Beineinu - Fall 2022

Beineinu The newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue •

havath Achim cultivates a Jewish community A of purposeful belonging. We inspire and support spiritual journeys by deepening

relationships with one another. We believe it is at the crossroads of our spiritual paths that life’s purpose and God might be found.

Ahavath Achim creates a vibrant, inclusive, spiritual community that empowers individuals to connect Jewishly beyond themselves.

Beineinu… between you and me The Newsletter of Ahavath Achim Synagogue Funded by a grant from The Center Family Foundation

f AhavathAchimSynagogue l @aasynagogueatl y Ahavath Achim Synagogue D www.aasynagogue.org V 404.355.5222 ] 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30327 CLERGY Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Rabbi Sam Blustin Rabbi Neil Sandler Rabbi Emeritus Rabbi Arnold Goodman Senior Rabbinic Scholar STAFF Barry Herman Executive Director Miriam Habif Gelfond Director of Outreach and Engagement Sharon Graetz Director of Education Jackie Nix Director of Community Connection Lauren Dube Director of Marketing Chris Carr Director of Facilities Investigator Joe Jones IV Director of Security Beth Arnold Helmey Ahava ELC Director Emily Kessler Serafin Ahava ELC Assistant Director Catherine Ficke Executive Assistant to the Executive Director Jill Rosner Executive Assistant to the Rabbis Stan Vogel Finance Manager Fern Schorr Receptionist Wesley Coney Facilities Anika Johnson Facilities Ken Johnson Facilities Marcus Thomas Facilities Heidi Herman Ahava ELC Administrator Susan Goff Ahava ELC Bookkeeper OFFICERS OF THE BOARD Gary Alembik President Mark Stern Executive Vice President Josh Hanna Financial Vice President Barbara Feinberg Vice President Adam Hirsch Vice President Nikki Novotny Vice President Gerry Benjamin Immediate Past President Beth Friedman Sisterhood Co-President Brooke Rosenthal Sisterhood Co-President Avram Eli Rosenthal USY and Kadima Co-President Erin Thaler Ahava ELC President

AA embraces interfaith families who desire to be part of our Jewish community. Our spiritual community serves all who wish to connect with us.

WEEKLY SERVICE SCHEDULE Morning Minyan (Monday–Friday)

7:15 a.m.

Morning Minyan (Sunday)

9:00 a.m.

Evening Minyan (Sunday–Thursday)

6:00 p.m.

Shabbat Evening Service (Friday)

7:30 p.m.

Shabbat Morning Service (Saturday)

9:30 a.m.

ABOUT THE COVER

Ten Days of Awe, a paper cutout collage illustration

by AA member and visual artist, Flora Rosefsky, incorporates symbols for the introspective Jewish New Year holiday period. A profusion of circular spirals add movement to denote the beginning and ending of the year’s cycle. Honey jars and apples float around the Shofar, to echo the sentiment of wishing for a sweet and good new year. To see more of Flora’s work, visit florarosefsky.com.

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A Message from the President How Sweet It Is to Belong to Ahavath Achim

By Gary Alembik

W

hat does it mean to b e l o n g ?

Belonging is a feeling that is challenging to define. Many of us achieve a sense of belonging through friendships and family.

Some derive a sense of belonging through an organization or community.

My feeling of belonging comes from being a part of something greater than myself. Something that adds comfort, meaning, and purpose to my life. My relationship with AA has given me that sense of belonging and much more.

My connection with AA began following my dad’s death in 2013. When my dad passed away, I made a commitment to honor him by fulfilling the obligation to say kaddish every day for the eleven-month mourning period. I had been a member of AA for many years prior to my dad’s passing but did not attend shul regularly. My minyan experience kindled my connection to AA. A connection that has continued and grown throughout the years. AA was there for me in my time of need. My minyan sisters and brothers offered me comfort, kind words and loving support at a difficult time in my life.

and to exchange departing words of support and kindness before logging off.

Minyan is not the only AA experience that offers me a sense of belonging. I reflect on the warm feelings that come over me when I enter Ellman Chapel each Shabbat morning. As I work my way to my pew near the front of the sanctuary, I am greeted with smiles, hugs, fist bumps, handshakes, waves, and countless Shabbat Shaloms. And this is just the beginning. As the service progresses, and I am treated to the sounds of the passionate and enthusiastic voices coming together in prayer, I realize just how comforting and gratifying it is to share this experience with my AA family.

AA offers us so many ways to belong, whether it is through ritual, Torah and Talmud study, mitzvah projects, social action, the Greening Group, our Mature Adult Active Community (mAAc), Sisterhood, Brotherhood, or the many social groups, chavurot activities and opportunities.

I invite you to join me at daily minyan, or on Shabbat morning, or at our quarterly blood drive, or at a Greening Group volunteer event, and together, let’s enjoy the sweetness that comes with belonging.

Nine years later, I continue to attend evening minyan regularly. AA’s minyan services have been a blessing to me, and to so many. Every weekday evening at 5:45 I end my workday, and with great excitement, I log into our evening minyan service. As my Zoom screen comes alive, and gallery boxes begin to populate, I am greeted by the familiar voices of my minyan friends exchanging kind words and expressing sincere interest in those that are in attendance. When 6 o’clock arrives we transition to the mincha and ma’ariv service, where we lift our muted voices together in prayer, offer healing prayers for those in our lives who are sick, share a thought for the day, and support those who have lost loved ones by reciting kaddish. When the service ends many remain online for a minute or two to offer thanks, • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 2

A Message from the Senior Rabbi What Shul Done Right FEELS Like

By Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

M

aya Angelou is quoted as saying, “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.”

This is a wonderful statement because it invites us, or perhaps challenges us, to approach our relationships with more mindfulness. So often, we are focused on saying what we believe is right or accurate without thinking about how other people might receive it. We often justify such callous statements by calling ourselves “straight shooters” or people who “say it like it is,” but in the end, I think most of us are just insensitive and unwilling to invest the time in building and supporting relationships. This is unfortunate because relationships are the only proven way to bring about change and create transformative spaces. It is through relationships that we better understand ourselves. It is through relationships that we connect with others and ourselves. It is through relationships that we feel safe enough to be our full authentic selves, people willing to offer the God-given gifts that we have for others and the world.

on this adjective by inserting honey as one of the traditional foods for Rosh Hashanah. So, what does a sweet year feel like? Sticky? Gooey? Cavityinducing? What does “sweet” feel like?

Some reading this article might think that I am being inane by exploring this question, but I am not. Understanding what it feels like to be part of a Jewish community is our best way forward as a congregation. We have a great mission and vision statement, which says all the right things— welcoming, inclusive, warm, inviting.

