Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCV NO. 18, August 31, 2020

NEXT ISSUE: ROSH HASHANAH

VOL. XCV NO. 18

Education & Holiday Flavors

AUGUST 31, 2020 | 11 ELUL 5780

Violence Erupts at Stone Mountain Stone Mountain has drawn controversy since it was first envisioned in 1914 and was the location of the rebirth of the Ku Klux Klan on the top of the mountain later the same year. More recently, on July 4, an armed African American militia called the NFAC marched on the mountain and surrounding area, where the group challenged right-wing militias, including the Three Percenters (III%ers).

In response to that march, a group of conservatives organized an event Saturday dubbed Heritage Not Hate, calling for support of the Stone Mountain monument in the wave of recent demonstrations against monuments honoring and memorializing the Confederacy. While initially claiming to have permits from Stone Mountain, the organizers never showed any evidence of such permits and the park was closed in anticipation of the protests.

Chaos over the closing of the park largely paralyzed the Heritage Not Hate protest that never officially reorganized or Nathan Posner made a new meeting location.

Guest Photojournalist Meanwhile, a group known as FLOWER United, who have previously called for the sandblasting of the monument honoring three Confederate leaders, organized a counter-protest on Main Street in downtown Stone Mountain.

In opposition, some of the militias that had promoted the protest, particularly Chris Hill’s Georgia Security Force III%, called for directly confronting the FLOWER United group, which included many antifa protestors, directly on the streets of Stone Mountain.

At 9 a.m., when both of the opposing groups were slated to start, they began to argue with each other, and soon the police, who had been holding a slight line between the two groups, left, and violence ensued.

Over the following five hours, the groups exchanged a variety of non-lethal objects, throwing everything from rocks to smoke grenades, with militia members spraying protestors with bear mace and wasp spray. Counter-protesters grabbed Confederate flags from some of the militia, and burned them, while some of the militia men grabbed protesters, getting into fist fights. Law enforcement returned around noon, and stayed on the sidelines, watching. Around 2 p.m., after the violence had largely subsided and the III% militia had begun to leave, police dispersed protesters using riot shields, and one officer used mace on some of the demonstrators.

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1 A counter-protester and a Confederate monument supporter confront each other.

5 A counter-protester waves a Black Lives Matter flag in opposition to the Heritage Not Hate protest in Stone Mountain.

2 Members of the III% militia of Georgia, including leader Chris Hill, stand on the street in opposition to counter-protesters.

6 Counter-protesters burn a Confederate flag.

3 A counter-protester throws his fist in the air as militia members face off against counter-protesters in downtown Stone Mountain.

4 A counter-protester and right-wing militia member confront each other.

7 Counter-protesters and supporters of the Stone Mountain monument face off against each other.

8 Stone Mountain monument supporters and protestors face off.

9 Supporters of the Stone Mountain monument talk with protesters.

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15 10 A left-wing protester rides a bike with anti-Nazi art on the front.

11 Pro-Stone Mountain monument protesters hold signs at a rally in support of the monument.

12 Protesters fight over a Confederate flag with a pro-Stone Mountain monument supporter at Heritage Not Hate protest.

13 Protesters march against militias and other groups who support the Stone Mountain monument.

14 A man with a Confederate flag faces off against counter-protesters, 15 Protesters fight over a Confederate flag with a pro-Stone Mountain monument supporter at Heritage Not Hate protest.

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Contributors This Week ALLEN H. LIPIS ALLISON PADILLA-GOODMAN BOB BAHR CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER ELLIOT B. KARP FLORA ROSEFSKY JAN JABEN-EILON JERRY KLINGER KENNETH STEIN LEWIS REGENSTEIN MARCIA CALLER JAFFE MARK FISHER NATHAN POSNER RABBI ARI LEUBITZ RABBI STEVE LEBOW RACHEL STEIN ROBYN SPIZMAN GERSON STACEY ASHER STEVE GILMER SUSANNE KATZ TERRI BONOFF TERRY SEGAL

THIS WEEK A Taste for Learning Over the past few months, the AJT has been giving you a taste of what to expect from back to school in the Jewish community during a pandemic. Preparations included intense cleaning protocols, the creation of new rules for learning, and the repeated revision of dates and location for opening day.

You will read in this issue the final product: the schools that are teaching remotely, in-person or a hybrid of both options. There are schools with staggered first days or condensed schedules. What they all have in common is a flexibility for change on a moment’s notice.

COVID has rocked the education world. Two educators, a school principal and a teacher who experienced the virus firsthand, offer a distinct view on returning to school. We also share how Jewish private schools are seeing increased enrollment, partly from public school students and as a result of the health crisis. Read about the new trend in learning or pandemic pods popping up around the country and in our community; the two synagogue preschools teaching through contrasting methods; and how Hillels of Georgia is reaching out to college students to keep them connected to their Judaism.

Plus find out how Jewish HomeLife and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta are offering COVID testing to area day schools.

Along with education in all its facets, this issue includes a sample of holiday flavors you might like to add to your Rosh Hashanah menu. We’ve got recipes from community members and stories about food, catering, holiday gatherings and symbolism. Two doctors compare their brisket recipes and correspondent Flora Rosefsky shares why Sukkot is her favorite holiday. Steve Gilmer of Kosher Gourmet explains the struggles to stock kosher food and an Atlanta woman searching her family history in Croatia returns with a new kosher wine business.

As we prepare for the high holidays, we welcome Congregation Or VeShalom’s new Conservative rabbi, signaling a shift in the historic Sephardic synagogue’s future.

Adapting to change is the new lesson plan.

We will continue to bring you the sweet tastes of the season in upcoming issues. Get your appetite ready.

Corrections and clarifications: The obituary for Marc Abrams in the July 31 issue transposed the date of death. He died July 12, not July 21. ì

Cover photo: Eighth-grader Lexi T. shows her Davis love on the first day back to school at The Davis Academy.

CONTENTS NEWS ������������������������������������������������� 6 BUSINESS ����������������������������������������� 8 ISRAEL NEWS ��������������������������������� 9 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 12 EDUCATION ����������������������������������� 20 FLAVORS ���������������������������������������� 31 CHAI STYLE ����������������������������������� 41 CALENDAR ������������������������������������� 44 COMMUNITY ��������������������������������� 48 NEW MOON MEDITATIONS ����� 52 OY VEY �������������������������������������������� 54 BRAIN FOOD ���������������������������������� 55 OBITUARIES ���������������������������������� 56 CLOSING THOUGHTS ����������������� 60

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 5

NEWS Jewish HomeLife Offers Schools COVID Testing

By Dave Schechter Head of school at the Atlanta Jewish Academy, Rabbi Ari Leubitz knows the challenges of creating a “COVID-compliant school,” a phrase he uses often in conversation.

As a recovering COVID patient himself, Leubitz understands the risks that the virus poses to the students, faculty and staff of AJA. So he was pleased when Jewish HomeLife, in an effort facilitated by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, offered COVID-19 testing with relatively quick results to Atlanta’s Jewish day schools, prePhoto by Barrie Cohn, AJA marketing director // Photo by Barrie Cohn, AJA marketing director // Nareen Bennett, Jewish HomeLife’s director of schools and after-school programs.

LaToya Clarke, Jewish HomeLife’s director quality assurance (in blue PPE), administering COVID-19 testing at Atlanta Jewish Academy.

Testing of AJA’s 110 faculty, administraof staff development and training (in white tors and staff began Aug. 10. First up was the PPE), administering COVID-19 testing at AJA. staff of the school’s early childhood development center, because its doors opened Aug. phone call from Jodi Lox Mansbach, Fed- doing a solid service to Jewish Atlanta by not The Epstein School, Torah Day School of At13. Following the staggered return schedule eration’s chief impact officer, to Harley only supporting Jewish HomeLife with all lanta, The Weber School, Hillels of Georgia, Tabak, the CEO of Jew- our testing needs, but also and Jewish Kids Groups. for AJA’s 435 students, next ish HomeLife. One theme now assisting us in providJHL also has done testing for to be tested would be staff Mansbach heard in the ing accurate and sensitive some staff of Jewish Family from the lower grades, then conference calls that Fed- testing for many Jewish day & Career Services, a partner the middle school, and fieration holds with vari- schools,” said Jeff Gopen, in the AgeWell Atlanta aging nally the high school (whose ous sectors of the Jewish JHL’s chief operating officer. services program through students return after the community was that the Federation.

The testing is being High Holy Days), as well as schools wanted COVID-19 done by Nareen Bennett, Each school will deteachers whose lessons will testing, to help reassure JHL’s director of quality cide the degree of testing be virtual, to students atboth staff and parents, but assurance, RN (registered it wants. Some may make tending from home. were unable to make the nurse), and LaToya Clarke, testing mandatory for fac“It’s very clear that necessary arrangements. ulty and staff, and perhaps its director of staff develthere are certain elements JHL has gained ex- opment and training, RN, students, while others may of individuals who are “We cannot remove all risk. Our Ana Robbins, executive perience in dealing with with oversight by nurse decide to test in the event of more at risk,” Leubitz said. responsibility is to mitigate it director of Jewish Kids Groups, praised the ease exposure to COVID-19 or if “We cannot remove all risk. as much as possible,” said Rabbi COVID-19, some of it from practitioner Kara Gold. If Ari Leubitz, head of school of having Jewish HomeLife combatting outbreaks of the school has a nurse, all anyone develops symptoms.

Our responsibility is to at Atlanta Jewish Academy. the virus among staff and test results go to that office. come to its teacher training to Ana Robbins, exmitigate it as much as posadminister COVID-19 tests. residents at the Berman Commons assisted- In the absence of a school ecutive director of JKG, sible.”

Through its COVID-19 emergency living facility. (As of Aug. 14, JHL reported nurse, the school is informed about nega- an independent Hebrew school program, fund, Federation thus far has allocated no COVID-19 positive cases at its facilities.) tive results, but JHL’s nurse practitioner will welcomed the access to COVID-19 testing.

From early in the pandem- contact anyone receiving a “Jewish HomeLife came $400,000 to the day ic, JHL steadily increased positive result. out to Jewish Kids Groups’ schools and $100,000 to the amount of PPE worn by teacher training and tested JHL receives the test pre-schools to assist in their staff at its facilities, as well kits from Capstone and reeveryone. They made it so opening for the new school as cleaning protocols. Over turns the samples to the lab. easy with release forms year. Jewish HomeLife retime, it has secured access JHL also enters into Capand labeled test tubes. All ceived $348,000 from the to dependable sources of stone’s computer system we did was show up and fund to help purchase perPPE. they quickly swabbed evthe insurance information sonal protective equipment In addition, through for every individual tested eryone. It didn’t even hurt (PPE) and pay for increased Capstone Healthcare in and the lab handles billtoo much,” Robbins said. staffing in the nine senior Sandy Springs, JHL has ac- ing the insurance carriers.

Mansbach said she residences that it operates cess to so-called viral tests A provision in the federal was “incredibly, incredibly at three Atlanta sites, as that identify the presence Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and grateful” for the assistance well as home care services.

Photo by Jewish HomeLife // “I hope we can expand this to provided to the schools by Now Federation has made more of the Jewish workforce as of COVID at the genetic level Economic Security (CARES) Harley Tabak, CEO of Jewish HomeLife, on a video call Tabak and the JHL staff. $100,000 available to assist coming back to work becomes and have a higher degree of Act, requires private health with staffing and other ex- more of a reality,” but for now reliability and a lower rate insurance plans to cover discussing the COVID-19 testing “I hope we can expand with representatives of various the schools are the focus, said of false positives than anti- costs of testing to detect or this to more of the Jewish penses as Jewish HomeLife schools and other programs.

Jodi Lox Mansbach, Federation’s gen tests.

The commercial workforce as coming back diagnose COVID-19. coordinates the school testchief impact officer. lab usually provides results In addition to AJA, others that have to work becomes more of a reality,” but for ing program.

The testing program began with a in one to two days. “Capstone Healthcare is signed on to the COVID-19 testing effort are: now the schools are the focus. ì 6 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

NEWS

Sephardic Synagogue Gets Conservative Rabbi

By Bob Bahr For what is believed to be the first time in its 106-year history, Congregation Or VeShalom, the Sephardic synagogue in Brookhaven, will have an Ashkenazic rabbi as its spiritual leader. Rabbi Josh Hearshen, who grew up in Detroit, is a 2007 graduate of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. The school is affiliated with the Conservative movement.

Although he has most recently been the rabbi of a Conservative synagogue in Tampa, for the past three summers he has served as the rabbi at Camp Ramah Darom, the Conservative facility in the North Georgia mountains, where he says he’s made many friends from Atlanta.

Taking up his new position, he says, is “like coming home.”

He and his wife Carrie, who teaches at the Atlanta Jewish Academy, have two children, including one that was born just before he accepted the job at Or VeShalom.

He spoke with us immediately after one of many personal meetings he’s had with his new congregants, many of whom have a strong sense of history and tradition.

to feel more comfortable in their Jewish lives that are influenced by the non-Jewish world on a daily basis. Those are the questions that will be examined over the coming years.

And I believe that there are a very large number of family members that want to be a part of this congregation.

They’re just waiting to see what happens.

And then we also have a very nice young Jewish community, you know, growing here in Brookhaven that we feel very strongly we’ll be able to pick up many of those families.

Congregation Or VeShalom was founded by Greek Sephardic Jews from the island of Rhodes.

of accommodation and change?

Hearshen: There are so many varieties of Sephardic Judaism. They’re all grown up and they’ve been birthed in disparate communities around the world.

That’s why there’s a distinct flavor to Moroccan Sephardic Judaism verses Persian Sephardic Judaism verses Bukharan verses Syrian.

I think all of these are very different.

So Sephardic Judaism has always been a very adaptAJT: How able expression does an Ashof Judaism. kenazic rabbi And I believe accommodate that that makes himself to a Sephardic Jews in Atlanta celebrate the it very well congregation 1912 wedding of Ezra and Joya Touriel, suited to look that’s always immigrants from the island of Rhodes. forward to how been Sephardwe can change over these coming years ic?

Hearshen: I’m on a listening tour and adapt to the world as it is now. And I right now. I also am doing reading and believe that that is part of the purpose of researching and studying to make sure my having been hired, to help lead them that I have a firm grasp of the sources through those changes. I am a non-Sepand often the different ways that things hardic trained rabbi. I have the experience of the non-Sephardic world in ways can be done.

I’m working on the basic premise that to help modify or navigate this synaI’m not building a synagogue or working gogue as it looks to grow and develop in at a synagogue for myself. I’m working the coming years. in a synagogue and building a synagogue AJT: Some of your congregants have for a community. And you have to be the rabbi that their community is looking to expressed concern about growth, even have. I’ve entered this job with my eyes survival. How do you see the question of wide open and my arms wide open to future growth?

Hearshen: One of the major quesstudy and growth and development. And it’s not about my vision. It’s about what tions from the younger generations is about how our synagogue responds to our community’s vision is. modernity. There are issues of gender, isAJT: How difficult do you see this job sues of Shabbat and all those things. And

Rabbi Josh Hearshen and his wife Carrie, their 11-year-old daughter Ayelet and new daughter Galit.

at what speed will we go in making those things happen. And so I think we have a major conversation that’s already begun about what roles women will be playing in the future and how we will get to that decision. There’s a question of how

AJT: One of the highlights of the Chanukah holiday in Atlanta has been the bazaar at your synagogue. Is it going to happen this year?

Hearshen: We’ve spoken about it already. We are having conversations about what it will look like this year. It will be happening somehow. Will it be outdoors? Will it be scaled back? We’re not sure. But we do feel strongly that we can make it happen somehow. We’re working on it. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 7

BUSINESS

Georgia Film Academy Directs Action!

By Marcia Caller Jaffe When Georgia’s $10 million film industry came to a halt at the onset of the pandemic, Jeffrey Stepakoff, the awardwinning executive director of the Georgia Film Academy, took action. He tapped into the school’s state-of-the-art technology to amp up its online education capabilities and to support a sustainable entertainment industry, Stepakoff and his team developed the first-ever COVID Compliance Course, https://www.georgiafilmacademy.online/.

“The GFA is committed to putting Georgians back to work in the film and entertainment industry through this industry-standard course,” Stepakoff said.

“We intend to add value to productions with safety protocols based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Georgia Department of Public Health.”

Georgia Film Academy trains students for careers in the entertainment industry in the state.

Jeff Stepakoff and his team developed the first-ever COVID Compliance Course for the entertainment industry.

Free to film and television production workers, casts, and crew, the CCC will help push Georgia’s multi-billion-dollar film industry closer to relaunching during the pandemic with a virtual training program of safety and sanitation best practices and procedures for anyone who

works on a film set in Georgia.

The CCC holds true to GFA’s founding goal of building a workforce pipeline for Georgians into the state’s growing film industry. The two-part course may be presented entirely online for employees and on-site for producers, showrun-

ners and key personnel. The course is comprised of instructional videos. The first component addresses basic safety and sanitation procedures for working on set. The second component is a series of shorter, craft-specific videos. Graduates receive certificates of completion from GFA and a handbook of recommended protocols and procedures.

Created in 2015 to put Georgians to work in all aspects of the state’s film industry, Stepakoff and his team have grown the GFA from its initial pilot program of 193 students in three institutions to thousands of students of all ages enrolled in campuses and training facilities in 22 institutions throughout the state.

From content creation, to production and filmmaking, GFA teaches a variety of skills to ensure there is a knowledgeable and educated workforce that can grow as Georgia’s film industry continues to expand into the future.

Sanitization Company Donates Equipment to Nonprofit Aguair LLC, a Marietta company that produces sanitizing products to help

8 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

prevent COVID-19, last month donated two pieces of advanced disinfectant

equipment to City of Refuge, a 23-yearold faith-based organization on Atlanta’s Westside that helps individuals and families transition out of crisis.

Beyond providing food, shelter and health care to women and children, the campus includes a Workforce Innovation Hub, which offers mentoring and training focused on job readiness and job placement. Multiple programs are offered in coding, automotive, culinary arts, customer service, security and health care.

“The donation provides another key to the puzzle in keeping our students safe as they step onto our campus and start their journey towards light, hope and life transformation” said Scott Steiner, City of Refuge’s vice president of strategy and development.

Itamar Kleinberger, co-founder of Aguair, said of the July 29 donation, “The City of Refuge is a longstanding institution in our great city, and it provides invaluable service to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. It is an honor to be able to donate SaniCart™ and ClensAir™ to the City of Refuge to help protect students and staff at the Innovation Hub as well as the residents at this facility.”

SaniCart™ is a mobile, micro-fogging surface and air sanitization system.

When paired with EPA-approved disinfectants, it kills pathogens, including coronaviruses, by fogging the air and covering surfaces in a few minutes. It

Itamar Kleinberger presents sanitizing equipment to Scott Steiner of City of Refuge.

uses an automated process that works by rolling the cart into a room and pressing the start button to deliver the disinfectant.

ClensAir™ is an air purifier that uses a six-layer purification process to remove viruses, bacteria, mold, allergens and other impurities from the air, including coronaviruses. It can be used in any enclosed area, particularly high traffic, to reduce airborne spread of pathogens.

Some national users of Aguair’s sanitization equipment include Del Monte Foods, CVS, Boys & Girls Clubs and Ecolab, as well as small businesses such as dental offices, spas and wellness centers, restaurants and lounges and educational institutions. ì

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME Israel, UAE Teams May Unite to Grow Fruit in Desert Israeli investment firm Arieli Capital said it is in talks with officials in the United Arab Emirates to promote desert agriculture projects, The Times of Israel reported.

Arieli Capital operates innovation centers around the world and a regional council in the Negev desert.

Talks have been taking place with UAE representatives who contacted the parties in Israel. Eran Doron, head of the Ramat Negev Regional Council, and representatives from the Center for Experimental Desert Agriculture in Ramat Negev have been involved in the meetings.

“Technology and innovation will become the bridge that connects the Israeli and UAE ecosystems and communities,” said Eric Bentov, a partner at Arieli Capital.

“The discussions are a game changing opportunity to unlock the social and economic potential of the Middle Eastern countries.”

As part of the negotiations, UAE officials are considering sending teams to the Ramat Negev region to undergo training in innovative desert agriculture to help grow crops including strawberries, blueberries and tomatoes, so as to cut back on imports,

Today in Israeli History Aug. 31, 2004: Bombs explode on two buses 100 yards apart on Beersheba’s main street, Ranger Boulevard. Hamas claims credit for the attack, which kills 16 Israelis, including a 3-year-old, and injures 100 others.

