Beineinu - August/September/October/November 2018

Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Beineinu Elul | Tishrei | Cheshvan 5778 - 5779 August 27 - November 8, 2018

High Holiday Issue

table of contents From the president, by mark cohen | pg. 2

From the rabbi, by laurence rosenthal | pg. 2 - 3 from the rabbi, by neil sandler | pg. 4 from the executive director, by barry herman | pg. 5 - 6 announcements | pg. 7 - 9

Babies | pg. 7

b'nai mitzvah | pg. 7

engagements | pg. 7

weddings | pg. 8

new to shul | pg. 8

yasher koach | pg. 8

in memoriam | pg. 9

Jews in the pews in the news | pg. 10 sisterhood | pg. 11 5779 High holidays | pg. 13 - 19

A New beginning for your 5779 High Holiday Journey | pg. 13 - 14

holiday schedule | pg. 15 - 16

additional information | pg. 16 - 17

Set your intention | pg. 17 - 18

A guide for the perplexed, by rabbi rosenthal | pg. 18 - 19

education and cultural arts | pg. 20 - 25

home beis@AA | pg. 20 - 22

concert series news | pg. 25

ahava elc | pg. 23 - 24

Social Action | pg. 26

AA acts, greening group, operation isaiah

Capital Campaign News | pg. 27 - 28

Thank you to our donors

events and volunteering | pg. 29 - 30 1 • Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan

From the president

F

irst and foremost, I want to wish everyone in the congregation a Shana Tova as we approach a new year.

There are lots of wonderful, inspiring things happening here at the AA. You will feel it in the air. It is the beginning of new beginnings. Some of what you’ll see this year:

Mark Cohen

• Transitioning of generational rabbinic leadership • Laying the foundations for financial stability • Adopting a new strategic plan • Engaging our congregants in meaningful and purposeful ways • Meeting with capital campaign donors to share the plans for the campaign moving forward • Planning a completely new High Holiday service like you’ve never had before

make new ones as we experience the new year together.

We want each and every one of you to experience this energizing shift in our congregation. We can use your help and would love to have you join us. Please come - especially during the holidays with an open mind, open heart and be ready to enjoy our time together.

May the new year be a time of reflection and re-assertion of focus on matters of importance in your life. It is my hope during this High Holiday season that you will connect with old friends and

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and sweet new year.

From the Rabbi

Lastly and most importantly, I wish to thank the officers, board, strategic task force members, professional staff and our rabbis, for without their dedication and thoughtful involvement none of this can happen.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone during the High Holidays and within the community this year.

who do you serve?

rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

I

t’s hard to get into the right frame of mind when it comes to the holiday of Rosh Hashanah. Most of the other holidays have a story that help us to ground and center our minds on one or more of the larger themes associated with the holiday: Yom Kippur – repentance and forgiveness; Passover – freedom; Sukkot – gratitude and abundance. Rosh Hashanah’s larger message, however, is more difficult to pinpoint.

Of course, we could say it is the new year. Ok, so what? Great. Another year has passed. One more candle on my birthday cake. One more ache or pain in my body. It’s the new year - so what?

Of course, it could be a holiday about beginning again. However, the meaning

in new beginnings is made frivolous for many of us with the Gregorian new year that shares a similar theme, and we all know how well that turns out!

Fitness clubs and diet centers are always filled for the first few weeks of that new year only to diminish to the normal numbers once the buzz of the resolution has worn off. If new beginnings or new year’s resolutions aren’t to be the meaning of Rosh Hashanah, then where can we find its purpose? How about we look in the instruction manual… aka, the machzor?

Without a doubt, the High Holiday prayer book (‫ )מחזור‬is the most complicated text. I always feel horrible that we toss this complicated anthology of

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prayers, readings and piyyutim into the hands of somebody unaccustomed to Jewish prayer and basically say, "Here you go, now go find something meaningful!" It’s almost cruel. The complicated nature of the book is tied up in the complicated nature of three special days - The Days of Awe. But unlike Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) at least projects its meaning through the title. If Rosh Hashanah isn’t about new year resolutions and new beginnings, then what is it about?

The first clue comes very early in the service. One must be an early riser to catch this first inkling. In the first section of the morning worship, called Pesukei D'zimra (literally, 'verses of praise'), there is a transitional point where the person who started the service will give over the reading podium to a new person who will work through the official morning service (around 8:25 am). This passing of the baton isn’t specific to the High Holidays. We do this on Shabbat morning and on holidays, although the exact location of this switch differs between Shabbat and holidays, such as Passover or Sukkot. To make it even more complicated, this special switching point changes again from Shabbat and holidays on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with, yet, another new point of change designated for the "changing of the guard."

The word where the change happens is HaMelech, the King. In fact, the Machzor not only changes the place of transition but changes a letter in the sentence, changing the meaning significantly. On Shabbat, the line reads, "The King, the one who sits on a throne exalted and raised high." As if to say, God, to whom we are offering praise and reverence, is the one that we know sometimes sits on a throne way up high. The line isn’t telling us if God is sitting on the throne at this very moment. It only tells us that if God were to sit… that throne is where God would sit.

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, a single letter is dropped which changes the meaning to "The King who is sitting on a throne exalted and raised high." As if to say that God is right now sitting on that throne we have been talking about

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all year long.

Why make this change? It is so small and made so early in the service and would require a comparative reading of the weekly, year-round prayer book against the Machzor; thus, very few people would ever catch it. Yet, in truth, this small but powerful change fits the meaning and the objective of the day.

All year round, we pray and connect with the God whom we know to be the one who sits up high on a throne of judgement, compassion, majesty and grace. However, on this day, we are coming together to help enthrone God on that chair, high and exalted. This is what Rosh Hashanah is all about. It isn’t a day of new beginnings; rather, it is an enthronement ceremony where we shed all the beings, habits, vices and unnecessary commitments that we have allowed to rule over us throughout the year, and we enthrone the one, true King, HaKadosh Barachu (The Holy One, Blessed be He) over us. This is what Rosh Hashanah is about. Think about it: We have trumpets blaring (Shofarot) and pageantry. It’s like something you might see in a movie about the kings of the middle ages. Later in the service we will sing piyyutim (medieval poetry) like, "Adonai Melech, Adonai Malach, Adonai Yimloch, l’olam va-ed" – "The Lord is King, the Lord was King, the Lord shall be King forever." There are more changes and additions to the prayer service that I can showcase, but I think I have made my point.

Rosh Hashanah is about enthronement.

What rules you? This is a challenging question that all human beings have grappled with throughout time. If it’s not others more powerful than us, than it’s usually something to which we have willingly given our free will. Maybe it’s someone in an unhealthy power dynamic with us? Maybe it’s our selfishness or arrogance? Maybe it’s our anger or self-loathing? What takes control and inhibits you from being the best you can be? Maybe I was wrong; maybe Rosh Hashanah is about new beginnings. But, the first step is to enthrone above you the One who thought so highly of you and your purpose on Earth that He (lack of a better pronoun) saw it worthy to

support the ground beneath your feet and to give you the ability to thrive.

This is what we are walking into synagogue on Rosh Hashannah to do. It's time to appoint a better King over us and place God on that throne, high and exalted. It’s a bit of heavy lifting, but we can do it… if we do it together.

From the Rabbi

rabbi neil sandler

But even if one never reflects on such things and acts accordingly in response, this time of year practically forces one to review and reflect – what is different now than at this time last year…Have I changed and, if so, have I changed in good ways or otherwise…Who is NOT here this year to celebrate with my loved ones and me?

A

story is told about a woman who had a beautiful old tree in her yard.

Alas, a storm came along and demolished the tree. The woman called her insurance agent. When he came to see her, she took him to see the remains of the majestic old tree in front of her house. There, she bitterly cried that its limbs and trunk had been destroyed by the storm, and she wanted the insurance company to make it whole again.

After a brief silence, the agent said, "Cut it down, ma’am, and forget it."

At first glance, the insurance agent in this story seems a bit callous. His response was certainly lacking in empathy and any understanding of the woman’s distress, but he knew something she did not recognize. The insurance agent knew that if the woman continued to focus only on what she had lost with the destruction of the tree, she would never be able to remember the gifts the tree had given her for many years.

This time period prior to the High Holidays and during the holidays themselves is a time for reflection. Our tradition tells us that, of course. It urges us to think about our actions, how we have interacted with people and to make amends, as necessary. It urges us to examine our relationship with God and make amends there too.

Many of you reading this column are of an age where loss has become a way of life…loss of abilities you previously had, compromised health perhaps and the deaths of loved ones and friends.

For others who are younger, loss is likely not yet a way of life. Nonetheless, perhaps in subtle ways and perhaps in not so subtle fashion, you also recognize that you have lost something this year.

When we reflect at this time of year and recognize loss, whatever its nature, how shall we respond? Shall we be like the woman who bemoaned her loss and wanted it, impossibly of course, to be made right? Shall we be like the insurance agent who just wanted his client to recognize her loss and move on?

When we reflect on loss, we have to squarely recognize it and its effects on us. Only then can we face the implications of our loss and what we must do, at times, in its absence. From there, as the insurance agent urged, we can move on from our loss in a healthy manner.

And finally…

As we face the reality of losses, then and only then, can we recognize the beauty of those people, abilities and qualities when they were present; then and only then, can we truly feel and say, "Baruch Atta…" - Thank you, God, for having enabled me to enjoy the blessings of…

I hope that the year of 5778 was filled with blessings for you and your loved ones. If there were moments of loss, I pray that through your healing actions, you are finding the ways to move on while still being able to reflect on your blessings.

Susan joins me in wishing you a year of good health and well-being in 5779!

The most fitting answer is probably, "we should not react like either of them."

Let me be clear. Neither the woman who suffered the loss nor the insurance agent who came out to help her hit precisely the right note in responding to loss. But there is something positive in the responses of both of them that ought to help guide us.

Like the woman, we have to be mindful of what we have lost. She was a bit obsessive in her reaction. But we do have to recognize what we no longer have, rather than deny such loss. Failure to recognize loss and maybe even feel some pain is to lay aside a part of what makes us human. It renders us largely ineffective in responding to the pain of others.

On the other hand, we also have to be like that insurance agent…just not quite as matter-of-fact about loss as he was.