However, it doesn’t matter what we say, it only matters how we make people feel. As we begin this year of 5783 and put a heavy focus on growing our spiritual community by adding new members to our rolls and empowering more people to be a part of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, we need to do more than say the right things - we need to make sure that we all feel it. If we do that, perhaps we will help others experience how wonderfully sticky sweet it is to belong to the Ahavath Achim family.

From my family—Brooke, Avram Eli, Ariela, Ma’ayan, Naftali, and myself—Shanah Tovah u’metukah, may it be a good and sticky sweet New Year.

The High Holidays are all about relationships. Rosh Hashanah invites us to explore a relationship with our traditions, our spiritual inheritance of prayer, philosophy, and theology. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur create spaces to build relationships with the community and with God. The New Year helps us to navigate our relationship with time whether past, present, or future.

Because of these relationships, I find the traditional New Year greeting to be a bit odd— “Shanah Tovah u’metukah,” [have a] good and sweet year. I understand the “good” year. Even though what defines a good year is subjective, I can probably come up with an operational definition of such a year—good health, good friendships, good success at work, and onward.

The word “sweet,” however, throws me off. How do we define a “sweet” year? We double down 3 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

A Message from the Associate Rabbi

By Rabbi Sam Blustin

“

May my words be sweet before You; it is for You my soul thirsts” These words, which open the Anim Zemirot prayer that we occasionally include at the end of our morning services, unlock the key to spirituality as a Jewish people. Whether we realize it or not, whether we’ve buried it or it sits foremost in our consciousness, our souls yearn to be a part of something greater than ourselves and connect to the source of all living.

They long to build, to be elevated, to be held in moments of helplessness and aloneness. They long to be deeply present in this world, because life is only lived in the present.

ourselves, a tradition, an ecosystem, a God. How sweet that is!

May this new year bring plenty of opportunities for stopping and stepping back, for recentering our lives around that which is ultimately important, and for harvesting the sweet honey that pours forth.

Our tradition provides us the spiritual scaffolding for living more deeply. From the order we tie our shoes in the morning, to the foods we can and can’t partake of, to the way we speak in the world, halakhah, our guideposts for living Jewishly, provides infinite moments throughout our day to connect to that source of life by calling us to pay attention to what we’re doing in the world, and more importantly how we’re being in any given moment. And so, if we stop long enough, and turn down the volume on the world around us, we begin to hear and feel that thirst for connection to the Divine.

Ours is a long tradition, handed from parent to child, and teacher to student. We are often bequeathed the words and actions, but it is upon us to make them sweet before God. We study their meaning, we raise up our cracked voices in harmony, we multiply with the power of community. But, ultimately, the tradition is not ours until we find our own meaning in it. Until we sit and wrestle until meaning emerges and until this newly revealed Torah becomes a part of our own story. It’s a scary thing to let a text or a practice touch you so deeply that it helps shape how you see yourself in the world. And yet, this is exactly the practice. “Before You” reminds us that our lives don’t just revolve around ourselves.

We are each a part of something larger than

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A Message from the Rabbi Emeritus What Does It Feel Like to Learn Something New?

By Rabbi Neil Sandler

T

he Rabbis say, “There are seventy faces to the Torah” (Numbers Rabbah 13:15-16). Their point is that there are multiple ways in which the Torah may be interpreted.

In a narrow sense, this rabbinic statement might be taken as justification for the variety of Torah commentaries that appear over the course of many years. Each commentator looks at the same verse and offers a new “face” as to its understanding.

In a broader sense, what the rabbis say about the nature of understanding Torah can be said about a lot of things, Jewish and otherwise. For example, why do we traditionally put salt on challah on Shabbat? Two views, at the very least.

One suggests the practice is tied to the covenant that God and the Jewish people share. Like salt, a preservative, the covenant is eternal. A second understanding suggests the salt is tied to the salted sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem. With its destruction, the home and, more specifically, the dining table, came to serve as a replacement for the destroyed Temple. Salting the challah serves to connect that loaf with the sacrifices offered two thousand and more years ago.

Which interpretation is correct? Wrong question.

Multiple understandings of Jewish practice, like a variety of commentaries on the same text, enhance our understanding and appreciation of the practice. They can connect us with different moments in our history. When we reflect on various understandings of why we, as Jews, undertake a given action we recognize richness and beauty in those multiple understandings.

How about in the world outside Judaism? Why do we have opinion writers in newspapers and commentators on television and elsewhere?

After all, they see the same events or hear the same words. The answer, of course, is that these individuals understand the very same occurrence or words in different ways. They bring their personal perspectives and experience to what

they observe. Which writer or commentator is correct? Again, wrong question. Instead, as we read and listen to different opinions, we may learn something new or reassuring about a perspective with which we agree. Perhaps, more importantly, as we read or hear a view with which we disagree, we can be sensitized to the issue from the other person’s perspective. Again, as we consider the “seventy faces of the Torah,” we recognize that we may learn from all; those with whom we agree and those with whom we disagree.

“Seventy faces” - So many opportunities to learn something new and, sometimes, to be challenged.

Just as many people will bring different understandings to the same text, practice, or experience, so a single individual can do similarly. I have often said that a person’s understanding of a text can be altered by his/her experience. For example, an individual may have understood a prayer as the words appear on the page of the prayer book. However, because of a recent health scare, he/she brings the awareness of that concern to the prayer and understands it somewhat differently. In this manner, each of us may contribute to the “seventy faces of Torah.” Our personal experience can affect how we understand words. What is true regarding the “new” meaning of the text for us is also true of our experiences themselves. Each of us can bring new meaning to some of our experiences, especially routine ones, in light of something we learn or experience.

Our understanding of our tradition, texts and experiences is enriched by our new learning.

In a very real sense, each of us can add to the “seventy faces.” That is the power of learning or experiencing something new in the ways I have described. We can enrich our understanding, raise up the meaning of our experiences and contribute to others in our community as we share our discoveries with them.

May 5783 bring you many opportunities to learn and experience anew. May what you learn and experience bring blessings to you and to others.

Susan joins me in wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy New Year.

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A Message from the Director of Ahava Early Learning Center What Sweetness Feels Like at Ahava

By Beth Arnold Helmey

A

hava is a school that values relationships.

The approach to Early Childhood by which Ahava is inspired is based on building a relationship with each child in the class and with the child’s family.

