Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCVIII NO. 7, April 15, 2022

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VOL. XCVIII NO. 7

APRIL 15, 2022 | 14 NISAN 5782

Happy Passover 'Getting to the Other Side'

Happy Passover!

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CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE BOB BAHR BETH GLUCK CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER DAVID OSTROWSKY JAN JABEN-EILON LOU LADINSKY MARCIA CALLER JAFFE ROBERT RATONYI ROBYN SPIZMAN GERSON SUSANNE KATZ KARLICK VICKIE CARROLL

The Other Side With Passover 5782 approaching, we reached out to our readers — as we do every year — to find out what “Getting to the Other Side” meant to them in 2022.

Our community responded with a truly diverse range of reflections, concerns and prayers for a better world, especially for those suffering through the ongoing devastation of Ukraine. Read on to see what your friends, colleagues and clergy are thinking and feeling in this third year of the pandemic.

In addition to community responses, our Passover section is chock full of holiday content, from a new book about the transformations of the prophet Elijah to the seldom-discussed ways in which family estrangement affects our lives, especially during family gatherings during the holidays. We bring you the latest on the AJC’s interfaith Unity Seder at The Temple and take a closer look at the unique experience of Sephardic seders, which, for those used to Ashkenazi dishes and traditions, may represent a new and delicious culinary frontier.

This has also been a big week in news, with Emory’s Deborah Lipstadt

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finally confirmed by the Senate, antisemitic flyers featuring conspiracy theories found south of downtown Atlanta and the return of award-winning documentary “Big Sonia,” about Holocaust survivor Sonia Warshawski, which will air on Atlanta Public Television, WPBA, at the end of April.

We cover many of the ways in which Israel and our local Jewish community have risen to the challenge of assisting refugees in Ukraine, from the field hospital Israel has constructed in Mostyska to Cantor Nancy Kassel of Temple Beth Tikvah, who joined clergy from around the U.S. and Israel on a four-day humanitarian trip to Poland.

This issue includes a special What’s Jewish About… featuring the Israeli couple behind toy world sensations like “Guess Who?” and “Pop It,” and stay tuned for our next issue, in which we’ll take a look at the local spa and beauty scene, including all the best tips for pampering your mom on Mother’s Day. Wishing you a meaningful Pesach — and may you get to the other side safely! ì

Cover photo: Our wise leader, Moses, shows us the way to the other side.

CONTENTS NEWS ���������������������������������������������� 6 ISRAEL �����������������������������������������26 SPORTS ��������������������������������������� 28 BUSINESS ������������������������������������ 32 WHAT'S JEWISH ABOUT ����������� 37 OPINION ��������������������������������������38 PASSOVER ����������������������������������������42 ARTS & CULTURE ����������������������� 88 DINING ����������������������������������������� 97 CALENDAR ���������������������������������� 98 TREASURE TROVE ������������������� 102 THE LOWDOWN ������������������������ 103 COMMUNITY ������������������������������ 104 KEEPING IT KOSHER ��������������� 112 BRAIN FOOD ������������������������������ 113 OBITUARIES ������������������������������ 114 CLOSING THOUGHTS �������������� 116 MARKETPLACE ������������������������ 118

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 5

NEWS Israel Establishes Field Hospital in Western Ukraine

A delegation of Israeli doctors is on its way to Ukraine. // Credit Twitter

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

fessionals have been flown to the Ukraine to staff the field hospital, including psychiaOn March 22, Israel became the first trists, psychologists and social workers. The known country to establish a field hospital hospital is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Those hours, however, are usuin Ukraine. According to ally interrupted three to the Israeli government, four times a day by air it was also the first time raid sirens, forcing evthat the nation had built eryone to flee for safety an entirely civilian hospiin the school’s basetal beyond its borders. ment, said Vivante, who Dubbed “Kochav is the deputy head of Meir” (“Shining Star”), it the delegation and head was named in memory of pediatrics at Sheba of Israel’s fourth prime Medical Center, Israel’s minister, Golda Meir, largest hospital. who was born in Kyiv in Vivante said that 1898. Built near a school in Mostyska, a town of “The medical center is open to anyone staff members know in need,” said Dr. Asaf Vivante, how many patients they 10,000 people about 30 although the hospital mostly serves are treating per day bemiles west of Lviv and refugees and local residents. cause each one is regisabout nine miles from the border with Poland, the hospital treated tered, and the process is entirely computerabout 3,000 patients in its first three weeks ized. The field hospital uses both the nearby of operation. On average, medical staff treat school and heated tents for registration. some 200 refugees from the region a day, 10 Each morning, the staff is greeted with long queues requiring triage. to 20 percent of whom are children.

Walking from one The Israeli governtent to another, Vivante ment, which has largely pointed out the signs funded the hospital, proreflecting the specialties vided a virtual tour of offered inside. The radithe facility to the press. ology area, for example, Dr. Asaf Vivante, who led included x-ray machines the tour, explained that and ultrasound equipthe facility has four main ment brought from Isragoals: to treat any person el, as well as an obstetrics requiring acute or chronand gynecology tent. ic medical care, to proThe pediatric tent, vide mental assistance, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine unlike the others, was to provide telemedicine support and to train lo- Michael Brodsky said that Israel’s first decorated with colorful priority prior to setting up the field cal medical teams. In the hospital was to extract Israelis citizens. hanging stars and other vibrant ornaments. first three weeks of the Inside the school, Vivante took the auhospital’s operation, Israeli doctors trained dience through designated classes for edusome 300 local physicians, he said.

Approximately 80 Israeli medical pro- cating medical teams, where essential skills 6 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

medical center workers training at a model of a field hospital similar to the one set up in Ukraine for wounded Ukrainian civilians, outside the Sheba medical center in Ramat Gan, March 8, 2022. // credit Flash90Sheba

A pregnant woman wounded in the Russian bombing of a Ukrainian maternity hospital has died along with her baby, reports say. // Credit AP

such as life support are taught. “Thirty medical personnel are trained every day,” he said.

The telemedicine area included special equipment that allows images to be sent back to ultrasound specialists at Sheba Hospital in Israel. Inside the school, one classroom has been converted into a children’s ward.

There’s a pharmacy stocked with medications sent from Israel, which also ships over laboratory equipment.

Few of the patients arrive at the field

hospital directly from the most intense zones of the conflict, which are mostly further east. But, two days prior to the virtual tour, a 70-year-old Jewish woman came to the hospital from an area that had been bombed, interrupting her colon cancer treatment, Vivante said. The field hospital personnel helped to transfer her to Sheba Hospital.

Vivante stressed that “the medical center is open to anyone in need,” regardless of their religion. To make sure that the sur-

NEWS

It’s not manna from heaven, but this Passover, provide something just as crucial to the survival of the Israeli people.

An injured woman stands outside a hospital after the bombing of the eastern town of Chuguiv // credit Getty Images

Man injured in bombing in Ukraine seeks medical attention. // Credit AP

rounding population is aware of the services it provides, the field hospital advertises in the local media.

The entire operation was set up very quickly once the personnel and equipment arrived.

Prior to the virtual tour, Michael Brodsky, Israel’s ambassador to Ukraine, noted that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is “not Israel’s war. But we have a lot in common with this region.” Once Russia attacked Ukraine, Israel’s first concern was extracting the estimated 10,000 Israelis living in the country at the time, Brodsky said.

As many as 1,000 Israelis remain in Ukraine, by choice.

“From the beginning, Israel decided to concentrate on what we know best,” Brodsky said, referring to medical treatment. “It was natural to focus on this.” In the coming weeks, Israel will be flying in humanitarian aid to various regions of Ukraine on a weekly basis, including medications and medical devices.

This is significant because the field hospital has a lack of morphine and blood products, although it collaborates with the local hospital to get what it needs, Dr. Vivante said.

David Dagan, the head of the field hospital mission, told the Times of Israel, “We will do our best to be the shining star in the refugees’ medical journey.”ì

Whether it’s a missile attack, a new Covid variant, or serious car crash, your gift to Magen David Adom ensures its 30,000 emergency medical technicians and paramedics have the supplies and resources they need to save lives. So this Passover, while you recount the story of the Jews’ redemption from slavery, your gift will help modern-day Israelis survive the threats they face today.

Make a gift to Magen David Adom today. Pesach kasher v’sameach.

afmda.org/passover ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 7

NEWS

Antisemitic Flyers Appear in South Atlanta Street

By Dave Schechter David Goldstein was “absolutely horrified” to discover antisemitic flyers on his car on April 8 when he emerged from shopping in a neighborhood south of downtown Atlanta.

One flyer declared that “Every Single Aspect of the Media is Jewish” and displayed the names and photographs of prominent Jews in the news and entertainment business, some of whom no longer are living. The other declared that “Every Single Aspect of the Ukraine-Russia War is Jewish,” pasting together newspaper headlines, some unrelated to the current conflict.

The bottom of the flyers read: “These Flyers Were Distributed Randomly Without Malicious Intent.”

Goldstein certainly found the flyers malicious. A 69-year-old, retired Atlanta native, Goldstein said that his car was parked on a public street in the Lakewood Heights neighborhood. He also saw that flyers had been placed on several other vehicles.

“My family members are Holocaust survivors and I wanted to report this incident of antisemitism,” Goldstein said, adding that

David Goldstein was horrified to discover antisemitic flyers on his car on April 8 in a neighborhood south of downtown Atlanta.

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his grandparents had escaped Germany for Ukraine during the Holocaust.

“I was absolutely horrified that we are reliving Nazism all over again in America.

These antisemitic tropes have no place in a multi-racial democracy. Upon further research, this group is responsible for spreading their anti-Jewish hate and vitriol nationwide,” Goldstein said.

That group is Goyim TV, a video sharing website that displays antisemitic conspiracy theories and related content and sells antisemitic merchandise.

[Note: Goyim is a Yiddish word for a gentile or non-Jew and often is used in a demeaning fashion.]

Goyim TV is associated with the Goyim Defense League, which the ADL says was responsible for 74 antisemitic propaganda incidents nationally in 2021 and has continued its activities in at least 17 states this year. The GDL is led by Jon Minadeo Jr. of Petaluma, Calif. After being booted off other websites, in 2020 Minadeo and Dominic Di Giorgio, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., created Goyim TV. This appears to be the first time that this group’s flyers have appeared in the Atlanta area, though the Southeast regional office of the Anti-Defamation League reports that flyers have been found in Cartersville and Savannah.

Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president of the Southern Division of the ADL, termed

the GDL “a loose group. They encourage antisemitic messaging but basically anybody can follow and participate in the activity.”

The GDL (whose name plays off the Jewish Defense League founded by the late Rabbi Meir Kahane) garnered publicity by hanging a banner that read “Vax the Jews” on an Austin, Texas, overpass last December. In February, hundreds of flyers blaming Jews for the COVID-19 pandemic were found in Berkeley, Calif., and others elsewhere in San Francisco, Palo Alto and Marin County, Calif. In one weekend in January, flyers appeared in six states: Florida, Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas, California and Maryland.

According to the ADL website: “GDL’s overarching goal is to cast aspersions on Jews and spread antisemitic myths and conspiracy theories. This includes frequent references to Jews having undue power through their ‘control’ of major institutions such as media networks, the economy or the government, or disparaging Jews as degenerates who molest children and advocate for pornography, abortion and LGBTQ+ communities. GDL maintains that the Holocaust is a Jewish lie, and accounts of the Holocaust are merely propaganda or lies generated by Jews for their own benefit. Similarly, the GDL says that Jews were responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York and Israel intentionally targeted a U.S. warship during the height of the 1967 Six-Day War.” ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 9

NEWS

Lipstadt Now Madam Ambassador

By Dave Schechter After eight months of rancor and delays, the Senate needed only a simple vote on March 30 to confirm Deborah Lipstadt as the U.S. Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

As he introduced the vote, Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff spoke in the Senate chamber about his great-grandparents, Israel and Annie, who fled antisemitism in Eastern Europe and emigrated to America.

“And right now as we speak, the scourge of anti-Semitism is rising again in this country and around the world,” Ossoff said. “If we mean the words ‘never again,’ then at long last, Madam President, let’s confirm Deborah Lipstadt to fight antisemitism on behalf of the United States.”

There were no dissenting voices, and with that unanimous vote the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies in Emory University’s Tam Institute for Jewish Studies and religion department became Madam Ambassador.

The 75-year-old Lipstadt, who came to Emory in 1993, will take a leave of absence as she takes up a diplomatic portfolio dealing

with antisemitism outside of the United States.

Congress established the position in 2004. Senate confirmation was required because the post has been elevated to ambassadorial status. Prior to Lipstadt, the envoy was appointed as part of the State Department Office of Religion and Global Affairs.

Lipstadt is the second woman from Atlanta’s Jewish community confirmed this year for an ambassadorial post. Michèle Taylor received Senate approval in February and now serves as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council, based in Geneva, Switzerland.

In a statement to the AJT, Taylor said: “As Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pointed out ‘antisemitism is not a relic of the past. We must be relentless in standing up and rejecting antisemitism.’ The confirmation of Deborah Lipstadt as our next Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism is a demonstration of the strong commitment of the U.S. government to lead in confronting and defeating the scourge of antisemitism at home and around the world. I have known Deborah for a long

Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt as the U.S. Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.

time and have seen firsthand how she has devoted her life to this task; there is no one more qualified to lead our efforts. I am also pleased that a fellow Atlantan will be our ally at the Human Rights Council and else-

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NEWS The Senate vote came eight months friend Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt on her to the day after President confirmation to be United Joe Biden nominated her States Special Envoy for last July 30. Months of delay Monitoring and Combatensued, as Republicans — ing anti-Semitism. This Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnplatform to fight Antisemison, in particular — objecttism worldwide is so desed to Lipstadt’s social media perately needed. May God posts. Johnson, a member grant you wisdom and disof the Senate Foreign Relacernment as you serve on tions Committee, placed a behalf of the United States and the Jewish people fight- Senator Jon Ossoff said that “hold” on the nomination ing the world’s oldest form “the scourge of anti-Semitism because of a Twitter post is rising again in this country Lipstadt published about of hatred.” and around the world.” him.

In a newsletter, Eric On March 14, 2021, she posted an arRobbins, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, called Lip- ticle about a statement by Johnson, that he stadt “our hometown heroine,” citing her would have been more concerned about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on scholarship at Emory and the Capitol if the mob had her renowned fight against been made up of “Black Holocaust denial. “But more Lives Matter and antifa than this, Deborah is an protesters” rather than supactive member of our Jewporters of then-President ish community, blessing Donald Trump. us with the opportunity to Lipstadt’s comment said fully appreciate all her gifts. of Johnson’s statement, “This She is a meticulous histois white supremacy/nationrian, a passionate teacher, alism. Pure and simple.” and a fearless advocate for Michèle Taylor said of Jewish groups renewed the Jewish people,” Robbins Lipstadt “there is no one their push for Lipstadt’s said. more qualified to lead our As of this writing, Lip- efforts” against antisemitism. confirmation in the wake stadt has not issued a statement about of the Jan. 15 incident in which a gunman the Senate confirmation, but she did com- held a rabbi and three congregants hostage ment on Facebook after an April 3 meet- inside a Colleyville, Texas, synagogue.

When Lipstadt finally ing in Atlanta with a group received a confirmation of cadets and midshipmen hearing before the Foreign from the U.S. Military AcadRelations Committee on emy West Point, the United Feb. 8, she acknowledged States Naval Academy, the that “sometimes I have not United States Coast Guard been as nuanced in my Academy, The Citadel, the tweets as I like” and that Massachusetts Maritime she has “been exceptionally Academy, Norwich Univercritical of members of the sity, and Texas A&M UniverDemocratic Party, of people sity. “What an impressive on the end of the spectrum, group of young men and Rabbi Adam Starr congratulated Lipstadt, political spectrum, where I women. I thanked them for “my dear congregant, place myself.” their service and then, . . . teacher and friend.”

Johnson accepted Lipthey thanked me for mine.

It took a minute for the latter to register,” stadt’s apology, but then told her, “I think that somebody who has had a 30-year proshe said.

Lipstadt also received congratulations fessional career ought to know better . . . I simply cannot support your on Twitter — “We need nomination . . . You’re simyou!!!” — from Noa Tishby, ply not qualified for it.” an Israeli actress and acThe committee voted tivist living in the United 12-9 with two Republicans States, whom Israeli media joining 11 Democrats and report will be appointed sent the nomination to the

by Foreign Minister Yair full Senate.

Lapid to be a special envoy When she was nomito combat antisemitism. nated, Lipstadt said, “I will Tishby is author of “Israel: miss one thing: Being in the A Simple Guide to the Most Eric Robbins called Lipstadt classroom with my Emory Misunderstood Country on “our hometown heroine.” students.” ì Earth.”

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NEWS

Local Cantor Joins ‘Hineini Trip’ to Krakow

By Vickie Carroll On April 10, Cantor Nancy Kassel of Temple Beth Tikvah in Roswell and 25 other Reform clergy from around the U.S. and Israel embarked on a four day “Hineini Trip” to Krakow, Poland. They offered financial, material and spiritual assistance to Ukrainian refugees.

Solidarity is the mission at hand, as the Jewish community adds to their efforts to bring help to the refugees in as many possible ways.

The Hineini Trip was created by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, World Union for Progressive Judaism and Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism in conjunction with the Jewish Community Centre of Krakow and the executive director, Rabbi Jonathan Orenstein. The JCC of Krakow operates on the Ukrainian side of the Ukraine-Poland border and inside Ukraine. A travel agency associated with the Reform movement, J2 Adventures organized much of the trip.

Participants collected at least $500,000 in donations to be directed to the extensive activities of the Krakow JCC. They brought over 3,000 lbs. of requested medicine and personal supplies. While in Krakow the rabbis and cantors offered support under the direction of Rabbi Orenstein. Kassel collected $12,000 from members of Temple Beth Tikvah and brought eight duffel bags of clothing and other materials to the Krakow JCC. Rabbis from Poland and Russia also participated in this effort. Most of the clergy planned to leave Krakow on the morning of April 14 to be back in time for Passover. They will bring back stories

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Cantor Nancy Kassel with 9 bags of donations ready to go.

from refugees and other volunteers as well as their own experiences.

When interviewed by the AJT Kassel stated that she found out about the trip from Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, of Temple Israel in West Palm Beach, Florida. In a statement released by Salkin, he recounts, “My brother asked me: ‘In ten years, when your grandchildren ask you what you did during the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time — the situation in Ukraine — how will you answer them?’

That was it, I knew that I couldn’t just write articles and give sermons. It had to be more than that.”

That is how the trip got started. “Hineini” is the Hebrew word for “I am here,” and that was the kind of personal presence and involvement that Salkin craved.

He decided to create an emergency trip for Reform clergy to help refugees.

Krakow Jewish Community Centre

Rabbi Don Goor and Guy Millo, the creators of J2 Adventures, in turn, reached out to Rabbi Ornstein. Krakow has become inundated by refugees from Ukraine.

“It is an amazing group of colleagues,” Salkin said in advance of the trip. “We have clergy from Pennsylvania, Georgia, Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, California, Ohio. And not just Americans.

We have rabbis from Russia, Poland, and Israel as well.”

“We hope to go to the PolandUkraine border. We hope to work with orphans who have just arrived in Poland.

More than anything else, though, we want to bear witness to what is happening. To let our communities know what is happening. To be part of this story and to be part of history, “said Salkin.

Kassel told the AJT that a woman posted on Jewish Moms of Atlanta via her Facebook page, that she had been looking for someone going to Krakow because she had assembled 100 small bags to distribute to people there. Each bag has a small fleece blanket, small toys for kids, among other things. Kassel was able to take 40 of the small bags in her remaining luggage space. She said, “yes, there is evil in the world, but thank God, there is a lot of goodness as well.”

Salkin closed his statement with, “Yes, we all have stuff to do to prepare for Passover, which starts the day after the trip is over. But this trip is its own form of Passover preparation. On Passover, we speak of the horrors of the ancient Egyptian regime, and the maniacal nature of Pharaoh. We are facing a modern Pharaoh — Putin — and we are strengthening the hands of a modern Moses —

Zelenskyy. That is what it means to be there.”

The JCC of Krakow is a key provider of services, a strategic partner, and a convener, having already helped directly and via our partners many thousands of Ukrainians over the last four weeks.

Rabbi Orenstein of the Krakow Jewish Community Centre recently released this statement and welcomes assistance from additional communities that would like to get involved: • Our JCC continues to function 7 days a week, 14 hours a day as a collection and distribution point for food, medicine, hygienic supplies, toys, and clothing. Between 300 and 500 Ukrainians a day come in to take whatever supplies they need and are met by our Ukrainian speakers who welcome them and offer assistance. So far 8,500 Ukrainians have received over 20 tons of necessary supplies so far in our building. We have also begun offering on site meals and 200 free meals a day are served in our building.

• We are sending truckloads of supplies to other refugee centers in Krakow, to the border, and to numerous points, including hospitals inside Ukraine.

• We are currently directly housing and feeding ~220 Ukrainians, Jews and non-Jews, in hotel rooms and apartments in Krakow we have secured for that purpose. We call and visit them regularly and help them with their daily needs including cash.

• We have outfitted and opened a mother and child safe space with a local partner that provides day care for 25 young children, and Polish and English classes, psychological counseling, and job training for their mothers in a

NEWS

Krakow JCC volunteers.

From Rabbi Jonathan Orenstein of the Krakow Jewish Community Centre.

Randi S. and Cantor Nancy Kessel looked at the donations Randi brought in.

warm, cozy environment.

• We have partnered with four local NGOs to run and equip one of the central refugee hubs for Ukrainians coming to Krakow. Staffed by Ukrainian speakers, it also has on site housing for 100 refugees, and we are providing food as well as laundry services for all the residents.

• We are working with and financial-

ly supporting a local partner that brings supplies to the border and into Lviv for distribution across Ukraine and brings people out to Poland. Over 3,000 people have escaped Ukraine this way since the war began. We have also partnered with them on the Ukrainian side of the Korczowa border crossing to provide Ukrainians waiting to enter Poland with warm

food, medical care and sanitary supplies.

• We provide transport for Ukrainians who are traveling onward via Poland to other countries in Europe and Israel by purchasing plane and train tickets.

So far, we have helped transport 200+ Ukrainians.

• We have hired 11 new full time staff members to increase our capacity, in-

cluding four Ukrainian refugees.

• We are part of the Jewish crisis response network set up and based in Warsaw and are coordinating with local Polish Jewish organizations to provide services and share information.

• We have partnered with a local university and an Israeli NGO to train 60 local psychologists to deal with refugee trauma.

• We have partnered with the Polish Scouts to establish a presence at the Krakow Central Train Station where we have purchased 50 beds and are providing supplies to refugees.

• We have purchased vital medical supplies in Poland and delivered them into Ukraine to the hospital near the Yavoriv Military Base that was bombed

by Russia on March 13.

• We are working to provide food to 280 elderly Ukrainian Jews in smaller towns in the Kyiv and Cherkasy regions of Ukraine.ì For more information on how you can get involved contact Rabbi Jeffrey K. Salkin at rabbisalkin@temple-israel.com, or 404314-9136. You may also contact Cantor Nancy Kessel at 770-642-0434.

Happy Passover!

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 13

NEWS

Cobb Middle School Students Get Holocaust Lesson

By Jan Jaben-Eilon Rabbi Ephraim Silverman of Chabad of Cobb likes to refer to the situation as turning “darkness into light.”

Another way to express it might be “turning lemons into lemonade.”

It’s been a little over a month since Cobb County schools once again made headlines for incidents involving Nazi imagery. During last fall’s Jewish High Holy Days, swastikas and “Hail Hitler” were graffitied above urinals in bathrooms at Pope and Lassiter High Schools in Cobb County. This time, five students at the East Cobb Middle School were involved in social media posts in which at least one student wore a swastika armband and imitated the Nazi salute. The five middle school students were suspended, but the story doesn’t end there, as parents soon reached out to Rabbi Silverman and asked for his help.

“I’m trying to turn this into something more positive,” Silverman acknowledged. In a statement he released, the rabbi noted that “our goal is neither anger nor vilification. Rather it is an opportunity to promote sensitivity and brighten students’ futures, to use this unfortunate saga as a springboard for personal growth and enlightenment. The children and their families involved in this incident have reached out to the Jewish community, expressing regret for the pain and suffering these despicable expressions of anti-Semitism have

14 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

East Cobb Middle School students, both Jewish and non-Jewish, formed a band to entertain seniors at assisted living facilities in Cobb County.

Parents of the suspended students reached out to Chabad of Cobb Rabbi Ephraim Silverman.

caused. In truth, such hurtful acts, as is often the case, were rooted in ignorance.”

Silverman told the AJT that he met with the students and parents, showed them some “shocking documentaries” about the Holocaust and told them about the experience of his own grandmother, who was a Holocaust survivor.

The children and parents were overwhelmed, he said. Comments made by the parents included, “I guess I always thought it was ancient history.” One father

turned to his child and pointed out that the Holocaust didn’t start day one with gas chambers; it started with jokes and comments. Another father noted that the Holocaust could not have happened without millions of bystanders.

When Silverman learned that the students all played musical instruments, he had them join with a group of Jewish students to form a band that has started entertaining senior citizens at assisted living facilities in Cobb County. The Jewish students had already been visiting seniors on a regular basis. Now, those involved are speaking with the school’s band teacher to put together special songs to sing to the elderly.

“I’m trying to do something different,” said the rabbi. “The Jewish community is good at condemnation. I think we need to take the next step. This is an opportunity for growth.”

The students, he said, “need to learn that, though humor is an important part of life, there are certain things that no human being should ever joke about or make light of. They need to learn that the Holocaust and any other atrocity committed against any people is under no circumstance a joking matter.” Silverman also taught the students about forgiveness.

Immediately after the February incident, the rabbi said that he also feels “that it is important that we do not allow these isolated acts of stupidity and hate to change the way we see our community and society. I have personally been working in many of the local schools for 20 years, providing support for the schools’ Jewish clubs.

And I will tell you that 99 percent are kind, tolerant and respectful. Let’s not allow a few juvenile idiots [to] change the way we view our neighbors.”

Silverman told the AJT that, at a prescheduled meeting of the Jewish Club at East Cobb Middle School on Feb. 18, many more Jewish students and non-Jewish students showed up to demonstrate their support, including the assistant principal. “There was triple the attendance,” he said. “They wanted to make a statement of solidarity.”

“I am hopeful that our efforts to pursue a constructive dialogue, transforming this painful incident into a blessing, will inspire others in our community to transform darkness into light,” he added. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 15

NEWS

Adding Boom to Zoom with Support from Ukraine

A four-person interview becomes a TV program with Cinamaker.

By Robyn Spizman Gerson Benjamin Nowak, founder and CEO of Cinamaker, has lived in Atlanta since 1991. His company, launched in 2017, was built on the success of a technology career spanning three decades. Formerly from New Orleans, Nowak decided to focus his talents on network systems, marketing automation, digital imaging and new media.

“Since 1992, I’ve had the fortune to work with and provide new media and internet solutions for some very innovative startups and powerful brands, such as IBM, Oracle, NCR, Honeywell, Manpower, McKesson and hundreds of others,” Nowak said.

16 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Benjamin Nowak with his team in Ukraine.

His background in technology helped him to see what was missing in the industry, and Cinamaker ended up catching the eye of videoconferencing giant Zoom.

“Zoom saw our technology at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference and encouraged us to build an integration into their platform due to the simplicity of our solution for their users to enhance the professionalism of their customers’ Zoom meetings,” Nowak said. “Getting help from Zoom, working with the developer relationship team, our software now works hand in hand with the Zoom platform.”

The person who discovered Cinamaker at Zoom is now the CTO. “He understood the value we were giving

Cinamaker founder and CEO, Benjamin Nowak.

A user switches to a new camera at a professional event.

to people,” Nowak said, offering clients the ability to “switch cameras and add graphics, media, lower thirds and videos, just like you’d see on CNN. Zoom is a platform that helps us facilitate really advanced, remote video communication … we look at it as a building block on which we can layer not only media and creativity, but also interactivity and future applications that have yet to be built that represent the future of interactive communication.”

Since Cinamaker is supported by a team of engineers in Ukraine, the Russian invasion has thrown a wrench into their operation. “Our engineering team is all Ukrainian. From our chief technology officer on down,” Nowak says. “Our office in Kharkiv has had to shut down and during the past month everyone has been forced to work from home. On top of that, over 80 percent of our team has been forced to leave their hometown of Kharkiv, to find safer places in Ukraine.”

Nowak relies on the engineering team’s integrity, professionalism and work ethic, which has not flagged even during a war.

“Nothing has changed, as our Ukrainian management and engineering team has been extremely resilient in the face of missiles and shelling in many of their residential neighborhoods,” Nowak said. “Many have stayed out of the war by focusing on their work. Our primary focus over the past few weeks has been for everyone to find a safe place and new housing for their families. Most have resettled out of Kharkiv and have resumed work. To date, we’re extremely thankful that everyone on our team and their families have remained safe.”

Nowak lives in Atlanta with his wife, Beth (Rubenstein), and daughter, Maggie. His family firmly believes in giving back to the community and participating in various charitable organizations. For more information, visit www.cinamaker.com. ì

May 6 -7 Celebrate the life and legacy of Hank Aaron during a full weekend of activities, events and tributes.

BRAVES.COM/HANKAARONWEEK ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 17

NEWS

Koonin Wins ADL Award for Voting Rights Advocacy

Steve Koonin (center) welcomed Mark Silberman and Dr. Joel Adler during the cocktail hour.

By Marcia Caller Jaffe On March 31, the Anti-Defamation League’s Southeast Region honored Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin at an event at City Winery. Koonin accepted the Torch of Liberty Award on behalf of his “efforts

18 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

beyond basketball, resulting in voting access” for more Americans, modeled in other cities around the U.S. “Casual to Dazzle” described the dress code and Thursday night vibe, with live performances by Joey Sommerville, Gurufish and Michelle Malone. Rich War-

The ADL’s Allison Padilla-Goodman posed with Joel Neuman, Koonin’s former coworker at Coca-Cola.

Political reporter Greg Bluestein and his wife, Sheryl, enjoyed the live music.

ren and Hedy Rubinger served as event co-chairs for the sold-out crowd, while Channel 2’s Jorge Estevez pitched in as the evening’s upbeat Master of Ceremonies.

ADL Southeast Chair-elect Lauren Estrin began by introducing a video on the ADL’s mission to fight antisemitism in schools through the No Place for Hate program. Rubinger introduced a video highlighting the partnership between the ADL, FBI and local law enforcement.

Allison Padilla-Goodman, the ADL’s vice president of the Southern Division, elaborated on the rise in hate crimes and how law enforcement can be a crucial partner.

“Recent stats show record rate increases in antisemitism … over the past five years,” she said. “The more people buy into this, the more faith in democracy is lost … we need to roll up our sleeves and get in it together.”

Andrew Saltzman, who served as host committee chair along with his wife, Amy, delivered a fun “roast” of his buddy Koonin, with whom he had worked at Turner Broadcasting prior to Koonin joining the Hawks. He recalled that Koonin took the new job because he felt he could have more impact on the community, which his profound leadership has indeed done.

“I stood by his side for seven years where he defamed me almost daily,” quipped Saltzman before a final video, about Koonin’s role in turning the State Farm Arena into a polling station, was screened. “Looking back, the execution details during COVID were astounding, before vaccines. Hawks employees wore masks and stood behind shields, and people voted in less than 15 minutes each, and no one got sick,” reported Koonin.

Joel Neuman, who worked with Koonin at Coca-Cola, used his cell phone to

make a donation. Over $16,000 in donations were recorded that night, while over $580,000 was raised in total for the event.

Neuman recalled the old adage, “You can never do wrong by doing right.” “Steve saw the need and stepped up,” he said.

Koonin received a rousing standing ovation and related how he, along with Hawks co-owners Tony Ressler and Jami Gertz, came up with one million dollars to accommodate three elections with 50,000 voters, making State Farm Arena the largest polling site in U.S. history.

“Voting leads to change, and we will be back to do it in 2024,” Koonin proclaimed.

“The old saying, ‘imitation is the highest form of flattery,’ certainly rings true, as 71 sports teams followed suit and opened arenas, stadiums, practice facilities and parking lots to enable a wave of democracy to sweep across our nation,” Koonin told the AJT. “Seeing sports empower and enable voting is something I will always cherish.”

As CEO, he oversees all business, financial and strategic operations for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, and represents the owners as the head of the organization. Koonin joined the Hawks after spending 14 years with Turner Entertainment Networks. Prior to that, he helmed the marketing and worldwide advertising operations at The Coca-Cola Company.

A lifelong Atlanta resident, Koonin has been the recipient of numerous accolades, including Sports Business Journal’s Sports Executive of the Year, and has been named to “The 100 Most Influential Atlantans” list by the Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Magazine’s “Most Powerful People Shaping Atlanta,” Entertainment Weekly’s “Smartest People in Television” and TV Guide’s “The Power List.” ì

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NEWS

JNF’s Breakfast at the Ballpark in Support of Israel

By Beth Gluck Nearly 300 Atlantans hit a home run for the land and people of Israel on March 1 at Jewish National Fund-USA’s 18th Annual Jack Hirsch Memorial Breakfast where Abe Schear was honored.

This year’s theme was “Breakfast at the Ballpark” and was hosted at Truist Park, the home stadium of the Atlanta Braves. Chaired

by Mark Kopkin with support from Engagement Chairs Caryn Berzack, Lindsay Lewis, and Samantha Weidenbaum. The event honored long-time local philanthropist Abe Schear, aka “Mr. Baseball.” Schear is a partner in the real estate and leasing practice of Arnall Golden Gregory, LLP and serves as the editor of its Baseball Digest publication.

A proud member of JNF-USA’s Herzl Society, Lawyers for Israel, Gould Legacy Society, and a former member of the Atlanta Board of Directors and Board of Trustees, Schear has also authored “I Remember When: A Collection of Memories from Baseball’s Biggest Fans”.

The event also featured a conversation with two Jewish baseball icons — Ron Blomberg, a Jewish baseball legend, he was the New York Yankees’ team leader in 1973

Gladys Hirsch, Stacy Fialkow.

and Art Shamsky, who was a member of the “Miracle Mets,” which won their first World Championship in 1969. They enlightened community members about how their Jewish values and upbringing helped them score highly successful careers in the oldest major professional sports league in the world.

Attendees were excited to take photographs with the Braves’ 2021 World Series trophy and learn about Jewish National Fund-USA’s critical projects in Israel’s Negev Desert and Galilee regions that will impact the global Jewish community for generations to come.

For more information or to learn more about Jewish National Fund-USA’s upcoming events in Atlanta, contact Beth Gluck, Executive Director, Greater Atlanta at bgluck@jnf.org or 404.236.8990 x851. ì

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NEWS

32nd Annual Buckhead Coalition Luncheon

Jay Davis and Sam Olens feel strongly connected to the health of Buckhead and the city.

By Marcia Caller Jaffe On March 30, a powerhouse crowd composed of the city’s “who’s who” came to pay their respects to late mayor Sam Massell and to learn about the future of Atlanta from keynote speaker and current Mayor Andre Dickens.