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From the EXeCUTIVE DIRECTOR BARRY HERMAN

approximate $300,000 in operational improvements with expense controls resulting in more than $200,000 of annual savings.

I receive numerous requests to explain exactly how we collect and expend our resources. Therefore, I would like to present the following analysis of the financial year just passed, i.e. July 2017 to June 2018. (See Chart A)

D

ear Friends,

When I was initially approached to return to the AA on an interim basis, the commitment I was asked to make was only for three months to get through the High Holidays. However, once I saw the challenges we faced, I could not turn my back on my AA family.

The same family who played such an important part of my life when I immigrated to the United States from South Africa, and which is endlessly good to my family and to me. After an absence of nearly four years, my return was seamless. The welcome and encouragement I received from the community was overwhelming and humbling.

Truth is, after nearly a year, it fits like a glove.

While so much happened in this past year's time, I want to take this opportunity to focus specifically on the financial aspect. Despite the initial budgeted deficit of $145,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, it is with great satisfaction that I am able to report an anticipated deficit of approximately $50,000. To put these accomplishments into perspective: Our operating loss for the previous fiscal year was more than $350,000. Thus, we achieved an

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As you can see, unallocated revenue represents nearly 71% of revenues collected. Dues, security fees, and fundraising (Chai program, fundraisers, etc). make up the bulk of unallocated revenue. Here is how this looks as a percentage of total revenues for the year just passed. (See Table A) This is how our expenses broke down (See Chart B), and here are some key expense indicators. (See Table B) As can be seen, salaries represent approximately half of our fixed costs. If you add in the expense of maintaining our facility (mostly fixed costs), as well as the cost of Kiddush and the High Holidays, at least 85% of our expenses are not discretionary.

Now I want to focus on our current financial year. In conjunction with the diligent work of our new officers and synagogue staff, we are pleased to present a balanced budget. However, achieving financial success going forward cannot be accomplished solely via expense control. We will require incremental revenues. Thus, we need your help.

Together with our Rabbis, our new officer corps and board present to you a myriad of exciting new initiatives.

In addition to these initiatives, the congregation helps keep the budget balanced by making sure to pay dues and other obligations in a timely manner.

Synagogue membership, like the story of the half-shekel given by every Jew to the upkeep of the Tabernacle in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, is an obligation for anyone who values Jewish communal life. The synagogue is open 365 days a year and is here, not only to provide three services per day, but to be there for you in times of need - God forbid, bereavement - and of course, to celebrate simchas, graduations, births, and more with you and your families.

The synagogue is not a charity, but a community.

As a sign of my personal commitment and to demonstrate that deeds speak louder than words, Heidi and I are personally donating $10,000 to the Chai campaign for this financial year. Our support of the synagogue comes from the belief that it is important to us to have a religious institution to which we belong and which we can attend.

I am personally appealing to one and all to participate in the upcoming Chai annual giving campaign, and indeed to stretch beyond what you would normally do.

I am excited and honored to once again serve our community, and I look forward to playing a part in ensuring the next 130 years.

The best is yet to come!

With much love, Barry

Chart A

Item

Amount

% of Total Revenue

Dues

$1,046,156

44.9%

Chai and Fundraising

$147,000

6.3%

Security Fee

$113,171

4.9%

Total

$1,306,327

56%

Table A

Chart B

Item

Values

Table B

Salary Breakdown Formal and Informal Education (including teachers)

$120,560

Administration

$442,522

Facilities

$183,605

Religious (including service leaders)

$460,892

Kiddush Costs

$85,000

High Holiday Expenses (excluding salaries)

$80,000

Total

$1,207,579

Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan • 6

announcements babIes

dylan kooby

Heskel ben David v' Bhatia

mazal tov to the loved ones of the newest additions to our Jewish community!

Elon Jeremiah Garber born July 7

Parents: Adam Garber and Sara Landis Grandparents: Marianne and Stephen Garber; Dana (z"l) and Dave Landis

b'nai mitzvah

Dylan celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, August 25.

Dylan is the son of Beth and David Kooby and grandson of Dora Kooby and Linda McNally.

For his Mitzvah Project, Dylan volunteered at the Atlanta Community Food Bank, as he feels passionate about helping people who are less fortunate.

Mazal Tov, Dylan!

engagements mazal tov to the newly engaged couples and their loved ones!

mazal tov to our young members and their loved ones on this milestone!

aidan james capes Aharon Ben Adam V'Rachel

Aidan celebrated his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, August 18.

Aidan is the son of Rachelle and Adam Capes and grandson of Susan and Leon Gross and Judy and David Capes. For his Mitzvah Project, Aidan raised money for the Camp Nebagamon Scholorship Fund to help send more kids to his favorite summer place. Mazal Tov, Aidan!

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Yoel Habif & Danielle Warner

Yoel Habif and Danielle (Dani) Warner are excited to announce their engagement. Yoel is the son of Sharon and Lenny Habif and grandson of Sherry Habif. He is also the brother of Miriam Habif. Dani is the daughter of Alan and Mariette Warner of Englewood, NJ. Yoel and Dani met while they were both studying and living in Israel. Yoel currently works in the real estate industry in New York, running a leasing office on the Upper West Side, and Dani recently graduated from AHE with a degree in Homeopathy. They will get married in New York later this year. Mazal Tov, Yoel and Dani!

weddings

Yasher Koach

Jacob Balaban & Jenna Schwack

Joe Alterman

mazal tov to the newly married couples and their loved ones!

Jacob Balaban and Jenna Schwack were married on August 5 in Weston, FL at Congregation B'nai Aviv. Jacob is the son of Lynne and Michael Balaban of Plantation, FL and grandson of Judy and Joe Balaban. Jenna is the daughter of Susan Hauser of Brywn Mar, PA. Jacob and Jenna met shortly after graduating high school in 2012 while working at Ramah Day Camp in Elkins Park, PA. Jenna was working as a counselor, and Jacob was working as the assistant to the program directors. Jacob is currently an Assistant Manager at the Marriott Hotel in Baltimore Harbor, and Jenna is entering her senior year at the University of Maryland School of Law. Mazal Tov Jacob and Jenna!

new to shul our warmest welcome to the new members of our community!

Andrea Baron Linda Baron Roberta and Murray Berger Jessica and Benjamin Ezrine Jennifer and Josh Goodhart amanda and adam Hirsch Holly and Jonathan Katz Chad and Samantha Lennon Alan and Angela Parnes Taylor and Bethany Smith Aubrey and Jed Wasilewsky

yasher koach to our congregants celebrating simchas and achievements!

for being announced as the new Director of the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival!

Sue Winner

on becoming the President of the Sandy Springs Society for its 30th Anniversary Year!

AA ACTS

for filling more than 200 backpacks for the GA Cares Project!

(See more on pg. 26)

Roslyn Konter and Rina Wolfe

for being inducted into the Susan G. Komen Lifetime Commitment Circle for raising more than $1.3M through their 3-day walk team, Angels 4 Angels! (See more on pg. 10)

Jerry Finkelstein z"l

for being awarded the Isaac Goodfriend Award in honor of his lifetime of selfless devotion the Synagogue! Right before press time, Jerry Finkelstein passed away. We are so saddened by the loss of this extraordinary member of our community. May his memory be a blessing.

Shelly Dollar and Barry Fields for being awarded AA's Marvin C. Goldstein and Rita Goldstein Wolfson Volunteer of the Year Award!

Mona Diamond

for being awarded the Distinguished Friends of Turkey Award in New York City by TURKOFAMERICA Magazine! This award honors individuals who have helped to foster TurkishAmerican relations in business, politics, art, media, literature, education, entertainment, government, public service and science fields.

Bobbie Knopf

for being awarded the Tommy Nobis Center Lifetime Achievement Award. The Tommy Nobis Center is based in Atlanta and has worked for over 40 years across 19 states to provide education, training and support to those with barriers to employment.

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In Memoriam

Hamkom Yeenachem... May God comfort the loved ones of...

Cheryl Goldberg Andrews Sister of Judy Garber

David Benda

Father of Gerald Benda Father-in-law of Faith Benda

Jerome Berman Brother of Hazel Karp

Margie Greenberg Morton Grosswald Father of Steven Grosswald

Alfred Haber Father of Mark Haber

B. Milton Jacobson Husband of Arlene Jacobson

Laura Gold Lawrence Sister of Lawrence Gold

Kopel Lerer Father of Tally Plavin

Zalman Mebel Father of Lev Mebel

Sarah Shaffer Frank Spiegel Father of Liz Goldstein

Howard Stein Husband of Irene Stein Brother of Allen Stein

along with the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem 9 • Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan

Jews in the pews in the news Rina Wolfe & Roslyn Konter Lead Extraordinary Effort in Fundraising for a Cure

T

he Susan G. Komen 3-Day® Lifetime Commitment Circle proudly honors teams that have raised $1,000,000 or more in their lifetime with the 3-Day. The following levels will be displayed at Komen headquarters in Dallas, TX: • Courage = $1,000,000 • Impact = $2,000,000 • Promise = $3,000,000+ The co-captains of one of these extraordinary teams, Angels 4 Angels, are Ahavath Achim Synagogue members, Rina Wolfe and Roslyn Konter. The founders of the team, Angels 4 Angels, started their team’s journey in memory of three friends who passed away from breast cancer before the age of 50. The 4 in Angels 4 Angels is for their fourth angel: others they have lost and countless numbers of friends who are survivors and thrivers.

The Susan G. Komen 3-Day® is a 60mile walk for women and men who are ready to end breast cancer forever.

Participants raise a minimum of $2,300 and walk an average of 20 miles a day for three consecutive days, educating tens of thousands of people about breast health and raising funds to help support breast cancer research and community outreach programs. (ww5.komen.org/GetInvolved/ SusanGKomen3DayFortheCure.html) When Rina received the phone call inviting her to attend this exclusive event at Komen headquarters in Dallas honoring the newest members of Susan G. Komen‘s Lifetime Commitment Circle, she was excited, proud and humbled. She immediately insisted that this honor was hers to share, and in order to attend the celebration, her co-captain, Roslyn Konter, needed to be by her side – as she had been for 12 years (and counting!) of 3-day walks with the Angels 4 Angels team.