Sept. 1, 1915: Chaim Weizmann, credited with playing a key role in the 1917 Balfour Declaration, is named an honorary technical adviser to the British Admiralty on the supply of acetone for the explosive cordite.

Sept. 2, 1935: An estimated 80,000 mourners, roughly a quarter of Mandatory Palestine’s Jewish population, line the streets of Jerusalem for the funeral of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who died the previous day.

Sept. 3, 2011: More than 450,000 Israelis take to the streets to demand social justice and relief from the high cost of living in the March of the Million, the largest demonstration in Israel’s history.

Sept. 4, 1975: Israel and Egypt in Geneva sign the Second Disengage-

Or Haviv, a partner at Arieli Capital said in a statement.

In May 2020, Arieli Capital announced a cooperation agreement with Ramat Negev Regional Council and Ramat Negev Industries, to set up an ag-tech innovation center.

The initiative is part of a plan to expand the economic potential of the region’s agricultural sector and agricultural research and development capabilities.

The center will be located near Ashalim in southern Israel and focus on areas of specialization in the region, including general agriculture, desert agriculture, marine agriculture, cannabis and more.

Israeli COVID Breath Test Spots Every Carrier in Trial An Israeli COVID-19 breath test has correctly identified all positive patients in a clinical trial in Wuhan, China, according to a new study.

The device uses nanotechnology to identify compounds from the lung that are present in the breath of coronavirus patients, professor Hossam Haick of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology told The Times of Israel.

He said the test it is fully automatic,

A prototype of professor Hossam Haick’s COVID-19 breath test.

eliminating the need for anyone to come into contact with the patient to handle their sample, which is good for efficiency and for hygiene.

“You just blow into the device, which is the size of a smartphone, for two to three seconds, from a distance of 2 centimeters away,” he said. “There are no accessories, it requires no lab processing, and it gives results within 30 seconds of blowing.”

ment Agreement (Sinai II), brokered by U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger through shuttle diplomacy since March 1975.

Sept. 5, 1972: Black September terrorists kill two Israeli Olympic team members and take nine others hostage at the Summer Games in Munich. All nine hostages, as well as five of the eight terrorists, are killed in a German rescue attempt.

Sept. 6, 2007: In Operation Orchard, eight Israeli aircraft destroy a suspected nuclear reactor, built with North Korean help, at the military site of Al Kibar in northeastern Syria.

Sept. 7, 1907: Three years before changing his last name to Ben-Gurion, David Gruen arrives in Jaffa to make aliyah with his girlfriend, Rachel Nelkin, and other young adults from Plonsk, Poland. He settles in Petah Tikvah.

Sept. 8, 2010: Former Israeli armor commander Maj. Gen. Israel Tal, best known for leading the 1970 committee that designed and developed the Merkava (Chariot) tank, dies at age 85.

The current prototypes of the device are hand-held, but Haick said that the final product will require no touch, meaning that the “danger of cross-contamination is very low.”

The trial was approved by authorities in China, and, unlike some other innovations, results have been peer-reviewed and were published last week in a scientific journal, ACS Nano. “This was peer-reviewed, which is important, as it indicates we are meeting the standards of the scientific community,” Haick said.

He has developed the test, together with Technion colleague Yoav Broza and researchers from Wuhan, based on a device he invented a few years ago for detecting cancer.

“If everything goes well with further clinical studies, I hope it will be available and regulated within six months,” Haick said.

He emphasized accurate assessment of people who are sick with other respiratory illnesses. “Think about winter time, when people will have lots of conditions, such as influenza and colds, that make them feel sick but aren’t COVID-19, and it’s very important we can differentiate between them correctly,” he said.

with private land ownership, is founded in the northwestern Jezreel Valley between Haifa and Afula.

Sept. 12, 2009: An Israeli film, “Lebanon,” wins the Golden Lion at the Venice International Film Festival for the first time. Written and directed by Samuel Maoz, the movie follows a tank brigade in the First Lebanon War. President Bill Clinton brings Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat together for a handshake outside the White House on Sept. 13, 1993.

Sept. 9, 1993: Four days before Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin sign the selfrule agreement of the Oslo Accords, the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel formally recognize each other’s existence.

Sept. 10, 1956: Eilat Mazar, a thirdgeneration Israeli archaeologist, is born.

Her best-known work has involved excavations in Jerusalem’s City of David, including remnants of what she believes to be King David’s palace.

Sept. 11, 1921: Moshav Nahalal, a new kind of agricultural settlement combining a kibbutz’s communal principles

Sept. 13, 1984: Shimon Peres becomes Israel’s eighth prime minister, leading a national unity government combining his Alignment with Likud and six other parties. Peres agrees to yield the position to Likud leader Yitzhak Shamir after two years.

Sept. 14, 1948: Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion announces after a meeting with Palmach leaders that the Haganah strike force, formed in 1941, is being dismantled as an independent unit and integrated into the Israel Defense Forces. ì Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 9

ISRAEL NEWS Atlantans Support Israel’s Agreement with UAE

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

Israel and Jordan established relations; Egypt signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979, two President Donald Trump’s recent an- years after Egyptian President Anwar Sadat nouncement that Israel and the United made his highly heralded visit to Israel. UnArab Emirates would launch the process to like the UAE, Jordan and Egypt had fought normalize relations between Israel since the latter’s war of the two countries was favorindependence in 1948. ably praised by many in the AtThe UAE-Israel anlanta Jewish community. They nouncement is an “historic echoed the wider community, breakthrough and may be even as they diverged on the only the beginning of more significance of the move.

Gulf nations establishing for“Any peace is a good mal diplomatic relations [with thing,” said Guy Tessler, former Israel],” gushed Mitchell Kaye, AJC regional director head of Conexx: America Israel who represented East Cobb Dov Wilker said the Business Connector. “But it’s for five terms in the Georgia agreement between mostly a political move that House of Representatives. He Israel and the UAE is serves Trump and [Prime Min- “one of Israel’s greatest stressed that this is “only the accomplishments ister Benjamin] Netanyahu. It third peace treaty and the first in its history.” takes the focus off their poliin 26 years.” tics,” said Tessler, who left Conexx about a Although it’s been clear for years that year ago to pursue other business interests.

Israel and the UAE have worked together “For Netanyahu, it’s the near daily – recently sharing information to fight demonstrations in front of his home and the coronavirus pandemic – most Israeli his personal [upcoming] trial and close to 1 companies have kept a low profile. One exmillion Israelis unemployed. For Trump, it’s ception is cybersecurity firm Check Point the elections. He needs to show the Jewish, which openly lists its Dubai office on its Israeli and evangelical communities” an in- website. ternational achievement, Tessler said.

Still, the UAE had supported the 2002 “There have been business relationships Arab Peace Initiative launched by Saudi Arabetween Israel and the Emirates since 1994,” bia, which called for normalization between he said, adding that the big economic win- Israel and the Arab countries only after the ners of the agreement are the UAE and the establishment of a Palestinian state with JeUnited States, which will most likely now sell rusalem as its capital and Israeli withdrawal F-35 fighter planes to the former. from territories occupied in 1967. Pointedly, On the other hand, Dov Wilker, regional a senior member of the Saudi royal family, director of the American Jewish Committee, in the wake of the Israel-UAE agreement, reasserted, “I think it’s one of Israel’s great- affirmed Saudi Arabia’s support of the Arab est accomplishments in its history because Peace Initiative. it’s not on a border with Israel, so it’s not as While the latest deal appears to be a result of war.” He was referring to the fact putting the cart before the horse, the UAE that the UAE will now become only the third contended that the bargain with Israel was Arab country with diplomatic relations with in exchange for Netanyahu pulling his proIsrael, and the first since 1994. That’s when posed annexation of West Bank territory off

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WAM Photography // Dubai is the most populous of the seven emirates in the UAE.

Saudi Arabia, between Tel Aviv and Dubai the table.

Even long-time supporter of a two-state and Abu Dhabi.” He obviously understands solution between Israel and the Palestinians, Israelis’ craving for travel outside the counGershon Baskin, wrote in his Jerusalem Post try, especially as most countries are closed to column, “The Israel-UAE deal should wake Israelis due to the spreading virus.

Travel industry experts predict, howup the Palestinians to the reality that no one ever, that flights between Israel is going to help them. Not the and the UAE won’t happen unU.S., the E.U. or the Arabs. Saltil well into 2021 or maybe even vation will come from within, later. And although Saudi Aranot from the outside.” bia has allowed flights from Israelis, for the most part, a few other countries to fly to greeted the announcement Israel in its air space, it still with subdued enthusiasm. doesn’t allow Israeli airlines to They are focused more on the do so. growing numbers of COVID-19 “Israelis will go Meanwhile, three counpositive cases and the resulting anywhere,” according tries are now allowing Israelis hobbling of the economy. Until to Guy Tessler.

– with negative COVID test reMonday, they were also consumed with concern that a fourth round of sults – to enter: Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece. elections in less than two years would be in- Inveterate travelers who pre-pandemic stigated by Netanyahu. A last-minute agree- would jump on a plane to go anywhere, ment by the coalition government to delay Israelis’ mouths are particularly watering passage of a national budget for 120 days, with thoughts of visiting the UAE, a federaalong with a freeze on several top appoint- tion of seven emirates of which the capital ments, such as the state prosecutor, seemed Abu Dhabi and Dubai are best known.

Dubai is the most populous city, at 3.4 to relieve those concerns.

The latter issue was reportedly the big- million. Overall, the UAE has a population of gest spoke in the wheel to a government 9 million, of which 8 million are foreigners, mostly from poor Asian councompromise as Netanyahu tries who fill simple jobs such attempted to take control of as gardening, cleaning, mainthose judicial appointments tenance and driving. Dubai’s on the eve of the opening of economy rests primarily on his trial on bribery, fraud and trade, tourism and the financial breach of trust. The evidentiaservices industries. Last year, ry part of his trial is scheduled Dubai hosted more than 12 milfor January. lion visitors.

Facing monthslong proMitchell Kaye thinks the Home to what is believed tests near his official residence UAE-Israel agreement to be the world’s largest dutyin Jerusalem as well as his pri“may be only the vate home in Caesarea – and beginning of more Gulf free shop, huge malls, sevennations establishing star hotels and super glittering other locations around the formal diplomatic modern office towers, the UAE country – Netanyahu might relations” with Israel. still has limited tourist attrachave backed away from elections, fearing the results. In the last three tions. “Israelis will go anywhere,” points out elections he was unable to cobble together Tessler, “but after three or four days, there’s a right-wing government, finally establish- nothing to do there.”

That probably won’t stop Israelis from ing a unity government with the party of his chalking up another country they have vismain opponent.

Not long after the agreement with the ited. Just days after the agreement was anUAE was announced, Netanyahu quickly in- nounced, Israelis were at least able to make formed his compatriots that the government direct phone calls to the UAE for the first was “working on enabling direct flights, over time.ì

ISRAEL NEWS

What Israel-UAE Recognition Means

By Kenneth Stein On Aug. 13, when the United Arab Emirates agreed to pursue full normal relations with Israel without any Israeli withdrawal from lands it won in the June 1967 war, the sacred negotiating formula “Land for Peace” that had dominated Arab-Israeli talks for half a century, abruptly ended. In return for only an Israeli promise not to annex any of the land it had occupied and administered on the West Bank since June 1967, a third Arab state accepted Israeli legitimacy. Egypt, Jordan, and now the UAE Courtesy of the Center for Israel Education have demonstrated that while each had or // Map of Middle East. Travel from has residual, if not waning sympathies for Israel to United Arab Emirates is equivalent to a flight from Atlanta to the Palestinian plight, each refused to postDenver, a bit more than three hours. pone advancement of their own strategic national interests. None of them proved patient enough to wait for the Palestinians to Chinese influence regionwide. A central core of Zionism remains: to be active, not enter serious negotiations with Israel.

Initial Palestinian reaction to the UAE- passive, turn challenges into opportunities, Israel understanding was fierce anger and adjust on the run, shape one’s tomorrow, total dismay. Advocates, diplomats, organi- and preclude nothing, except the country’s zations, and countries that seek a two-state demise.

Since after the June 1967 War, under solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are keenly disappointed because the UAE the guidance of 10 successive U.S. presihas advanced Israel’s status in the region dents, from Lyndon Johnson to Donald without forcing Israel to pay a price to the Trump, the United States became the primary steward of Arab-IsraePalestinians. Those who li conflict negotiations. Each advocate for the Boycott, president operated with the Divestment and Sanctions land-for-peace formula. The (BDS) movement against concept was enshrined in Israel now contend with UNSC [United Nations Seanother Arab state that accurity Council] Resolution cepts Israel’s legitimacy.

242 (November 1967) which The UAE follows Egypt spoke about the “inadmis(1979) and Jordan (1994) in Courtesy of UAE // Chanukah sibility of the acquisition recognizing Israeli statein December 2013, in Dubai. of territory by war,” and hood without obtaining a political promise, self-determination, or an critically, the “withdrawal of Israeli forces independent state for the Palestinians. Isra- [from lands] occupied in the recent conflict.” el pursued normalization of relations with Simply put, the formula is: under what cirthe UAE because doing so was definitely in cumstances and over what period of time its national interest. Around its borders, Is- would Israel return tangible land to an Arab rael sees Arab states crumbling or fraying at party living adjacent to it, and what intangithe edges. They are all under the combined ble promise, such as a treaty or agreement, weight of onerous economic decline, pesky would Israel receive in return?

As far as the Gaza Strip is concerned, COVID-19 issues, massive displaced populations, and pockets of corruption in pandem- Israel returned that to Palestinian leadership in August 2005. Israel annexed to itic proportions.

Israel has again internalized the reality self a large segment of Jerusalem in June that the Palestinian political leadership is 1967. And for the Golan Heights, the United sclerotic, divided, dysfunctional, and highly States recognized Israeli sovereignty over autocratic. For Israel, resolving the Palestin- them (formally annexed by Israel in 1981) in March 2019. ian issue is not an existential matter.

In the UAE-Israel agreement, Israel What matters for Israel is its security relationships with Jordan and Egypt, and has not promised the return of any territokeeping Iranian influence to a minimum in ries, but instead promised not to annex any Lebanon, Syria and among the Palestinians. lands on the West Bank. This agreement Israel seeks to be proactive in supporting its does not preclude that at some future point Sunni Arab friends in the Gulf, important the area of the West Bank, or a portion of it, allies against both Iran and the spread of could be become part of a Palestinian entity

EPA, AP, Alex Kolomoisky/Ynetnews // UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan,

U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayahu.

strong footprints in the region. Those who or eventually annexed to Israel.

[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, advocate for a militarily strong Israel will with many threatened gyrations toward feel gratified by the result of the UAE-Israel annexation in May to July, seems to have agreement.

2. Radical Islam as a core theologisettled comfortably in [predecessor] Mencal organizing platform for badgering and achem Begin’s philosophical camp, at least menacing Israel took a body blow; instead for the time being: Do no harm, even if poa secular Arab national view accepted the litical supporters to your right think you reality of Israel as a Jewish state. Other Arab have abandoned the dream of annexation. states may do likewise in the near and interAddressing the Knesset Sept. 25, 1978, Begin mediate future. said that “Israel would 3. Unilateral actions assert its right over soversuch as annexation or eignty in the West Bank, building of settlements Judea and the Gaza Strip need not take place for against the background of Israel to enhance its secucounterclaims, and if no rity. agreements are reached at 4. U.S. politicians — the present time [with the both Democrats and RePalestinians and Israel], publicans — who strongly then the present autonoopposed Israel’s annexamy arrangements and Istion of any portion of the rael’s security will remain United Arab Emirates/Fredrik West Bank are saved from in force.”

Ohlander // Sands and taking a contentious poFor not annexing towers in Dubai, Dubai. sition on annexation as land – at least not yet – and in spite of his other achievements, they enter the coming election cycle.

5. The Trump administration gleeoutstanding and regretful in the over a decade he has been in office, Netanyahu has fully announced the agreement; similarly, secured an esteemed place in the annals of the Biden-Harris ticket called the event a Israeli history. He is one of the four Israeli badly needed act of statesmanship. Both prime ministers who personally escorted major parties continuously endorse Israel Israel statehood toward acceptance and as a highly valued strategic partner in a legitimacy: David Ben-Gurion, in declaring perennially volatile neighborhood. Conand sustaining the state; Menachem Begin cern that Israeli policies would be a partiin gaining Egyptian recognition; Yitzhak san “wedge” issue in the 2020 elections are Rabin, in negotiating the peace treaty with greatly diminished.

6. While Washington took the pubJordan, and now Netanyahu with the UAE’s lic credit for this agreement, it unfolded portended recognition.

There are six other interim conclu- because decades of private talks transpired between UAE and Israel officials. ì sions to be considered: 1. It is evident that a military-strong Kenneth Stein is a professor at Emory Israel carries favor and weight among Middle Eastern countries, particularly at a University and director of the Emory Institute moment when the U.S. and EU do not have for the Study of Modern Israel.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 11

OPINION Letter to the editor,

On behalf of the State Bar of Georgia, I am writing to extend condolences to the family, colleagues and many friends of Richard M. Shafritz of Shafritz & Dean LLC in Atlanta on his very untimely passing on July 31. As a Georgia State University College of Law classmate of Richard’s, I count myself among those personal friends.

A Sandy Springs resident who was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 2001, Richard practiced real estate law throughout metro Atlanta and earned a well-deserved reputation as an attorney with exceptional intellect, unshakable ethics, a larger-than-life personality and a legacy of excellent professional service to his clients.

Richard Shafritz will be missed and fondly remembered by his fellow members of the legal community. We appreciate his dedication and the many contributions he made during his career through his exemplary service to the public and justice system.

Dawn M. Jones, president, State Bar of Georgia

Letter to the editor,

A discussion of Black Lives Matter with your son should start with a history lesson: African Americans fought, sacrificed and died for the democracy which Jews immigrated to their country, America, to enjoy. Though they fought and died for our democracy, African Americans have encountered oppression and bigotry in all forms for over 400 years. African Americans have fought for equality and inclusiveness long before Jews immigrated to their country.

Racism, like anti-Semitism, tends to take the path of least resistance down to the ground! The virulent racist assault on America’s most patriotic citizens of color, Tamika Mallory, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Angela Davis, Linda Sarsour and others by insidious Jewish ingrates is unAmerican, unacceptable and obscene!

Many Jews have virulently assaulted “Black Lives Matter.” Mort Klein ZOA, an immigrant, tweeted, “BlackLivesMatter is an antisemitic, Israel hating Soros funded racist extremist Israelophobic hate group.” And “BLM is a Jew hating, White hating, Israel hating, conservative Black hating, violence promoting dangerous Sores funded extremist group of haters.”

A man (later identified as Abraham Knopfler) demanded that a New York City coffee shop take down a “BLACK LIVES MATTER” sign. He was refused service because he was not wearing a mask! Mr. Knopfier stated, “They have mattered pretty much. Black lives only matter when they’re killed by whites and not when they’re killed by blacks.”

Caroline Glick, JNS (6-28-20) “The silent American Jews:” “So for BLM, anti-Semitism isn’t a bug. It is a feature. Hatred of Israel and the Jews is part of its DNA.” Americans are paying for Holocaust museums, for care for elderly Holocaust victims who placed their assets in foreign banks to avoided paying tax in America and so many more causes for Jews and Israel. Congress just passed a bill to give Israel a minimum of $38 billion over the next 10 years, despite current devastation to the U.S. economy. The bill passed by a voice vote without any discussion or debate of the largest such package in U.S. history, and without identifying the title.

This looting of American tax dollars will constitute $7,000 per minute for the dysfunctional/terrorist/welfare state of Israel.

Our tax dollars should be used for the people who earned those tax dollars, the American people, especially African Americans who are suffering the consequence of COVID-19 more than most and need our tax dollars far more than Israel.

I notice that Jews are using the term “white privileged” more and more! There is an interesting article in atlantajewishtimes 12-19-16, “Are Jews White? It’s Complicated” by Dave Schechter.

M. D. Block, La Jolla, Calif.

Letter to the editor,

I want to applaud Dave Schechter for his powerful article about addressing anti-Semitism: July 28, “Perdue Campaign Removes Ad Ossoff called ‘Anti-Semitic’” The article’s title speaks for itself about what this story will be focused on. I believe that Dave’s writing about addressing anti-Semitism is supposed to get readers acknowledging racism in politics today. With the 2020 election day only three months away, Georgia has become a battleground for the Senate.