The cavernous ballroom of Flourish Atlanta on Maple Drive was surrounded by blue flashing lights as the APD escorted traffic for the 32nd Buckhead Coalition Annual Lunch.

Grateful to finally gather in person by an open bar, fans of the late mayor and city leaders elbow bumped and hugged in the

Alana Shepherd, the first female chairman of the Coalition, chats with attorney Linda Klein.

A.J. Robinson, CEO of Central Atlanta Progress, and Jonathan Rodbell chat ahead of the event.

spirit of genuine cooperation.

“Sam always said, ‘A lot more can be achieved in a conference call than in a confrontation,’” Mayor Dickens told the crowd.

Coalition President Jim Durrett called the meeting to order with a pledge to responsibly and collaboratively announce in upcoming weeks a fitting theme, event or honor that would serve as a tribute to late Mayor Massell. “Above all, Sam would insist that we carry on,” he said.

Sheffield Hale, CEO of the Atlanta History Center and chair of the nominating committee, affirmed that Eric Tanen-

blatt is the Coalition’s 2023 chair elect. Fulton County Commission Chair Rob Pitts spoke of his close friendship with Massell. He remembered a meeting in which, with Massell’s cooperation, the two got around a loophole that allowed Mohammad Ali to fight in Atlanta.

“I said, ‘Sam, you got 90 percent of the black vote and you owe us,’” he recalled. Massell agreed, and the two succeeded in getting approval from then-Governor Lester Maddox.

Mayor Dickens, who made a point of going table to table to shake hands, agreed. “Sam gave us the wherewithal to go further together,” he said.

Dickens took the podium to expound on his plans to address pressing city issues with his “balanced approach to crime,” including: • Adding additional police officers (250 by the end of 2022), providing low-cost housing for young recruits and adding a 311 phone line to deal with issues and relieve the police.

• Adding 2,000 streetlights with an additional 3,000 in the pipeline.

• Getting career criminals (who account for 40 percent of crimes) off the streets by tracking repeat offenders.

• Upgrading fire stations and EMS response.

• Trash pickup: Dickens noted that he volunteers with neighbors to clean the area near Buckhead’s OK Café along West Paces Ferry Road.

• Improvement of the Chastain Park Gym and parking lot.

• Pushing to pass “TSPLOST 2.0” with hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation and infrastructure improvements.

Sam Olens, the former Georgia attorney general, remarked, “I fully support a united Atlanta, and appreciate all the Coalition has done under the leadership of these great public servants.”

Jonathan Rodbell, who lives in Buckhead and has several commercial properties there, said, “I have and will continue to have a long-term interest and commitment to Buckhead.”

Judge Gary Jackson recalled going to Northside High School, enjoying Buckhead’s amenities and attending synagogue on Peachtree Battle. “My job is to protect the people and property in the city,” he said. “I’ve literally heard thousands of cases, and I’m proud that, by working with the city, very few criminals end up back in my court.”

The Buckhead Coalition is invitation-only and has a limit of 100 members. Yearly dues come to around $9,000. The late mayor, Sam Massell, founded and became president of the Coalition in 1988. ì

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NEWS

AJFF Holocaust Film Airing on Public Television

By Bob Bahr An award-winning documentary about then 91-year-old Holocaust survivor, great-grandmother and businesswoman Sonia Warshawski is returning to Atlanta.

“Big Sonia,” which premiered at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival in 2017, returns to WPBA, Atlanta’s Public Television station, at the end of April.

While the film describes Warshawski’s experience during the Holocaust, it does not dwell on the losses she sustained. Rather, it concentrates on her indomitable spirit and infectious personality, even as she bears witness to all that she has learned from her horrific experience.

The ironic title says it all. Though the diminutive Sonia stands no more than 4 feet 8 inches tall, onscreen she emerges as someone who has risen above her circumstances to affirm a message of hope rather than bitterness. In the course of the film, appearing before a group of local prison inmates, she puts it this way: “I can’t forgive, that will be for a higher power to do, but I can tell you to try and put love in your heart, try to help others and become a different person.”

It’s a simple yet profound message that’s shaped by Sonia’s granddaughter, Leah Warshawski, and her husband, Todd Soliday, who serves as the film’s editor, into a taut and compelling tale of perseverance and survival.

The film has been screened at the Library of Congress for an audience of Washington’s elite, had a successful theat-

This month’s showing of “Big Sonia” on public television will bring the film to a national audience for the first time.

Sonia Warshawski survived the loss of her entire family, except for one sister, during the Holocaust.

“Big Sonia” will air on WPBA, Public Broadcasting Atlanta, on April 29.

rical run and picked up numerous awards from film festivals, including Best Documentary at the prestigious Barcelona International Film Festival. An educational package with a study guide and lesson plan is available to accompany an abbreviated version of the film. But despite its success, it is largely unknown to most Americans — something that is hopefully about to change.

This Passover season, the film has been scheduled by 345 PBS stations in 150 markets in 44 states across the country. Those stations reach some 95 percent of the U.S. population. And, if some miss the showing this month, the agreement gives PBS stations a three-year window to reschedule the film. Warshawski and her husband are hopeful that “Big Sonia” will get a further boost in September, when PBS broadcasts a three-part documentary by Ken Burns about America and the Holocaust.

Increasingly, as survivors of the Holocaust age and pass away, the impact of personal testimony will diminish. That’s

why Leah Warshawski feels the urgency of bringing her grandmother’s story to as many people as possible.

Last summer, she worked with the creators of the interactive platform Story File and Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation to re-record Sonia, who is now 96.

The goal of the sessions is to develop a presentation that makes it possible for future generations to have a virtual conversation with the Holocaust survivor. It is what Story File calls “Conversational Television.”

Testing of the Sonia recordings is expected to begin this month.

Warshawski is hopeful that the Story File production will help to fill the gap that’s widened with younger generations, as the number of living survivors who personally experienced the Holocaust dwindles.

“I think we know that within our lifetime, all of the survivors will be gone. So we have been working at a fever pitch to make an impact while Sonia’s still alive,” she said.

“You know, when the survivors are gone, there’s still going to be impact, but it’s just

not the same as having somebody in front of you. This Shoah Foundation project is going to allow people to have a conversation with her, ask her questions, but it’s still not the real person. And that’s tough, and it’s going to be really, really sad.”

Yet, for all the concern from its creators about what comes next, “Big Sonia” remains focused on how the life of one Holocaust survivor can touch the lives of so many — not the least of which have been Leah and other Warshawski family members.

In the film, Sonia’s son, Morrie, is moved to tears by a poem he wrote for her.

“The lady never shakes free the ashes of the dead.

Dark clouds. Dark cauliflower fists …

This lady is the witness who never forgets.”

Big Sonia is a witness you are not likely to forget, either.

Watch Big Sonia on Atlanta’s WPBA 30 on Friday, April 29, at 10 p.m. ì

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ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

Dr. Hannan Geffen (right) and MDA medic with a Ukrainian refugee at the clinic in Moldova.

MDA Aids Ukrainian refugees in Moldova Earlier this week, an MDA team of paramedics, EMTs and doctors, as well as two doctors from Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital, established a field clinic in Chisinau, Moldova for Ukrainian refugees at the request of the Moldovan Jewish community.

One of its first patients was a 100-yearold Holocaust survivor who was rescued from Kyiv with assistance from the Israeli rescue organization Zaka. After the 14-hour ambulance ride, MDA teams examined and treated her.

“We conducted a comprehensive set of tests to make sure her physical condition was

Today in Israeli History

Arab rioters confront British police during the 1936 uprising.

April 15, 1936: An Arab uprising begins when 10 cars are attacked and three Jews are killed in an apparent robbery near Tulkarm.

Violence lasts until 1939, and the British shift toward pro-Arab policies.

April 16, 1983: In what may be the costliest heist since modern Israel’s founding, watches, clocks and paintings worth tens of millions of dollars are stolen from the Museum for Islamic Art in Jerusalem.

April 17, 1954: Gamal Abdel Nasser, who leads wars against Israel in 1956 and 1967, is appointed Egypt’s prime minister at age 36.

Nasser becomes president under a new constitution in 1956.

April 18, 1996: An Israeli artillery barrage kills 106 civilians sheltering in a U.N. compound in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon during an anti-Hezbollah offensive named Operation Grapes of Wrath.

April 19, 1977: President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy team agrees on its approach to 26 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

good and arranged for her to live in the delegation’s hostel, with the aim of keeping her close and having a friend until she immigrated to Israel,” said Chaim Levin, a paramedic and director of the clinic.

“We saw the calm on her face when she saw the symbols of Magen David Adom on our clothes and realized that she was finally, after a month of fighting, safe,” said Levin.

As soon as word spread about the clinic, it began receiving refugees from all backgrounds, not just Jewish refugees. It is also receiving patients from other Israeli delegations in Moldova. “It’s hard to describe the fear, the distress, the shock that has shaken people’s lives,” says Levin.

“An elderly woman came here from Ukraine with chronic diseases, who was shaken by the long and difficult journey, without any sleep or medication,” he recounts. “She was suffering from a severe and worsening lung disease, and we were able to stabilize her and bring her to a local hospital.”

Sometimes the assistance consists of walking the dogs of elderly patients too ill to do so or playing soccer with the children.

Dr. Hannan Geffen is a medical director with MDA working in the clinic. He says, “I met terrified, desperate and sad people who tell horrifying stories. I have no doubt that beyond medical treatment, providing a compassionate ear helps them cope with the situation.”

Meir Panim Welcomes Refugees to Seder Table

the Middle East, including a regional peace conference during 1977, but fails to consider that Likud might win May’s election.

April 20, 1965: The Shrine of the Book, built to house the Dead Sea Scrolls, opens as a wing of the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Its white domed roof is inspired by the lids of the jars that held the scrolls in Qumran.

April 21, 1947: Moshe Barazani, 20, of Lehi (the Stern Gang) and Meir Feinstein, 19, of the Irgun kill themselves with a grenade smuggled into their prison cell to prevent the British from hanging them the next morning.

end of their seven-year rift. The brief reconciliation ends U.S.-facilitated Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

April 24, 1903: Meeting with Theodor Herzl, British official Joseph Chamberlain proposes a Jewish homeland in British-controlled East Africa. Herzl sees the Uganda Plan as an interim step toward the return to Israel.

April 25, 1920: Herbert Samuel is asked to serve as Britain’s first high commissioner for Palestine the same day the San Remo Conference accepts the Balfour Declaration as part of the plan for the former Ottoman Empire.

Jewish fighters patrol during the battle for Haifa in April 1948.

April 22, 1948: The Haganah executes a three-prong attack to secure control of all of Haifa except for the port, which the British hold, amid the violence ahead of the Israeli Declaration of Independence three weeks later.

April 23, 2014: Hamas and the Fatah-led Palestine Liberation Organization, which runs the Palestinian Authority, announce the

By Hadassah Bay

The past two years have taught us a lesson or two regarding advance planning (futile) and flexibility (crucial). And so, we at Meir Panim are continuing full steam ahead with operations to provide necessities for Passover and, where needed, a place at the Seder table — albeit with the knowledge that we must always be equipped with a “Plan B.” Meir Panim’s patrons come from across the spectrum of Israel society, including the elderly and single-parent families, people on disability allowances and the working poor, whose numbers have skyrocketed since the onset of the pandemic. This year, Meir Panim has been welcoming an unexpected, completely new demographic: refugees from Ukraine. They started to trickle in around Purim and have been arriving in Israel in steadily increasing numbers.

While the various government agencies are scrambling to help them, they clearly are unable to do it all alone and have been turning to organizations like Meir Panim.

“We’ve seen a lot of refugees in Tiberias and in Or Akiva, and have been endeavoring to fill in the gaps,” says Mimi Rozmaryn, director of Global Development at Meir Panim.

“We have the infrastructure, and we’re ready

A drawing depicts the violence of Russian pogroms against Jews.

April 26, 1881: Anti-Jewish violence since the assassination of Czar Alexander II in March sweeps into Kyiv. Rioters loot and destroy Jewish shops and homes. Authorities warned Kyiv’s Jews on April 25 to stay inside.

April 27, 1984: Fifteen members of the Jewish Underground, an anti-Arab terror-

Nissim, the branch manager of the Dimona branch of Meir Panim, welcomes Ukrainian refugees.

and happy to do whatever is needed.”

As soon as the refugees started arriving, Meir Panim’s branch managers took the initiative to print up signs in Hebrew and Russian welcoming the newcomers and informing them that they can seek assistance from Russian-speaking volunteers. “They’ve been through so much trauma just getting here,” Mimi observes. “We’re trying to help them feel more settled in any way we can.”

Last year, a communal seder was organized in Tzefat and Dimona; this year, due to increased demand, Meir Panim is planning seders in other cities as well. Volunteers and staff have been preparing and packaging everything required for the seder for those who will be conducting their own seders at home.

Pantry baskets, with staples for the week of the holiday, are available for pickup or delivered to homes. Prepaid grocery vouchers are another way to provide food security for those who need it most.

Donations can be made online at www. mpdonate.org. All donations made in the U.S. are tax-deductible under EIN# 20-1582478. ist group formed by members of the settler group Gush Emunim, are arrested before they can sabotage five Arab buses in eastern Jerusalem.

April 28, 2008: Israel Aerospace Industries launches the Amos-3 communications satellite, based on the Affordable Modular Optimized Satellite (AMOS) platform. It reaches orbit 80 minutes after liftoff from Kazakhstan.

Prime Minister Menachem Begin poses with three of the five newly freed Prisoners of Zion on April 29, 1979.

April 29, 1979: Five recently released Soviet Jewish prisoners arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. They were convicted in 1970 of hijacking a plane to escape the Soviet Union.

Their story catalyzes the movement to free Soviet Jewry.

Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

ISRAEL NEWS Israel’s Coalition Government Loses Its Majority

By Jan Jaben-Eilon For anyone trying to understand from afar what happened with the Israeli government coalition the first week of April, take a deep breath and relax. It’s true that a member of the prime minister’s small party decided to take her Knesset seat and vote to an opposition party, leaving the ruling government coalition without a parliamentary majority. It’s true that if another coalition member flees to the opposition, the government may fall. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that a fifth election in about three years is around the corner.

“It’s still a rancorous electoral environment,” said Eli Sperling, who is completing his second year of post-doctorate work at Duke University, but he doesn’t think Israeli elections are imminent.

Sperling referred to a poll of Israeli voters, taken right after the defection of Yamina Party member Idit Silman, which indicated that if an election were to be held soon, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would, at best, cobble together a coalition of only 60 parliamentary seats. Right now, his opposition group numbers about 54, with a small Arab party sometimes joining his votes against the coalition government.

A parliamentary majority requires 61 because the Knesset has 120 seats. That was the number of seats in Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s eight-party coalition until Silman defected. “I don’t think an election is coming within months,” Sperling predicted.

In the fall, he will become the Israel Institute Teaching Fellow at the University of Georgia in Athens, where he will teach a course on Israeli politics as well as a course on diplomacy in the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

“UGA has never had an Israeli politics course or one about the conflict,” said Sperling. As usual, it’s “a fascinating period in Israeli politics.” And one that is also important for students to understand. Think of the 50-50 split in the U.S. Senate. A big difference in Israel, however, is that there is no vice president who can break a tie. The current 60-60 split in the Knesset means that it would be difficult to pass any meaningful legislation.

But a government serving without a parliamentary majority is not without precedent in Israel.

Former Israeli Prime Ministers Ariel Sharon, Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak all governed with fewer than 60 seats in their coalitions. In fact, Sharon managed

This fall, Eli Sperling will teach courses on Israeli politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the University of Georgia.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is pictured. Israel's government was dealt a major blow when coalition chairwoman Idit Silman resigned // credit Getty Images

it for more than a year.

All surveys indicate that the majority of the Israeli electorate is in no mood to go to the polls. The last time they did was in March 2021, after which the current coalition was cobbled together, precariously connecting right-wing parties, left-wing parties and, for the first time, an Arab party. There had been three previous, inconclusive, elections since early 2019.

Despite how it may have at first appeared, the departure of Silman from the coalition government was not due to the controversy launched over a year ago when Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled that Israeli hospitals could not forbid bringing chametz, or leavened bread products, into hospitals during Passover.

The court had ruled on this prior to Passover 2021 without incident.

Rather, Sperling says, “we’re seeing the greater issues at play in the Israeli electorate,” citing the powerplays at work by Netanyahu, who wants to return to power despite fighting several indictments against him in court. “He is not silent. He still has leverage and wants to throw it around.”

The fact that several lone-wolf terror attacks have occurred in various Israeli cities during the last few weeks, resulting in several Israeli casualties, ostensibly only heightens Netanyahu’s potential leverage. “There’s a sense in Israel society that the Likud model for security” is the most successful, Sperling said, referring to Netanyahu’s party.

“At the back of everything is the slowly moving cases against Netanyahu.

The wheels of bureaucracy in the Israeli court system move slowly and he’s shown a savvy approach. He knows how

to use politics.”

Sperling said he’s been most surprised by the “very measured tone” of the Israeli government and military in response to the terrorist attacks. Instead of further limiting the number of Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza who can enter and work inside Israel, the government is suggesting an increase in the number of work permits.

“To me, this signals other trends” coming out of the Abraham Accords that Israel signed with several Arab countries over the last couple of years, he said.

“The Abraham Accords create this force of steadying the Israeli responses.

The government wants to keep things calm, especially because of the war between Russia and Ukraine,” Sperling continued. “Israel is fractured over domestic issues but aware of the need to maintain the network in the region. Israel is in a unique and well-placed position.”

But, because the Knesset is on its Passover recess until May 9, chances are that nothing will happen before then. ì

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SPORTS Flag Football Spring Classic Touches Down at AJA It’s not always easy growing up as a football fan.

As you devour the games on the weekends, dreaming of one day achieving your David Ostrowsky own gridiron glory, your parents fixate on the seemingly endless string of broken fibulas, torn ACLs and concussions before deciding that tackle football is not an option. Enjoy the sport from the stands or couch, but not between the hash marks. Across football-crazed America, such is the predicament faced by thousands upon thousands of young athletes every autumn.

Over the last few decades, however, flag football has emerged as a wildly popular alternative to injury-prone traditional football. In the Greater Atlanta region, one would be hard pressed to find someone more passionate about flag football than Justin Katz, a lifelong devotee to the sport who now coaches the team at Atlanta Jewish Academy, where his wife also teaches and his kids attend.

“It’s a great opportunity to play a sport that you see on TV that may not be so safe but allows kids to play without the drastic concern of serious injuries,” Katz says.

After graduating from the University of Florida and settling in Atlanta in the late '90s, Katz emerged as a fixture in the city’s flag football leagues, playing in upwards of 60 games per year and coaching Team Atlanta in the Maccabiah Games. In the early 2000s, flag football was becoming an increasingly mainstream sport in playgrounds from New York to San Diego, but Katz knew it was not yet on par with basket-

While hosting last month’s tournament, Atlanta Jewish Academy came within inches of knocking off the Posnack Rams in the championship game.

ball as a galvanizing force for young Jewish athletes from disparate backgrounds.

“I’ve always heard these great things about the basketball tournaments in New York, Florida and Tennessee and how the kids love to go to them,” Katz said. “And I thought to myself, ‘Why can’t Atlanta have something? Why can’t we be the showcase for something?’ I just saw this as an opportunity to highlight Atlanta, the greater Jewish community and our athletes.”

It was during the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, that Katz committed himself to seeing his idea come to fruition. He knew it wasn’t the optimal time to pursue such an endeavor, but with the support of the head of school, Rabbi Ari Leubitz, and the AJA community, Katz started reaching out to schools across the country to see if their flag football teams would be interested in participating in a Shabbatonstyle tournament the following fall, when,

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presumably, the pandemic would be an afterthought.

“The interest level was immediate from a number of schools, which was surprising, but a little overwhelming,” he says.

“We didn’t have a template. We didn’t know where to start. We looked at some of the other tournaments just to get a model, but we didn’t know what scheduling would look like. We didn’t know how many teams we were going to get.”

Indeed, the last factor proved to be the wild card. Over a dozen Jewish day schools from California, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Florida, among other states, initially expressed a strong desire to participate. But, as COVID persisted, the interest level dwindled and, ultimately, the field consisted of just four schools: Memphis’s Margolin Hebrew Academy, the Posnack School from Davie, Fla., Yeshiva of Flatbush and AJA. Katz remained undeterred. If anything, the four-school lineup promised to be conducive for a round-robin schedule on Friday morning/afternoon, followed by a bracketstyle playoff competition Sunday. Sandwiched between the seven-on-seven games would be Shabbat observance activities, along with a trivia bowl and lecture from a guest speaker.

Speaking to the Atlanta Jewish Times a week following the inaugural AJA Flag Football Spring Classic, Katz, who estimates that he spent at least 250 hours preparing for the event over the past year, is quick to point out that he “could not have asked for a more seamless weekend.”

From a thrilling championship game (the Posnack Rams edged AJA 13-7) to the outpouring of support from the Greater Atlanta community (Atlanta Falcons mascot Freddie Falcon was on hand for the festivi-

Atlanta Falcons mascot Freddie Falcon was on hand for the inaugural Atlanta Jewish Academy Flag Football Spring Classic.

Yered Witenberg of AJA pitches the ball to teammate Josh Asherian.

ties), the weekend provided Katz with a picture-perfect template for future tourneys.

There were well over 100 participants, many of whom stayed in host family lodging, and at least 300 fans cheering from the sidelines at both the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and AJA. After a brief weather scare, the four teams played under pristine conditions. Most importantly, in the spirit of flag football’s all-encompassing emphasis on safety, there were no significant injuries “Because it went so well, there’s not a whole lot we need to tweak for next year,” adds Katz, who hopes next spring’s event can include six teams.

Just as football is a team sport, the AJA Flag Football Spring Classic was very much a collaborative effort, one spearheaded by talented and dedicated executive committee comprised of Marc Sokol (director of logistics), Jodi Wittenberg (director of catering), Tova Isaacs (director of host families), Shoshana Dayanim (director of athletes) and Joey Wilson (director of marketing).

While an annual tournament hosted

by AJA would bring together members of Atlanta’s Jewish community, Katz has a larger goal in mind: showing kids throughout the city that there is a way to enjoy football without worrying about injuries. ì

SPORTS

Meyers Named Ivy League Player of the Year

Congratulations!

JEFFREY A. GOPEN NEW PRESIDENT & CEO, JEWISH HOMELIFE Jeff is an accomplished clinician and licensed nursing home administrator. He was recruited five years ago from Boston through a nationwide search for a Chief Operating Officer.

After having her collegiate career interrupted twice, Princeton senior Abby Meyers emerged this past season as arguably the most dominant offensive player in Ivy League basketball. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photo)

By David Ostrowsky Most Ivy League athletes would rather forget the 2020-21 academic year.

COVID canceled organized sports in their entirety, leaving student-athletes devastated. But Princeton basketball’s prolific scoring guard, Abby Meyers, has a different take on what may have been the worst year of their lives.

“It was a really good year,” says Meyers, who in March was unanimously named the 2021-22 Ivy League Player of the Year. “It didn’t hit me as hard as maybe it hit other people. I kind of saw it as another opportunity to focus on my academics. It made me appreciate the sport more.”

After her second year-long hiatus from her collegiate hoops career (she took a gap year in 2018-19), Meyers, an AP Honorable Mention All-American, led the Princeton Tigers to a third-consecutive Ivy League title and first-round upset of the SEC champion Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA tournament, which Meyers credits for “garnering some new respect for the Ivy League.” Princeton ultimately fell to Indiana, 56-55, in the Round of 32 and missed out on an opportunity to face the mighty UCONN Huskies in the Bridgeport regional.

“It would have been a really cool opportunity to go to Bridgeport and put our

name on the map,” acknowledges Meyers.

Though the senior will be graduating from Princeton this spring, Meyers has likely not played her final college basketball game. Although she is no longer eligible to play in the Ivy League, the pandemic has afforded Meyers an extra year of eligibility — perhaps one she could use at a Power Five school.

“It [playing for a Power Five school] is definitely going to be a good opportunity to maybe advance and go to the Sweet 16 and have a different kind of basketball experience,” she says.

Growing up in Maryland, Meyers played soccer for her high school team and the trombone for the school’s musical wind ensemble. Now, though she aspires to one day get her master’s degree, perhaps in a business field, she does have the short-term goal of playing professional basketball, whether it be overseas or in the WNBA. She credits Princeton for helping her “appreciate there’s more to my identity than basketball” while acknowledging the obvious reality that playing for a bigtime program in, say, the Big 10, would open doors for pro scouts and coaches to recognize her immense talents.

This summer, as she contemplates the next step in her collegiate career, Meyers has her sights set on another first: her first-ever Maccabiah Games. ì

Originally from Boston, lives in Marietta with his wife, Melinda, and his BMW R1250GS motorcycle

Named Profesisonal of the Year by the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS) in 2019

Travel enthusiast and avid birder, whose exotic bird photographs adorn the Rich Foundation Training Center

Received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) from Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Healthcare Professions

Prior to joining Jewish HomeLife, served in multiple senior leadership positions for similar organizations in Boston

Currently serves as a Board Member for the Georgia Center for Assisted Living (GCAL)

MAJOR MILESTONES

2020

Led Jewish HomeLife's COVID-19 Incident Command Center and managed operations for all the organization's residential communities and at-home care services

Directed the efforts for Jewish HomeLIfe's residential communities to achieve the Silver Quality Award from the American Health Care Association (AHCA)

2015

2019

Recruited to Jewish HomeLife through a nationwide search for a Chief Operating Officer as part of the organization's succession planning efforts

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 29

SPORTS

Jeff Halpern Guides Tampa Bay to Victory

By David Ostrowsky In his 14 years as a player in the NHL, Jeff Halpern never won a Stanley Cup. Now, only four years into his tenure as an assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Halpern, a native of Potomac, Md., and graduate of Princeton, has already won two Cup titles. With Tampa currently on pace to enter the NHL playoffs as a wildcard entry, a three-peat — something that hasn’t been accomplished since the New York Islanders’ dynasty did it during the 1980s — is a distinct possibility.

“We’ve talked about it [the 3-peat] for sure,” acknowledges the 46-year-old Halpern, who last year became only the second hockey player to be inducted into the Jewish Sports Heritage Association, “what it would mean for the guys in this room and for this organization and the fans and the city to be a part of something as special and unique as that.”

From hoisting the Cup in an empty arena to being away from loved ones for months on end, the Lightning’s run to back-to-back Stanley Cups during a global pandemic has, naturally, been unique.

“Personally, you want to go through those things with your family,” says Halpern, who in 2000 was inducted into the Greater Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and, five years later, as a member of the Washington Capitals, made headlines by not playing on Yom Kippur. “Being apart from them was the hardest part. With that going on, you’re trying to support your

30 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

After a solid NHL career throughout the '90s and early 2000s, Jeff Halpern has made a seamless transition to coaching the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. // Credit: Mark Lomoglio/Tampa Bay Lightning

players as well because they’re going through the same things. You’re trying to create an environment that they

want to be in. I thought our organization did a great job of keeping things kind of fun and fresh and unique in that setting.”

From a professional standpoint, playing in the COVID bubble during summer 2020 was infinitely easier. There weren’t the seemingly interminable treks through western Canada or southern California that comprise the regular season schedule — something the Lightning, like all NHL teams, have had to become reacquainted with this winter.

“Because we were only playing against seven or eight teams, you’re familiar with the teams and with the cities travel-wise,” adds Halpern. “You didn’t have the monster road trips like you have this year. Preparing for the games was a lot easier, too. Many parts of it were easier.”

Even though he was a long-tenured NHL veteran, Halpern is now coaching in a very different league from the one he departed in 2014. NHL dressing rooms are now teeming with data-driven millennials and NHL coaches like Halpern often view themselves as lawyers with a clipboard and whistle.

“I think when you have an idea that you want to get through to the players, they are extremely smart, they are very well informed,” Halpern says. “Going back to when I played, we didn’t have access to the video and to all the information that these players have. So, if you’re telling a player to go left instead of right, the player, I’m sure, has an opinion on that. You have to present your case. You have to show him why you want him to go a certain way. There’s got to be data behind it. There’s got to be examples behind it. It can’t necessarily just be, ‘Do this.’ Players are informed and they want to know why.

Like any good lawyer, you have to have good evidence behind you in order to sell your point.”

For the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, there is an abundance of evidence that Halpern is a perfect fit. ì

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BUSINESS Bloom & Glow Demonstrates 'Self-Love Isn’t Selfish'

By Chana Shapiro In Nov. 2021, Rebecca Green started her online beauty business, Bloom & Glow, to help busy moms look and feel better about themselves. “Self-care isn’t selfish,” Green affirms. “You can’t take care of everyone else if you don’t take care of yourself. It’s possible — and essential — to invest in your beauty routine and ‘show up’ for yourself without sacrificing other priorities, getting overwhelmed or breaking the bank.”

Bloom and Glow’s logo is a budding flower, reflecting Green’s vision for her brand. “I imagine a woman as a flower,” she explains, “blooming into the most beautiful version of herself through selfcare and growing to love who she is now.

That’s when she glows. As busy moms, we don’t always feel our most beautiful, have time to put into our appearance, or have the perspective of appreciating all the life we’ve lived that makes us look and feel the way we do, instead of lamenting the way we used to look and feel.”

Green speaks from personal experience. She grew up in Atlanta, and when she and her husband considered where to settle once he completed his orthodontics training, which involved several moves, they settled on Atlanta. The pair arrived here shortly before their second daughter was born, in 2015, and welcomed their third child in 2020.

Green has a background in art and fashion, as well as retail, and years of personal styling helped her refine her

Rebecca Green offers individually tailored beauty regimens for busy women.

Green with her son, Benjamin.

knowledge and skills. After becoming immersed in the clean beauty world, she began using her personal shopping savvy to provide customized makeup and skincare recommendations — or “Rebeccammendations,” as she calls them — tailored to a client’s individual preferences.

She spent several years giving informal makeup tips and advice and mentoring women. She offered free content through online demos, attracted a following and eventually knew it was time to launch an e-commerce site.

The Bloom & Glow website questionnaire provides Green with the information she needs to select products each client will love and use with confidence.

She asks about a customer’s preferences when it comes to brands, textures, price,

color palette and more, and requests photos. Green then hand-picks products from her top brands and packages them into a beautiful pdf that serves as a catalogue of curated recommendations. She also includes exclusive discount codes and tips on how to get the best deals.

In addition, Green offers virtual make-up lessons. “A client and I apply our makeup together, step by step, as I give tips to make sure she is mastering the look on her own,” she explains. “Working on brows is one of my main concerns!

Most women skip this step or do brows incorrectly. Properly defined brows make a huge difference in one’s overall look.

Another top tip for women over 30: Ditch the full-coverage foundation and let your skin shine through!”

Green seeks the latest and best products for her Bloom & Glow following. “I have quite a collection!” she notes. “I’ve developed a robust and growing repertoire of top brands and products, and I pull from those in my recommendations.

I only suggest products that I’ve thoroughly vetted and that I truly love. The impact that mastery of skincare and makeup can have on a woman’s self-worth and confidence is profound, and it’s my honor and joy to guide women on this journey.”

When asked if she has a message for women who have consuming obligations, Green says, “You are worth the time, energy and cost it takes to feel beautiful. Once you embrace this idea, it’s just a matter of finding the right products for your taste and lifestyle and the right tools and know-how to use them confidently.

With my industry knowledge and life experience, I can help.”

In May, Green will host a Moms Night Out at AILLEA, a clean beauty retailer in Sandy Springs, which will be “a fun opportunity to show yourself some love” with a DIY facial, one-on-one shade matching and personalized product recommendations. “Because I conduct most of my business virtually, I’m excited to connect with women in person,” Green says.

Connect with her through Instagram @bloom_andglow for make-up tricks, bite-size tutorials and product demos. Visit the Bloom & Glow website or email her directly at Rebecca@bloomand-glow.com.

Atlanta’s Historic Westside Receives Significant Support

By Robyn Spizman Gerson The Westside is experiencing philanthropic boom. Atlanta nonprofit Westside Future Fund (WFF) has announced that it is creating a national model for equitable, community revitalization in the city’s Historic Westside.

WFF delivers quality, affordable housing and cradle-to-career education in the Vine City, English Avenue, Ashview Heights and Atlanta University Center neighborhoods, once home to iconic civil rights leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After decades of disinvestment, the Westside has become a focal point for investors and corporations. Now, the community is struggling to retain its identity and affordability in the wake of a repopulation boom.

Over the last five years, WFF has 32 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The Brawley property was designed for neighbors to connect on their porches and in the community courtyard.

emerged as one of Atlanta’s largest affordable housing developers. So far, it has delivered 596 of the 800 proposed

multifamily housing units. These units are providing permanent affordability and economic mobility. Utilizing a phil-

anthropic financing model that is replicable and scalable, WFF is proving that communities can transform without gentrifying.

Iris and Bruce Feinberg added WFF to their philanthropic portfolio because it is a model for tzedakah, the Jewish obligation to charitable giving. “The neighborhoods WFF serves are part of Atlanta’s history and legacy,” the couple said.

“Communities thrive when residents have ownership and can stay long-term.

This means increasing homeownership, creating mixed-income communities and improving safety, security and education. WFF has a collaborative model that ensures the right approach to revitalization and growth.”

For more information about the Westside Future Fund, visit: www.westsidefuturefund.org.

BUSINESS

Litwin Now Fellow of American College of Tax Counsel Richard Litwin of Litwin Law in Atlanta was elected to the American College of Tax Counsel by the College’s Board of Regents at its January 28 meeting.

The Fellows of the American College of Tax Counsel constitute an extraordinary group of America’s very best tax attorneys. Membership is an honor reserved for those leaders who have made an exceptional contribution to their chosen profession. The College’s members, called “Fellows,” are tax lawyers working in private law firms and in-house legal departments, teaching tax in law schools, or working in federal or state revenue agencies. They are recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments and

professional achievements and for their dedication to improving the practice of tax law. Fellows must be nominated by their peers for this honor and must satisfy the established criteria and pass a rigorous screening process before becoming a Fellow.

“I am honored and humbled to have been selected for membership in the College,” Litwin said of the appointment.

The College makes an impact on tax law by communicating with Congress, the Treasury Department and the IRS on federal tax issues and through the filing of “friend of the court” briefs in selected tax cases. The College can be found online at http://www.actconline.org.

Richard Litwin of Litwin Law in Atlanta.

Litwin was recently named to the 2022 list of Top 100 Georgia Super Lawyers, which features attorneys across the state of Georgia — in 70 different practice areas — with the highest rankings after

a rigorous multiphase selection process.

He has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2008, and this is his fourth time on the Top 100 list, including 2021.

Litwin speaks frequently on state and local tax issues and has published in the Georgia Bar Journal and other national publications and law journals. He serves on or has served on several task forces specific to state taxation, including the Georgia Department of Revenue Attorney Liaison Committee, Georgia Department of Revenue Special Task Force on Consolidated Income Tax Return Regulations, and State Bar of Georgia Tax Section’s Georgia Tax Tribunal Task Force.

