and Alterman/JETS Transportation.

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ith Jewish Disabilities Awareness Month behind us, JF&CS wants to share what we do in the Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services (IDDS) arena. Our nonsectarian IDDS offers programs and supports to individuals with a range of disabilities, their families and their caregivers. We follow a person-centered approach to ensure those with

blood drive

We thank the following AA members for their blood donations at the February blood drive. We collected 57 pints of blood. Our donors include: David Adelman Marilyn Bravman Ari Casper Joe Citron Mark Cohen Stanley Cristol ​Douglas Diamond Ken Feinberg Stacy Fialkow Steve Friedberg Philip Goldstein Eddie Greenberg Lynne Greenfield Tom Greenfield Michael Greenfield Glenna Hornstein Scott Kaplan

Gerald Kraft Craig Strickman Levitas Joan Schwartz Andy Siegel Gail Solomon Bob Tepper Rina Wolfe

IDDS will be moving into a brand new location right on the JF&CS campus. The building will include a large common space, classrooms, a computer room, an art studio, a sensory room, a teaching kitchen, ADA-compliant bathrooms with showers, a laundry area and full access for wheelchairs with wider hallways and lower counters. For more information, please call 770-677-9300 or visit www.jfcsatl.org.

by gail solomon A special thanks to the volunteers who helped make the day a success: Bebe Kaplan, Helen Scherrer Diamond, Joanne Rosenthal, Susan Caller, Dave Norflaus, Phyllis Arnold. To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code JWV - you will be taken directly to the AA Blood Drive where you can schedule your appointment. For more information, contact Gail Solomon at gailsol@gmail.com or 404.351.1900. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred. Donating blood is truly a mitzvah. Be counted as a donor by donating at the next blood drive on May 7.

Beineinu • April | May • 20

cultural arts & education the safrai story

celebrating israeli art and artists by Susan sandler

While recently in Israel, Neil and I visted with Menachem Safrai of the Safrai Gallery in Jerusalem. Menachem will be bringing close to 2,000 works of art by Israeli artists for AA's cultural event, A Celebration of Israeli Art, from May 18 - 21. Ahavath Achim is proud to host this cultural event in celebration of Israeli art and artists. Visiting the gallery was a wonderful opportunity to preview the range of art he will bring to Atlanta. Even more special was meeting and talking to Menachem and learning his family’s story. Menachem’s granfather, Julius Bookbinder, left Russia at the age of 17 for a better life in the United States. His carpentry skills led him into the construction business in Newark, New Jersey. His business thrived and was successful until the stock market crash. He was forced to sell his properties to pay the banks. Dvora, his wife, whose grandmother had settled in Israel in 1888 from Lithuania, suggested that the family return to Palestine. Her family had manufactured mirrors in the old city of Jerusalem. Even as he boarded the boat to Israel in 1929, the banks offered a new line of credit, hoping that Julius would remain and restart his business. Julius and Dvora decided “no” and held on to their dream arriving in Palestine with $3 in their pockets. Once in Palestine, Julius’s skills in carpentry led him to a career building frames for art work. At that time, art was being sent from Germany to avoid its being confiscated by the Nazis. Julius became known as Asher, and he and Jacob Steinhardt, a German artist, developed a cooperative relationship. Jacob was one of the first artists who taught in the newly created Bezalel Art School. In exchange for making frames, Asher was paid in art, and thus began his art collection. He opened a gallery in Nachlat Shiva quarter of Jerusalem and, following guard duty while in the Haganah, Asher would open the gallery at night. The immigrants from Europe would visit, having retained their appreciation for fine art. It was noted that in addition to art, the gallery held illegal weapons (for defense units) in the basement. While serving as an officer in Ben Gurion’s Israeli Army, Asher was required to change the family name. Ben Gurion would not allow his officers to have ‘diaspora’ family names. The name, Bookbinder, was then changed to “Safrai” to reflect the Hebrew word for book, 'Sefer'. Asher’s son, Dov, inherited managment of the gallery in 1949, and today, Menachem, a graduate of Hebrew University in Art History, has continued the family legacy. The family now celebrates three generations whish began in 1935, before establishment of the State of Israel.

21 • Beineinu • April | May

The AA exhibit will provide a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of the exciting and expanding world of Israeli art.

May 18 - 21, 2017 Safrai Fine Art Gallery of Jerusalem and Ahavath Achim Synagogue present a 4-Day Event: “A Celebration of Israeli Art” Join us in supporting Israeli artists and Israel by visiting this Pop-Up Gallery and purchasing a unique work of art featuring more than 1500 oil paintings, watercolors, and lithographs by over 100 different Israeli artists.