As a part of Generation Z, I am motivated more than ever to battle racial injustice and racism that is still alive in America. Politicians have used assumptions and stereotypes to make others feel inferior because of being taught it. Jon Ossoff, a Jewish candidate having his nose “manipulated to enlarge” it, will serve as a reputation of what his opponent’s party has become.

When I was reading this article, I realized that a political party is just a basis of what a candidate runs on but running for office goes deeper than that. For example, I believe that 12 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

voters should not vote solely based on a political party, but on integrity, leadership, character and empathy. Those are the qualities I look for in a candidate.

In June 2017, I created an iMovie for the Jon Ossoff campaign for U.S. Congress and it was able to exceed over 1,100 views on Facebook. My intention for creating the iMovie was to convince potential voters to elect Jon because of his plans to help affordable healthcare and Georgian families in need. I campaigned for him by drawing posters May 26, 2017, at Jon Ossoff outdoor rally and making posters for his campaign. and attending his rallies. Being a Jon supporter, it I was 14 and I remember asking him was disconcerting to see his beautiful Jewish culif he saw my iMovie. His response ture being used against him. was “yes” and that he enjoyed it.

This article was a reminder to pay closer attention to candidates’ character and to never forget the “why” when running for office. Jon Ossoff knows his cause and it is to challenge corruption in Washington, D.C. I remember being 14, enthusiastically telling Jon my aspirations for running for Senate in the future and he thought that was amazing. He inspires me every day.

Jon has always been a politician I look up to because of his character, morals and him as a person.

Thank you, Dave, for shedding more light on anti-Semitism and the different forms it comes in. This article enlightened me to continue striving to achieve my dreams of being a U.S. Senator who will protect human rights from discrimination regardless of gender, race, LGBTQ+ and religion. Hopefully, your article inspires many to take action against hate towards certain communities.

Ashleigh Ewald, Georgia

Letter to the editor,

The date is March 13, 2020. Everyone around the country is preparing for distance learning, thinking that it will last a few weeks. Little did I think that it would be the last time I would see my teachers and my friends for my junior year.

The Class of 2020 got their proms and graduation parties taken away. I have several friends in the Class of 2020, and I know that they did not deserve what they got taken away from them. As a member of the Class of 2021, I ask myself “Will I even get to have a graduation?” I hope I do. “Will I get to have a graduation party?” I hope I do.

My school year was already delayed by a week. I was happy about having an extra week of summer, but also disappointed that my senior year already got off to a rocky beginning.

My school is doing a blended learning option, but I will be doing the in-person choice for now. I do feel hesitant going in person because I don’t know what could happen. I am disappointed that my senior year will not be as normal as other senior years prior to COVID-19. My senior year will be a historic one for many reasons, but what I will do is make my senior year the best that it will be. My school has implemented rules such as having lunch outside, requiring masks, and enforcing social distancing as much as possible. They also are requiring every student to bring their own water bottle instead of using the water fountains in the hallway.

Luckily, I go to a private school with less than 300 kids. But seeing pictures of a crowded hallway at North Paulding High School in Dallas, Ga., and the senior girls’ picture at Etowah High School in Woodstock, Ga., made me feel glad I don’t go to a public school. The smaller the environment, the safer I feel, but I still take precautions seriously.

What I am most upset about is that I will have to leave my friends in a year. I grew up with a lot of them, and we had so many memories together. Will I even get to say goodbye?

I’m praying that I do.

Being a Jewish high school student during coronavirus is also going to be difficult in terms of observing Yom Kippur and being a part of the world’s largest Jewish youth group, BBYO. I have observed Yom Kippur every year since fourth grade, but last year was the first time I actually went to synagogue for Yom Kippur. Now, I have to do Zoom services. In other news, my youth group, BBYO, is having almost everything online at the moment. Virtual conventions, programs, etc. Our biggest gathering of the year is the international convention with more than 5,000 teens usually in attendance. It was scheduled to take place in Philadelphia over President’s Day weekend, but Philadelphia is now prohibiting all major gatherings until the end of February 2021.

I am keeping my hopes high for everything that a senior should have, but ultimately, we will have to see what happens.

Perry Schwartz, Atlanta

OPINION Letter to the editor,

In January 1933 the German people used their ballot to install an anti-Semitic government. (“Ilhan Omar Holds Off Well Funded Primary Challenger in Minnesota”) In August 2020 the Democratic voters of Minnesota’s 5th District used their ballot to maintain the anti-Semitism of Ilhan Omar in office.

By their ballot they rejected the wisdom and prescience of Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as cited by the late Congressman John Lewis.

In a 2002 op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Congressman Lewis recalled the wise and prescient words of Dr. King spoken at Harvard University a few weeks before his death: “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews; you’re talking anti-Semitism.”

There is no doubt both Dr. King and Congressman Lewis would have branded Ilhan Omar as an anti-Semite. Unfortunately, just as in Germany in January 1933, the Democratic voters in Minnesota have spoken.

Richard Sherman, Margate, Fla.

They will be, if we all contribute to their survival.

Please remain a member in good standing by paying your membership dues and contributing to fundraising campaigns, regardless of your current level of involvement and benefit, or lack thereof. You’ll be setting an example for your kids and grandchildren.

These organizations need us now, more than ever, and we and future generations need them.

L’shanah Tovah, Lee N. Katz, Atlanta The AJT welcomes your letters. We want our readers to have an opportunity to engage with our community in constructive dialogue. 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.

Letter to the editor,

UAE Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash stated that when a normalization agreement with Israel is signed, “Abu Dhabi will have its embassy in Tel Aviv based on international consensus to a two-state solution. The embassy will be in Tel Aviv. This is very clear,” he said.

Asked about achievements reached in the deal, Gargash said, ‘The most concrete achievement was to stop the annexation of Palestinian lands” and he reiterated UAE’s commitment to a two-state solution.

Perhaps we would do well to recall the words of Anwar Sadat: “Poor Menachem, he has his problems. … After all, I got back … the Sinai and the Alma oil fields, and what has Menachem got? A piece of paper.”

There is also this, from an interview with Sadat in the Egyptian newspaper Al Anwar on June 22, 1975: “The Zionist conquest to which we are being subjected will not be terminated by the return of the occupied territories. … The effort of our generation is to return to the 1967 borders. Afterward the next generation will carry the responsibility.”

History suggests we might reasonably question whether it is sound policy “to make concrete, and probably irreversible, concessions in exchange for gestures and unenforceable promises.”

Julia Lutch, Davis, Calif

Letter to the editor,

In the Aug. 15, 2020, edition of the Atlanta Jewish Times, Michael Morris wrote an article entitled, “Our Rabbis and Synagogues Need Us.” I thought his message was on point and could be extended to include all Jewish nonprofit organizations.

COVID-19 has hit our nonprofit agencies really hard. In March, most agencies had a 9-day survival plan, with a few thinking 180 days. Most did not believe what has turned into a reality: Jewish nonprofits are typically seeing a 20 to 35% reduction in revenue as of today.

As the side effects of the pandemic drag on for another nine to 12 months, the revenues will most assuredly decrease even more. A vaccine won’t provide a quick economic recovery because of the domino effect that has reached virtually everyone, one way or another. Sadly, not all of the synagogues, JCCs, senior living facilities, day schools, senior programming, or family services will survive in their current form. Most simply didn’t/ don’t have financial reserves or benefactors. A few, due to their endowment funds, will survive unscathed, but that will be the exception. This demise will affect us all!

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s emergency campaign was manna for a lot of local agencies. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s JCamp 180 provided emergency matching grants for Jewish camps that couldn’t open. Many foundations and endowment funds pumped money into our community. But that was a short-term fix.

Our community will need more assistance from those who have a financial capacity, and from some who just need to dig deeper in their pockets as endowment funds are drained and emergency funds disappear.

High holiday giving is paramount to our synagogues’ survival as it’s typically 10 to 25% of their annual budget. Without a successful appeal, staff/clergy may need to be reduced. I cringe just typing that sentence.

I’m encouraging and pleading with those who can to support their synagogues, JCC, Jewish day schools and the hundreds of nonprofits that count on us.

Many of us want to return to that touchy-feely sensation of in-person attendance and participation, but will those agencies be there when we’re on the other side of COVID-19?

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 13

OPINION

One GOP Endorsement That Greene Will Not Get I do not live in Georgia’s 14th congressional district.

I’m not here to tell the voters in the 14th district who to support on Nov. 3.

Dave Schechter If it is the From Where I Sit will of the majority to elect Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene to the United States House of Representatives, so be it. In this country, the right of the people to choose their representatives is fundamental.

The 14th anchors the northwest corner of Georgia. The district’s Jewish population is tiny, less than 0.03 percent when estimated in 2014. There is one active synagogue, Rodeph Sholom Congregation in Rome.

The seat opened when Republican Rep. Tom Graves decided not to seek re-election.

Given that the 14th is one of the nation’s most conservative districts, odds are that Greene will defeat Democrat Kevin Van Ausdal and in January place her left hand on a Bible, raise her right hand, and swear to “support

14 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.”

Greene is controversial because of who she considers an enemy and who a friend.

After the June 9 primary — in which she was the leading vote-getter — the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition Matt Brooks told the Jewish Insider that the RJC would not support Greene if she won the Aug. 11 runoff.

Brooks said in a July 20 statement that “The importance of the outcome of this runoff is too great for us to stay on the sidelines” because Greene “would take our party in the wrong direction.” The RJC endorsed her opponent. Greene won the runoff.

The RJC national office has reconfirmed to me that it will not back Greene in the general election.

In the interest of the space allotted this column, we’ll move past Greene’s remarks about Muslims and African Americans and, because this is a Jewish newspaper focused on metro Atlanta and Georgia, consider what she has said about Jews.

Readers can decide for themselves whether those comments are anti-Jewish.

Starting with, George Soros is a “Nazi.”

Soros is 90 years old, Jewish, a Holocaust survivor (he was 9 when World War II began and 14 when it ended), an emigre to the United States from Hungary, and a billionaire who has financially backed liberal causes in Hungary, in the United States, and globally.

Some on the right become apoplectic at the mention of his name.

POLITICO reviewed hours of Greene’s Facebook videos, finding this: “George Soros says dark forces have been awakened by Trump’s win. I don’t think so. George Soros is the piece of crap that turned in — he’s a Jew — he turned in his own people over to the Nazis.” Never mind that this is a falsehood.

POLITICO also reported: “In February 2019, Greene replied to a tweet that included several memes accusing Soros of being part of a secret totalitarian world government.

One picture showed Soros as a vampire who controls ‘every single Democrat politician.’

In her reply, Greene called Soros ‘the Nazi himself trying to continue what was not finished.’”

The RJC also referred to Greene’s habit of “promoting bizarre political conspiracy theories,” namely those promulgated by the right-wing fringe known as QAnon. In a 2017 YouTube video she said, “There’s a once-in-a-

lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it.”

In QAnon world, that cabal includes Soros and, for good measure, the Rothschild family, a bogeyman for peddlers of anti-Jewish hate dating back to the 1815 Battle of Waterloo and a pamphlet authored by a mysterious “Satan” that accused Nathan Rothschild of making a fortune on the London exchange with early information of the French defeat.

Then there are her photographs with Chester Doles, a Georgian with a history of white supremacist activity. He described her on social media as “part of the Q movement” and a “Good friend to have.” Greene’s campaign has called questions about Doles “silly and the same type of sleazy attacks the Fake News Media levels against President Trump.”

The day after her runoff victory, Trump hailed Greene on Twitter, calling her a “future Republican Star” and “a real WINNER.” Among Republicans congratulating Greene were Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins, the frontrunners heading toward Georgia’s Nov. 3 all-comers Senate primary.

But not the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Not now and not in November. ì

How to Get Help “Our twin priorities are service and survival,” said Richard Malone, president and chief executive of the YMCA of Metro Chicago, which closed Terri Bonoff three of its 17 Guest Columnist branches since the pandemic struck. “It is the nonprofit sector that needs help, but it’s the people who we serve that bear the brunt.”

This excerpt was taken from a New York Times story that ran recently with the headline “Providing a Pandemic Safety Net, Nonprofits Need Their Own.” The experience we have had at JF&CS Atlanta during the global pandemic is very different than what I am hearing from colleagues around the country. The Jewish community is not immune to the pain and suffering the pandemic is wreaking on communities everywhere. Yet the Jewish community response to meet the need is very different. The collaborative environment among the providers of lifeline services and the generosity of the philanthropic community is a recipe that yields a rich and powerful result. JF&CS has been able to continue current staffing levels, increase where needed and expand services to address the very serious crisis that members of our community face.

Thanks to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Emergency Relief Fund, the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, United Way, the Zalik Foundation, The Molly Blank Fund, JumpSpark and many generous donors, we have transformed our service delivery model. In all of last fiscal year, we gave away $150,000 in emergency assistance. In the last 20 weeks, we have provided more than $500,000. (An over 300 percent increase over ALL of last year).

Take a minute and imagine the faces behind the numbers: the mom who is undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer.

COVID concerns keep her from working during treatment, and she’s unable to pay for her medical bills and the cost of her son’s special education tutors. Or the 85-year-old man who lost his wife and now needs help to stay in his home by himself. Imagine the parents who have both lost their jobs and can’t make their mortgage payment. These are real people in real need.

The Jewish community also is not immune to food insecurity. Our Kosher Food Pantry that served our clients primarily, has helped 3,000 people since mid-March with 77,000 pounds of food, an increase of over 1,000 percent. We were not doing ANY home

OPINION

delivered meals for older adults pre-COVID, but as part of our food pantry work and to respond to the need for older adults who couldn’t get meals, we began a small meal delivery service. In the last 18 weeks we went from not having this service to delivering 477 meals to date and plan to continue as long we can.

Another acute area of need is the soaring demand for mental health support. There is palpable anxiety among many. Those who are already confronting challenges in their marriages, have financial hardships, struggle with depression, anxiety or addiction are now in deeper crisis. Parents who are taking on the educator-in-residence role and full-time family entertainment manager are dealing with increased anxiety as they continue to juggle work and family life. Our clinicians have stretched their capacity and access to meet the needs of those who need our help. Partnerships with community organizations such as JumpSpark and In the City Camp leverage JF&CS professional support to meet the needs of parents, children and families.

Grief over the sudden loss of loved ones can be overpowering, and support groups and counseling can help our friends and family get through one of the most difficult times in our lives. Our JF&CS family is here to help.

The JF&CS pandemic story is one of hope, resilience, empathy and strength.

There is a rainbow in our story, and it is because the community supported our commitment and capacity to serve. While the outlook for recovery appears to be far off, the ending to this story has not yet been written. Between today and points unknown when the recovery is sustained there will be even greater demand for services, obstacles to overcome, and cries for help to respond to.

We intend to meet these challenges head on as a marathon and not a sprint. We ask for our philanthropic community to stick with us. Please continue inquiring about what we need, and help us help those in real need.

If you or someone you know needs help – food, financial support and/or mental health support – please share these numbers or contact us at: Emergency assistance and/or food: 770-677-9389 emergencyfinancialassistance@jfcsatl.org foodpantry@jfcsatl.org For mental health support: 770-677-9474 therapy@jfcsatl.orgì Terri Bonoff is CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 15

OPINION

Evidence Reveals Hitler's Hand In Mass Murder

Lewis Regenstein Guest Columnist

I recently purchased at auction an important document consisting of an original draft order to expedite Nazi Germany’s slave labor program, with editing changes in Adolf Hitler’s

handwriting.

The document clearly demonstrates Hitler’s personal interest and involvement in this murderous program, an important aspect of the Holocaust, and presumably other war crimes as well.

It has been authenticated by Hitler’s somewhat infamous secretary Frau Traudl Junge in a letter accompanying the document, which was originally acquired by an American intelligence officer after the war.

This cruel and brutal project employed up to 15 million people from occupied countries in the East, mainly Jews, Poles, Ukrainians, Russians, POWs, civil-

16 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

ians, concentration camp inmates and others, even mothers abducted along with their children.

More likely, signs were placed outside of concentration and work camps proclaiming, “Arbeit macht frei” (Work will make you free). Instead, the prisoners were likely to experience “Vernichtung durch Arbeit” (extermination through labor), being starved, tortured, worked to death, or simply executed when their usefulness expired.

One of the most brutal examples of this was at Mittelbau-Dora, near Nordhausen, which used some 60,000 slave laborers, a third of whom perished. This was where Wernher von Braun and his famous rocket scientists developed the V1 flying bomb and V2 rocket, before being brought to the United States after the war, where they became national heroes for their work on the U.S. space program.

Many of today’s leading German industries fully exploited the program, including Deutsche Bank, Siemens, Thyssenkrupp, and BMW, and German companies have generally resisted paying compensation to survivors of the pro-

Roll call at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

A draft of a slave labor decree edited by Adolf Hitler in his own handwriting, from Fuehrer headquarters, and authenticated by his personal secretary.

Lewis Regenstein acquired this document among others in an auction.

gram.

This newly re-discovered document, dated simply September, 1942, is a draft of one of Hitler’s harshest, cruelest directives, the order of Sept. 30, 1942, authorizing his chief of labor deployment Fritz Sauckel to enslave millions of workers from the occupied territories and POW camps.

It instructs Sauckel to “take all necessary measures” to enforce an earlier decree to furnish workers for labor “for the German war-economy.”

As a result, Sauckel wrote to Alfred Rosenberg, head of the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories, telling him that 2 million more foreign laborers were required, and that the majority of these would have to be drafted from the recently occupied Eastern territories and especially from the Ukraine.

By the fall of 1944, some 8 million people were slaving away in support of the German war effort. By war’s end, perhaps as many as 12 to 15 million people were serving as slave laborers, although precise figures will never be known.

Sauckel and Rosenberg were hanged after being convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the 1946 Nuremburg trials. Most other officials running the program were never prosecuted or were given light sentences and soon released.

I believe that most of the draft document’s value lies in its demonstration and documentation of Hitler’s intense personal interest and involvement in actually establishing and implementing mass murder programs, such as slave labor (as shown by this document) and presumably others, like the Holocaust.

No one has ever found such a document on the Holocaust, signed by Hitler,

which helps Holocaust deniers, and skeptical “revisionist historians” like the author David Irving, to argue that Hitler did not order it and did not even know about its massive dimensions and details.

As I observed in an article in the AJT a few years ago, though Hitler probably did not micromanage such programs or get involved in the details, it is absurd, even laughable to argue that he did not order or know much about the Holocaust..

Given its massive cost and dimensions, and the expensive diversion of critically needed resources like railcars during wartime, only Hitler could have ordered that the Holocaust be undertaken, probably verbally to SS Chief Heinrich Himmler, Holocaust architect Reinhard Heydrich, and/or Hitler aide Martin Bormann.

And now that we have reliable evidence that Hitler personally helped set up the slave labor program, it is even more inconceivable he would not have been equally as or more interested in the Holocaust.

Thus, this documentary evidence is revelatory of Hitler’s character and corroborates the obvious and long held (if still denied by some) conclusion that Hitler did indeed personally order that the Holocaust be undertaken.

This draft decree has never before been publicized, to the best of my knowledge, and gives historians the opportunity further to discredit the deniers and add evidence of Hitler’s personal involvement in mass murder programs. ì Lewis Regenstein is an Atlanta author and writer with a special interest in World War II and the Holocaust. regenstein@ mindspring.com

The Story of Leo Frank Lives On

OPINION

By Allison Padilla-Goodman, Rabbi Steve Lebow and Jerry Klinger Hang the Jew! Hang the Jew! 105 years ago, Leo Frank was brutally lynched by an angry mob whose raging antisemitism spilled over after Frank was wrongfully accused and convicted of murder. The Leo Frank trial occurred at a time when antisemitism was commonplace and public, with signs in storefronts that said, “No dogs, No Jews.”

Frank’s horrific lynching became widely publicized, leading to the realization that things had to change and antisemitism could not be ignored.

Many years later, the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, with support from ADL, Rabbi Steve Lebow and many others, installed a Leo Frank Memorial in Marietta at the site of his lynching, and an Anti-Lynching Memorial to recognize the over 570 individuals who have been lynched in Georgia, brutal acts which stain our history.

“The anti-lynching memorial at the Leo Frank site acknowledges the injustice, the pain of thousands,” said Jerry Klinger, founder of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. “It demands we join for the betterment of all.”

This is a particularly important year to recognize the anniversary and the significant legacy of lynching in Georgia for four primary reasons.