Adelson Sponsors 500 Library for Peace Opens at Ukrainian Refugees to Israel Georgia Tech

Ukrainian refugees being flown to Israel

by United Hatzalah as part of Operation Orange Wings. // (United Hatzalah)

Members of the Adelson family, children of Dr. Miriam Adelson and the late Sheldon Adelson, recently sponsored flights to Israel for more than 500 Jewish refugees from Ukraine. The flights, which were part of United Hatzalah’s Operation Orange Wings, brought the refugees from Chisinau, Moldova and Iasi, Romania, to Israel over the past two weeks.

Irina, a Ukrainian refugee from Kyiv who arrived in Moldova by herself, suffered from a complicated medical condition that required her to receive continuous medical care. Since the start of the war, she had been unable to receive medical attention in Kyiv and during her travel to the border. Due to her condition, she was taken to a local hospital in Chisinau, where she requested that she be allowed to fly to Israel to reunite with her son in the Meir Shfeya Youth Village.

Recognizing the uniqueness of her request — and having witnessed the efforts of United Hatzalah’s team in Chisinau on behalf of refugees — one of the staff members contacted United Hatzalah and asked if there was a way that they could help. Chief

Paramedic of United Hatzalah Avi Marcus, who served as the chief medical officer for the organization’s mission to Moldova and the Ukrainian border, sent one of the volunteer doctors in Chisinau to visit the woman and provide a thorough checkup. The doctor determined that with special medical supervision the woman could make the journey and signed a document stating so. With this document, the hospital staff agreed to release the woman to the care of United Hatzalah’s medical team, which arranged for her to be on the flight, thanks to the sponsorship of the Adelson family.

Two days after the hospital visit, the woman was on a plane to Israel. Upon landing, she was picked up and taken to Meir Shfeya and reunited with her son. Her son was overjoyed, as he had not expected his mother to be able to make it to Israel. He wrote the organization a heartfelt thank you letter expressing his gratitude for all that was done to reunite his family.

Eli Beer, president and founder of United Hatzalah, spoke about the Adelson family’s generosity. “Thanks to the support of Adam, Matan, Sivan and Patrick, children of Dr. Miriam Adelson and the late Sheldon Adelson, may his memory be a blessing, we were able to bring this woman and 500 other Jewish refugees to safety in Israel. Our teams provided the refugees with humanitarian aid at the Ukrainian border as well as inside Moldova, Romania and other countries, and then we flew them to Israel onboard our specially chartered flights, while providing medical coverage throughout. [The Adelson family’s] support enabled us to save these people and bring them to safety and reunite not only Irina with her son but many other families as well.”

Library for Peace at Hillel at Georgia Tech.

Students gather together on campus to celebrate the mission of peace.

Recently Hillel at Georgia Tech dedicated its Library for Peace. The dedication took place at Grace House at 182 5th St. NW, which is the site of the library and offices of Hillel at Georgia Tech.

The Library for Peace is a Hillel student-led initiative designed to be a free public book collection of books on peace, interfaith relationships and coexistence in the Middle East. The dedication ceremony included comments by student leaders expressing their hopes that the library will provide students with awareness and knowledge about the Middle East and prospects for peace in the region. “The library is a symbol of Hillel’s hope for understanding about Israel and peace in the Middle East; as well as a safe, diverse, inclusive and respectful campus community for our students and all stu-

dents,” said Elinoy Granot, Israel Fellow for Hillels of Georgia. “It is our belief that education is the key to creating understanding, cooperation and collaboration on campus.”

The library will include books from a wide range of authors and perspectives about Israeli culture, history, and peace in the Middle East. Other faith, ethnic and cultural groups on campus will be invited to add their own books exploring their culture and history to the library’s collection.

This Peace Library is a project of Yellow Jackets for Israel, a student group affiliated with Hillel at Georgia Tech that promotes pro-Israel education and advocacy on campus.

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 33

BUSINESS

Argeti Focuses on Service in the Community

Jonathan Arogeti is co-chair of Repair the World Atlanta Advisory Council, which supports local fundraising and peer-to-peer service efforts

After volunteering overseas, Jonathan Arogeti was eager to dive into serving in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia.

Once he was connected to Repair the World through a former board member in 2016, Arogeti’s service journey with Repair the World Atlanta began. “Service has always been something that was important to me, regardless of where I served. But I was wanting to plug back into my birth city, because I had been away for about 10 years. So, Repair the World for me was that perfect point where the Jewish community in Atlanta and the opportunities to serve here met,” said Arogeti.

For Arogeti, uplifting the legacy of Jewish service in Atlanta and ensuring that communities across the city and beyond are strengthened in a way that would enable a bright future compelled him to deepen his commitment to volunteering and join the advisory council of Repair the World Atlanta. “Judaism com-

pels me to serve, but when I think about what Repair the World Atlanta has accomplished on the ground, I think about how they are filling a gap between people who want to make a difference and access to meaningful service. This is what makes me feel so strongly about serving in this way.”

As he reflected on his time serving with Repair, his experience serving for Martin Luther King Day, a nationally recognized day of service, is one that stood out for him as a moment where so many community members were inspired to show up and take action. “We were still facing challenges from the pandemic and set a goal to have 613 acts of service and learning for the 613 mitzvot [commandments]. So many more acts of service and learning happened that weekend, which was indicative of the need to provide dynamic opportunities to serve for people in Atlanta,” said Arogeti.

As an advisory council member, Jonathan has played a key role in supporting local fundraising efforts and elevating programs in Atlanta, collaborating closely with Repair the World Atlanta staff. “Components of programs I’ve had the pleasure of supporting have included deep reflection and being honest with ourselves about how we hope to be impacted by the service experiences. The evolution for me over the last five years as I reflect now is that when you are truly in service with someone, as you’re growing and developing, it also means that you can take what you’re doing and how you’re serving to the next level to deepen the experience for yourself and create greater impact in the community.”

Zelensky Coin Contributes 100% Profits to Ukraine

The nonprofit Jewish-American Hall of Fame has commissioned a series of limited-edition art medals featuring Ukraine’s Jewish president Volodymyr Zelensky, with proceeds going to relief in Ukraine. // Credit: Jim Licaretz

In March, Jewish cofounder Phil Sklar announced that the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee would create a Volodymyr Zelensky figurine to raise funds for Ukraine relief.

Now the nonprofit Jewish-American Hall of Fame has commissioned Jim Licaretz, a former sculptor-engraver at the U.S. Mint, to create a bold portrait of Ukraine’s Jewish president for a series of limited-edition art medals — with 100% of the profits going to aid Ukrainians at home and as refugees.

The reverse of the medals features Zelensky’s inspirational words, “Our truth is that this is our land,” and the state seal of Ukraine. The quote comes from a speech in which Zelensky said, “We are not putting down arms. We will be defending our country, because our weapon is truth, and our truth is that this is our land, our country, our children and we will defend all of this.”

Licaretz created the original model in

resin using a 3-D printer. He then made a mold and will cast medals in bonded bronze, each of which he will finish by hand.

Zelensky was born to Jewish parents on Jan. 27, 1978, in Kryvyi Rih, then in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. His great-grandfather and his three greatgranduncles died in the Holocaust.

Zelensky earned a degree in law from Kyiv National Economic University. He then pursued comedy and created a company that produced films, cartoons and TV shows, including the series “Servant of the People,” in which Zelensky played a Ukrainian president. In 2019, Zelensky actually ran and won the presidential election, with over 73 percent of the votes.

The Hall of Fame said that no more than 199 Zelensky medals will be issued, with a limit of three medals per person, each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. If all medals are sold, a contribution of about $15,000 will be made.

Visit https://amuseum.org for more information.

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BUSINESS

Chabad to Open Satellite Location in Downtown Roswell Trendy restaurants, cafes and a new boutique hotel are just some of the amenities of the rapidly gentrifying area on and around Canton Street in downtown Roswell.

Joining them will be a new Jewish learning center launched by Chabad of North Fulton to serve the Jewish population in the rapidly growing area.

“Over the last few years, we have been hearing more and more from people who have moved to downtown Roswell, asking us to provide more local opportunities for study and Jewish enrichment,” said Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz, who has been a leading figure in the North Fulton Jewish community.

“Our goal is to compliment the Jewish infrastructure that already exists in Roswell, and to provide additional options for learning and growth,” he added.

As the requests from the community

Rabbi Chaim and his wife, Menucha Schwartz, will lead the new Chabad center in Downtown Roswell.

The Schwartzes and three of their children.

continued, Rabbi Minkowicz teamed up with Rabbi Ephraim Silverman of Chabad of Cobb — which neighbors Downtown Roswell — and together they set out on a mission to find the appropriate candidate to lead the new Roswell center.

In an extraordinary turn of events, their search led them back to Roswell and Rabbi Chaim Schwartz, who grew up as Hank Schwartz just a few streets away from where he will return to lead the new Chabad center along with his wife, Menucha, and their four

young children.

Schwartz grew up in a traditional yet non-observant home. He began to gravitate toward observance in his college years while attending UGA, where he connected with the campus Chabad and set out on a journey of spiritual growth. Before long, Schwartz was studying at the Mayaanot Yeshiva in Jerusalem, followed by several more years of study that eventually led to his being ordained as a rabbi.

In the process, he met and married his wife, Menucha, and they settled down in New Haven, Conn. And that’s when the rabbis came calling.

The Schwartzes intend to offer adult education classes, women’s events, holiday programs, senior outreach and other programs and events as needed.

Rabbi Chaim can be reached at chaim@ jewishroswell.org.

Bob Bahr to Host Wilmington Jewish Film Festival If you missed the most popular movie at this year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, you now have another chance to catch it in theaters. “Persian Lessons,” which walked off with the AJFF’s top audience choice award, will open the Wilmington Jewish Film Festival in North Carolina on April 24. It’s a fascinating story about a cat-and-mouse game that pits a high-ranking Nazi officer against a Jewish prisoner about to be shipped off to a death camp.

Bob Bahr, who frequently writes about arts, culture and film for the Atlanta Jewish Times, will introduce and discuss the film on opening night. He’ll also be speaking during Friday night Shabbat services at Temple of Israel

in Wilmington on April 22. Bahr will discuss the important role that locally supported Jewish film festivals play in educating and energizing communities across the nation.

In contrast to the virtual screening of the film at this year’s AJFF, this showing will take place in one of America’s oldest theaters, Wilmington’s ornate Thalian Hall, which opened in 1853 and has gone through a multimillion-dollar renovation to restore it to its former glory.

A week-long series of films is planned, including three that were originally screened at the AJFF. “Greener Pastures” and “Love and Mazel Tov” from 2022 will get encore performances, as

will “Here I Am,” a South African documentary from 2021.

The city of Wilmington, whose history goes back to the early 18th century, has an extensive historic river district and is close to several offshore island beaches. Myrtle Beach is just about an hour away.

For those who can’t make it to the festival, there is a free virtual screening of the documentary “Exodus 1947” on May 4 and 5. Learn more at www.wilm-

ingtonJFF.org. ì Compiled by AJT Staff

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What’s Jewish About …

Toy World Sensations ‘Guess Who?’ and ‘Pop It’?

In 1965, Tel Aviv couple Theo and Ora Coster, of blessed memory, founded Theora Design, a toy business that has grown into one of the world’s leaders in games and novelties. Now run by their sons, Boaz and Gideon Coster, along with Boaz’s wife, Aliza Coster, the company has created and licensed some 200 products, including the ICETIX popsicle stick, Guess Who?, Zingo!, and the stress-relieving toy Pop It. Boaz Coster spoke to the Atlanta Jewish Times about his parents’ legacy and more.

Tell us about your parents’ background.

Our mother, Ora, was born in Degania Bet, a kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Later, her parents moved to another kibbutz, Mishmar Hasharon, where she studied art and became an art teacher. Theo was born to a printing family from Amsterdam and worked in various printing areas.

How did your father know Anne Frank? What was the connection?

Theo was a classmate of Frank’s at the Joods Lyceum in Amsterdam. He made a documentary about five additional surviving classmates that was followed by his book, “We All Wore Stars: Memories of Anne Frank from Her Classmates” (Palgrave McMillan). Before the war, Theo was named Maurice Simon and changed it to Theo while hiding with a Dutch family who received a Righteous Among the Nations nomination from Yad Vashem and remained a part of our family until they passed away.

What inspired your parents to invent things?

They were very arty and creative, designed book covers and drawings, made exhibitions and, in the early '60s, started doing promotions like giveaways and premiums. They became aware of all sorts of materials and mass production methods. Our company, Theora Concept (Theo + Ora), includes my brother Gideon and my wife Aliza. We develop, create and license various playthings. We also cooperate with designers, developers and inventors from all over the world, including chemists, doctors and architects, to name a few, to create and design toys and games for the toy industry.

What invention are your parents best known for?

The ICETIX, an ice cream popsicle stick that was one of their first inventions, later licensed by the Borden dairy company in 1969. They were making 12 billion ice cream bars with a stick named Elsie Stix. The idea of the new plastic stick enabled kids to keep, collect and construct things out of the sticks.

Can you tell us how your parents invented the bestselling Pop It fidget toys?

The first Pop It toy had a tragic inspiration, when Ora’s sister, Zvia Mayroze, an artist, died of breast cancer in 1974. She had an idea in a dream which, decades later, led to our biggest hit, the Pop It and Go Pop toy, now a global craze. Decades later, in 2013, David Capone of Foxmind, the Montreal-based games company, made the crucial decision to go for it, which took a few additional years to get onto Target shelves and then some TikTok/YouTube videos to become history all over.

Who runs the company today and what are you most proud of?

My parents started the company in 1965. I studied toy design in the UK and, in 1981, joined them. My brother, Gideon, studied computer science and joined in 1993. My wife, Aliza, is a CPA and has been managing the finances since 1993. We were all working and creating playthings over the years. Our parents passed away in the last three years, both at the age of 90, and today we are running the operation. We are very excited to bring fun new games and toys to kids all over the globe. We hope to continue the Theora legacy and the endless stock of ideas and concepts. We will keep supplying fun and great moments to kids and families in many places for years to come.

By Robyn Spizman Gerson Theora Design, a family business founded in Tel Aviv in 1965, has become a world leader in the design of toys, games and novelties.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 37

OPINION Letters to the Editor

Letter to the editor,

The AJT welcomes your letters. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

Letters to the editor,

Everything Israel does is controversial. It provided hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to the Palestinians who refused them, claiming that they were outdated. Israel sends teams all over the world to help with natural disasters. It assists African countries improve their agriculture. Israel’s critics accuse it of carrying out these good deeds not out of any natural desire to help, but to whitewash its brutal apartheid regime. The U.S. embassy in Israel keeps track of housing construction and building permits to deter Israel’s settlements, something I doubt happens anywhere else in the world. And now, Israel is under the microscope over its policy to help Ukrainian refuges. In Israel’s case, and unlike no other country, no good deed goes unpunished.

Larry Shapiro, Alberta Canada

As I read this letter, Hillel’s dictum popped into my mind. “If I am not for myself, who else will be for me?” The nation-state of the Jews needs to maintain its Jewish majority. Israel has a right to privilege immigration of Jews over immigration of non-Jews.

“If I am only for myself, what am I?” Yet, Israel also has an obligation to help people, Jewish or not, who are fleeing war and persecution.

People suffering persecution as Jews are not necessarily Jewish according to Halacha. The language of the Law of Return recognizes that fact, and further recognizes that Jews might hesitate to make Aliyah to escape persecution, if that meant they needed to leave their “non-Jewish” loved ones behind. Israel should be offering “Introduction to Judaism” classes to olim, even those born of Jewish mothers may have received little-to-no Jewish education in the rigorously secular and antisemitic lands of the FSU. Non-Halachic Jews among the olim, who seek to convert, should be helped to do so.

What about people with no connection to Judaism? It is cruel, and impractical, to tell people who’ve fled their homes with little more than the shirts on their backs to put up a substantial bond and to find themselves a new home within a very short time period. Non-Jews have been entering Israel seeking asylum for a long time and will probably continue to do so. Israel needs to set up an agency dedicated to finding new homes for non-Jewish refugee transiting the country, perhaps partnering with Israel’s new allies in the Abraham Accords.

Toby F. Block, Atlanta

Letter to the editor,

Happy Passover Andy N. Siegel CPCU, CIC, AAI Sheldon Berch

Finding the right protection for your family and business since 1964

This should make Americans ask the fundamental question: What is the difference between what a public non-profit utility company and a private for-profit oil company provides? After all they both sell energy to all United States citizens. The difference is that natural gas and electricity are sold in the form of a public good, whereas oil is sold in the form of a private good. Accordingly, on the grounds of promoting national security, the United States Congress should convert all oil companies to utility companies. This would eliminate the windfall profits and force the oil industry to earn just enough income to cover operating expenses, just as natural gas and electric utility companies are required to do. The resulting drop in gasoline prices would further stimulate the economy and lighten the energy stranglehold upon the United States with the Middle East. It would also eliminate the influence of the oil lobbyist. In this case, desperate times call for deliberate measures. But as pathetic as the energy policy is in the United States the effort to develop alternative sources of energy won’t really be accelerated until the oil dries up, and the Saudi’s place solar cells all across their desert and then they can sell us the electricity.

Joe Bialek, Cleveland, OH

Letter to the editor,

As a Geriatric Clinical Social Worker for over 35 years, I have spent most of my career providing support and resources for adult children caring for an elder parent or relative. I have always emphasized that it’s demeaning for adults to think that they now have “become the parent to their elder relatives.” Yes, there is a “role change” but NOT a “role reversal.” Thinking that adult children have to become “the parent” to their elder relative also doesn’t allow the adult to grieve the loss of role that elder played in their life.

Nancy L. Kriseman, LCSW, Atlanta

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OPINION Letter to the editor, Lost in the horror of the Ukraine debacle has been the beginning of an intifada in Israel with random murderous attacks on Israelis in the past few weeks with multiple deaths and injuries. There has not been a specific incident that has prompted these brutal attacks. Reform rabbis have noted these attacks with regret but have not noted causation. Several actions by President Biden and his less than robust Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (and nod) probably caused this. First Biden attacked the United States industry ending our independence in his first day in office. The wealthy lefty ideologues can afford $4.00 a gallon plus and a Tesla while this diminishing of US oil production has not improved the environment but has caused Russia, Iran, and Venezuela to make a fortune as the price per barrel rises and our need has grown with the economy booming after the unnecessary lockdowns ended. This is also a betrayal of no taxes on the lower earners who drive further, cannot work from home, and have older cars. Every dollar increase in gas causes 40-50 cents per gallon state and federal tax and has caused us to beg Iran, Russia and Venezuela to increase their production and sell to us.

Biden has also literally begged Iran to rejoin a weaker and ineffective nuclear deal promising billions of dollars in return. This has allowed Iran to rearm Hamas, Houthi’s and Hezbollah (and Haman if we want to continue the alliteration). In addition to the poor and despicable hasty ill planned evacuation of Afghanistan where we armed an entire American-hating Muslim army, this weakness has given the go ahead to increase hostility to Israel. On top of this the American response to the Ukrainians has been slow walked and even today new sanctions are being discussed when they could have and should have been accomplished weeks ago.

Lastly Biden has also restarted paying Palestinian families whose relatives have killed Israelis. Trump stopped this completely and also stopped funding anti American and anti-Israel NGOs in the United Nations. Not so for Biden who opened the financial floodgates stopping four years of little bloodshed and leading to the Abraham Accords which Biden Blinken and nod have been undermining diplomatically. Also, our ambassador to Israel has shown an animus to settlements and has been trying to

reopen a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem or in the American embassy further trying to erase Trump era promises fulfilled.

So, if you connect the dots, this becomes no longer a kid’s game but a real problem with dire consequences for our brothers and sisters in Israel. This has also added to the rising tide of anti-Semitism with Jews suffering the most hate crimes in America and no it is not from the right wing but from Antifa, progressives and Palestinians on campus, and Muslim fundamentalists. We as Jews must do better and refocus our priorities.

Dr. Jeff Kunkes, Atlanta

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As a letter to the editor, we proof for spelling and grammatical errors only. We do not edit nor vet the information the letter contains. The individual signing the letter is accountable for what they share.

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OPINION

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Doomscrolling for the Latest Threat I was inter viewed recently for a British podcast that promotes political and media literacy, primarily for students and young adults Dave Schechter in the United From Where I Sit Kingdom.

In the course of that conversation, which focused on antisemitism in America, I was asked how news coverage has changed over the course of my professional career.

To my way of thinking, today’s consumers of news are no more concerned with matters of war and peace, of politics and economics, of science and medicine, and of the human condition in general than were previous generations.

As I have said to other audiences: What has changed is less the subjects in the news than the technology available to transmit information, today in a quantity and at a speed barely conceivable when I drew my first paycheck.

My parents were born into a world shaped by newspapers, magazines, and radio. Television was part of the mix when I came along. My children have grown up in a global society connected through the internet.

I grew up reading newspapers, from the front page to the sports results and most everything in between. I listened to all-news radio and watched the network and local newscasts. When the internet entered my cable television newsroom, I could not decide whether it was the greatest waste of time ever created or the greatest technological development since the atom was split. It has become both, the yin to its own yang.

Which brings me to a term some of you may be unfamiliar with — “doomscrolling,” the difficult-to-control urge to use the technology at your disposal to check the news at any and all hours, to stay current on the trials and tribulations of our time. I remain a constant, but generally dispassionate consumer of news, a practice grounded in decades of self-imposed professional responsibility. For others, however, this can have toxic consequences, particularly before going to sleep.

The origin of the term doomscrolling is traced to a 2018 post on Twitter, a platform that allows you to create your own

information aggregation. (My feed provides a steady stream of state, national, and international news, affairs in the Jewish world and Israel, and soccer.)

Pamela Rutledge, director of the California-based Media Psychology Research Center, told the BBC that doomscrolling “really just describes the compulsive need to try and get answers when we’re afraid.”

New information must be assessed to determine whether it constitutes a threat.

“We are biologically driven to attend to that,” Rutledge said.

A study by University of Florida advertising researchers, published by the American Psychological Association, linked the condition to what is known in shorthand as FOMO (fear of missing out).

“Doomscrolling refers to a state of media use typically characterized as individuals persistently scrolling through their social media newsfeeds with an obsessive focus on distressing, depressing, or otherwise negative information,” the study reported.

Not only that, but as humans, “we have a natural tendency to pay more attention to negative news,” Mesfin Bekalu, a research scientist at the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told Wired magazine.

In the past two years, the menu of negative news has included a bitterly contested election, an assault on the nation’s capitol, a global pandemic, protests sparked by racial injustice, a seemingly unending series of natural disasters, and at present, Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.

COVID-19 exacerbated the problem; not just the rapidly changing nature of the virus and the frequently updated precautions, but also the amount of time people were isolated from normal personal contact with colleagues, friends, and family.

I blame neither the news media nor the internet for doomscrolling. When a restaurant puts a ridiculously large portion of food on your plate, you are under no obligation to eat all of it. When journalism serves up a large amount of information, you can decide which and how much of it you will consume, and when. You can push back from the table and, if you feel yourself falling down the proverbial rabbit hole, place your phone more than an arm’s length away, take a walk, read a book, watch an old movie, or just go to sleep.

Don’t worry. All of that worrisome news, and then some, will be there when you wake up. ì

OPINION

Publisher’s Note Chag Sameach. It is the time of the year when we are reminded of the plight of our ancestors.

Unfortunately, the first night of Pesach will Michael A. Morris mark the 51st Publisher day of the continuous slaughter of both Jewish and non-Jewish Ukrainians in their homes. This year, I might argue, we need no additional reminder of what oppression and execution looks like. From when we wake up in the morning, to when we lay down at night, the news, our conversations and our thoughts are permeated by the senseless killing perpetrated by one individual. One person who fancies himself some sort of leader, but alas, Dictator Putin is nothing more than a demented psychopath.

It would be nice to consider how we might be able to share a Pesach meal with those who will go without in this war-torn region; but might I suggest, instead, that we consider how we can put an end to the wanton murder of innocent Ukrainians?

At the moment, I do not see any agenda item that is more paramount. I am hoping that our government and our president also see it this way. If the United States of America does not take a leadership role in removing this threat to the world, I invite you to share with me who else is capable.

I do applaud the sanctions that we have put into effect and continue to put into action, but clearly, what we have done so far is not enough. Beyond any shadow of a doubt, it is not enough. President Biden suggested that it would take a month, or longer, for the first sanctions to have a clear and demonstrable impact.

We are coming up to two months, and I, for one, do not see a discernible impact.

We need to be taking more unabashed action every day. Despot Putin is killing people every day, there is no rationale for

taking a wait-and-see or reactionary approach. Make no mistake, this is not his first conquest, and it is most certainly not his last. It is just his most destructive thus far. His last will only be assured when he is no longer the dictator of Russia.

I will end today’s diatribe with some salient thoughts about the United Nations. Putin’s manipulation of the UN during his war of choice has proven that the UN is the optimal place for him to disseminate propaganda and lies for maximum effectiveness with the least amount of credence and accountability. Russia asserts absurd claims and, because of the perceived importance of that body, too many countries accept its preposterous positions as factual. How can any person, world leader or country — and most importantly, the U.S. — rely on or have any respect for any decision the UN espouses? Add to this that a murdering psychopath is the tyrannical leader of one of only five countries that holds a permanent position in the UN’s governing body, the Security Council. I

ask again, how can anyone consider the UN to be a relevant, respected or useful institution? An organization that enables and promotes war and persecution more than it protects peace has very little value from my perspective.

I do want to give credit where credit is due. In an unlikely move, our ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, along with Atlanta’s very own Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council, Michèle Taylor, were able to remove Russia from the HRC for its heinous actions. But let’s be clear, this still leaves China, Cuba, Venezuela, Pakistan and Sudan on the council — models for stellar human rights activity.

In closing, I wish the Atlanta Jewish community, my friends and family (with a special shout-out to my friend, Ambassador Michèle Taylor, in Geneva) a very happy and meaningful Passover. I will pray this Yom Tov that nothing like this ever comes to our shores; but if it does, I would hope that the world would come and answer our calls for help, in a meaningful way. ì

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PASSOVER Unity Seder Calls for Solidarity with Ukraine After two years as a virtual event, the American Jewish Committee’s Unity Seder returned to The Temple’s spacious Schwartz-GoldBob Bahr stein Hall on March 31. True to its name, the event attracted a broad cross-section of representatives from Atlanta’s numerous religious and ethnic communities.

Nearly 30 spiritual and political leaders, from Bishop Joel Konzen of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta to Mayor Rusty Paul of Sandy Springs, took part in the program, which focused on the contemporary struggle for freedom in Ukraine. Each participant in the event, just before speaking, carried a sunflower — the country’s national symbol — which was placed in a large vase at one side of the stage.

Rabbi Loren Lapidus of The Temple, who with Rabbi Scott Colbert conducted

Rabbi Scott Colbert, who led the seder, and Bishop Joel Konzen of the Atlanta Catholic Archdiocese. // Credit: AJC, Jacob Ross

the seder, described the event as an opportunity to strengthen ties within the community at a challenging time.

“We hold the pain of all of our fel-

low human beings around the world in our hearts. We’re also mindful that an interfaith gathering focuses some of these events, particularly close to home for us.

Mayor Rusty Paul of Sandy Springs.

There is so much in this world that tries to pull us into fear and anxiety. May we draw strength from one another,” she said.

Instead of the Passover tradition of the

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PASSOVER

Happy Passover

Each participant carried a sunflower, the symbol of Ukraine.

Luxury is defined by a level of service.

Rev. Bogdan Maruszak of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cumming concluded the seder.

Melvin Miles of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, right, and Rabbi Micah Lapidus from The Davis Academy led the singing.

youngest child asking the four questions, three members of Atlanta’s international consular corps, including Israel’s Consul General Anat Sultan-Dadon, participated in that part of the seder.

The role of telling the story of Passover fell to five members of the non-Jewish community, including Hispanic, Indian, Asian and African American attendees.

Soumaya Khalifa, executive director of Atlanta’s Islamic Speakers Bureau, and Kuldip Singh, a Sikh community leader, explained the significance of Elijah’s Cup. Peter Bennion, the Atlanta stake president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, read aloud the Haggadah text that spoke most directly to the importance of freedom: “We are slaves because today there are still people in chains around the world and no one can be truly free while others are in chains; we are slaves because freedom means more than broken chains; where there is poverty and hunger and homelessness, there is no freedom; when there is prejudice and bigotry and discrimination, there is no freedom; where there is violence and torture and war with no freedom, and where each of us is less than he or she might be, we are not free, not yet.”

The text was taken largely from the “Interfaith Haggadah” edited by Rabbi Robert Reiner, a board member of the AJC

in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In keeping with the emphasis on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the climactic part of the seder, the call to action, was reserved for Julie Katz, the associate director of the AJC’s Atlanta chapter. She asked those attending to use their smart phones to access a QR (quick response) code on the back of the program that linked to a form letter calling on members of Congress, as she put it, “to take concrete steps to counter Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine.”

“Tonight we stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine,” Katz continued. “As Moses was commanded to lead the Jewish people away from their suffering and out of Egypt, we are commanded to alleviate the suffering of others.”

The seder concluded with Rev. Bogdan Maruszak of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Cumming, Ga., calling upon hope for a better world.

“For the Jewish people, the hope of freedom has been symbolized by the prayer, ‘Next year in the land of Israel.’

But even if we were right now in Jerusalem, we would still say, ‘Next year in the land of Israel,’ for this year, the freedom of all humankind remains diminished because tyranny still reigns and hatred still divides. Some day we hope all will celebrate in a world made one and a world made free.” ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 43

PASSOVER

Family Estrangement Can Be a Passover Problem

By Bob Bahr When some families sit down to their Passover seders this year, there may be an empty chair or a family member missing. It may not always be empty because the person didn’t want to be there; it could also be that they weren’t invited.

At times like these, when themes of family togetherness and affection are especially pronounced, the problem of what psychotherapists call estrangement from close family members is most powerfully and deeply felt.

In some cases, parents and their adult children maintain either a frosty relationship or no relationship at all.

Brothers and sisters don’t speak. Children grow up without ever meeting an aunt or uncle or even a grandmother or grandfather who has been excluded from their life. For some, the joy of a holiday like Passover comes mingled with regret.

This is something Rabbi Judith Beiner, the community rabbi based at Jewish Family and Career Services here, has become acutely aware of in recent years.

“A holiday comes along, and for

Estrangement from close family members can be especially difficult around holidays like Passover.

those who are estranged from family members, there’s that pang of missing and wanting. They might even search for

PASSOVER SEDER MADE EASY

a reason to be hopeful or call up a positive memory. So the holidays are a really hard time for people who have become

excluded from their family and Passover in particular, because the central ritual puts everybody around a table in a home.

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PASSOVER

Karl Pillemer’s “Fault Lines” is recommended reading for the estrangement group at JF&CS.

For the past year and a half, JF&CS has offered a group for those dealing with estrangement in the family.

That can be really painful,” she said.

About a year and a half ago, Beiner teamed up with JF&CS community clinician Brennen Joseph to help deal with many of the issues raised by family estrangement. They organized what they called their first cycle of discussions for those who felt estranged. There would be eight sessions and those who signed up would be encouraged to confront their feelings about their enforced separation. Getting people to sign up, though, as Beiner found, wasn’t easy.

“To get somebody to come to a group is hard,” she says. “You know, I think lots of people don’t want to open up. And, as Brennen found, there’s a lot of shame around it, and there’s a little extra dose of shame in the Jewish community. There’s this notion that, what kind of Jewish mother or father am I if my children are estranged from me? So there’s that additional burden. And that surprised me.”

Karl Pillemer, a professor of gerontology at Cornell University who has studied estrangement, told the Cornell Chronicle in 2020 that the reluctance to talk about family estrangement keeps it hidden.

“It’s become clear that estrangement is a very widespread problem that was hiding in plain sight,” he said. “I felt it was critically important to bring this problem out of the shadow and into the clear light of open discussion and dialogue.”

His book, “Fault Lines: Fractured Families and How to Mend Them,” is recommended reading for the estrangement group at JF&CS. In what is thought to be the first large-scale national survey on the issue,

Pillemer found that 27 percent of Americans 18 and older had severed a family relationship and that most were not happy about it. Nationally, that statistic would mean that at least 67 million Americans have cut off at least one person in their family.

According to Joseph, the JF&CS clinician, once people are able to break through the silence and publicly acknowledge that there is a problem, they can begin to consider what comes next.

“What we tell our participants is that the goal is to find a way to move on and to move forward with whatever the current situation may be. Knowing that most individuals who are coming are seeking help and support. They’re coming to find coping skills to help them to move forward, to find a new norm and get used to this new lifestyle. They’ve done everything else or tried other things to make it work and they’ve had a hard time.”

As a starting point, she suggests staying focused on the present and future and working toward a more realistic goal of what is possible.

Beiner, however, doesn’t advise initiating a conversation around the seder table or other large family gathering with someone you have avoided for years.

“The time to repair a fractured family relationship is not at the big family gathering. Don’t bring it up at the bar mitzvah. Don’t bring it up at the wedding.

It’s really not the right place for that and I’d be pretty wary of starting a conversation about estrangement.”

For more information about the JF&CS estrangement program, contact Brennen Joseph at bjoseph@jfcs-atlanta. org. ì

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www.KandissTaylor.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 45

PASSOVER

The Unique Experience of a Sephardic Seder

By Bob Bahr Passover, as Albert Barrocas and his sister Rebeca recall it from their childhood in Cuba, was shaped by their parents’ Sephardic Turkish heritage. Both of his parents’ families were originally from Istanbul and Izmir in the old Ottoman Empire, which ruled large areas of the Middle East for 400 years until its collapse following defeat in World War I. Barrocas recalls there being only nine Jewish families in the small town about 30 miles southeast of Havana, which included his family and the families of his two uncles. Even though they were a small community, they were closely knit and paid attention to the tumultuous years following World War II. Mostly, he remembers one Passover even though he was only six at the time.

“That was 1948,” he says. “We were going to Havana, where my father was in the hospital. And as we were going toward the bus station, one of the Ashkenazi family members stopped us on the

Sephardic charoset often contains oranges and dates, along with an abundance of spices.

street and told us the news they had just heard that Israel just declared its independence.”

Sephardic Passover cooking, unlike Ashkenazi fare, features dishes made with rice and beans.

Their seder table was filled with the rich and diverse cuisine of Turkish Jews.

There were complex vegetable and egg

casseroles, meat and vegetable patties and even matzah-layered meat and vegetable pies that was worlds away from

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PASSOVER

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Meat pies made with matzah are a feature of Turkish Sephardic cooking.

the standard Ashkenazi fare of Eastern Europe.

Barrocas, who was a surgeon for many years, is particularly fond of a Passover dish called Megina or Meat Quijado. It was reprinted in the Sephardic cookbook of Congregation Or VeShalom, which still has many members who descend from Turkish and Greek immigrants to Atlanta. It’s similar to the Greek moussaka but includes matzah that has been dipped in beaten eggs, covered by ground beef and eggs, then topped off with mashed potatoes and mixed with two more beaten eggs. It’s baked and then napped with chicken broth to serve.