Co-teachers work together closely and must develop a relationship with each other that sometimes resembles a commitment that looks like a marriage! For relationships to grow, it is sometimes necessary to have conversations that are hard. Conversations that are clarifying and respectful are part of the behind-the-scenes kind of work that it takes to build a practice of listening and of welcoming each other into a community.

Rosh Hashanah gives us a lovely introspective opportunity to question the authenticity of our daily lives, and to reflect on our values, both individually and collectively.

The sweetness of a New Year is what we hope for each other and is part of the greeting we offer to each other at Rosh Hashanah. At Ahava, we often go deep into the meaning of words that are used often and yet may mean different things to each of us. For example, parents often want to know at the end of a day, “Did he/she have a good day?” At Ahava, we try and determine what that means for each individual because we know that a “good” day can have many different connotations.

During a typical day, children experience many different emotions. Teachers at Ahava honor these emotions, and the various ways they are expressed. It is part of our unspoken curriculum that we spend time on social/emotional learning and that we allow children to feel the big and small upsets or joys in their days at school.

in which we have recently said L’hitraot to our rising Kindergarteners, and a few of our beloved teachers, we honor the richness that has been offered us through this love, and its subsequent loss. At the same time, we are busy creating new welcoming rituals with families new to the school, and teachers recently hired. Thus, we experience feelings of loss and of joy at the same time. The sweetness of new beginnings, and the sadness of farewells becomes an opportunity to reflect on what we bring to these moments. As teachers of young children, it is important to continually grow in self-awareness, and to stretch ourselves beyond what we have always accepted. Do we shut down in moments of sadness? How might that impact a new relationship? How might it cause a child to feel insecure? Or do we overcompensate, and push sad feelings to the side? Is that being authentic? Can it cause children to feel confused if we insist upon only noticing the good feelings?

This intersection of Judaism and the ever-present value of questioning, along with the approach (Reggio Emilia), that inspires Ahava to be a place of wonder and connectedness for children and adults is like the sweetness of the honey on the apple.

It is like the effort of opening a pomegranate and extracting all the sweet juice from the seeds. It is the thoughtfulness that goes into the oft uttered Rosh Hashanah greeting, so that the words retain their meaning and importance at this time of year, and throughout our years.

May we all have a good and sweet year, and may we also relish the stickiness of the honey that drips from the apple. L’shana Tova!

As much as we want our days to be filled with only sweetness, it is often loss or pain that serves as the reminder of the sweetness our lives encompass. As we begin a new school year, one • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 6

A Message from the Director of Education Making Learning Sweet as Honey

By Sharon Graetz

“

[The Torah is] more desirable than gold, than much fine gold, sweeter than honey, than drippings of the comb.”

- Psalms 19:11 I remember when my mom greeted me after my first day of kindergarten with my very own box of See’s Candies. I was delighted at this unexpected treat. I bit into a caramel-filled truffle as my mom explained the tradition of pairing learning with something sweet. She showed me a picture of Omi, my grandmother, when we got home.

It was from when she was a child in Germany.

She was holding a bouquet of chocolates and flowers on her first day of school. My mom was continuing a tradition I now know dates to 12th century Germany. Upon entering school for the first time, a young child would be given a tablet inscribed with the alef-bet (symbolizing the entire Torah) drizzled with honey. Children would repeat words of Torah from their rabbi and then lick the honey off their tablets. This ceremony would transform what could otherwise have been a mundane experience into something memorable, sweet, and enjoyable.

We closed the ritual with homemade cupcakes, cementing the moment with a sweet memory.

As Director of Education at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, I strive to make learning sweet not just for my own child, but for all the kids in our community. I am looking forward to this year’s High Holiday Children’s programming. Drawing on our synagogue’s theme for the year, “What Sweetness Feels Like,” we will be learning about the connections between Judaism and honey. We will explore where honey comes from, the role bees play in our environment, and we may even taste some honey-sweetened treats. Throughout the year, together with our incredibly talented staff, we are excited to bring to life the words from Psalms by teaching Torah in a manner that makes learning sweet and desirable.

My son, Milo, turned three in December 2020.

We marked the occasion with a simple Upshirin ceremony. Surrounded by family, both in-person and over Zoom, my husband and I recited the alef-bet, and Milo and my nieces and nephew repeated the words. We snipped a single lock of Milo’s beautiful blond curls, his first haircut.

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A Message from the Director of Community Connection Many Great Pieces Make an Amazing Whole

By Jackie Nix

“

There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.”

– Idowu Koyenikan

community, and the world a better place. They plan educational programs, social programs, cultural arts programs, holiday programs, and so much more. Just imagine what our AA community would be like without these dedicated groups doing their thing. Each of these committees and groups is an essential part of what makes AA so special.

What does it mean to be part of a community?

Communities offer us so many things. A community is a place for people to come together to enjoy their interests and passions with others who share those interests and passions. A community is a group of people there to celebrate with us when things are great and support us when things are hard. Over time we will be part of hundreds if not thousands of different communities. In our communities we might interact with others in person or solely online. We have communities we create ourselves and some that are given to us by others. No matter what, we give and get different things from each of our communities. And every community is only as good as the people who make it up.

What is even more special about these groups is that most of them were formed because someone saw a need that they could help fill. Our Greening Group came about because a group of dedicated members wanted to make sure AA does their part to help the environment through being more sustainable, the mAAc group started because some of our mature active adults wanted to have social programs with each other, and AAACTS saw an injustice that they wanted to help combat.

Before starting my role as the Director of Community Connection in March, I had a general idea of most of our committees. I worked with all our family and children focused groups, I was the staff liaison for the Development, Engagement, and mAAc committees, and I knew we had many social action focused committees doing amazing things. I knew we had a calendar filled with Sisterhood mahjong games, adult Hebrew classes, minyan, holiday programs, blood drives, and so much more. I knew that there were many AA members making all these groups and programs possible, but what I knew didn’t even scratch the surface.

We have over 30 committees that touch every area of the AA community. These committees are working to make sure our community is welcoming to everyone who walks through the door. They make sure the building is running smoothly. They help prepare the bodies of people who have passed away for burial. They are working to make our AA community, the Atlanta

So many people throughout the 135 years of Ahavath Achim Synagogue history have made our community amazing, and because of that there is a place for everyone. If you have a passion for making people feel welcome and included, maybe the Membership, Engagement or Interfaith & Inclusion committees are for you. If you have kids and want them to find a connection with their Judaism and other Jewish kids think about Ahava, Kesher, Family Shabbat, Family holiday programing, and more. If you are interested in social action and making our AA community, Atlanta community, and the world a better place, we’ve got over 15 different groups working to make that happen. We have got something for everyone, which can be hard to find in just one community. When you find one of those groups that you connect with, they help make a large community feel smaller. And all these small groups who are doing amazing things on their own help make our larger community that can do even more amazing things. Whether it’s passing a bylaws amendment to help make everyone feel comfortable here, packing backpacks with food to make sure kids don’t go hungry over the weekend, or creating new social groups to fill a gap, all of these make our community better, but they are not possible without you. There is a place for everyone in our community and we want to make sure everyone feels welcome here.