Beineinu • April | May • 22

eizenstat

featuring

June 11

Wolf Blitzer

Eizenstat Lecture Series featuring Wolf Blitzer, CNN's Lead Political Anchor and Anchor of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. For more information, contact Anne Cohen at acohen@aasynagogue.org. 23 • Beineinu • April | May

calendar & Volunteer Passover Services Schedule Monday April 10

Saturday, April 15

7:15 am

Ta'anit Bechorim | Fast of the First Born Son

9:00 am

Chol HaMoed Shabbat Morning Service Mincha/Ma'ariv/Havdallah

Last chance to sell Chametz - all names must be on sign in sheet in office or received in mail by this time

7:30 pm

12:00 pm

Sunday, April 16

6:00 pm

Passover 1st Night Evening Service

Tuesday, April 11

6:00 pm

Passover 7th Night Evening Service

Monday, April 17 9:00 am

Passover 7th Day Morning Service

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Passover 1st Day Morning Service

6:00 pm

Passover 8th Night Evening Service

6:00 pm

Passover 2nd Night Evening Service

Tuesday, April 18

Wednesday, April 12

9:00 am

Passover 8th Day Morning Service

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Passover 2nd Day Morning Service

11:00 am

Yizkor Memorial Service

6:00 pm

Passover 3rd Night Evening Service

7:45 pm

Evening Service - Conclusion of Passover (ends at 8:50 pm)

Thursday, April 13 6:30 pm

Hunger Seder

Friday, April 14 6:30 pm

Chol HaMoed Shabbat Evening Service

aa Events TuesdAAys at AA

Tuesdays (through May 23) 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Join the rabbis every Tuesday for an educational experience about current events and the Bible.

Unraveling the talmud: Exploring Jewish Thought and Ritual through the Eyes of the Rabbis Wednesdays (through May 24), 4:30 pm

Join Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal in the Koplin/Borochoff library every Wednesday to explore the structure of prayer through the eyes and wisdom of our sages and rabbis. For more information, contact Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal at lrosenthal@ aasynagogue.org. There will be no class on the following date: April 12.

Torah Study

Saturdays, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Cavalier Room

For a full list of Torah Study leaders, please visit our website at www.aasynagogue.org under "Learning">"Adult".

Mah Jongg

Sundays, 10:00 am

Please join Sisterhood women every Sunday to play, schmooze, have fun, and connect Lunch and Learn with other women. We are patient, willing to teach, and will welcome you. For more April 19 and may 17, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Offices information, contact Nancy Canter Weiner of Birnbrey, Minsk, Minsk, and Perling, 1801 at ncweiner@mindspring.com. Peachtree Street NW #300, Atlanta, GA 30309

Naomi’s Book Club

To RSVP and pre-order lunch, contact Jill Rosner at jrosner@aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5741.

April 3 and May 1 , 10:15 am

Naomi’s Book Club is held on the first Monday of each month. Sisterhood honors the memory of Naomi Gold, who actively encouraged and coordinated literary growth. All are welcome to join for lively book discussions. Contact Madeleine Gimbel at maddy_gimbel@yahoo.com for more information. April’s book is A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (facilitated by Janice Nochumson and Jean Lawson), and May's is Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet by Jeffrey Rosen (facilitated by Patsy Latte and Learn Little). April 20 and may 18, 10 :30 am, Panera Bread, 4531

Olde Perimeter Way, Atlanta, GA

Join the rabbis, fellow sisters, and other friends for a morning of coffee, conversation, and learning with the Sisterhood’s monthly study group every third Thursday of the month. For more information, contact Roslyn Konter at 770.986.3697 or rpkonter@gmail.com.

Beineinu • April | May • 24

Groove Shabbat

Safrai Art Gallery of Jerusalem Groove Shabbat Sally & Philip kaplan Scholarin-Residence Weekend with Rabbi bradley Artson April 21 - 23

Friday, April 21 | 7:30 pm Congregational Shabbat dinner and discussion with Rabbi Artson on the topic, God of Becoming and Relationship: The Dynamic Nature of Process Theology Saturday, April 22 | 11:00 am Sermon followed by a Post Kiddush Beit Midrash on the topic, What Are We Doing When We Pray? Sunday, April 23 | 9:30 am Join Kesher@AA and the JAA (Jewish Abilities Alliance) for A House of Prayer for All: Life Lessons from My Autistic Son, a story from Rabbi Artson's personal Torah. RSVP to the Friday night dinner at http:// bit.ly/2nRrybY. Babysitting will be provided for Sunday morning’s program sign up at http://bit.ly/2orAdBt. For more information about the weekend events, contact Jill Rosner at jrosner@aasynagogue. org or 404.603.5741.