"The feeling of being at the table with the doctors and researchers and scientists who are finding the cure was indescribable. We really couldn’t believe we were there," said Rina. The team’s name, Angels 4 Angels, was inscribed into a permanent mural at Komen headquarters along with 33 other top fundraisers. Together, through the 3-day walk, they’ve collectively raised more than $34 million!

In the first five years of their team, Angels 4 Angels raised more than $1 million. To date, they’ve raised more than $1.4 million, and their dedication is never-ending. Together with "angels" from cities all over, they are committed to finding a cure. This year, Angels 4 Angels will be conquering the 3-day walks in both Atlanta (October 12-14, 2018) and San Diego (November 16-18, 2018).

"We are honored to have the opportunity to recognize Roslyn Konter and Rina Wolfe among the top 3-Day fundraisers. They have worked tirelessly to advocate on behalf of Susan G. Komen and the 3-Day walk," said Paula Schneider, Susan G. Komen CEO. "All of these participants have raised millions of dollars towards saving lives and ultimately ending breast cancer forever; they have shown that they are truly more than pink. Thanks to these individuals, we are making progress toward reducing the current number of breast cancer deaths by half in the U.S. by 2026 and, for that, we can never thank them enough" (Komen Press Release on Lifetime Commitment Circle inductees).

If you are interested in participating with Rina and Roslyn’s Angels 4 Angels 3-day team, email rinawolfe10@ gmail.com. If you are interested in donating to Angels 4 Angels, visit bit.ly/Angels4Angels. In addition to the 3-day walk, Rina chairs the AA Sisterhood’s annual Worship In Pink Shabbat honoring all of those that fought and are fighting (themselves or alongside others) cancer battles. This year, Worship In Pink will take place on Saturday, October 6. If you would like to be involved, please reach out to Rina at rinawolfe10@gmail.com. We hope to share in this meaningful Shabbat with all of you.

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sisterhood from the presidents

It is hard to believe that the High Holidays are just around the corner! It almost seems as if the summer just started, with planning for Sisterhood 2018-2019 year underway. We are very excited about the coming year of education, community service and just plain fun programming. The programming is all due to the outstanding leadership team that is the Sisterhood board. The smart and enthusiastic women on the board are already busy creating innovative programs that will involve more women and impact our entire congregational community. And, of course, Sisterhood’s excellent regular programming, Book Club, Rosh Chodesh and Latte and Learn, will continue to gather like-minded women and friends. Come and say hello to us. We look forward to meeting you all and listening to your thoughts and ideas. Thank you for your support and confidence in us, and here’s to a wonderful new year!

Naomi's Book Club Monday, September 17 & October 8 @ 10:15 am

Join Sisterhood one Monday each the month for a lively book discussion. September’s book is The Nazi Officer’s Wife

by Elizabeth Hahn Beer (with Susan Dworkin), and the discussion will be led by Rina Wolfe. October’s book is Beneath A Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan, and the discussion will be led by Lynne Greenfield. For more information, contact Madeleine Gimbel at 404.355.7711.

Naomi’s Book Club "Bookies" gathered for their summer discussion.

They would love for you to join them!

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Annual Meeting & Board Installation

On Sunday, July 1, Sisterhood gathered to celebrate a successful year and honor its leadership. At the meeting, Madeleine Gimbel, our representative on the national Torah Fund board and the WLCJ regional board, presented our Sisterhood with two awards: one for excellence in our Torah Fund campaign (a big thank you to Shari Neumann and Glenna Hornstein!) and another for being a part for the national Women’s League for Conservative Judaism for 60 years! We were proud to continue the AA Sisterhood’s legacy by installing the new board. We are deeply grateful to synagogue board officers, Stacy Fialkow and Betty Sunshine for conducting the installation with style! They helped us honor and thank the outgoing board members as well as charge the incoming members with the responsibility of community leadership.

The 2018-2019 Sisterhood Board: Co-Presidents: Debra Elovich and Judy Marx VPs of Programming: Shelly Dollar and Barbara Ribner VPs of Donor Fundraising: Betty Behr and Jennifer Rosenfeld VPs of Donor Event: Beth Friedman and Lori Harber VPs of Membership: Alyson Lapes and Debra Siegel VPs of Torah Fund: Francis Galishoff and Shari Neumann Z’havah Co-Presidents: Allison Feldman and Rachael Joseph Corresponding Secretaries: Janet Kupshik and Vickie Reisman Treasurer: Laura Nelson Financial Secretary: Patsy Little Recording Secretary: Leigh Boros Parliamentarians: Susan Berkowitz and Brenda Silverman

On left: Madeleine Gimbel presented a certificate to AA Sisterhood presidents, Judy Marx and Debra Elovich. On right: Along with saying "Job Well Done!" to Shari Neumann and Glenna Hornstein, we wished Glenna good luck as she leaves Atlanta for Florida, with Madeleine Gimbel.

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5779 High A New beginning for your

In the book of Exodus, the Torah describes the Israelites’ time in the desert as one of spiritual inten-sity with the presence of God all around us. We wandered for many years in a formation around the Ohel Moed, the Tent of Meeting, searching for our home. However, as part of God's plans from the very beginning, the wandering would eventually end at an arrival - a time when we would journey across the Jordan River and create a home, as a united nation, in the land God promised in his covenant with Abraham.

This Rosh Hashanah both communities will recognize the spiritual High Holidays they have grown accustomed to while also experiencing something new, something different, something wonderful. This Rosh Hashanah we’re hoping to lead all of you in an experience that ignites your energy, activates your passion and awakens your soul. This Rosh Hashanah we are ready to take our first steps to move off the river’s edge and to cross into the Promise Land. This Rosh Hashanah we will come together as one community in celebration of the year 5779.

In some ways, our Ahavath Achim community has been wandering as well. We are distinct individuals who gravitate to one or more of the spiritual offerings that our congregation provides. For the past 9 years, a growing portion of individuals in our congregation have migrated into the tent for an alternative High Holiday experience amidst the natural elements of the earth to open their souls to a different kind of tradition.

Others continued, amidst the historic familiarity of our grand sanctuary, to enjoy prayer imbued with tradition, pageantry and solemnity.

On the top of your High Holiday ticket, you’ll notice a portion of the ticket with a perforated edge asking for your wish for 5779. Please write in your wish and be sure to bring it with you to the synagogue.

From 8:00 am - 10:00 am, we will worship in a unifying and traditional P'sukei D'zimra, Shacharit and Torah service in Ellman Chapel.

h Holidays 5779 High Holiday Journey From 9:00 am - 10:00 am, for those wanting a little nosh or just arriving to the synagogue, we invite you to A Sweet New Year - our light bites, coffee and community experience in Srochi Hall. Place your wish from your High Holiday ticket in the "Kotel," connect with friends new and old, and take a few minutes to relax and feel the essence of the holiday in the air.

Then, beginning at 10:00 am, in the spirit of renewing our vows to God, we will join together from Ellman Chapel and Srochi Hall to carry the Torahs in a joyous processional from the chapel into the lobby, through the foyer, and then - together - we will all enter into our main sanctuary where we will gather, united, as one community.

We will participate together in a service about us, the people in the pews, hoping to invoke our relationship with God. Through interactive song, an orchestra of shofars and the Musaf service, we will continue our journey within our spiritual home. We will be reminded of how wide our congregation spans and how diverse our vantage points, age ranges, and experiences are -

yet marvel at how we are all bound together by choosing to be a part of Ahavath Achim Synagogue.

In the spirit of new beginnings and a new year, with great intention and mindfulness, this High Holiday season we invite you to navigate this next, new step in our transformational journey. We are confident that together we can create a fusion of both the old and the new to build a bridge from the past into our future.

We look forward to lifting our voices and souls together.

Shana Tova Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Rabbi Neil Sandler Mark Cohen, President

Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan • 14

Service Schedule

Child and Teen Programming ends 30 minutes after services end, unless otherwise specified.

EREV ROSH HASHANAH - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Mincha/Ma’ariv Service

1ST DAY ROSH HASHANAH - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 Ellman Chapel

8:00 am

P’sukei D’zimra | Shacharit | Torah Service

Srochi

9:00 am

A Sweet New Year - Light Bites and Coffee

10:00 am

Torah Processional

Sanctuary

10:15 am

Shofar Service | Musaf Service | Sermon

Front Lawn

Following Sanctuary Service

Tashlich

Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Mincha/Ma'ariv Service

Ahava

8:45 am

Childcare (ages 8 weeks - 36 months)

Ahava and Fishman

10:00 am

Children's Programming (ages 3 yrs - 5th grade)

Fishman

10:00 am

Chai Holidays with Kadima (6th - 8th grade)

Youth Lounge

12:00 pm

Chai Holidays with USY (9th - 12th grade)

Child/Teen Programming

2ND DAY ROSH HASHANAH - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Ellman Chapel

8:00 am

P’sukei D’zimra | Shacharit | Torah Service

Sanctuary

10:00 am

Shofar Service | Musaf Service | Sermon

Paradies

10:00 am

Second Day Chanting Service

Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Mincha/Ma'ariv Service

Ahava

8:45 am

Childcare (ages 8 weeks - 36 months)

Ahava and Fishman

10:00 am

Children's Programming (ages 3 yrs - 5th grade)

Fishman

10:00 am

Chai Holidays with Kadima (6th - 8th grade)

Youth Lounge

12:00 pm

Chai Holidays with USY (9th - 12th grade)

Child/Teen Programming

KOL NIDRE - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 Memorial Garden

5:30 pm

Kapporos

Paradies

6:45 pm

Mincha Service

Ellman Chapel

6:45 - 8:00 pm

Kol HaMishpacha Family Service

Sanctuary

7:15 pm

Kol Nidre Service

Ahava

6:30 pm

Childcare (ages 8 weeks - 36 months)

Library

7:15 pm

Kol Chadash Service (6th - 12th grade)

Child/Teen Programming

YOM KIPPUR - WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 Ellman Chapel

8:00 am

P’sukei D’zimra | Shacharit | Torah Service

10:15 am

Torah Processional

Sanctuary

10:30 am

Musaf Service

Sanctuary

12:30 pm

Sermon | Yizkor Service

Paradies

2:15 pm

Yom Kippur Study Hall - Yom Kippur Tales by Sholem Aleichem, Franz Kafka, and Ida Fink

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Srochi

3:30 pm

Yom Kippur Forum - Do Synagogues Matter in the New Jewish World?