If you are still looking for your thing, we would love to help you find it.

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High Holiday Update

I

t is truly hard to believe that the High Holy Days are just around the corner! Given that fact, we want to give you all an update and an idea of what to expect in terms of participation in services and programming.

This year, as in the previous two years, we are offering the option to participate in services virtually as well as in person. The remodel of our sanctuary is well on the way to be completed, but, unfortunately, we will not be able to host services there this year. However, there will be an opportunity to view the construction, and we are excited to be able to showcase how transformative the new space is! Main services will take place in Srochi Auditorium with an overflow service in Ellman Chapel. Due to the physical limitations of both spaces, seating will be somewhat restricted. If you would like to join us in person, you do not need a ticket, but registration is required so that we can determine the number of people wanting to attend in person. In-person attendance will be on a strictly first come, first served basis.

We hope you will use the hub as you plan out your High Holiday spiritual experience! It will continue to be updated as new information is made available.

As we approach the holiest time of our year, we are thinking of you, our AA family, in these challenging times. Our congregation is on a sound financial footing today, in no small part due to your incredible financial support.

Although we are making progress and are in a better place than last year, we still have many challenges this year, and most of our congregation will not be able to attend Yom Kippur services in person. We need your help.

Please consider participating in our Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Campaign if you have not already done so; you may send in a check, or donate online. Thank you in advance for your generosity and continued support.

Wishing you and your families a Shanah Tovah.

We look forward to celebrating the New Year with you whether virtually or in person!

For all information relating to the 5783 High Holidays, please visit our website, and navigate to the 5783 High Holiday Hub. The hub hosts all the information you may need: a full service schedule (with times, locations, and links) and information regarding registration, children’s programming, machzorim rental, the Yom Kippur Appeal/Chai Campaign, Covid-19 protocols, etc. On the days of services you will have access to the live-streamed services.

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5783 High Holiday Schedule Erev Rosh Hashanah - Sunday, September 25 6:00 p.m.

Mincha Ma'ariv Service

In-Person: Srochi Auditorium

1st Day Rosh Hashanah - Monday, September 26 8–9:00 a.m.

Coffee and Schmooze

In-Person: Garden

8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Rosh Hashanah Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

9–10:00 a.m.

Family Service

In-Person: Outdoor Tent

9:30–10:30 a.m.

Torah Study Led by Dr. Andrew Zangwill

Hybrid: Paradies Hall and Virtual

10:00 a.m.–End of RH Service

Children's Programming (0–5th Grade)

In-Person: Drop-Off at Outdoor Tent

12:30–1:00 p.m.

Oneg and Light Kiddush

In-Person: Garden

6–7:00 p.m.

Mincha Ma'ariv Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

2nd Day Rosh Hashanah - Tuesday, September 27 8–9:00 a.m.

Coffee and Schmooze

In-Person: Garden

8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Rosh Hashanah Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

9:00 a.m.–End of RH Service

Children's Programming (0–5th Grade)

In-Person: Drop-Off at Outdoor Tent

9:30 a.m.

Torah Study Led by Dr. Paul Feldman

Hybrid: Paradies Hall and Virtual

12:30 p.m.

Tashlich

In-Person: Outdoor Tent

7:30 p.m.

Mincha Ma'ariv Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

Aseret Y’mei Teshuva (Ten Days of Repentance) - Sunday, October 2 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Family Tashlich and Picnic with Shofar Blowing

In-Person: Morgan Falls Overlook Park

2–4:00 p.m.

Reverse Tashlich

In-Person: Peachtree Creek Greenway

Kol Nidre - Tuesday, October 4 5–5:30 pm

Family Service

Hybrid: Breezeway and Virtual

5:30 p.m.

Vegan Kapparot

In-Person: Garden

6:10 p.m.

Mincha Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

6:30 p.m.

Kol Nidre Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

7:00 p.m.

Ma'ariv Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

11 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Yom Kippur - Wednesday, October 5 8:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Yom Kippur and Yizkor Services Yizkor Service begins around 12:30 p.m.

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

9–10:00 a.m.

Family Service

In-Person: Outdoor Tent

9:30 a.m.

Torah Study

Hybrid: Paradies Hall and Virtual

10:00 a.m.–End of YK Service

Children's Programming (0–5th Grade)

In-Person: Drop-Off at Outdoor Tent

2:30–4:00 p.m.

Beit Midrash (Study Hall) Led by Dr. Dennis Gilbride

Hybrid: Ellman Chapel and Virtual

4–6:30 p.m.

Chanting with SunMoonPie

In-Person: Paradies Hall

5:30 p.m.

Mincha Service Reading of the Book of Jonah

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

6:30 p.m.

Neilah Service

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium and Virtual

7:41 p.m.

Ma'ariv, Havdallah, and Final Shofar Blast

Hybrid: Srochi Auditorium, Zoom, and Live Stream

-----------------------------------------------------

Name: Email:

Phone:

To make a donation, please complete this card and mail it (with check enclosed) to Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30327. Donations can also be made online at aasyn.org/donate.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 12

A Message from the Executive Director

By Barry Herman

T

he past number of years have definitely been interesting and challenging to say the least! Thanks to the generosity and commitment of YOU, our beloved community, we have once again ended the 21-22 financial year with a balanced budget.

This is even more gratifying as we had budgeted a loss for the 21-22 financial year of $150,000. Our financial results have not been finalized and ratified by our CPA, but the numbers should not change much from what is presented in this report.

As you can see, unallocated revenue represents nearly 70% of revenues collected. Dues, security fee and fundraising (Chai program, Yom Kippur appeal, fundraisers etc.) make up the bulk of unallocated revenue.

This is how our expenses broke down:

I have had numerous requests to explain exactly how we collect and expend our resources. As such, I would like to present the following analysis of the financial year just passed i.e., July 2021 to June 2022:

Here are some key expense indicators:

13 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

As can be seen, salaries represent more than 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 Holy days, at least 80% of our expenses are not discretionary.