First, with the passing of the heroic Congressman John Lewis, many recognized the deep allyship that Lewis showed with the Jewish community. The Leo Frank memorial greatly illuminates this connection. When the Georgia Department of Transportation initially refused to allow the placement of the memorial on its original site, Congressman Lewis wrote an impassioned letter to the GDOT in which he said that the “Anti-Lynching Memorial is an important step towards healing for our community and honoring the work and sacrifice of countless generations to end racial and civil injustice in our great country.” Congressman Lewis understood the importance of Jewish and African American intertwined histories, especially in the South, and how living in the “beloved community” was being the best America possible.

Second, times are changing and there is important momentum right now in addressing our nation’s history of systemic oppression. As Rabbi Lebow explained, “The South has changed and is changing in many ways. In Marietta, we are prepared to deal with a difficult past in order to secure a better and finer

Dr. Allison Padilla-Goodman (ADL) and Robert Wittenstein, ADL executive committee member whose family has been involved in the Leo Frank case from the start.

future.” We have to recognize that past to chart our path to the future.

Which leads to the third reason why the Leo Frank Memorial continues to be incredibly relevant: antisemitism is still rampant, 105 years later. While it is not as publicly acceptable and commonplace as it was in the days of Leo Frank, Dr. Allison Padilla-Goodman of ADL explained, “we are still experiencing shocking levels of antisemitism and are continuously fighting back its normalization as we see antisemitism seeping into mainstream rhetoric and antisemitic incidents impacting people everywhere in their communities, in schools and in public places.”

ADL’s annual audit of antisemitic incidents showed a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2019, more than any other year in the audit’s 40-year history.

In 2019, there was a 56 percent increase in antisemitic assaults, further proof that the legacy of Leo Frank still haunts us daily.

Finally, 2020 is also a notable year to recognize Georgia’s history of lynching and hatred with the Leo Frank story as a painful example because we have made a very important step forward in addressing this history: Georgia now has a hate crimes law that recognizes the tremendous impact of these horrible bias-motivated crimes. The story of Leo Frank has always anchored the Jewish experience and commitment to eliminating hate crimes. That anchor has expanded in recent years with the vicious antisemitic massacres in Pittsburgh, Poway, Jersey City and Monsey. The Georgia Hate Crimes bill was truly a symbol of our future, as it was passed in passionate coalition through Hate Free Georgia with active commitment by many differ-

Jerry Klinger, Shelley Rose and Rabbi Steve Lebow at the Leo Frank Memorial.

ent communities, including the primary role of ADL, Georgia Equality and Georgia NAACP, among others, who came together to demand acknowledgement that all of our victimizations are experienced collectively and need to be formally addressed so that they don’t fester.

Leo Frank’s legacy lives on, but it moves

forward towards justice and love. ì Jerry Klinger is founder of the Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation, Rabbi Steve Lebow is spiritual leader of Temple Kol Emeth, and Allison PadillaGoodman is vice president Southern division of ADL (Anti-Defamation League).

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 17

OPINION

Having COVID as Head of School I wore my mask, I washed my hands, I kept my distance from others, and yet, I tested positive for COVID-19 last month. Thank G-d I am now Rabbi Ari Leubitz healthy and Guest Columnist fully back to work. I am able to hug my wife and children and leave the confines of my home office, where I quarantined and healed. It is my belief that after surviving such a traumatic experience, it’s important to share insights and learnings to help people navigate this path and understand what others may be going through.

The irony is that I was burning the proverbial candle at both ends, all related to COVID and the pandemic. I was on call after call and Zoom after Zoom helping families navigate the fear, the

economic burdens and the stress of COVID. I was discussing and learning the nuances of the virus from experts, so we could prepare for the new school year.

I talked to doctors, CDC folks, nurses and other health organizations to carefully craft the safety and academic plan for our upcoming school year. With my incredible administrative team and our experienced health and safety committee, I worked tirelessly on our remote learning options and on crafting the AJA “response” to COVID. Well, COVID had another plan for me! I was down for the count but did my best to make lemonade out of a whole truckload of lemons.

I’m not going to sugar coat it; this virus was a miserable experience for me.

I never imagined I could get COVID, as I rarely had left my home after we moved to remote learning in March. In fact, my kids will tell you, “Abba says if Amazon does not sell it, he does not need it!”

My experience with COVID was the most difficult medical experience of my life. It was unbearable fatigue and it felt like every one of my body functions

was under duress. All I could think about was “please no hospital, please no respiratory issues.” I was very lucky.

I was able to recover in the peace and quiet and comfort of my office couch, knowing my family was nearby. I don’t take that gift lightly.

In true rabbinic fashion, I reflected and pondered my situation and tried to glean wisdom from it.

Also in true rabbinic fashion, I’d like to share these revelations with you.

The Only COVID Medication Unfortunately, there is no medicine to help one heal from COVID or accelerate the process. The only thing that helped my recovery was the outpouring of love, emails, texts, calls, flowers and (of course) food from our community. I was reminded that if someone you care about is hurting, even a short text or note can work miracles to boost their mood. Taking the time to do that, and to connect with one another, that is the best medicine and an incredible mitzvah you can do for someone else.

There is nothing at all I could have done to fight the COVID. My body was doing what it was going to do, and I had no say in the matter. We say many brachot thanking G-d for our bodies.

We have blessings that raise our consciousness about the amazing power of our body. This virus felt like it ravaged mine, but through the help of Hashem, I am grateful that I am now better. It was humbling to be reminded of this.

Community Responsibility Pirkei Avot 1:14 “If I am not for me, who will be for

18 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

me? And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, then when?”

Our work together can help contain the spread and do our part to protect those most vulnerable to COVID. We need to not stigmatize this virus; no one is immune, even if they “follow the rules” like I did. If someone does get it, be there for them with support and understanding. If you get it, please be honest and open, so that your personal circle and community is aware and can take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe. To me, this pandemic became less about who has it and why, and more about how we can respond to and care for those afflicted.

This pandemic might be the biggest and potentially most important test of the concept of “community responsibility” that we’ve ever faced. You see, it is not just my role or your role to protect ourselves and our own families. It is OUR role as a community to protect everyone and their families. As Jews, we are obligated to be there for one another – physically, emotionally and spiritually.

As we have opened our school, what is sure to be an unusual school year for us all, I am grateful for many things. Beyond my own personal gratitude for the chesed and care I received, I am so glad to be together with my community at school. Wishing all students an incredible year of learning and sending gratitude to all of Atlanta’s educators. Please know how grateful we all are for your dedication to the students. ì Rabbi Ari Leubitz is the head of school of the Atlanta Jewish Academy

OPINION

Having COVID as a Teacher The world of teaching has changed.

When I was little, I always heard that one day computers would replace teachers. However, now that I am Stacey Asher a teacher and Guest Columnist computers are everywhere, I have seen how wrong we all were. Education this year is different.

We are focusing on making communities and making safe spaces without the traditional four walls of our classrooms. We are having to show compassion and love virtually.

Before word came out about the format of fall school openings, I was terrified. I was COVID-free and constantly worried about what opening school would mean for me, my family and my students. I love my students, and I am a

teacher because I was born to be one. I love my job and I love my morning hugs. I love my hand holds that my kids give me when they’re having an off day, or when I am having an off day. However, this doesn’t mean I want to go back to school during COVID-19.

I was scared; I am scared. How will schools sanitize my classroom effectively when I still will have 21 to 25 kids in my room? How will my students learn to play and communicate appropriately when they are stuck in my classroom six hours a day without time on the playground and without different teachers and students interacting with them throughout the day? This sounds too much like quarantining, but instead of one family, it sounds like 24 kids and one teacher doing it. How will my school district supply cleaning supplies when the state is without enough, or how will bathrooms be sanitized when our janitorial staff is incredibly efficient but small? I believe in our staff. I think the world of them, but asking them to clean and sanitize an

entire school every night while knowing how dangerous COVID-19 can be is crazy.

I woke up one morning this summer with a horrible headache, aching muscles and tingly-numb legs. A week or two later, my test came back positive for COVID-19.

The first thing out of my mother’s mouth, “Well, now at least if you have to go back to work, you’ll be okay.” Can you believe that? My mother worried about me being back in the classroom before worrying about who I had been around, if she had been exposed, or how long it had been since I had symptoms. She worried about me going back to work. Now that I’m back “in” the classroom, I can tell you thank goodness we started virtually.

I am young and healthy and this virus kicked my butt. I can’t imagine someone I love having the same virus that can take many different forms.

This is uncharted territory for most.

Choosing between education, feeding our students, parents needing to work, and the health of our families is something

most teachers understand when a virus is rampant. However, usually the illness isn’t so serious. Usually, it is lice, strep, pink eye or the common cold, which most of our families have experienced, that keep children out of school and parents out of work. Virtual learning is hard; it is tricky, and it definitely cannot meet ALL the needs of all the students in my classroom. With that being said, I love my job. I will make it work, and because I have had COVID-19, I am happy it is not in person.

DeKalb County Schools are not permanently virtual, although they do not have a back-in-the-school-building date. DeKalb will reassess monthly. This makes sense to me: Go with the data and make sure it is in the best interest of not only our students, but the health of our families too. It is hard to not have an end date to virtual learning, but we don’t have an end date on how long this virus will be prevalent either. ì Stacey Asher is a first-grade teacher at Austin Elementary School in Dunwoody.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 19

EDUCATION Keeping COVID Out of Class

By Roni Robbins When Torah Day School of Atlanta reopened Wednesday for a condensed day of in-person classes, it was after much debate, extensive COVID preparations and several plan changes. As recently as two weeks ago, the plan for back to school included a hybrid schedule for middle schoolers with some days at home and others in the classroom.

The plan would have set up staggered schedules for parents with several students at TDSA. Last week the school announced a different model with all students in the classroom, but a shorter day, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. instead of 8:10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The start date also was pushed back a day to give students, faculty and staff time to be tested for COVID Sunday and get test results back “to make sure we are not missing anyone who may be asymptomatic, … to start fresh,” said Head of School Rabbi Meir Cohen.

The testing is provided by Jewish HomeLife with assistance from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

In addition, the school will begin slowly, starting with kindergarten on Wednesday and adding a grade group a day for the first full week to “try to make sure we get it right,” Cohen said.

TDSA is trying to avoid the kind of scenario that made national news earlier this month when videos surfaced of crowded hallways and not all students wearing masks on the first day of school in Cherokee and Paulding counties. After COVID cases emerged among students and staff at North Paulding High School, the school was temporarily closed. Meanwhile, a second grade classroom in a Cherokee school was also shut down on its second day after a student tested positive for COVID. Other private Jewish day schools contacted for this story had their own plans for how to keep COVID at bay, most involving aggressive cleaning, social distancing, smaller class sizes and in some cases, staggered return to classrooms and hybrid learning, with some students at home and others in the classroom. We share a sample of the Jewish community’s back-to-school plans.

Torah Day School is banking on its philosophy of a “slow and measured start to the school year” to prevent COVID from entering the classroom, he said.

Health precautions include requiring masks, plexiglass barriers installed between desks, strict social distancing, cleaning throughout the day, remaining in the same classroom, individual supplies for each student, and special air filters to catch and kill 20 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Student Ilan M. with teacher Sharone B. Zooming with a concurrent learner.

viruses. In addition, students will have their temperatures taken as they enter the school each day and be screened with a QR code on their backpack ensuring they completed this exercise, Cohen explained.

If there’s any question or someone is sick, the school has set up an isolation station. “There are a lot of controls in place so that even if someone had COVID, it would not spread.”

TDSA also has built several what-if scenarios into its plans, including contact tracing to inform those who may have been in contact with the person who contracted COVID. Students who become ill can continue to learn virtually at home. That option is also available to families not comfortable sending their children back to school, Cohen said. Webcams are set up in the classroom for that purpose. Less than 5 percent of the 300 students chose that option, he said.

Still, for those a bit nervous, “Part of the preparation is providing social and emotional learning,” he said. “We will provide support through the changes. We will be there structurally and emotionally to make sure it all works out.”

The Atlanta Jewish Academy started back to school earlier this month with faceto-face learning for the youngest students in the Early Childhood Department, lower school and middle school, while the oldest students stuck to remote learning like last semester.

ECD began in person Aug. 13, lower school students, Aug. 17, with options for full remote learning through the end of October.

The staggered openings continued with fifthand sixth-graders Aug. 19 and seventh- and eighth-graders Aug. 24. High school students began virtually Aug. 17 and return to campus Oct. 12 with a livestreaming option available all year if needed for health reasons.

Head of School Ari Leubitz explained that the reason the ECD students are inperson and the others are not is because the youngest students aren’t as skilled in technology as the older ones. “They need [adult]

Molly Levine-Hunt and David Welscher show off Epstein’s welcome back sign.

Gilad Livnat studies the laws of the month of Elul.

involvement anyway,” Leubitz said of the they are adjusting. If COVID had just hapECD children. “It doesn’t really help parents pened, the idea of a mask would be different. at home and it’s not effective learning. It’s not But they are used to it and understand what a as much learning as socializing and play at pandemic is. Masks are not foreign, and they have accountability for the mask.” that age.”

It’s also quieter in the building, which The ECD will have their own wing of the school with extra precautions extended helps the students feel safe and calm, he said.

Still, Leubitz understands it’s natural to to keep them safe and isolated from the rest of the school, Leubitz said. There are less than be anxious about the future.

While he believes 100 children in the media reports of GeorECD, 2 years old and up, gia schools without and they are required masks have distorted to wear masks. They the overall experience, will have smaller class“if someone is not anxrooms, which allows ious, there’s a problem. for less contact, with no I had COVID and on other students, teachsome level, I should ers or parents able to have antibodies. Am I enter the wing. They going to tell you there’s will also have their no anxiety in the buildown entrance and caring? No … As the leader pool, which hopefully Mechina student Evyn A. enjoying of a school, to not have will mitigate the risk of the nature sanctuary. anxiety is not being interacting with others outside the classroom, he said. “Everyone has prepared. … Am I confident in our standards? some level of risk. When you are home, you Yes.” Although he doesn’t have control about can’t totally eliminate the risk. We are just what goes on outside of school hours, intrying to mitigate it,” Leubitz said.

“For starters, the classrooms are re- side the school masks are non-negotiable duced by 50 percent, seats are further apart; and there are behavior expectations, he they have their own markers, crayons, sup- said. “How we as a community are being replies, so they don’t need to reach into the sponsible and following guidelines is not in same bins.” The building is sterilized every my control. But those decisions impact my night; water fountains turned off; and every school and every school institution. My sturoom has a sanitation station with hands dents and staff are in a safe setting when in washed before they enter the room. There the building. What happens outside of school are also ropes with markers for the child to hours, that’s what keeps me up a little bit at hold onto so they walk at a distance from night.”

The Weber School went back to school each other, Leubitz explained. The hallways and staircases are also one way, as indicated virtually Aug. 17 and will continue that way until Sept. 8, when it is scheduled to move to on the floor.

“We tested all the staff; it is totally CO- on-campus teaching and learning.

Students and faculty who are unable to VID free. We are being pretty robust in monitoring the kids daily with a health and safety join in person at Weber at that time will continue learning and teaching through an inteapp, and right now we have no cases.”

And the students seem to be responding grated virtual program, the school reported well to returning to school during a pandem- on its website.

“Given our ongoing consultation with ic, Leubitz said. “Kids are very flexible. I think

EDUCATION

Molly Levine-Hunt, David Welscher and Pamela Cohen in superhero garb welcome Epstein students back for the first day.

Seventh grader Blake C. is ready to learn.

Ayalah Afrah works on her ABCs.

the Fulton County Board of Health, we are confident that the on-campus plan will fulfill Weber’s mission and standards for educational excellence while meeting the unique health and safety protocols required to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Weber stated online.

“The faculty and staff at Weber have dedicated countless hours to prepare our facilities and design new health, safety and educational protocols to enable our return to campus.”

In addition, Weber’s board of trustees “approved significant investments beyond the annual budget to lease classroom modules, upgrade air filtration systems and enhance educational technology and other resources to facilitate exceptional teaching and learning for on-campus and virtual learners while mitigating risks associated with COVID-19.”

While excited for the start of school and for the return to campus, “we are also mindful of the fluid and unpredictable nature of COVID-19.” Weber said it would continue to monitor the “latest COVID-19 data and recommendations so that we can make informed adjustments to the plan. With on-campus and virtual learning plans that can be implemented at a moment’s notice, Weber is ready to respond to any eventuality, whenever it may occur during the academic year.”

Students returned to The Davis Academy campus Aug. 17 for live instruction, five days a week. A small percentage of students are participating through a “Concurrent Learning Path, designed to accommodate those who are temporarily unable to be on campus due to COVID-19 concerns, either at the start of the academic year or for a short period during the school year,” Davis stated in a press release.

Just before school began, students and faculty had an orientation week to learn “new systems, daily health and safety protocols, revised schedules and new procedures for their classes.” While the youngest, first grade students “experienced a full-time, on campus schedule, becoming familiar with their classes and teachers,” students in second through eighth grades “spent three days in on-campus learning, and one day in distance learning orientation from home,” the release stated.

“For many the anticipation and the unknowns that decorated the start of this special school year elicited feelings of anxiety and stress. … The Davis Academy’s commitment to both safety and excellence will ensure the students continue to thrive during this most unique school year. Investments in new technology, campus enhancements, additional staffing and faculty professional development will ensure the best possible learning experience for the students, no matter the scenario: on campus, distance learning, or a hybrid, throughout the year,” Davis reported.

About the parents, faculty and staff, the release concluded, “While they are keeping physical distance, wearing masks, avoiding group gatherings, limiting interactions outside of school, and following the Davis Together 2020-2021 protocols and procedures, they are together in their collective commit-

ment to their students and each other.”

Chaya Mushka Children’s House Elementary and Middle School opened the year Aug. 11 with its largest registration in its history, 100 students in grades one to eight, up from 93 last year. “Coming off of its success with the full-day online program at the beginning of the pandemic, many families reached out to see what CMCH had in store for the fall,” the school reported to the AJT. “With a sophisticated system using masks, plexiglass and pods, CMCH has opened its doors for in-school learning stressing both health and high-level learning at the same time,” the school stated.

“It requires creative thinking to ensure a healthy and productive learning environment,“ said Rabbi Isser New, development director of CMCH. Principals Leah Sollish and Elaine Padron stressed the need for “good teamwork” as the most crucial component to a successful year. “If administrators, teachers, parents and students all buy into what the school is doing, then we can hope for success” Sollish said.

So far, that has resulted in no COVID issues, New said.

School began Aug. 10 at The Epstein School with the Early Childhood Program and elementary school students on campus and middle schoolers learning virtually.

“We staggered start dates to allow for smoother transitions for students and teachers,” said school spokewoman Tali Benjamin. “We have a robust morning carpool procedure that includes health check forms and temperature taking.”

There have been no issues so far, she said. “Students in the 3s and up are wearing masks; we have done building modifications and are stressing proper hygiene, limiting how many kids can be in the bathroom at a time, etc.”

Regardless of how Atlanta’s Jewish schools started the year, the challenge of preparing for opening day during a pandemic has definitely required more flexibility than in the past, said Cohen of Torah Day School. “We are ready for anything [COVID] throws at us. We are ready for all virtual learning. We are ready for a hybrid model; whatever is best and safest for our students. We will adjust. That is our attitude, our theme – flexibility and positivity.”ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 21

EDUCATION

COVID Increases Enrollment at Jewish Schools

Elly, Seth and Marin Eisenstein sit at their new desks for the first day of Epstein’s virtual school.

By Paula Baroff Some parents have opted to enroll their children in Jewish private school rather than continue with public school this year because of concerns over the handling of COVID-19.

Amy Helman-Darley, the outreach and engagement manager for The Davis Academy, said that some grades had a waitlist as the school year began. “The Davis Academy has received an increase in applicants over the last few weeks,” she said. Just before the year started, the school had “a very limited number of spaces remaining in certain grade levels.”

AJA’s enrollment is also up, said Erica Gal, director of admissions. Though AJA did have families coming from public school, she’s not sure if the pandemic is the direct cause, since people are drawn to the school for the rigorous

22 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

dual curriculum.

“What we did see, which is interesting, is we had a lot of families move from out of town. I do believe because of COVID they can work remotely, have family, have a better community or more land space,” Gal said. “Because we did get a number of families moving to Atlanta for either our school or our community, because they are now able to work remotely, that is something I think contributed.”

This school year, AJA is offering an adaptive model for the younger grades with options for face-to-face and virtual instruction. “Parents are really appreciative,” Gal said of the school’s efforts to accommodate different families’ needs.

