Atlanta Jewish Times, No. 15, May 2, 2014

Regina Spektor Announces Birth of “Super Cute” Baby Boy PAGE 22

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The Mystery of Jews in Limerick, Ireland

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May 2, 2014 – May 8, 2014

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2 iyar – 8 iyar, 5774 vOL. LXXXIX NO. 15

INSPIRED EVENTS

Whether intimate or grand, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa THE Weekly Newspaper Uniting offers the most unique ways the Jewish Community for Over 85 Years to celebrate your simcha.

Deliciously adaptable with our own Kosher Kitchen and Kosher Catering onsite, menus are personalized to your tastes and served with thoughtful presentation.

From the beachfront resort to The Diplomat Golf & Tennis Club overlooking lush greens and soothing fountains, every detail of your special event receives the highest level of care and attention.

TO SPEAK WITH AN EVENT SPECIALIST, CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER AT (855)293-8851 OR EMAIL DIPLOMATINFO@WESTIN.COM 3555 SOUTH OCEAN DRIVE, HOLLYWOOD FLORIDA WWW.DIPLOMATRESORT.COM

Food & Travel

PAGEs 6-17

40 JEWISH LEADERS UNDER 40

Nominate Jewish leaders making an impact in our community to be featured in the AJT’s Summer 40 Under 40 issue.

Email nominations to submissions@atljewishtimes.com

INSPIRED EVENTS Whether intimate or grand, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa offers the most unique ways to celebrate your simcha.

Deliciously adaptable with our own Kosher Kitchen and Kosher Catering onsite, menus are personalized to your tastes and served with thoughtful presentation.

From the beachfront resort to The Diplomat Golf & Tennis Club overlooking lush greens and soothing fountains, every detail of your special event receives the highest level of care and attention.

TO SPEAK WITH AN EVENT SPECIALIST, CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER AT (855)293-8851 OR EMAIL DIPLOMATINFO@WESTIN.COM

May 2 ▪ 2014

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israel

FIDF to Host “A Night to Honor the Soldiers of the IDF”

Recognizing Israel on Yom Ha’atsmaut And Thou shalt Read Oy Toys RaeAn Designs

GALA WILL FOCUS ON FIDF’S LIFE-CHANGING PROGRAMS

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are Israel’s future leaders who, with the help of FIDF and its donors, can realize their greatest potential. These former combat soldiers come from a disadvantaged socio-economic background which would otherwise have prevented them from pursuing higher education. As part of the program requirements, students must complete 130 hours of community service for every year of their scholarship.

The gala will focus on three lifechanging FIDF programs; the FIDF Lone Soldiers Program, the AdoptA-Brigade Program, and the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program, all of which the FIDF Southeast Region actively supports for the wellbeing of the IDF soldiers.

Special guests at the gala will include FIDF National Director and CEO, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yitzhak (Jerry) Gershon, Executive Director of the FIDF Southeast Region, Seth Baron, and FIDF National Board Member and Chairman of the Southeast Region, Garry Sobel. The gala is cochaired by Aviva and Eyal Postelnik and Helen and David Zalik, and the host committee chair is Felicia Voloschin.

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT he Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Southeast Region will host its 2014 Atlanta Gala Dinner, “A Night to Honor the Soldiers of the IDF,” on Thur., May 15 at the Georgia Aquarium. The gala will feature active-duty officers and soldiers as well as a special performance by the IDF Naval Ensemble.

The FIDF will honor the 22 Lone Soldiers from the Atlanta community who have left their families and friends to make Aliyah (move to Israel) and join the IDF. The FIDF Lone Soldiers Program supports IDF soldiers, with no immediate family living in Israel, financially, socially, and emotionally during their challenging military service.

Recently, the FIDF Southeast Region has adopted the IDF Combat Intelligence Corps as part of the FIDF Adopt-A-Brigade Program. This program allows supporters to closely connect with IDF soldiers and focuses on providing financial aid for soldiers in-need and their families, supporting Lone Soldiers, sponsoring general wellbeing activities, and granting scholarships.

The gala will also highlight the importance of the FIDF IMPACT! Scholarship Program. IMPACT! recipients

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Editor’s note: FIDF was established in 1981 by a group of Holocaust survivors as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing and supporting educational, social, cultural, and recreational programs and facilities for the heroic men and women of the IDF. Today, FIDF has more than 120,000 loyal supporters, and 15 regional offices throughout the U.S. and Panama. FIDF proudly offers its support to the IDF soldiers and their families through a variety of unique and innovative programs.

These opportunities reinforce the vital bond between the communities in the United States, the soldiers of the IDF, and the State of Israel. For more, visit: www.fidf.org.

To the Editor: I am delighted that Metro Atlanta has grown to hold the many Holocaust commemorations we now have. But there is one that is unique and it is co-sponsored every year by Hemshech, The Jewish Federation and The Breman Museum. It is The Yom HaShoah Service of Remembrance at the Memorial For the Six Million at Greenwood Cemetery.

This monument was created by survivors in 1965. It’s the second oldest Holocaust Memorial in the United States and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Ashes from Dachau are buried there. It is the closest thing to the gravesite of their loved ones who perished in the Shoah that our survivors have. For 49 years, Atlanta survivors, their families, friends and members of our community have held this event the morning of the first Sunday after Passover.

I want to take this opportunity for a special request: out of respect for our survivors, would it be possible to refrain from holding Yom HaShoah commemorations and other programs on the morning of the first Sunday after Passover?

Although all Jews have been touched by the Holocaust, only those who were there, suffered it in their very being. They need to be honored and cherished.

Thanks for your kind attention, Sara Ghitis, Chair, Atlanta Holocaust Council of the Atlanta Jewish Community Relations Council

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The Atlanta Jewish Times Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY ZADOK PUBLISHING, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, ATLANTA, GA 30328 ©COPYRIGHT 2014 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MEMBER AMERICAN-ISRAELI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com.

AJT

israel

Israeli Pride

GOOD NEWS MADE IN THE JEWISH STATE THIS PAST WEEK

Genetic-engineered tissue to repair muscle injury. For the first time ever, Israeli Technion scientists have transplanted engineered muscle tissue containing major blood vessels to repair a damaged abdomen. The breakthrough may lead to full abdominal surgery in humans using laboratory-generated tissue.

The DNA on/off switch. Hebrew University of Jerusalem geneticists have identified how different species of animals can have so many identical genes. Genes are silenced by on/off patterns in the epigenome. They also explain how twins with identical DNA sequences can have so many different characteristics.

African Hebrew Israelite proudly serves in IDF. Private Menusa Ben Israel grew up in the African Israelite Hebrew community of Dimona. The cultural group was founded in Chicago, and in the 1960s, its members immigrated to Israel. Menusa was born in Israel and her father is the leader of the community.

Women’s soccer team includes Arabs and Jews. When the Israeli women’s soccer team Hapoel Petach Tikva lost a number of its players to Israel’s national team ahead of World Cup qualifiers, founder Rafi Subra made a decision that sets the team apart from many of its rivals - he recruited from the Arab villages of northern Israel.

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Ex-IDF soldier rescues baby from burning car. The Israeli, identified only as Shlomo and his friend heard an explosion outside a synagogue in North London, UK. They managed to save a baby and an elderly man from a car just moments before flames engulfed it.

The world’s top producer of in-cab mobile terminals. Israel’s Micronet supplies half a million terminals for fleet vehicles such as trucks and taxis – more than any other manufacturer.

The company’s new A317 model just released now allows users to run apps developed for Android-based tablets.

Belt protects against radiation. Israel’s Stemrad has developed a belt to protect first responders from gamma radiation - for situations such as the disaster at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The belt protects the pelvic area, where most of the body’s renewable bone marrow is concentrated.

Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes. The drug is undergoing a Phase III clinical trial, with results due in the first quarter of 2015.

IBM launches Israeli start-up accelerator. IBM Corporation is joining the wave of technology incubator programs with the launch of its first-ever start-up accelerator in Israel. IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator will provide a 24-week program providing free use of IBM’s development tools and services up to a value of $24,000.

Israel to insulate US fridges. In the near future, when you buy a Whirlpool refrigerator, Israeli insulation

Biodegradable packaging attracts Hong Kong billionaire. Horizon Venture, owned by Hong Kong’s Li Kashing is leading a $10 million investment round in Israel’s Tipa. The Israeli start-up has developed beverage packaging that is biodegradable within 180 days.

will be keeping your food cool. Israel’s Hanita Coatings produces advanced thermal insulation technology that is up to seven times more effective than conventional plastic foams or fibrous insulation.

70% rise in Ukrainian Aliya. Immigration to Israel from the Ukraine has risen 70 percent in 2014 due to the instability in that country. 375 new immigrants arrived in Israel in the first three months of the year, compared to 221 in the same period of 2013. Over 100 came from Odessa – 3 times the number for Quarter 1 2013.

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Amazon Fire TV features Israeli video app. Israel’s Magisto turns home movies into professional quality video.

Amazon’s newly announced Amazon Fire TV promotes Magisto as giving customers “access to their favorite video and photo memories right in their living rooms, displayed in a visually stunning way.” $570 million for juvenile diabetes company. Israel’s Andromeda Biotech has been purchased by Hyperion Therapeutics for a total of $570 million. Andromeda’s DiaPep277 is a therapy for

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Treatment to stop epilepsy development. Attacks of epilepsy that have been brought on by head injury could be prevented using a new treatment developed by a team including scientists from Ben-Gurion University. In laboratory tests, Losartan (marketed as Cozaar) significantly cut down seizures.

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AJT

Food & Travel bask in the sunshine

experience the renewal of southern luxury at the Westin hilton head island Resort and spa following our $30 million renovation.

Discover our transformed oceanfront resort throughout our main lobby, luxurious guestrooms and five dining venues. nourish your soul on our sandy beaches, relax at our heavenly spa by Westin or challenge yourself at our Port Royal Golf & tennis club.

May 2 ▪ 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION, VISIT WESTINHHI.COM OR CALL 843.681.4000

©2014 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

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AJT

Food & Travel

Around the World in One Bite

A Contemporary Twist on Global Cuisine in the Perimeter Area

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ood and travel combine to create an intense love affair.

You may be in the comfort of home, but one smell of Gambas a la Plancha will evoke the memory of a beachside lunch in Barcelona. A taste of Roasted Duck Leg and French Fingerlings transports you to a candlelit dinner on a patio in Paris with the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the background.

Carefully prepared dishes can pack the spirit of a foreign culture into one bite. When languages don’t perfectly translate, food is there to serve as the common denominator, uniting strangers into a common experience.

International palates seeking the very best from all over can stop searching for their favorites from afar. Portico Global Cuisine has made Dunwoody the epicenter for global cuisine.

Stimulate the Senses Culinary time travel involves all the senses. Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch all combine to both create memories, and evoke them. For Portico Global Cuisine Executive Chef Brian Lee, his cooking brings him back to a very special part of the world: his mother’s

kitchen.

“It was the memories of watching my mother cook traditional Korean meals and viewing Jacques Pepin and Martin Yan cooking shows that ignited my passion for cooking,” Lee said. “I realized cooking was truly my destiny.”

time, and can extend well into the evening as the meal begins with antipasto, closes with dessert, and is followed by caffè and ammazzacaffè. Conversation fills the in-between moments to make it much more than just a meal.

Portico Global Cuisine adds indigenous This destiny aspects of Atlanta translated into enticalongside these globing European and al traditions. RelyAsian flavors, like ing on the freshest Lee’s Lemongrass inseasonal ingredients, fused Lobster Bisque, Portico’s kitchen is Chef Brian Lee an Asian influenced committed to utilizvariation on the clasing the highest qualsic method or his ity products sourced from farms and Steamed Mussels, a traditional Euartisanal producers both locally and ropean dish with Middle Eastern and abroad. The result is a whirlwind adSpanish accents. venture around the world, found in one bite.