Given the uncertainty of the future as we emerge from the initial effects of COVID, the upcoming year will be challenging, including an assessment to help with crucial infrastructure upgrades and repair to our roof, plumbing and electrical switchgear. We are so fortunate to have been able to balance our budget over the past two years and also to have so many positive developments in our community—the extension of Rabbi Blustin’s contract, the growth of our religious school program, and approximately $2.5 million in endowment gifts, to name a few.

Achieving financial success going forward can’t be accomplished solely via expense control. We will require incremental revenues. Thus, we need your help.

Our new officer corps and board, together with our rabbis, will be presenting to our congregants a myriad of exciting new initiatives. In addition to these initiatives, you can help balance the budget by making sure to pay your dues and other obligations in a timely manner.

Supporting a congregation is not charity, any more than providing for your household is charity.

Charity is what we do for others; we contribute to synagogues because it is important to us to have a religious institution to which we belong and which we can attend. Synagogue membership, like 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 there, not only to provide three services per day, but to be there for you in times of need: bereavement (G-d forbid), simchas, graduations, etc. The Synagogue is not a country club, but a community.

In conclusion, I am excited and honored to, once again, serve our community. I look forward to playing a part in ensuring the next 130 years. The best is yet to come!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 14

Thank You to Our Generous Donors Donations listed below were given through June 30, 2022 and include tribute donations, Yom Kippur Appeal/ Chai Campaign donations, endowments, and other miscellaneous donations. Donations made to the Capital Campaign and Sisterhood are not included. We apologize in advance if anyone was excluded or placed in the wrong donation level.

Chai

($1-$499) Barbara Abend Leslie and Regene Jo Aberson Warren Abrahams Karen Abrams Douglas Adair Sandra Adair z”l Sheryl Adair Mary Ann Adams Cheryl and Joseph Ahlizadeh Adam Alterman Elizabeth Alterman Renee Alterman Marty and Richard Alterman Judy and Gary Altman Patsy Anderson Maria and Sidney Appel Elinor Arlook Bonnie Arnold Phyllis and Joseph Arnold Julie and Mark Arnold Amy and Robert Arogeti Amy Ashe Frances Astren Bernice Bach Marlene and Neal Bach Charlote and Michael Baer Claire Balser Pat and Jack Balser Linda Baron Louise and Stanley Baum Jill Reikes-Bauman and Steve Bauman Marcia and Emil Baumrind Sara Bess Bamrind Cindy and Bruce Becker Glenda Beerman and Bernard Pollock Betty Behr Judith and Stan Beiner Gloria Benamy Carol and Michael Benator Faith Benda Carey and Doug Benham Penny Berk Candy and Stephen Berman Gita and Steven Berman Vicki Berman Julia and Terry Bernath Jason Berner Shirley and Gary Bernes Peggy and Rick Bernstein Sally and John Berry

Goldie and Louis Bertone Veronica Beskin David Birnbrey Joanne and Eddie Birnbrey Robin and David Blass Sheryl and Ben Blatt Toby Block and Jerrold Greenberg Matt Blum Mona Blumenthal Amira and Michael Bobrov Barbara Bock Bonnie and Ivan Bock Rita and Arthur Bodner Meredith and Richard Bodziner Julie and David Borenstein Phyllis and Melvin Boros Adrienne Boyer Marilyn Bravman Susan Bravman Linda Brenner and Josh Brener Margaret Breslin Suzanne and Adam Bressler Shirley Brickman Staci and Matt Brill Janet and Raymond Brock Robin and Jay Brodsky Ruth and Jimmy Brown Harriett and Jeffrey Bryan Laurie Burnham Elaine Carp Ben Cavalier Michael Chapman Deedee Chereton Edith and Jeff Clark Avital and Michael Cohen Barbara and Alan Cohen Betty and Stan Cohen Caryl and Howard Cohen Isadore Cohen Ilise Cohen and Daniel Rice Debra and Martin Cohen Kent Cohen Lisa and Sherman Cohen Patricia Cohen Sandra Cohen Sarah Cohen Sharon Cohen Stanley Cohen Yvonne and Jack Cohen Gail Cohn and Harvey Danits Gayle and James Commander Frannie Spector Coplan Charlotte Corenblum Myrna and Paul Cott Randy Crohn Ritchie Crownfield

Glenda and Bobb Cucher Kathleen Culbertson Brenda and Stanley Daniels Lowell and Georgi Davis Emily Delevie Helen Scherrer-Diamond and David Diamond Linda and Michael Diamond Margery Diamond Sheri Diamond Brooke and Jeff Dickerson Elaine and Alan Dinerman Laura Dinerman Shelly and Allen Dollar Elaine and Alan Donerman Harriet and Sam Draluck Sharon Draluck Stephenie and Jerome Drean Laura Driscoll Shana Dukette Margo and Shiel Edlin Lori and Todd Edlin Anita and Max Eidex Laura and Harold Einstein Gerald Eisen Terry and Ira Eisenberg Suzanne and Seth Eisenberg Judith Ellis Debra Elovich Marian Ely Ina and Harold Enoch Elise Eplan and Robert Marcovitch Maury Escher Aida and Cesar Espinoza Johanna Essex Linda and Abram Estroff Jessica and Benjamin Ezrine Fred Feinberg Susan and Jeffrey Feld Muriel Feldman Sheli and Sam Feldman Patricia and Robert Fine Sheryl Fineman Daniel Finer Doreen and Stuart Fischer Barbara and Richard Fischhof Marsha Fish Marcy and Scott Fisher Nina Fishman Marianne and Alan Fixelle Donna and Mark Fleishman Lori and Jordan Forman Michele and George Fox Cynthia and Les Fox Baron Frankel Fayne Frankel

15 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Nicole and Steve Frankel Anita and Sidney Freedman Nancy and Wayne Freedman Viki and Paul Freeman Frances Friedman Sandi and Gerald Friedman Linda and Michael Friedman Amy and Neil Friedman Lynn Friedman Sylvia Friedman Gloria Frisch Eve Frist Sidney and Roni Funk Karen and Bruce Galdin Naomi and Christopher Gargano Stacy Blumberg Garon and Jon Garon Katherine Gauntt Herbert Gelbwachs Cheryl and Roger Gelder Todd Gershon Ruth Gershon and Sanford Cohn Donna and Edwin Gerson Suzanne and Ervin Gerson Maury Gerson Darriel and Ronald Gerson Anne and Brad Gillman Madeleine and Kenneth Gimbel Riedy and Stephen Gimpelson Jerry Glazer Dale and Jimmy Glenn Barbara Friedland Gold Carolyn Gold Hazel Gold Brandon Goldberg Elsa and Jay Goldberg Judy and Scott Goldberg Susie and Marc Goldman Norman Goldman Beth and Adam Goldstein Bernard Goldstein Eve and Joel Goldstein Marsha Goldstein and Robert Fine Ellen Goldstein and Steven Gold Karen and Steven Goldstein Julie and Rick Golsen Charlotte Gordon Susan and Neil Gordon Pamela Gottfried Jaquelin and Edward Gottlieb Evelyn and Roberto Graetz Billie Greenberg Nancy and Mike Greenberg Lynne and Thomas Greenfield Ethel-Raye Greenspan Nicki Grossman Susan and Michael Grossman Elaine Gruenhut Priscilla and Ross Grumet Sherie and Arthur Gumer Marsha and Ernest Gurwich Sherry Habif Zenaida Habif Charles Hacker Martha Halbreich