May 6, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm *no april program

Come join Mr. Michael and PJ Library on the first Shabbat morning each month for stories and interactive songs celebrating Shabbat and upcoming Jewish holidays. Stories and songs at 10:30 am, followed by snacks, playtime and kiddush lunch. All free, and geared towards families with children ages 0-4. Mr. Michael Levine is the co-founder of The Learning Groove & the music producer for the first four Pete The Cat picture books. PJ Library offers free Jewish themed books for children of all ages.

Cultural Arts Series: Comin' home May 7, 3:00 pm, Ellman Chapel

Atlanta’s best jazz featuring our own, Joe Alterman on piano. Joining him: John Sandfort on saxophone, Justin Chesarek on drums, and our own Scott Glazer on bass. Reception following concert – donations to the Cultural Arts Fund requested. For more information, contact Anne Cohen at acohen@aasynagogue.org.

May 18 - 21

Join us in supporting Israeli artists and Israel by visiting the show and purchasing a unique work of art featuring more than 1500 oil paintings, watercolors, and lithographs by over 100 different Israeli artists. For more information, contact cochairs Delcy Harber (delcyharber@comcast. net) or Susan Sandler (shsand3@bellsouth. net).

Scholar-in-Residence Weekend with Rabbi Goodman May 20 - 21

Join us again this year for the special opportunity to be with our Scholar-inResidence, Rabbi Arnold Goodman. Saturday, May 20 Rabbi Goodman will deliver the sermon and facilitate a Post Kiddush Beit Midrash discussion on the topic, God's Plan and the Human Actor. Sunday, May 21 | 10:30 am Dr. Robbie Friedmann will join Rabbi Goodman in a conversation, Rabbi and Robbie...Again (coffe and light refreshments will be served at 10:00 am). RSVP information coming soon! For more information, contact Jill Rosner at jrosner@ aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5741.

Chai Youth TAAglit Trip to NYC May 28 - 30

Blood Drive Birthday and Anniversary Breakfast Sunday, April 30, 8:30 am

Directly following Morning Minyan, this wonderful breakfast is the best way to start your Sunday. All are welcome especially those celebrating a March, April, or May birthday or anniversary! For more information, contact Anne Cohen at acohen@aasynagogue.org. RSVP to Catherine Ficke at cficke@aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5747.

25 • Beineinu • April | May

Sunday, May 7, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Please be a blood donor. To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code JWV - you will be taken directly to the AA Blood Drive where you can schedule your appointment. For more information, contact Gail Solomon at gailsol@gmail.com or 404.351.1900. The quarterly Red Cross Blood Drive is co-sponsored by Ahavath Achim synagogue, the Jewish War Veterans, the Fulton Masonic Lodge, and new cosponsor, Congregation Shearith Israel.

Shavuot 5777

May 30, Overnight

All-night program includes spiritually meaningful prayers, fascinating topics, community, food, and much more! For more information, contact Jill Rosner at jrosner@aasynagogue.org or 404.603.5741.

save the date:

aa Volunteer/social action events

Amazon sisterhood fundraiser

Sisterhood invites you to do your online shopping with us at Amazon.com (you can do it with or without an Amazon account). June 4, 4:00 pm By shopping through Sisterhood’s associate Election of Officers and Board of link, you allow us to receive up to 15% of Directors and volunteer appreciation and your total purchase, including gift cards. Sisterhood Torah Fund recognition There is no cost to you! From the AA Torah Fund supports the five major educational institutions of the Conservative website home page (aasynagogue.org), click Eizenstat Lecture Series Featuring Movement and helps to ensure a healthy on "Community", then "Sisterhood", then "Amazon.com Sisterhood Fundraiser" to future for Conservative Judaism. These Wolf Blitzer start shopping with us! institutions educate not only rabbis and June 11 cantors but also administrators, social CNN’s lead political anchor, and the workers, and lay leaders. This year, there Greeters Needed anchor of the Situation Room with Wolf are five new beautiful Torah Fund Greeting If you can smile and say "Shabbat Shalom" Blitzer. For more information, contact Cards. To purchase cards, contact Glenna then you are a fully trained greeter. Anne Cohen at acohen@aasynagogue. Hornstein at 904.616.1697 or itsallrelative@ Greeters welcome everyone with a smile. org. bellsouth.net. They stay in the foyer in front of Ellman Chapel for approximately one hour on Shabbat. To join the greeter team contact Mildred or Marty Kwatinetz at zaydekw@ comcast.net or 404.812.1734.

Annual Meeting

Community Events

JF&CS Employment Workshop Series

community Volunteer/social action events

Join JF&CS for this innovative series of workshops that offer essential tools for today's job seekers: job search basics, resume writing, interview skills, etc. For more information and to register, visit https://www.jfcsatl.org/services/careers/ career-workshops.