Sarah Koohang, The Epstein School’s digital media and communications coordinator, said they “have certainly seen an increase in applications” from parents interested in switching their children to the school.

Lynne Eisenstein is one such parent. She had already planned to send her two older children to Epstein for sixth grade, but the end of last school year prompted her to switch her younger daughter from public school as well. “We always knew that those two were going to go to Epstein,” she said. “That doesn’t change what the end of the school year was like last year, which was brutal.”

Eisenstein lives in the Heards Ferry Elementary School district and said the school has been “phenomenal. People who are moving to this general area move into this district because of this school. … it’s a very sought-after area to be in.”

However, the Fulton County-wide protocols for virtual school last year led to a turbulent end of school for Eisenstein’s family. “We would sit at the dining room table and we’d basically all just yell at each other,” she said. Her kids would get assignments at the beginning of the week with a deadline and have short calls with teachers. “It wasn’t always clear if it was mandatory or optional,” she said of the calls. “What ended up happening was parents had to teach their kids. There is a reason why I’m not a school teacher. It was so stressful.”

She said that as she was sitting with her kids at their dining room table attempting to help them with their school work, the other families on her street whose children went to Jewish private schools were having a very different experience. “They were doing virtual school,” she said. “It wasn’t online assignments. Their teachers were in front of them. They had full days of classes with their whole entire class list, and it wasn’t what was coming down from Fulton County.”

Eisenstein said that she saw the contrast of Jewish private school education to the county’s last- minute changes as the school year began. “When this all came down [Epstein] hit the ground running.”

Her youngest daughter Marin was resistant to switching schools, Eisenstein said. She wanted to finish her elementary career at Heards Ferry with her school friends and teachers, but eventually warmed up to the idea after a social distanced playdate with a friend who went to Epstein. “To be honest, my concern was that knowing that my youngest, who was going to be in fifth grade at public school but for middle school was going to be at Epstein … was she would have to repeat fifth grade. She just wasn’t going to get what she needed for sixth grade,” Eisenstein said. She was referring to the way she felt virtual school was being handled by the public school system.

Her children are now able to engage in school at their own desks with virtual instruction for the entire day. “It is so good. It’s without a glitch. The teachers are all prepared with the curriculum and taught how to engage,” she said. ì

EDUCATION

Modern One Room Learning Pods

Caroline C. participating in Challenge Island STEAM Social Bubble Adventure.

By Amy Seidner Working with parents this summer as CEO of In the City Camps, Eileen Price heard the need for an alternative education option this school year. She saw the necessity to go a step further for both campers and their parents than simply virtual programming and developed new “pop-up” camps and In the City Camps clusters.

For the school year, she realized virtual school facilitators would be needed to assist parents working at home and serving as their children’s surrogate and supplemental teachers and those working outside the home who do not have the time or knowledge to help their children learn effectively.

Soon after, Learning Pods ATL was established. The deeper Price delved into her discussions with parents, the more she learned how concerned they were about the return to school. In addition to academic concerns, parents were equally nervous about their children’s emotional well-being and their need for social enrichment.

Learning pods, also being referred to as pandemic pods or micro-schools, are gaining popularity across the country, according to an AARP study involving educators who have been affected by the pandemic. They are typically small groups of students learning together with facilitators who work with students in person. The study states that “veteran teachers are being wooed by families seeking high-quality educational instruction and by companies offering to help families create pandemic pods.” The demand, AARP observed, is unprecedented.

Pods are especially useful for working parents who can afford the small-group experience. Although there is no single standard for how pods work, the premise is generally the same: A group of parents get together and hire a facilitator or a teacher.

Due to their small size, pods are beneficial for personalization and providing individualized tutoring.

Student in virtual class working in a learning pod

Parents determine what the subjects will be, what type of instructor to hire, how many hours per day or week the pod will meet, and where. At a time when students and families are so isolated, learning pods are an innovative way to learn during a pandemic, with the added benefit of social connection and guidance.

In the case of Learning Pods ATL, Price and her team partner with families to find the learning pod, facilitator and curriculum that best fits the student and family’s needs.

She ensures all facilitators are screened and trained by the staff director. Because the pods are so small, each facilitator develops a deep connection with the students. The facilitators supplement the students’ learning with sensory activities and fun projects. If one child needs some extra help, the facilitator can work with that student while the others take a break or work on a different assignment. The facilitator also works closely with the school and classroom teacher to ensure that work is being completed and the student understands the subject matter.

Pods can vary with different grade levels and family situations. Each is customized for the group’s needs. When a family or group decides to create a pod with Learning Pods ATL, they document their COVID comfort level, academic goals and needs, the student’s home school, grade(s), geographic location and learning style. Parents can also indicate any special needs they might have.

Some learning pods customize supplementary education to virtual learning. Sharon Estroff, founder and CEO of Challenge Island, recently created a new COVID-safe supplemental program to benefit students.

It adds social and STEAM enrichment to students’ curriculum. The programs, taught by certified instructors, were created to help students stay engaged in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) activities while safely socializing with others.

Challenge Island helps parents create their social bubble (or pod) or helps them join an

existing one. It integrates the STEAM and enrichment based on the students’ school lessons.

Challenge Island pods meet in neighborhood clubhouses, students’ backyards or wherever the group decides is convenient and safe. Estroff’s goal is to become partners with parents and schools while keeping families and staff safe.

By limiting the number of children in a group, the risk for coronavirus stays low, according to guidelines updated Aug. 21

Facilitator Adele Stolovitz working oneon-one with student in learning pod.

from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each member of the pod sets specific and clear rules about how they plan to stay socially distant, their position on mask-wearing, hand-washing and other activities. Prior to formation of a pod, or what Estroff refers to as a “social bubble,” families agree not to socialize in-person with people outside of their group. Estroff advises, however, in the unfortunate case someone tests positive or becomes sick, parents in the pod need a backup plan. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 23

EDUCATION

Welcoming New Year at Hillel During COVID-19 My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming our Hillel student leaders back to campus for the start of the new academic year amidst precautions and proElliot B. Karp tocols due to Guest Columnist the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hillel is open for business, although it will not be business as usual.

We know it will be challenging to personally meet and embrace our students, as we are limiting the number of people gathering at our Hillel buildings in favor of online programming. However, given the passionate commitment of our staff and student leaders, I am confident we will continue to engage Jewish students and create dynamic Jewish life on each of our Hillels of Georgia campuses.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, 49 percent of universities across

the country plan to hold in-person instruction, with 35 percent planning for a hybrid mix of virtual and in-person classes. Each campus within the Hillels of Georgia constellation is making these same determinations, and we will be adaptive and flexible in working with each college or university.

We are speaking with our students and taking polls to learn what they are planning to do when they come back to campus and how we can support and assist them. We are using this information to help inform our plans for Hillel programming while coming up with creative and innovative ways to continue and expand our offerings. At the same time, we have invested in masks, gloves, sanitizers and other personal protective equipment so that every precaution is taken to keep our students, staff and guests safe and healthy.

Since March, Hillel programming has pivoted online, featuring ongoing activities like our popular Jewish Learning Fellowship, weekly d’vrei Torah, Israel seminars, yoga sessions and holiday celebrations. We developed new initiatives like our Distinguished Summer Speaker Series featuring local Atlantans in business, medicine and

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Aaron Thaler and his parents, Deborah and Leonard Thaler. Among the ways Hillels of Georgia is meeting the needs of college students during the pandemic is providing Shabbat2Go meals so students can celebrate with a kosher meal in their dorms or apartments.

community. The series was widely received and will be continued this fall. And to prepare for the upcoming semester, we hosted virtual college tours and orientation sessions for new students.

While we reluctantly postponed the Maccabee Task Force mission to Israel for non-Jewish and Jewish student leaders at Emory and Georgia State [universities], our dedicated staff developed a virtual tour and educational program for the participants to keep their interest high for when the trip is rescheduled.

Even high holidays will come with adjustments this year. We are making plans for our services to be online and inspiring, and we will provide both holiday to-go packages and Shabbat-in-a-Box meals so students can celebrate with a kosher meal in their dorm rooms or apartments. At a time when gathering is limited, we hope to offer creative ways for our students to connect with the Jewish community and their faith.

Most importantly, our Hillel staff is maintaining regular contact with as many of our students as possible through virtual coffee dates, phone calls and COVID-safe so-

cially distanced meetings.

In a study conducted by the Healthy Minds Network for Research on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health and the American College Health Association, about 60 percent of college students said the pandemic has made it harder to access mental health care. We are proud to be working in collaboration with Jewish Family & Career Services in providing our Hillel staff with in-service training on mental health awareness and issues during the pandemic, so we are equipped to assist students during these challenging times.

We are honored to serve over 5,000 students on 24 campuses (and counting) across the state of Georgia. Now, more than ever, our students need additional support and community, and we strive to continue to offer meaningful Jewish experiences for students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world.

At Hillels of Georgia, our hearts, minds and arms (or elbow bumps) will always be open. ì Elliot B. Karp is CEO of Hillels of Georgia

EDUCATION

Meet Hillels of Georgia Staff Hillels of Georgia, an organization supporting Jewish students across college campuses in Georgia, is ready for the new semester. In the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hillel staff is working hard to provide students innovative ways to connect with fellow students and the Hillel community during these unprecedented times.

To create a dynamic Jewish life on campus, Hillel staff provides creative online programming and events, virtual coffee dates, socially distanced meetings, career assistance and mental health counseling.

To learn more about Hillel on your campus, please connect with Hillels of Georgia staff here:

works alongside student leaders on the First Year Council to help engage First Years and plan First Year programming, sasha@emoryhillel.org, 404-574-8715.

Renee Harris

Taylor Baruchel

Lauren Blazofsky

Sasha Avchukov

Becca Nadolne

Michal Hartman

Lauren Rekhelman

Shaina Lubliner

Elinoy Granot

Roey Shoshan

Jeremy Lichtig

Mara Zeichner

Mor Ayala Homri

Ari Lieberman

Kendra Posner

Karen Berman

Becca Nadolne, Emory program associate Becca works alongside student leadership to create exciting programming for Hillel at Emory, and ensures students and parents are always kept up to date on what is available at Hillel, becca@emoryhillel.org, 404-272-7270.

Michal Hartman, Emory Israel fellow Michal plans dynamic programming to educate students and community members about Israel and help Atlanta Jews develop a meaningful connection with Israel. michal@emoryhillel.org.

Hillels of Georgia Elliot B. Karp, CEO of Hillels of Georgia As CEO, Elliot works in Georgia Tech partnership with students, Lauren Rekhelman, Georgia the Hillels of Georgia Board of Tech program director Directors, the Atlanta Jewish Lauren works to build community, parents, alumni, community at Hillel at GT and university administraby getting to know students tors and faculty to grow and individually and supporting sustain a meaningful, vibrant them in their goals. She works and pluralistic Jewish campus alongside student leadership community. For more inforto plan programming, and mation on Jewish life at camElliot B. Karp keeps parents, alumni, stupuses without a Hillel staff member, please reach out to Elliot, Elliot@ dents and community members up to date on what’s happening with Hillel, lrekhelhillelsofgeorgia.org, 513-608-4174. man@gthillel.org, 404-317-4296.

Renee Harris, director of development and Shaina Lubliner, Georgia Tech engagement marketing Renee supports all of Hillel’s fundrais- associate Shaina builds relationships with stuing efforts and helps staff and volunteers in meeting the agency revenue goals, as well dents and creates a welcoming Jewish comas effectively communicating Hillel’s story, munity at Georgia Tech. She also works with students to oversee the Freshman Renee@hillelsofgeorgia.org, 404-823-7787.

Leadership Committee, shaina@gthillel.org, 203- 609-1682.

Taylor Baruchel, Jewish educator As Jewish educator, Taylor provides educational opportunities and spiritual and Elinoy Granot, Georgia Tech Israel fellow Elinoy is excited for her first year as Ispersonal mentorship, allowing students to explore their Jewish identity, taylor@hillel- rael fellow with Georgia Tech, Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University. sofgeorgia.org.

In this role, she will work to create dynamic Israel programming and engage students Emory University with Israel education on campuses across Lauren Blazofsky, Emory associate director Lauren builds the strategy for engaging Georgia, elinoy@hillelsofgeorgia.org. all Jewish students on campus and supports a pluralistic, dynamic community. She is in- University of Georgia volved in all aspects of Emory Hillel, work- Roey Shoshan, UGA director Roey oversees operations at Hillel at ing on fundraising, engagement, programUGA. He works on developing strategy for ming and more, lauren@emoryhillel.org. student engagement and fundraising for Sasha Avchukov, Emory engagement associ- barriers-free programming, roey@ugahillel.org, 678-600-9800. ate Sasha is the first point of contact for new students on campus. She works on Jeremy Lichtig, UGA associate director Jeremy merges the best of Hillel with building relationships with all students and

the best of campus life by serving as the point person for Greek Life and Tzedek (social justice) programming, as well as serving as the liaison between the Jewish Athens community and Hillel at UGA, jeremy@ ugahillel.org, 410-598-1064.

Mara Zeichner, UGA director of engagement & wellness Mara leads the charge on planning and implementation of engagement strategies at Hillel at UGA. She also encourages students to take care of themselves as they make the transition to college life as the Wellness Program coordinator, mara@ugahillel.org, 706-799-6556.

Mor Ayala Homri, UGA Israel fellow Mor Ayala connects students in Athens to Israel through Israel education, programming, and connection to Birthright and Onward, mor@ugahillel.org.

Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University Ari Lieberman, KSU and GSU program director As the program director for KSU and GSU, Ari engages students in Jewish life on campus, works alongside student leader-

ship to plan programming, and keeps parents, alumni, students, and community members up to date on what’s happening with Hillel. He also serves as the main contact for students wanting to get involved with Hillel at Oglethorpe University, ari@ hillelsofgeorgia.org, 770-883-8895.

Agnes Scott College Kendra Posner, Agnes Scott program director Kendra works alongside students at Agnes Scott to provide engaging Jewish experiences on campus. For more information about how to get involved with Jewish life at Agnes Scott, reach out to Kendra, kendra@ hillelsofgeorgia.org, 404-345-8557.

Georgia College & State University Karen Berman, Georgia College faculty advisor While not an official Hillel staff member, professor Berman is an integral part of the Hillel family. For years she has supported student leadership at Georgia College as they formed a successful and active Hillel. Professor Berman continues to guide students in programming and engagement efforts and is the best point of contact for students looking to get involved with Hillel at Georgia College, Karen.berman@gcsu. edu, 478- 445-1980. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 25

EDUCATION

B’nai B’rith to Recognize Young Essay Winners

Sophie Grace Thomas

By Paula Baroff Nine winners of the Enlighten America 2020 Essay Contest will be recognized at a virtual awards ceremony Aug. 30 by the Achim/Gate City (Atlanta) Lodge of B’nai B’rith International.

The contest, which was open to all students seventh to ninth grades in metro Atlanta, prompted students to write about issues of racism, tolerance, and respect for diversity. “The subject was prejudice, bigotry,” said Victor Anapolle, contest coordinator. “It’s certainly a subject that a lot of the students are quite

26 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Anjana Murthy

Ilana Levenberg

Noa Zusman

familiar with.”

Students were encouraged in their essays to draw from their own experiences with racism and intolerance directed toward them and signed a pledge that they would not become involved in bullying, prejudice or racism, Anapolle said.

“We’re trying to heighten their awareness to these situations when they arise, and trying to get these students to speak up when it happens.”

In line with the essay theme, the guest speaker Dan Mariaschin, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, will speak on “Tolerance, Equality, and Respect for All

People,” according to a press release.

“When we had put out the contest this year, we had sent it out to all the school administrators, both private and public school. We found that over the years teachers kind of latched onto the concept and used it as subject matter,” Anapolle told the AJT. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic coincided with the April contest deadline, which upended the school year and led to the awards ceremony being scheduled virtually. “We were originally going to have the awards ceremony back in May. We kept hoping and hoping and hoping.”

There were more judges participating this year than in the past, which allowed each judge to focus on a smaller number of essays, Anapolle said. Nine winners were chosen – three from each grade level – rather than having a pool of winners as in previous years.

One of the judges, Margo Gold, said, “I enjoyed the experience of being a judge and am impressed with the ability of each student to approach this difficult topic with sensitivity and insight.”

RuthE Levy, the owner of And Thou Shalt Read bookstore, said, “All of the essays were amazing. They showed depth

EDUCATION SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Genesis Isom

Austin Corn

Second place: of thought and the variety of concerns · Seventh grader these young people Noa Zusman of Sandy have, even at this early Springs wrote “Enage, I was very imlighten America.” Noa, pressed. And it was so 13, attends Woodward hard to choose a winAcademy. ner because there were so many good ones! · Eighth grader Congratulations to the Genesis Isom of Atlanta winners and to all who wrote “Judgement Day.” participated.”

Genesis, 14, attends Marjorie Simonoff Woodward Academy. said, “As I began to read Simran Gupta through the essays, I · Ninth grader Austin Corn of Dawgot caught up in the material and was so happy that so many youngsters were sonville wrote “Yoda Vs. Prejudice.” Ausgiven an opportunity to reflect upon and tin, 14, attends Dawson County Junior write about this most important subject, High School. which has such releThird place: vance in today’s world.” · Seventh grader First place winners Simran Gupta of Cumof the essay contest won ming wrote “Welcome a $350 prize, second to America: The Land of place, $250, and third Opportunity for ALL.” place, $150.

Simran, 12, attends Lakeside Middle School.

Here is the lineup of essay winners: · Eighth grader First place: Kymali Pierre of Dun· Seventh grader Kymali Pierre woody wrote “Not Just Sophie Grace Thomas of Decatur, wrote “A Love Driven Mind- a Stereotype.” Kymali, 13, attends Woodset: A Guide for Peace.” Sophie, 12, attends ward Academy.

Woodward Academy. · Ninth grader Emily Jane Kurtz of Dawsonville wrote “Hu· Eighth grader mans’ Nature to Hate.”

Anjana Murthy of Emily, 15, attends DawPeachtree City, wrote “A son County Junior High.

Light in the Dark.” Anjana, 13, attends WoodThe virtual cerward Academy. emony, during which the students will be · Ninth grader Ilana awarded their certifiLevenberg of Atlanta cates and checks, is free wrote “The Need for and open to the public.

Truth in Education of It is scheduled from 3 to Racism’s Past and PresEmily Jane Kurtz 4:30 p.m. Aug. 30. Parent.” Ilana, 14, attends ticipants are asked to register in advance at The Weber School. www.us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/ WN_5yHxn0WHS_OISM8lBulUdQ. ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 27

EDUCATION

Etgar 36 Hires Josh Dubin as Assistant Director

By Chana Shapiro In 2004, Josh Dubin was a participant in one of the first Etgar 36 summer travel programs. The trips, which are created by director Billy Planer, offer experiences that encourage Jewish teens to discover America, develop their identities and passions, and get politically and socially active.

“Etgar” is the Hebrew word for “challenge;” fittingly, Etgar 36’s goal is to empower Jewish youth to work toward changing the world.

Dubin was 15 when he went on the Etgar 36 summer trip. The Asheville teenager was already a serious student of history, and there was much conversation about social issues and government in his home. Both of Dubin’s parents are community-involved educators, and his mother was a Vietnam anti-war activist. His maternal grandfather, whom Dubin calls “my hero,” had been a valiant union organizer in New York City in the 1920s and fought in the Spanish civil war in the 1930s. Dubin’s mother, who heard about Etgar 36 from a family at their Asheville synagogue, suggested that he consider going on the trip. It was a catalytic experience for him.

Dubin explains what happened that summer. “The leader Billy Planer’s passion was inspiring, and the trip gave us access to a breadth of people and ideas that revealed the real world of politics and civic issues. Before the 2004 trip, I was interested in history and social justice. The trip inspired me to get personally involved, to do something, to make a difference. When I came home

28 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Billy Planer and Josh Dubin in 2004.

Josh Dubin, Bishop Calvin Woods and Billy Planer in Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, Ala.

to Asheville, I started an Amnesty International chapter at my high school. I worked on political campaigns, and then I volunteered in our congressman’s office.”

During the years following the 2004 Etgar 36 trip, Dubin and Planer sporadically kept in touch with each other. Planer recalled, “One day I stumbled upon Josh on Facebook. I was already planning to go to Asheville, and I asked him to meet me and get together for coffee.

At that time, Josh was student-teaching history at T.C. Roberson High School, while fulfilling his teaching certification requirements. He explained his career choice to me: His goal was to teach his students about civil

rights. That was that.”