Melissa Hall Mimi Hall and Russell Gottschalk Renie and Frederick Halperin Halpern Enterprises, Inc. Beverly Halpern Dena and George Hammond Tracy and Anthony Hammonds Delcy Pardo Harber Fran and Edward Harrell Amy Harris and Paul Weinman Gail Harris Natalie and Marvin Harris Beatrice Hartman Janet Hatt and Michael Goodisman Edna Helfer James Helms Susan Hendricks Sheree Henry Darlene Henson Laura and Alan Herbin Gladys and David Herckis Helen Hersch Doug and Lila Hertz Lyons J. Heyman Amanda and Adam Hirsch Bobby Hirsch Etta Hirsch Phyllis Hirsch Rae and Bruce Hirsch Robert Hirsch Rosalie Hirschberg Cathy Hodin Toby and Arnold Holzer Gail and Gilbert Holzer Jane Horowitz Bick Barbara and Michael Horowitz Nancy Howard Khalil Iny Lisa and Richard Isaacson Nancy and Joel Isenberg Nancy Isenberg Michael and Martin Itzkowitz Jean and Gary Jackson Elise and Herb Jacobs Deborah and Lou Jacobs Marcia and Richard Jacobson Eleanor and Burton Jaffe Lillie Janko Mira Josowicz Rhalda Kahn Susan and Robert Kahn Mary Ann and Bobby Kaplan Frances M. Kaplan Randy Kaplan and Paul Orlando Shelley and Scott Kaplan Elliot Karp Catherine and David Kasriel Marjorie Kassel Jean and Richard Katz Elizabeth Kessler and Dennis Gilbride Nancy and Marc Kessler Nancy and Alan Kessler Carol Kiersky Amy Kirschenbaum

Nancy Habif and Scott Kleber William Kleiman Nancy Klenberg Stephanie and Jeffrey Knauer Bobbie Knopf Sandy and Bob Koff Laurie and Michael Kogon Devra and Walter Kolesky Roslyn and Darryl Konter Elissa and Harris Konter Eydie and Steven Koonin Stacey and Michell Kopelman Sivan and David Koster Monica and Brian Krachman Phyllis Kraft Cheryl and Russell Kramer Lana and Richard Krebs Lori and Lee Krinsky Jane and Adam Kugler Charity Fund Stephanie Kupor Janet and Hilton Kupshik Lois and Robert Kurpiel Mildred and Martin Kwatinetz Marilyn Landau Arnold Lande Linda and Kerry Landis Audrey and Michael Landy Susan and Billy Lapidus Judi Lapinsohn Marilyn and Paul Lavietes Harold Lefkoff Helen Lefkoff and Robert Faulk Kelly and Ron Lehman Gail Leitman Rick Lerner Valerie and Ronald Levenberg Renay and Alan Levenson Rachel and Martin Levenstiem Ann Levin Bonnie and Michael Levine Esther and Michael Levine Rita and Michael LeVine Phyllis and Morton z”l Levine Stepanie Levine Susan and Stephen Levine Laura and Steven Levine Susan Levine William Levinsohn Barbara and Elliott Levitas Claudia Levitas Miriam Strickman Levitas Peggy and Maurice Levitt Jo Ellen and Alan Levy Trudy and Arnold Levy Barbara and Bert Levy Donna Shaw-Levy and Mark Levy Myrtle Lewin Lori Lewis Miriam Lewis Sheri and James Libby Eliana Light Wendy and Steven Light Barbara Lincoln and Gary Rosenshein

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 16

Chris Lingle Linda Nathanson-Lippitt and Alan Lippitt Carolyn Lippman Alice Little Jessica Lorden Lisa and Alan Lubel Sheryl Lyss Karon and John P. Maguire Peggy and Lloyd Marbach Denny Marcus and Andre Schnabi Charlotte and Joseph Marcus Lawrence Marcus Mindy and Andrew Margols Sheila and Michael Margolis Rhoda and Stephen Margolis Barbara Marks Natalie and Robert Marmer Norma Marx Corinne and John Mateyak Suzanne Mazel Randi and Marvin Mazer Susan and Todd Maziar Marcia McDaid Berta and Lev Mebel Robin and Phillip Medintz Akanksha Mehta and Jonathan Grossberg Joanne Mendle Ann Merlin Sharon Mermelstein Ivan Millender Eric Miller Harriet Miller Cathy and Ronald Miller Mindi and Scott Miller Lori and Wayne Miller Glenda and David Minkin Julie and Alan Minsk Shirley and Alvin Minsk Susan and Harry Minsk Sandra and Sam Mislow Mix Tape Ventures, LLC Marcialyn Moattar z”l Rene Montaigne Susan Moray Jennie and Macy Moret Lynn Nassau Morris Vicki and Steven Moriss Leslie Moscow Lucy Moses Karen and Joel Moss Adele Gabbay Muir Margaret Musa Jacqueline and Richard Needle Simone and Steve Nehmen Sloane and Howard Neiman Melanie and Allan Nelkin Paul Nerenberg Amy and Joel Neuman Dana Neuwirth Sara Fran and Wayne Neuwirth Peggy Newfield Janice B. Nochumson Rita Noonan