Infertility Support Group

7th Annual Hunger Seder

Kidney Donation Awareness Event

Join together with others who struggle with this difficult situation as we support each other and learn about opportunities and hope for the future. RSVP at RSVP@ JewishFertilityFoundation.org. For more information, contact Lynn Goldman at 404.275.9678.

Seder. Passover is the Jewish holiday celebrating the exodus from slavery in Egypt. During the meal you will get to hear stories about hunger in the Atlanta community and learn more about becoming an advocate for change. $36 cost covers a fully catered, Kosher (Jewish dietary laws) meal. Any donations are appreciated and any surplus money helps The Hunger Project grow. Everyone can participate, and kids are encouraged to join! Register through the slider on the AA website, through the AA FB event, or at https://form.jotform.com/70264020524140. To learn more about The Hunger Project, contact Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal at lrosenthal@aasynagogue.org.

Join us for a Kidney Donation Awareness event featuring a frank discussion on the risks and benefits of kidney donation. Learn how you can help save a community member's life through donation or by spreading the word! Hear from Shai Robkin, an Altruistic Kidney Donor. Hear about the challenges of living with Kidney failure from a community member. Hear a presentation by Rabbi Josh Sturm, Director of Outreach. The program will conclude with a Q & A session. Light refreshments will be served. (Possibly, light Sushi dinner). Sponsored by Ahavath Achim, Bet Haverim, Renewal, Chabad Intown, Shearith Israel, and Young Israel of Toco Hills.

Every second Thursday of the month at MACoM, April 13, 6:30 – 9:00 pm 700-A Mount Vernon Hwy NE, 30328 The Hunger Seder is a traditional Passover

Yom HaShoah - 52nd Annual Holocaust Commemoration

April 23, 11:00 am, Greenwood Cemetery, 1173 Cascade Circle SW, Atlanta, GA 30311

Featured speaker, Manuela Mendels Bornstein will share her story about how she and her family survived the Holocaust hiding in Vichy, France. Her story honors the “conspiracy of goodness” that saved them – from Parisian neighbors and friends, to members of the Resistance, to the grace of the villagers who never revealed their whereabouts despite great danger to themselves. In honor of Yom HaShoah, admission to the Breman Museum’s Holocaust exhibition will be free to the public, April 23, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. For more information, visit TheBreman.org or call 678.222.3700.

May 7, 7:00 pm, Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 La Vista Road, Atlanta, GA 30329

ACFB Food Sorting and Packing April 23 and may 21, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

Help us sort and box donated food. There is something for everyone to do, regardless of physical ability or experience. Closed-toed shoes are required. For more information, contact Nancy Canter Weiner at ncweiner@ mindspring.com.

Beineinu • April | May • 26

weekly service schedule

We are a dynamic, egalitarian, conservative congregation that inspires our members to forge strong connections with God, Jewish life, Israel, and our community.

Morning Minyan (Monday - Friday)

7:15 am

Morning Minyan (Sunday)

8:30 am

Evening Minyan (Sunday - Thursday)

6:00 pm

Shabbat Evening Service (Friday)

6:30 pm

Shabbat Morning Service (Saturday)

9:00 am

Rabbi Neil Sandler Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Jill Rosner, Assistant to the Rabbis Manuel Mesa, Executive Director Catherine Ficke, Executive Assissant Lindsay Borenstein, Director of Development Shana Dukette, Capital Campaign Administrative Assistant Anne Cohen, Director of Marketing & Community Relations Lauren Dube, Marketing Coordinator & Graphic Designer Fern Schorr, Receptionist Gabrielle Adler, Director of Engagement Kenya Bassett, Administrative Assistant Stan Vogel, Finance Manager Chris Carr, Director of Facilities Ken Johnson, Facilities Ian Madge, Facilities Anika Johnson, Facilities Marcus Thomas, Facilities Joe Jones, Director of Security Jordan Forman, Ritual Director Robyn Faintich, Interim Educational Director Lindsey Grossman, Program Associate Hannah Williams, Ahava Early Learning Center Director Jen Evans, Ahava Early Learning Center Administrative Assistant Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman, Senior Scholar Rob Wildstein, President Rick Swerdlin, Executive Vice President Rick Harber, Vice President Dick Planer, Vice President Arthur Povlot, Vice President Nancy Canter Weiner, Vice President Susan Berkowitz and Brenda Silverman, Sisterhood Co-Presidents Zoe Glickman, Kadima President

Beineinu ‌ between you and me The Newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Our newsletter is funded by a grant from The Center Family Foundation AHAVATH ACHIM BEINEINU (USPS-009-780) / Published Bi-Monthly / by Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., N.W., Atlanta, GA 30327 / Synagogue Office: 404.355.5222 / Fax: 404.352.2831 / Affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism/Periodical Postage Paid at Atlanta, Georgia. Postmaster: Send Address Changes to Ahavath Achim Beineinu, 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30327