Because Sephardim in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East did not accept the Ashkenazi restrictions on kitniyot, they were free to eat rice and legumes such as chickpeas, beans and lentils.

Sephardic seders were also distinguished by unique recipes for charoset, which symbolizes the mortar that Jewish slaves in Egypt used to build pyramids and other structures for the Pharaohs.

Sephardic recipes often call for a whole orange and peel. Dates, particularly the soft Medjool variety, are also added, along with spices such as ginger and allspice.

Italian Jews sometimes add chestnuts in place of the more traditional walnuts.

Finally, some cook the mixture down to a smoother, more spreadable condiment.

Barrocas’s older sister, Rebeca, who moved from Cuba in the mid-'50s, when she was 17, recalls one more important difference in the Sephardic seders she attended as a child: the abundant use of Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish. Knowing Ladino made it easy for her parents and grand-

parents to pick up their lives when they emigrated to Spanish-speaking Cuba in the early 20th century. Rebeca remembers that, when she first moved to Atlanta in 1954, Ladino was still in daily use.

“My mother had a regular card game and she had ladies, her cousins, her sister, her sister-in-law and all those that got together,” she said. “She lived with me all the time and then they were speaking Ladino. I’m in Orlando now, but I don’t know anybody that speaks Ladino.”

Albert Barrocas keeps the memory of Ladino alive at the seder by using a Haggadah that is printed in both Ladino and English, as well as by the songs his four children and their families sing.

One of his favorites, which he distributes at the end of the seder ritual, is a JudeoSpanish version of “Echad Mi Yodea” in Hebrew, “Who Knows One.” The Ladino version is “Quien Supiessey Entendiesse,” a numbers song that moves from the belief in one G-d to the 13 Attributes of G-d’s Mercy with references to matriarchs and patriarchs and important Jewish texts and lifestyle events. There are also the familiar verses of the “Chad Gadya,” or “One Little Goat,” which in Ladino is “Un Kavretiko.”

While Turkey was an important center of Jewish life for centuries, it was only one of the Sephardic communities that stretched from Bulgaria to Morocco and India. Equally important are the complementary Mizrachi traditions that have taken root in Israel and the Romaniotes, a Greek-speaking ethnic Jewish community native to the Eastern Mediterranean.

All are a reminder of the richness and diversity of Jewish life as brought into focus at this poignant time of the year. ì

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PASSOVER

Blending Jewish and Non-Jewish Holidays – Can it be done?

As Passover and the Christian holiday, Easter, draws near, those who are in a relationship or family that honors more than one Vickie Carroll tradition, are faced with how to do that. Navigating this can be difficult for some families, especially those with younger children. Although this is a topic for all holidays, there are a few holidays that standout and cause the most challenges. The AJT interviewed a few local Reform leaders who deal with these questions several times throughout the year and asked if they had any words of wisdom for interfaith families.

Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, senior rabbi at Temple Kol Emeth said, “When thinking about being Jewish during the Passover or Easter season it is important to know that while there are many differences between

Passover holiday staple items seen in Jewish homes everywhere this time of year.

the two holidays, there are also commonalities we should keep in mind.” Sernovitz provided several items to consider when navigating a Christian through Passover for the first time: • Both Judaism, in the Torah, and Christianity, from the First Council of Nicaea in 325, determined that their respec-

tive holidays would fall around the same time.

• They are both spring holidays which bring us renewal and hope and, in our world, both of which are essential to our survival in such an uncertain time.

• Both teach that while there will be difficult times in our lives, faith can get

us through it. This is an important concept for not just children to learn, but for adults to understand as well.

• Both are family-based holidays where we come together for a meal and to celebrate the importance of family.

• There are common foods around both holidays: On Passover, eggs are on

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PASSOVER the seder plate while Easter Eggs are hid- for contemporary musical settings of the Haggadah texts, check-out den. These Easter eggs are The Maccabeats and Six13, just like the afikomen that Kosher-for-Passover reciare supposed to be hidden pes, desserts are always fun. and found as well.

There are Haggadot created • Easter baskets are givwith interfaith families in en with chocolate eggs and mind. The food, stories, quesother treats. This is more like tions, music and bringing toPurim where we give bags of gether of family and friends treats to others in gratitude are the things that open the to our survival and in an efdoor to a shared Passover exfort to help those in need.

Rabbi Bradley G. perience of people of differ“However, the big difference between the two is that Levenberg, Temple Sinai. ent faiths.”

Rabbi R. Klein Miller, from Temple Passover is a holiday about freedom from oppression and slavery with God’s mira- Emanu-El reminds us that there is not cles while Easter is about the resurrection always an easy answer, and that every of Jesus and that through him others have situation can be different. “I believe there isn’t an appropriate and been given life. The theme is helpful answer that can be indeed similar, that there is given in a few sentences or hope and life after the diffieven paragraphs. Navigating culties in our lives occur, but questions like these is best there are major theological accomplished by you and differences that are present, your partner sitting down and these tend to be the line with your rabbi. Rabbis are in the sand between Christitrained to have these converanity and Judaism,” added sations. Our doors are open.”

Sernovitz.

Rabbi Sernovitz shared Rabbi Bradley G. Levena story about an experience berg at Temple Sinai said, “I Cantor Nancy Kassel, Temple Beth Tikvah. he had: “About a year ago, I have generally found that people can celebrate a holiday that is not was attending a virtual interfaith clergy their own. In fact, I think that when we meeting in Marietta. After the keynote join with others to celebrate moments speaker had finished his remarks, the conthat are important to them, we are doing vener of the meeting mentioned to all that we should stay on to discuss what we should do when we our Easter plans. Due to difare at our best: revel in the ficulty of planning holiday joy experienced by others. celebrations during COVID, So, for the non-Jewish parteach faith leader had differner who is attending a Passent policies, and some were over Seder, my advice is to observing in person and lean in and get a sense as to others in a virtual arena. why that moment is imporWhen it came to my turn, tant to your partner. Simithe convener of the meeting larly, for the Jewish partner said, “Rabbi Larry, what are joining a loved one in the celRabbi R. Klein Miller, your Easter plans?” I replied ebration of Easter, try to see from Temple Emanu-El. with a big smile and tongue it through their eyes. You’ll learn more about each other and have a in cheek that, ‘We would be having an Easter egg hunt on the front lawn of the great time doing so.” synagogue, and all would be Cantor Nancy Kassel of invited.’ The convener then Temple Beth Tikvah sees the replied, “I believe I just put occasion as a learning expemy foot in my mouth, didn’t rience and one that can bring I.” This comment began a joy. “The upcoming holidays beautiful friendship, one in of Passover and Easter do which we have been able to not have to be viewed as a learn from one another and ‘spring dilemma’. Consider support each other in our sathe many welcoming aspects cred work.” of the Passover seder during As you can see, there which the asking of quesare many ways to approach tions is highly valued and Senior Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, Temple this ongoing topic as interencouraged from all particiKol Emeth faith families continue to pants.” She then added, “The find their way to what works best for their levity of some musical settings to parts of families.

Going to your rabbi is the perfect the Seder are quite joyous and accessible. first step. ì I highly recommend searching online

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 49

PASSOVER

The Passover Story

By Robert Ratonyi A long time ago, in the land of Egypt, there was a ruler called Pharaoh. The Pharaoh was a very mean man, and he made all the Jews living in Egypt his slaves.

Many years went by, and Moses grew up to be a prince in Egypt, but the Jews still suffered because they were slaves. When Moses saw how much the Jews suffered, he went to the Pharaoh and asked him to free the Jews. The Pharaoh refused to listen to Moses and became angry. He made the Jews work even harder. He did not like Moses at all, and he chased Moses away from Egypt to live in another land. Moses was working as a shepherd when one day he saw a fire coming from a bush. He went to look at the fire and suddenly he heard a voice coming from the burning bush:

To be slaves meant that the Jews had to work very, very hard and were beaten by their Egyptian masters. They worked all day under the hot sun making clay bricks to build pyramids and buildings for the Pharaoh; they worked the fields to produce food for the Egyptians; and they built houses for the Egyptians to live in. The slaves did not get paid for their work, and they could not buy toys for their children. They hardly had enough food to feed themselves. They were not free to go to wherever they wanted, or to do whatever they wanted. The Jews were very unhappy and suffered a lot.

But the Pharaoh was still afraid that there were too many Jews, and decided that all the newborn Jewish boys be taken away from their mothers and be thrown into the river Nile. But one of the Jewish mothers decided to save her newborn baby boy and put him into a basket, and placed the basket into the river so that her child could live. The next day the Pharaoh’s daughter found the floating basket with the little baby-boy in it. She took the baby home to the palace where she lived, and named the baby Moses.

50 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

“Moses! Moses!” It was the voice of God. “I am here!” answered Moses, and he was scared because he never heard the voice of God before.

And God told Moses: “ I want you to go back to the land of Egypt and free all the Jews from slavery, and lead them back to the Promised Land, the home of the Jews!”

Today we call this Promised Land Israel.

So, Moses went back to Egypt and he went to see the Pharaoh. Moses told the Pharaoh that God had commanded the Jews to leave Egypt. The Pharaoh said: “No way! I will not let the Jews go.” And instead of letting the Jews go, the Pharaoh decided to make them work even harder. But Moses warned the Pharaoh that if he did not let the Jews go, God would punish him and all the other Egyptians. But the Pharaoh just laughed and did not believe Moses.

PASSOVER And sure enough, God’s punishment came about in the land of Egypt:

Passover HAPPY

First, all the water turned to blood and the Egyptians could not drink or cook or wash.

Then, frogs appeared all over in Egypt: on the tables and chairs, on dishes, in bed, on the floor; slimy frogs were everywhere. The sound of their croaking drove the Egyptians crazy!

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Then, there were flies and insects biting everybody. All the Egyptians became sick and sore from itching and scratching.

But the Pharaoh was stubborn and would not let the Jews go.

Then, hordes of wild animals, lions, elephants and hippopotamus suddenly appeared. They ran wild and destroyed everything in their path: houses, fields, and trees.

Then, all the animals of the Egyptians, their sheep and cattle, and their beautiful horses, got sick and died.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 51

PASSOVER

Then, every Egyptian was covered with painful blisters and boils. They couldn’t sit, couldn’t stand, and couldn’t lie down. The suffering was terrible.

But the Pharaoh was still stubborn and would not let the Jews go.

There was very little time, and the Jews had to hurry and left so quickly that they did not have time to bake any bread for the road. Instead, they ate flat bread, called matzah, as they were going through the desert. Then, as the Jews, lead by Moses, reached the Red Sea the Pharaoh changed his mind and decided to go after the Jews and make them become slaves again. And now the Jews were trapped between the Egyptian army chasing them in their chariots, and the Red Sea in front of them.

But suddenly there was a miracle. The Red Sea parted, and there was a dry path through the sea all the way across to the other side. The Jews were happy to escape the Egyptians and started to cross the Red Sea. When the Egyptians saw that the sea was parted, they too decided to cross chasing after the Jews. But as soon as the Egyptians started to cross the Red Sea, the sea closed again, and they could not reach the Jews on the other side of the sea.

Then, a horrendous hailstorm swept across Egypt. Big pieces of ice fell from the sky destroying the flowers, the gardens and the trees.

And then the locusts came – millions and millions of them, in great dark buzzing clouds. They swept across Egypt eating up all the crops and the fields.

Then, there was complete darkness, even during the day; nobody could see anything. The Egyptians just sat glued to their chairs or lay trembling in their beds.

But, after all these bad things, the Pharaoh still did not want to free the Jews.

Moses then warned the Pharaoh that unless he freed the Jews, the oldest son in every Egyptian family would die. And finally, the Pharaoh agreed to let the Jews go, but he ordered them to leave right away.

52 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

And that is how the Jews escaped from Egypt and went to the Promised Land.

And this time every year, Jews all over the world celebrate this miracle, and their freedom from slavery. And this celebration is called Passover.

During Passover we have a feast called the Seder. We read a book, called the Haggadah, which tells the story of Passover that I just told you, so that we will always remember our history. And we put special symbols on the Seder table to remind us of what our ancestors went through many-many years ago when they escaped from Egypt: Bitter herbs – to remind us how bitter life was for the Jewish slaves in Egypt Salt water – to remind us of the tears of the slaves Haroset – this mixture of apples, nuts, wine and cinnamon, to remind us of the mortar the Jews used to put the bricks together Matzah – we eat this in memory of the flat bread the Jews had to bake in a hurry when they escaped from Egypt Sweet herbs to remind us of the hope and freedom in the Promised Land The lamb bone and the egg to represent spring and a new beginning.

Another thing we do at this time is to take pieces of Matzah, called Aphikomon, and hide it for the children to find it after dinner. The child that finds the missing matzah gets a present. ì Robert Ratonyi is a local author, retired successful businessman and survivor of the Holocaust.

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PASSOVER

Getting to the Other Side...

For this year’s Passover issue, we asked members of the community to share their thoughts, inspiration, advise and encouragement as you prepare for the holiday. Those that participated was given the prompt “Getting to the other side … “or they could write about whatever they wanted. Many of the submissions looked to a more promising future of large groups and lots of loves ones around the table this year.

By Joe Alterman

By Arlene Caplan Appelrouth

“In honor of the Jews, we should rename all of our bridges ‘Passovers.’”

So, says one of my heroes, legendary (and hilarious) 87-year-old pianist, Les McCann. Someone I’ve been incredibly lucky to befriend this past decade. Getting to know Les has been one of the greatest blessings of my life and is one of the many unexpected rewards that came as a direct result from working through a difficult period in my life, my adolescent struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder. During that debilitating period, the music of people like Les was one of the only things that was able to bring a moment of peace and joy into my day. At the time, my working hard to free myself from OCD (via behavior therapy) was done simply because I longed to feel normal and better, but I never could have anticipated the far-reaching rewards and benefits that going through that experience would bring into all aspects of my life.

Looking back on it now, OCD was nothing more than the greatest opportunity to strengthen my mind and myself, and I’m truly grateful to have had that experience.

During my darkest days, I never could have anticipated being thankful for the darkness, but I am.

The story of Passover has always resonated with me. Back then it inspired me, reminding me that there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Today, looking back over the past 2000-ish years of Jewish History, knowing that our current journey began with the brave decision to leave Egypt and step into the unknown, the story serves as a motivating reminder of all the unexpected rewards and possibilities that can come from facing one’s fears and taking that first step into the darkness in search of the light.

I’m grateful to be able to share Passover with some of my family this year. It’s been too many years since all of us have been together for anything other than a funeral. I wish that were different but have learned to be grateful for whatever is. The truth is my three children celebrate Passover differently. The most religious, David, is head of a family that begins getting ready for Passover weeks before the holiday. Everything in his home gets thoroughly cleaned.

Even books are checked for chometz. There are special dishes, and pots and pans that are only used during Passover. According to ultra-Orthodox practice, the physical preparations correlate with increased spirituality. Passover preparations are serious business and take a lot of time. The seders start after services, usually around 9:30 p.m. The festive meal is often served about 11 p.m. And the seder doesn’t end until the wee hours of the morning. My son Jed and his family look forward to participating in the seders, but things remain the same in their kitchen. My daughter Michelle and her family are modern Orthodox. The kitchen gets turned over, and everything is cleaned according to tradition. A typical seder in her home is complete by 11 p.m. Everyone in the family participates in two seders.

This year I invited my family to join the 100,000 Jews who celebrate Passover in Orlando. I had no idea there was a thriving Passover industry, complete with kitchens already made kosher for the holiday. What surprised me is that even though more observant Jews will not be in their homes during the eight-day holiday, the intense Passover preparations still take place.

I’m selling my chometz, as is the tradition, but given I’m going out of town I don’t intend to go through the motions of special cleaning. To prepare, I’m fine with thinking about the meaning of Passover and preparing myself mentally for the holiday that celebrates our freedom from being slaves in Egypt. I know Jews are commanded to put ourselves in the shoes of the slaves who left Egypt, but I have a hard time imagining that. I am familiar with being enslaved by attitudes and habits that inhibit freedom and make us prisoners of our own mind.

Each Passover I become more intentional about freeing myself from thoughts or practices that no longer serve me. I’m commanded to be grateful and happy and take the opportunity Passover provides to re-evaluate where I am regarding staying aware of my blessings. I’ve learned happiness is a choice. I’m grateful Passover reminds me to keep that in mind.

Joe Alterman is an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist & executive director of Neranenah Concert & Culture Series.

Arlene is a freelance writer who contributes to the Atlanta Jewish Times and teaches writing to seniors.

54 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Michael Bernstein

By Terri Bonoff

The words “Breaking News” used to mean that something big and unexpected just happened. Something worth interrupting life to listen to. Now, every single news story begins with “Breaking” — whether the revelation of a new scandal or just an upcoming interview rehashing what is already well known. Obviously that means that most of the time “Breaking News” is meaningless to say. Our world has become simultaneously in need of repair and numb to its brokenness.

At the Seder, before we even begin telling the story of Passover, we split the middle matza, and the sound of it breaking calls us to attention: the following story is Breaking News.

The great singer and poet Leonard Cohen said “Ring the bells that still can ring, forget your perfect offering, there is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” So too does the Passover Seder teach that the road to freedom runs through breaking as well as repairing.

Only then can we invite in those who are hungry for food or for meaning to join our conversation. This invitation breaks our routine, the boundaries we set around our table. We begin to notice and question, breaking our assumptions of what we think we already know. And then we begin to tell the story of our hardships and oppression under Pharaoh, breaking open our hearts and souls to new ways to let the light of freedom shine through.

The festive meal ends with a return to the broken matzah, the afikomen, that waits hidden until we have partaken of the rest of our feast and realized the breaking news: We are free!

There is a collective sense among us that we are revisiting an exodus moment, a dark period of renewed persecution and fleeting freedom for our sisters and brothers in Eastern Europe. An assault on people anywhere is an assault on us all. We cannot become numb or indifferent to this—we must confront it with abject horror and a relentless commitment to eradicate this assault. Those who are empowered to act on behalf of our country weigh risks of elevated involvement. The risks are great—nuclear threats to humankind are the most severe threats we know of.

As we gather around our Seder tables sharing the blessing of being able to once again come together after the lonely isolation of the pandemic, we must tell the story of Passover with a deep understanding that we are reliving this today. We cannot stand by. Let us pray for those making the hard choices to have wisdom, courage and G-d’s blessings as they act in concert with allied forces of goodwill to end this unacceptable assault on humanity. May G-d pass over our people once again. May we join together to care for those who seek refuge among us. I am so very grateful to be a part of this generous, courageous and strong Atlanta Jewish community.

Let our community be a beacon of hope. With outstretched arms, at JF&CS we welcome the weary with love and support.

Terri Bonoff is the CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services

Rabbi Michael Bernstein is the spiritual leader of Congregation Gesher L’ Torah. He is a member of the advisory committee of SOJOURN, a frequent participant on interfaith panels, and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers.

By Cheryl Dorchinsky Getting to the Other Side ...

Passover is a time of remembrance for me. It’s not only about oppression and slavery; it is also about freedom and redemption.

It is about taking responsibility for our own destiny and fighting back. It is about standing up and speaking out. More than ever, we need to unite and stand up for the Jewish people and fight back against antisemitism and hate.

This holiday connects me personally to the Jewish state, our history, and the struggle the Jewish people have experienced for thousands of years. May we always retell this Passover story, so we can understand our people’s past, appreciate our present, and strive for a better future.

Over the past two years, COVID-19 has kept most of us from traveling to Israel. Our proclamation of “next year in Jerusalem” at the Seder table always has a profound impact on me, as Israel is vital to my spiritual health and wellbeing.

Israel is once again open to travelers, so I am grateful that I, once again, have the opportunity to visit my homeland to reenergize by spiritual self.

Let’s hope that we are “getting to the other side” of this pandemic. Let us always pray for good health for our loved ones, and the ability to freely celebrate our holidays in the U.S., Israel and all over the world.

Here’s to a very happy and healthy Passover. May you enjoy meaningful Seders and a special holiday.

Wishing you and your family a “Chag Pesach Sameach.”

Cheryl Dorchinsky is founding executive director of Atlanta Israel Coalition.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 55

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Dan Dorsch Why did the chicken cross the road?

HAPPY

PASSOVER Wishing you and your family a blessed celebration.

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56 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

As Jews, we were first called Ivrim, the people “who crossed over to the other side.”

Abraham and Sarah, our ancestors, made that cross over from Charan to the Land of Israel.

Later, during the Exodus story, we cross over again. We leave Egypt, across the Sea of Reeds, and transform into Bnei Yisrael, the Children “Who Wrestle with God.” We don’t know why the chicken in the classic joke crosses the road. For the Jews who left Egypt, no doubt they assumed that when they crossed to the other side that everything was going to get easier.

In reality, the Israelites went from slaves building someone else’s nation in Egypt to the epic-marathon project of building a nation of our own. The Exodus is a story of our wrestling with God only in its infancy. Today, we are still running that marathon, as a Promised Land only remains promised so long as we are willing to work for it. There is hardly ever a break from the woes of being a chosen people.

Two years out of the pandemic, this Pesach we may feel somehow like slaves who have gone on to freedom. But don’t let that fool you. We may have crossed to the other side. Only our real spiritual challenge, learning to live as committed Jews in a postpandemic era– is just now beginning.

Let the wrestling commence.

Dan Dorsch is the senior rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim.

PASSOVER

By Sherry Frank Passover is that unique moment in our year when families and friends gather at the table to retell the remarkable story of the Exodus and the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery.

As women’s voices continue to be more widely heard, traditional Haggadot have — at many seders — been replaced with creative and inspiring renditions of the Exodus story of freedom. And those women who elevated this story — Moses’ mother, Yocheved; the midwives, Shifra and Puah; Moses’ sister, Miriam; and Pharaoh’s daughter, Batya — are increasingly being celebrated for their significant roles.

In every generation, we are told to make this tale of survival relevant to the struggles for liberation in our own time. This year, when we ask the traditional four questions about matzah, bitter herbs, salt water, and reclining, perhaps we ponder new questions: Why does food insecurity exist in such a wealthy nation as ours?

Why is whom one loves and marries reason for fighting?

Why, after 49 years, is the right for a woman to choose what is right for her own body still up for contentious debate?

Why have antisemitism, prejudice, and bullying been allowed to fester and increase?

And when we dip our fingers in wine to recite the ten plagues, perhaps we consider a more contemporary list: War Antisemitism and Bullying Erosion of Freedom Perversion of Justice Homelessness Environmental Pollution Violence Against Women Depression and Mental Illness Voter Suppression Political Polarization I look forward to robust discussions at my seder table as we bring our ancestorial tale of slavery-to-freedom to rest beside our 2022 story of today.

Happy Pesach!

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES3/10/2022 APRIL 15, 2022 4:58:40 PM| 57

PASSOVER

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

By Rabbi Arnold Goodman

When asked to share a few words, the phrase, “Are we there yet?” popped into my mind. Like a child anxiously awaiting a destination in a long car ride, we understand as adults the time it takes for any journey.

When it comes to life, the ultimate journey, it’s similar in nature.

We want to arrive and reach outcomes that serve humanity.

While we enter in a less COVID intensive Passover this year, we might say we are almost there as we gather together. However, when I think about all of our loved ones and family members whose journeys are still challenging, along with the war and so many innocent lives lost, we are clearly not there yet. The journey is still a difficult one, though progress is certainly on the horizon.

This year, I pray for the world and for Ukraine and that our destination of peace, health and goodwill amongst all will come to fruition. As Passover arrives, we will gather with hope, empathy, kindness and pray for less suffering worldwide. Only then will we have reached our destiny. For now, we must do all we can and work towards a better world for our children and generations to come.

The five biblical festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Are dated according to the phases of the moon but only Pesach and Sukkot are celebrated on the full moon. Under a full moon our liberated ancestors exited from Egypt, and under a full moon we will soon gather at our seder tables to celebrate this cardinal event in our history thereby reaffirming the challenge and the joy of being part of our historic community.

The Haggadah reminds us that in every generation there were those who sought to harm us, but by the grace of God we continue to survive. Yet as we recount the story of our liberation and our persistent survival, we do take note of the suffering of other peoples and communities, and this year focus will be on the horrors of Ukraine. Pesach’s central message, however, reaffirms and celebrates our Jewish identity.

Sukkot, the other full moon festival, celebrates universalism. The Rabbis noted that during the seven-day festival a total of seventy bullocks were sacrificed in the Temple as a prayer for all humanity. (In the Rabbinic worldview there were but seventy nations in addition to ours). It was on the following one-day festival that only one bullock was sacrificed on our own behalf. We rightly celebrate our uniqueness, but we are never to lose sight that we are part of humanity; and on Sukkot we pray that all humankind will be blessed with God’s beneficence.

The two full moons complement one another. Even as on Sukkot there are instances when we celebrate our uniqueness and recall the Exodus from Egypt; on Pesach we reaffirm through appropriate readings and discussions, our concern for the welfare of all humanity.

May we continue to celebrate our Jewishness even as we embrace and are embraced by all with whom we share the Sukkah of God’s blessings.

Robyn Spizman Gerson is a New York Times bestselling author of more than 50 books.

Her career in the media has spanned more than three decades on television and various media outlets.

Arnold M. Goodman served as the senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue from 1982 to 2002 and is its senior rabbinic scholar. He currently lives in Jerusalem.

By Jeffrey A. Gopen There could not be a more appropriate time to ponder the meaning of “getting to the other side.” As we drive forward in a world that has changed so much over the past two years, we have a moment to reflect upon what is important — family, friends, work that has meaning, work-life balance, colleagues you cherish, personal time and giving. Things that we aspire to and things that inspire us as unique as we all are.

Now is time for positive change in the way we serve in both our personal and professional lives. Let us get to the other side of isolation and loneliness, supporting one another with empathy and understanding. The pandemic is a living reminder of all that is difficult, but also all that we can overcome together. As Americans, we have always found our strength through love, support, faith and kindness. We are reminded of this perhaps too often, but we must remember even when we are most challenged, that we must embrace opportunities to create bonds, connections and love that inspire us to appreciate the small things.

Love a little deeper, perform acts of kindness a little more often and support the people and organizations you love with more sensitivity and generosity in times of need. If we do this, we will all get to the other side together.

Jeffrey A. Gopen is president & CEO of Jewish HomeLife.

58 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

PASSOVER

By Leslie Gordon

By Rabbi Joshua Heller

Passover is the time I miss watching my grandmother make her careful preparations for the Seder meals, my mother changing out dishes and cleaning out cupboards, accepting that cream cheese with jelly on matzo would likely be my school lunch for a week, and looking forward to hanging out with my friends in shul.

I miss seeing my grandfather and, later, my beloved father reclined on their extra pillows conducting the Seder while we kids wished they’d skip ahead in the Haggadah so we could get to the meal. We were all together then: some of us too young to know what might await us as we grew older, or to imagine the sorts of division that might grow between us – conflicts over nationalism, politics, climate-change, personal rights, our different ways of celebrating Judaism. Back then, we were busy sneaking the Manischewitz and trying to guess just how gross a plague of frogs would really be.

As I got older, I added an orange to the Seder plate. And a few years back I was blessed to become the executive director of The Breman Museum. Perhaps that’s why, these days, I think more about Miriam’s role in the Passover story. My Passover wish is that we might put aside our differences (I know, they won’t disappear) and, like Miriam and the women she helped lead across the Red Sea, let’s all pick up our tambourines and sing and dance, for we stand on a threshold together. Whether we sing Dayenu, every verse of Chad Gadya - or Mr. G’s “Matzo on my Mind” – it’s time to look with awe and wonder at our past and with hope and faith to our future, as we stand, again, as always, on the threshold between bondage and freedom.

The most basic premise of Passover is that we reenact crossing over from slavery to freedom. The seder teaches us that, after a terrifying night, we will be better off at dawn than we were at nightfall. In some ways, Passover 5782 is a testimony to that lesson. It would seem that we have returned to the seders of yesteryear, with the opportunity to join joyously with loved ones.

On the other hand, this night is not so different from other seder nights, as we are also revisiting some of the challenges of Passovers past. I remember the seders of my youth, when “Let my people go” was also a rallying cry for the freedom of Soviet Jewry. At our seders we will again be offering prayers for the wellbeing of the Jews of the former Soviet Union, Jews of Ukraine and Russia, trapped on opposite sides of a deadly conflict, or fleeing for their lives just as our ancestors raced into the desert ahead of Pharaoh’s army.

When our ancestors opened the door for Elijah, there was always the chance that it would reveal rampaging crusaders, inquisitors or the stirrings of a pogrom. In the seder, we recite “ela shebechol dor vador omdim aleinu l’chaloteinu” — in every generation there are those who seek to destroy us. We are blessed to live in a time where our Jewish people have more friends than ever before, but our enemies on the world scene and in American society are newly emboldened.

A deeper lesson of the seder is that Jewish history is a cycle. Every year there is a new Egypt (or an old one). Passover does not promise that this last year’s liberation would be permanent. The seder assures us that whatever the plagues and pharaohs of the current year, God will redeem us.

Leslie Gordon is the executive director of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

Rabbi Joshua Heller is the senior rabbi of Congregation B’nai Torah.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 59

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Jason Holtz

By Jan E. Jaben-Eilon

In 2006, I left Jerusalem, where I was a rabbinic student at the time, to travel to Belarus for Passover. In some ways, it felt a little backward to me at the time — for millennia, Jews ended their seders by saying, “Next year in Jerusalem!” When I was finally there, I left to go to a country that was still oppressed. However, since the Soviet Union fell, there was a resurgence of Jewish life, and I went with other rabbinic students to lead several seders over the course of the holiday.

In Belarus, I experienced for the first time being in a country that wasn’t truly free. We were advised not to discuss politics while there — their government doesn’t take kindly to criticism. Instead, we talked about freedom from Pharaoh, and we welcomed in Elijah and the future redemption that he represented. To me, those conversations of freedom and redemption felt immediate and pressing in Belarus, even if we couldn’t reference the fact that our seders were being held in one of the last European dictatorships.

Belarus is now partnering with Russia to invade Ukraine, and I’ve been thinking back a lot to Passover 2006. The same country that suffered under a dictator 16 years ago is still suffering under the same dictator. The prayers for freedom we offered there are still unfulfilled. Not only that, but now Belarus with Russia is causing so much suffering and tragedy with its invasion of Ukraine.

Coming into Passover this year, I’ll continue to share stories of redemption and prayers for freedom. When I lift up Elijah’s cup, my thoughts will be with those living under dictatorships and their wars. May those things soon come to an end, so we can all enjoy peace and freedom.

The Journey from Egypt

Rabbi Jason Holtz is the rabbi of Temple Kehillat Chaim in Roswell.

Happy Passover!

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I picture the Israelites walking across the sea with the high waves parted on each side as they escape Egypt. But I don’t feel very secure that those constrained waves aren’t going to envelop us once again, at any time. Whether it’s Covid or the spread of war or political polarization, I feel it’s impossible to see the world with any rose-colored glasses.

I have traveled in rough waters before.

Health issues have shaken the ground underneath my feet in the past, and for several years. But this feels different. It’s not about me and my challenges. It’s about the world.

But I suppose the response must be the same: We never know where this journey will take us. All we can do is put one foot in front of the other, and then another, and another.

And perhaps, enjoy whatever we experience along that journey. Perhaps sun will at times peek through those waves and create beautiful rainbows.

Jan Jaben-Eilon is a freelance writer.

PASSOVER

By Meliss Jakubovic Getting to the other side means thinking about where you are now and where you want to go. To be honest, this is how we all move forward physically, emotionally and spiritually. When something is holding us back, we are thinking about the what-ifs, the what-weres and the what-can’ts instead of the where-tos and the why-nots.

To get to where you want to go, you must first believe that you can get there. Since we are in control of our thoughts, we have the power to already see ourselves there. Visualize what you want. Believe that you can have it and that it was meant for you. And despite everything standing in your way, take action towards it.

The obstacle is the way.

There are times in my life where I have thought, “There is absolutely no way that is going to happen.” And then I remember that I get to decide what will be. Shift your energy to what you DO want and start taking physical and mental action toward it. Be grateful for the journey every step of the way.

Meditate on what you want and believe so deeply with every cell of your being that it can happen, and it will. This does take practice of course, and you may feel discouraged or like there is no point. Those moments can be tough, but those are the times when you need to remember that everything is relative and getting to the other side is not always as simple as point A to point B. More often, getting to the other side looks like a rollercoaster. Stay on the path through good and bad, and eventually, you will get to the other side that you so desire.

But don’t think you are done there. Once you arrive, you will realize there’s even more waiting for you and that was just the beginning.

May this Passover bring you to the other side of whatever you are manifesting and may more wonderful opportunities meet you along your path. Chag Sameach!

Meliss Jakubovic is an online marketing strategist and business growth expert to coaches and healers and the Israeli Folk Dance instructor of Atlanta for over 25 years.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 61

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Ari Kaiman

By Elliot B. Karp

In “Exodus and Revolution,” public intellectual and theorist Michael Walzer wrote, “First, wherever you live, it’s probably Egypt; second, that there is a better place, a world more attractive, a promised land; and third, that the way to the land is through the wilderness. There is no way to get from here to there except by joining together and marching.”

When Israel trusted God enough to march through the sea of reeds, with walls of water raging to their right and left, we were born a free nation into the wilderness.

We broke out in song, joining our voices together as one.

In recent months, in some ways we’ve emerged from a wilderness. Many of us are gathering again, seeing one another’s faces, embracing, joining our voices in song. Yet, in other ways, the world is descending again into Egypt. Warfare is raging in Ukraine, world economies are struggling with supply chains, restructurings of societies.

Perhaps we will always have an Egypt to seek redemption from, a promised land to seek, a wilderness to walk through. We also have received redemption, found promised lands, emerged from Egypt to the wilderness and from the wilderness to the promised land. May our Passover be filled with gratitude at our many redemptions and strengthen our courage to move through our future wilderness together, marching with a song in our hearts.

This year we are preparing for our beautiful Sedarim with family and friends against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

The tragic impact of Russia’s aggression is being felt by the Ukrainian people, including our Jewish brothers and sisters, in an unprecedented global humanitarian crisis.

In the beginning of the Haggadah’s Maggid section, we will read “... this promise has been witnessed by our ancestors and us; that not only has one risen in history to destroy us; but that in every generation people rise up to destroy us.”

The words of our ancient Haggadah and the story of Pesach are poignantly true today. Yet again, another evil person has risen to destroy us and humanity ... and to destroy freedom and the rule of law.

We also read in the Haggadah that “in every generation we must see ourselves as having personally experienced the Exodus from Egypt and that we, too, have been given the promise of freedom.” The Haggadah reminds us that freedom is never free; that it is something that we must never take for granted…and never assume that we do not have a personal stake ensuring it for ourselves and all peoples.