Alvin Notowich Jonathan Nussbaum Ann Olim Marcy and Marc Oppenheimer Optimists Investment Club Kenny Orkin Cheryl Orlansky Rebecca and Brad Osgood Marcelle and Allan Oxman Martin Oxman Aron “Chuck” Palefsky Sheri and Alon Panovka Hilly Panovka Annice Parker Lyda G. Parker Judi and Richard Pawliger Elliott Penso Jason Perl Rachel and Lance Perling Peggy Perling Marlene Wexler Perlman Martha Perlmutter Jody Peskin Emily and Lousi Piassick Anna Pichulik Robert Pitchersky Barbara and Richard Planer Lisa and Eric Plasker Tally and Stanford Plavin Ann and Morris Podber Barbara and Martin Pollock Stanley Pollock Sara Popowski Julia and Morris Purcel Annette Rau Jo Ann Rau Ann and Hugh Rawn Brenda Raymon Lynn and Lewis Redd Patricia and Douglas Reid Vickie and Bruce Reisman Lois and Alan Reitzfeld Ruth Reynolds Michelle and Craig Rich Lori Rich Shirley Rich Bonnie and Gary Richman Jennifer and Harvey Rickles Susan and David Rifkin Renee and Robert Rinzler Edward Rittenbaum Karen and Scot Rittenbaum Samra and Ronald Robbine Katie Robertson Anta Romm Gail Rones Carol and Marc Rose Flora and Bernard Rosefsky Harold Rosenbaum Ann and Charles Rosenberg Joan Rosenfeld Abby and Larry Rosenthal Brooke and Laurence Rosenthal Barbara and Stephen Rosman Jill and Robert Rosner

Laurie and Brian Rothschild Anita and Mark Rottner Karen Routman Judith and Arnold Rubenstein Kathy and David Rubenstein Susie and Alan Rubin Carol and Joseph Rubin Sarice Rubin Barbara and Alan Ruckett Ralph Sacks z”l Suzan and Gary Saidman Gail and Barry Saloff Susan and Neil Sandler Lynn and Jan Saperstein Barbara Saul Flemming Karen and Michael Saul Judy Scarbrough Cathy and Jeff Schaffer Janet Schatten and Richard Friedman Mimi Schatzberg Linda and Abe Schear Coindy and Ken Schick Susan and Stuart Schlansky Wendy and Les Schlesinger Lou Schloss Maxine and Keith Schube Claire Schwartz Joyce and Jay Schwartz Joyce and Henry Schwob Jill and Joseph Segal Cheryl Seguine Betty and Kenneth Seitz Madolin Seldes Linda and Stephen Selig Jeffrey Sell Freida and Max Shaffer Charles Shainker Sarle and Larry Shainock Barbara and Alan Shapiro Frances Shapiro Jon Shapiro Anita and Marvin Shapiro Selma Shapiro Sherry Shaw Marsha Sherman Judy and Stanley Sherman Maxine and Harry Sherry Joyce Shlesinger Karen and Brian Shonson Marilyn and Joshua Shubin Debbie and Andy Shuping Faye and Irwin Siegel Garry Siegel Richard Siegel Leah and Paul Silberman Jenner Eileen and Milton Silberstein Eva and Samuel Silbiger Jonathan Silgals Barry Silver Sandy and Gary Silver Judith Silverman-Hodara and Roberto Hodara Friedman Judith Silverman Saba and Victor Silverman

17 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Gary M Silverstein Harriet Simmons Lori Simon Skyline Seven Real Estate LLC Gloria Smiley Ava Landrum Smith and Ben Smith Barbara and Alan Smith Cathy and Richard Smith Bethany and Taylor Smith Susan and Morris Socoloff Gail Solomon Gerald Sonenshine Meghan Soustek-Kramer and Zachary Kramer Fran Spatafore Nancy and Theodore Spetnagel Harvey Spiegel Marcia Spielberger Robyn Spizman and Edwin Gerson Iris and Benjamin Stein Meryl and Robert Stein Judy and Stanley Stein Gloria and Carlton Steinberg Gayle and Toby Steinberg Helen and George Steinheimer Merrill and Michael Stern Sandi Stine Leslie L. Stone Linda Stone Lori and Allan Struletz Stan Sugarman Ellen and Bob Sunnes Joanne and Dorn Swerdlin Judy Taitz Georgi Taja Nica and Lee Tallman Emily and Aaron Tanenbaum Robyn Tanenbaum Rene Tapia Judith Taylor Judith and Mark Taylor Louis Teplis Monica Teplis Paul Teplis Susan and Martin Throne Karla Tivesky and Seth Kirschenbaum Sue and Chuck Tilis Pam and Ricky Tinter Ellen Titen Karen Tompkins Heather and Mitchell Tonik Terri Topaz Robin Torch Sharon and Ken Torreyson Eleanor and Jon Totz Matthew Tuttle Cynthia Tyler Renee and Gary Unell Susan and Bill Usdan Mike Valenuuela Dena and Stanley Vogel Leslie Vogelman and Louis Friedman Marsha and Charles Vrono

Harold Vrono Mark Waldinger Sheri and Robert Warnke Cecile Waronker Sherry and George Warsaw Elaine Wecksler Lynne Weiner Aurelie and Randy Weinstein Goldie Weiss Lenny Weissman Roberta Weissman Aletta and Greg Weitz Sharon Weitzman Shirley Romm Wender Nanette Wenger Wendy West Ramona and Ben White Patricia Willis Adele Wineburgh Susan and Jonathan Winner Marilynn and Ronald Winston Karen and Eli Wise Ruth and Herschel Wisebram Jacqueline Wolf Linda and Bernard Wolfe Hilary Wolfe Rina Wolfe Susan and Larry Wolkin Honey and Howard Workman Sheila and Merrill Wynne Janis Zagoria Erin Zagnoev Adrienne Zimmerman Arnold Zipperman Elaine Zitomer and James Dricker Leona and Donald Zivitz Alyson Zonitch Jeannette and Michael Zukor

Patron

Beth and Jared Friedman Sharon Funk and Joshua Hanna Frances and Stuart Galishoff Renie and David Geller Jeff Gershon Melinda Gertz Karen and Steven Goldstein Lawrence Goldstone Daniel Greybar Heleen and Steven Grossman Sherry Halpern Gladys Hirsch Rachel and Chris Hoffmeister Rachael and Michael Joseph Marilyn and Leslie Kelman Annsley and Benjamin Klehr Michelle and Jonathan Lerner S. Jarvin Levison Patsy and Bill Little Sandra and Bob London Hal Mendel Mitzner Family Foundation Emily and Zev Peikin Sharon and Nathan Popky Ralda and Martin Reish Virginia and Milton Saul Joan and Alan Sschwartz Deborah and Gregory Schwartz Harriet Spanier Deborah Spector and Jeffrey Victor Merna and Allen Stein Judy and Gary Stolvitz Meredith Broudy and Marshall Sunshine Lynn Sussman Jeannie and Bob Tepper Andrew Vayhinger and Keith Cristal Jeffery Wasserman

($500-$899)