Paradies

4:30 pm

Afternoon Chant and Drum Circle

Sanctuary

5:00 pm

Mincha Service

Sanctuary

6:15 pm

Ask the Rabbi

Sanctuary

6:45 pm

Neilah Service

Sanctuary

8:02 pm

Shofar to End Fast

Ahava

8:45 am

Childcare (ages 8 weeks - 36 months)

Ahava

2:00 pm - Havdallah

Childcare (all ages)

Ahava

10:00 am

Children's Programming (ages 3 yrs - 5th grade)

Fishman

10:00 am

Chai Holidays with Kadima (6th - 8th grade)

Youth Lounge

12:30 pm

Chai Holidays with USY (9th - 12th grade)

Child/Teen Programming

EREV SUKKOT - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 Sukkah

6:00 - 6:40 pm

Family Sukkot Service (Mincha/Ma'ariv)

Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Evening Minyan

1ST DAY SUKKOT - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 Ellman Chapel

9:00 am

Sukkot Service (followed by Kiddush in Sukkah)

Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Evening Minyan

2ND DAY SUKKOT - TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 Ellman Chapel

9:00 am

Sukkot Service (followed by Kiddush in Sukkah)

Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Evening Minyan

EREV SHEMINI ATZERET - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Evening Minyan

SHEMINI ATZERET - MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 Ellman Chapel

9:00 am

Shemini Atzeret Service | Yizkor Service

SIMCHAT TORAH - MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2 Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Evening Minyan

Ellman Chapel

9:00 am

Simchat Torah Service

Ellman Chapel

9:45 am

Family Simchat Torah Celebration

Ellman Chapel

6:00 pm

Evening Minyan

6:15 pm

Childcare (ages 8 weeks - 5 years)

Child/Teen Programming Ahava

tickets All members of Ahavath Achim Synagogue in good standing receive High Holiday tickets as part of their membership. Meaning, members who are up to date with their financial obligations through fiscal year 2017 and have paid at least 50% of dues for fiscal year 2018 are eligible to receive tickets. Please contact Barry Herman at 404.603.5750 or bherman@aasynagogue.org if you require special consideration. Tickets will be mailed to members in good standing unitl two weeks prior to Rosh Hashanah.

If you do not receive your ticket in the mail before the High Holidays, please plan to pick it up at the Help Desk on the day of services. Tickets are bound to a specific name, and they are not transferrable. All current college students, active members of the military, and Atlanta Jewish professionals are welcome to attend High Holiday services at our Synagogue free of charge, but you are still required to register online at aasynagogue.org/high-holidays-5779. College students and active members of the military will need to show their IDs at the Help Desk upon arrival. Non-members can purchase non-member ticket(s) on the AA website at aasynagogue.org/high-holidays-5779.

Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan • 16

A sweet New Help Desk Year - Light Bites & Coffee child/teen programming Parking On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, we invite everyone - those in attendance in need of a little nosh or those just arriving to the synagogue - to enjoy a light bite, coffee, and community in Srochi Hall between 9 – 10 am. Take a few minutes to relax and transition into the spirit of the holiday. The Torah Processional begins 10 am, so make sure to arrive on time!

If you are in need of handicapped parking, please contact Fern Schorr at 404.355.5222 or fschorr@aasynagogue.org.

If you are an able-driver traveling with a guest who needs assistance, please drop him/her off at the Synagogue entrance in the upper lot, and park your car in the lower lot (on the corner of Northside Drive and Peachtree Battle Avenue) or in available street parking. At the end of services, you will be able to return to the upper lot to pick up your guest. Nonhandicapped parking spaces in the upper lot are limited and available on a first-come first-serve basis.

security

If you leave the building, please take your ticket with you for re-admittance. No guns or weapons will be allowed on the premises. Please be patient and cooperative with our security officers and ushers. It is their goal to ensure your safety and the well-being of all our members and guests.

seating & ambulatory needs

There will be a section of chairs reserved for those with ambulatory needs and their caretakers. Please be advised that, although we don’t have wheelchairs available for your use, we will be happy to assist you with removing your wheelchair from your car at curbside upon arrival. Ushers will assist you with your wheelchair inside the sanctuary.

17 • Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan

The Help Desk will be located in Cohen Pavilion upon entrance into the building. Volunteers will be available to assist you if you have forgotten or misplaced your ticket.

Please keep in mind that some of our community volunteers may not know you but are happy to assist you and your family. If you are picking up new or replacement tickets, please allow an extra few minutes at the Help Desk.

We are looking forward to ushering in the New Year with you and your family! Even if you’re not registering your children for children’s programming, we want you and your family to have a joyous holiday and welcome you to bring your children to the regular holiday services. Special services for your child(ren)/teen(s): • Kol Chadash Service: All teens are invited to join us for this special service that will run parallel to the main Kol Nidre service. The name Kol Chadash literally means "everything new" and connects directly to the feeling of a clean slate that we experience after Kol Nidre and as we head into the Yom Kippur fast. We hope to see all teens there!

• Kol HaMishpacha Family Service: When transliterated, Kol HaMishpacha has two possible meanings: "Voice of the Family" and "All of the Family." These two meanings sum up the dynamic we hope to create with this Kol Nidre alternative service for families with children ages 3-12. The whole family will have the opportunity to sing, mingle, reflect on the past year, and talk about hopes for the year to come.

For pricing information or to reserve a spot for child/teen programming, visit the AA website at aasynagogue.org/highholidays-5779.

set your intention

a pre-holiday service announcement from rabbi rosenthal

It isn’t uncommon for people to set an intention before entering into a special situation. Sports teams have a huddle.

Before a stressful job interview, there are usually people in the bathroom talking to themselves in the mirror. Before a yoga class it isn’t uncommon for the instructor to ask the

yogis in the room to set an intention for the hour or so on their mat. What these folks know is that attitude can make all the difference. So before stepping into the synagogue for the High Holidays, set your intention. In Hebrew, we call it kavanah.

What is your kavanah? Don’t miss this step. The High Holidays are meant to be transformative. It’s easy to say that the service was boring, the rabbis didn’t deliver a good sermon, the room is dated and ugly, which are the reasons that the High Holidays weren’t transformative. All those things might be true, but they're just excuses, shifting the actual work of transformation outside of yourself and into the hands of others. We all know that the only person who can change you is you! Set an intention!

Come into your space on the High Holidays with a mindset that is worthy of your life’s purpose and the depth of your soul. It’s game time. Let’s make sure we all show up ready to play….and playing to win!

AA Guide guide for the Perplexed to the Machzor and Structure of the Prayer Service rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

E

ach and every year I struggle with the High Holiday prayer service. The Machzor is a bit impenetrable as it takes the basic structure of a normal service throughout the year – weekday, Shabbat or holiday – and bulks it up until it’s almost unrecognizable. For somebody who is a prayer practitioner, I know how difficult it is to gain meaning from this complicated text. I can only imagine how it is more so for somebody who might not pray from a Jewish prayer book very often. With that in mind, I offer the description below with the hope that you might understand the structure and flow of the service. It is my hope, with this knowledge in hand, that whenever you enter into prayer on these High Holidays, you can settle in and find your own meaning and purpose through the words, songs and meditations being offered (All page numbers are from AA’s High Holiday Machzor, Machzor Hadash: The New Machzor; Pub. Media Judaica).

special relationship with God and the people Israel. PDZ officially begins on pg. 100 and is a series of Psalms, biblical readings, and sections from our Torah that remind us of our spiritual journey as a people throughout Jewish History.

The entire PDZ is bookended with two blessings – one at the beginning (pg.

100) and one at the end (pg. 135).

Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. We then offer two longer blessings which lead us to the Shema. The first blessing helps us focus on God as the Creator (pg. 145 - 149). The second blessing recalls God through revelation, the Giving of Torah (pg. 150).

The Kaddish All transitions in Jewish prayer are marked by a Kaddish. Although the Mourner’s Kaddish is the most recognizable, there are actually three others that are strategically placed throughout our prayer service. We already experienced the Rabbi’s Kaddish (Kaddish d’Rabanan) and the Mourner’s Kaddish as a transition from Birchot HaShahar and PDZ. Here, we transition from PDZ to the official morning service known at Shacharit with a smaller Kaddish known as Chatzi Kaddish (the Half Kaddish) (pg. 136).

This leads us into the Shema. The Shema isn’t a blessing at all. It is three selections from Torah (Deut. 6:4 - 9; Deut. 11:13 - 21; Num. 15:37 - 41) which is our rabbis’ best attempt at establishing a creed for Judaism. The Shema begins (Deut. 6) by establishing the Jewish imperative of One God. It quickly moves into our obligation to love God and exactly what we must do to show that love.

The verses transition to discuss reward and punishment for fulfilling or failing to keep the commandments (Deut. 11) and then ends with a reminder to keep the commandments and a rationale: because God brought us out of the land of Egypt (Num. 15).

P'sukei D'zimra: 8:00 am - 8:25 am P'sukei D'zimra (PDZ), literally, "Verses of Praise," is very similar to the PDZ we find on Shabbat and holidays. Our prayers actually begin a bit earlier than PDZ with a short section called Birchot HaShachar (morning blessings) where we thank and acknowledge God for the basic human abilities that we have to begin our day. In synagogue, our service begins on pg. 84 with fourteen quick blessings expressing gratitude and then expands to include thanks for our

Shacharit: 8:30 am - 9:15 am Although we have been praying for the last 30 minutes, our previous prayers were really a warm up for what is coming next – our morning service.

This service consists of two main peaks which are separated by blessings helping to frame these two summits. The two apexes of the Shacharit service are the Shema and the Amidah. Leading us into the Shacharit service is the Barchu | Call to Worship (pg. 138) and one special blessing specific for the day – either

Following this first zenith of the Shema, we then move into another blessing, similar to the two earlier ones of Creation and Revelation. However, this last blessing which separates the three Torah paragraphs of the Shema from the Amidah (our second summit) is focused on God as the Redeemer (pg. 158-163).

As mentioned in the Shema, God took us out of bondage in Egypt so God can (and should) be experienced as a God of Redemption as well as Creator and Revealer. This brings us to the Amidah.

Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan • 18

The Amidah is the central prayer moment in any service. For Jewish prayer services to be known as a service, it must include an Amidah. The word Amidah means 'standing' - the posture that we assume when praying the Amidah. It is also known as the Shemoneh Esrei, meaning ‘eighteen’ a recognition to the original weekday structure of the Amidah which is a collection of nineteen short blessings that all together create the Amidah complex.

(Why are there nineteen blessings and not eighteen like the name suggests? That’s an article for a different Beineinu). On Shabbat and holidays, the nineteen-blessing complex that is used during the weekday is reduced to only seven blessings, a naturally holy number for Judaism. The first three and the last three blessings are always the same (although on the High Holidays there are all sorts of additions and extra poems which emphasize the theme of the day), and it is the middle blessing which changes to speak of the importance of the holidays. The Amidah is traditionally offered silently first and then a repetition, recited out loud, is offered by the prayer leader. Because of the variant themes of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, there are different poems and middle blessings of the Amidah which emphasize the meaning and purpose of each day. Therefore, the Amidah for Rosh Hashanah (silent, pg.

36-46; repetition, pg. 164 - 183) and Yom Kippur (silent, pg. 424 - 441; repetition, pg. 496 - 524) are different, which is why we jump all over the Machzor during this part of the service.

The Shacharit service ends with Avinu Malkenu, acknowledging God as our compassionate father and king while running quickly through a litany of requests to lift us up through the adversities in life. We transition out of the Shacharit service with another Kaddish – Kaddish Shalem (the full Kaddish).

Torah Service At this point, we transition out of a prayer posture and into a study posture. It was once thought that when we pray, we are talking to God. When we study, God is talking to us. This is the purpose of the Torah service. The key is discovering the meaning that resonates

19 • Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan

with you. Each of the three days (Rosh Hashanah Day 1, Rosh Hashanah Day 2, and Yom Kippur) has a different section from Torah and Haftara (selection of from the Prophetic literature).

Shofar Service Specific to Rosh Hashanah only, the Shofar service, although its own spiritual section, is embedded into the Torah service. Even though the Torah and the Haftara are completed, the Torah scrolls haven’t been replaced into the ark which begs the question: If the Torah service is God speaking to us (as mentioned above), is the sound of the shofar also speaking to us rather than us offering these sounds to God? If so, then what is God trying to tell us through the sounding of the Shofar? Let’s leave that question unanswered for you to contemplate as you stand at synagogue listening to the sounding of the shofar.

Once the Shofar blasts are complete, we enter back into the Torah service with the processional of the Torah scrolls through the congregation and back into the Ark. Like the transition from previous sections, the Torah service is separated from the Musaf Amidah with a Hatzi Kaddish.

Musaf Service Arguably the most complicated section of the High Holiday experience, the Musaf service is made up of only one thing – The Musaf Amidah. Musaf simply means ‘additional’ and is an additional service which our sages created to replace a special additional holiday offering sacrificed at the Temple in Jerusalem. Because of the majesty and grandeur of the High Holidays, the Musaf Amidah is always the longest and most complicated section of the service.

Usually reserved as the cantorial tourde-force, the Musaf Amidah begins with a special prayer from the Cantor called Hineni (Rosh Hashanah, pg. 279; Yom Kippur, pg. 608) where he will ask God’s forgiveness for any of his shortcomings before he offers prayers on behalf of the community. Like the earlier Amidah, the Musaf Amidah is first offered silently (Rosh Hashanah, pg. 268 - 278; Yom Kippur, pg. 598 -607) and then out loud (Rosh Hashanah, pg. 280 - 337; Yom Kippur, pg. 610 - 661).

Both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

have their special twist on the Amidah which makes them specific for the day.

On Rosh Hashanah, unlike the other holidays throughout the year, the Rosh Hashanah Musaf Amidah has nine blessings that make up the Musaf Amidah complex. The first three and the last three are the same as any Amidah (with some special additions for these High Holidays), but on Rosh Hashanah the Musaf Amidah includes three special central blessings which speak to the essence of this auspicious day – (1) Malhuyot | Sovereignty; (2) Zihronot | Remembrance; (3) Shofarot | Sounding of the Shofar (pg. 301 - 327). On Yom Kippur, although the Amidah follows the more traditional complex of seven blessings, the prayers are bolstered by the addition of liturgy of penitence like the Ashamnu (confessional) and the Al Het (upon the sins) which help us focus on the theme of the day – Tshuva (repentence). Both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Musaf Amidot have other important liturgy, like the Unetaneh Tokef (we proclaim), b’Rosh Hashanah Yikatavun (on Rosh Hashanah it is written), and Alenu (it is upon us).

These sections of prayers that both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur share are emblematic of the High Holiday prayer experience. Everything else in between are piyyutim, mostly written in the Middle Ages, that highlight some of the important themes of that day and is a great place to meditate on the meaning of these prayerful days.

Conclusion of Service Our service ends with a sermon from the Rabbi, a few concluding prayers and announcements. On Yom Kippur, the service extends a bit longer with the addition of Yizkor (the memorial service).

No doubt, each experience is a long morning of prayers. Although it is easy to get lost, knowing where we are going, what comes next and how to engage in each section can only make the experience more palatable and hopefully accessible for deeper introspection, engagement and connection. Regardless of when you show up, we are glad you came and your prayers are precious not just to us, not just to God but also to your own soul. We look forward to feeling your spiritual connection this coming High Holidays.

EDUCATION & Cultural Arts

Home Beis@AA

marc silberstein education director

and abolished autocratic rule and nepotism guiding many decisions.

O

ne of my favorite movies from the 1990’s was Higher Learning which featured stars such as Omar Epps, Ice Cube, Kristy Swanson, Michael Rapaport, and Laurence Fishburne. The film was set on a college campus in the 1990’s, and follows the experiences of different students from different ethnic, social, and political backgrounds.

One undercurrent was looking at the African-American experience in college, and Laurence Fishburne played the role of the idealistic and inspiring college professor. The line that has stood the test of time for me is the simple statement "Knowledge is power," which was a phrase repeatedly used by Thomas Jefferson in his time after serving as president. When we think about it, this line is intrinsically American, as (ideally) we all have the power to elevate ourselves by committing ourselves to learning from other sources and applying that knowledge into our lives. This access to upward mobility was what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they saw the need for public schools

In many ways the Jewish vision of the role of education matches the motif that "Knowledge is power," but this was not always the case from a social or political stance. Originally, the political and social hierarchy began with the Kohanim (priests from the Tribe of Levi) who regulated every facet of religious life for the Jewish people when both the First and Second Temples stood in Jerusalem. The biggest backlash to this social system occurred when the northern kingdom of Israel split from the southern kingdom of Judea after the death of King Solomon. The new kingdom broke from tradition when it allowed sacrifices to be offered outside the Temple, but even then the people officiating over these sacrifices were the Kohanim. Non-priestly Jews did not have the opportunity to take control of their Jewish lives, they had to follow the system that had been passed down to them. As our history ebbed closer to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. by the Roman army, the Kohanic system was burdened by corruption and greed, as the Kohanim focused more on their survival instead of what best served the whole Jewish people. Everything changed after the destruction on the 9th of Av, 70 C.E. In one moment, the center for Jewish economic, social, and spiritual life was taken away. The Jewish leaders of the time, whom we consider some of the earliest rabbis, realized they needed to redefine what it meant to be a Jew. Before the destruction of the Temple, our relationship with God was defined by the proximity the Temple gave us.

After the Temple’s destruction, the Rabbis pointed us to another outlet to connect with our spiritual selves, learning Torah and seeking ways to

apply it to everyday life.

This shift is articulated in a teaching from our favorite Jewish sage, Maimonides. In his opus work, the Mishneh Torah, Maimonides teaches "There are three crowns which are placed on Israel. (1) The crown of the priesthood, which is given to Aaron’s descendants. (2) The crown of royalty, which is given to David’s descendants.

(3) The crown of Torah, which is set aside waiting and ready for each Jew. Whoever wants may come and take it."

Imagine that - a crown that is there for the taking. As a Jew, I don’t need to fight any battles or be born from a specific family. I simply need to want to take the crown of Torah, and all of a sudden I’m crowned. This notion is the ideal manifestation of "Knowledge is power."

Someone is able to empower him or herself as a Jew by investing some time to learn and better im or herself from the inside.

One of our core beliefs is that stronger Jewish literacy helps foster a vibrant Jewish community. Now that the school year has begun, I am beyond excited to see how our programs help create this tantalizing future. The important thing to remember is that knowledge is not something that can be absorbed by passive onlookers. It is something we need to grab a hold of and take ownership for. This is how we can place our whole community under the Crown of Torah. It is not about "who knows the most," it is simply about "who is curious about what’s out there." I look forward to learning with you and all of your children in the coming year, and wish you a year of health, happiness, curiosity, and laughter.

Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan • 20

Chai Youth

Save the dates for our 2018 Chai Youth programs!

Machar (3rd - 5th grade)

Mini Golf, Maximum Fun! - October 14 @ 1:30 pm: Join us as we "hit a few," an entertaining way to relax, have fun, and build camaraderie. Everyone can play! Cost: $10 per person.

Location: The Fringe - 5100 Commerce Parkway, Roswell, GA 30076.

All Fired Up! - November 11 @ 2 pm: Bring out the artist in you as we spend the afternoon painting pottery. Take home a personalized piece of art you can use for Shabbat and holidays at home! Cost: $20 per person. Location: All Fired Up - 1563 North Decatur Road, Atlanta, GA 30307.

Night at the Movies and Lock-in - December 15 - 16 @ 8 pm - 8 am: Join us overnight for a viewing party of this season's hottest films and a lock-in with friends. Cost: $20 per person (half price if you bring a friend). Location: Ahavath Achim Synagogue - 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.

USy (9th - 12th grade) Bring the Heat - September 30 @ 3 pm: Join your USY friends as we visit a glass blowing studio and have the opportunity to create your own work of art. Cost: $25 per person. Location: Atlanta Hot Glass - 178 Laredo Drive, Decatur, GA 30030.

kadima (6th - 8th grade) Small Pins, Big Laughs October 7 @ 1:30 pm: Join us for an afternoon of camaraderie and competition as we play duckpin bowling (a variation of traditional ten pin bowling where the balls and pins are smaller and players get 3 rolls per frame vs. the traditional 2). Cost: $15 per person. Location: The Painted Duck - 976 Brady Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.