Whether it is the war in Ukraine or rising antisemitism around the world, in America and on our college campuses ... we must do what we can to protect Jewish freedom and freedom for all people. We must recommit ourselves to ensure our ability to express ourselves with Jewish pride in safety and security. By doing so we also ensure those same values for all people.

My prayer this Pesach is that we, and all good and decent people around the world, will continue to rally together to support the millions of refugees of this current crisis; and that we will do whatever we can to create and sustain vibrant and dynamic Jewish life at home, in Israel and around the world.

Rabbi Ari Kaiman is the senior rabbi at Congregation Shearith Israel.

Elliot B. Karp is CEO of Hillels of Georgia.

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PASSOVER

By Susanne Katz Karlick

By Harold Kirtz

Getting to the other side is really a matter of refocusing.

The Challenges of Maintaining Freedom

For the past two years, the same messages showed up everywhere and every day.

Stay home. Practice social distancing.

Avoid travel. Avoid groups and crowded places. Use delivery services.

The door at the bank warned that a customer must wear a mask to enter. The message on the floor told customers to stay at least six feet away from the person in front.

It wasn’t uncommon for most of us to work from home. My husband and I missed having a dog, so we searched for our puggle puppy and named her Mazel. A great personality for these times, she kept us connected with neighbors and friends.

And that is when I began to realize that it wasn’t all about me. Maybe, it was the time to refocus and make a new plan with a new intention. Instead of focusing on the limits of each day, I focused on good intentions and acts of caring and kindness to guide me.

So now, instead of complaining about the limits on our lives, we appreciate the opportunity to open our doors and see the possibility of a mitzvah each day.

How can we all do this?

Visit neighbors. Care for friends. Find new ways to share joy. Put someone else’s frustrations in a new place and say, “I hear you.”

Mazel’s full name is Mazel Tov. Wishing us all a good life.

Susanne Katz Karlick is a curator, writer and photographer, co-creator of Atlanta Celebrates Photography, and a former Breman Museum Director of Exhibitions.

This Festival celebrating the passage from slavery to freedom is coming at a propitious moment in United States and world history. The pull of authoritarianism, both here and abroad, has created opportunities for mayhem that present challenges to the Jewish communities here and many other countries. The latest challenge is in Ukraine, which is affecting the whole population there, including the Jewish community.

As we celebrate Pesach, we should keep our fellow Jews in our minds, in our hearts, and in our prayers as they brave the weaponry of war while trying to maintain their freedom. At our family Seder, we will be adding something to the Seder plate to commemorate this latest fight for freedom. How anyone wishes to mark these recent events, we should all keep in mind the efforts being made by the Ukrainian people to defend their country and their freedom.

In the United States, we are also defending our freedoms in an ongoing story against authoritarian tendencies that are at play. We must double down on our support for a free press, election voting fully open to all citizens, and full education of our country’s history and possibilities for students and adults. Only when we have the full availability of the stories of all of our people will we be able to say that we have a more perfect union. We should use the Pesach table to tell more of our stories.

Harold Kirtz is president of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

Happy Passover!

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office@shumanfamilylaw.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 63

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis PASSOVER 5782

After more than two years of the Covid pandemic, let me share with you one of the crucial messages of Passover…and that is that we don’t need to return to “normal” in order to be happy. We are now approaching another Passover, another not quite “normal” Seder. Although most of us are vaccinated and many of us have survived getting Covid, although the restrictions are lifting, although the proverbial light seems to be poking out of the dark Covid tunnel, there is still legitimate fear. No one really knows what the future of this virus has in store for us.

Most families are still forced to spend the holiday apart—at least not having the big Seders of the past. It’s frustrating and it’s painful. And yet the essential lessons of Passover remain as relevant as ever. For us this year, here’s the most important lesson.

We tend to hitch our happiness, our growth, to external circumstances. We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, after we have a baby, then another. Then we’re frustrated that the kids aren’t old enough, and we’ll be more content when they are. Later we’re frustrated with the teenagers we have to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they go off to college and are on their own.

We tell ourselves that we would really enjoy Passover if our kids could be with us …that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together…when we’re able to go on a nice vacation…when we retire. The truth is, there’s no better time to be happy than right now. Your life will always be filled with challenges. It’s best to recognize this and decide to be happy anyway.

The very heart of Passover puts a lie to our rationalizations. At the heart of the Seder is the famous song Dayeynu. Again and again, it tells us, “If G-d only did this for us and not that, dayeynu, it would have been enough for us.” For example: “If G-d divided the Red Sea for us and not brought us through it to dry land, dayeynu, it would have been enough.” Enough? Of course not! “If G-d brought us to Mt. Sinai and not given us the Torah, dayeynu, it would have been enough for us.” Enough? What would Judaism be without the Torah? What’s the point? The point is that it would have been enough to appreciate and thank G-d!

The lesson is that no matter the situation we are in—whatever the circumstances of our life—dayeynu, it is enough to appreciate what we do have and thank G-d for His blessings. Instead of lamenting what’s missing this year, we should instead focus on what we have. And we must not wait for circumstances to change to be happy. Happiness is a choice, and Passover implores us choose to be happy now.

Of course, we want things to change. We can wallow in self-pity, moaning about the dreadful two years it’s been—and how it still hasn’t really ended! Or we can sing dayeynu and find our way to gratitude and appreciation even in the midst of a pandemic.

So, my friends, stop waiting until the pandemic ends …until you finish school …until you go back to school …until you lose 10 pounds, until you gain 10 pounds …until you have kids, until your kids leave the house …until you start work, until you retire …until you get married, until you get divorced …until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off…until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter…until you’ve sobered up or until you die …to decide to get rid of all the excuses and realize that there’s no better time than right now—this Passover—to feel the wonder and excitement of your being and the growth that comes with all your challenges and thank G-d for the gift of your life.

Chag Kasher v’Sameyach.

Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis is the rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim and author of “Dancing With God: How to Connect With God Every Time You Pray.”

64 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

PASSOVER

By Lou Ladinsky

By Rabbi Micah Lapidus

Passover is right around the corner.

Sacrificing leavened products for eight days and eating matzah pales in comparison to the suffering that the Ukraine nation is currently experiencing. Please keep this nation in your thoughts and prayers while taking a moment to reflect on how fortunate we are to enjoy the freedoms we have. As a people, we have endured and triumphed as well, celebrating at this time of year our exodus from Egyptian slavery. As Passover is a celebration of our birth as a nation and a festival of freedom, let’s pray that Ukraine can also stand as its own nation and rise up against the tyranny of this Russian onslaught. I ran across this from a New York Times article from 1941, and I’d like to close my Passover message with an excerpt from it – “Passover carries today a message of hope for victims of dictatorships and holds promise of the ultimate triumph of freedom and liberty.”

Egypt, the Wilderness, and the Promised Land co-exist, side by side, in each and every moment. There is no “other side.”

There is only here. There is only now. In each and every moment, in every nook and cranny of existence, Egypt, the Wilderness, and the Promised Land co-exist. Discovering this, we find the beauty in Egypt, we taste the despair of the Promised Land, and we find safe haven in the Wilderness, in each and every moment. Knowing this, we feel the pain of Egypt, the anxiety of the Wilderness, and joy of the Promised Land once again, in each and every moment.

Rabbi Micah Lapidus is the director of Jewish and Hebrew Studies at The Davis Academy.

Louis Ladinsky has been with LexisNexis for over 30 years and is a part of the AJT team.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 65

PASSOVER

By Mike Leven

By Allen H. Lipis

Passover is engraved in every Jewish memory from childhood to young adult to parent and grandparent. It is the story of freedom from slavery in the past and our ancestor’s journey to the Promised Land.

Today as always, this freedom is being challenged as both an unjust and inhuman war is taking place daily in our televisions and other media. Add to those horrors the recent terrorist attacks in Israel and anti-Semitic incidents here in our own country. Passover this year is not just a happy one. It should also remind us of our obligation as Jews to always stand for freedom, not only for ourselves but for all. It should remind us as Jews to teach the next generation over and over that freedom is fragile, to tell the story of Joseph who was free and how it was lost.

There will always be a Joseph, there will always be a Pharaoh. And hopefully there will always be a Moses.

My Pesach Message

Mike Leven is the CEO of the Georgia Aquarium and former vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

As I enter the twilight years of my life, I focus on family, especially at Pesach time.

Much of my family is making an effort to share in our simcha, in spite of the various geographical distances and Covid that often prevents us getting together. I know we all have obligations that seem like high priority items at the moment but look at the big picture. Does money take precedence over family? Do medical issues hold you back from family? Does anything hold you back from celebrating with family? Give it serious thought and you will come to the conclusion that not only does family matter, but it is the most important matter. Get over whatever is holding you back and get on with life. There is no better time for family to be together than at Pesach.

Allen H. Lipis is a contributor for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

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PASSOVER

By Rabbi Rachael Klein Miller

By David Ostrowsky

Passover is one of the most celebrated Jewish holidays, often bringing together extended family to engage in the tradition of the Pesach seder. However, for the past two years, many folks have been unable to host or attend these large gatherings.

God-willing, this year is different. So much so that when we reach the question “Why is this night different from all other nights?” I pray that many of us will have the opportunity to add, “because we can all be together again.”

While we hold this tremendous joy in our hearts, we also know that hate still plagues our world. Yet Judaism built a system in which the cycle of the holidays carries us forward no matter our circumstances. Just like the Jews of Ukraine found opportunities to read and hear the megillah on Purim, so, too, will they find ways to host and attend Sedarim. Judaism provides constant reminders to surround ourselves with community.

This Pesach, while we hold in our hearts the disruptions that plague our world and the hate that has spread, we can also leave space to be joyful in our gatherings. We are complex beings, holding many emotions simultaneously. We must allow ourselves to celebrate, while also knowing that there is still work to be done. In order for us to no longer need to say, “Next Year in Jerusalem,” we must continue to fight for a better world.

For me, Passover has always meant starting anew. Whether it’s a new job, writing project, or upcoming summer trip, I feel like a new opportunity awaits in the early spring, coincidentally, when Passover occurs. It’s an exciting time of year — the days are warmer and longer — and there’s potential for exciting times ahead. After several long winter months largely spent being cooped up inside with hot chocolate and a book, spring has indeed arrived.

Personally, as a lifelong sports fan and current sportswriter and baseball biographer, I naturally equate Passover with a new baseball season. As I look back on my childhood, I have vivid memories of many Passover seders that have coincided with Opening Day. While perhaps it hasn’t always been ideal having these two very important events overlap, I believe that, at least symbolically, they complement each other beautifully. Just as the onset of a new baseball season offers hope and optimism so too does the inherent spirit of Passover.

From a very different perspective, this year’s celebration takes on heightened significance after the pandemic rendered us incapable of having in-person Seders the past two springs. Chewing on hard boiled eggs and salty celery while navigating Zoom interruptions just isn’t the same as the traditional festival meals, which hopefully, more of us will be able to enjoy this weekend. Certainly, Passover 2022 promises to be extra special.

I would like to wish our readership a very happy and healthy Passover.

Rabbi Rachael is an associate rabbi at Temple Emanu-El. David Ostrowsky is a freelance contributor to the AJT.

By Tiffany Parks The brutal images coming out of the current war in Ukraine are the same images that I’ve seen in WWII documentaries. As I watch these images, it reminds me of what Jews today and the Jews of WWII experienced. The houses with jagged, gaping holes are a metaphor for what’s happening to the people. The color images of the dead villagers littering the streets, the bombed-out bridges, the desperate women and children fleeing, the worried faces of the men, the cold, steel tanks are all tragic.

However, I am reminded of the stillpotent power of the Passover. In dark times, the children of Israel, along with their wise leader, Moses, prepared themselves to be delivered from the Pharaoh. This was not a passive event. It took strength to see the mistreatment of your people and still have hope for a better future. The same is true today for the Jews in Ukraine and for all people going through unstable violent government regimes/systems.

Happy Passover Best Wishes for a healthy, happy & meaningful Passover!

Harris B. Siegel, DMD, FAGO Arthur H. "Skip" Dolt, Ill, DDS, FAGO Marc “Chas” Plaisance, Jr., DMD BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

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Tiffany Parks is an English instructor at Gwinnett Technical College.

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PASSOVER

By Jody B. Pollack

By Fran M. Putney

It is that time of year again where we are commanded to remember we are JEWS! Not only do we hold Seders together with our families and share the story of our historic walk to freedom, but we further drive it home by altering our appetites and routines by forgoing chametz and all other blatantly non-kosher foods. Now, I am not accusing others of being non-kosher the rest of the year, but for this particular period we do need to pay a bit more attention to our commandments and our customs that set us apart from our neighbors.

In today’s society we are subjected to a lot of noise. Noise about cancel culture, noise about politics, noise about the climate and blatant antisemitism that we hear louder than the rest of the population. I was fortunate to have been invited to witness, in a “show of force” role, the Georgia State Senate’s Judiciary Committee debate on the passing of the Antisemitism Definition bill.

In my personal opinion, I do not think we need a bill to define something so apparent and so wrong. Unfortunately, there are too many others who are too ignorant and too self-centered that we need to codify the obvious. During the debate on the bill, there was one dissenter and that dissenter’s self-interest was on full display when he conflated acts of antisemitism with a vote against expanding Medicaid. I kid you not.

The bill passed committee and was sent for the full Senate vote. Unfortunately, due to forces beyond our control, the bill did not make it for a vote before the deadline.

More antisemitism at work, you tell me?

We have survived many purges, genocides and walks through the desert and even the aftereffects of eating matzoh. We will survive a non-vote on an obvious definition of a blatant truth. We are still here, and we will continue to be a vibrant influence on our communities as we follow our role in making this world a better place.

Enjoy the sweetness of your family, minimize the political conversations, take it easy on the horseradish and the wine, pray for those who remained in Ukraine, and reflect on the blessings we all share because our ancestors made that long walk to freedom and brought us to this amazing country.

After escaping the harsh life under Pharaoh in Egypt, we are told that the Israelites wandered for 40 years before finally coming to the Promised Land. Many doubted they would ever see it, and some didn’t. But there were reasons it took so long, and one explanation is that it had to do with the fact that the journey itself had a purpose. It gave the Israelites necessary time to separate from the old ways of thinking and feeling as enslaved people and become more prepared to embrace life and function as a free people in the new land.

As a journalist, I’ve been fortunate to speak to many individuals from all stations of life, hear their stories and share their expertise. Some have reached high ranks and made exceptional achievements, while others have led more ordinary lives. In the end, I believe it is the same for everyone: No matter where you are “going” so to speak, it is about waking up and living your best life every single day. Reaching a longed-for goal is always cause for celebration, but the journey of a life lived with intention, love and purpose, no matter where you arrive, is always a success.

Jody Pollack is a past president of the Hebrew Order of David and the current Executive Director Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival.

68 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Fran Putney is communications manager for the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust and proofreader for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

PASSOVER

By Eric M. Robbins

By Flora Rosefsky

Loving the Stranger. Paying Our Privilege Forward.

Getting to the other side, ...

Nataliyah Fleshler and Masha Vaynman came to America with their families from Kyiv as young girls. They were part of the wave of Jews from the former Soviet Union who found refuge here in the late 1980s and ‘90s. In those years Atlanta was a destination for Soviet Jews seeking a new life, and our community more than delivered.

Back then, Jewish Family & Career Services offered translation services to assist scores of refugees flocking to Atlanta. There was a Russian speaking social worker for the FSU Jewish community. Over time those services became less needed because Jewish refugees to Atlanta had become solid citizens, fluent in English, successful in their careers, yet still bringing their unique ethnic flavor to our city. Just like Nataliyah and Masha, who are both HR professionals and are raising families here.

Nataliyah and Masha are paying their privilege forward by organizing a massive volunteer program to send medical supplies to Ukrainian refugees. They are choosing to forget the bullying, the hatred, and the discrimination they experienced as Jewish children in Ukraine and are throwing themselves into Ukrainian relief work. To me there is something very Jewish about this.

Jews well understand the commandment to love the stranger and protect the vulnerable. Having been strangers in many hostile lands, having been isolated, persecuted, and exterminated because of our differences, we are uniquely attuned to the needs of immigrants and refugees. And baruch ha shem, we Jews have Israel — a Jewish homeland that has never stopped taking in huddled masses from North Africa, Ethiopia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and the former Soviet republics.

So, this Passover, let us celebrate Nataliyah and Masha, who have not turned away from the land they fled. They help renew the Passover story for us this year and remind us that we can all be part of a modern-day Exodus for millions of Ukrainians seeking safety and freedom.

A dilemma for me, without a clear vision so far, is how to break the resistance to hear stories or news that one doesn’t agree with. Personally, I know I have a problem.

Who do I listen to for my news? And where are people getting their information in making decisions? Has social media and the internet taken over reading books and articles in journals? We have to remind ourselves how social media does not demand accountability or facts but is more often just one’s opinion. Like many family members and friends, I have my favorite source of cable news and find it very uncomfortable to hear what another news station is saying. I absolutely feel repulsed, so I switch the channel.

Call it selective listening. Do we listen to what we want to hear? Maybe. So where is the truth or facts? NPR is a gem for sure. And there are the newspapers - freedom of the press is paramount. Good journalists state the facts. Are people listening to science and academics these days? Where are the philosophers? Is it like diagnosing your health issue by using “Dr. Google” instead of trusting your physician? How can we find that compromise is not a bad word but is good. What about thinking of ‘the other’ in our communities? And to think beyond where we live, the idea that we are all connected on the planet earth in many ways, isn’t it time to get to “the other side” and pull together for common good – think global warming, think reducing carbon footprints, and think too of the extraordinary brave Ukrainians for fighting to keep freedom alive for them and for so much of our world. And to give hope to new leadership in the State of Israel as they find more common ground. Each generation wants to leave their legacy to the next one with meaning, and hope that our life on earth is not one to be taken for granted. A resolve to keep us free and to live in a democracy is something we have to fight hard for in our minds, bodies, and spirit and with our votes.

Flora Rosefsky is an Atlanta Jewish Times contributing writer and visual artist.

Eric M. Robbins is the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 69

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

By Gayle Rubenstein

There is an amazing section that takes place in our Seder between the spilling of wine for each of the ten plagues and the singing of Dayanu. Growing up, it was one of those sections that we regularly skipped as the whining from the kids (me) and other guests increased, demanding, “When are we going to eat!?” It is the story of four Rabbis who question the number of plagues that came upon the Egyptians. It begins with Rabbi Judah, who offers an acronym for remembering the ten plagues - D’tzach, Adash, B’achav. Then Rabbi Yose from Galiel argues that it was ten plagues in Egypt and 50 by the sea. Rabbi Eliezer expands that number claiming that the actual intensity of the plagues was felt four times more, increasing the number to 240 plagues (4 x 10 + 4 x 50 = 240). Rabbi Akiva finishes the discussion by adding another 60 to the final count, claiming that the intensity wasn’t four times but really five times (5 x 10 + 5 x 50 = 300).

For me, this section highlights just how many steps it took to get us to this place in life. We often honor the highlights: finished school, got married, raised a family.

But if we took the time to break each step down, remembering the sung and unsung heroes of the many moments in our lives, we might finally see how our life today is due to countless miracles along the way.

After two years of pandemic and a horrible war raging in Ukraine, we are finally going to get together with our lovely extended family in Atlanta and celebrate this Festival of Freedom. I think we have all learned so much during this unusual time in our lives that there are so many different dimensions of being free. It is not straightforward like it used to be. We must wear a mask! Did you get your shots? Can’t find any toilet paper at Costco! Oh no… Another lockdown!!!

No school, no Shul… the list goes on and on.

We are living with so many obligations that have restricted us to do what we normally do. I worry about my grandchildren and what they hear, and what they must fear, about politics, COVID, the confusion about traditional sexuality, and the war. I pray that their lives are as full and rich as ours were.

I and Brian, my husband of 53 years, are so grateful for each other, our children and beautiful grandchildren. We are grateful for our extended family, and we are grateful to be in this wonderful country that we emigrated to 35 years ago and pray for its full recovery. So, let’s all eat matzo balls and pray for health and peace and the world’s potential to overlook the difficulties we have faced. Be kind, healthy, supportive, generous and forgiving.

Chag Sameach

Laurence Rosenthal is senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and immediate past president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

Happy Passover!

70 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Gayle Rubenstein is a wife, mom, grandmother and business owner of Balloons Over Atlanta.

PASSOVER

By Maayan Schoen

By Dr. Terry Segal

Getting to the other side

As we gather this Passover, we recite the Shehecheyanu, grateful for having reached this season. I think about what our ancestors encountered and the qualities that aided their survival. I hold in my heart the Holocaust survivors and have read accounts of what helped them endure. With the challenges from the pandemic that we’ve been dealing with, the word, “flexibility” comes to mind. It has helped us pivot and regroup and is a gift to be cultivated for the journey forward.

Flexibility generally refers to our physical body’s ability to move through its full range of motion, in a fluid way, without pain or difficulty, but the mind can become rigid and inflexible, too.

Some of life’s situations remain out of our control, but the maintenance of our bodies, minds, and spirits are ours to strengthen, like staying physically limber and supple. Especially as we age, being able to reach for things on shelves, stand up from a chair, and maintain balance, can increase our ability to remain independent. Quality of life improves with fewer aches and pains. Being mindful of posture aids digestion as organs aren’t compressed and compromised. Movement, circulation, and strength training through simple weightbearing exercises help us remain flexible, as does walking, which airs out the mind as well.

Meditation keeps us from becoming rigid in our thoughts. We can dissolve old habits and patterns that don’t serve us and ward against the continuous loop of mental conversations that shut out new information and possibilities. We can stop traveling down familiar dead-end roads and create new neural pathways toward peace.

Developing a practice of noticing G-d’s beauty in the world contributes to a flexible view of it.

May we become more flexible this Passover, find greater freedom, and go from strength to strength.

I am writing this from the train on the way to my brother’s engagement. It is fitting, with Passover coming soon, that we all have love on the mind, as we read Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) over Passover. Shir HaShirim is a poetic love story that we read as allegory for the love between people and G-d — though it certainly still serves as inspiration for love between people as well.

With the help of G-d, the love between my brother and future sister-in-law will carry them through the many, many wonderful years ahead of them.

Today is about them, and I can’t help also thinking about the love that I have for them, and for many other people in my life, that compels me to do something like get on a train and spend the day in New York when I have a difficult paper and a problem set for statistics due today. I will probably turn them in late. To me, this is “getting to the other side” — transcending the things that control me in favor of something more important. I cannot remember the last time that I turned in an assignment late because of something happy or because of being busy with something that I would rather be doing; I have turned in plenty of late assignments (with extensions!) over the past several years because of illness, death in the family, or too much other work. But when you have someone to love, you have reasons to dote, to celebrate, and to choose to live on purpose. We have always needed this, but we need it so badly right now. I feel so fortunate.

Being loved is wonderful too, but loving another can bring out our best instincts in a unique way. So, my advice for “getting to the other side” is to find someone to love — a person (or animal) who makes you want to celebrate them, to put life aside to spend time with them, to be interested in the things that are important to them.

When I was feeling sick recently and was nervous about falling behind on my work, my mother told me to “take it one day at a time.” It was difficult then but is easy now to follow that sage advice; I want to take today to have a family simcha, and I’ll take tomorrow to catch up on my work.

My parting thought, then, is that you know you are getting to the other side when cliches such as “find someone to love” and “take it one day at a time” come alive with purpose and meaning. May we all continue to find such purpose and meaning to take us through every day.

Dr. Terry Segal is a licensed marriage and family therapist with a Ph.D. in Energy Medicine.

Maayan Schoen graduated from Torah Day School and Atlanta Jewish Academy and studied in the Migdal Oz Beit Midrash for Women in Israel. She is a junior at Yale University.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 71

PASSOVER

By Rabbi Larry Sernovitz

By Chana Shapiro

Getting to the Other Side

Our Own Little Egypt

I recently officiated at the wedding of a congregant’s daughter. The couple is sweet and had a beautiful story of how they met and of the life that they were looking to create together. She loves his humor, his drive, and that he was truly a kind human being who would do anything to make her happy.

And he loves her smile, that she is down to earth, kind, willing to do anything for anybody, is really driven, and full of love. It seems to be the love story that many people tell about finding the one whom our soul delights.

But there is more to this story. Her grandfather, who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp, was sitting in the front row watching his granddaughter get married. You could see the big smile on his face and tears in his eyes as she said the words that would unite her life with her beloved: “Harei atah mikudash li,” by this ring you are sanctified to me by the laws of Moses and Israel. He mentioned to me as we were signing the ketubah how proud he was of her and that he knew she was the keeper of his story and that his legacy was secure.

As we were lining up for the processional, she whispered in his ear, “I love you, Papa.”

Passover is the epitome of the freedom story. We are required to tell the story from slavery to freedom. The Maggid section, telling the story, is critical to the seder itself. But the Mishnah teaches us something so important, so life transforming and validating. We must tell the story from “Disgrace to Glory.” Why? the Mishnah asks.

Because then, and only then, can we really understand and feel the power of freedom and offer deep gratitude for the freedom we experience today.

The moment was not lost on me. Watching Papa watch his granddaughter get married to someone in whom her soul delights not only gave him great nachas, pride, but it also filled his heart with gratitude for being able to experience the moment.

The joy and blessing of the moment meant that much more to him knowing what he had to endure. Pain and suffering come in many forms, and all one needs to do is look within to be reminded of the scars we all bear. Passover reminds us that we all have pain within, but going from “disgrace to glory” is what the Passover story is about. This year, let us acknowledge the pain and offer praise to God for the glory.

Then, and only then, can we truly experience what it meant to be slaves in Egypt and be redeemed.

A Zissen Pesach to all.

Larry Sernovitz is senior rabbi at Temple Kol Emeth.

72 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Even though the Israelites had just experienced a series of open miracles, there they were with Moses, their leader, at the edge of the Red Sea, and they were scared.

They would have to cross the sea to get out of Egypt.

The Torah puts the number of Israelites standing at water’s edge at 600,000 males between the ages of 20 and 60. Scholars double that number to include women, and quadruple that number to include children and teens. That’s a total of 2.5 million. (There were also thousands of nonIsraelites with them. When Pharaoh said, “Go!” they went too.) Midrashic experts of the Oral Torah believe that only one out of 50 Israelites left Egypt with Moses. The Nation of Israel was huge after more than 400 years of slavery in Goshen, on Egypt’s northeastern border.

Of course, the Israelites feared the unknown. Following Moses into the desert, they could die of hunger, thirst, or who knows what? The Israelites were used to the bitter life of Egypt, and the Torah describes their increased suffering. At the same time, a future outside of their known misery was completely unknown. The 20 percent of Israelites who followed Moses believed it was possible to thrive in freedom.

But the believers stopped at the sea. Pharaoh and his army were in close pursuit, and the turbulent sea was in front. The time had come to not be afraid. When everyone else hesitated, one man, Nachshon ben Aminadav, jumped into the tumultuous water, up to his mouth. Only then did the sea part.

It’s easy to remain in a known place or mindset, even if it comes with pain, but many dream of a better way to live. And then there are the few who go beyond dreaming. They jump into the unknown and thereby forge a path for themselves--and sometimes others, too. Passover is known as the Festival of Freedom, a whole week to assess our lives and figure out how to free ourselves from social pressures, damaging relationships, destructive habits and making too many bad choices.

Our family wishes everyone a truly liberating Passover.

Chana Shapiro is an Atlanta Jewish Times columnist.

PASSOVER

By Jenna Shulman

By Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner

Over the past two years, I think about all the ‘plagues’ that we have collectively navigated throughout the pandemic. Weak broadband signals during Zoom meetings.

Canceled and rescheduled events. Virtual learning. Masks. Solitude. And so many missed connections as we pondered whether life, as we once knew it, would ever return to normal.

This Passover, I think about how lucky we are to be, mostly, on the other side of this journey – with kids back at school and our Jewish Educational Loan Fund professional team now able to come back into the office.

But none of us are the same as we were before the pandemic. We appreciate different kinds of things and have better learned how to adapt to changing circumstances.

Through my work with JELF, I am continually inspired by the resiliency of our student recipients, who have persevered to finish their degrees, despite so many additional challenges. I am honored that JELF was able to come to their rescue, providing extra resources when students were not able to learn in-person and were caught in the thick of their higher education, as inflation soared.

Most of all, however, I am inspired by the sheer presence of our Jewish community, which invigorates me to continue doing what I love in the face of endless challenges – helping individuals in need overcome obstacles.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Passover!

“God freed us from Mitzrayim by a mighty hand, by an outstretched arm and awesome power, and by signs and portents,” Deuteronomy 26:8 In a few nights time we will participate in an ages-long ritual, the Passover Seder, recalling that momentous experience that transformed the course of our sacred history. Our redemption from Mitzrayim, the place of constriction, by the Divine Source of Life, and brought us out into the expanse, to enter into covenantal partnership at Sinai, and gifting us the Holy Torah.

Casting off the shackles of anything that enslaves one and moving toward a new future of freedom is not an easy endeavor, in fact it can be extremely daunting. Those signs and wonders experienced by the Israelites had to have been terrifying.

Doubts, insecurities and fear always comes with uncertainty. With each step forward it took courage, trust, faith, perseverance, hope and a great deal of encouragement for them to make it to Mt. Sinai. (It will take the next generation, those born into freedom, to ultimately succeed in crossing over into the Promised Land).

These past two years living under the burden of COVID-19, we too have been challenged in unprecedented ways. With disruption on the scale of a world-wide pandemic we can all empathize with the fear and uncertainty that the comes at such times.

Many continue to wonder if things are safe enough for life to return to normal. And really, what does normal mean anymore?

Our tradition teaches us that it is through Hope that we are able to “keep moving forward.” L’Shanah Ha’Ba’ah B’Yerushalayim! Next year in Jerusalem! The belief that tomorrow will be better and that redemption is possible all the time is what has held our people together through the darkest of times. This year as we sit at our Seder tables, we should talk about fortitude and courage in moments of trauma for it is in the telling that we find strength and the stories help us grow. What stories of perseverance or hope will you share?

May this Pesach lead us all to a place of healing, health, wholeness and love.

Chag Sameach!

Jenna Shulman is the CEO of Jewish Educational Loan Fund, as well as Co-Founder of juLuv Matchmaking.

Alexandria Shuval-Weiner is senior rabbi at Temple Beth Tikvah and president of Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 73

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By Rabbi Albert Isaac Slomovitz This Passover and especially during our Seders, let’s take some time to explore a character that we normally don’t talk about: Pharaoh. He is an enigmatic figure even from the perspective of his description from the Torah. One of the most well-known phrases associated with this leader is “And the Lord Hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” Our Biblical commentators remind us that this phrase appears 20 times in the Exodus saga, half are of the king hardening his own heart and the other half is when the Almighty does.

The phrase and its usage denies an easy explanation. These words are constantly uttered in the midst of the ten plagues which make them more astonishing. Imagine if we were the Pharaoh of that time and had witnessed a number of plagues that were being initiated by the Creator on the Egyptian people. How could we resist that power? How could he make the people of Egypt suffer calamity after calamity? How much hate did he have, that even after the loss of his first-born son and finally letting the Israelites go free, he decides to pursue them and take them back into captivity? Why was he so cruel, and more significantly, what meaning does it have for us?

For me, the image of Pharaoh is a stark reminder that truly evil people exist in the world. Some are leaders of countries that believe they can attack another democratic country and maim, brutalize and kill innocent civilians without any repercussions. Despite all the warnings, sanctions and deaths of his own soldiers, he will not yield. There are other pharaohs who believe that terrorism, whether in America or Israel, is an acceptable policy. There is no excuse in taking innocent lives.

The knowledge of the reality of Pharaohs in our world serves as a catalyst for me.

It greatly encourages me in my interfaith and community work. It compels me to promulgate ideals such as “Love your Neighbor as Yourself.” The reality of evil creates in me an instinct to do what I can to protect our wonderful American democracy. I imagine that Moses and Aaron, even with G-d’s support, thought and worried a great deal about Pharaoh. We are correct with our worries. But in the end, they, with G-d’s help, were victorious over the evil of their time. With the Creator’s support, we will continue to battle evil. May G-d bless those who fight the evil perpetuated by those who “hardened their hearts.”

Have a happy and healthy Pesach.

Rabbi Albert I. Slomovitz is rabbi at large, Etz Chaim Congregation; assistant professor of history, Kennesaw State University; and founder, Jewish Christian Discovery Center.

74 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Happy Passover

PASSOVER

By Temple Sinai Clergyfrom Team Temple Sinai

By Clergy Team at The Temple

We spend time during our Seders reflecting upon the years the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, attempting to empathize with the plight of our ancestors, after which we savor the taste of freedom on the other side of the sea. While surely appropriate to linger in these defining moments, for the crux of our historical narrative is one that moves from bondage to redemption, it seems we often disregard the actual moments of transition. What must it have been like during those steps taken through the parted waters, walking in the midst of a miracle? That liminal moment, when we were neither enslaved nor free, is typically overlooked.

Emerging from two Passovers where our Seder customs were governed by the Temple Sinai pandemic and the precautions we took to embrace tradition while 5645 Dupree Dr. keeping NW each other safe, it seems we are experiencing that “in-between-ness” with this year’s Passover Sandy Springs, GA, 30327 observance. Although we are thankfully advancing toward normalcy, we are not (404) 252-3073 quite there, for while many in our communities will gather with friends and family templesinaiatlanta.org around the Seder table (taking appropriate precautions to ensure everyone’s safety), we recognize many still have loved ones with whom we cannot celebrate this year.

No longer enslaved, but not entirely free; no longer in the throes of pandemic, but not completely on the other side of it either.

As our ancestors experienced while crossing the sea, taking it one step at a time, counting their blessings and looking toward the horizon, let us express our gratitude at this year’s Seder that the past two years are behind us and look with hope and optimism toward the year ahead. We pray that next year, freedom will be fully realized, that all will be able to gather comfortably together, that all who are hungry will be able to come and eat.

Passover is the celebration of our redemption from slavery. We sit at our seder tables as free people—able to leisurely eat and recline—and retell the story of our ancestors’ freedom from slavery in Egypt as though it happened to each of us. We imagine leaving familiar yet oppressive surroundings and venturing to the other side of the Sea, celebrating our freedom.

Passover is the celebration of freedom, and yet when we sit at our tables we are mindful of the many ways freedom feels far away in our world. In our diverse Jewish community, many experience oppression because of their gender identity, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Our communities experience rising antisemitism, many of us have connections to the war in Ukraine, we are mindful of recent attacks in Israel. And we see the headlines, the knowledge that oppression exists in so many ways and so many places in our world.

Passover is the celebration of hope and possibility. When we dip the karpas (parsley), we are reminded of the promise of renewal and growth. When we taste the bitter herbs, we promise to never forget the bitterness of slavery then and now. When we eat the matzah, we affirm our responsibility to help all who flee with their meager possessions on their backs. And when we look around our tables, we feel the deep responsibility to ensure all who are hungry and lonely find a place in our communities.

We join together in saying, “Next year in Jerusalem”—next year, may we celebrate more freedom than oppression, more sweetness than bitterness, more hope than fear.