Sharing the Experience As these culinary traditions express, dining is very much an experience of life that is enhanced when shared with others. Stimulating flavors augment private gatherings and special events.

Sharing the experience of food is a tradition that stems back into ancient history. It was customary in ancient societies to provide food for others as a symbolic gesture of friendship. To accept the food was to show trust. These practices have evolved into the meetings, private gatherings, and special events we know today.

“It’s never ‘just dinner’,” Lee emphasizes. “Food will always be a unifying factor of community and permeates our lives from the time we wake up, until the time our heads hit the pillows.”

Editor’s note: Portico Global Cuisine 111 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta. (770) 280-0990. www.porticoglobalcuisine.com

Culinary Culture While taste preferences are individually unique, food contributes to culture as a whole. Food shapes us and our culture, while some may argue food is culture.

“Much of the inherent pleasure associated with food comes from our curiosity in exploring the many different ways that people throughout the world think about, use, and value food,” Gastronomica Editor Melissa Caldwell said.

Food is a basic need, but there is nothing boring about it.

In Spain, socializing is centered around tapas. These small plates that are full of flavor, contribute to conversation and become a focal point of the day.

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It is such a valued practice, that the word has been made into an action. The phrase “Vamos a tapear!” Literally means “Let’s go eat tapas!”

Food similarly brings people together in Italy. Sunday lunches are reserved for family

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May 2 ▪ 2014

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Food & Travel

AJT

South Florida Getaway for Your Next Event THE PERKS OF A TOP VENUE WITH THE INDULGENCE OF A RESORT

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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or those craving an exciting change of scenery for their wedding, bachelorette party or special golfing trip, but aren’t looking to bust their budget, a holiday in South Florida might be the perfect solution.

Visitors can enjoy a tropical feel without ever having to leave the country, staying only a short drive away from America’s hottest nightlife in Miami.

Set against South Florida’s natural beauty, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa is ideally suited for all of the aforementioned occasions and more. Whether planning to celebrate your new beginning or host the perfect event, The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa offers a wealth of

opportunities imaginative locations and professional planners.

A team of wedding and event planners will help you create unique sites that are perfect for intimate ceremonies, formal functions and everything in between. Experience serene views from the elegant, ocean-facing Grand Ballroom or choose from countless smaller ballrooms and function spaces, many with private terraces.

Beachfront ceremonies, poolside receptions and creative interiors offer the perfect backdrop for your cherished memory in the making.

This AAA 4-Diamond rated resort offers a team of wedding, culinary and event planners for a day that is uniquely yours.

Not only is The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa an architectural won-

The Right Place. The Right Time.

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May 2 ▪ 2014

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providing Life enriching care at an affordable price! come meet our dedicated and caring team members. call 770-350-2393 or cferguson@northstarsl.com

der overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, it is located just nine miles south of Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport and 25 miles north of Miami International Airport, nearby attractions include world-class shopping at the Aventura Mall, Bal Harbour Shops, and Sawgrass Mills Mall.

Thoroughbred horse racing and casino gaming are just steps away at Gulfstream Park. Exploring the area is a breeze with water taxi service as well as, the city trolley, both making regular stops at the resort.

Resort amenities include a host of delectable casual and fine dining options, two outdoor pools, a championship 18-hole golf course managed

by Internationally-renowned Troon Golf®, a full-service Heavenly Spa by Westin™, Westin Workout® Fitness Center, Westin Kids Club®, Tennis Center and two marinas with deepwater dockage.

Enjoy the ultimate pool and

beachside comfort with private cabanas, beach loungers and a variety of watersports to refresh and rejuvenate. The one-of-a-kind infinity-edge pool has a see-through bottom and two waterfalls that flow into a 240foot lagoon pool.

Dining is one of the most pleasurable indulgences you’ll experience during your stay at the resort. A host of different dining options cater to a wide range of appetites. The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa is a refreshing haven with a variety of amenities to make the healthiest choices irresistible and to ensure all guests leave feeling better than when they arrived.

Editor’s Note: For more information and reservations call (954) 602-6000 or visit www.diplomatresort.com

AJT

Food & Travel

Your 2014 Travel Hot Spots

KENSINGTON TOURS ANNOUNCES TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR 2014

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ensington Tours polled its Destination Experts for the travel trends they have identified and for those that they forecast for 2014. Kensington’s team of seasoned nomads, globetrotters and adventure enthusiasts came back with this list of insightful new trends and tips for vacation planning this year.

African Nirvana – Safaris for Mind, Body & Soul Imagine a sunrise yoga session overlooking the animal-filled plains of the Masai Mara or Sabi Sands. As no place on Earth is quite as organic, rejuvenating or transcendent as Africa, it was only a matter of time until the wellness retreat concept of Central America and Asia caught on. 2014 sees luxury eco-lodges and savvy safari camps across the continent featuring all the offerings from traditional organic cuisine, holistic spa treatments and hot springs to bush yoga sessions, running guides and spiritual blessings for travelers to enjoy between safaris.

Extreme 21st Century Adventures Traveling with Modern Day Explorers 21st century explorers have been documented on television and their adventures have been immortalized in books, but for the first time in 2014, travelers will have the chance to actually accompany them on an expedition. Designed to bring the spirit and thrill of exploration to travel enthusiasts, Kensington Tour’s Explorers in Residence program offers guests the chance for experiences such as meeting Madagascar’s lemurs with a renowned primatologist, discovering the Galapagos with a famous photographer, trekking China’s Tea Horse Road with an author, experiencing Iceland’s Northern Lights with a renowned TV personality, exploring Africa with a descendant of Livingstone and more. In 2014, nothing quite says adventure like traveling with those who know the world is not yet entirely discovered.

The Farm to Table Philosophy - Going Global Instead of delicacies being imported from across the world, modern-day foodies will be the ones making the trip. Today’s culinary aficionados are savvier than ever and asking to go beyond traditional market visits, wine tastings and cooking lessons. The future of epicurean adventure is far more of a culturally vernacular experience and focused on sustainable agriculture, community supported farming and heirloom organic experiences.

In-depth encounters, such as over-

nights at small family farms in South Africa, days spent alongside Mallorcan shepherds in Spain, participation in Italy’s time honored olive or grape harvest in Puglia, beekeeping in Slovenia, organic Balinese meals with farmers and herding cattle with the gauchos of Patagonia will be much sought after in the coming year.

Private Yachts - Villas of the Seas The villa craze of the last couple decades is taking to the seas in 2014 as in-the-know travelers discover the pleasures of the private yacht. Presenting all the luxury and intimacy of a villa, fully-crewed private ship charters offer groups of families and friends the thrill of touring different regions without the long drives, flights and repacking. Yachts also go where bigger cruise vessels cannot, to showcase sites that would otherwise remain unseen. With private yachts, passengers can be the captain of their own adventure, dropping anchor at their own pace. A new fleet of affordable charters in Hawaii, Greece, Italy, Turkey and Galapagos in 2014 also means that journeys by private yacht aren’t just for the rich and famous anymore.

Normandy’s 21st Century Invasion Commemorating D-Day June 6, 2014 marks the 70th anniversary of D-Day in France, making it the ideal time for a pilgrimage to this storied site. Travelers, historians and descendants of soldiers can follow in the footsteps of history by visiting the gripping beaches and haunting battle sites of Normandy. Regal commemorations, exhibitions, monuments, historical reenactments, parades, open-air concerts, parachute drops and fireworks throughout the year will honor the brave people who fought in World War II.

sults in tailor-made journeys that are carefully handcrafted to deliver personalized adventures like no other company. Kensington Tours was named to “World’s Best Awards 2011” by Travel + Leisure Magazine and named one of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth,” by the editors of National Geographic Adventure Magazine.

Editor’s Note: Kensington Tours offers custom and private guided tours to over 90 countries worldwide. The flexibility of Kensington’s offerings re-

Safaris With Heart – Hands-On Animal Conservation Exotic animal encounters on an African safari are not just for photoops anymore. Instead, travelers are delving beyond the lens to interact and help foster the preservation of endangered species and their habitats. From spending a day with antipoaching units in Kenya, volunteering at a cheetah sanctuary in Namibia and monitoring endangered wild dogs in South Africa to walking with rescued elephants in Botswana, explaining the benefits of lemur conservation to tribes in Madagascar and helping to protect black rhinos in Zambia, there are a variety of ways for visitors to leave their legacy in Africa.

Philippines: A Journey to Recovery Before the devastating effects of last November’s typhoon, the “Pearl of the Pacific” had been climbing the globetrotting hotlists due to its exotic animal safaris, idyllic beaches, new generation of luxury properties and growing support for tourism. The Philippines is not to be missed as a 2014 destination as highlights such as Manila, Cebu, the chocolate hills of Bohol and the beaches of Bora are unaffected and the islands need visitors more than ever. Tourism revenue will prove an essential component in the efforts to rebuild and will directly benefit the smiling and resilient Filipino people.

May 2 ▪ 2014

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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Food & Travel

AJT

Why Try Christophe’s To Go?

THREE WORDS: PASSION, FRESHNESS AND CONVENIENCE

By Chef Christophe Le Metayer Special for the AJT Taste the Passion Chef Christophe Le Metayer is a native of France who has pursued his love of food and the culinary arts for three decades. He is passionate about the importance of using the freshest and best ingredients, the correct way to season, bringing out natural flavors, and countless other nuances of masterful cooking. Most of the time this unassuming chef is quietly focused. He lets his food speak for him.

If you’re lucky, he may offer you a sample with a friendly, sage smile.

Behind this smile lies unparalleled cooking experience, phenomenal artistic talent, and the almost certain knowledge that you will enjoy his flavorful creation. Chef Christophe loves food, but more importantly, he loves improving the well-being of others by creating truly memorable dining experiences.

Beginning in his early days in Paris and continuing beyond his time at the Ritz-Carlton in Buckhead, Chef Christophe developed a unique culi-

nary style that combines traditional French techniques with exotic international flavors. He creates meals that remind you that good food should be savored. In an era of overly elaborate cuisine, Chef Christophe brings elegant simplicity to his entrées, a reflection of old world artisanship from his classical training.

After working in numerous awardwinning restaurants in Europe, Chef Christophe had a vision for a new kind of business, offering premium quality, healthy meals that are affordable and convenient. Christophe’s To Go is the realization of that vision, his dedication, and his passion.

Fresh Tastes Better Christophe’s To Go is a brand built on a foundation of fresh food and clean eating. All of the entrées are made from scratch every day with the freshest fruits and vegetables. Chef Christophe only uses responsibly raised meat and poultry and wild-caught seafood, because he knows that these premium ingredients are the most flavorful and the healthiest. Christophe’s To Go never uses artificial colors or

flavors, or preservatives of any kind. Instead of chemicals with names that are hard to pronounce, the labels at Christophe’s To Go have simple lists of ingredients like bell peppers, sweet potatoes, and grass-fed beef. Unless you start your own farm, it’s pretty tough to get food fresher and better than this.

Convenient and Healthy In today’s busy world, we’re all trying to balance work, family, and friends, and it seems like there are never enough hours in the day. Given all the demands of modern life, who has the time or inclination to shop for groceries, cook a meal from scratch, and clean up a kitchen full of dirty dishes? We all want something convenient that tastes good and is good for us. Dining out all the time is expensive. Fast food and traditional take-out are easy, but everyone knows they aren’t healthy. Christophe’s To Go offers a truly unique al-

ternative: an extensive selection of healthy, flavorful meals that are affordable and ready to enjoy at home in about 20 minutes. An impressive assortment of gluten-free, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan options means everyone can find something to love at Christophe’s To Go. The menu includes more than 30 entrées, most in individual portions, making it easy for everyone to enjoy their favorite meals. With beautiful, upscale stores in Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, and Johns Creek, grabbing a quick lunch or picking up dinner on the way home from work has never been so convenient. The next time you’re trying to figure out what’s for dinner, forget crowded restaurants and fast food.