Acknowledging the impact of the summer teen program and the growing interest of groups for shorter, intensive experiences early on, Planer expanded Etgar 36 programming to offer one- and two-day civil rightsfocused trips to Alabama for adults, schools and synagogue groups. This year Planer invited Dubin to join him on these trips. “Between January and March, Josh did some of the teaching, and he was excellent, highly praised by the participants. I was looking for an assistant, and I offered him the job.”

According to plans, in order to assume his new position, Dubin left Asheville and moved to Atlanta two months ago, unfortunately in the midst of the heaviest coronavirus spread. “I’m focusing on my work, but I haven’t gotten around much socially since I moved here,” he noted.

By early March, it was clear that planned Etgar 36 trips could not take place. Planer conferred with CDC and medical staff at Emory University, which confirmed his decision to “pivot” to a different COVID-compliant model. The 2020-21 calendar of Etgar 36 programming had been filled to capacity with the summer teen tour and the shorter Selma-Montgomery-Birmingham trips in which participants rode together in buses. But with the pandemic, they are cancelled.

Currently, program participants drive in their own vehicles to downtown Montgomery, where small groups meet at the Equal Justice Initiative memorial to the victims of lynching. They travel caravan-style, have only outdoor experiences, and maintain social distancing throughout. This model is more difficult to organize, but Planer and Dubin continue to successfully run the altered program, and they have stepped up speaking engagements.

Dubin is on board to do his part. “When I began to seriously think about a career and what I want to do with my life, I considered my skills and interests. What knowledge and passions do I have to offer the world?

How can I help empower the next generation to create the kind of world they want to live in? This personal commitment, of course, led me to teaching, and now Billy’s ideals and job offer give me an opportunity to put my abilities and ideals into practice. It’s more a calling than a job.” ì

EDUCATION

College: A Changing Scene Once upon a time, an Ivy League president was offered the following scenario: If a donor to your university offered you a bundle of money to do one of the following projects, which one would you choose? Your options are: 1. Build onto the library with even more cubicles for Mark Fisher private study 2. Hire more faculty or 3. Build more dormitory space with study rooms, not necessarily increasing the student population. You the reader, what would be your choice?

This is a question that I sometimes pose to my high school clients. The president, in our scenario, chose the third option which is the dormitory. Why? To this leader of a university, he felt that students learning from each other on campus was extremely important. After all, some students could tutor others, there are various opinions discussed, students come from different backgrounds, religions, geographic areas and talents, among other factors. In fact, among the Jewish population, there are certainly different backgrounds that students bring to college. Yet how many college-bound students have these thoughts in their minds when choosing colleges to insert on their application lists?

The college world is turning upside down this year. Will this continue in the future? No one seems to know, with masks, social distancing, single occupancy dorm rooms, not sitting close to another student in the cafeteria, virtual engagement in a student council meeting, or having a class discussion online from your living room or bedroom at home. Never mind the weekend football game, for they may not be playing anyway. These are not your parents’ college years. What about the fraternity and sorority parties? Sorry, they are not scheduled. But I, the student, am attending college. The college I dreamed of as an upper classman in high school. Do not forget to get tested. This does not mean your history test, it means your COVID-19 test, at regular intervals in some colleges.

While you are wondering what college will look like, the colleges are trying to figure out how to read your application without test scores. About 1,460 have chosen to be test optional. Even the elite named colleges have joined the optional choice. Every day, FairTest seems to add another to the optional list. Think of it this way: If a college does not join the optional schools but their competitors already became a test optional college, they could lose applicants.

Colleges are losing millions of dollars because of COVID-19. Students who opt for online courses from home do not need to pay room and board. That adds up in the treasury. Yes, some colleges will close forever, but those seem to have an enrollment of less than 1,000 students or even fewer in the first place. Some exceedingly small colleges will try to merge with other schools, which has already happened. Another question is whether some test optional colleges are test blind. The latter means that the college does not

look at any test scores even if the scores are fantastic.

Even though the test stress appears to lessen, do not think that way; you should take either the ACT or SAT. If your score is within or better than the 50 percent range of scores for a college, you may want to submit it. Of course, your grades need to be appropriate for the college. If your scores are not within the usual range, then you may want to go test optional.

Read the college website carefully. Will that college still need ACT or SAT scores for certain scholarships, especially for merit money that usually does not depend on financial need? If they are test optional, perhaps a specific merit scholarship is endowed, and the scores are a prerequisite.

Furthermore, most colleges are trying to figure out how to make admissions decisions without scores. Certain items on your transcript become even more important than usual. This not only means grades, but the rigor of your courses gains even more prominence. Perhaps your grades are pass or fail rather than letter grades, or your wonderful extracurricular activities have disappeared, and your essay gains more importance. Some colleges are looking more at character. What is that all about? Will your references, both teachers and counselors, be able to say

something about your character?

From the college side, there is some hope. As one professor said to me, the cost of college today is outrageous. The most elite colleges could lose some money and still be in a safe situation. A few elite schools such as Williams College, Princeton and John Hopkins universities are giving around a 10 percent discount.

Some may offer more scholarships or discounts, and some are freezing their tuition for four years. The competition is there and colleges hope to meet their enrollment goals.

For students, demonstrated interest becomes more important. That does not mean questions to the admissions personnel daily. But it does mean that students need to carefully read the college website, take a virtual tour when visits are not allowed, and talk to present students, which can be arranged. Then, ask pertinent questions to admissions. Remember, there are so many wonderful colleges. Even if you have never heard of the college, it could be the best for you. ĂŹ Dr. Mark L. Fisher is a college and career consultant at Fisher Educational Consultants, www.fishereducationalconsultants, and a consultant for the College Planning Institute, www.Goto CPI.com.

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EDUCATION

Open or Not? Two Preschools Weigh Risks

By Bob Bahr They are only a short 10-minute drive from one another in Sandy Springs, but two of Atlanta’s synagogues, Temple Sinai and Congregation B’nai Torah, are on opposite sides of the controversial question of whether schools should return to classroom learning.

Temple Sinai, which fully reopened its preschool and nursery Aug. 24, has had expert guidance in its decision. According to Marisa Kaiser, the Reform synagogue’s director of Lifelong Learning, the decision follows the advice of their COVID Task Force, which includes medical experts.

“We have a physician panel that has been looking at CDC guidelines right from the start as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Basically, through their counsel and the work of the Task Force, we’ve created our opening guidelines to do it safely and effectively.”

Four miles down Mount Vernon Highway, Congregation B’nai Torah, which also has a popular preschool pro-

30 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Preschool student (in car) is greeted by Temple Sinai staff preparing for reopening.

gram for children, began a new school year virtually on Aug. 18. For the Conservative synagogue, which closed its preschool and its sanctuary in mid-March, it’s been a constant process of watching the COVID-19 numbers. Preschool director Ilana Burstein said that B’nai Torah’s experts have concluded that now is not the time to teach face-to-face.

“We’re reassessing all the time where we are, where the numbers are at and if it is safe to open. At the moment, they are

Now we’re seeing studies documenting this. Kids being home led to increases in behavioral health problems.”

Rabbi Brad Levenberg of Temple Sinai believes that the question of reopening is a complex one that balances the need for safety with a variety of other imperatives.

“I would say that we kept two questions in mind as we navigated our options: How can we best meet the needs of our families and how can we do so safely for our families, teachers and staff?”

The families of preschool students Temple Sinai preschool staff prepares have the option of joining classes now, affor the first day of classes. ter the high holidays or in January 2021.

Kaiser, the synagogue’s educational head, advising us not to open.”

So every Monday Burstein and her sees an enrollment in the under-five age staff distribute a list of education activi- group topping 75 by early next year.

“Parents want their kids to socialties for parents with preschool students.

The activities supplement the two weekly ize. The social and emotional needs of Zoom classes of about an hour each. An ad- children is really crucial. And so our parents are really appreciaditional Shabbat program tive that we are providing on Friday is also part of that. But safety is number the program. According one. So, you know, we had to Burstein, teachers are to really think through evalso expected to have a ery detail to give parents personal conversation onall of the information so line with each parent each that they can make the week to help assess the best choice possible for educational progress their themselves.” child is making.

Just how contagious “It’s a great way to young children are is an involve parents in their issue that is not fully unchildren’s development. It derstood. Dr. Anthony gives them a hands-on exIlana Burstein is preschool Fauci, America’s top inperience. And they know director at Congregation fectious disease expert, exactly where their child B’nai Torah. told Yahoo.com earlier is at, and where developthis month that “even very young chilmentally their child is at.”

Nonetheless, guidelines issued by dren have a high degree of virus,” and the AAP in June recommend that stu- that we still don’t understand the extent dents be “as physically present in the of their ability to spread the virus. However, he believes we will have a better classroom as possible.” idea in the “coming weeks And online learnand months,” as children ing is not good enough, head back to school. according to Dr. Sean So while Temple SiO’Reilly, a pediatrician nai proceeds with the reand infectious disease opening of its school prospecialist at the Universigram, Rabbi Joshua Heller ty of Colorado who helped at Congregation B’nai Toformulate the guidelines. rah, with its preschool at He told The New York capacity, is watching and Times, “As pediatricians, waiting. many of us have recog“We saw what had nized already the imhappened in some other pact that having schools early childhood programs closed even for a couple Marisa Kaiser is director of over the summer, and we months has had on chilthe Center for Learning and Engagement at Temple Sinai. wanted to make sure that dren. At the same time, a lot of us are parents. We experienced our numbers were continuing to decline so own kids doing online learning. There re- that we did not reopen just to have to ally wasn’t a lot of learning happening. close again.” ì

FLAVORS Tasty Teachers

By Flora Rosefsky When planning high holiday menus, recipe pages stained brown or yellow from years of use come to mind: an apple cake to usher in a sweet Rosh Hashanah, or chopped herring made for Yom Kippur’s Break the Fast.

I believe that Sukkot, my favorite Jewish holiday, can be part of the broad umbrella of the Jewish holidays that take place each autumn. My Sukkot meals include many Eastern European family recipes, some newer ones from contemporary cookbooks and a new kind of cookie I came up with this year to denote the time Sukkot arrives when we look up at a full moon.

What kinds of foods can we eat to reinforce many of the teachings of this celebratory festival that begins four days after the end of Yom Kippur?

In addition to its historical connections to the Exodus, retelling the 40-year journey from Egypt to the promised land, Sukkot manifests agricultural symbolism with a concept of thankfulness for the food G-d provides. Not to be one to watch the calorie count for a Jewish holiday meal, many of my Sukkot dishes are not only stuffed to denote the fullness of the Sukkot fall harvest season but also to be thankful for a bounty of food. A stuffed desert, like a mixed fruit strudel using chopped apples with a touch of honey, connects Rosh Hashanah to Sukkot. It can also be eaten for a Jewish New Year’s meal.

If following the commandment to dwell in the sukkah for eight days, many meals are served in the temporary dwelling.

Natural materials like bamboo, branches, or corn stalks create the roof (schach) with just enough room between them to see the sky. For those times when rain appears, it’s easier to bring one plate back into the house to finish the meal, the reason why Hungar-

A full moon Sukkot cookie is a treat.

A one dish meal of Hungarian goulash is perfect for Sukkot.

A plate full of stuffed foods is ready for a Sukkot supper.

ian goulash and other one-dish entrees with meat, rice or potatoes, and vegetables all mixed together, are popular Sukkot menu choices.

My mother’s Romanian stuffed cabbage is a Rosefsky favorite Sukkot choice.

The recipe’s sauce includes a mixture of dried fruits, brown sugar and lemon juice.

I finally had to write up this handed-down recipe because everyone who tasted it wanted to know how to make it. Foods such as stuffed acorn squash, stuffed mushrooms and twice-baked potatoes also reinforce the fullness of the autumn season’s harvest.

Some foods, which may not be “stuffed,” offer their own ways to teach us more about Sukkot.

During COVID, besides decluttering closets and drawers bursting with clothes, dust off the piles of cookbooks tucked away on kitchen bookshelves or drawers. In addition to Sukkot recipes handed down from relatives, these cookbooks, often spiral

bound, were published by synagogue Sisterhoods, NCJW, The Breman Museum, Hadassah and other Jewish organizations. They explore Jewish traditions with their recipe choices, while being popular fundraising philanthropic projects. When I want to try something new while learning more about a particular Jewish holiday such as Sukkot, my favorite go-to cookbook is “The Jewish Holiday Cookbook: An International Collection of Recipes and Customs” by Gloria Kaufer Greene.

One idea I came up with this year is to use store-bought large black and white cookies and simply cover them with white icing. I decided to call them Full Moon cookies, an appropriate dessert for Sukkot since it is the only Jewish holiday that begins with a full moon, and not a new moon. Note that out of curiosity, I did an internet search to see if there were recipes for Full Moon cookies. Pinterest and other resources showed phases of the moon cookies with many reci-

pes, but I did not find one specifically designated as a Sukkot moon cookie.

With food pantries needing more support during the pandemic and communities experiencing food vulnerability, Sukkot brings to mind how we also can think of others by sharing our meals. If not with a container of cooked stuffed cabbage, we can look through our stuffed shelves of canned goods to donate to places such as the Jewish Family & Career Services Food Pantry, or to our local synagogue food drives.

The Jewish symbolic foods I prepare, eat and share with others during Sukkot bring me full circle back to my mother and my grandmothers, of blessed memories, who set the compass on how to embrace Jewish traditions through their kitchens.

Now it’s time to pass on their recipes, along with a few of my own, to my children, grandchildren and to my community.

Chag Sukkot Sameach – Happy Sukkot Holiday! ì

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FLAVORS

High Holiday Gatherings: What’s a Family To Do?

By Robyn Spizman Gerson As the high holidays approach, you might be one of the fortunate families who knows where or even how you’ll be sharing festive meals. In prior years, your plans would be signed, sealed and delivered. For those afar, travel plans would be booked, and family gatherings would be top of mind.

As I began writing this article, friends and family members were not yet certain how they planned to celebrate. Most, however, remained dedicated to somehow preserving the family traditions of celebratory meals with family favorites and treasured recipes passed down through the generations.

Some family take-chargers have planned backyard, patio, even garage dinners as front runners with backups. Others are socially distancing, masking guests, with creative plans including renting tents, chairs, tables and more, come rain or come shine. And for families apart by distance, not just socially, a computer or iPad will be the tabletop centerpiece and Zoom dinners will keep them together.

Growing up in Atlanta, we gathered at my grandparents Morris and Annie Freedman’s house, directly across from the Aha-

32 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Marianne Garber with 3-year-old Zadie baking for the holidays.

vath Achim Synagogue. I’d sit at the picture window as a young child awaiting Grandpa and family members to walk across the street and begin the family celebration. I loved sneaking into the kitchen and tasting a bite or two. Grandma’s cooking was served on the extended dining room table stretched across the living and dining room, covered in fine linens, the good china, silver,

Cookbook cover of “I Remember Mamma – A Loving Tribute to Rooks Daniels” by Marianne Daniels Garber

Handwritten recipe card of Grandma Hattie’s Apple Cake

crystal, and nothing was spared. Aunts, uncles, cousins and family gathered together.

After all, it was the high holidays, a time of reflection, pause, sermon-discussions and family bonding through food. I can instantly imagine the delicious platters of brisket, chicken, tzimmes and delicacies that always pleased, prepared from scratch by my grandmother, who was well known for her Toll House chocolate chip cookie recipe found on the package, but then crisped up in the oven with her special magical touch.

Fast forwarding to the holidays 2020, and the new year cometh. Keeping it sweet and making it memorable will take ingenuity. While the fixings might be on disposable plates and meals packaged individually to avoid sharing, diners will have 6 feet between us, masks, no handshakes, hugs or helping hands from family members. For many, dinners will be delivered, picked up curbside, virtually shared and for those of us who are cooking, it’s certainly a meaningful way to mark the Jewish New Year.

Food has always been at the heart of most Jewish holiday gatherings. Marianne Daniels Garber, whose mother was a remarkable cook, baker of all things delicious, said, “For Mama, food was family. This year we’ll be Zooming with our kids in other cities and social distancing with the family here, with a goal of keeping the family as close as possible, while keeping everyone safe. We will strategically place tables on the deck and pre-plate each person’s meal.

From Atlanta to New Jersey to Pennsylvania, we’ll be Zooming our dinner, but always serving Mama’s recipes as the heartbeat of our holiday meals.”

Garber added, “When Mama passed away, I inherited her pans, dishes, and even the wooden bowl for chopping fresh fish for gefilte fish. There was no one to bake all her cakes, so I started baking. When Mama

cooked for the holidays, we went to the Fulton Fish Market to get the whole fish for her gefilte fish since she made everything from scratch. Mama was known for her lemon pound cake, which was quite distinctive, as well as the Chocolate Ice Water Cake. Even at holiday bake sales, her cakes would go for $100 and she was a popular baker.”

Garber wanted to preserve her Mama’s recipes and years ago created a cookbook titled “I Remember Mama,” lovingly filled with her mother’s cakes, Jewish holiday recipes and family favorites. The cookbook gives back to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation in memory of her parents.

“Mama’s gefilte fish, light and fluffy matzah balls and big kugel continue as a holiday tradition.” Now, Marianne cooks with 3-year-old granddaughter Zadie, who delights in wearing a chef hat and stirring the batter for the holiday cakes.

Lori Halpern reminisces about her holiday connection to baking through her grandmother Hattie’s Apple Cake. Halpern shared, “How sweet it is to feel this connection with my grandmother through baking.

I loved visiting with her as she always took time to bake with me. Every year I always make Grandma Hattie’s Apple Cake and talk about my grandmother while baking it, which helps all of us feel connected to her as well. I actually saved her recipe card with her handwriting and it is yellow from the age of the card. I love that special connection and feel her presence during the holidays.”

The holidays will certainly be different this year, yet keeping close to family recipes, memories and each other reminds us of loved ones from generations past. Food has the unique ability to sweeten the holidays, with the significance of how the blessing of family, traditions and togetherness have a deeper meaning, now more than ever.

FLAVORS Light Fluffy Matzoh Balls From the cookbook “I Remember Mama: A Loving tribute to Rooks Daniels,” compiled by Marianne Daniels Garber Some people like their matzoh balls dense and hard, but we like them light and fluffy.

Everyone has their own secret for making them light and everyone worries about whether they will turn out light. This is how my mother taught me to make mine. My brother, Stanley Daniels, says, “But Mama always said the matzoh balls were better last year!” (Of course, being a Jewish mother, she worried that was true of her gefilte fish, matzoh balls and whatever else she made. I now find myself saying the same thing.)

Follow the recipe on the matzoh meal carton except add 1 extra egg white, doubling or tripling the recipe as needed. I make the mixture the night before and refrigerate overnight.

For one recipe, combine amounts as directed and chill: Matzoh meal Vegetable oil or rendered chicken fat Eggs Salt Chicken broth, preferably homemade Boil salted water in a large stock pot. After chilling, the matzoh meal mixture will be stiff. Add 1 egg white and teaspoons of seltzer water or chicken broth until the mixture is slightly loose. Stir well. (This is where the “feel” comes in, the mixture should not be too firm but should just hold together.)

Using a spoonful of the mixture, quickly form the balls. Do not pat them into balls or try to make them perfect, too round or too compact. Just nudge the spoonful off the spoon with your finger into the boiling water. The balls will be irregular in shape and will double in size when cooking so don’t worry about making them too large. The pot should be big enough that there is room for the balls to float to the top as they cook. Usually they start floating to the top of the boiling water within 30 seconds, but you may need to nudge a few resting on the bottom of the pot.

Bring the water back to a boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 45 to 50 minutes.

When complete, remove the balls from the salted water with a slotted spoon and place them directly into the chicken soup. When ready to serve, heat the soup and matzoh balls together.

Momma’s Big Kugel From the cookbook “I Remember Mama: A Loving Tribute to Rooks Daniels,” compiled by Marianne Daniels Garber.

1 8-ounce package of medium egg noodles 2 pounds cottage cheese 4 ounces cream cheese 1 pint sour cream 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted 5 jumbo eggs, blended 1/2 cup of sugar 1 1/2 cups crushed Frosted Flakes 1 tablespoon cinnamon, or to taste Preheat the oven to 350 F. Mix the crushed Frosted Flakes with the cinnamon and set aside. Cook the egg noodles according to the package and drain well. Toss with a bit of butter or margarine to keep from sticking. In a food processor or with a hand mixer, cream the cheese and sugar. Add the sour cream and blend until smooth. Add the cottage cheese, blending well. (In a food processor, the mixture will be smoother and creamier.) Add the eggs and the melted butter. Combine the mixture with the noodles by hand.