Atlanta Rocks! - November 4 @ 1:15 pm: Join Kadima for this unique team building activity.

We will be scaling the walls of Atlanta Rocks! Snacks will be provided. Cost: $20 per person.

Location: Atlanta Rocks! - 1019 Collier Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30318.

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Here Comes the Sun - October 27 - 28 @ 8 pm - 11 am: Spend motzei Shabbat with USY as we spend the night in, hanging out with friends, cooking, eating, talking Jewish and playing board games. Rise early the next day for a beautiful sunrise hike at Sweetwater Creek and a delicious cookout breakfast.

Cost: $36 per person (half price if you bring a friend).

Night on the Ice - November 17 @ 8 pm: Join us motzei Shabbat for Havdallah and a night on the ice. Whether you are a skating novice or a champion skater, this is a great chance to bond with your friends and have some fun! Cost: $15 per person. Location: Canter Ice Arena - 5750 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs, GA 30342

Fondue-nukah! - December 2 @ 6 pm: Celebrate the first night of Chanukah with delicious foods, latkes and cheese and chocolate fondue.

Gamble with your friends as you play a game of dreidel and end the evening with lighting the Chanukah candles. Cost: $12 per person (half off if you bring a friend). Location: Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30327.

conventions

b'nai mitzvah program We have reinvigorated our B'nai Mitzvah program designed for students in 3rd - 6th grade. This experience is the first step in cultivating the feeling of a "cohort" for our children as they progress towards their Bar/Bat Mitzvah and raise the spiritual and intellectual engagement from parents and children for this special occasion.

Each cohort will have the opportunity to engage in a Shabbat dinner together as well as a Shabbat lunch, ending the year with a final grand Shabbat lunch with all cohorts together. Be sure to save the dates: • Shabbat Dinner for 2021 and 2022 Cohorts - October 12 • Shabbat Dinner for 2019 and 2020 Cohorts - November 9 • Date Selection Celebration for 2020 - 2022 Cohorts November 11

Ein Gedi Kadima and USY Fall Convention - October 12 - 14, Marietta, GA: There's nothing like the energy created when like-minded Jewish teens gather to sing, eat, laugh, and celebrate Shabbat. All 6th - 12th graders will have the chance to add to that energy as we join up with other teens from Ein Gedi, our sub-region. This is a great chance to see camp friends and make new friendships as well! More information to come.

International Convention - December 23 - 27, Orlando FL: Each year USYers from all over the country gather for this awesome event. Join thousands of teens for an experience like nothing else you’ve seen!

save the dates

Sparks of Light - Sunday, December 9 @ 5:30 - 7:30 pm: Celebrate Chanukah, the festival of lights, with your AA community! Join us on the 8th night of Chanukah as we light up the night with a glow game room, music, arts and crafts, and food! This event is fun for the whole family.

Consecration - December 15 @ 4:30 pm: Join us as we usher in our new learners with Seudah Shlisheet (third meal) and a Havdallah ceremony.

Presentation by Brendan Murphy on the Ancient Roots of Antisemitism - September 16 @ 12:30 - 2:30 pm

Stay up to date on everything HomeBeis@AA (family and youth programs, Kesher@AA, Chai Youth, and more) on the AA website at aasynagogue.org/HomeBeisAA.

Beineinu • elul | tishrei | cheshvan • 22

AHAVA ELC

BETH ARNOLD Helmey DIRECTOR OF AHAVA ELC

A

t Ahava we believe in project based learning. Using an inquiry-based project approach to learning, teachers plan and observe children at work.

Following are some snapshots from each class illustrating some of the learning that takes place through play. Teachers only begin to plan an intentional project after they have observed and reflected on different threads of interests they see happening in the classroom. The curriculum is driven by the children, and the learning occurs across many domains at once.

Kehillat Shalom: Independence, Communication and Social learning The progression from drinking only milk from a bottle or breast to eating solid foods is a milestone for babies. The teachers in Kehillat Shalom this year observed and recorded this progression with interest and great empathy. They facilitated children’s use of signing to communicate their needs. The children learned that sitting down to eat can be a time for socializing with friends. Children practice their fine motor skills when they hold an eating utensil, and their motor planning skills kick in to help them get the food from the plate to the spoon to their mouth!

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Kehillat Tikvah: Outdoor Play

The outdoors provides toddlers opportunities for exercise and builds their gross motor skills to gain confidence and strength.

Toddlers actively engage in sensory explorations as a primary way to investigate their surroundings and build their knowledge of scientific processes.

Kehillat Simcha: Building Community through a Jewish Lens

Throughout the school year Kehillat Simcha grew and solidified their communal experience through their weekly challah baking and Shabbat practice. By the end of the year, the children were voting on what ingredients to include in the dough they make together. Some of the decisions they made as a community included cutting and mixing in herbs from the garden, and adding chocolate chips, sprinkles, or color. This process allowed children to gain confidence in decision making skills and respect other opinions. Children were invited to contribute to the classroom community by helping to set the table and gather the ritual objects. Seated and ready to eat, the children held hands around the table as they lit the candles and sang the blessings together.

Kehillat Yofi: An ongoing exploration based on the children’s interests…

Teachers observed children at play and planned together how to expand and enrich the play schemas they observed children repeatedly engaged with. Interests in dramatic play and exploring different roles captured the children’s attention.

Through an ongoing investigation using baby dolls as the point of departure, the children: • Were given multiple opportunities to build empathy through play.

• Greatly expanded their capacity to role play.

• Through play, children built fine motor skills and increased vocabulary while caring for the classroom babies • Children became powerful creators of their own narratives

Kehillat Ometz

The teachers in Ometz provided children with structures that allowed them to explore their individual interests though art explorations, sensory play, weekly cooking experiences, and adventures that took them out of the classroom and into unfamiliar environments. The class became a cohesive group interested in literacy and writing as a way to express themselves and create shared narratives.

Kehillat Hagshamah: Purim and the found instrument project…

Children scoured the school for resources and materials. As they explored these materials, they played with the concept of sound and its manipulation. They shared ideas and materials to create their own unique instruments. In doing so, they engaged in higher level thinking skills, and they created noisemakers to celebrate the holiday of Purim.

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Concert Series News Ivan Millender, Cultural arts series chair

T

o all the music lovers and supporters of the AA Cultural Arts Series: It gives me great pleasure to announce two important developments set to expand the scope of our musical programs and to strengthen the Cultural Arts fund’s treasure chest.

The first development is from the daughters of Jerry Berman. Dr. Jerome Berman was an enthusiastic fan of the Ahavath Achim Cultural Arts Series; he regularly attended various programs, and he shared his love for music with his daughters. Knowing how much Jerry valued the concerts, his and Betty’s daughters established a fund to honor their parents through sponsoring one concert per season in the AA Cultural Arts series. We are grateful for this befitting gesture to honor the late Dr. Jerry and Betty Berman. Sally Berman, Dr. Richard Sturm, and I organized a committee to select the appropriate programs to present this sponsorship to all of you.

The second development is from Miriam Strickman-Levitas who graciously donated her seven foot Baldwin concert grand piano to the synagogue. Following the replacement of the hammers and other adjustments, this instrument will live in Srochi Hall. The addition of this beautiful piano saves the expense of moving the Steinway grand piano from Ellman Chapel into other rooms in the building, and simultaneously provides the gift of having two compatible grand pianos of the same size. Being able to offer two grand pianos, that can be placed side-by-side, opens up a wider range of musical programming that would otherwise not be possible – or practical – without the rental of another similar piano. The addition of Miriam’s piano enables our venue, Ahavath Achim, to be locally unique in this regard.

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I scheduled a two-piano recital for March 3rd, 2019 featuring William Ransom and Julie Coucheron. They are playing an all Brahms concert featuring two important works that he composed for two pianos: the Haydn Variations and the famous Opus 34b, which was subsequently re-arranged to become the magnum opus of his chamber music repertoire, the Opus 34 piano quintet.

In addition, Emory tenor Bradley Howard, noted for his fine execution of operatic, solo, and choral works, will sing a selection of songs to round out the program.

Also of note is the upcoming December 2nd concert. The Cultural Arts Series is presenting Einav Yarden, Israeli pianist of international reputation. We are fortunate to be able to schedule her as part of her United States tour.

Ms. Yarden is gifted with supreme musical sophistication in her musical interpretations of the classics. This concert will be a memorable one on our series, to say the least. Program to be later announced.

Please look out for announcements on additional programming for the season.

We will distribute the information as soon as it is finalized.

Social Action AA Acts

AA ACTS really knows how to ACT! Our award-winning volunteer service group takes its mission of providing Action and Awareness to Abolish Child Trafficking for Sex seriously.

At its first summer meeting, our group members (comprised of members from synagogues, churches, and a mosque) learned of a need for back-to-school backpacks for children who have been victims of sex trafficking. It is hard to believe that elementary school-age children have been exploited in such an inhumane way. Georgia Cares, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt corporation, is the single victim service agency serving child sex trafficking and exploitation in the state of Georgia. They identified the need for school supplies, and the members of AA ACTS jumped into action. In a week, money was raised through the generous support of members and the community, supplies were purchased, and 200 backpacks were filled by 20 volunteers. The contents of the backpacks included everything a child could want to start the school year off in the right direction. Seven days after the meeting, volunteers delivered the backpacks to the Georgia Cares headquarters.

These backpacks will be given to children throughout the state. For more information on Georgia Cares, visit their website at www.gacares.org. To get involved in AA ACTS, contact Linda Bressler at 404.372.3136 or Margie Eden at 404.295.6768.

or monitor • Bulbs and Batteries, Sheet Plastic, and Scrap Metal: [light bulbs (including fluorescent tubes up to 8 ft), car and rechargeable batteries, bubble wrap, etc.]; $.50 fee per fluorescent tube Drop-off: Look for the blue bins in the parking lot. Please deposit smaller items in the bins or bag or box them - stack larger items nearby. Money collection envelopes are in the AA and Ahava lobbies at the front desk. Feel free to make a $5 flat donation! Questions? aagreening@gmail.com.