Come to Christophe’s To Go for food that’s healthy in a hurry.

Editors note: To fine out more about Christophes to Go visit their website at www.christophestogo.com.

Le Meridien AtLAntA PeriMeter 111 Perimeter Center West Atlanta, Georgia 30346 T +1 770 396 6800 lemeridien.com/ atlantaperimeter

TASTE THE UNEXPECTED

Discover innovative flavors and a new culinary perspective at Portico Global Cuisine, located inside Le Méridien Atlanta Perimeter. Featuring an eclectic menu of fresh, globally inspired fare, Executive Chef, Brian Lee, introduces a contemporary twist on worldwide favorites.

May 2 ▪ 2014

Indoor/Outdoor seating is available. Walk-ins welcome, reservations recommended. For group/event inquiries, please contact our Private Events Sales Manager at 770 280 0673.

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AJT

Food & Travel

The Westin: A Shining New Star on Hilton Head Island

It’s the perfect destination for your next getaway, family gathering or special occasion SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

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spectacular $30 million renovation and impressive occupancy rates signal success for The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa. Major renovations were made to the entire resort - all 416 guest rooms, six dining outlets and over 37,000 square feet of banquet and event areas were completely redone. The panoramic oceanfront restaurant and bar, View 32, is all-new and overlooks the resort’s three pools and out onto the Atlantic. The Main Lobby also now features a two-story vertical garden and conservatory.

The work took well over a year

of the beautifully appointed hotel and the island’s revitalization that has Hilton Head Island back as the No. 1 beach destination in the Southeast.”

The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa is the perfect destination for your next relaxing getaway,

family gathering or special occasion.

Come visit soon. For more, visit www. westinHHI.com or call 843-681-4000.

Also, the resort boasts The Heavenly Spa, named the Best Spa in South Carolina. Guests will discover complete salon services as well as a variety of rejuvenating treatments reflecting the soothing elements of the Carolina Coast.

The Westin aspires to be the premier Beach Wedding venue in the Southeast. With over 10,000 square feet of private, oceanfront event space, the resort can accommodate both ceremonies and receptions on the new synthetic decking for over 400 people, right along the beach.

The elegant Grand Ballroom offers an alternative indoor venue to accommodate gatherings up to 750 people.

and was officially unveiled during the Grand Renewal Celebration and ribbon-cutting with Governor Nikki Haley, who remarked that the stylish “new” Westin is the epitome of “Coastal Chic.” Gail Wargo, director of sales and marketing said, “Our renovations have really elevated the property to a higher level of resort excellence. It’s a perfect combination

The investments made have already shown impressive results.

Meetings and conferences booked by national associations and Fortune 500 corporations have already bolstered occupancy for the resort.

Leisure guests, as well as wedding groups, have also discovered the new gem, and are visiting in record numbers for the property.

May 2 ▪ 2014

Families especially, delight in the wide recreation opportunities available to guests of The Westin. In partnership with Outside Hilton Head, water toys of all types are available at the poolside kiosk.

Arrangements can also be made for discovering the joys of the Lowcountry ecology – dolphin tours, kayaking trips and a variety of fishing expeditions.

11

AJT

Food & Travel

Sufi’s Persian Dining Turns Heads

CONVENIENT LOCATION, NEW MENU PROVIDES PERFECT ATMOSPHERE SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

S

ufi’s Atlanta has established itself as the city’s premier Persian restaurant. Sufi’s is a fine-dining establishment serving authentic Persian cuisine in the Brookwood neighborhood of Atlanta, conveniently located between Buckhead and Midtown on Peachtree Street. At Sufi’s, you will experience a wide array of authentic Persian dishes, which you can enjoy in an elegant dining room or on their spacious patio, ideal for alfresco dining.

Whether it’s a quick lunch, a romantic date, or a family Shabbat dinner, the staff of Sufi’s Atlanta is dedicated to making your visit unique and memorable. No matter if you are new to Persian food or a long-standing guest, the staff is friendly and always willing to help you with menu suggestions.

Owner Mohsen Roozi said, “Consistently serving great food is vitally important, but a restaurant is more than its food. A restaurant is also its atmosphere, the service, the music… people come here for the experience.

Mostly, I want their time at Sufi’s to be memorable.” Mohsen is pleased to say that, “These days we have been busy with booking lots of graduation parties. They love our food and have been recommending us to friends and family for their spring weddings and summer events. We are lucky to be in a prime location that is easy to get to and offers ample parking space.

We have been working on a new wine menu as well as a special-rate, group lunch menu, which is getting a great response.”

Interested in delivery to your home or office? Sufi’s offers this through Zifty.com, which offers delivery all over town. With an elegant

dining area, relaxing ambience and traditional menus, Sufi’s is the ultimate Persian dining experience.

May 2 ▪ 2014

Editor’s notes:Sufi’s Atlanta is located at 1814 Peachtree Street,Atlanta, GA 30309 For Reservations or questions about their group and special event menus Please call: (404) 888.9699

12

AJT

Food & Travel

The Mystery of Jews in Limerick, Ireland

EXPLORING THE PAST, PRESENT, AND HARPS INSIDE THE STAR OF DAVID SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

D

espite my love of travel, for me, the statement “life is a journey” has reached almost cliché proportions. Deep down, where a few good men want to go, I feel that life is a search, a quest, and a struggle about irresolvable questions.

For my forthcoming trip returning to Ireland, my first since acquiring Irish citizenship (hence European Union citizen status), I have an unusual “Jewish question.”

Why would a socialist mayor, an atheist from Limerick, a conspicuously Catholic city, support the reconstruction and funding of an obscure Jewish cemetery interred with Lithuanian Jews, who may have descendants in Atlanta?

Benjamin of Tudela, who traveled for 10 years in the sixth and seventh decades of the 12th century, recorded the existence of both small and large Jewish communities. I have put the Spanish part of his route on my bucket list, and have “The Itinerary of Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela” on my shelf.

Though I will physically not be able to retrace “Travels with Charley” by John Steinbeck, somewhere from my reading I remember a line, that a trip begins before one leaves and ends before returning home.

The Spark of Inspiration

The rich literature about Ireland at Emory University led me to books on the history of Jews in the Emerald Isle, as well as to a biography of Jim Kemmy, mayor of Limerick from 1991-1992, and 1995-1996.

Further research unearthed the Kilmurray Cemetery, in Castleroy, County Limerick, purchased a century ago by Lithuanian Jews probably from the Kovno province and the communities around Akmene not far from the Baltic Sea.

In the late 1980s, Limerick city officials had begun to refurbish the burial plots, cut the grass, erect identification signs and spend public money on the cemetery.

On Wed., Nov. 14, 1990 at 2:30 p.m., a formal ceremony celebrated the restoration of the Jewish “burial ground and prayer house,” including the planting of trees, speeches, prayers, and the acknowledging of unknown Jewish souls with unique markings on two headstones.

Why had religious, civic, elected and administrative dignitaries, including the Chief Rabbi, the very Reverend Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, consecrated this space with an invitational event?

Obvious reasons abound. The 1904 Limerick economic boycott with its intense mistreatment of the local Jewish

population was still within the records and memories of many.

The mutual suffering of Lithuanian Jews, coming from pogrom-riddled Russian shtetls, and the Irish efforts to rid itself of British controls had matured into a mutual respect for common sufferings.

Learning from Jim Kemmy

The local Limerick interest in history, spearheaded by authors including Des Ryan and editor Jim Kemmy in the Old Limerick Journal explains even more connections.

Still the biography of Jim Kemmy by Brian Callanan suggests a deeper reason, an unexpected familial tie between Limerick and Lithuania.

Jim’s paternal grandfather, Joseph, was a stonemason, as was his son Michael and his grandson, Jim. The craft was so developed that Limerick stonemasons traveled to Russia to assist Russian kiln-makers with proper stonework.

To date, I have not uncovered where six tradesmen including Joseph Kemmy, Paddy Bourke, Dennis O’Keefe, and Frank Kenny went in “Russia,” somewhere after the Marquis of Salisbury issued Joseph a passport on Oct. 31, 1890.

Is it conceivable that westwardbound Lithuanian Jews disembarked from a steamer in the southern Ireland port of Cobh, while the returning ship carried half a dozen builders to communities and kilns near the Grainza Koziova Station on the Vovonega Rostov railway in the Department of Lipetsk?

of Irish Jews such as attorney Elliott Levites and Billy Silver, M.D. have already made this search meaningful. Along with histories and stories, my upcoming first-hand research should prompt subsequent articles about Lithuanian-IrishAtlanta Jews around the fin de siècle.

So what is my initial hunch? Why did Jim Kemmy care about the Jewish Cemetery in Castletroy?

It seems possible that westwardbound Jews getting off a ship near Cork one day late in the year 1890, came down a crowded gangplank onto a quay and accidentally bumped into a handful of stonemasons with their tools boarding the same White Star vessel headed to Russia.

Three or four months later, this same ship returned with a new load of frightened refugees and also a handful of tired stonemasons happy to be home.

That same Lithuanian from the original voyage was there to meet relatives and spotted the Irish workers led by Kemmy, who also remembered the jostle from months ago.

Kemmy, ever the habitual friendly

Irishman, fresh from working with Russians, spoke first, “Slainte.” In a quieter, yet strong accent, the Akmene native, now Irish resident, said genuinely, “Shalom.”

Jim Kemmy’s grandfather may have met Jews in Russia and carried his friendship down through the years, despite the upsurge of anti-Semitism in the first five years of the 20th century, and other historical events associated with independence, wars, and troubles.

The headstones of two unknown Jews mark the mysterious roots of a Lithuanian-Ireland-Atlanta-Jewish connection, in that Limerick cemetery.

Each marker is decorated with an Irish harp inside the Star of David, which begs further questions; what secrets lie within those persons and symbols that have continued L’dor va `dor?

Tom Keating and Lynne, his wife, are members of The Temple. On a trip to Ireland eight years ago, they found the cottage, birth certificate and other papers of Tom’s paternal grandfather.

Fresh Gourmet Meals To Go Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Paleo, Vegan

For what purpose were the “Limerick Six” going to Russia? Believe it or not, they were building kilns for the new pork curing industry to process bacon. Irish families like the O’Mara’s had overseas businesses curing bacon in Russia.

At the same time, some Lithuanians, Riga Latvians, residents of Courland and shtetls deep inside the Pale of Settlement were voyaging to Ireland’s urban areas such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork, and Limerick. And for what opportunities?

Some 1901 hand-enumerated census sheets record Hebrews as drapers, cabinet-makers, or peddlers. Historians write that some knocked on doors with wares as indigenous as Catholic holy cards of Mary and Jesus.

Of course, archival research at the University of Limerick in Jim Kemmy’s four files marked “Limerick Jews 19531997” may uncover his grandfather’s destination. Sure it will be rewarding when I plow through city archives or interview his brother in mid-May.

What of living descendants of families, which left Ireland and came to Atlanta, such as the Levitas family or the Clein clan?

Initial conversations with offsprings

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May 2 ▪ 2014

BY TOM KEATING

www.christophestogo.com Open Daily 10:00 am to 8:00 pm

13

AJT

Food & Travel

At iNatural Catering, Eco-Clean Food Makes a Difference!

Café Intermezzo, The European Coffeehouse

By Forriss Elliott & Shirley Moon

tion. All beautiful, delicious menus are not equal.

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

The proof rests with the client recommendations:

NOT ALL BEAUTIFUL, DELICIOUS MENUS ARE EQUAL.