Pour the kugel mixture into a large Pyrex dish sprayed with cooking oil. Sprinkle a generous layer of the crushed Frosted Flakes and cinnamon mixture over the top of the kugel.

Bake for 1 hour or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Either serve immediately or cool before cutting into squares.

This kugel is delicious and can be made in advance. It freezes beautifully. I often freeze it in small packages of 4 to 6 squares for easy serving at a later date.

The Lemon Pound Cake From the cookbook “I Remember Mama: A Loving Tribute to Rooks Daniels,” compiled by Marianne Daniels Garber.

We always called this Mama’s famous pound cake because people remember it.

What makes this cake distinctive, besides the flavor, is the pan: It’s made in one long loaf pan (16-by-5-by-4-inches, available from Wilton).

For the cake 4 sticks of butter 4 cups of sugar 10 jumbo eggs 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 4 cups of cake flour For the glaze ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 cups powdered sugar (more or less to your taste) Before beginning, prepare the pan by spraying with Pam or greasing with butter. Cut sheets of wax paper to fit the bottom and 4 sides of the pan, extending the height of the pan by about 2 inches.

Preheat the oven to 325 F. Cream the butter in a stand mixer on high speed. Slowly add the sugar and continue beating until the mixture is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. With the mixer on high, add the eggs one at a time, until well beaten. Add the lemon juice and vanilla until just incorporated.

The batter will look a bit curdled at this point.

Reduce the mixer to low speed and gradually add spoonfuls of flour to the creamed mixture. Mix each addition until just incorporated using care not to over beat.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, lightly smoothing the top so it is evenly spread.

Bake for 1 ½ to 2 hours or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

Cool the cake completely before turning out. Gently turn out the cake onto waxed paper and peel off paper; gently roll it over so it is topside up.

In a small mixing bowl, blend the lemon juice into the powdered sugar using a wire whisk. Add more sugar if you want a sweeter, thicker glaze.

Poke holes in the top of the cake with the cake tester and drizzle the glaze over the top of the cake. Enjoy! ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 33

FLAVORS

Kosher Food for Holidays

By Steve Gilmer Over the last few months, as COVID worsened and restrictions tightened, my staff and I have had to figure out how to navigate the situation to fill the needs and holiday favorites of the Jewish community despite decreased production, slowed transportation, distributors working remotely with reduced staff, and difficulty acquiring imported goods.

It isn’t simple to fulfill the needs of all the various minhagim (traditions) and stripes of the Atlanta Jewish community. There are those who hold by Cholov Yisroel, Yoshon, Pat Yisrael, and various forms of Shechita, and they all have their requirements that need to be filled.

In Judaism, food is more than just food. Food is ritual, food is spiritual, food is obligatory.

At Passover, it is the seder; at Rosh Hashanah it is the simanim (symbols) and special foods for a sweet new year. This year, getting those items is a challenge unlike any other year.

We’ve been on the phone negotiating with vendors, contacting suppliers from around the country, to make sure the Atlanta Jewish community won’t run out of kosher food, and will have everything that’s needed for the upcoming holiday. With an eye on Sept. 18, Rosh Hashanah eve, we’ve been calculating, counting backwards to when inventory must hit the Kosher Gourmet floors.

Freezers have already been cleared out to make room for product coming in earlier than usual to ensure sup-

ply for the anticipated demand.

In light of the current situation, slaughterhouses have cut back production, transportation is slow, and suppliers are having to increase their prices in an attempt to keep up with the adjusted safety precautions.

Around the country and especially in the Northeast, restaurants are closed, virtually all catered events are cancelled, and hotels are empty. Consequently, both kosher and treif (non-kosher market) production lines are reduced, orders delayed, and some products discontinued.

All this leads to difficulty in acquiring kosher goods and comes with increased prices that get passed down to the consumer.

Many families have found life financially challenging in the last few months, struggling to keep up with living costs, decreased work and increased food prices.

In these difficult times, the obligation to feed families in need is strong, and a wonderful summer food program was created by Georgia Nutrition Services, catered

by Kosher Gourmet and distributed by Congregation Beth Jacob, providing 29,350 catered meals to Jewish children from all over metro Atlanta.

With the high holidays coming up, whether celebrating alone or together, the rules of the game have changed in the catering world and it is a new way of doing business. All orders must be individually packaged, with careful sanitary measures implemented. Gone are the 600-person events, the grand wedding banquets,

Steve Gilmer stocks the shelves at Kosher Gourmet for the upcoming holidays.

the large corporate conventions. We have devolved into a world of separation, of distancing, with nuclear family-size gatherings only. This has also resulted in a huge paradigm shift for store operations. With smaller gatherings and social distancing, the volume in small call-in or emailed orders has increased, personal staff shopping for customers and curbside service is now offered. These changes have resulted in a reorganization of the store’s operations, including staff responsibilities, production schedules, and checkout procedures, as examples of a few adaptions to the new retailing reality.

As the creators of Seder-In-A-Box, Shabbat-In-ABox, and Dinner-In-A-Box, this year Kosher Gourmet is producing a catered Rosh-Hashanah-In-A-Box to ensure that, in a time when families can’t spend Rosh Hashanah together, no one will be stuck without traditional food for the holiday.

We are doing what we can to sustain the community and maintain as close to “normal” as we can. Despite the challenging times, as Jews we must know we’ve got each other’s backs, and that the community always has somewhere to turn.

One thing has not changed. When you leave the Kosher Gourmet, you can always count on me to say, “As they say in the South, ‘y ’all come back now, ya hear?’” ì Steve Gilmer is the owner of Kosher Gourmet, kosher store and catering company.

34 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

FLAVORS

Docs Boast Best Brisket

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Well-set tables for the High Holidays and Passover are known for wafting aromas and juicy slices of brisket. Then there are those meat aficionados who aptly prepare it yearround.

Ashkenazi Jews take the forefront with variations from smoking to braised pot roast, but do not own the space. Koreans, Germans, Brits, Thais, and even Italians have their own brisket versions. Texans revel about barbequing it. Perhaps the most famous culture was revealed in a 2019 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival live performance after the film presentation “Chewdaism: A Taste of Jewish Montreal.”

Kosher brisket that came from Romania to Montreal is believed to have morphed into the corned beef and pastrami touted in “Chewdaism” according to the Food Network.

Crispy, salty, crusty brisket prep can be intimidating, labor intensive and expensive, and can be even better for next day leftovers. The brisket cut comes from the lower part of the breast or chest on a cow, or calf. Preparers marvel at its ability to quiver, flop, jiggle, sag in the middle, necessitating swaddling in anything from butcher paper to a beach towel.

Howard recalls that his Locally, Dr. Mitchell mother made a more Blass, infectious disease traditional roasted brisket specialist, and Dr. Howard version for Jewish holidays growing up in Massachusetts. Snapper, cardiologist, lit up their social media with mouthwatering photos and instructions on this culinary art and tradition. Blass recalls, “The smell of the brisket always reminds me of being together with my family.”

Snapper echoed, “My mother made brisket for all the Jewish holidays, but it was more of a roasted version.”

In an article in The New York Times last year, Steven Raichlen broke the brisket process into these components: meat, seasoning, cooker, smoke, temperature, wrap, test, rest, carve. From the Big Green Egg, blue smoke, and “the largest cut of meat most people will ever attempt to cook at home.”

Blass shares, “I look for a prime cut brisket that is usually between 10 to 12 pounds.

For ribs I ask for a rack of short ribs, uncut and still in the cryovac.

“For both, I heavily Mitchell Blass uses a Traeger trim the fat. I use a Traeger Silverton pellet grill from Silverton pellet grill from Costco with hickory pellets.

Costco with hickory pellets.

My brisket typically takes about six to eight hours of time on the smoker, slow and low. My rack of uncut short ribs takes longer, usually eight to 12 hours.

“Both are made very simply, salt and pepper, setting the grill at 225 degrees, and cooking until an internal temperature of 190 to 200.” Blass offers an alternative as long as the grill is fired up. He prepares fresh trout which takes

Blass takes 22 hours to achieve his perfect brisket.

Snapper advises to cut the brisket against the grain.

90 minutes, set at 200 degrees and cooked until flaky.

Snapper uses a Green Mountain Grill with hardwood pellets. It’s preferable to start with a whole brisket, which has two parts: one flat and the other part that’s thick and fatty, which is the most tender. “Look for a well marbled cut. Season with sea salt, black pepper, paprika and garlic powder. Set the temp at 225 to start, but stop when the internal temp hits 150. This is called ‘the stall,’ where you take it off the smoker, wrap in tin foil or butcher paper for just a few minutes, put back to smoke at 203 degrees, pull it off, wrap again, then rest it for an hour.”

Noting technology, Snapper sets the temperature to interact with his smartphone.

He checks on it hourly to spritz with apple juice and /or Worcestershire sauce to retain moisture. He cautions, “Do not cut the brisket immediately so the juices can distribute. And always cut against the grain.” His entire process takes about 12 hours.

For leftovers, Snapper said. “I wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, refrigerate, then reheat on a steamer on the stove.” Blass joked, “Reheat in a sauté pan and make for next day’s lunch. What leftovers?!” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 35

FLAVORS

Holiday Flavors Preparing for the high holidays? We’ve got recipes to start planning your holiday tables. Some of our contributors and staff, along with members of the community, added their holiday favorites to this year’s lineup ready for the sampling. From challah to brisket to dessert, we hope we start to whet your appetites for the upcoming New Year.

Sea Bass in Sabra

By Susanne Katz The fish is baked in white wine and has a special aroma from the Sabra.

6 sea bass steaks (about 3 pounds) 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 1 cup dry white wine 4 tablespoons vermouth 2 tablespoons Sabra or other orange liqueur 2 teaspoons soy sauce 1 teaspoon ground black pepper Preheat oven to 350 F. Arrange fish in a heatproof baking dish and dot with butter.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Mix wine, vermouth, Sabra, soy sauce and pepper. Pour over fish. Bake for an additional 30 minutes.

Susanne Katz is a contributor to the AJT.

Marinated Carrots

Trifle

By Susanne Katz

By Susanne Katz

6 to 8 large carrots, peeled and julienned 1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 1 small onion, sliced 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon pepper 2 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon salt Juice of 1 large lemon Salad greens

16-ounce pound cake 1 can chocolate fudge 1/4 cup Kahlua 6 Heath bars, crushed 3 small boxes instant vanilla pudding 3 cups milk 3 cups whipping cream, whipped until stiff 3 bananas sliced (optional) 6 ounces Cool Whip

Boil carrots for 3 to 5 minutes. Combine rest of the ingredients for the marinade.

Add carrots. Refrigerate overnight. Serve over greens.

Slice pound cake and cut into cubes. Combine Kahlua and chocolate fudge.

Combine milk and instant pudding.

Layer all ingredients and end with Cool Whip topping.

Susanne Katz is a contributor to the AJT.

Susanne Katz is a contributor to the AJT.

36 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

FLAVORS

Rosemary Roasted Vegetables

By Terry Segal

Whether served to vegetarians or meat-eaters, this platter of roasted vegetables heralds autumn and the Jewish New Year. It’s met with cheers for the first taste of the season.

Servings: 8

Holiday Lemony Apples

By Marcia Caller Jaffe 6 large apples ¼ fresh pineapple 1 cup orange juice 1 ½ tablespoons cinnamon 3 lemons ½ cup raisins Water, as needed Cut large apples, leave peel on, core. Mix in Granny Smith, Gala or your favorites.

Cut pineapple into small chunks.

Put large pot on stove. Add orange juice, juice from lemons (and anything you can scrape out of the lemons). Cut up the lemon rinds and add to apple and pineapple mixture. Add raisins and cinnamon.

Simmer, then cook on low heat, covered, until fruit is soft. Stir occasionally. Add water and orange juice if needed during cooking.

Option: Substitute pears for apples and sweet kosher wine for the orange juice.

Make large batches for holiday meal and/or freeze in small containers to have on yogurt or a snack with cottage cheese.

Marcia Caller Jaffe is a regular contributor to the AJT.

8 ounces peeled shallots 1 purple onion, peeled and sliced 4 red-skinned potatoes, scrubbed and cut 2 medium turnips, peeled and cut 2 medium parsnips, peeled and cut 4 medium carrots, peeled and cut 1 bunch of asparagus, tough ends trimmed off and cut 3 bags of Brussels sprouts, ends removed and halved 1/4 cup of olive oil or less, if desired, to coat the vegetables 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed, cut into small chunks, not minced Himalayan pink salt or kosher salt, to taste Black pepper, to taste Balsamic vinegar, if desired Note: All vegetables can be cut into 1- to 2-inch pieces Preheat oven to 450 F. In a large bowl, combine the vegetables with the oil, pink salt or kosher salt, black pepper, rosemary and garlic.

Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and spread the vegetables out in an even layer. Don’t overcrowd them or they will steam instead of roast. You can use two baking sheets if necessary.

Put baking sheet in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes.

Alternately, if you have a large air fryer, you can preheat it to 400 F for 5 minutes and then put the vegetables in and cook them at that temperature for about 20 minutes. Shake and toss them halfway through the process.

Before serving, splash vegetables with a dash of balsamic vinegar or serve as is on a pretty platter with a sprig of rosemary to garnish.

Terry Segal is a regular columnist for the AJT. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 37

FLAVORS

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

By Martha Jo Katz This is easy and foolproof, and offers memories for me of two great ladies, my mother and grandmother! It is a favorite of our family for the holidays and for any other day they are served. My mother Annette Harris Felson and grandma Ida Bank Harris made them during the holidays as a first course instead of soup. My great-great grandmother Chase Bank made them as well as my namesake, Martha Bank, who came to Baltimore in 1887.

The secret is to make them very small and to balance the sweet and sour. Grandma Harris used to call me to walk the two blocks to her house in Ocilla, Ga., to be the “taster” and she trusted my judgment, even as a child, to tell her if it was too sweet or too sour. I have added carrots to the sauce since they pick up the flavor, add color and our family loves them.

For dinner during the holidays, they can be served as the first course and for lunch, the main course paired with a salad of sliced cucumbers, avocadoes, tomatoes, and hearts of palm with olive oil and lemon juice, salt and pepper mixed in. And, of course, a big slice of challah to accompany them at lunch or dinner.

I always have the memory of the smell in mama and grandma’s kitchens when I make them. A recipe legacy I am proud to inherit, pass down, share and am always happy to serve.

For meat: Two pounds of ground lean beef (chuck, round or sirloin) Three slices bread, edges trimmed and soaked in warm water One small onion, grated fine Salt and pepper, to taste Garlic salt (optional) Mix meat with water-soaked bread, onion, and seasonings and set aside For sauce: 2 large (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes with added puree ¾ cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt 2 carrots, sliced in rounds In large Dutch oven, put the tomatoes, sugar, kosher salt and carrots and bring to a simmer: Roll meat in tiny balls (quarter size) and drop into simmering sauce.

Reduce heat, cover and simmer and cook for 1 hour and a half, stirring occasionally.

Finishing touch: 1 tablespoon lemon juice or 1/8 teaspoon citric acid salt Add lemon juice or citric acid salt and then taste. Add more sugar if too sour or more citric acid or lemon if too sweet.

Martha Jo Katz is a contributor to the AJT. 38 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Macadamia Nut Banana Bread Submitted by Lilli Jennison This recipe is great to gift to friends and family for a sweet new year. It is very easy and delicious. Great as a snack, dessert or breakfast. It is an interesting twist to a quarantine favorite.

4 large bananas, mashed 1 cup sugar 2 large eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup vegetable oil 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped (divided) Brown sugar and cinnamon, to taste, for topping Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray loaf pan with baking spray.

Add bananas, sugar, eggs, vanilla and oil to stand mixer and blend on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add into the stand mixer and blend on low speed until combined, but not overmixed, about 30 seconds.

Mix in 3/4 cup macadamia nuts with a spatula, then pour into loaf pan. Top with remaining 1/4 cup macadamia nuts.

Bake for 60 to 65 minutes. Note: When there is about 10 minutes left of baking, add the brown sugar and cinnamon mix to the top of the bread.

Source: www.dinnerthendessert.com/macadamia-nut-banana-bread/ Lilli Jennison is creative & media designer of the AJT.

FLAVORS

Marnie’s Challah Submitted by Roni Robbins While sheltering in place and nannying this summer, my daughter Lena began experimenting with challah baking. She got the recipe from family friend Marnie Nadolne, who didn’t actually make up the recipe herself, but was more than happy to share. Despite the yeast shortage – perhaps caused by increased challah baking during the pandemic – sometimes we’d even get to sample the finished product.

My daughter said Nadolne’s son Benjy, who spent an education-filled gap year in Israel with Lena, gave her a challah for her birthday in April. Here’s what she said of her newfound baking hobby: “Benjy’s mom’s challah is amazing. He gave me one around my birthday because I asked, I think, then I wanted to see if I could make it that good and thought it would be a fun activity for my kids [as nanny], so we started to do it every Friday and I need practice to get good. One time I made it too salty, one time it didn’t rise. I didn’t know about the second rise. And now I’m very good at it.”

Here’s the recipe: 1 packet of rapid-rise yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons) ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons warm water 2 eggs 1/3 cup oil 1/3 cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoon salt 3 1/2 cups bread flour Optional: 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 cup raisins for raisin challah 1 cup dark chocolate chips for chocolate chip challah Sesame or poppy seeds Combine the yeast, water and a pinch of sugar, stir and let sit.

In a bowl, mix 1 egg, oil, sugar and salt. (Add teaspoon of cinnamon if making raisin challah).

Add water-yeast mixture and stir.

Mix in 2 cups of bread flour, then add chocolate chips or raisins at this point, if desired. Add the rest of the flour and mix/knead until smooth and no longer sticky.

Shape into a ball.

Let dough rise in an oiled bowl covered with a towel until it has about doubled in size (around an hour). A warm, humid environment is ideal.

Dump dough onto lightly floured countertop. Don’t punch down, but gently shape. Cut and braid. Put on parchment paper-lined baking sheet.

Beat the second egg in bowl. Brush liberally onto the braided challah. Add seeds if desired and let rise about 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake for 30 minutes. Take out immediately and cool on a rack.

Roni Robbins is AJT’s associate editor.

Aunt Susan’s Squash Casserole Submitted by Roni Robbins Nearly every major Jewish holiday in recent years we’ve spent with my best friend Wendy Vitale and her family. She is like mishpachah because she grew up in Birmingham, where I worked as a daily newspaper journalist early in my career. Her kids and mine grew up together.

I love her casseroles, including this one from her aunt. Really most of Wendy’s dishes are delish, but anything with vegetables seems healthier to me (even if it’s only an illusion in this case).

3 pounds yellow squash 1 large grated onion ½ cup Ritz cracker crumbs plus extra for topping 2 large eggs 1 stick butter or margarine 1 tablespoon sugar 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 375 F. Wash and cut squash. Boil with onions until tender. Drain and mash. Add remaining ingredients except ½ of butter and extra crumbs.

Melt remaining butter. Pour mixture into baking dish. Pour extra butter over mixture. Sprinkle additional cracker crumbs on mixture. Bake for 1 hour Roni Robbins is Associate Editor of the AJT. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 39

FLAVORS

Search for Family Roots Leads to Wine Biz

By Susanne Katz Margo Grbinich-Hunt traveled to Croatia in 2009 in search of her family, but returned to Atlanta with a dream of starting a wine business.

She was born in Nuremberg, Germany, and grew up in the country. Her father was stationed there during the war but was a child of Croatian and Hungarian immigrants.

In 2009, Margo and her husband, Jerry Hunt, flew to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, with just a few old pictures in hand, and began her search to discover cousins and extended family. In the process, they toured Croatia, which extends east and west from the Adriatic Sea to the Danube River, the Alps in the north and Dalmatia to the south.

They were told stories of the Balkan Wars of the 1990s. And they listened as they tasted the Croatian wines that had been brought to the table. The aroma and taste, recalls Grbinich-Hunt, were so fresh and delicious, and very different from wines she had tasted in other countries.

Ten years later, in 2019, Grbinich-Hunt returned to visit her newly found cous-

40 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Margo Grbinich-Hunt with wines in the warehouse.

Margo Grbinich-Hunt looking through photo albums of family from Croatia.

ins in Croatia and to learn more about the various wines, unusual grape varietals and their steadfast production dating back 3,500 years. And so, she founded Grbinich Wines, and became an importer and distributor of fine Croatian wines.