Passover reminds us that wherever we are now, there is the promise of journeying to the other side of freedom and celebration.

The Temple is a Reform Congregation in midtown Atlanta — Rabbi Peter Berg, Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus, Rabbi Sam Kaye, Cantor Deborah Hartman, Rabbi Lydia Medwin and Rabbi Steven Rau.

Temple Sinai is a Reform Congregation in Sandy Springs -Rabbi Ronald M. Segal, Rabbi Samantha Shabman Trief, Cantor Beth Schafer, and Rabbi Bradley G. Levenberg, PhD

By Alla Umanskiy Elie Wiesel said, “I love Passover, because for me it is a cry against indifference, a cry for compassion.” What would Mr. Wiesel think if he lived to see the genocide that is happening in Ukraine right now? What would other Holocaust and war survivors think of the endless bombing of Ukrainian cities in the name of one man’s ego. This Passover, I wish and pray for nothing but peace for Ukraine — a country where I was born, a country where my parents and grandparents were born. Moreover, I hope to see a cry against indifference from the world, which, instead of standing idly by or wringing hands, will continue to do everything to help Ukraine push the enemy off its land. I pray for the restoration of Ukrainian cities, homes, playgrounds, office buildings, souls. I pray that the spirit of the Ukrainian people and their President will hold up through these trials and adversities. I hope for a blue sky like the top blue of the Ukrainian flag, and the yellow wheat fields like the bottom yellow. This Passover, there’s nothing else.

Alla Umanskiy is a contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times, a writer, a Jewish mom/wife and a mediocre ice skater.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 75

PASSOVER

By Rachel Wasserman Ten years ago, three visionary leaders – Carol Cooper, Ilene Engel and Sara Franco – knew it was time for women in Atlanta to come together, pool their resources, and stand up together on behalf of women and girls in our community, so they founded Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta along with 30 other Founding Trustees. In 2012, they never could have imagined that we would be where we are now. Ten years later, we have allocated over $1.6 million in grants to nearly 60 organizations and have engaged almost 170 women as Trustees in our handson, collective grantmaking model.

In the early years, we would often talk about how we were in our infancy. As we expanded our team and organizational structure, we said we were in kindergarten.

And now, as we approach our 10th anniversary celebration on April 27, we have truly reached the “other side.” While we continue to grow and stretch, we are no longer a startup, but rather a robust organization effecting social change for women and girls throughout Atlanta, nationally, and in Israel. In addition to our grantmaking, we have engaged thousands of people through our educational programming, and we have created new outlets for Jewish women to learn and connect through our Agents of Change Training program, ACT. As we come together to celebrate 10 years, we invite the community to celebrate with us. Please visit jwfatlanta.org/ten and join us as we hear from Dr. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, who will be in conversation with CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen.

You can attend virtually or in-person, and either way you will be showing your support for women and girls in the Jewish community.

Rachel Wasserman is executive director of the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta, celebrating 10 years this month.

By Renee Werbin L’dor V’dor

Spring is here and it's nature’s wakeup call to the dogwoods, azaleas, gladiolus and tulips. In the south, our neighborhoods are aglow in this bounty of beauty when nature wakes from its long winter snooze and brightens the world in a cornucopia of magnificent colors. Springtime also heralds the festival of Pesach when we commemorate and celebrate our people’s miraculous exodus from slavery in Egypt to freedom. In the retelling at our Seders, we recount the oppression that our ancestors endured with time-honored traditions that have been passed from generation to generation (L’dor V’dor). It’s an ancient and inspirational story of survival, endurance, fortitude and hope, and a cherished time to rejoice in the indomitable spirit of our forefathers.

The Passover narrative of deliverance from bondage to freedom is interlaced with faith and hope for a better future. Hope is a trait that has sustained our Jewish people throughout the ages. Regardless of the tyrants through the ages who have come to destroy us or the obstacles and struggles we been forced to face, our people have never lost hope. It’s through this hope and our faith that our people and our traditions have persevered.

The world is faced with adversity. Restrictions are easing, but COVID is still a health threat around the globe. We are grieving with our Israeli brothers and sisters as they are again under siege from multiple deadly terrorist attacks. Once again, a tyrant has risen to destroy a nation. Millions of people, numerous charities and governments around the world have answered the call for help and are uniting in their efforts to aid and shelter fleeing Ukrainians. These acts of humanity are inspirational, providing much needed hope for those under siege.

As we usher in Passover, may your Seders be magical, meaningful and filled with joy. May this season of renewal sprout a spark of hope, strength, peace and optimism in a positive future for all of us. Chag Sameach.

Renee Werbin is the founder of SRI Travel and the publisher and co-founder of Travelgirl Magazine.

76 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

PASSOVER

By Melissa Wikoff

By Dov Wilker

My daughter’s 5th birthday party was on Sunday, March 8, 2020. We celebrated together with all of our friends and family.

She went back to school the next day, came home, and never returned to preschool again. It was two long years before we could celebrate together again, but a few weeks ago we were able to spend her birthday together again. How surreal and wonderful to physically be in a room with the people I love the most instead of talking to them on a screen. How wonderful for my children to have playdates again. Trying to run a business and parent two small ones has been no small feat these last few years but we are truly “passing through” this period of isolation and loneliness to a new period of joy and celebration. When we moved to Atlanta, the Brodsky family took us in and invited us to every Jewish holiday they hosted, but we’ve put a hold on getting together during the Pandemic. This Passover we are excited to finally share a Seder together again. I am so grateful for this season of Spring, of renewal, and of hope for the future! Wishing everyone a very Chag Sameach.

Passover, a holiday that celebrates freedom, could not come at a more unique time.

Over the past seven weeks, I continue to be reminded about how special freedom is.

From the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the recent terrorist attacks engulfing Israel, to the antisemitic incidents we continue to see, I recognize that “getting to the other side” is all relative.

In the past few weeks, we hosted AJC’s Atlanta Unity Seder, an opportunity to prove that we had made progress in returning to the way things used to be, while recognizing that they will never be the same.

Each speaker placed a sunflower in a vase at the podium to recognize the atrocities being committed and offering a sign of hope.

We had religious, political, ethnic and communal representatives, join us to participate in this unique holiday, where we invite guests into our homes.

I know that I am looking forward to our continued transformation as a society, that finds ways to bring people more together, than ever before.

Chag Pesach Sameach.

Melissa Wikoff is the founder and director of audiology at Peachtree Hearing.

Dov Wilker is regional director of American Jewish Committee.

By Rabbi Mark Zimmerman We are about to celebrate the Festival of Passover. This festival is also known by other names such as “The Festival of Freedom” and “The Festival of Spring.” But it is also known by the name Hag HaMatzot, “The Festival of Matzah.” Every Jewish child knows that an integral part of the Pesach festival is to eat matzah.

Last year, in some kosher grocery stores, you could actually purchase a box of matzah with the Kashrut certification of Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky – the Chief Rabbi of Dnepropetrovski – which is in Ukraine. This matzah was produced in that very country, which until a couple months ago was home to a large Jewish community numbering around 200,000. The fact that such a box of matzah could exist at all is amazing since many of us are old enough to remember how, when Ukraine was part of the former Soviet Union, matzah actually had to be smuggled into the country so that members of the Jewish community there could celebrate Passover.

Since Putin’s horrific invasion of Ukraine, the wheat fields which might have produced that matzah have almost all been destroyed, mined or left barren. Ukraine was one of the world’s largest exporters of wheat, just one of the many things that are tragically different now in Ukraine. Many Jews have fled, including relatives of our own shul community who thankfully were able to escape the horror and emigrate to Israel.

Thank God there is an Israel today which is there to take Jews in who are in distress. And how ironic it is that only a few decades ago, in the very country where being labeled a Jew was a death sentence, today being a Jew is actually an advantage – since Ukrainian Jews trying to flee for safety now have a place willing to go the extra mile to welcome them home.

As stories of the atrocities in Ukraine continue to be revealed, we better understand in stark, painful clarity just how precious freedom is and how it is a privilege that must often be fought for at a tremendous cost. Passover, also known as “The Festival of Freedom,” is taking on an additional meaning for us this year as we look to Ukraine and are reminded of how these freedoms should never be taken for granted.

Thankfully we are blessed to be free, and we are able to observe Pesach this year together and in person! Let us all say an extra prayer at our seder tables so that everyone around the world might enjoy these same freedoms which we usually take for granted. Hag Kasher v’Sameyach!

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman is the rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in Dunwoody where he has served as spiritual leader for 33 years.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 77

PASSOVER

Atlanta Jewish Times Staff Wishes Our Community

Happy Passover From Our AJT Family to Yours

By Kaylene Ladinsky Getting to the Other Side …

Other than the talking burning bush, my favorite part of the Passover story is when our people were fleeing the Egyptians and they get to the Red Sea. The Hebrews were worried, as they could see the Egyptians in the horizon drawing closer. That had to be terrifying, as they looked ahead and felt that there was no way that they would get to the other side of the sea and to safety.

Over the last couple of years, I have had some pretty serious and frightening issues, and when I looked ahead, I saw no way out.

Several times it felt like I was just banging my head against wall, attempting to break through and get to the other side. Not always will there be a man blessed and all powerful, like Moses, that will take his staff and part the way for me to run and get to the other side of my problem or challenge.

One of the most important aspects of the Passover story is that not everyone made it across the Red Sea. There were several that lacked faith, refused to see the way to the other side and hesitated, then perished with the Egyptians as the walls of the Red Sea collapsed all around them.

Wow, what a story, right? Many layers of insight found in the story of the Hebrews escaping Egypt, as the Red Sea parted, can be applied to all our day-to-day. Whether you need to get the other side of a problem, an illness, getting your kids through college, paying bills or even bigger, such as a Pandemic and even war.

Keep moving forward, have faith, be obedient and whatever you do, don’t look back. The entire world was recently united by the Pandemic. Many lives were lost, hope was hard to grasp at times and just when I was about to give in to masks, solitude, and social distancing as a new way of life forever. The clouds, fog, smoke or even the Red Sea clears a way to the other side.

Just when I was about to be thankful for getting to the other side of the pandemic, another challenge arises. Right now, we are all sharing in the distress over of the Russian invasion on Ukraine. This war is so very hostile; so many lives are being lost and families torn apart, as Ukrainians are fleeing the country to escape persecution. Join me in praying and find a way that you can get involved and help them to “Get to the other side,” too.

Kaylene Ladinsky is the editor and managing publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

78 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

PASSOVER

By Daniel Elkind As Victor Klemperer showed in his WWII diaries and in “The Language of the Third Reich,” the words we use in our daily lives create the conditions under which we think (or even can think) about reality — and these words, our language, is subject to manipulation.

Names are central to Jewish tradition, not only in the genesis of Genesis but also in the story of Passover, which we are commanded to retell personally, as if we had been delivered from Mizraim. It’s important to call things by their true names, to enumerate the plagues one by one, to bear witness and not be overwhelmed by the sheer scale of tragedy. It is this form of attention that makes it possible to draw distinctions between one thing and another and wrong from right, not to mention truth and justice.

As the AJT continues to cover the story of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and our community’s inspired response to the devastation, I have done my best to call things by their proper names, avoiding passive construction that threatens to confuse who and what is responsible and clarifying the subject of every sentence: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, not the “war” or the “conflict in.” People — children, teachers, doctors — not a “death toll.”

Schreibt un farschreibt, as historian Simon Dubnow implored the Jews of the Riga ghetto. Write and record, inscribe. Do not forget. We must remember how this invasion began and who began it, so that one day, when it’s finally over and we’ve gotten to the other side, the story of this tragedy can at least be told, even if we are no longer personally here to tell it.

Daniel Elkind is the associate editor of the Atlanta Jewish Times.

By Lilli Jennison Getting to the Other Side of March 2020

Our lives all changed two years and one month ago: March 2020. Everyone was scared and no one knew much of what was going to happen. Now, COVID, BH, is on the downturn. I am so thankful to almost be on the other side of the pandemic. Big family gettogethers are back and (hopefully) here to stay! It is time to focus on things we put aside during the pandemic.

After two years and 2-3 vaccines per person, I finally got to see my cousins and had a big brunch with everyone. These kids I used to babysit are all grown up! The oldest just got into college (Mazel Tov Shosh!) I can’t believe how grown up they all are now. It was so nice to be together. We moved into our house in January 2020. Only now was the first time the majority of my family got to see my “new” house.

Two years ago, my family of five couldn’t even be together for seder. We each cooked a part of the meal and delivered it to each other’s house and zoomed the seder. On the other side, this year we have been invited to a friend’s house for seder. There will be about 20 people there. We are all very excited!

A few months ago the staff at AJT wrote about our resolutions for 2022. I know I am not alone when I say some slipped through the cracks. The biggest resolution I had was self-care. I have taken that resolution very seriously these past 4 months. I have been taking care of myself physically, mentally, and spiritually. Self-care is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Whether it be eating better, walking the dog, treating yourself, or even taking a nap, I encourage everyone to do something for yourself at least once a week. Being on the other side of COVID means businesses are open and wanting to thrive. Go to a local nail salon and get a pedicure.

Or go out to eat with an old friend and support a local restaurant. We were stuck in the house for two years afraid of the outside. Now is the time to rejoin the world.

You may notice every December, AJT puts on a Chanukah art contest. This year we are excited to announce our Passover and Rosh Hashanah Art Contests! These contests, as well as Chanukah later this year, are open to adults and children! Be sure to check out our beautiful submissions for Passover later in the paper and online. Be on the lookout for our Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah contests later this year.

Cheers to a healthy and happy Passover!

Lilli Jennison is creative director at Atlanta Jewish Times.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 79

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By Jodi Danis A Step Forward

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”

-Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese philosopher This is the fourth Passover I’ve had the opportunity to share my thoughts as a staff member of the AJT. Not surprisingly, my recent reflections centered around COVID and its personal impact on my family and the holidays. This year’s prompt, “Getting to the other side,” led me to think about the journey we take to overcome life’s ups and downs, one step at a time.

Life is filled with so many wonderful moments but is not without difficulties at times: an unwelcome medical diagnosis; an unforeseen change in finances or career; the inevitable loss of a loved one. Yet we are stronger than we realize. While the journey may not be what we expected, somehow we find the inner strength needed to face life’s challenges. If the pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that we can adapt and overcome unexpected hurdles when necessary. There is no fixed timeline to accomplish this, however. The path to “bounce back” sometimes takes longer than expected and doesn’t always follow a straight line. But that’s okay. Small steps are still steps forward, and with love and support you eventually get to where you need to be.

This Passover, I am sending heartfelt prayers for peace, freedom, and strength to the Ukrainian people as they battle oppression and flee their homeland. It will be a long and difficult journey for them, and their struggles seem all too familiar this time of year. As we read the Exodus story and recount the resiliency of our own people as they endured hardships on the path to freedom, remember the strength which we carry within ourselves to get through whatever life throws at us. One small step at a time.

Jodi Danis is the business manager for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

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PASSOVER

By Michal Bonell I get so excited to hear inspirational speakers discuss living fearlessly, motivating us to follow our dreams, find our path and live without limit! I was listening to my favorite podcast, which featured Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker, now sports broadcaster and analyst, webcaster and New York Times bestselling author. Acho is a burst of positive energy who was promoting his new book “Illogical.” The book discusses living life without limit.

After setting a goal and coming short, Acho shifted paradigms, making the conscious decision to never set goals again. Since then, he hasn’t looked back, and feels his new outlook has led him to his greatest accomplishments.

“Behind every triumph, every expression of his gifts, Acho has had to ignore what everyone around him called “logic”: the astronomical odds against making it, the risks of continuing to dream bigger or differently.

Instead of playing it safe, at every turn Acho has thrown conventional wisdom―logic―out the window. Now, in this revelatory book, he’s empowering us all to do the same.

“Whether it’s creating the next groundbreaking startup, fighting for change as an activist, or committing to a personal passion, “Illogical” is the go-to book for all readers ready to become change-makers. With a step-by-step guide to finding our callings and shifting our mindsets, enlivened by stories from Acho’s life and other illogical pioneers, and the Bible, Acho asks us to replace the limits set for us, and which we set for ourselves, with a world of possibility. Our horizons, he shows us, are endless.” (Amazon) The Passover story is about breaking free of barriers, a story of hope and courage.

I wanted to share this “illogical” lifestyle concept with anyone who may need a boost of encouragement to follow their dream(s). Perhaps it will get you inspired!

Michal Bonell is senior account manager and team supervisor for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

By Brenda Gelfand Wishing all my family, friends and clients great joy, love, health, prosperity and success this Passover holiday. I am truly fortunate that so many of my family and friends were not terribly affected by the wrath of Covid last year and pray that will continue and we can finally get back to a normal life this coming year.

I was hopeful this Passover that the world would be in a much better place than last year.

Unfortunately, with Covid still lurking and the horrible situation in Ukraine, the plagues have not passed us over yet. My thoughts and prayers are that the world will figure out how to live in peace, prevent Covid and that these plagues, as well as others, will PASS OVER and we will get to the other side!

Brenda Gelfand is senior account manager for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 81

PASSOVER

By Kyra Goldman I very much appreciate that the Seder is an interactive storytelling event that engages all the senses. We will all be coming together to present the gift of our story and identity to the next generation, and we will be gifting ourselves with a sense of community and time for personal reflection. Since our understanding changes as we age, we get something new out of it each year. We also have an opportunity to acknowledge different parts of ourselves. If we take the idea to heart to consider the story as if it were happening in real time, we may feel a sense of gratefulness and awe. We may feel a strong connection to our ancestors and community who are part of our journey. When we retell the more painful parts of the story, we can have contempt for injustice in the world. We may ask ourselves what kind of people we want to be and what kind of legacy we want to leave. The suffering of the ancient Egyptians reminds us to have compassion for humanity. The fact that we have endured, and our story has endured for thousands of years may remind us of a power greater than ourselves. Each of our Seders may have a different emphasis depending on what is important to us. We might focus on engaging young children or have an emphasis on a cause we care about. We may go out of our way to make a special night so that others feel cared about. We may hold sweet memories or create new ones. We will have a meaningful time with our families or the friends who are like family. At the end when we say, “Next year in Jerusalem,” we will be declaring our hope for a better future. I love that we end on hope because it is our hope that keeps us going.

Kyra Goldman is administrative coordinator for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

By Sasha Heller Break on Through

Sometimes you just have to break on through to the other side.

This year is a homecoming for me. After spending the last 21 years outside of Atlanta, either finishing college or working in journalism, I have returned home to Atlanta.

Interestingly, I spent the first 21 years of my life here in the ATL and have lived, essentially, two halves of the same life.

Full transparency…I have not lived a typical Jewish life since I left home. While living here as a child and teenager, I attended Hebrew school, had my bar mitzvah, went to Camp Barney for five summers, joined USY at Ahavath Achim and played basketball for Chai USY and attended conventions and LTI with the youth group.

That was the peak of my Jewish life.

Since then, I have followed a secular path – first with finishing my education and then with pursuing my career path as a journalist.

I didn’t date Jewish girls (not intentionally, I just ended up with shiksas).

And my Jewish-ness never came up as an issue. I didn’t feel the need to go to services; I was fulfilled in other ways…mostly through various forms of spirituality.

But this year, this year is different.

I will attend my first Passover seder in years. I will join my father, his girlfriend and her family for seder and I am thrilled.

This recently lapsed Jew now boasts a renewed zest for Judaism, especially with my relatively new role at the Atlanta Jewish Times. I am a borderline, born-again Jew and look forward to this new chapter of my life.

Sometimes you just have to break on through to the other side…even if it takes 21 years.

Sasha Heller is the online content coordinator for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

82 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Mazel Tov to the Recipients of the 2022

30th Anniversary Hadassah Chesed Student Awards Hadassah Greater Atlanta, in partnership with JumpSpark, honors 20 of Atlanta’s best and brightest young leaders with its annual Chesed Student Awards. Honorees are students in grades 7-12 from Atlanta synagogues, day schools, and Jewish community organizations.

Reece Bashuk

Evie Drucker

Casey Elinger

Jonathan Harper

Ayelet Hearshen

Ezra Heller

Isabelle Fishbein

Hannah Levy

Molly Fisher

Ella Goldstein

Daryn Mand

Noah Meltzer

Teddy Goldstein

Bess Needle

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Passover Chag Pesach Sameach

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 83

PASSOVER

2022 Passover Art Contest Mazel tov to our first annual Passover Art Contest winners! Ruben Haller won in the adult category and Gavriel Perez was our winner in the child category. We got many wonderful submissions from applicants as young as five, all the way up to sixty-five years old. The editor’s choice Top Ten are featured below. Check online to see all submissions.

ADULT WINNER er

Reuben Hall

Age: 65 ver Happy Passo

Gavriel Pere

z

Parent: Mic haela Perez Age: 9 A Very Frogg y Day

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CHILD WINNER

PASSOVER

Coby Ebrams

Parent: Eli Ebrams Age: 9 Beam me up Pesach

Daniel Weinstein

and Parents: Doug Weinstein 6 Age: Moses and the Sea

Hadley Bienstock

Parent: Jennifer Bienstock Age: 7 10 Plagues

Sheryl Chen

Eliana Berkowitz

Parent: Judith Berkowitz Age: 8 Crossing the Red Sea

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 85

PASSOVER

Shalom Home Learning Pod

Teacher: Beth Intro Ages: 5 and 6 Pesach with Parts

Shai Kaiman

Parent: Emily Kaiman Age: 8 Moses in the Nile

Chag Kasher V'Semeach from Hillels of Georgia

Learn more about our Passover offerings at www.HillelsofGeorgia.org | info@hillelsofgeorgia.org

86 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

‫שמֵ ַח‬ ָׂ ‫ָשר ְו‬ ֵ ׁ ‫ַחג ּכ‬

PASSOVER

Charley Solomon

Parents: Meredith and Scott Solomon Age: 9 Hokusai-inspired Parting of the Red Sea

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 87

ARTS & CULTURE Disney’s New Jewish Superhero Is a Rabbi’s Son T h i s month, Disney+, the iconic Hollywood studio’s online streaming service, offers what some might consider an interesting Bob Bahr Passover gift.

“Moon Knight,” a 6-part series, each episode of which clocks in under an hour, debuted on March 30. New episodes of the series, which was partially filmed at Pinewood Studios in Atlanta, air each Wednesday through May 4.

“Moon Knight” is unique in being the first series from Disney’s Marvel Studios to feature a hero with supernatural powers who is identifiably Jewish. Marc Spector is a former CIA agent, military mercenary and the son of a rabbi, who suffers from a dissociative personality disorder. This means that, in addition to being the main character, Spector has at least three other personalities, including Moon Knight, an avatar who fights for justice on behalf of Khonshu, the Egyptian god of the moon and of vengeance.

This celebration of the character’s Jewish roots coincides with a month in which a biblical Jewish hero (Moses) confronts and overcomes a pharaoh, the earthly embodiment of Egypt’s spiritual power.

The Moon Knight character was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin in the mid-1970s for the Marvel comic book series “Werewolf by Night #32.” In the original, there is no reference to Spector’s Jewish heritage. He is given an opportunity to make up for the violence he has committed during his life by becoming the Egyptian god’s representative, protecting and defending the innocent of the world.

Moench, who wrote the original story, is said to have named his character after a friend who worked in a comic book store, with no thought given to whether he was Jewish or not. It was only a decade later, beginning with “Moon Knight #37,” that his Jewish background became part of the story. Spector is said to be the son of a European scholar of Kabbalah, the medieval tradition of Jewish mysticism, a brilliant rabbi who settles in Chicago just before the Nazi takeover of Czechoslovakia in the late 1930s.

Moon Knight saves a Torah scroll from neo-Nazis in a 1984 comic book.

Later, Spector, who grows up poor and Orthodox, rejects his father’s teachings, joins the Marines and subsequently becomes a ruthless soldier-for-hire.

In the 1984 edition of the comic book, Moon Knight comes to the defense of a rabbi who is trying to rescue a Torah scroll from his burning synagogue. In a ringing denunciation of antisemitism, Moon Knight, with a strong affirmation of his Jewish heritage, confronts the neoNazis who have set the building on fire.

“I belong with the decent and innocent folk who can’t find a moment’s peace, not in the streets, not in their own homes, so long as bunks like you terrorize them,” he says. “I belong with the persecuted.”

Although such a strong, direct statement of Jewish identity was rare in the comic book world, Jewish writers, artists and publishers were instrumental in creating the modern superhero.

In 1938, Jerome Siegel and Joe Shuster, in reaction to the darkening cloud of fascism forming over Europe, created a caped crusader in red-and-blue tights to stand up for “truth, justice and the American way.” The character of Superman was quickly followed by Batman, Captain America and Wonder Woman. They were the first of a long line of superhero characters who flowed from the pens of such essential Jewish American comic book creators as Bob Kane, Charlie Gaines, Stan Lee and Will Eisner.

Over the latter half of the 20th century, they would give birth to legendary characters like Spiderman, the Fantastic Four, the Hulk and Iron Man, launching publishing enterprises such as DC and The new series, streaming on Disney+ this month, is about a mercenary and son of a rabbi who becomes the avatar of an Egyptian god.

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ARTS & CULTURE

Moon Knight, the Jewish superhero began as a comic book character in the 1970s.

Marvel Comics. Today their creative legacy forms the backbone of some of the most lucrative show business franchises in Hollywood history.

So far in the Disney series, scant attention has been paid to Moon Knight’s origins. The actor who stars in the production, Oscar Isaac, was born in Guatemala. The director of four of the six episodes of the series is Mohamed Diab, from Egypt, whose latest film, made in Jordan, was a sympathetic portrait of Palestinian terrorists being held in Israeli jails.

Fans are particularly sensitive to how a character’s background are portrayed after Marvel Studios neglected to include Jewish aspects of Peter Parker (“Spider-Man”) and Pietro and Wanda Maximoff of the “Wanda Vision” series.

But “Moon Knight” head writer Jeremy Slater cautions viewers not to jump to conclusions in evaluating the series. In a Twitter message, Slater encouraged fans to keep watching.

“Preserving the character’s Jewish faith was important to our entire writing team. It’s something that definitely gets explored in later episodes,” he said. ì

  

Happy Passover!

SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT TODAY! RISE ARKIN DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS risearkin@weberschool.org www.weberschool.org

Bob Bahr’s four-week class at The Temple in May is “Up, Up and Oy Vey: How Jews Invented The Modern Superhero and Helped Save The World.” More information at www.the-temple.org/event/mornings-with-bob-bahr1. html.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 89

ARTS & CULTURE

Robbins Recounts Her Grandfather’s ‘Hands of Gold’ Among the things Roni Robbins’s grandfather left when he died was a box of cassette tapes. When she played them, RobLou Ladinsky bins heard the voice of her grandfather narrating his memories, including the incredible journey from Hungary to Canada and finally to the United States that Robbins brings to life in “Hands of Gold,” her first novel.

The reader follows Robbins’s grandfather, Samuel, on his journey out of war-torn Europe and across the world to North America, just in time for the Great Depression in New York. He is faced with many hard decisions along the way, including leaving behind his family, mother and siblings to find his true calling in life. During this journey, he meets the love of his life, Hannah, with whom he will spend the next 65 years of his life, through both good times and bad.

If you don’t understand Yiddish, the language spoken by Ashkenazim from

Central and Eastern Europe, you will by the time you have read this book. Robbins has graciously added a glossary of Yiddish words that dot the pages of the novel. My bubbe, Anna, along with her sister, left behind many siblings when immigrating to New York City from Austria right before World War I. She spoke barely any English, and I vividly remember the Yiddish-laden conversations between her and my parents, especially when they didn’t want us to know what they were talking about. Little did they know that we were able to learn their secret language very quickly. This novel certainly brought back all those memories and words I heard all the time growing up.

The struggles encountered by Samuel and Hannah in “Hands of Gold” were a product of the times, making it out of Hungary and landing in Canada before sneaking across the border to New York in the early 1900s. Granted, we have struggles of our own in these more modern times, but nothing like what Samuel and Hannah experienced. The constant up

Novel by Roni Robbins, a writer/editor for Medscape/WebMD. 90 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

“Hands of Gold: One Man’s Quest to find the Silver Lining in Misfortune” is the first novel by Roni Robbins.

and downs they encountered were staggering. Can you even imagine having to move as many times as this family had to or having to share crammed quarters with other relatives or friends? These hardships should make us all feel very fortunate with what we have today, especially with the freedom of choice to go where we want and do what we want.

The book details Samuel’s determination to leave Europe in the hopes of a better life in America, even if it meant breaking the law to do so. While still living in Hungary, Sam was able to skillfully avoid being drafted into the army, while working any type of job he could to save money for his journey out of Europe.

He was able to board a ship and cross the Atlantic by securing a job shoveling coal from one bin to another to help power the vessel. When the ship docked in Canada for a few hours, Sam vowed to escape before it embarked on its final destination to Boston. Once again, he had to avoid the law and sneak across the border, making his way to New York without a passport in hand. Sam was very resourceful in moving from country to country.

The novel also details Sam’s struggle with tuberculosis and his willingness to try every experimental medicine and procedure to rid him of the dreadful and debilitating disease that would follow him throughout the course of his life.

Again, with his determination and the undying support and love of his wife and family, Sam was able to move forward.

One of Sam’s greatest strengths was perseverance. He was able to live with

the guilt of a fatal accident that occurred while he was driving a trolley car in New York — something he never told his family about until later in life. Can you even imagine the pain he felt and not being able to unburden himself with that kind of guilt?

What really touched me throughout this story was the undying love between Sam and Hannah. We have all heard the wedding vow, “for better or worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.” Well, this couple lived those words to the max. Through the Great Depression, grave illness, several children and even some prosperity along the way, their love never wavered, even with all of the trials and tribulations thrown their way.

Samuel Fox was a real mensch, and this couple was always there for each other, despite all the obstacles.

Robbins’s story kept me engaged from start to finish and even left a few tears in my eyes. It allowed me to recount some of the dear memories left behind by my bubbe. This fictionalized saga could easily translate to the big screen. Based on the story’s historical context, I asked Robbins if she could see this ever being turned into a movie or TV series.

“I would love for a movie or TV series to be made! My son is a new actor and could play the young Sam, and I have an older actor friend who’d be perfect for the older Sam,” Robbins said. “But we’ll see if anyone contacts me about the possibility or even takes suggestions. Right now, I’ll be happy with getting ‘Hands of Gold’ into as many golden hands as possible and continuing the conversations that the book can inspire.”

I wondered what Robbins intended to leave her readers with after finishing the book. “After enjoying the book, I want readers to appreciate their loved ones more, especially the older generation and the great life stories they can impart while they are alive,” Robbins replied.

“I hope the novel empowers readers to record their older family members in some way to preserve their legacies. I’d also like readers to gain a better appreciation for Yiddish and use some in their everyday lives to make sure it stays alive long after the native speakers have passed on.” ì Hands of Gold is available at most retailers, and Amazon. at www.amazon.com/ Hands-Gold-Silver-Misfortune-Fiction/ dp/9493231852

Ensure that the Passover story continues to be told for generations to come Passover is for celebrating and reflecting on our Jewish story. During the Seder we take time to explain our traditions to our children. We answer their questions and engage in important conversations.

The Atlanta Jewish Foundation is here to help guide these conversations with a legacy plan. By partnering with legacy giving programs like LIFE & LEGACY® and the Jewish Future Pledge, our team can offer guidance on your philanthropic options.

Contact us today and launch a legacy discussion with trusted professionals who are experts in charitable estate planning focusing on the needs of the Jewish community.

Your family will thank you, and so will generations to come.

Chag Sameach and Happy Passover from the Atlanta Jewish Foundation!

Learn more at atlantajewishfoundation.org

A proud part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 91

ARTS & CULTURE

Globe-Trotting Dentist Debuts Photo Book During the High Holy Days, we speak of “being inscribed in the Book of Life.”

Atlanta dentist and photographer Ronald Goldstein has Marcia poured deCaller Jaffe cades of passion for images into a moving, 165-page book, “About Life: A Photographer’s Story.” The book spans far-off lands, animals and humanity in all its forms, inspiring introspection.

“The unfortunate among us are not invisible to me,” Goldstein says. “They are part of the universal scheme of life and my photographs are my way of acknowledging these individuals, whether they are in Thailand, Greece or New York City.”

Taken over the past 60 years, the photographs in “About Life” were carefully whittled down from hundreds of thousands to 3,000, then to just 1,000.

Finally, Goldstein met with his team — wife, Judy, Jiffy Page at Pixorium and Rick Robbins of Simple Design Works — to make the final 200 selections for the book. Goldstein mused that he needed a team because he was so attached to his photo archive.

On turning from dentistry to photography, Goldstein mused, “From early on I have always been curious about all aspects of life. Observing people and animals and what they do with a focus on their emotive facial expressions. I also photograph the beauty of colors and the dichotomies of life. That led me to divide the sections of the book into many of these same classifications. So it’s part of

92 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

A team of three helped Ron Goldstein whittle down thousands of photos to just 200 for his new book. // Credit: Herbert Kuper

To relax, Goldstein paints, a practice he began 50 years ago.

Driving back to Savannah from Hilton Head, Goldstein shot this giant flatbed truck carrying only a small tricycle.

my story to capture and record virtually all things that fascinate me.”

Goldstein’s worldwide reputation as a dental expert found him traveling to exotic locales. “I was fortunate enough

In Haiti, Goldstein spotted a little boy and quickly snapped this photo before he ran away.

Goldstein captured these smartly dressed children being safely chaperoned across one of London’s busiest streets.

to travel the world through my lecturing and observed so many different cultures,” he said.

Still practicing dentistry in his late 80s, Goldstein is known for his skill and esthetic smile transformations. “The goal there is producing a result that exceeds the patients’ expectations … the difference is in the details. It’s the same with photography … not just capturing a posed happening, but being in a good position and waiting for the right moment.”

Today, anyone has universal access to the “art” of photography on their cell phones, but Goldstein started photographing people with a small Kodak “Brownie” camera. “Digital photography has revolutionized the playing field,” he admitted. “I have taken some of my best photos with my iPhone because it’s always around, making it easy to capture the moment. But most of my photos were taken with a Nikon camera plus a power-

ful telephoto lens.”

Some of the book’s highlights include a black-and-white photo of a young boy in Haiti hiding behind a wall and an image of an extra-long flatbed truck carrying only a small tricycle down the highway. The most fun to shoot? The Galapagos Islands in Ecuador where animals pose naturally, Goldstein says. Most thrilling location? Iguazu Falls between Brazil and Argentina, with 275 falls and a new setting every 25 feet — a photographer’s dream.

But the book was never meant to be sold. Instead, Goldstein donated 250 copies to a charity he started 13 years ago, Tomorrow’s Smiles, which has made it possible for needy teens across the country to receive critical, life-changing dental surgery. You can get the book by donating $350 to Tomorrow’s Smiles or $500 for an autographed copy at AmericansToothFairy.org/Goldstein. ì

This year Atlanta Jewish Times has partnered with Jewish Mom’s of Atlanta to offer our community an opportunity to SHOW OFF our Mothers.