Tower: “Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff” Eastern 702: “Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure ... By the way, after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway.”

T o w e r : “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?”

Continental 635: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern ... we’ve already notified our caterers.”

Of course that’s a joke, but it’s amazing how humor and reality run closer than we want to admit.

As a caterer, I can truly say our conscientious customers care what they eat! They understand the difference between great tasting, beautiful food and iNatural Catering’s great tasting, beautiful food that’s ecoClean. Eco-Clean food contains no added chemicals, colorants, preservatives, MSG or other health harming agents. It’s food that in the past has not been provided for you at events and celebrations until iNatural Catering came along about four years ago with a passionate commitment to provide clean food, clear of added chemicals and preservatives. Imagine five star menus – delicious, beautiful and healthy.

May 2 ▪ 2014

This type of catering makes a difference: all natural, unprocessed food created from scratch. The result is unhampered fabulous flavor bursting through to your palate. Fun foods enjoyed at your celebrations without the guilt of consuming high fat, high carb cuisine. The difference is on a daily basis, regardless of the occasion, request or menu, iNatural specializes in limiting chemicals, additives, colo14 rants & hormones in your menu selec-

Dr. Howard W. Silverman, M.D. & Dr. Judith Tolkan, M.D., of Roswell Pediatrics

“iNatural catered our new partners’ dinner party celebration at our home and it was fabulous! Their display was exquisite and we loved the delicious food and professional service.

Most of all we were excited about the subtle healthy theme that no one seemed to notice because the food was so good.”

Dayl Soll, Dir. of Events for Club Magnolia in Augusta and for Empire Tickets, Buckhead

“I’ve been a certified wedding planner for many years, and an event planner & designer who’s done thousands of bar and bat mitzvahs, weddings and corporate events. I absolutely adore what iNatural is doing.

In an era of healthy eating, they are able to make healthy food look and taste great and creative! There isn’t a company like them that I’ve ever worked with … ”

Dr. Brian K. Nadolne, M.D., Family Physician & Chair of Family Medicine Dept. at Northside Hospital

“They provided a well rounded lunch for the entire office that was delicious and Passover friendly. I’ve since ordered again and enjoyed everything provided.”

Editor’s Notes: Article by Husband & wife team, Forriss Elliott & Shirley Moon. Forriss is a J.D. & a foodie with a passion for his role as Executive Chef at iNatural. Shirley has a background in small business consulting & has practiced the holistic lifestyle from childhood. iNatural Catering / No Chemicals or Preservatives Added. www.inaturalcatering.com.

(770) 875-8059.

YOUR PETITE VIENNESE VACATION RIGHT HERE IN ATLANTA

L

ong before the modern “coffee houses” adorned corners all over America, Café Intermezzo embodied the essence of the 300 year-old European coffeehouse. Step into Café Intermezzo, and you are stepping into another time, another place. It’s a vacation, a holiday, an intermezzo (intermission) between the busy acts of your life. A wonderful cappuccino, a beautiful pastry, and your getaway or rendezvous is complete. On another visit, you might enjoy lunch, or dinner, or an appetizer with a glass of wine or a cocktail.

The Beverage Book offers over 800 choices. “Tour Guides” take you through descriptions of over one hundred pastries. The choices are dramatic, and you can partake in choosing every day of the year. Café Intermezzo has been presenting the place, the time, and the choices for over thirty years. It is truly a tradition, complete only with the presence of you.

Café Intermezzo began as an idea in 1971, when Brian Olson traveled to his heritage homeland of Germany. Visiting a konditorei in Berlin (bakery-café), and then many more throughout Germany and Austria, brought conviction that Das Europäische Kaffeehaus (The European coffeehouse), as a significant place in the lives of its guests, had a potential for a home in America. As a respite in a person’s day, a place to stop, to relax, to think…as an “intermission” between all of the activities and responsibilities, Olson believed that the Kaffeehaus would provide a distinct and wonderful refuge; an alternative to the ever-expanding world of fastfood and environments designed to expedite takeout beverages and foods.

The European coffeehouse represents the antithesis of food and drink in a hurry. Here the music, the aro-

mas, the art, the sheer nature of the Café all represents the essence of the coffeehouse experience. It’s a Place.

“Rush” and chaos are left outside the door. Inside abounds the almost ethereal stuff of thought, of the body atease and the mind simply doing what its owner wants it to do. Rendezvous with a friend, hold a meeting, or simply ponder the moment, the day, or the lifetime: each is, and all are, suf-

ficient unto the reason for being there.

The menus hold a plethora of choices, including the Beverage Book of over 60 pages, with coffees, teas, many distinct beverages without alcohol, as well as liquors and liqueurs, wines and champagnes, and beers from many countries; pastry selections numbering over 70 on display and 125 in total; and breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night cuisine choices, all house-prepared. The freedom of choice can help make a visit to the Café unique indeed, with each guest having the ability to tailor her or his selections to their whims and fancies of the moment.

The first Café Intermezzo opened in Park Place in Dunwoody, December 1979. The second took form in December of 1987, on Peachtree in Brookwood. The third opened in December, 2009 in the Atlanta Airport, Concourse B.

Café Intermezzo, the European Coffeehouse: open to serve you from early morning until late-night every day of the year. Your petite Viennese vacation right here in Atlanta.

Editor’s note: To learn more about Cafe Intermezzo log onto www.cafeintermezzo.com or call (770) 396-1344

Summer is Always in Season at Sandestin!

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BAR/BAT MITZVAHS SHABBAT DINNERS BRUNCHES REHEARSAL DINNERS CEREMONIES rich, beautiful rooms and table settings

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andestin Golf and Beach Resort, the No. 1 resort on Florida’s Emerald Coast, is a major destination for all seasons and all ages. The resort invites guests to a world of 2,400 acres and 30 charming neighborhoods featuring more than 1,250 accommodations.

The perfect destination for your 2014 vacation; Sandestin packs in the value with complimentary amenities, resort events and family-friendly activities that are sure to please people of all ages.

The resort, known for its beautiful and clear emerald green waters, features more than seven miles of beaches and pristine bay front, four immaculately manicured championship golf courses, 15 worldclass tennis courts, 19 swimming pools, a 113-slip marina, a fitness center and spa and The Village of Baytowne Wharf.

Soak up the fun in the sun with beautiful beaches, YOLO Boarding, bicycling, kayaking and so much more! The lovely temperatures are perfect for activities like the upcoming holiday weekend for Memorial Day or the Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic in June.

Editor’s note: Take advantage of Sandestin’s FREE Night offer this May (code: FREE4). For more, visit www.sandestin.com/ajt or call (866) 91-BEACH to book your Sandestin vacation today!

full-service bars with an extensive selection of wine, spirits and champagnes authentic, chef-prepared italianamerican dishes served buffet or family style skilled banquet managers experienced in a wide range of social, religious and cultural events

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MAGGIANOS.COM/BANQUETS

May 2 ▪ 2014

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

15

AJT

Food & Travel

Quest for the Kosher Quail

THANKS TO A RABBI AND HEIROGLYPHICS, WE HAVE THE ANSWER SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

I

never expected that my class in organic agriculture would bring me to learn about the kashrus of quail and of other birds. Of course, I learned these things indirectly as a result of the class, and not in the class itself.

While in the process of doing research on the differences between eggs of pastured and non-pastured (conventionally raised) chickens, I became interested in eggs of different birds and how they differ from chicken eggs.

For instance, I was told that duck eggs, “a baker’s secret” are commonly used by many bakers as their yolks are desired for rich cakes and cookies. I then went in search of finding some to see for myself how they differ. This search brought me to find the eggs of a bird that had never even crossed my mind: quail.

While looking for duck eggs in a local farmer’s market I noticed a carton of locally raised quail eggs being sold at a discounted price. I quickly took interest and decided that it would be interesting to experiment with them and see how they differ from chicken eggs and bought them to make for Shabbos – and hey, it’s a cool and exotic kosher food, right?

May 2 ▪ 2014

As it turns out, it’s not that simple. While the Torah provides physical signs and characteristics in mammals (i.e. that they have both split hooves and chew their cud) and fish (i.e. that they have both fins and scales) that identify them as a kosher species, it does not do the same for birds.

Rather, the Torah lists 24 families of non-kosher birds and leaves it to be assumed that accordingly the remaining species of birds are all kosher. But it’s still not that simple.

According to tradition, after the Torah was given, Moses identified and detailed to the Jewish people which birds were permitted to be eaten and which were forbidden. This 16 oral tradition, known as a mesorah,

has been passed down from generation to generation for thousands of years.

Of course, many things get lost over time and this is no exception. Thus the status of the acceptability of many birds as kosher is not as widely recognized or accepted as the birds for which we have a stronger based tradition and they are thus forbidden to be eaten according to the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).

For instance, it is universally accepted that chicken is a kosher bird, while even today some people still will not accept turkey as a kosher bird. According to the Orthodox Union’s (OU) website, many families of birds have been accepted as kosher in different localities at one time in history, including goose, pigeons, doves and, of course, quail.

As any student of the Bible could tell you, quail are mentioned in the book of Exodus when the Jewish people, who were wandering in the Sinai desert, complained of a lack of meat. In response to this complaint, G-d sent Slav, which is commonly translated as quail, for the Jewish people to eat.

The only issue with simply translating slav as quail is that there are currently almost 50 breeds of birds identified as “quail.” The common Coturnix quail, also known as Pharaoh, Bible, and Nile quail, is the breed of quail that is accepted as kosher according to the OU.

This recognition comes as the result of much research by the OU team, in particular Rabbi Chaim Loike (the OU bird expert).

As I am sure you can tell from some of the names this bird is referred to as, this quail is said to be of the same kind that the Jewish people ate in the desert after leaving Egypt (i.e Bible quail/Pharaoh quail) and the same quail that was commonly eaten by the Jews of Europe prior to WWII.

In order to identify the kosher quail, Rabbi Loike, along with some of his fellow peers, met with Rabbi Zweigenhoft, a Holocaust survivor who prior to the war, was well-recognized in Europe for his knowledge of the identification of various kosher species.

Rabbi Zweigenhoft detailed how to identify the kosher quail from the non-kosher quail and this information was then compared to historical/ biological information on the quail of Europe.

Also playing a key role in the identification of the Coturnix quail as the kosher quail was archeological evidence in Egyptian pyramids which contained depictions of these quail being harvested by the Egyptians. This indicated that these were the birds which were present in the desert and thus, consumed by the wandering Jews. With all this information indicating the Coturnix as the kosher quail, the OU officially recognized the bird as a kosher species.

If you should have the desire to try cooking with quail eggs (as I did), I recommend that you do your research in verifying that the eggs you find are those of a Coturnix quail and to check with your local kashrus organization as to comply with their acceptance of quail/eggs and their kashrus standards.

This is a great recipe to use with quail eggs, as it is easy and adds a cool/fancy touch to a meal as a garnish or accompaniment. Of course you can make this recipe with regular ol’ chicken eggs, as well.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup peeled and grated beet (from about 1/2 medium beet) or juice from 15 oz. can w/ beets included 4 teaspoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for

serving 2 teaspoons pickling spice 24 quail eggs Directions: 1. Place the eggs in a medium saucepan with a tightfitting lid and cover with cold water by 1 inch.

2. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, cover, and let sit 3-4 minutes.

3. Prepare an ice water bath by filling a large bowl halfway with ice and water.

4. When the eggs are ready, transfer them with a slotted spoon to the ice water bath.

5. Let sit until the eggs are cold, about 5 minutes.

6. Carefully crack and peel each egg and rinse under cold water to remove any residual shell pieces and set aside.

7. In a pint or Mason jar, combine vinegar, water, beets and beet juice, sugar, salt, and pickling spices.

8. Cover and shake jar to make sure all ingredients are well-combined.

9. Carefully add eggs to the jar and refrigerate overnight. These can stay in the fridge for up to one week.

Serve, halved with coarse salt sprinkled on top.