Collections from last spring's recycling event

Operation Isaiah

We need your help in maintaining our leadership role in Operation Isaiah, the Atlanta Jewish Community’s annual High Holiday food drive designed to combat hunger. Every year we partner with the Atlanta Food Bank to collect food and funds for those who struggle with food insecurity. How can you help?

greening group

In an effort to improve our synagogue’s ecological footprint and encourage a "green" state-of-mind among our community, the Greening Group will be collecting hard-to-recycle materials everyday from October 11 to October 14. The materials will be delivered to CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) for proper recycling and disposal. Think before you toss, save these items (listed below), and bring them to AA – we’ll do the rest!

• Paint, Styrofoam, and Household Chemicals: packaging Styrofoam, peanuts (in bags!), pesticides, herbicides, etc.; $2 fee per can of paint • Electronics: TVs, computer monitors, VCRs, small appliances, printer cartridges, electric cords, etc.; $15 fee per TV

1. Purchase food and bring to the synagogue. Collection barrels from the Atlanta Food Bank will be present in the Cohen Pavilion beginning August 30. Please drop food items off at your leisure. The barrels will remain on our campus through Sukkot.

2. Bring grocery bags of food items to the synagogue for the Kol Nidre service or on Yom Kippur Day. The Atlanta Food Bank will have staff available to receive food donations on the evening of Kol Nidre.

3. Make a donation. Every dollar you donate will allow for the purchase of 4 meals. A one-dollar donation will allow for the purchase of $9 in groceries. Every dollar you contribute equates to 5 pounds of food. Two ways to donate: • Write a check to AA Synagogue (place "OI" in the memo section of your check) and mail it to or drop it off at the synagogue.

• Donate online at bit.ly/OperationIsaiah During the food drive, contribute where the need is greatest. Find a list of the most needed food items for 2018 at acfb.org/food-fund-drives.

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capital campaignNews 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 Herb and Ann Alperin Moose Alperin Marty and Richard Alterman Sara Alterman Steve Alterman and Marci Ball Anonymous Jessica C. Arluck and Douglas S. Ander Phyllis and Joseph Arnold Dolores and Harold Arnovitz Phyllis and Eliot Arnovitz Irene Aronin Rachel and Michael Avchen Ellen Azrael Bernice Bach Judy and Joe Balaban Michael and Jamie Balk Pat and Jack Balser Dr. Bruce and Cindy Becker Dr. Bruce and Linda Beeber Betty Behr, Kara Behr, Sara and Jonathan Hoffenberg Stan and Rabbi Judith Beiner Faith Benda Gerald and Vicki Benjamin Julia and Terry Bernath David Bernstein Diane and Marvin Bernstein Marlene Gelenter Besser and Abe Besser Jutta and Sidney Blase James Blasingame and Toby Schonfeld Martha and Herbert Blondheim Jerome and Elaine Blumenthal Rita and Arthur Bodner Hedy and Aaron Borenstein Lindsay and Evan Borenstein

Adam and Suzanne Bressler Linda and Richard Bressler Adam and Rachelle Capes Charlenne and Richard M. Carl Ben Cavalier Leonard and Valerie Chill Mark Coan and Family in loving memory of Ruth Coan z"l The Coca-Cola Company Anne Cohen and Craig Silverman Bernard and Rae-Alice Cohen Generations Fund/ Alan and Pamela Cohen David and Julie Cohen Judge Ezra and Kitty Cohen Harold and Diane Cohen Jeffrey and Cheryl Cohen Latifa Cohen in honor of Joseph Cohen z"l Lisa and Walter Cohen Lori and Gregg Cohen Marcy Cohen Mark and Tova Cohen Pauline Cohen Stanley J. Cohen Mrs. Victor Cohen and Family Linda and Richard Collier Rachael and Jonathan Colton Adolphus and Eileen Coolik Stanley Cristol Nikki and Randy Crohn Doug and Margo Diamond Shelly and Allen Dollar Sam, Eddie, Liora and Amir Dressler Mark Eden Jordan and Ana-Maria Eisner Debra Elovich and James Gray The Engelhard Family Lauren Estrin and Andrew Deutsch Linda and Abram Estroff Norman Estroff and Family - Sara and Mark Cohen and Armand Estroff Elisa and Bobby Ezor

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Ken and Barbara Feinberg Joel and Allison Feldman Muriel H. Feldman Emanuel and Stacy Fialkow Diana Fiedotin Barry Fields Robert and Pat Fine Donna and Mark Fleishman Gail Foorman and Dr. Craig Tovey Lori and Jordan Forman Ramon and Jody Franco Richard and Phyllis Franco Frank Family Foundation The Esther and Jake Friedman Family Gerald and Sandi Friedman Jared and Beth Friedman Lynn Friedman and Murray Friedman z"l Sylvia Friedman Andree and Marc Frost Susan and Fulton Frumin Jane Fryer Frances and Stuart Galishoff Drs. Stephen and Marianne Garber Renie and David Geller Gail Gellman Ruth Gershon Maury Isenberg Gerson Melinda Gertz Don and Celia Gilner Kenneth and Madeleine Gimbel Carol and Robert Glickman Larry and Margo Gold Dr. Daniel and Marni Goldman Bernie Goldstein Doris and Martin Goldstein Eve and Joel Goldstein Karen and Steven Goldstein Leon Goldstein and Family in honor of Betty Goldstein z"l Larry and Stella Gordon Neil and Susan Gordon Nancy and Mike Greenberg Katie and Daniel Greene Lynne and Thomas Greenfield

Jeremy Greenstein and Elizabeth Ravage Steve and Heleen Grossman 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 Fran, Edward and Eddie Harrell Marvin and Natalie Harris Gloria and Howard Hecht Helen Hersch and Harold Hersch z"l Jack and Michal Hart Hillman Stuart Harvey Hillman Gail and Gil Holzer Gary and Jean Jackson Barbara and Steven Jacobs Paul and Stephanie Jacobs Dennis B. Jaffe Marcia Jaffe Wyetta Angela Johnson Jeanne Johnson-Whatley Rachael and Michael Joseph Rhalda Kahn and Ralph Kahn z"l Susan and Robert Kahn Charlotte and Allen Kaminsky Barbara and Alan Kaplan and Family Lisa Kaplan Philip and Sally Kaplan Theodore and Ann Kaplan Ernestine Kasriel in loving memory of Dr. Robert Kasriel and Sarita G. Kasriel Helene and Michael Kates Jean and Richard Katz Jeffrey and Alison Kaufman Judy and Martin Kogon Michael and Laurie Kogon Ross and Sara Kogon

Elaine and Alan Kolodkin Darryl and Roslyn Konter Elissa and Harris Konter Doris and Beryl Koplin Marsha and Mark Kozinn Phyllis and Jerry Kraft Russell and Cheryl Kramer Lana and Richard Krebs Carlyn and Barry Kriegel Lori and Lee Krinsky Janet and Hilton Kupshik Arnold and Starr Lande Rhona Landis Jean Lawson Craig and Faye Lefkoff Harold Lefkoff and Evelyn Lefkoff z"l Helen Lefkoff Lawrence and Marjorie Lefkoff Michelle and Jonathan Lerner and Family Renay and Alan Levenson Michael J. and Ann Levin Esther and Michael K. Levine Marshall and Nancy Levine Phyllis and Morton Levine Miriam Strickman Levitas and Family in memory of Dr. Theodore Clinton Levitas Michelle and Rich Levy Myrtle Lewin Miriam S. Lewis Cantor Robert Lieberman and Rabbi Vicki Lieberman Dr. and Mrs. Paul Liebman Barbara Lincoln and Gary Rosenshein Drs. Linda Nathanson Lippitt and Alan Lippitt William and Patsy K. Little Joel Lobel and Debbie Smith Bob and Sandy London Alan and Lisa Lubel Malkin, Glazer and Hirsh Family Joseph and Charlotte Marcus Rhoda and Stephen Margolis Judy Marx Corinne and John Mateyek Sherry and Harry Maziar Lev and Berta Mebel

Jerome and Joanne Mendel Lee Mendel Ivan and Shirley Millender Lori and Wayne Miller Mimi's Fund Susan Moray Vicki and Steve Morris and Family Barbara and George Nathan Laura Nelson Dr. Dorothy Rosenthal and William Nerenberg Shari Neumann Dr. Philip and Donna Newman David Norflus Francine Norflus Leon and Brenda Novak Dr. Stephen Oppenheimer Barbara and Sanford Orkin and Family Hank Oxman Alon and Sheri Panovka Sara and Mark Papier Dan Paradies z"l Gregg and Beth Paradies James Paradies z"l Anna Pichulik Jo Pichulik and Louis Pichulik z"l 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 Bruce and Vickie Reisman Shirley and Donald Reisman Andrew and Susan Canter Reisner David Rhones Bruce and Barbara Ribner Lori Rich Shirley Rich Andrew and Nancy Rinzler Robert and Renee Rinzler Stanley and Marlene Rinzler Flora and Bernard Rosefsky Charles and Ann (Bunny) Rosenberg Joel and Jennifer Rosenfeld Carl and Rosalie Rosenthal Brooke and Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Michael Ross

Karen Routman Ralph Sacks Susan and Rabbi Neil Sandler Annette Saparow Milton and Virginia Saul Cathy and Jeff Schaffer Linda and Abe Schear Susan and Stuart Schlansky Ray and Susan Schoenbaum Alan and Judy Schulman Alan and Joan Schwartz Joseph and Jill Segal Drs. Julie and William Segal Dr. and Mrs. Richard Shmerling Irma Shulman-Weiner Marianne Shultzberg Betty Ann Shusterman Andy and Caryn Siegel Philip and Debra Siegel Richard H. Siegel Barry Silver Brenda Silverman Susan E. Simon Judy and Allen Soden Denise and Stephen Spiegel Jack Spielberg z"l Jennifer and Kevin Spindel The Srochi Family Allen and Merna Stein Bert Stein Irene Stein and Howard Stein z"l Judy and Stanley Stein Stanley and Marilyn Steinberg Toby and Gayle Steinberg Steven and Lynne Steindel Mark and Tamar Stern Merrill Stern Estelle and Walter Strauss Ruth and Hiram Sturm Charitable Remainder Trust Dr. Alan and Betty Sunshine Rick and Cathy Swerdlin Ben and Julie Taube Dr. Paul Teplis Jeannie and Bob Tepper Karla Tievsky and Seth Kirschenbaum Sharon Eienel Torreyson Renee and Gary Unell The Vantosh Family Cecile Cohen Waronker and William Waronker z"l Drs. Nancy and Mark Weiner

Lauren and David Weinstein Mark Weinstein Aletta and Greg Weitz Drs. Julius and Nanette Wenger Alan Wexler Marlene Wexler Perlman The Wildstein Family Larry and Sheila Wilensky Joel and Hannah Williams Susan and Jonathan Winner Karen and Eli Wise Rina Wolfe and Jack Wolfe z"l Susan and Larry Wolkin Sonia Fishkin and Andrew Zangwill Sharon J. Zinns Jeannette and Michael Zukor Jack Zwecker and Sophie Zwecker z"l (as of July 3, 2018)

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EVENTS & VOLUNTEERing aa Events

Other AA Events

adult Jewish education Tuesdays@AA - Tuesdays @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm: Join the rabbis and fellow congregants every Tuesday for an educational experience about current events and the Bible.