Submit ‘Why Your Mother Deserves the Best Day’ Here: tinyurl.com/BestMomEver2022 Submit 200 words or less, telling Jewish Atlanta why your mother deserves the flowers, candy or a day at the spa. Your submission will be entered in a drawing to win one of 3 prizes and 10 more will be drawn to be featured in the upcoming April 30, 2022 newspaper issue.

All submissions will get posted on the Atlanta Jewish Times website and social media.

partnering with

Please provide a favorite photo of your mother and complete entry at https://tinyurl.com/BestMomEver2022 by 5 p.m. April 19, 2022.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 93

ARTS & CULTURE

Child Psychologist Shares Resiliency Tips

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

scared she became.

With the help and supDr. Aurélie Weinstein grew up in Grenoble, France, port of a kind fairy, she with a family that was very involved in the Jewish com- learned to confront her munity. She met her husband, who is from Atlanta, on a fears and become more youth leadership trip to Israel. After moving to Atlanta, comfortable outside unWeinstein earned a master’s degree in psychology, then til she was able to enjoy a Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Georgia State the outdoors without University. Her practice is focused on helping children concerns. The 37-page become resilient after adversity, and she took a position book is designed for with St. Jude Hospital to better understand the resilience kids five to 10 years old. of childhood cancer survivors.

Weinstein also Now, Weinstein has a new book for children, “Amy teaches child psycholin the Rain: How She Overcame Her Fears,” which she ogy at the graduate and wrote during the COVID pandemic. “In my therapy prac- undergraduate level at tice, I often use books to explain struggles. I felt that some Georgia State Univerof them focused too quickly on fixing the problem and sity and Georgia Gwinnot enough time developing a character relatable enough nett College, and most to learn solutions. I decided to create a character who recently as an assistant was inspired by real children. Amy has a personality with professor in psycholDr. Aurélie Weinstein is a developmental Weinstein’s picture book, “Amy in the interests and aspirations, and not just a carrier of fears. ogy at Kennesaw State psychologist and family therapist with Rain,” is intended for children five to 10.

When children suffer from anxiety and fears, they are University. She was rea private practice in Sandy Springs. more than just their challenges, they are individuals with cently nominated for a love, hope, compassion, and aspirations. “ College of Humanities To synopsize, Amy was initially fearless. She loved and Social Sciences teaching award. She is known for en- face.”

In her Sandy Springs practice, Weinstein notices princesses, mermaids, and fairies, playing outside and gaging students by helping them apply concepts to their reading. After some negative experiences with thunder- own situations. She emotionalized, “I frequently share that lately more children are coming for anxiety related storms and heavy rain, she developed a fear of going personal stories which help them [students] connect with challenges. She remarked, “In 2020, many of my clients outside. The more she avoided going outside, the more me and to destigmatize challenges that so many of us had fears of contracting COVID, becoming sick, dying, or losing their family or loved ones. Some children preferred to be locked down so they would not be separated from their parents. Others felt lonelier as they weren’t seeing friends. Other issues occurred in 2021 when schools reopened. Some children began showing separation anxiety, problems sleeping alone, and more night terrors.”

Summarizing her advice to parents, she said, “I had a tendency to reassure my kids when they had fears. I felt it was my role as a mom to make sure they are never scared or worried. I was always there to come to the rescue. I realized that this was not what they needed. Rescuing them was feeding their worries, leading them to be more and more scared. I changed my approach towards encouragement, and trust in them that they can handle Hang out and make great friends challenging situations. Believe in your children, believe they are capable, let them make decisions and make misSpend all day playing sports, innovating, or creating art takes, you will give them skills for life. Children will build confidence and strength when they feel supported, loved, Access to Weber High School's innovation and encouraged.” lab, art studio, and athletic coaches For young children, she uses Child-Centered Play Therapy. For children and adolescents with anxiety, phoParticipate in weekly Mitzvah bias and O.C.D., she applies Exposure and Response Preprogramming vention and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. For clients who have suffered from trauma or abuse, she employs Eye Have something new to TikTok about Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. For children exhibiting disruptive behaviors and anger issues she practices The Incredible Years Program, specialized for children who have difficulty regulating their emotions.

Weinstein is active at Ahavath Achim Synagogue as board director and president of Z’havah, the young women’s Sisterhood group. She founded the Atlanta Jewish Theatre Company before the COVID shutdown Each camp is limited to 16 campers per week. stopped many of the arts performances and events. She is planning bookstore signings and reaching out to Jewish schools for readings. ì

5 Reasons to attend TWEEN CAMP this summer

Rising 6th – 8th grades

June 13 - July 29 The Weber School (in Sandy Springs)

94 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ARTS & CULTURE

New Book Examines Elijah’s Historical Transformation

By Bob Bahr Daniel C. Matt’s latest book, “Becoming Elijah: Prophet of Transformation,” arrives just as we set our Passover table to welcome the biblical prophet. The book, which was published last month as part of the prizewinning Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press, considers how the role of Elijah has changed over the centuries, from a zealous figure of judgment to one of compassion.

Matt is best known for his monumental nine-volume annotated translation of the Pritzker Edition of the “Zohar,” a foundational text of Jewish mysticism. The project, which was completed over an 18-year period, has been hailed as a monumental contribution to the history of Jewish thought and scholarship. The AJT spoke to Matt about prophetic zeal, the destruction of the Second Temple and how Elijah became perhaps the most familial figure in all of Jewish tradition.

AJT: How is Elijah seen in the Bible?

Matt: He is violent in a way, in the Bible. He is not the perfect human being. His story covers about seven chapters. There’s the contest with the prophets of the old and then his death wish when he finds out that Jezebel wants to kill him. In the Bible, he is very much a loner. No one knows when he’s going to appear or disappear. No family is described. There is no wife, no children. He spends most of his time on his own unless he is confronting someone. On occasion, he has great compassion, but he certainly comes across in the Bible as a zealous prophet. But that’s only the beginning of this story.

AJT: That’s not how he’s seen today. We don’t think, when we open the door for him at our Seder, that this violent prophet will charge in.

Matt: No, of course not. He’s the most popular figure in all of Jewish folklore. No one comes close; not King David or Moses or Solomon. But he’s also the source of the most esoteric secret cryptic teachings in Judaism, the Kabbalah. He’s depicted as inspiring the first Kabbalah. There’s a tradition that the “Zohar” was written in a cave by Rabbi Shimon, the son of Yochai, and that he was inspired to write it by Elijah. But again, Elijah bridges that. He is this popular folkloric hero, and then he’s the one who inspires the mystics.

AJT: How did he come to be this beloved figure?

Matt: That’s due to his transformation within our religious tradition. I think that’s the most significant thing about Elijah. You could call it a tikkun, a Hebrew word mean-

Because, in the Bible, Ezekiel is said to ascend to heaven in a fiery chariot, he is thought to have avoided death.

ing a repair or a mending. In a sense, he mends his ways. He learns. He learns how to love. He learns how to feel compassion.

AJT: How did this radical transformation occur?

Matt: Many feel that the rabbis of the Talmud and the Midrash are responsible for this. They see this fiery figure and they’re somewhat suspicious about zealots, because they know that the Second Temple was destroyed partly because of the zealots in Jerusalem. They turn him into a more compassionate figure. So, you could see it that way, but you could also say that Elijah is doing this to himself, somehow, over the ages. He’s not just the historical person who lived in the 9th century BCE; he takes on another life. It’s as if somehow he feels a need for this tikkun, and that happens gradually, over centuries. You could say he goes from seeing everything in black and white, like he is in the Bible, and then in the Talmud he’s able to say both this and that are words of the living G-d. He is able to see the possibility of different points of view, of different approaches to religion.

So I think Elijah gradually learns to appreciate the variety of approaches to God and to existence.

Matt: He has become the most familial figure. Not only do we set a place for him at the Seder table, with the hope that he will announce the coming of the messiah, but he’s there every Saturday evening. He’s part of the ritual of Havdalah that completes the Shabbat. His name is invoked three times a day by an observant Jew in the grace after meals.

Finally, he’s at every bris where this innocent,

Daniel Matt’s new book about Elijah examines how the prophet was transformed from a figure of zealotry to one of compassion.

nameless baby boy is welcomed into the Jewish fold. There’s that moment of transition in the baby’s life and in the family’s life and it’s marked by Elijah. So, he’s a part of all these changes, all these transformations. He has been integrated into the Jewish family.

Daniel Matt teaches The Zohar and Jewish mysticism online. More information is available at www.sup.org/zohar/course. ì

AJT: So what is the lesson we learn from Elijah about this transformation?

Matt: What we learn is that he is able somehow to transform that rage into compassion. And I think that’s what’s so valuable for us to see, to see it as a model of how we can go deep within ourselves and find the things that are missing, find the shattered parts of ourselves and bring about a tikkun because Elijah did that and can inspire us to be transformed.

AJT: And what has this transformation meant to how he has been integrated into Jewish tradition?

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 95

ARTS & CULTURE

Jews and Italians Battled for the ‘The Godfather’

By Bob Bahr “The Godfather,” the epic film saga of an Italian American crime family, marked its 50th anniversary this month. Clocking in a total of just over nine hours, the first installment of what would eveantually grow into a film trilogy was released on March 24, 1972.

In the intervening decades, the film, as well as its 1974 sequel, have come to represent towering achievements in American film production. In the 1960s, though, it was just another idea in Mario Puzo’s head.

For nine years the author had struggled, writing lurid fiction for a series of men’s magazines with titles like “Male,” “Man’s World,” “True Action” and “Stag.” These magazines were published by Moe Goodman, who was born to Jewish parents originally from Vilna, Lithuania.

Both Puzo and fellow Italian American director Francis Ford Coppola would get into a protracted and furious battle with the executives of Paramount Pictures, producers of the “The Godfather.” Coppola was only 28, having just penned the script for the film “Patton,” when the head of production at Paramount Pictures, Robert Evans, chose him to direct the adaptation.

Evans, born Robert Shapera, was the son of a Jewish dentist from the Upper West Side of New York City. He gave Puzo just $50,000 for the movie rights to his proposed novel about the rise of his fictional New York mobster, Vito Corleone.

Evans had been handed the task of rebuilding the once-flourishing Paramount Studios by its new owner, Charles Bluhdorn.

Bluhdorn had been born to a well-to-do Viennese Jewish family who fled to America ahead of the Nazis in the 1930s.

The hard-charging Bluhdorn had added Paramount to his Gulf and Western Industries conglomerate when the studio was foundering back in 1967. Over the next several years, Evans and Bluhdorn produced a string of popular moneymakers, including “Barefoot in The Park,” “The Odd Couple,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “True Grit” and “Love Story.” Initially, they and Paramount’s president, Stanley Jaffe, saw the Puzo book as a fast, cheap, modern day gangster movie that could be shot on Paramount’s Hollywood sound stages.

It would take the financial success of the novel and Coppola’s insistence that the film should dwell on the deep historical flaws of American society that caused the trio of executives to agree to up the budget and allow the film to be made on location, with a recreation of 1940s New York.

But the battle over the production schedule, the casting and the direction of the 96 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Marlon Brando won an Academy Award in 1972 for Best Actor for “The Godfather,” but declined the honor.

Paramount executives favored Jewish actor James Caan for the role of Sonny Corleone.

During the production of “The Godfather,” director Francis Ford Coppola (right) and author Mario Puzo were frequently at odds with executives at Paramount Studio.

film was just starting to heat up. The tumult surrounding the epic film is fully described

by Mark Seal in “Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli: The Epic Story of the Making of ‘The Godfather,’” which was published in 2021.

The make-believe war between the Corleone mob and its underworld rivals mirrored the constant and very real struggles between Coppola and the executives at Paramount. They now included the film’s producer, Al Ruddy, who grew up in a Jewish family in New York and Miami Beach.

Initially, Coppola had resisted casting James Caan in the role of Sonny, the Godfather’s beloved eldest son. Caan had been born in Queens to German Jewish immigrant parents. Even though the director had pushed hard for Marlon Brando to star, he wanted a mostly Italian American cast. Seal quotes the casting director, Fred Roos, as saying Coppola wanted “the smell of garlic coming off the screen.” He strongly favored the young actor Al Pacino for the film and had already promised the role of Sonny to Carmine Caridi.

According to Seal, Evans said that Coppola told him, “Carmine Caridi’s signed. He’s right for the role. Anyway, Caan’s a Jew — he’s not Italian.” After months of wrangling, Evans and the other Jewish executives got Caan as Sonny, and Coppola got Pacino as Michael, the younger son, and Brando.

But casting troubles were not the end of the producers’ difficulties. Suddenly, Paramount began receiving serious opposition from a new organization. Originally

called the Italian-American Anti-Defamation League, it objected to the stereotyping of Italian Americans as hoodlums and professional killers, especially in Hollywood productions.

The organization took inspiration from the success of civil rights organizing in the 1950s and 1960s and from the efforts of the AntiDefamation League (ADL), which had been organized by the B’nai B’rith to combat antisemitism in America.

The newly renamed Italian-American Civil Rights League quickly raised $600,000 in contributions, organized a charity concert headlined by Frank Sinatra and threatened to shut down production if its series of demands was not met. Ruddy, the producer, with his potential blockbuster on the line, sprang into action.

No stranger to tough negotiations, Ruddy had previously steered a successful CBS-TV network comedy series, “Hogan's Heroes,” about a group of prisoners of war in a Nazi prison camp, through a sea of controversy. The series ran for six years, despite objections from Jewish groups.

In a series of meetings with the leadership the League, Ruddy agreed to an unprecedented list of concessions that gave them access to the completed shooting script, veto power over any words like mafia and Cosa Nostra and handed over proceeds from the New York premiere of the film. It was a startling agreement, made with organized crime figures, but it also ensured that the extensive location filming required would proceed smoothly.

Robert Evans often fought with Coppola about the casting for “The Godfather” and many other production issues.

The mobsters were so impressed by Ruddy’s negotiating skills that they made him a captain in their civil rights organization. But their influence quickly waned when the League’s head, Joe Colombo, was assassinated in New York just ahead of one of the group’s largest rallies.

Both Caan and Pacino went on to be nominated for Academy Awards, while Brando won for Best Actor but declined the honor. The film received the Oscar for Best Film in 1972 and went on to gross $270 million at the box office, which is $1.8 billion in today’s dollars.

Still, after all its success, a decade after the movie’s record-setting release Coppola sent a blistering telegram to Evans, accusing him of taking too much credit for the success of the film.

“You did nothing on ‘The Godfather’ other than anoy [sic] me,” he wrote. “If you want a PR war or any kind of war no one is better at it than me.”

Evans wrote back at some length, saying, “… your behavior toward me glaringly lacks any iota of concern, honesty or integrity. … Do not mistake my kindness for weakness.”

After Evans died in 2019, at the age of 89, the two telegrams sold at an estate auction for $38,400.

On April 20, Paramount+ premieres a ten-part dramatic series, “The Offer,” about the making of the epic film. Watch the trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=iowLzO9aew. ì

Saddle Up to the BAR{n}, Dunwoody ‘Cowboys’ D a v i d Abes’ signature on a restaurant is “hand in glove” with a buttoned-up concept, motivated team, and loads of tasty food.

Marcia In DecemCaller Jaffe ber 2021, the AJT reported on Abes’ vision to create a town center in Dunwoody focused on a communal courtyard amidst his four new themed restaurants. Chalk one up for Bar{n} which opened last November with elevated bar food, a rustic atmosphere and capitalizing on spring weather, to take advantage of the indoor/ outdoor set-up.

The capacity in the courtyard is 350 seats, inside dining 80 seats, plus an additional 25 under the outdoor covered patio.

The restaurant’s name Bar{n} was chosen because its old building resembles just that – a barn, highlighted by an orange interior neon sign that reads, “just horsing around."

Having a few months under his saddle, Abes, owner of Dash Hospitality Group, said, ”There was definitely a buzz when we opened in November, but we didn’t know how long it would last.

The embrace from the community has been incredible, grows each day, and we love seeing new faces. We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from Dunwoody and Sandy Springs and have been really surprised by so many people who are coming from Buckhead, Alpharetta, Chamblee to check us out.”

In terms of mishpacha (family), Abes said, “My family loves coming here because they always see someone they know. It’s the “Cheers" of Dunwoody. My adult kids are all about the bar. Mitchell loves the rotating beers on tap, and Amanda, the Midnight Sparkler. The best part of building a legacy project like this is working with my wife, Julie. She’s here almost as much as I am–and that’s a lot!"

While others are bemoaning staffing shortages, Abes has coalesced a talented upbeat team of locals, many of whom are Jewish. General manager Mitch Frohman, Dunwoody native, is a huge presence hustling to see that drinks are filled, seating occurs promptly, and food is delivered properly. The chef de cuisine, Meredith Marshall commands the kitchen at 24 years old. She’s supported by Robyn

The outdoor courtyard can serve 350 people. // Photos provided by David Abes.

DINING

Chef Jacobs proudly shows a colorful array of elevated bar food.

Chefs Wallach and Jacobs preside over their smoking Green Egg.

The bar will have 24 taps for beer, as well as wine, and cocktails. Another component will be catering, and “take home” family meals. Abes revealed another next up, Message in a Bottle, with a fresh seafood concept opening this upcoming January 2023.

BAR{n} has a kid’s menu with mac ‘n cheese, pasta, and flatbreads from $8 to $12. Our table favorites were: Roasted Beet Salad ($11) with apple, pistachio, whipped goat cheese, shishito peppers, and honey gastrique (vinaigrette). Shareable with bursts of flavor and hues as the whipped goat cheese engulfed the beets.

The Catch-In-house salmon pastrami $24/ $44 (based on size) smoked whitefish dip, tuna poke, house seasonal cocktail sauce which added interest.

Tuna poke was the winner!

Dips and Veggie Board- $15/ $28 Pi-

mento cheese, Sea Island pea hummus, tapenade, Vidalia onion dip, house pickles, that day’s veggies and made-fromscratch crackers.

Marinated Local Mushroom Flatbread ($14) with caramelized onion. Melt in the mouth flavor with Sweet Grass Dairy’s Green Hill Tomme cheese engulfing the meaty mushrooms for that satisfying umami flavor.

An intriguing menu item is The Smorgas-board ($100) “laying it all out” containing multiple items from each of the charcuterie boards listed on the menu. ì

A creative blend of beets and pistachio nuts on goat cheese is a shareable portion. // Photo by Robyn Spizman Gerson.

Jacobs, Eric Wallach, and Ryan Jacobs.

The two Jacobs are not related!

Bar{n} on a Sunday night was delightfully teeming with baby strollers, couples, and even a few pups, saddling up for flatbreads, artistically created charcuterie boards, with touches of traditional cuisine.

Elevated bar food aligns with the approachable, local, and seasonal. Imagine the brightest beet and pistachio salad as a novel start. Some elements of the menu are constantly changing like sides on Sunday supper revolving around what is fresh from local farms. The beverage menu is updated frequently to reflect specialty brews, and cocktails that are in harmony with the seasons.

Abes’ next concept is Morty’s Meat and Supply slated to open Labor Day 2022 focusing on smoked meats, fish, and sides.

Bar{n} booze {n} bites 5521 Chamblee Dunwoody Rd Dunwoody, GA 30338 Phone 770-338-6992 Closed Mondays ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 97

CALENDAR

APRIL 15 - 29 a plant-based, earth-focused Seder experience. All are welcome! $18 per person. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3v4WqJB.

you can join a friendly game of bowling and making new friends for $17 per night. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3gwXleU.

12 hours prior to event to receive the private Zoom link and password. See https://bit.ly/3HGWHHw for details.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15 First Night Seder — 6:30 p.m. Bring your family and friends to Etz Chaim for a meaningful community seder led by Rabbi Miller. $46 for adults and $23 for children 12 and under. Visit https:// bit.ly/3LMcff4 for more information.

Public Passover Seder — 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Celebrate the eternal holiday of Passover with family, friends and rural Georgia Jews. Location TBD. For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3DYvuzi.

Community Passover Seder — 8 p.m.

Join Chabad of North Fulton for a traditional Passover Seder. Visit https:// bit.ly/3Jk978g for more information.

SUNDAY, APRIL 17 Play Tamid — 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Play Tamid is led by Rabbi Jordan. Enjoy crafts, songs, fun activities and more. Play Tamid is for kids under 4, with their parents/guardians. For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3oE3sm4.

Kabbalah & Coffee — 9:30 to 11 a.m. A weekly study series with Rabbi Ari Sollish. Discuss, explore and journey through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life.

For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3LP4o11.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage — 2:00 p.m. Actor’s Express continues its 34th season with this production by Lynn Nottage, winner of the New York Drama Critics Circle and Outer Critics Circle Awards. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3MkV6Kp.

Plant-Based Second Night Passover Seder — 6:30 p.m. Join Temple Beth Tikvah in partnership with GIPL for

Take Me Out to the Bowl Game — 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. Every Sunday evening

Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at:

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Nickelodeon The SpongeBob Musical — 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Adapted from the beloved animated series “SpongeBob SquarePants,” this colorful and vibrant musical is an uplifting tale of overcoming the odds and celebrating the joy of life. $20 regular admission and $16 for students. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3IEANoW.

MONDAY, APRIL 18 Leonardo Drew: Cycles — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every day through May 7. The Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation is honored to present this exhibition curated by Loretta Yarlow, director of the University Museum of Contemporary Art, UMass, Amherst. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3rAGOwU/.

Monday Night Parsha — Join this new class on Zoom by Rabbi Hertz on the weekly Parsha. For more information, see https://bit.ly/34TeGvR.

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. In order to be considered for the print edition, please submit events three to four weeks in advance. Contact Administrative Coordinator Kyra Goldman for more information at Kyra@atljewishtimes.com.

98 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Bereavement Support Group — 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. This support group aims to foster a safe and healthy environment in which to process feelings and support people in mourning. To learn more and register, visit https://bit. ly/3Ls6oMi.

Virtual Infertility Support Group — 7 to 8:15 p.m. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation for a FREE virtual support group, open to any woman currently experiencing infertility. Must RSVP

Brain Health Bootcamp — 1 to 3 p.m.

New virtual Brain Health Bootcamp every Tuesday will combine gentle physical exercise, including yoga and exercises to help reduce stress and anxiety, along with a full hour of brain exercises done in a non-stress and engaging way of learning. For more information visit https://bit.ly/3sr94RP.

Hadassah Ketura: A Virtual Field Trip of the Holocaust — 7 to 9:30 p.m. The 2022 theme of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is “Memory, Dignity and Justice.” Using primary source photographs and photographs of Eastern Europe today, we will explore how preserving this historical record and representing significant visual fragments sheds light on the reality that is past. $10, must register.

Visit https://bit.ly/3xe1kqj for more information.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 Torah Study — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join Rabbi Jordan each Wednesday either

on Zoom or in-person at Congregation Dor Tamid and continue an in-depth look at the Book Leviticus. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3srZsGj.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Passover

Significant Others of Addicts Support Group — 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Join Sally Anderson, MS, LPC for a weekly free support group for spouses, partners and/or significant others of those struggling with addiction. Visit https:// bit.ly/3B5bABf for more information.

Friday, April 15, 2022, (Nisan 14, 5782) Light Shabbat / Holiday Candles at 7:51 p.m.

Saturday, April 16, 2022, (Nisan 15, 5782) Light Holiday Candles (from a pre-existing flame) after 8:48 p.m.

Sunday, April 17, 2022 (Nisan 16, 5782) Holiday ends 8:49 p.m.

Temple Beth Tikvah Friday Night Services — 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Join services online or in person. Visit https://bit. ly/35XKJeJ for more information.

Passover Thursday, April 21, 2022 (Nisan 20, 5782) Light Holiday Candles at 7:55 p.m.

Friday, April 22, 2022, (Nisan 21, 5782) Light Shabbat / Holiday Candles at 7:56 p.m.

Saturday, April 23, 2022, (Nisan 22, 5782) Shabbat/Holiday ends 8:53 p.m.

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

Atlanta Interfaith Hunger Seder 2022 — 6 to 9 p.m. The 12th Annual Atlanta Interfaith Hunger Seder brings organizations and people of all faiths together to learn about food insecurity in our community and discover practical and impactful responses within reach of all area residents.

General admission $36. Must register.

For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3LTfzET.

Matt Paxton, “Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff” — 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The Book Festival of the MJCCA presents #1 Amazon Bestseller Matt Paxton.

In-person event, masks required. For details, visit https://bit.ly/3JsrXKp.

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 PrimeTimers Coffee with Rabbi Jordan — 10 to 11 a.m. Head on over to Zoom to spend some time with Rabbi Jordan and friends from Congregation Dor Tamid. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/33CivFA.

Story Time with Rabbi Jordan — 9:15 a.m. Join Rabbi Jordan for Story Time on Facebook. See https://bit. ly/3HIW8gw for more information.

Knit and Crochet Group — 1 to 3 p.m.

Join Dor Tamid on Zoom to socialize and crochet and knit beanies for premature babies from home. For more information, visit https://bit. ly/34Ru9wp.

Think Different — 8 to 9 p.m. Study the single most transformative Jewish spiritual text written in the last three centuries with master Tanya teacher Rabbi Ari Sollish. Visit https://bit. ly/3gExbXC for more information.

Jewish Spirituality and Mysticism — 8 p.m. A weekly class on Jewish spirituality, mysticism and how to apply it to your personal growth in a meaningful way, taught by Rabby Hirshy. Visit https://bit.ly/3suZDkg for more information.

Jewish Insights Series — 8 to 9 p.m. A weekly Zoom with discussion on a pertinent topic from the Torah’s weekly portion. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3699PaI.

Stay and Play: Shabbat Morning Babysitting — 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. While you attend Shabbat services at Congregation Etz Chaim, your kids can go to Stay and Play with their friends! Visit https://bit.ly/3jkbRYM for more information.

FRIDAY, APRIL 22 SOJOURN’s Drawing from the Well — 12 to 1 p.m. An inclusive weekly meetup for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies.

For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3gxpDWP.

Tot Shabbat — 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Join Dor Tamid for Tot Shabbat. RSVP required. See https://bit.ly/3v73qr1 for more details.

Tot Shabbat and Kiddush Lunch — 11 a.m. Join an interactive Tot Shabbat and sing, play and engage in fun activities, followed by a wonderful Shabbat Kiddush lunch together. https://bit. ly/3rBWd03.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 99

TL Collective Relives the Sounds of Chess Records — 8 to 11 p.m. Neranenah Concert and Culture Series Presents the ATL Collective at Byers Theater at City Springs. ATL Collective exists to connect and empower Atlanta’s musical community through building relationships, fostering education and promoting preservation.

For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3Ks0mKI.

SUNDAY, APRIL 24 Six Million Steps Campaign at Chastain Park — 7 to 10:30 a.m. We are honored to invite you to take part in Six Million Steps, a unique international effort led by the IAC, to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and bring attention to the alarming resurgence of antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world.

Walk or run during the month of April and help meet the goal of six million steps per community. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3LVLogF.

The Changing Face of Antisemitism — 1 to 2:30 p.m. Hadassah of Greater Atlanta presents a Zoom event with an incredible panel of speakers that will discuss antisemitism on college campuses and the question, “does Anti-Zionism = Antisemitism?” Must register. $18 donation to aid Hadassah’s Ukraine Emergency Efforts. For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3v5X3CI.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Hillel Heroes 2022 — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Join Hillel as they bestow the prestigious Billi & Bernie Marcus Visionary Award to Sanford Orkin for his lifetime commitment to Hillel and our Jewish community. Enjoy an evening of festivities with a live musical performance by Emory University’s Jewish acapella group, Chai Tunes, cocktails and food. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3xfIorc.

Celebrating Norman Granz — 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Neranenah Concert and Culture Series celebrates the deeply influential yet often overlooked concert presenter, producer, record label founder and overall champion of both musicians and civil rights, Norman Granz. For information and tickets, visit https://bit.ly/38DTMmv.

Hillel College Fair — Starting at 3 p.m. and going through April 26, level up your student’s college search for this free virtual event and get the inside scoop on Jewish college life. Visit https://bit.ly/3JppoZA for more details.

Peter Fogel’s “Til Death Do Us Part …

You First!” — 8 to 9:45 p.m. A funny show about marriage and relationships presented by the MJCCA. Tickets $24 for members and $32 for the community. Find out more at https://bit. ly/3umX2Lq.

Uncoupling: A Divorced and Separated Support Group — 5:30 to 7 p.m. A bimonthly group providing support and resources, and a safe place to process and share experiences related to divorce and separation. Open to men and women of mixed ages. For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3JuE3Da/.

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Program — 7:30 p.m. A program sponsored by Etz Chaim Men’s Club in partnership with the Catholic Church of St. Ann. Must RSVP. For details, visit https://bit.ly/379v9gW.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 The Story of Sy Lichtenfeld — 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join the Men’s Club and Lilmode for the “Best Breakfast in Town” and hear Sy’s captivating story of strength and the will to live. Moderated by Sharon Lightstone and Elyse Shaw, Lichtenfeld, now 97, will be joining virtually from Mobile, Ala. to recount the experiences that led him to receive such distinguished service medals as The Purple Heart, The Bronze Star, POW Medal of Honor and others. For more information, visit https://bit. ly/3DRQd7Q. 100 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 MONDAY, APRIL 25 Peachy Parsha — 12 to 1 p.m. A weekly Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Ari Sollish.

Visit https://bit.ly/3rD86mh for more information.

Sunset Baby — 8 to 9:30 p.m. A play from MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Dominique Morisseau, one of the most acclaimed playwrights in America today. For details, visit https://bit. ly/3DUgFh4.

UEPTIAN: Unto Every Person There is a Name — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. B’nai B’rith International (Atlanta) is proud to present a program both virtually and in-person at the GA State Capitol. Participants will read the names of Holocaust victims, along with their own loved one’s names, where they were murdered and their age at the time of death. Visit https://bit.ly/3NUzBAX for more information. ì

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TREASURE TROVE A Ribbiting Collection of Frogs in Sandy Springs

Lauri Lavine relaxes in her frog-filled home.

Lavine’s favorite pair of ceramic frogs.

On the deck a large metal frog greets visitors.

A glass frog climbs up a turquoise vase.

A metal frog reclines while holding African violets.

A mosaic frog looks down from a glass table.

with other animals and each other. A frog on one Sumida bowl perches on the rim, looking down at another small, carved wooden frog Lavine placed in the bowl’s center. The wooden frog was Lavine’s first frog purchase. “It seems like those two are curious about each other, maybe communicating,” she notes.

Lavine’s collection includes a paper mosaic frog made by her granddaughter Ava when she was 7 years old. A pottery frog was decorated by granddaughter Olivia at the age of 4. Three tiny cloisonne enamel frogs were once worn by relatives, including a pin from Lavine’s mother and another from Lavine’s Aunt Pansy. Another mosaic frog looks down from a glass table.

Meticulously handcrafted silver frogs and three small, enameled frogs put their ersatz strong legs and suction-cup toes to good use. All feature huge bulging

eyes, which enable real frogs to survive.

Because frogs cannot turn their heads, the nearly 360-degree eye scope enables frogs to spot food (insects) and grab it by their long, darting tongues, or to escape from a dangerous predator. Frogs also use their eyes to help them swallow food.

After a frog has caught prey in its mouth, its eyes retract, pushing the food down and allowing the frog to swallow.

Shiny handcrafted metal frogs cling and climb wherever one looks. An outstanding example is a pointy-nosed tropical frog with red ceramic eyes. Another silver frog uses its toe pads and strong, slim limbs to keep from falling off a plant branch.

Even glass frogs gambol about. A frog climbs a turquoise vase, making its way to the top. A Baccarat crystal frog takes advantage of the sun pouring through the window. A bright red frog

does its best to get to the top of a metal table.

On a trip to Cabo with best friends, Lavine found a pair of frogs vibrantly decorated with traditional Mexican designs. “I knew exactly where they’d go,” she says. They now climb up a brick wall near a large green ceramic frog on another brick wall. A cheerful pink ceramic frog patiently awaits complete foliage coverage, and deck visitors are welcomed by an amiable painted metal frog enjoying his pride of place.

By day, Lavine is the owner of Lavine Sales, which offers quality products (not clothing) for infants, children and mothers-to-be. Her family company represents major manufacturers to retailers in the southern United States. She travels a lot for business and also for pleasure, always keeping an eye out for frogs to join her frolicking collection. ì

By Chana Shapiro Lauri Lavine’s plant-filled home is the perfect environment to feature her collection of frog art, which can be found on nearly every surface — here, there, and everywhere. Climbing, cavorting, leaping and hiding among the greenery, the amphibians display their sticky, padded toes, protective coloration and huge bulging eyes. Sometimes their protective coloring camouflages them so efficiently among the lush plants that Lavine herself has to search among the leaves to find them.

Lavine’s abode is warm and welcoming, eclectically decorated with colorful art, large, comfy furniture, all kinds of orchids and exuberant plants and family artwork. Her father, Herbert Karp, was a skilled artist, photographer and craftsman. Lavine showcases his huge ceramic sculpture on a mantelpiece and displays a multi-media wall-hanging he made.

Lavine’s parents were both talented — her mother, Estelle, was a performer and singer — and their shared interest in Japanese Sumida Ware led to a curated collection, hundreds of pieces of which are now in a Japanese museum. Lavine owns a good-sized representation of the handmade pottery from her parents’ personal collection. A small free-standing Sumida frog sits on a table near the front door, a harbinger of frogs of all colors, sizes and shapes performing acrobatic feats among the verdant public rooms of the house.

Many of the whimsical bas-relief Sumida pieces depict frogs interacting 102 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The Lowdown I Bet You Didn’t Know …

Tomer Zvulun

Since 2013, Israeli-born Tomer Zvulun has served as the general and artistic director of the Atlanta Opera. One of the leading stage directors of his generation, Zvulun has garnered consistent praise for his creative vision and innovative interpretations. His work has been produced by major opera houses in Europe, South and Central America, Israel and the U.S. Previously, Zvulun spent seven seasons at the Metropolitan Opera, where he directed revivals of “Carmen” and “Tosca” and was involved in more than a dozen new productions.

Zvulun is a frequent guest director at companies like the Seattle Opera, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Cincinnati Opera and Israeli Opera, among others. He has directed over 15 new productions at the Atlanta Opera, and, during his tenure, the company has tripled its fundraising, resulting in twice the number of annual productions. Read on to learn about what makes Tomer Zvulun tick.

Best advice your father gave you.

Your time is now. Go get ‘em while you can.

What I miss most about Tel Aviv …

The hunger for life. Nothing is taken for granted because in Tel Aviv we live on the edge, surrounded by enemies that may blow up a bus, or open fire at you in the middle of the street, any day. It ultimately manifests in this attitude of living for today: incredible restaurants, unparalleled art scene and a spirit of entrepreneurship that very few cities possess.

My most unusual job …

During my years in the Open University of Israel in Tel Aviv, I drove an ambulance and got a paramedic certificate. It was a valuable experience as a stage director, because theater and opera are so much about dramatic situations, violence, death.

If they made a movie of my life, I would choose … to play the lead.