Editor’s note: Alex Idov is a kosher food blogger who runs the awardwinning site, Kosherolog, and a regular contributing food columnist to The Five Towns Jewish Home magazine.

He is currently studying for his bachelor’s degree in Culinary Sustainability & Hospitality. Visit Kosherology at www.exploretheworldofkosher.com and like ‘Kosherology’ on facebook

AJT

Food & Travel

Seeking Families of House Island Immigrants OR WHY DON’T WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

Over the course of a week of packing and moving, I encountered a few little known facts about my home town.

Sitting in the middle of the room were the boxes of unsorted and unlabeled photographs. My mom picked one up: “This is a photo of the synagogue your great-grandfather started.”

Etz Chaim? My great grandfather. Why don’t I know I this?

What I didn’t find were all the names of people who were held there from 1904 – 1937.

I am a Portland-born and Munjoy Hill raised artist preparing for a 2015 exhibit at the Maine Jewish Museum.

Because my work often focuses on a little-known moment in history that reflects larger issues within a current context, the role of the House Island quarantine station in the lives of Portland immigrants peaked my interest.

What I didn’t find were the names of Portland residents whose family members came into Portland through House Island.

For a week, I delved into the files of the Maine Historical Society, the Portland Room of the Library, the New England Archives in Waltham, and Judaica Collection at the Glickman Library. I am now researching the files at the National Archives in D.C.

What I didn’t find were the names of those returned to their country of origin. What I didn’t find were the names of the women who were members of the 1920s Jewish Council of Women who provided assistance to incoming immigrants.

Portland is a city created by immigrants; Irish, Italian, Eastern European, English. I am hoping that you will also be curious about House Island’s history and its possible influence in the lives of your family members.

I am looking for anyone who had family members that were detained on House Island or allowed to immigrate into Maine after being processed there. I am also looking for relatives of the first group of the Council Of Jewish Women who assisted them.

With your help, we will all be able to say, “House Island quarantine station, the History of Immigrants in Portland, Organizations that provided assistance to new citizens, I know about that!!”

If you have paperwork, photographs or even a family story, please contact me at: firehousestudio@mindspring. com or (410) 775-1093.

N

I found a few more details about the House Island quarantine immigration station. It was in service from 1904 until 1937. Passenger ships that were not allowed to land in Boston or N.Y. were re-routed to House Island.

Immigrants allowed to remain in the U.S. could then be sent by rail to N.Y. or Boston. Others were returned to their country of origin. There is a story of one man, Bela Gross, who jumped off the ship into Casco Bay rather than be returned to Russia.

He lost his passport in the water and was deported. One year later, the courts determined he was deported illegally and he was allowed to enter the U.S.

Dinner Reservations Suggested

1989 Cheshire Bridge Rd. Altanta GA 30324

404-876-1380 ESTABLISHED 1974

G IN

ATL A

OVER

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“When immigrant ships landed in Portland in 1923 and 1924, and the passengers were maintained on House Island, the Council of Jewish Women set up kosher kitchens there… It also assisted immigrants in entering this country by communicating with their relatives and then speeding them to their destinations.”

Kosher kitchens? Immigrant assistance? Why don’t I know about this?!

IO

House Island? 218 immigrants detained and quarantined. Why don’t I know about this?

Markson Bros. (Clothing) 504 Congress Street Markson Bros. (Clothing) 504 Congress Street Tailor 22 Monument Sq #402 Rosenberg Brothers (real estate) 85 Exchange St. Room 305, Real Estate Husband worked 9 Plum Street E.Perry and Co Junk 117 Lancaster St.

REG

A week later, while kayaking in Casco Bay, my guide remarks, “House Island was known as the ‘Ellis Island of the North’ -- In November of 1923, 218 immigrants were diverted to Casco Bay, Maine. They were detained at the quarantine station on House Island.”

MRS. Eldar MARKSON Jennie 237 State St.

Mrs. Maurice Mildred S. 100 Neal St. MARKSON

MRS. JACOB SCHIEBE Jennie 94 Vesper St.

MRS. JACOB ROSENBERG Helen 48 Western Promenade.

MRS. BENJAMIN PRESS Molly 224 Eastern Promenade MRS. JACOB SAPIRO Anna D 93 Morning Street Mrs. Eli Perry Lenna 170 Cumberland Ave.

Husband’s business

I TA L I A N

C

May 2 ▪ 2014

While moving my mom to an assisted living facility, I realized once again how little I knew about the immigrant history of all of us who grew up on the Hill.

Home Address

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As kids growing up on the Hill, we were more interested in hanging out on the Prom, playing pick-up baseball, and finding beach glass.

Studying history was an anathema, too many dates and too much war.

I was interested in the people who made the history – many of whom we never learned about.

First Name

IS

I

did not learn the history of Munjoy Hill, the Observatory, Casco Bay Islands and the Eastern Prom until I came home for my high school reunion.

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SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

SE R V

BY JO ISRAELSON

alfredosatlanta.com

17

AJT

muscle matters

The 85 Percent…

CONVENTIONAL WORKOUT METHODS AREN’T FOR EVERYONE

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

O

dds are that you, reading this right now, might be part of the 85 percent. The 85 percent of the population who wants to workout but doesn’t because conventional workout wisdom has left us feeling stranded and frustrated. You might even fall into one, or several, of these four categories; you are too busy and just don’t have the time to work out, fear of injury or re-injury, you may hate or feel intimidated by the typical gym scene, or you just plain hate exercise.

I am sure that if you do not exercise then it is due to one of the four reasons above, and it is okay because you are not alone. In this age of information overload we are all constantly bombarded by the latest fitness or fat loss claim only to be later disproven or disappointed by lack of results.

May 2 ▪ 2014

We like to say that for the vast majority of people, “working out just hasn’t worked out.” Conventional fitness approaches don’t fit nicely into the average person’s busy schedule, and standard workouts, health clubs, videos, and trainers really don’t seem to address the personal fitness goals of most people. Now, what if I told you that you could look, feel, and function better from just two 20-minute workouts a week? Sounds impossible, right?

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For over a decade now, The Exercise Coach® has done just that. Aimed at the 85 percent where conventional workout-wisdom of “just get moving” has failed, we have been helping busy professionals and baby boomers alike with proven results for years. We are so confident in our process that we offer a free, no obligation consultation along with a trial workout and no contracts. Now, we are not in the

business of turning baby boomers into body builders, but we are here to inform you how important muscle quality is over movement quantity when it comes to health and fitness.

Our partnership with “The Atlanta Jewish Times” is going to allow us to educate our readers over the next several months about the importance of muscle quality, benefits of strength training, nutrition, myths about conventional exercise and how we can help you achieve your personal fitness goals with just two 20- minute workouts a week.

Now you may be thinking, “Yeah, right….20 minutes…. twice a week….I’ll believe it when I see it.” Trust me, with the conventional way of thinking about exercise, these claims seem radical. So, if you want to hear it from the original Exercise Coach® himself then you are in luck because this Thur., May 1, from 5-7 p.m., the founder and CEO of The Exercise Coach®, Brian Cygan, will be in the Johns Creek location (9925 Haynes Bridge Rd., Publix Shopping Center) for a ‘meet and greet’ to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Brian and the Johns Creek team have extended an open invitation to you, as a reader of “The Atlanta Jewish Times,” to stop by our studio Thur.

May 1 to check us out as it is unlike anything you have ever experienced.

We look forward to meeting you and providing educational editorials with The Atlanta Jewish Times moving forward. *Text RSVP with your name to (678) 617-3760 and reserve your special gift upon arrival at Thursday’s open house* Editor’s note: for more information go to www.exercisecoach.com or call Johns Creek (770) 242-9568 or Buckhead (404) 848-1550.

AJT

JF&CS Thanks the Atlanta Community

THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY OF CARING LUNCHEON RAISES OVER $300K SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

T

he Community of Caring Luncheon returned to the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead for its eighth year on Friday, April 25. Chaired this year by Lindsay Cropley Borenstein, Julie Kleinman and Larry Wexler, Community of Caring is an event to kick off Jewish Family & Career Services’ (JF&CS) Annual Campaign. Nearly 600 guests were invited by more than 70 table hosts to learn about JF&CS and the life-changing work we do by providing vital services and long-term solutions for individuals and families in our community.

The event incorporated the theme of “How to Survive Anything Life Throws at You.” Real-life clients of Career Services – Tools for Employment, Developmental Disabilities Services – Tools for Independence, Legacy Home Care, PAL, Ben Massell Dental Clinic, and Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse (H.A.M.S.A.), shared their personal stories during the program which was partially live-action and partially pre-recorded video.

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“We are overwhelmed at the genBen Massell Dental Clinic patient Kadeem Denton erosity of our donor community,” said Miriam Friedman, Chief Development BOTTOM: Actor Brian Kurlander Officer at JF&CS. “The support providplaying the “Host” Gil Fishman ed through the Community of Caring luncheon will help JF&CS empower our clients as they overcome anything and everything life throws at them. Our clients’ resiliency is an incredible source of inspiration and it is truly amazing to see such a caring community of people come together to make a difference.”

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After the presentation, Ellen Chalef, who is chairing the Annual Campaign for the second year in a row, closed the meeting with an invitation to support the services. Thanks to an anonymous donor, everyone who attended the luncheon had a unique opportunity to earn JF&CS an additional $10,000. The donor made a commitment of this gift if 150 people made new or increased gifts at Community of Caring. JF&CS is humbled to announce that this commitment has been fulfilled and a grand total of $322,001 was raised to support our services during this year’s Community of Caring Luncheon.

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AJT

community

Saving Atlanta’s Jewish History

NEWLY DISCOVERED WWII ARTIFACT ADDED TO BREMAN COLLECTION

BY JEREMY KATZ SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

T

he Atlanta Jewish Times recently received a significant artifact from Mr. Carl “Bones” Newell related to a Jewish family that settled in the local area. Upon realizing the historical importance of the item, a ruby pistol captured by Corporal Howard Nussbaum during World War II and the corresponding paperwork that allowed him to bring the pistol back to America, the staff soon contacted Jeremy Katz, Archivist at the Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History at The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

Mr. Katz examined the artifact and corresponding paperwork to determine its authenticity and if it fit the Archives and Museum’s col-

programs through partnerships with institutions like Emory University, Georgia State University, the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Georgia.

lections policy, which focuses on documenting the Holocaust and Jewish contributions to the history of the American South.

Since the family settled in Georgia after the war and the item documents Corporal Nussbaum’s military service, Mr. Katz agreed to accept the item into the collection at the Museum. The artifact is now catalogued and stored in the Archives’ fireproof, secure, and climate controlled vault to ensure it will last for generations to come.

All too often history is lost forever when we clean out our attics, closets, and basements.

Instead of throwing it away or letting it collect dust, donate your family’s history to the Archives at the Breman Museum so that is can be treasured for years to come.

The Museum hopes to exhibit this artifact after renovating its gallery space this summer. After the renovations, there will be an area dedicated to displaying recent acquisitions to the public.

May 2 ▪ 2014

The space will show our visitors that the Archives at the Museum is actively collecting and preserving Jewish history in the area. With over 20,000 photographs, 2,000 manuscript collections, 850 oral histories, and hundreds of artifacts and textiles, the Archives at the Museum is the largest repository for Jewish history in the region.

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All of this material is housed in our secure, climate-controlled storage facility. The Archives offers unique services to the community by making our collections accessible to students, scholars, teachers, researchers, playwrights, as well as presenting quality

Jeremy Katz Editor’s note: Please contact Jeremy Katz, Archivist, at jrkatz@thebreman.org, or (404) 870-1862, if you would like to make an appointment to conduct research in the archives or donate your historic material to be preserved for future generations.