Bronze

Ann and Herb Alperin Nancy and Robbie Baron Linda and Bruce Beeber Karina and Josh Belinfante Dolores Berlin Diane and Marvin Bernstein Martha and Herbert Blondheim Meryl Braunstein and Alan Shenberg Cheryl and Jeffrey Cohen Diane and Harold Cohen Melissa (Lisa) and Walter Cohen Pamela and Alan Cohen Eileen and Adolphus Coolik Taylor Davis Sterling Eaves and Bill Seitz Elise and Jay Empel Norman Estroff Judith Finkel Joan and Phillip First Lois and Laurence Frank Jane Freedman

Sandy and Davis Abrams Sheila and David Adelman Judy and Joe Balaban Diane Bessen and Steven Weiner Elaine and Jerome Blumenthal Mindi and Richard Bressler Sharon and Richard Browdy Martin Chavez Stanley Cohen Rachael and Jonathan Colton Erica and Andrew Cozewith Allison and Joel Feldman Diana Fiedotin Carol and Warren Fogel Jody and Ramon Franco Nancy and Ronnie Galanti Carolyn Gold Margo and Lawrence Gold Liz and Bobby Goldstein Ruth and Jon Gottleib Alan Guerrieri

($900-$1,799)

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 18

Marlene and Mark Haber Caryn Hanrahan and Andy Siegel Barbara and Steven Jacobs Donna and Douglas Kallman Leonard Klehr Dee and Gerald Kline Marsha and Mark Kozinn Jana and Michael Kreisberg Helaine and Andy Lasky Debbie Smith and Joel Lobel Sandra Marcus June and Gerald Neumark Donna and Philip Newman Sara and Mark Papier Barbara and Bruce Ribner Jennifer and Joel Rosenfeld Dorothy Rosenthal and William Nerenberg Debra and Philip Siegel Carla and Arthur Silver Gary Snyder Tamar and Mark Stern Mona and Philip Sunshine Jerry Wartski Mark Weinstein Sherri and Robert Wildstein Neal Yarm

Judy and Martin Kogon Sherry and Harry Maziar Lori and Stephen Oppenheimer Sally and Alan Pinsker Rosalie and Carl Rosenthal Susan and Ray Schoenbaum Cathy and Richard Swerdlin Jill and Jeffrey Vantosh Zoe and David Zelby Susan Ellman Zweig and Arnold Zweig

Leader

($3,600-$5,399) Irene Aronin Susan and Hadley Engelhard Diane and Stanley Friedman Marianne and Stephen Garber Elaine and Alan Kolodkin Judy and Michael Orkin Hariette Oxman z”l

Sanford Orkin

Contributions to Ahavath Achim Endowment Gary Alexander Vicki and Gerry Benjamin Adolphus and Eileen Coolik in honor of Max and Helen Kuniansky Marilyn Ginsburg Eckstein Sharon Funk and Josh Hanna Robert Kagan and Paula Sunshine Ann Kaplan Sanford Orkin Beth and Gregg Paradies Barbara Schatten z”l Mona and Philip Sunshine Ilene Sunshine Ann and Steven Sunshine

Benefactor

($5,400-$9,999)

Silver

Judith Alembik Phyllis and Eliot Arnovitz ($1,800 - $2,399) Celia and Donald z”l Gilner Jennifer Glazer-Malkin Lorraine (Cookie) and Fred Aftergut Leon Goldstein z”l Linda and Richard Bressler Nancy and Marshall Levine Tyler Curtain and Jay D’Lugin Carolyn Oppneheimer Ana-Maria and Jordan Eisner Beth and Gregg Paradies Stacy and Emanuel Fialkow Donald Reisman Gail and Michael Habif Betty and Alan Sunshine Morris Habif z”l Sheila and Larry Wilensky Barbara and Jay Halpern Marsha and Michael Kalson David Laurence Vicki and Robert Lieberman ($10,000-$19,999) Barbara and George Nathan Melanie Nathanson Gary Alembik and Stephen Graves Lisa and Hal Philipson Ellen Arnovit and Michael Plasker Jo Pichulik Tova and Mark Cohen Judy and Alan Schulman Elisa and Robert Ezor Julie and William Segal Doris and Martin Goldstein Harriet Landau and Nathan Segall Gail Heyman and Lyons Heyman Judy and Allen Soden Jr. Marilyn and Stanley Steinberg Michal and Jack Hillman Rebecca and Andrew Zager Stuart Harvey Hillman Ann Kaplan Nikki Novotny Lynn and Barry Prusin

President's Circle

Gold

($2,400-$3,599)

Dorita and Hal Arnold Marlene Gelernter Besser Barbara and Kenneth Feinberg Jacquelin and Edward Gottlieb Marybeth and Michael Guerrieri Barbara and Alan Kaplan

Rabbi's Circle ($20,000+)

Vicki and Gerald Benjamin Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Sally and Philip Kaplan

19 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Donor Spotlight

By Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein

M

y roots in the AA Synagogue run deep. My two uncles, Max and Joe Cuba, were presidents of the congregation. My two cousins, Drs. Irving and Marvin Goldstein, were also presidents of the congregation. My father, Paul Ginsberg, served on the Board for 20+ years, and I too was honored to serve several years as a board member.

I remember the High Holidays in the Washington Street building sitting in the balcony with my grandmother, mother, aunts and friends looking down at a sea of men praying below. I remember my confirmation at the “big shul” on Washington Street and walking to my grandmother’s house also on Washington Street. We would stop to chat with friends sitting on their porches. There was a feeling of camaraderie, a feeling of family among friends and acquaintances. I remember going to Sunday school in the Tenth Street building. I remember being called to Rabbi Epstein’s office expecting to be reprimanded for skipping class—he asked where we went and laughed when we told him we went to the movies.

Music has always been important in our house. I started taking piano lessons when I was five.

Many times, my mother, father (he played the tenor Saxophone), and I would play music together.

The feeling was fun, warm, and loving, as a family should be. I wanted to bring that feeling to my AA family. I am also a curious person who enjoys learning about events, people, and the world around me through different eyes.

So, what do I do to incorporate all these seemingly unrelated ideas? That’s when the idea for the Cultural Arts Program was born and I’m thrilled that I can be the catalyst to bring it all together.

The AA now has an umbrella fund for all who are interested. It could encompass all divergent ideas.

The only limits are our imaginations.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 20

21 • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Fall 2022 • High Holiday Issue • 22

AHAVATH ACHIM CONGREGATION 600 PEACHTREE BATTLE AVE NW ATLANTA, GA 30327

FIRST-CLASS MAIL US POSTAGE PAID ATLANTA, GA PERMIT NO. 3259