Torah Study - Saturdays @ 10 am Please join us for Torah Study session every Saturday morning. For a list of facilitators, visit aasynagogue.org/ learning/adult.

Piedmont Study Group with the Rabbis - Every second Wednesday @ 2:30 pm: Join the rabbis every second Wednesday of the month at the Piedmont at Buckhead (650 Phipps Blvd NE, Atlanta 30326).

Family & Youth Programs

Not Your Normal Minyan Saturday, October 27 and November 10 @ 10:30 am: The renowned Jewish philosopher, Martin Buber, used to call prayer a "dialogue" between man and God. Buber's philosophy is at the core of our new family Shabbat morning program; you and your child(ren) will engage in a dialogue with God through niggunim (wordless melodies), meditation, discussion, celebration, and, of course, laughter.

See pg. 21 - 22 for more youth events!

Sisterhood

Family Shabbat Dinner - Friday, September 14 @ 5:30 pm: Start off the Sweet New Year with a stress-free Shabbat dinner! Enjoy a sweet and savory blintz dinner while indulging in the simple joys of life with friends and family. Arts and crafts will be available for children, and, after dinner, join Rabbi Rosenthal for a group family discussion. Registration is $5 per person with a $20 cap. Register at bit. ly/NewYearFamilyShabbatDinner.

Groove Shabbat Saturday, October 6 and November 3 @ 10:30 am Come join Mr. Michael and PJ Library one Saturday each month for stories and interactive songs celebrating Shabbat and upcoming Jewish holidays.

Enjoy stories and songs followed by snacks, playtime, and Kiddush lunch.

Everything is free and geared towards families with children ages 0-4.

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Mah Jongg - Sundays @ 10 am Please join Sisterhood women every Sunday to play, schmooze, have fun, and connect with other women. We are patient, willing to teach, and will welcome you. For more information, contact Nancy Canter Weiner at ncweiner@mindspring.com.

Naomi’s Book Club - Monday, September 17 and October 8 @ 10:15 am: Join Sisterhood one Monday each the month for a lively book discussion. September’s book is The Nazi Officer’s Wife by Elizabeth Hahn Beer (with Susan Dworkin), and the discussion will be led by Rina Wolfe.

October’s book is Beneath A Scarlet Sky

by Mark Sullivan, and the discussion will be led by Lynne Greenfield. For more information, contact Madeleine Gimbel at 404.355.7711. For more information, contact Madeleine Gimbel at 404.355.7711 or visit the AA events calendar at aasynagogue.org/events.

Sisterhood Board Meeting - Sunday, August 19: Save the date!

Opening Meeting - Sunday, September 30: Save the date!

3rd Annual Bluegrass Shabbat Friday, September 28 @ 6 - 8 pm Ahavath Achim Synagogue invites you to our third annual Bluegrass Shabbat!

Enjoy dinner, live music, and a special musical Shabbat service! Come have some BBQ while listening to the sweet bluegrass tunes of our musical guest, The Cohen Brothers Band. To end the evening, we will participate in a musical Shabbat family service.The event is for ALL ages and AA Synagogue members are encouraged to attend and bring guests! Registration coming soon.

aa volunteer/ sociaL ACTION Opportunities

Operation Isaiah: We need your help in maintaining our leadership role in Operation Isaiah, the Atlanta Jewish Community’s annual High Holiday food drive designed to combat hunger. Every year we partner with the Atlanta Food Bank to collect food and funds for those who struggle with food insecurity. See more info on pg. 26

Membership Committee Volunteer Opportunity: The membership committee is looking for friendly members who want to make welcome phone calls to new members, invite new members to Shabbat dinner, or help bake and deliver challot to new members. If you'd like to help, please contact Sharon Zinns at sharonzinns@ gmail.com or Mark Papier at papier. mark@gmail.com.

Community Events Worship in Pink Shabbat - Saturday, October 6: Please join us for AA’s 11th Annual Worship in Pink Shabbat. In the spirit of being #MoreThanPink, this Shabbat service honors all cancer survivors, participants of the Susan G. Komen 3-day or 2-day Walks, and the loved ones we have lost. If you are a survivor, caregiver, advocate, or walker and would like to participate or contribute to this meaningful Shabbat, please contact Rina Wolfe rinawolfe10@ gmail.com. Kiddush luncheon to follow.

Greening Group's Recycling Event Thursday, October 11 - Sunday, October 14: In an effort to improve our synagogue’s ecological footprint and encourage a “green” state-of-mind among our community, the Greening Group will be collecting hard-to-recycle materials everyday from October 11 to October 14. The materials will be delivered to CHaRM (Center for Hard to Recycle Materials) for proper recycling and disposal. Think before you toss, save these items, and bring them to AA – we’ll do the rest! See more info on pg. 26

Blood Drive - Sunday, November 4 @ 9 am - 2 pm: Do the mitzvah of donating blood at Ahavath Achim Synagogue’s quarterly Blood Drive!

To schedule an appointment, visit redcrossblood.org, and enter sponsor code JWV – you will be taken directly to the Ahavath Achim Blood Drive where you can schedule your appointment.

For more information, contact Gail Solomon at gailsol@gmail.com or 404.351.1900.

AA Refugee Initiative (AARI) Volunteers needed for the ESL program at Georgia Piedmont Technical College in Clarkston. No prior experience needed, flexible tutoring options and times. Work with refugees from multiple countries, and make a difference! You might practice simple English, teach basic computer skills, help with resumes, or just mingle and chat. And we can carpool too!

Curious? Contact Carol Glickman at glickmanc@gptc.edu or Myrtle Lewin at 404.409.3196.

Chesed Committee: Acts of Loving Kindness - The Chesed Committee works with our rabbis, synagogue leadership and community on initiatives to support our congregants during illness, births and life adjustments. They help to ensure the care of each member of our congregation is handled with sensitivity and compassion. We need your help to gather this information when members of our community are in times of need. In this endeavor, we ask for your commitment in letting the synagogue know when you, your friend(s), or family member(s) need outreach. Please contact Fern Schorr at 404.355.5222 or fschorr@aasynagogue. org to share this information.

Smiling Faces Needed: Everyone who walks through our doors on Shabbat and holidays is greeted with a warm welcome. This is made possible by our devoted members who are part of our greeter team. Being a greeter is an easy and fun way to connect with other congregants, meet new people, and become an integral part of the synagogue. If you can smile and say "Shabbat Shalom," then you are a fully trained greeter. Greeters stay in the foyer outside Ellman Chapel for approximately one hour on Shabbat and holidays and take one-hour shifts on the High Holidays. To join the greeter team, contact Mildred or Marty Kwatinetz at zaydekw@comcast.net or 404.812.1734. Now seeking greeters for one-hour shifts during the High Holidays!

Mama's Loshn Kugel - Sunday, October 7 @ 1 pm | Woodruff Arts Center - Rich Theater: Live from New York! National Yiddish Theater and Eternal Life Hemshech present Mama's Loshn Kugel. Celebrate a special performance of Jewish music, laughter, warmth, and fun honoring Atlanta’s Holocaust Survivors. Proceeds support Holocaust education and restoration of the Memorial to the Six Million at Greenwood Cemetery. For tickets and sponsorships, visit eternallifehemshech. org, or email eternallifehemshech@ gmail.com.

Community volunteer/ sociaL ACTION Opportunities FIDF's Israel 70 Speaker Series - Inside Israel: Challenges Facing the IDF Wednesday, November 7 @ 6:30 pm | AA Synagogue: AA is proud to be hosting one of FIDF's (Friends of the Israel Defense Forces) Israel 70 Speaker Series programs! Join us on November 7 for a program featuring Lt. Col (Res).

Peter Lerner, Former IDF Spokesman and Head of International and Social Media Branch. This is a complimentary program but registration is required.

More info and registration: bit. ly/2w9AWfU

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Neil Sandler, Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, Rabbi Jill Rosner, Assistant to the Rabbis Barry Herman, Executive Director Catherine Ficke, Executive Assissant Lindsay Borenstein, Associate Executive Director Jordan Forman, Ritual Director Beth Arnold Helmey, Ahava Early Learning Center Director Marc Silberstein, Education Director Nicole Flom, Assistant Education Director Shana Dukette, Capital Campaign Administrative Assistant Anne Cohen, Director of Marketing & Community Relations Lauren Dube, Marketing Coordinator & Graphic Designer Miriam Habif, Membership & Event Coordinator Joe Jones, Director of Security Chris Carr, Director of Facilities Wesley Coney, Facilities Anika Johnson, Facilities Ken Johnson, Facilities Ian Madge, Facilities Marcus Thomas, Facilities Stan Vogel, Finance Manager Fern Schorr, Receptionist Mark Cohen, President Gerry Benjamin, Executive Vice President Irene Aronin, Financial Vice President Stacy Fialkow, Vice President Michael Plasker, Vice President Betty Sunshine, Vice President Debra Elovich and Judy Marx, Sisterhood Co-Presidents Zoe Glickman, USY President

Beineinu‌ between you and me The Newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue

weekly service schedule 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

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Our newsletter is funded by a grant from The Center Family Foundation

Ahavath Achim Synagogue

Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 | www.aasynagogue.org | 404.355.5222