Iyar: Hashem’s Hebrew Healing

Voted Atlanta’s Top Wedding and Special Events Coordinator

FINDING TIME TO CONNECT TO MOTHER EARTH

BY Dr. TERRY SEGAL AJT CONTRIBUTOR

R

osh Chodesh Iyar began on April, 30. What a perfect time for our featured Enchanted Key No. 9-Nature.

Typically, in the month of Nisan, we recite the blessing over flowerbearing trees. If those trees happen to bloom earlier in Adar, or later into Iyar, then we recite it accordingly.

Whenever this is done, we must be sure that the fruit of the tree has not begun to grow. We acknowledge the flower with a blessing.

This year in Georgia, judging from our recent pollen-laden yellow cars and patio furniture, it seems that the trees began blooming late, at the end of Nisan. Do you remember our trashtalking inner critical Dragons? They would revel in complaints about allergies and having to hose down the deck again. I invite you to tame those Dragons and focus on the beauty of renewed life, following our harsh winter.

Appreciation of the natural world unlocks our senses. Open to the subtle distinctions that nature offers us.

The smell of rain is not a single scent.

Contrast the air of an early morning mist in spring, cool and tingling our nostrils with freshness, versus a late afternoon downpour in fall, where the air is thick, causing damp leaves to release their earthy, muskiness.

Look at a grouping of trees and notice the various shades of green. How many blues wash the sky? Engage all of your senses: listen to enchanting birdsong; watch ducklings glide across the pond; literally, take time to stop and smell the roses.

Taste spring. For me, there is nothing like that first bite of matzah when Passover arrives. Matzah ball soup on Passover tastes different than the same recipe of matzah ball soup served on Rosh Hashanah.

Connection to nature is built into our traditions. To close Shabbat, we look for three stars in the night sky.

During Sh’vat, the New Year of the Trees, sap awakens and the age of trees must be calculated for tithing.

It’s a time to plant new trees.

We acknowledge life cycle passages with planting trees in Israel.

When we visit the gravesites of our loved ones, we bring enduring rocks or stones. During Sukkot we build temporary dwellings and sleep under the star-lit sky. Rainbows are special.

This month, as we tend to our physical gardens, we need to remember to weed our souls and create a clearing that allows in light. Kabbalah teaches that Iyar is all about illumination and light. It’s a time to acknowledge our physical cravings, yearnings and desires while cleansing, spiritually, in preparation for receiving the Torah during Shavuot.

There are numerous ways to connect with nature. We can take walks and observe wildlife or marine life.

We can birdwatch, go on hikes and picnics, make rubbings from tree barks, catalog the names of plants or grow herbs to flavor our meals. Nature becomes something larger than ourselves, when our own problems seem to be magnified.

“Grounding,” or “earthing” is a practice of restoring our electrical connection to Mother Earth. Our shoes keep our feet from coming in contact with the ground and once we become adults, it’s rare that we actually lie down on the earth. One exception is at the beach. Earth is a huge container of negatively charged free electrons. The cells of our bodies aren’t able to balance the positive charges that bombard us in our technological world.

The easiest way to practice grounding is to go outside, with bare feet or hands and press them to the earth or grass for 15 minutes or so. You can also immerse your body in seawater or a mineral-rich lake. Gardening connects us to the Earth as well.

Often, we attribute the restorative quality of vacations to the break from daily life when, really, we are reaping the benefits of grounding by bobbing in the ocean, lying on the beach or experiencing nature in some way.

Some of the health benefits of grounding are: improved immune functions, digestion, sleep circulation, rapid healing of injuries, stability in biological rhythms, quicker recovery time following athletic exertion, as well as reduced inflammation, stress, anxiety and electro-sensitivity.

All of this is provided for us, for free, by Hashem. “Alef-yudresh: I am G-d Your healer.”

Meditation Focus: In what ways can you engage with the beauty of the earth during this month of Iyar and all year? Put these opportunities to restore your soul in nature on your calendar.

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AJT

new moon meditation

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AJT

arts & entertainment .

JEWS MAKING NEWS

Regina Spektor Announces Birth of “Super Cute” Baby Boy

Compiled by noah alhadeff

Marc Maron to Release New Comedy Album

I

FC and Comedy Central’s Marc Maron is set to release a new comedy album entitled, “Thinky Pain,” out May 6.

In addition to said album, Maron is getting ready for the premier of the second season of his IFC hit show, “Maron,” on May 8 – the program he created, wrote, and produced. The veteran comedian also simultaneously runs the wildly popular podcast, “WTF with Marc Maron.”

Recorded in his old stomping grounds of Greenwich Village, N.Y., “Thinky Pain” is an intimate storytelling of some of Marc Maron’s childhood and is promised to be one of his best.

Maron was born to a Jewish family in New Jersey, where he lived until the age of 6. Maron’s father then joined the U.S. Air Force and Maron and his family moved to Alaska. Marc Maron graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in English literature.

FOX

A

heartfelt Mazal Tov goes out to the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter on the birth of her baby

boy.

On her Facebook page, Regina Spektor writes, “Hi everyone! I wanted to let you know that Jack and I have been happily hanging out with our new little son and that all is going great!”

Spektor has released six studio albums, beginning in 2001. She originally studied classical piano until the age of 17 and reportedly became interested in songwriting after visiting Israel with the Nesiya Institute.

The “Fidelity” singer was nominated for a 2014 Grammy Award in the Best Song Written for Visual Media category, with her song “You’ve Got Time” recorded for the Netflix original series, “Orange is the New Black.”

Regina was born in Moscow, Soviet Union, in 1980 to a musical Russian Jewish family, Regina’s father, Ilya Spektor, is a photographer and amateur violinist. Her mother, Bella, was a music professor in a Soviet college of music and now teaches at a public elementary school in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

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AJT

EDEN’s GARDEN

Etz Chaim Gala to honor Men’s Club Past Presidents

Sunday, May 18, 2014 featuring

My Grandparent’s Exodus from Russia – A Passover Story

PURSUING FREEDOM IN AMERICA AND ISRAEL

W

hen I think about Yom HaAtsmaut, I can’t help but smile. It’s not often that Israel can be talked about with simple, supreme levity. It’s the one day of the year where we’re willing, happy even, to put aside the battles and the wars and feel grateful for having our state.

Of course, there is much to be done to preserve it and make it a safe place for all, but having a day to celebrate our opportunities to make that happen, makes it all the more exciting.

When I think about Yom HaAtsmaut, I also think about my grandparents. Over Passover, I had the opportunity to hear them speak about their lives as Russian immigrants to America at their synagogue. It was an unforgettable experience. I’ve known their story my whole life; I’ve seen it reflected in their work and their parenting (or grand-parenting, rather). They carry their story with them like a flag—they know what it means to be proud of themselves, and proud of their Judaism.

I can honestly say that I didn’t understand what it meant to have had family assassinated by the KGB until I heard my grandparents speak that cold, Passover day. That they escaped from terror and hiding is a gift, indeed a miracle. “When I became a mother,” my grandmother said, her eyes shining with an intensity I had not seen before, “that’s when I knew we had to get out. I didn’t want to raise my family there.” On Passover, the holiday of freedom, her message struck a deep chord: what we do, as people, to fight for our freedom is extraordinary.

A question came up at their talk that I found very interesting. Someone asked why they chose to come to America as opposed to Israel. I held my breath, waiting for the response.

In that moment, I wondered, would they speak negatively? Would they say: “America represents freedom

in a way that Israel doesn’t. We wanted to go somewhere safe. We didn’t believe in the Israel mission.”

I suddenly remembered that I didn’t know what they thought of Israel. I remembered that I didn’t even know why they came to America.

Surprisingly enough, they came to America as a fluke. Their parents asked their Rebbe where they should go, and he directed my grandparents to America and their cousins to Israel. It was considered disrespectful to go against his suggestions, so off to America they went. At that point in their life, they just wanted to go somewhere free and safe, and thankfully that is where they ended up. I don’t know why the Rebbe sent them the way that he did, but I know that all’s well that ends well—and watching my grandparents speak, and watching their children listen, I think they found a pretty happy ending.

Joel Chasnoff After a short stint as a comedian at age 24, Joel Chasnoff enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces. Upon returning, Joel pursued a career in comedy. Chasnoff has stage and screen credits in eight countries and has been a warm-up act to Jon Stewart and Lewis Black of The Daily Show. In 2010, Simon & Schuster published Chasnoff’s comedic memoir, The 188th Crybaby Brigade, about his experiences in the IDF. Chasnoff has performed at more than 1,000 comedy clubs, festivals and Jewish events.

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When I think about Yom HaAtsmaut, I think about journeys. The journey away from terror is in and of itself a Jewish journey; it is my family’s story, but it is also our nation’s story. We are lucky to have Israel, as well as America, as a secure place for Jews who are escaping terror. It is important that we remember that.

Let’s celebrate our homeland as a land we have designated for peace and safety; a land we built for not ourselves, but for each other; a land flowing with milk and honey. Chag Sameach, here’s to sixty-six years.

Atlanta’s Eden Farber, 16, was recognized in the Jewish Heritage National Poetry Contest of 2010 and has published op-eds and poetry in Modern Hippie Magazine and the NY Jewish Week’s Fresh Ink for Teens section.

May 2 ▪ 2014

By Eden Farber AJT contributor

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AJT

in the moment

An “X Factor” Passover

THE ATLANTA JEWISH COMMUNITY LOSES A RISING STAR

BY BRAM BESSOFF

AJT contributor

I

only knew Jared for a couple of hours, but since his passing I feel like I’ve known him forever.

My Pesach started the same as usual, first night is usually spent with friends and this time we shared the Seder table with old and new acquaintances from the Sunshine school including Jared, his brother Josh and father Jordan Forman. Nothing seemed out of place, the kids were kids, the wine was flowing and everyone did their share of participating in the Seder. Jared read with vigor and played even harder so it came as a complete shock when not 24 hours later he was in the hospital never to awake again.

Come Sunday, the majority of

Ahavat Achim’s congregation was in attendance for the funeral. It was one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever had at temple, but the outpour of support from the community was comforting. How did a seven year-old boy affect that many lives during his short time here on Earth? It became quickly apparent, eulogy after eulogy exactly why.

Jared had the “X” factor – that inexplicable quality that makes rock stars legendary, videos go viral and entrepreneurs strike gold. It starts with something special inside a person but requires an external catalyst to ignite it – we usually chalk this up to timing and luck. We have all seen it before, someone with incredible talent, that band with songs so good you wonder why they aren’t signed and all over the radio – Jared didn’t even get

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that opportunity.

Described by all as the kindest boy, although mischievous, he had a heart of gold. He knew how to win friends and influence people without having to read Dale Carnegie’s book, he had fans of all ages at 7. Naturally gifted at sports he was destined to be a pro baller, most likely a quarterback by the look of his arm. But his true passion was guitar. He wanted to be a rock star and was already on his way, judging by the amount of effort he put into his practicing. More importantly, people always seemed to take notice how he lit up a room when he stepped into one – which is why his passing attracted crowds resembling the high holidays.

All who know the Forman family are quite aware they play an active role in the local Jewish Community.

Jared’s father, Jordan Forman, can be found leading services at AA often, and their devotion and involvement in social circles around town make them a high profile family, but this is not the reason why the community came out in droves. The “X” factor brought us all, as I was reminded once again when we made a Shiva call this past Thursday where we witnessed a 10fold minyan and a home overflowing with love and support for a family cut down in their prime.

The whole scenario makes me wonder why we are so good at taking time out of our busy lives to be there for someone outside of our immediate family in the face of death, yet when it is time to share Jewish moments in life, so many of us choose to skip out.