Lior Raz. If I could be a character in any opera, it would be …

The French Lieutenant in “Silent Night.” He is caught in the middle of WWI and misses his family, while realizing that the war is futile. It’s the most important work I have ever directed.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Having a lunch date with my youngest daughter: Pizza at Fellini and then fries and ice cream at McDonald’s.

Don’t judge us!

I’m reading …

Currently I am alternating between biographies of two European leaders that represent the light and the dark of our times. “The Chancellor” by Kati Marton, about Angela Merkel, who I admire greatly. On the other hand, I just finished “The New Tsar: The Rise and Reign of Vladimir Putin”

by Steven Lee Myers. These are unusual biographies for me to read, as they are about living leaders. More frequently, I read about leaders who are not with us (Churchill, Stalin, FDR, Napoleon, Louis XIV).

My wife says I’m too …

Easily manipulated by my two girls. Here’s a “shocker” for your readers.

My parents knew I had talent as a child because …

I never stopped reading. I would go through my three library books daily and get new ones and they were concerned about that.

Describe something fun that no one knows about you.

I spent 45 days on a train going through major cities in America in my mid-twenties.

I realized that I could have gotten an Amtrak pass allowing unlimited travel with a foreign passport. I took the train from Boston to LA, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, Glacier Park. It was an incredible education for a young artist with a just a few hundred dollars in his pocket.

The last time I cried …

Yesterday, when I heard a Russian song at the Atlanta International School and thought about the devastation in Europe currently.

My last fashion disaster was …

An over-the-top New Year’s outfit that my 5-year-old chose for me.

Studying at Harvard enabled me …

To articulate business principles that I knew instinctively, but was finally able to put into words. ì Reported by Marcia Caller Jaffe

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 103

COMMUNITY Temple Kehillat Chaim Turns Back Clock for Its 40th They say the 40th anniversary is the Ruby Anniversary, as the ruby represents a passionate inner flame still burning Sasha Heller after four decades.

That symbolism certainly applies to the marriage between a local Jewish community and its millennia-old traditions, culture and heritage.

This March, Temple Kehillat Chaim (TKC) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a retro, 1980s-themed gathering that featured dinner, dancing, trivia, games and a silent auction.

Rabbi Jason Holtz spoke about the importance of the anniversary and what it meant to the local Jewish community.

“We were celebrating 40 years of friendships, 40 years of community, 40 years of learning, 40 years of Jewish life

Members of the Temple Kehillat Chaim congregation having a blast at the temple’s anniversary party.

in our congregation,” Holtz said. “When Rabbi Harvey Winokur first began the congregation in 1982, he was the only local rabbi to officiate at interfaith wed-

dings. Ever since then, we’ve made a huge effort to welcome people of all sorts into our congregation.”

Holtz added that maintaining a wel-

JOUST DO IT!

Jeffrey and Nicole Seltzer had a good time at the party.

coming atmosphere has been vital to the success and legacy of the temple’s presence in the community.

“Being warm and welcoming aren’t

New Exhibit on View Through May 15

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COMMUNITY

Wishing You and Your Family a Happy Passover

Lori Dreffin, Debbie Lutchen and Steve Singer were definitely in party mode.

404-261-7711 www.bfvlaw.com Follow us @bfvlaw

Temple Kehillat Chaim celebrated its 40th anniversary in style with a delicious cake and various delicacies.

Rabbi Jason Holtz just kicking it at the anniversary party.

Commercial Real Estate General Corporate Labor and Employment Business and Real Estate Litigation Non-Compete and Trade Secret Litigation

Happy Passover!!

Sara Polikov, Amy Deich, Michelle Wallace and Robin Shafer turned back the clock to the '80s.

just words for us — it’s central to our mission,” he said.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog sent a special dedication that was included in TKC’s Kol Kehillah monthly newsletter, in which he honored the event and commented on its significance.

“The world has changed quite radically,” Herzog said. “However, our Jewish values, which highlight the importance of Jewish community, of praying together, of improving our world, of joining hands to reach out to those in need – these are more pronounced than ever before.”

Herzog said he appreciates the efforts of Rabbi Winokur and Alan Abrams in founding Temple Kehillat Chaim four decades ago.

“Your congregation has grown beautifully, as has your impact on the broader community in Roswell, two feats worthy of celebration,” Herzog said.

The event was catered by S&J’s Woodfire Pizza and featured music by DJ Klara Menaker; other vendors included The Wandering Camper Photo Booth and Dan Eifert.

Event sponsors included The Dreffin Family; Marjorie and Seymour Levine Karen and Jack Fishman; The Teplis Family; The Markowitz Family; TKC Sisterhood; The Litman Family; The Waller Family; and business sponsors Polikov Recruitment Solutions, Georgia Natural Gas, Yoga Six and Atlanta Pipe and Drape.

For Rabbi Holtz, the party was a celebration of the past with a nod to the future. “[It] isn’t just about remembering the last 40 years, it’s looking forward to the next 40,” Holtz said. “The reasons for founding TKC 40 years ago are still with us — to have an inclusive, intimate and imaginative center of Jewish life.” ì

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Dr. Bret Freedman | 678-745-5388 | village-ortho.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 105

COMMUNITY

Melton School Proves You’re Never Too Old to Learn In the 1980s, inventor and activist Florence Zacks Melton envisioned a comprehensive program of Jewish learning for adults. Today, Susanne Katz The Florence Karlick Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning is the largest adult Jewish education network in the world, with 50 Melton communities across the U.S., Canada, Australia and South Africa. Through professionally developed curriculum, interactive classes and close study of Jewish texts and ideas that are relevant to their lives, the program seeks to nurture learning and Jewish community around the world.

Rabbi Brad Levenberg teaches a popular class for Melton students at Temple Sinai.

One of the major draws, he says, is the location. “Whether it’s because they live closer to Sinai than to another Melton location or just that they enjoy coming to Sinai to learn, folks

tend to appreciate having a Melton class in their spiritual home,” Levenberg said.

Convenience and accessibility is another. Temple Sinai staff and leadership “intentionally plan the classes when we believe they will be most accessible to our students,” he said. “The current iteration builds off of Rabbi Kranz’s very popular Tuesday morning slot. Following his retirement, we filled the time with Melton classes, as we knew that the format would resemble the class that Rabbi Kranz taught and would still enable learners who had committed to adult learning to continue a familiar routine at a time that was already built into their schedule. We chose similarly when holding classes aimed at Temple Sinai Preschool parents; we offered classes just after preschool drop off which would conclude in time for students to have lunch and then pick up their children.”

Students enjoy learning alongside their fellow congregants. “The conversational and communal nature of the class enables people to get to know fellow congregants whom they are likely to see at other Sinai functions,” Levenberg explained.

Over the years, he has seen the Melton curriculum continue to evolve in order to

Your go to place for anything Jewish in North Fulton Rabbi Hirshy & Devora Leah Minkowicz Rabbi Gedalya & Ruthy Hertz

10180 Jones Bridge Road Johns Creek, GA 30022 770-410-9000 www.chabadnf.org 106 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Rabbi Brad Levenberg teaches a popular class for Melton students at Temple Sinai.

Linda Bachmann is a Temple Sinai member and longtime Melton student.

remain relevant for students. “While the style remains the same — traditional texts in conversation with contemporary thinkers on a particular subject matter — the depth of understanding of those texts continues to impress,” Levenberg said. “I am always excited when Melton comes out with a new curriculum and find myself eagerly anticipating the impact it will have on the lives of students and their understanding of Judaism.”

Melton student Linda Bachmann has been enjoying the program for many years.

“Attending a Melton class is almost a given part of my weekly routine,” she says.

Bachmann’s adult learning journey began in 2006, with the introductory twocourse Melton curriculum at the MJCCA: Rhythms of Jewish Living and Ethics of Jewish Living. “A group of us attending the class registered together year after year. We called ourselves Rashi’s Daughters – and enjoyed weekly lunches following the classes for years,” Bachmann said.

“When we completed those first two years, we called the next level of selections our ‘graduate courses’ – the Palestinian/

Israeli Conflict, Comparative Religion, Jewish Humor, Jews in America and anything taught by the engaging and energetic Shelly Buxbaum. The Cairo Genizah and Salons of Europe come to mind.”

Bachmann continued the program at Temple Sinai on Tuesday mornings with Craig Perry, Rabbi Brad Levenberg and Rabbi Natan Trief. The virtual Zoom courses, she says, “continued to be a Tuesday morning highlight – and connection to something normal.”

She stores the huge blue binders and pages of Xeroxed Melton lessons in various folders in her cabinet, along with more current paperback books.

“I often joke that I could take some of the courses over and over again, both because some of the details are hard to remember, and because my own experiences and perspectives are always changing,” she says.

“I am so grateful for the Melton foundation and, of course, our local team of instructors. It’s a privilege to learn and grow in such an encouraging, welcoming atmosphere.

Jewish lifelong learning at its finest.” ì

COMMUNITY

Splatter Studio Opens Second Location in Sandy Springs Calling all pint-sized Picassos and Jackson Pollock fans! You can now paint the town red — or green or purple — on your own Robyn Spizman canvas at Gerson The Splatter Studio. Atlanta native Harold Krinsky, who also owns Binders Art Supplies & Frames at Piedmont Rd. and Ponce City Market, and his partner, local artist Jenna Rees, launched the city’s first immersive, hands-on painting experience back in 2019. Now, building on the splattering success of their Virginia Highland location, the pair is opening their second studio in Sandy Springs.

Located at 5920 Roswell Rd., in the Parkside Shops, the studio — in its largest iteration yet — offers a unique experience, welcoming guests to a soaring, 9,000-square-feet of canvased floors, walls and ceilings.

“This concept is like watching moments of creativity at work with uninhibited sheer joy,” Krinsky says. “I’ve been in retail for over four decades and the paradigm is shifting to an experience-based exchange. Jenna brings the value as a brand manager for who we want to be and everything we do is intended.”

Rees draws inspiration from the action painters of the last century. “We are giving this nod to art history around the idea of experimenting with paint the way abstract expressionists did in the 1950s, using non-traditional tools to apply paint to the canvas,” she says. “The studio experience allows anyone to have that experience, let loose and enjoy the process of art making.”

This is not your paint-by-numbers, color-between-the-lines type of place.

“Atlanta has really embraced the playful nature of The Splatter Studio and we’re excited about the opportunity to grow by offering our unique, immersive experience,” Rees adds. “With such a large studio in Sandy Springs, we will be expanding our experiential offerings to include an exciting lineup of recurring events, themed nights and vibrant collaborations, as well as new menu options like 3D add-on items and the chance for guests to bring their own surfaces to paint on. We are looking forward to what this space will allow us to

The Splatter Studio is a creative space where anyone can explore their inner artist. // Credit: The Splatter Studio

do as we continue to develop our brand and offer new ways for our guests to explore their creativity.”

Upon arrival, participants are outfitted in protective gear so they can safely paint with brushes, tools or their own two hands on the provided canvas or Splatter Studio t-shirt. The Sandy Springs studio will feature even more painting stations, larger canvas-

wrapped walls and floors and a paint bar. Outside beverages will be permitted, and all guests will leave with an official Splatter Studio Take Home Box to easily transport their drying paintings, making it the ideal party favor or instant décor.

Sandy Springs painting sessions are now available through their website. For walk-ins, sessions will be available on a

first-come, first-served basis. One-hour paint standard sessions includes everything you need ($55 per person fee). The Splatter Studio team, comprised of local Atlanta artists, are on hand during each session to offer tips, tricks and suggestions on different tools and techniques.

Reservations are available online at www.thesplatterstudio.com or by phone: 404-487-3820.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 107

COMMUNITY

Home Edit and Refresh Your Decor H o m e editor Sam Ampel grew up around art, fashion, and interior design. Now she offers design and creativity in a more minMarcia imalist way Caller Jaffe than hiring an interior design firm. “Think outside the box, use the things you have in different ways, change the room that items are in and give it new life. An antique plate you love, but hide away, could display your perfume bottles on your vanity. Make your kitchen less utilitarian looking by putting clear dish soap in a glass oil dispenser. There are millions of ways to recreate,” Ampel mused.

The “Home Edit” craze began before COVID when two young Jewish women from Nashville lit up Instagram with ideas to make closets look like rainbows

Sam Ampel came from a family in Florida that searched warehouses for fabric bolts just for fun to mold her love of design.

Ampel used a wall bracket in a client’s dining room to create a romantic, floating look.

Sam poked around a client’s Decatur kitchen to create an “Alice in Wonderland” feel.

and eye candy. Millennials gushed over Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, who wrote “The Home Edit, A Guide to Organizing and Realizing Your House Goals” by getting into famous homes like Gwyneth Paltrow’s and Mandy Moore’s. They subsequently appeared at the 2019 Book Festival of the Marcus JCC. Ampel’s design roots stem from many sources. She stated, “My mother

was a self taught and highly skilled interior designer with the most incredible eye for style. I learned so much from watching the way she looked at a room and how she would restyle it. Our own home was always being edited and redesigned. My early interior design influence was very postmodern 80’s with a lot of art deco influence. My father was a well-known swimwear designer and

through my time growing up in his store, I fell in love with color, patterns, and fabric. We would drive to south Miami and go to the huge warehouses that imported thousands of bolts of fabric, and we’d comb through them for hours together.”

Ampel’s approach to interiors comes from this family history of being able to see the world with style in mind. What she does is unique in that the client

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108 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Before

After

Sam redesigned a client’s living room with over 150 same-colored books.

Before

Our senior living is accredited for two reasons.

You. And your family.

Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important.

After Ampel created the simplicity of this bungalow room and edited use of the corner.

doesn’t have to necessarily purchase new items. Sam “shops” the house for what’s already there to re-imagine what can be done to improve form and function.

On the first client meeting, she searches for what is working and what is not. She said “If a client is not exactly sure of their ideal style, I help them have fun with it and choose one that suits them best. I want to know their vision and I offer mine. Moving furniture and creating flow is so important in every space, so that is tackled right away if need be. The best part is when my client can’t believe I just turned their gorgeous vase they never use, into a water glass, and they love it.

I will also source items such as area rugs, art, decor, and furniture if needed and requested.”

Ampel uses S.A.M. edit acronym – Stylish, Authentic, Mindful – to encapsulate her name and vision using a holistic approach to simplify space and amplify style. While decluttering, organizing and redesigning current furniture and decor, she curates old spaces to be more functional and elicit wows. ì

That’s why The Piedmont is accredited by CARF International—an independent organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care, service & safeguards.

We think you’ll find that our accreditation is only one of the many reasons to take a good look at The Piedmont at Buckhead senior living community.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28TH • 2:00PM

We invite you to join us for High Tea. Enjoy hot teas, freshly brewed coffee, iced teas & lemonade accompanied by a delicious array of hors d’oeuvres while listening to delightful music. Mix, mingle and see why so many call The Piedmont home.

To RSVP, please call 404.496.5492.

Easy to implement seasonal tips from Sam: • Lighten up your home by swapping out darker colored bedding and throw pillows with light colored fabrics. This is an easy and inexpensive way to rotate with the seasons for a fresh look continuously.

• Add fresh flowers to the rooms you frequent most, and don’t be afraid to reimagine what can be used for vases, have fun with it.

• Move things around, take some decor from your living room and use it in a new space to switch up the look.

• Donate old photo frames for a quick way to leave a style behind. You can reframe or send digital images to one of many companies who will send you beautiful canvas photos to do an easy wall gallery.

C A R F-ACC R E D IT E D INDEPENDENT & ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES

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EQ UA L HOUSING OPPOR T UNI T Y

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 109

COMMUNITY

Purim to Passover Food Drive to Address Local Hunger Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) of Atlanta and Jewish Education Collaborative, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, has announced a community-wide food drive to help fill the shelves at the JF&CS food pantry.

According to Marsha Hurwitz, vice president of major gifts at the Jewish Federation, food drive leaders Jan and Marsha Spector are “long-time supporters of the Atlanta Jewish community who work quietly and tirelessly to make our world a better place. They expressed concern about Jewish Atlantans going hungry and decided they wanted to help!”

“Food security is a basic human right,” says Jan Spector. “It saddens us to think there are Jews in Atlanta who are going hungry or have to choose between food or medicine or gas for their cars. At Purim, we learn of the ‘halachic imperative of matanot l’evyonim,’ to give gifts to the poor … to make sure no one is hungry.

That’s why we are partnering with the Federation’s Jewish Education Collaborative and JF&CS to encourage our community members to collect food for the

JF&CS Food Pantry.”

She added that, with Passover right around the corner, the group knows more community members will need extra funds to purchase Passover food items.

“We have created a ‘Feed the Hungry Challenge Match’ where we will match $1 for $1 up to $25,000 for contributions made between Purim and Pesach to JF&CS’s Food Pantry fund,” said Marsha Spector.

With prices going up on food, gas and basic essentials, many community members may find themselves in need once again, or for the first time ever.

During the pandemic, JF&CS fed more than 7,000 Jewish community members, with the average age of recipients being over 70 years old. JF&CS delivered food to elderly residents and those who were housebound. Now, the agency is expecting another influx in requests.

Shelley Miller, director of support services at JF&CS said, “this food drive has come at the perfect time. We expect to see the demand continue to rise in the coming weeks, and we are running low

on many items. We really appreciate the JEC and the Spectors for their help in making this project a reality.”

Food donations can be dropped off at JF&CS (4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at participating food pantry partners. The Jewish Education Collaborative includes 16 supplemental Jewish education programs, including congregational schools and Jewish Kids Groups.

“Jewish tradition teaches that we should not delay if we have the opportunity to do a mitzvah. When we all collaborate across organizations and work together as a community, not only can we perform a mitzvah swiftly, but we can also have a greater impact,” Miller added.

Although this project is starting with the JEC, JF&CS welcomes all Jewish organizations to collect food for the pantry.

The Davis Academy is also participating in the food drive, and requests are out to other Jewish schools and organizations.

Marsha Spector hopes that “together, we will shine a light on the issue of food insecurity in our Atlanta Jewish

Jan and Marsha Spector were concerned about area food insecurity and founded the Purim to Passover Food Drive to address local hunger.

community and how we can eliminate it!”

To learn more about how and where to donate food, please visit jfcsatl.org/ springfooddrive. To donate, please contact Jessica Katz-Yonatan, JF&CS Director of Development at (770) 677-9364. ì Compiled by AJT Staff

PESACH SAMEACH

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110 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

COMMUNITY

Simcha Announcements Have something to celebrate?

Births, B’nai Mitzvah, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Special Birthdays and more ...

Share it with your community with free AJT simcha announcements.

Send info to submissions@atljewishtimes.com.

Engagement

Morris – Graubert Belinda Morris and Michael Morris happily announce the engagement of their daughter, Jacqueline Mary Morris to Aaron Parks Graubert, son of Becky Parks and Timothy Graubert.

Jacqueline is the granddaughter of the late Lewis Morris, Billi and Bernie Marcus of Atlanta, and Barbara and the late Harold Ward of Corpus Christi, TX. Aaron is the grandson of Dorothy and the late Emanuel “Manny” Greene of Long Island, NY and the late Reta and Richard Parks of Loma Linda, CA. Jacqueline graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a bachelor’s degree in Religion. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Education from Georgia State University. Aaron graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master’s degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, both in Computer Science. He is currently employed by Niksun, where he works as a software engineer.

A summer 2023 wedding is planned.

Births

Forest River Noll Sage Segal and Aaron Noll, along with their two-year old daughter, Willow, welcomed their baby boy into the world on March 10. He was born four minutes before the time of his great grandmother’s birth, 100 years ago.

Forest River Noll was 8 pounds, 14.7 ounces and 21.5 inches long. He has a full head of dark hair and his mother’s dimples.

Overjoyed grandparents are Terry and Fred Segal of Roswell, Georgia, and Carmen and Gregg Noll of Carmel, and great-grandparents, Shirley and Tom Noll, all of Indiana.

Forest’s Hebrew name honors the Margoluis men, on his maternal grandmother’s side of the family.

Liam Bennett Dworkin Alexis and Eric Dworkin of Roswell proudly announce the arrival of their son, Liam Bennett Dworkin on March 3. He weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 21 inches long.

He is the little brother to Jace and Olivia Dworkin. Liam is the grandson of Susan and Daniel Alterman of East Cobb, Marietta, Amy and Neil Dworkin of New Jersey, and Jeff and Mechelle Levine of Florida.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 111

KEEPING IT KOSHER

JEWISH JOKE

Shallot and Red Wine Brisket Cooking and Prep: 15 hours Serves: 6 Preference: Meat Difficulty: Easy Occasion: Passover Diet: Gluten Free, Low Carb, Paleo, No Refined Sugar, Keto In my opinion, brisket is best made in advance, which is especially useful when cooking for several days of Yom Tov. It freezes beautifully, too! Just cook, cool, slice and return to sauce. As the sliced brisket sits in the sauce, it absorbs the flavor and becomes super soft.

Ingredients (6) 2 teaspoons avocado oil 5 shallots, sliced thin 2 and 1/2 cups red wine, such as Alfasi Cabernet Sauvignon 2 tablespoons Tuscanini Balsamic Vinegar 1 teaspoon salt 2- and- 1/2-pound brisket Prepare the Shallot and Red Wine Brisket In a small saucepan, heat the avocado oil over low-medium heat. Add the shallots to the pot and cook until soft and begin to caramelize (about 25 to 30 minutes).

Add the wine, vinegar, and salt to the pot.

Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer for 20 minutes.

Place the brisket in a 9 by 13-inch pan. Pour the sauce over the brisket. Cover with foil and place in the fridge to marinate overnight.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook, covered, for two-and-a-half hours. Remove from oven and let the brisket cool. Slice against the grain, and then place back in the sauce.

Let sit in the sauce for a few hours or overnight. Freeze if making more than two days in advance. ì Recipe by Molly Hagler Source: Kosher.com

112 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Cheese What kind of cheese melts on a piece of matzo to make a Passover pizza?

Matzarella

YIDDISH WORD Shpilksmooch n. A hasty, unromantic kiss that implies the kisser has more important things to attend to.

Ex: “If all you’ve got to offer is shpilksmooch, I’m better off snuggling with my dog.”

From the Yiddish shpilkes, meaning impatience or having ants in one’s pants.

From “Schmegoogle: Yiddish Words for Modern Times” by Daniel Klein

BRAIN FOOD

Seder Requirement

ACROSS

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38. Related 39. Eponymous Disney islander 40. Kind of politics 43. Locale for Kirk or Solo 44. Head hunters’ targets?

45. Disgusting, in kid-speak 47. Synonym for 41-Across or 40Down 49. Concerning the congregation 54. Infinitesimal amounts 55. Made like Noah or Betzalel 56. NFL who recently called it a career 59. Moses, to the Israelite slaves 60. Son of Seth, in Genesis 61. “Safe!” crackers?

62. Study steadily, with “over” 63. Youngest of the fictional March sisters 64. Pride papa 67. Onetime label for the Beatles 68. Place to eat grass

52. Palindromic negative prefix 53. A Shtisel on “Shtisel” 57. Key chess piece, in Spain 58. Essential part of the Seder hinted at by the starred clues....or an alternative title to this puzzle 63. Otherworldly being 65. 1-1, e.g.

66. Ceremonial cutter 69. Transit option in D.C. or L.A. 70. Drink that’s chametz 71. Amazon option 72. Toys you can walk or swing 73. 42nd and Elm: abbr.

74. Instagram option

DOWN

1. Best-suited for a job 2. Versailles event of 1919 3. Protester who goes too far 4. NFL announcer Eagle 5. Herb that tastes like licorice 6. Rabbi Moses Isserles, with “The” 7. AAA member?: Abbr.

8. Synagogue 9. Birthplace of Obama’s father 10. Major time 11. Spatter with paint 12. Noticed 13. Seth of “Late Night” who said he’s “Jew...ish”

“Jewish Settings” SOLUTION 1

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 113

OBITUARIES

Jerry Burnstein

Beverly Greenwald

Jerry Burnstein, 93, scanned obituaries daily looking for his name. His name missing, he’d gleefully inform everyone in earshot that he was still alive. Jerry’s long, happy life ended peacefully early April 8. For more than 20 years, he volunteered at Northside Hospital, bringing dogs around to cheer up bed-ridden patients. The devoted husband, father, dog lover and lifelong runner leaves behind daughter, Betsy (Scott) Olinger, son, Ben (Melissa), grandsons, Alex and Sam, and granddaughter Briellen.

He was predeceased by his loving wife of 42 years, Ellen Burnstein. Donations in his honor can be made to Happy Tails or Northside Hospital Auxiliary. A graveside funeral was held at 10:30 a.m. on April 3 at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Arrangements

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

Mrs. Beverly Greenwald, 78, passed away Monday, April 4, in her home in Dunwoody, Ga. Born Beverly Jane Kogan on November 15, 1943, in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Harry and Annette Kogan, she grew up in Forest Hills, Queens with her older brother William. She was married to Herbert L. Greenwald from 1964 until Dr. Greenwald’s passing in 2001.

Mrs. Greenwald was beloved for her personal warmth and her playful sense of humor. Her enthusiasm for relationships and conversation of every kind brought many wonderful people into her orbit. Her dedication to the Jewish people and the State of Israel was surpassed only by her greatest pride and joy: her three children and six adored granddaughters.

Mrs. Greenwald began her Bachelor of Arts degree at Brooklyn College, New York City, in 1961. After raising her children, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in history at Mercer University in 1987. Mrs. Greenwald then went on to intern at Jewish Family Services in Atlanta as she worked towards a master’s in social work at the University of Georgia, which she completed in 1991.

With a caseload focused on marital, family and individual counseling, Mrs. Greenwald developed a special expertise guiding interfaith and observant Jewish couples through relationship challenges. Upon becoming an LCSW, she provided counseling to clients at Jewish Family Services of Atlanta and later opened her own private practice, helping people in need until her retirement in 2014.

Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta was the cherished spiritual home for her family since the 1970s, and Mrs. Greenwald served as Sisterhood President from 198183.

She is survived by her partner, Dr. David Goldsmith, and children, Michael Greenwald, Hal Greenwald and Rebecca Ben Zvi and her beloved granddaughters Eliana, Rachel, Gabrielle, Jessica, Mika and Ayla.

A special message of appreciation goes to her caregiver, Beverly Abraham. Thank you for all you’ve done for mom and our family, Miss Beverly.

Graveside services were held Friday, April 8 at Crestlawn Cemetery, Atlanta, and were officiated by Rabbi Ari Kaiman.

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

93, Atlanta

Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Editor and Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

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Harriette Oxman 87, Atlanta

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Harriette “Hank” Oxman, 87, died April 10. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Joe and Darcy Oxman, Atlanta; daughter and son-in-law, Helaine and Andy Lasky, Atlanta; daughter Robyn Tanenbaum, Atlanta; grandchildren: Melissa (Ari) Shapiro, Brian (Bridget) Oxman, Bethany (Taylor) Smith, Rachel Lasky, Alec, Katie and Ruthie Tanenbaum; great-grandchildren: Bennett and Aiden Shapiro, Holland and Meyer Smith and Beau Oxman; sister Shirley Wender; sister and brother-in-law Nancy and Ronnie Horowitz. Hank was preceded in death by her husband, Bennett “Buster” Oxman; parents, Fannie and Harry Herman; son-in-law, Martin Tanenbaum of blessed memory.

Hank was a native of Jackson, Miss., and the middle of three sisters. She enjoyed entertaining and was the hostess with the most-est. Hank loved playing card games and mahjong, the occasional vodka with a lemon twist, shopping and adding to her art collection. She was an avid Georgia Bulldog and Atlanta Braves fan. She was extremely kind, never having a bad thing to say about anyone, empathetic, generous and a wonderful confidante. Hank was a devoted wife of 56 years, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend and will be sorely missed. Special thanks given to lifelong friend and assistant, Sharon Angel, and to Hank’s caregivers, Debra and Ileen.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Joseph Oxman Scholarship Fund of Ahavath Achim Synagogue (600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, NW, Atlanta, GA 30327), Be the Difference Foundation (PO Box 540954, Dallas, TX 75354, www.bethedifference.org), or another charity of your choice. Sign online guestbook at www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m. at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Highway NW, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta (770) 451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Eugene Schmuckler 82, Roswell

Eugene Schmuckler of Roswell, Ga., died at the age of 82. Eugene was a first-generation American, born in 1939 in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Sheva and Morris Schmuckler.

He met his wife, Shaindle, as a teenager while lifeguarding at Camp Kinder Ring. They married in 1961, eventually growing the family by four adored daughters. Eugene received his Bachelor of Science degree from Brooklyn College and his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. Eugene was a Certified Trauma Specialist and the coordinator of the Behavioral Sciences and Management Unit at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center who was loved and respected by all the first responders he taught and counseled. He was extremely proud of his work there, always approaching officers to ask if they had been one of his students.

Eugene loved his family, sharing his many interests with the kids. The house never lacked for bikes, fishing poles, books, or ice cream. He took pride in his role as the afternoon carpool driver for his grandchildren, to the point that his enthusiasm caused the school to ask him to please stop arriving so early. He was an avid collector of stamps, coins and Hess trucks. He was a voracious reader, runner and cyclist. Eugene has stacks of coveted t-shirts from his many years of participating in the Peachtree Road Race, as well as the Bike Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). He had a dry but quick sense of humor, his unique dad jokes often causing groans from his daughters and grandkids alike. He loved to share stories of his days at LSU and his childhood in Brownsville, East New York to anyone willing to listen.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Francine Kupferman.

He is survived by his wife, Shaindle Schmuckler; daughters Raina (Richard) Baroff, Amie (Joe) Ross, Marla (Eric) Medwed, Lisanne (Paul) Nozick; and ten grandchildren: Paula and Sam Baroff, Lila and Jacob Ross, Noah, Elijah and Joshua Medwed, and Samantha, Zachary and Jackson Nozick; his nephew and niece Alan (Nancy) and Linda Kupferman and his dog Ari. The family is forever grateful to his wonderful caregiver, Marjorie Salawone.

Eugene will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Hey, Gene — watch out for the yussels on the road. Please sign online guestbook at www.dresslerjewishfunerals. com. Donations in memory of Eugene may be made to Camp Kinder Ring or the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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Joan Gross Wiley 80, Atlanta

Joan (Joanie) Gross Wiley passed away peacefully on April 8, at the age of 80, although those closest to her knew better than to ever acknowledge her actual age. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Roger, as well as her children, Cynthia Leder (Zack) and Clarke Wiley (Amy), and the true loves of her life, her grandsons, Asher and Riley Leder and step-grandson Bray Moore. She is also survived by her brother, Paul Gross (Roni), and brother-in-law Dr. Ronald Wiley (Kathy).

Joanie was born on Aug. 1, 1941, in Richmond, Va. to Cynthia Saxe Gross and Albert Gross. Joanie attended Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and earned an advanced degree from Georgia State University.

She spent her life dedicated not just to her family, but also to education, beginning with working in the public school system in the Richmond, Va. area. She moved to Atlanta, was a guidance counselor at North Springs High School and was instrumental in opening Riverwood High School, then joined both Milton and Centennial High Schools after a period of time in Michigan, in the Plymouth-Canton school system. She was very active in professional counseling organizations and developed an active private practice assisting students in achieving their goals for secondary education.

Joanie played tennis for a majority of her life, and in earlier years played matches on a satellite tour. She was a very active ALTA tennis player, playing on as many as three teams at a time. She was also an active volunteer at Northside Hospital and loved and treasured her time as a rock-a-bye, volunteering in the NICU for more than ten years. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association in her name. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770.451.4999. ì

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www.DresslerJewishFunerals.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES APRIL 15, 2022 | 115

CLOSING THOUGHTS Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat My brother and I grew up in small towns in southern Illinois. In order to be part of a meaningful and joyful Pesach, my family always stayed in Chana Shapiro St. Louis with my maternal grandparents throughout the holiday, and we came a few days early to help clean and cook. During the week, my brother and I got to spend time with our great-uncle Louie. Louie was my Grandma Rose’s older brother, and he, too, moved into my grandparents’ two-bedroom home. My brother and I slept on the porch, and Louie slept on a couch in the hallway.

Louie lived in a mysterious, different world from ours, somewhere deep in downtown St. Louis, where he rented a room that none of us ever saw. He was very poor, yet he lived independently and sustained himself by selling newspapers. He had friends who kept an eye on him and would let my grandmother know if he was sick or hurt. Louie

116 | APRIL 15, 2022 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

had no phone, so every few weeks my mother packed a load of home-cooked food and boxes of cereal. My father drove downtown to Louie’s newspaper corner, checked up on him and delivered the meals. Louie would only meet my father at his work corner, and, to my knowledge, no one in the family knew his exact address.

Louie was born in Europe. He was severely injured as a baby, in the steerage section of the ship that brought him from Poland to America around the turn of the 20th century, and lived for the rest of his life with the use of only one arm and a pronounced limp. After he graduated from eighth grade, Louie left home. His American-born sister, Rose, my grandmother, was his only family connection. After she married my grandfather, Louie had a safe refuge when he wanted it, and from time to time he took the bus to my grandparents’ house for a good meal and a bath, always going home with lots of food and laundered and pressed clothes. Sometimes my tailor grandfather made new garments for him.

Louie loved the week of Pesach with the family, when my brother and I were thrilled by his tales of derring-do. We listened to the

old-fashioned songs he told us he had written (he hadn’t, but he sang them with gusto).

I don’t remember if he had a good voice, but his performances were top-of-the-line. Louie knew lots of crazy yoyo tricks and he taught us knock-knock jokes. He made us hats out of the comics section of newspapers, and he also taught us how to fold airplanes that were excellent flyers. Louie knew how to make them do tricks as they soared in the air, which my brother and I considered marvelous. “Practice makes perfect!” Louie used to say, encouragingly, but we preferred watching Louie’s aeronautical feats.

Every day, my grandmother brought the three of us snacks continuously. Louie was always hungry, but never asked for anything.

Grandma was understandably worried about her older brother’s health and, feeding my brother and me between meals, also put food out for Louie.

While we noshed, my brother and I sat at the kitchen table, peeling parboiled potatoes and polishing Kiddush cups, and Louie entertained us and made us laugh. I was six or seven years old before I was fully aware of Louie’s handicaps — such was the power of his jovial personality and ability to make our

days so much fun.

The seating at my grandparents’ seders was hierarchical. My grandfather sat at the head of the table, then came the uncles, then came the aunts, then came the kids. Louie sat with us and our cousins, and one year he demonstrated that he could read the Haggadah upside down. He may have had the whole Haggadah memorized, but we believed him and were delighted that Louie possessed yet another remarkable ability. When we came to the part where my grandfather got up, opened the door, and called out, “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” Louie nodded emotionally.

The day after Pesach ended, we and Louie stayed to help put the Pesach dishes away and wash the bedding. That night, my father drove Louie back downtown. We were sad to see him go, and my grandmother forced him to take bags of food with him. “Rose, it’s not about the food,” he always insisted.

Eventually, I understood that a lot of it actually was about the food. At our seders today, when my husband, Zvi, opens the door and calls out, “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” I imagine Louie’s fully-nourished soul floating in to find a grandchild to delight by reading the Haggadah upside down. ì

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