Yes, we all attend temple for the High Holidays but many congregations are barely filled for Shabbat services Friday and Saturdays if there is no B’nai Mitzvah. Often, many Jewish cultural events never have a second coming due to lack of attendance, audience or funding.

I get it, humans are designed to take care of “me” first and it often takes something drastic to put our autopilot on hold and do something truly selfless for another, like attend a funeral or make a Shiva call. Perhaps

it is left up to the community leaders to figure out how to serve the “me” factor when planning events, asking for volunteerism or expecting people to show up. The first step is to make it easy. I’ve personally learned this over the last several years trying to invigorate the Atlanta Jewish Community to come together. My weapon of choice is music through Shabbat Rocks and The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival (AJMF), but it has proven to not be a powerful enough medium to overcome the “me” without having the “X”.

So now that I am president of the AJMF, it is my vision this year to get more of the community involved by making it easy for all to attend in 2015. Every congregation in town has plans, most often booked years in advance, making it difficult to align calendars between congregations and the Atlanta Jewish Community at large. Which is why for our sixth season, AJMF would like to support your effort’s along with asking the community to support ours. Settling on a concrete date, we are looking for any and all congregations in Atlanta considering a musical event next spring to plan it during the two weeks we are now officially setting aside for the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival every March 20-29.

It is our goal this year to raise enough money to not only put on our events but help subsidize yours.

Together, we can help align the two factors and create a hub for Jewish culture here in Atlanta that will draw Jews from all over the South for years to come. Perhaps one of these events can be dedicated in Jared’s name. In the meantime, if you would like to send your condolences to the family, contributions may be made to Children’s at Scottish Rite, 1001 Johnson Ferry Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30342, www.choa.org; Ian’s Friends Foundation, 855 Marseilles Dr., Atlanta, GA 30327, www.iansfriendsfoundation. com; or the Childhood Brain Tumor Foundation, www.childhoodbraintumor.org.

Not all of Passover was mired in sadness however; second night we attended the Sixth Point Seder held at

EC JN

Take a chance on organizations like this as they are the “X” factor that could unite this community beyond the tight bonds found within our congregations. In all my 42 years, this was the first time I did three Seders.

Always a Bessoff family tradition, we meet two times a year for a meal: Thanksgiving and Passover. Due to the ridiculous scheduling of CRCT tests over Passover week, the annual tradition of meeting at my folks’ place in Memphis was moved to Atlanta.

We always try and invite a newbie to attend a Bessoff Seder and this year one of my wife’s closest friends got to experience the mayhem including the traditional reenactment of plagues including opaque shades for darkness, countless plastic bugs and locusts, white pom-poms by the hundreds for hail and sheets of bubble wrap to resemble the popping of boils.

No matter how crazy, traditional or civilized your Seder may be, the point is always the same – remind us all especially our children where we came from and to never let the atrocities of our past occur again.

Since Yom Hashoah just occurred, I watched “The Book Thief” with my two daughters just the other night.

It’s an emotional story of a young, German, orphan who lives through the Holocaust, stealing books to read to the Jew her foster family is hiding in the basement. Both of my girls said it was the first movie they ever cried from watching and we have been holding meaningful conversations ever since.

In many ways it was the perfect film to start this journey of conversation as it elicited all the right emotions

without the graphic nature of many Holocaust-films like “Schindler’s List” and “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.”

Any parents considering exposing their children to the Holocaust may want to look to this movie as a potential first to start the dialogue. And in light of all discussed above, I hope everyone looks to attend one of the many functions happening in Atlanta as we remember all who lost their lives during the horrific moment in history and go out of your way to remind everyone and anyone to remember so it shall never happen again. Be the “X” Factor.

Bram Bessoff is a drummer and musician. When not onstage, Bram is a performance coach and music industry entrepreneur helping artists get the most out of their live shows and chart on Billboard. He sits on the board of directors as VP for The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival. Follow Bram’s experiences on, off and backstage @bram_rocks. Interact with him at #InItForTheMoment to share thoughts, comments and ideas about this column.

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M A R I E T TA , G A

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May 2 ▪ 2014

the Heritage in Sandy Springs where nearly 60 people shared enjoyable moments reflecting upon our exodus from Egypt. The proud father in me reveled in my eldest child’s reciting of the four questions in such a public forum. Noone minded the shouts of laughter and glee as a dozen kids searched for the Afikomen and everyone met someone else they have never known before and bonded new friendships over wine and a lack of maror.

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AJT

d’var torah

How Do We Treat Our Brothers?

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FELLOW MAN, JEWISH OR NOT

BY RABBI THOMAS P. LIEBSCHUTZ SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

M

ost of us are familiar with the expression, “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh b’zeh – all Jews are united (or connected) to each other.” This saying powerfully grips the imagination of how Jews think, feel and act towards each other. Traditionally we have always regarded each other as family. We are one people. As such we have an obligation to support and help each other.

These concepts were stimulated, strengthened and enriched by teachings found in our weekly Torah portion, B’Har, from Leviticus 25 and our Haftorah from the Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 32. Leviticus 25, speaking of conditions 2500 years ago and more in the land of Israel, tells of

Jews who suffered the misfortune of severe economic hardship. Tragically they were sometimes forced to sell their land, if not themselves, to other Jewish kinsmen. Mercifully they had recourse to then existing Torah law enumerated in this chapter to extricate themselves and their families from the dire straits in which they found themselves.

The provisions of the Sabbatical and Jubilee Years existed, in part, to help them. These laws also had a profound moral influence on their next of kin, brothers and sisters, uncles and nephews, etc., to extend themselves on behalf of their impoverished relatives.

Jews were never free simply to walk away from their own flesh and blood fallen on difficult times. Love, compassion, mercy, law combine to

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help motivate us if it is within our power to do so. This worked in a number of ways.

First, the Sabbatical Year assured indentured Jews that their years of servitude to other Jews would end within a prescribed period of time.

The Jubilee Year also guaranteed that the ancestral land they had been forced to sell would be returned to them. To quote a well-known Scriptural passage referenced by Rabbi Joseph H. Hertz in his biblical commentary, “the earth is the Lord’s.”

Hertz’s commentary continues, “All the land was, as it were, held from God on lease. The Israelite who voluntarily or through some compulsion sold his land to another, sold not the ownership of the land, but the remainder of the lease – till the next year of Jubilee, when all the leases fell in simultaneously. The land then came back to his family . . . “ Second, Leviticus 25 also reveals that a relative could, if so inclined, immediately restore an indentured kinsman’s freedom and land without waiting for either the Sabbatical or Jubilee Years to occur. After a fashion these generous act of tsedakah are illustrated in this week’s Haftorah from Jeremiah, Chapter 32. Here the prophet responds to the appeal of his uncle, Hanamel, the son of Shallum, purchasing his field in Anathoth at a time when its true market value was next to nothing. The reason: the Babylonian armies have assembled at the gates of Jerusalem and the entire kingdom of Judah immediately before the destruction of the First Temple in 587-86 BCE. The end of the four hundred year old Davidic monarchy is at hand. Nevertheless, Jeremiah acts as he does not only to assist his uncle but to set an example of hope and survival for the Jewish People. In doing so Jeremiah brings to life Torah laws found in Leviticus 25.

These biblical examples of tsedakah are not limited to Jews helping Jews. Our people have always extended themselves to others.

Throughout Jewish history, whenever permitted, we have generously practiced g’melut chasadim tovim or acts of loving kindness. Natalie Portman recently helped her fellow Israelis by assisting Syrian refugees in camps along Israel’s borders; Is-

raeli doctors and medical teams have treated Syrian refugees requiring medical attention in Israeli hospitals during the current conflict; the Israeli entrepreneurs who created the SodaStream company, resolved to build one of their factories in the West Bank in order to provide jobs and good will for 900 Palestinians.

This successful enterprise worked well until outside interference from the ill-conceived movement known as Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions (BDS), politicized Soda Stream’s mitzvah. Unfortunately, BDS has jeopardized 900 Palestinians’ jobs, dignity and the good will created between two peoples.

These modern examples are contemporary extensions of the ethics of biblical law. They demonstrate how the Torah’s spirit pervades modern Jewish life providing inspiration for all of us. They also ask, “How far are we willing to go to help brothers, sisters, relatives, family members and even strangers or people with whom we might contend, who are in need?”

I can remember being told by my parents as a young boy of how they guaranteed the welfare of family members and other non-related Jewish refugees from Hitler’s Germany in the late 1930s enabling them to come to America. Later, when I fully comprehended what they had done and met them, I rejoiced. At that time I was not fully aware of the biblical laws from Leviticus or the mitzvah of pidyon hash’vuyim or redeeming the captives of our people.

The pages of Judaism’s ethical tradition remind us there is always something we can do to help others whether we are related to them or not. Every B’nai Mitzvah student at Congregation Ner Tamid of West Cobb is required (as B’nai Mitzvah students are in many synagogues) to complete a Mitzvah Project before their ceremony. These Mitzvah Projects help inculcate a spirit of compassion and service at an early age, of being obligated to assist others, whether Jewish or not. It underscores an important lesson that goes to the heart of who we are and what it means to be a Jew.

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AJT

may their memories be a blessing

Laurie Lasseter Mendel 90, ATLANTA

Laurie Lasseter Mendel, 90, passed away on April 24, 2014, at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Ga with her eldest daughter, Susan Mendel, by her side.

She was born on May 14, 1923 in the Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta, to Candler Percy, Sr. and Tommie Poole Lasseter. She married the love of her life, Edwin Mendel, on June 14, 1940. In 1942, she gave birth to her first daughter, Susan, and after moving to Columbus, Georgia in 1945, they welcomed their youngest daughter, Peggy, into the world. In Columbus, Laurie played an important role in her husband’s successful musical endeavors and came to be a profitable businesswoman and manager of the downtown record store, “Dr. Jive’s Record Shop.” After raising both of her daughters, years in the music scene, and a wonderful 35-year marriage to Ed “Dr. Jive” Mendel, she returned to Atlanta following his death from lung cancer in 1975. Upon her return, Laurie was welcomed by her brother Candler Percy, Jr, his wife, Joyce, and her mother, known to most as Nonnie. She became involved in a local tennis club, one of her life-long passions and continued to enjoy music, family, and the return to the city of her youth. As a young woman, Laurie was known for her incredible athleticism and acrobatic dancing. Many felt sure that she would have been a competitor in the Olympics had she grown up when women’s gymnastics was a sport. A talented and dedicated student she performed in multiple theaters and venues throughout Atlanta. She was also featured in a well-known charitable fundraiser called the Kiddie Revue every holiday season. Her grandchildren remember her still doing headstands and splits into her sixties and seventies. In 1979, she celebrated the birth of her first grandchild, Nicholas Furgiuele, followed in 1980 by her granddaughter,

Hannah Furgiuele, and in 1983, her youngest grandson, Peter Furgiuele. As a grandmother, she loved to spend time with her grandchildren, take them to the pool, teach them about tennis, and share stories about life in the music business. Laurie’s love of music never faded, and her knowledge always amazed those around her. She lived a long, wonderful, and active life into her late eighties, and celebrated her 90th birthday last spring in Boone, North Carolina with family. She was seen out on the town into her eighties supporting her grandson’s rock-n-roll band, and was dancing up a storm at her grandson Peter’s wedding in September of 2013. Laurie is survived by her daughter, Susan Mendel, her daughter and son-in-law Peggy and Sam Furgiuele, her grandson and his wife, Nicholas and Julia Furgiuele, her granddaughter, Hannah Furgiuele, her grandson and his wife, Peter Furgiuele and Anna Barattin, her sister-in-law Joyce Lasseter, nieces and nephews, and many grand-dog babies that she came to love. She was honored with a graveside service last Sunday, April 27 at 2:30 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to the American Cancer Society at P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, Ok 73123-1718 or by phone 1-800-227-2345. Sign online guest book: www.edressler.com. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999

Elizabeth Shaw Phelps 54, ATLANTA

Elizabeth Shaw Phelps, 54, of Atlanta, passed away peacefully on Fri., Apr. 25, 2014. Born in Savannah, GA, she graduated from Grady High School and attended Kennesaw St. University. Elizabeth is preceded in death by her mother, Jeanne Shaw; and is survived by her husband of 22 years, Patrick; sons, Jean-Louis Liverato, and Anthony and Matthew Phelps; brothers, Joseph and Billy (Sandy) Shaw; sisters, Sheila (Seth) Jutan, and Jennifer Thomas; grandchildren: Sophia, Holden, Aiden, Jax, Lex, and Scarlett; father, Bernie Thomas; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. An online guestbook is available at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice Atlanta, 1244 Park Vista Dr., Atlanta, GA 30319, www.vnhs.org. Graveside service was held on Sun., Apr. 27, 2014 at Greenwood Cemetery, with Rabbi Judith Beiner officiating. Arrangements

by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Victor Louis Cohen

May 2 ▪ 2014

86, DECATUR

28

Victor Louis Cohen, 86, of Decatur, Ga passed away peacefully on Fri., Apr. 25, 2014. A native of Atlanta, GA, he was born in 1928 to Alegra and Louis Cohen, of blessed memory. Victor had a long and successful career, retiring from Heery International as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Heery in 1969, he worked for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation for 13 years, directing the special projects group responsible for all C-5 aircraft support facilities. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve forces as a full Colonel, having served in the active duty forces during World War II, stationed in Germany. Victor graduated from Georgia Tech with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1952 and a Masters Degree in 1953, in Industrial Management. He was a member of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue and of Fulton Lodge #216, Free and Accepted Masons.

Victor was a personable, respected, hard working, and caring man. He valued family above all else, and dedicated his life to his loved ones. He was selfless when it came to his children and sacrificed his retirement years to care for his injured son. He was also incredibly supportive of his grandchildren and particularly valued the time he spent with them during vacations

on the beach. He was successful in his career and adept at accomplishing his goals. He was a friend to many and his engaging personality made being with him delightful. But most of all, he loved his wife, Matilda: those around him knew the love he had for her could never be matched. His dedication and love for her inspired those around him and will continue to inspire his children and grandchildren. Victor was preceded in death by his son, Albert. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Matilda; daughter, Joy Cohen (Michael Grieb); son, Louis (Darline); grandchildren: Carrie and Aaron Cohen, and Alegra, Alexandra, Harrison, Anastasia, Graham, and Autumn Grieb; greatgrandchild, Gabriella; and sisters, Luna Levy and Sarah Diamond (Max). An online guestbook is available at www.edressler.com. Memorial donations may be made in honor of Victor Cohen to Shepherd Spinal Clinic, 2020 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309, www.shepherd.org or the charity of one’s choice.

Graveside services were held on Sun., Apr. 27, 2014 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, with Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal officiating. Arrangements are by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Jean Weinstein Frey 85, ATLANTA

Jean Weinstein Frey passed away Wed., Apr. 16, at the age of 85. Jean was born June 19, 1928 in Floral Park, NY to Philip and Irene Lewith Weinstein.

Her family moved to North Carolina in 1930. In 1946, Jean graduated from Central High in Charlotte, NC. She attended college in Virginia at the Richmond Professional Institute from 1946 to 1950 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History. She moved to Atlanta in 1952, and worked in Midtown for the Taylor Insurance Agency. She married Howard Oppenheimer in 1956 and they were blessed with two sons. She volunteered at the Atlanta Jewish Federation during the 1960’s and re-entered the work force in the 1970’s. An avid traveler, she enjoyed destinations both foreign and domestic.

She was particularly fond of Switzerland and fine chocolate. Jean loved music and regularly attended the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. She was remarried in 1986. An enthusiastic gardener, she took great pleasure in the brilliance of a single bloom as well as the spectacle of field after field of blooming profusion.

Jean appreciated beauty wherever she encountered it: in nature, in design, or in a person’s character. While fiercely independent, Jean was a dignified and elegant lady who strove to see the best in others. Jean is mourned by many: her youngest son, David Oppenheimer, married to Candice and their daughter Pearl; her eldest son and his wife, Richard and Katherine Oppenheimer and their blended family Jason, Bethani, Joshua, Aaron, and Kaelan; her brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Donna Weinstein along with their family; sister Carolyn Sosnik and her family; her step-sons, William, Ted and Adam Frey and her extended family members Dianne Oppenheimer and Jeanette Sachs Oppenheimer. A memorial service was held Sunday, April 27th at Temple Sinai, Atlanta. Anyone wishing to honor Jean’s life may send donations to either Temple Sinai, www.templesinaiatlanta.org; or to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org. Sign online guestbook: www.edressler.com. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

made to the charity of one’s choice. Graveside services were held on Sun., Apr. 20, with Rabbi David Spinrad officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Norman Citron 87, ATLANTA

Norman Citron, age 87, died in his home in Atlanta, Georgia, on Mon., Apr. 21.

He was born on September 21, 1926, in Newark, New Jersey; he lived in New Jersey, before settling in Atlanta. He worked at the Ted Colangelo Associates in advertising until retiring in 1998. Norman’s passion was in art and was taking classes with Chastain Art Center up thru last Friday. He has sculptured and painted using oils, acrylics and charcoal. He is preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Eva Citron, his wife of 50 years, Lynn Citron, of blessed memory. He is survived by his daughter Jodi Scially, Jodi’s husband Joseph Scially and her children Devin and Jordan. Norman is also survived by his daughter Bari Citron from Hampton Long Island, his brother Ron Citron and his wife Iris from Verona, NJ. Jodi and family would like to thank Lisa Reisman and Care-minders along with Ebony, Merle, La Keisha, Lilith, Joyce, and Listra who took care of Norman for the past year. Services were held at Arlington Memorial Park, Wed., Apr. 23, with Rabbi Joshua Heller officiating. Sign online guest book at www.edressler.com. Donations may be made to Chastain Art Center, Spruill Center of the Arts, MJCCA Weinstein Pre-school or B’nai Torah Pre-school. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta, Georgia, (770) 451-4999

Jeanette Halperin Solomon Jeanette Halperin Solomon, 100, of Atlanta, died on Sat., Apr. 19. She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Bernard Solomon; sister, Evelyn Weinman; and brother, Philip Halperin, and is survived by hers sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Kaye Solomon, and Edward and Susan Solomon, all of Atlanta; grandchildren, Lisa Keel, and Samuel and Rachael Solomon; great-granddaughter, Kacie Lea Keel; sister-in-law, Terrie Halperin; and nieces: Laura Lee Dwoskin, Joann Bernard, Karen Goldstein, Joyce Fredland, and Rita Hottendorf. The family would like to express great appreciation to her wonderful caregivers, Louise Moore and Andrine Bell. Sign online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be

May 2 ▪ 2014

100, ATLANTA

29

JEWISH PUZZLER

by David Benkof

Across 1. Prepare at the last minute for Israel’s bagrut exam 5. “Heritage: Civilization and the Jews” narrator 9. Entrepreneur and House member Polis (D-Colo.)

14. Steak sauce certified by the Orthodox Union as kosher 15. ___ Mare (ancestral home of Satmar Hasidim) 16. Kind of oil used to light the Temple’s Menorah 17. Famous Biblical convert 18. “With its lone floors where reverent feet once ___” (line from an Emma Lazarus poem about The Touro Synagogue) 19. Place name for Jerusalem that can be an abbreviation for the city 20. City founded in 1950 whose name means “House of the Sun” 23. “Chanukah” only has one, but “Hannukah” has two 24. Bar Refaeli, by some men’s evaluations 25. First king 27. LA’s Skirball Museum is a good place to see some 30. ___ kanfot (“four-cornered” garment to which tzitzit are attached) 32. Composer Shemer and author Wolf 36. Rend one’s garment, e.g.

38. Died like Lenny Bruce 40. Old Jewish ___ (kind of role played by Walter Matthau) 41. Islamic caliphate under which Jews mostly flourished 44. Oskar Schindler actor in “Schindler’s List”

45. Comedian Blumenfeld of MTV’s “Pranked” 46. “I’d like to order ___ pastrami sandwich...”

47. Memoirist Eve (“In the Body of the World”) 49. “Ken” in shiluach haken (mitzvah of sending way a mother bird) 51. Tel Aviv-Mecca dir.

52. Jai ___ (sport many Florida Jews enjoy) 54. “Curly” player of Abe Saperstein’s Harlem Globetrotters 56. Coll. for quarterback Aaron Murray 59. He said Holocaust denial was a major achievement of his presidency 64. Mubarak predecessor 66. Kind of transportation used by participants of “Burning Bush Adventures” trips in Maine 67. How jelly might come out of a Chanukah donut 68. Egypt status 69. “Every,” in Yiddish 70. It’s used to affix a mezuzah 71. Harold who directed “National Lampoon’s Vacation” 72. Rebecca Rubin, part of the “American Girl” collection 73. Part of a dreidel game

5. A whole megillah 6. Pianist Daniel 7. Scientist Lise Meitner helped discover how to split one 8. Kind of Modigliani painting 9. He “fit” the Battle of Jericho 10. “___ recherche du temps perdu” (Proust work) 11. Nudge 12. ___ Ha’ezer (part of the Shulchan Aruch) 13. Sens. Brian Schatz and Ron Wyden 21. Some parts of the former Soviet Union 22. Koufax who famously wouldn’t pitch

game one of the 1965 World Series 26. Part of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union 27. “You can’t shoot ___ in the tail like a quail” (“Annie Get Your Gun” lyric) 28. He played “Jakob the Liar” 29. James Levine might conduct them 31. Part of a recipe in “Passover Made Easy” 33. Jewish Enlightenment philosopher Mendelssohn 34. Bissels 35. Jule of “Gypsy” 37. Famous Israeli prison site 39. Former Democratic governor of

Pennsylvania 42. Abraham’s wife 43. Second word of the “Dayenu” verse about the Torah 48. Brings nachas to 50. Jerusalem outreach professional Jeff 53. It might be said on Tisha B’av 55. Helmsley about whom Newsweek devoted the headline “Rhymes with Rich” 56. Birthplace for Mila Kunis 57. Type of fundraiser for a Jewish school 58. An apple was named after him 60. It’s used to answer the phone by some Israelis 61. Rivers of comedy 62. “I hope I don’t get ___ on my bar mitzvah...”

63. Order from a Jerusalem Post editor 65. Israeli singer Toledano

Last week’s answers

Down 1. One of many to be concerned about for dieters eating challah 2. Shylock, perhaps 3. ___-Defamation League 4. Conductor Zubin

Shabbat Candle Lighting Times shabbat blessings

May 2 ▪ 2014

Blessing for the Candles Baruch Arah A-do-nai,El-o-hei-nu Melech Haolam Asher Kid-shanu b’mitzvotav V’zivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat

30

Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of time and space.

You hallow us with Your mitzvot and command us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.

Blessing for the Wine Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu

Meelech Haolam, Borei p’ri hagafen Praise to You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessing for the Bread (Challah) Baruch Atah A-do-nai, El-o-hei-nu Melech haolam, Hamotzi Lechem min haaretz.

Our Praise to You Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

Friday, May 2 8:03 p.m.

Shabbat, May 3, 2014 9:02 p.m.

Friday, May 9 8:08 p.m.

Shabbat, May 10, 2014 9:08 p.m.

Friday, May 16 8:14 p.m.

Shabbat, May 17, 2014 9:14 p.m.

Friday, May 23 8:19 p.m.

Shabbat, May 24, 2014 9:20 p.m.

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