Grbinich Wines, Inc., expanded to include additional Eastern European wines and kosher selections of wines from countries of European Jewish heritage.

An interest in Austrian wines led her to feature a selection. Hafner Kashmir 2015

is a red blend wine from Austria. It is certified organic, vegan, and kosher for Passover, produced under strict supervision of Oberrabbiner A.Y. Schwartz, in Vienna, with 15% alcohol.

Grbinich-Hunt hosts tastings in her warehouse, mostly for retailers, and she enjoys pouring wines that may be new to her customers, explaining that Croatia is the home of zinfadel, a root stock that was brought to the U.S. during the Gold Rush.

Croatia produces both white and red wines,

in a country that is about the size of South Carolina, with a population of 4 million, and with over 300 registered wineries.

Rabbi Reuven Stein of the Atlanta Kashruth Commission explains the importance and history of kosher wines.

“Kosher wine is very important in Judaism. All holidays and Shabbat are celebrated with wine. A Jewish baby is named over a cup of kosher wine. A couple is married over an overflowing cup. Any additives, yeasts, stabilizers and clarifiers all need to come from kosher sources.

“In most cases, only practicing Jewish workers can handle the wine in the cellar, from crushing grapes to tasting and bottling. Winemakers also need to be extra careful when sourcing yeasts, additives and fining agents, to make sure they are kosher, too.

“Once a bottle of unpasteurized (non meveushel, heated during production) wine has been opened, it could cease to be kosher if handled by anyone not observant of the Sabbath. U in a circle indicates that the wine is certified by Union of Orthodox Rabbis. K in a circle or in a star also indicates that the wine is kosher.” ì

Jeff Roder marvels at wife Paola’s talent in their master bedroom with her signature hand created stripes and bold colors. Doodles Kali and Lakshmi chill with their tennis balls.

Chai Style Home

Duane Stork Photography // The reading nook is an

inviting space off the Roder dining room.

Andy Warhol Meets Dr. Seuss Instagram influencer Paola Roder is known as the Paola: I’m actually a graphic designer. I went to an “Do It Yourself Queen of Color” for her take on hippie arts conservatory in Cali, Colombia, where I completed bohemian glamour. Along with financial manager hus- a five-year graphic design program. I’m more of an inteband Jeff, they moved a year ago to Johns Creek from riors enthusiast as I started using my home as a canvas King of Prussia, Pa. to apply some of my knowledge to create unique spaces.

“Our home is Mid-Century Modern,” Paola said.

“We love the architectural lines, tall and Marcia: How would you describe your coffered ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling winapproach? dows that give a sense of openness and Paola: I have a very unique and difbrightness. I love that our whole first floor ferent style. I might not be everyone’s cup is curtain-free. Some people like to be “safe” of tea, but I like to be different and make with design. I prefer to be ambitious and a statement. One of my IG followers dedifferent, and (laughing) pastels scare me.” scribed it as: “Roder has a lot of pop art Admiringly, Jeff embellished, “Paola is influences, but also a hip urban feel, a bit a very talented designer. Her projects are of kitsch and psychedelia.” I’m definitely a bold, but tasteful. Paola’s talent is to make maximalist! a space lively. She has the vision to see the Marcia final product, good judgment and realism Caller Jaffe Marcia: What are some of your most in terms of designing and changing a space. unusual pieces?

Some spaces are just unappealing, not functional. Paola Paola: We have a family heirloom that we absoluteknows how to improve it by making a major change like ly love, a coffee table of hand-painted tiles from Israel. It taking down a wall. She can also see when a space can is a MCM table that fits perfectly with our decor. be transformed with modest effort and cost.”

We like to add humor to our decor so there is an old Take a roller coaster ride in the joyous and stimulat- phone by the entrance next to a cassette and a diskette ing Roder home: resembling a “from the past” corner.

Marcia: What is your training?

Marcia: Elaborate on your collections.

Paola: We focus on original art from new indie artists, mostly pop art like “Glitter Buddha” by Colombian Artist Juan Melo from his “Gente Brillante” (Sparkly People) Series, “Gay Gator” by Atlanta artist Liz Haywood, “Psychedelic Parrot” by Philadelphia artist Natalie Flor Negron, and the David Bowie clock “Two Face Twins” from the U.K. Marcia: Describe your decor.

Paola: All our furniture is mid-century modern. I love bold colors with clean, simple lines, the honest use of materials. That generally does not include decorative embellishments.

My signature element in my own designs is black and white stripes, which are integrated in all of my room designs along with bold, bright colors.

A big part of why I am attracted to bold colors is my Latin and Colombian heritage.

I try not to worry about trends and just go with my gut. I started this journey experimenting with murals like a black and white striped wall last year. I transformed my laundry room with a graphic mural. I love the urban feel that it gives to the space. My dream is to paint other walls with cool designs.

Marcia: This kitchen is so contrastingly calm.

Paola: Our kitchen is not on Instagram because it ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 41

CHAI STYLE This interpretation of Frida Kahlo by Ana Paula Hoppe dominates the master bathroom.

One of Paola’s favorites is this original Glitter Buddha by Colombian artist Juan Melo / “Gente Brillante” (Sparkly People) Series.

The Roder’s original “Gay Gator” is by local artist Liz Haywood

is gray and won’t perform well on there. It’s a beautiful, spacious kitchen, but changes are on the way color-wise.

I have been drawing some mock-ups of what I want there. We are vegans and love Indian food and Ethiopian cuisine. Jeff is my sous chef.

Marcia: How do the pups fit in?

Paola: Our two large goldendoodles have free range of the home, which is dog friendly because they have

space to move safely within. Kali is the Indian goddess of creation and destruction, and Lakshmi is the goddess of beauty and wellness.

Marcia: Last word.

Jeff: My home makes me happy and grateful. I love the architecture, Paola’s interior transformation, the open space, and the neighborhood setting. While some have cabin fever being cooped up all of these months

Paola is best known for crafting original murals.

Jeff’s mother gifted the hand-painted Israeli tiles that were constructed into a mid-century modern table in 1970.

42 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHAI STYLE The Roder dining room table is set with Paola’s bold colors contrasting black and white stripes.

Adjacent to the dining room, Jeff Roder set up this wall with 16 size 45 records he found in the basement of a Philadelphia shop.

due to the virus, I am happy as a clam to be largely confined in this house.

My favorite area is the sunroom with large windows, looking out on a yard with deer and wildlife adjacent to the eating area. And, I enjoy eating!

Paola: Atlanta is a vibrant, different and colorful backdrop for engaging in the world around us. I love how the arts here are a catalyst and an incredible part

of connecting communities.

As an avid jogger, now during COVID, I created a virtual running club from all over the world where we challenge running for 40 days – at least a mile a day. Currently 45 runners are on our page @roderroadrunners.

Marcia: Midtown and Soho meet Johns Creek right here. ì

This guest bedroom designed by Paola was featured in HGTV Magazine. The dots are decals. The lamps are Novogratz.

Paola hand-painted this IKEA dresser beneath an interpretation of Brigitte Bardot.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 43

CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 1-15

Virtual Classes and Events:

about the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. To register, www. bit.ly/2XYKXul.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 JELF’S Interest Free Loan Application Open – All Day. Jewish Educational Loan Fund helps Jewish students in need by providing interest-free, nofee loans for higher education. For more information and to apply, go to www.jelf.org/application.

Panel Discussion: Married to the Rabbi – From 2 to 3 p.m. Inspired by the book, “Married to the Rabbi: Sixty Spouses of Retired Reform Rabbis in Their Own Words” edited

by Naomi Patz and Judy Maslin, this panel discussion moderated by Karen Franklin will feature Southern rabbis’ wives who contributed essays to the book. Patz will be a special guest. Hear from panelists Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Pat Bloom and Jeanne Danziger as they share insights about being a rebbetzin in the American South during the transitional years of the second half of the 20th century. Brought to you by the Southern Jewish Historical Society. To register, www.bit.ly/2EVjNyT.

Torah Studies, Live – From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for an in-depth analysis of the Torah portion.This program brings you the tradition of classical Jewish learning in a series of inspiring and engaging weekly classes. The lessons probe the depths of contemporary Torah thought with a special focus on issues surrounding spirituality, the human psyche, love and relationships. Every experience offers meaningful and timely lessons, from the most timeless of texts. You will walk away surprised, inspired, and knowing more about who you are—and who you can be. To join with Zoom, www.bit.ly/2VkBLjZ.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 Significant Others of Addicts Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. Free weekly support group from JF&CS. This group is for spouses, partners and/ or significant others of those struggling with addiction. To register and for more information, sanderson@ jfcsatl.org.

Brain Health Boot Camp – From 1 to 2 p.m. Join JF&CS to combat memory loss. This program is designed to provide memory enhancement techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education and socialization. To register, contact Georgia Gunter at ggunter@ jfcsatl.org.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 Hebrew Reading Crash Course – From 7 to 8 p.m. Join Chabad of North Fulton for this weekly class and be reading Hebrew in time for this year’s high holidays. To register, www. chabadnf.org/hebrew.

44 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Family Caregiver Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. This JF&CS weekly group will provide a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings and help you to develop a network of support related to being a family caregiver. For more information, call Debbie at 770-677-9338.

Pregnant in Uncertain Times Support Group – From 1 to 2 p.m. A JF&CS free weekly group for expectant mothers dealing with fears and concerns during this unprecedented time. Gain support and learn from others in a therapist-facilitated environment. To register, email tgersonmiller@jfcsatl.org.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 Monday Night Parsha – From 7 to 8 p.m. Join Chabad of North Fulton for this virtual class by Rabbi Gedalya Hertz on the weekly parsha.To join, www.bit.ly/2zpsgIl.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 Blood Drive with Life South – From 11 to 3 p.m. 1440 Spring St, Atlanta, 30309. Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is hosting a blood drive. Contact Dakota Penza for more information at dpenza@jewishatlanta.org.

To register, www.bit.ly/3aLjbaP.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 Kabbalah & Coffee – From 9:30 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore and journey with Intown Jewish Academy. Learn

Zoom into Shabbat Tot Shabbat with the OVS Rebbetzin – From 5 to 6 p.m. Join Rebbetzin Carrie Hearshen

Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at:

Think Different – From 8 to 9 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for a weekly group to study the single most transformative Jewish spiritual text written in the last three centuries with master Tanya teacher Rabbi Ari Sollish. To register, www.bit. ly/3eNGmCi.

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

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 community relations director, Amy Seidner, for more information at amy@atljewishtimes.com.

meetups and online gatherings that bring you together with Jewish and Jew-ish students from around the world in real-time. For more information, www.bit.ly/3af7wjA.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Ki Tavo Friday, September 4, 2020, light candles at 7:40 p.m.

Saturday, September 5, 2020, Shabbat ends at 8:35 p.m.

Nitzavim-Vayelech Friday, September 11, 2020, light candles at 7:31 p.m.

Saturday, September 12, 2020, Shabbat ends at 8:25 p.m.

for a tot Shabbat program for young families. There will be stories and celebrating Shabbat together along with her daughters, Ayelet and Galit.

To join, www.bit.ly/3eJWyUt.

but hosts will need to deliver the “Challah Favor Bag” to their room attendees. More details and explanations will be provided to room hosts after registration. To join, www.bit. ly/3kSFmAu.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 FIDF: A Night of Heroes – From 7 to 8:15 p.m. Join FIDF for a coast-tocoast virtual celebration to support Israel’s defenders. The global FIDF family unites virtually for one unprecedented night of giving and extraordinary solidarity, saluting our IDF protectors. To register, www.bit. ly/31a9mQp.

AJC Atlanta Virtual Celebration – From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Donor appreciation and community advocacy award celebration. We look forward to celebrating with you virtually as we honor Melanie and Allan Nelkin and recognize all of our generous donors. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/304fhF6.

Please send virtual classes & events to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

MJCCA Blonder Department for Special Needs – Please stay tuned to the Blonder Family Department for Special Needs Facebook group for daily activities, chats, workouts and more. For more information, www. bit.ly/2Jmpl4x.

PJ Library – PJ Library is bringing fun, crafts, stories, Q&As, scavenger hunts, food demos and so much more.To join in and for more information, www.bit.ly/2WzFFqh.

Ongoing: Chabad.org Presents Jewish Kids Activities Online – Jewish art projects, videos, games, activities and more.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2UgUFId. MJCCA Fitness – MJCCA is open. Continue to work out virtually or in person! See the group exercise classes at www.atlantajcc.org/reopen.

Repair the World – Repair the World welcomes you to sign up for its programming. Join them from the comfort of your home for a discussion on compassionate care for ourselves and our community. For more information, www.bit.ly/2xhUsv5.

MJCCA Book Festival In Your Living Room Live – Click to view MJCCA’s upcoming Book Festival virtual events, www.bit.ly/3bk1mi7.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 The Great Big Virtual Challah Bake… with a twist! – From 7 to 9 p.m. Hosts will lead a breakout room on Zoom for up to 10 women. Participants will supply their own ingredients,

BBYO – Tune in to BBYO on Demand, a virtual experience for teens worldwide. Enjoy amazing programming and global events. Some of the sessions will even be led by our very own Greater Atlanta Region BBYO members. For more information, www.bit.ly/2QFlCD2.

Virtual Hillel Connections – If you’re looking for community, connection and meaningful learning opportunities, or if you’re just bored and need a distraction during coronavirus cancellations, then you’ve come to the right place. Hillel has virtual

Community Services: Anti-Defamation League – The Coronavirus Surfaces Fear, Stereotypes and Scapegoating: A blog post from ADL to help provide accurate information, explore emotions, and, most importantly, play a role in reducing stereotyping and scapegoating. To read more, www.bit.ly/3dp5a3t.

Atlanta Community Food Bank Text for Help SMS Function –The ACFB’s mission to provide nutritious food to the people who need it has reached a major milestone toward access to food for all. The Text for Help is “findfood” (no space). An automated response will be activated. When a person texts to 888-976-2232 (ACFB), they’ll be prompted for their zip code or address to enable location services for food pantries closest to them.

Responses will include a list of three different nearby pantries and their contact information. For more information, www.acfb.org.

Atlanta Jewish Music Festival Updates – Music is a powerful force. It heals. It can bring people together.

In the wake of the recent events, the AJMF has reached out to its community seeking “healing music.” To listen, www.spoti.fi/2Uuq7BB. For information about the AJMF, www. atlantajmf.org.

Israel American Council – IAC @ Home brings you the most innovative content online while helping ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 45

build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens, young professionals and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli and Jewish heritage, online activism and to one another.

IAC @Home lets you enjoy a coastto-coast community right from your own home. For more information, www.israeliamerican.org/home.

Marcus JCC Updates – Please visit www.atlantajcc.org/reopen to learn about all the details and procedures – including hours of operation – for engaging with the JCC during our reopening. For more information, www.bit.ly/2QEAuRX. Please send community service opportunities to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

JF&CS - Telehealth Older Adult Services – Aviv older adult staff are there to help provide resources, care plans, and support for you and your family. Call AgeWell at 1-866-AGEWELL (1-866-243-9355) to find out how they can help. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

Please send synagogue and temple streaming services information to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

Congregation Or Hadash – Shabbat Services Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday services at 9:15 a.m. Minyan Sunday and Tuesday mornings.

To participate and get Zoom link, www.or-hadash.org.

Congregation Shearith Israel – Daily and Shabbat services will continue at regular times through Zoom.

They are counting participants in these Zoom services as part of a minyan, allowing members to recite full prayer services including Mourner’s Kaddish. To participate via phone, dial 929-205-6099 and then enter the meeting code 404 873 1743. To be a part of services, visit the Zoom link, www.bit.ly/2wnFWlD.

JF&CS - Emergency Financial Assistance – JF&CS is here to provide emergency aid for individuals and families. Please call 770-677-9389 to get assistance. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

JF&CS - Telehealth Counseling Services – Now offering telehealth options via phone or video conference for current and new clients to help our community during this crisis. For more information about our therapy services or to make a telehealth appointment, email us at therapy@ jfcsatl.org or call 770-677-9474.

The Temple Livestreaming Services – Find live streaming services here, www.the-temple.org.

Provide a Meal to Homeless Women: www.rebeccastent.org.

Package and Deliver Meals Through Open Hand Atlanta: www.openhandatlanta.org/volunteer.

Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Shabbat Evening Services at 6:30 p.m. Shabbat morning services at 9:30 a.m. To watch and for more information, www.bit.ly/38dS4Ed.

JFCS Kosher Food Pantry: www.jfcsatl.org.

Temple Emanu-El Livestreaming Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10 a.m. Join on Facebook at: www. facebook.com/TEAtlanta/.

Temple Beth Tikvah Livestreaming Services – Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m. To join on Facebook, www.facebook.com/TempleBethTikvah/ or www.bit.ly/2ZlCvrr.

Jewish Federation of Great Atlanta COVID-19 Resources – The unsettling, fast-moving and unpredictable world of life with COVID-19 is upon us. As we’re all discovering, a worldwide pandemic disrupts everyone on an unprecedented scale. For updates and more information, www. bit.ly/3ahrNVM. 46 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Congregation Etz Chaim – Erev Shabbat Musical, Fridays at 6:30 p.m.

Shabbat services at 9:30 a.m. To join, www.bit.ly/3gWL02s.

Creating Connected Communities: www.bit.ly/3bekKNI. Ways to Help Through CCC: www.bit. ly/2vAXqdN.

Synagogue Livestreaming Services:

Congregation Beth Shalom’s Virtual Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 6:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Zoom minyan Sunday at 9:30 a.m. For more information, www.bit.ly/3gY0mUK.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Temple Kol Emeth Services – Shabbat Services on Fridays at 8 p.m. View our services on www.kolemeth.net or www.facebook.com/Temple Kol Emeth-Marietta, GA. Temple Sinai Livestream Services – Temple Sinai has live Shabbat services on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m.. For more information and to view services, www. bit.ly/2BXRfTF.

Repair The World Resource – A onepage resource for caring for the sick in the time of crisis. For more information, www.bit.ly/2JamMlQ. Cards & Care Packages for Jewish HomeLife Staff: www. bit.ly/2WDncsY & www.bit. ly/2WDncsY. Second Helpings Volunteer Opportunities: www.bit.ly/2UpkxQE. Help with COVID-19 – A list of additional volunteer opportunities: www.helpwithcovid.com.

Please send community service opportunities to amy@atljewishtimes.com.

Check the Atlanta Jewish Connector for updates: www.atlantajewishconnector.com.

Connector Chatter Directory Spotlight

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Financial Innovations and Estate Innovations In conversation with Laura K. Schilling, lawyer, accountant, certified senior advisor.

How long has your company been in Atlanta?

Financial Innovations incorporated in 2005 and started working with the Atlanta community, and the law firm formed in 2007 in Sandy Springs but was renamed in 2011.

How does your company help the community?

We are very active in individual charities. I am on the board of the Hillels of Georgia and co-president of the board of The Packaged Good. In addition, both [financial advisor] Charles Goldberg and I are active in the community. Financial Innovations usually hosts a shred event open to the community annually as well. Since COVID, we offered three webinars a week. Monday and Friday were educational webinars open to our clients and the community. Wednesdays were workout Wednesdays with DeAnne Jacobson of Fit & Strong. Entering August we have slowed down the webinars hosting to one to three a month.

Where do you see your company in 10 years?

We see ourselves still being an integral part of the Dunwoody and Sandy Springs communities. We love our clients and our community and hope that we can continue to service both for many years to come.

ADL (Anti-Defamation League) In conversation with Allison Padilla-Goodman, vice president, Southern division How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

While the Anti-Defamation League was established in 1913, partially in response to the lynching of Leo Frank in Atlanta, the ADL Southeast regional office (ADL Southeast), based in Atlanta, was founded as a part-time office in 1941, and expanded to full-time in 1945.

How does your organization help the community?

Founded in response to an escalating climate of antisemitism and bigotry, ADL’s mission is to protect the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment for all. ADL Southeast provides extensive anti-bias programming for schools, workplaces and communal organizations and hate crimes training for law enforcement. We work closely with synagogues, communal institutions, and law enforcement when incidents of antisemitism and hate occur, by providing resources on how to respond and protect the community. We advocate for policies that support the Jewish community and other marginalized groups. As an example, we created and led the diverse coalition, Hate Free Georgia, that worked to pass the Georgia Hate Crimes bill this year. Our anti-bias educational programming is implemented in over 200 schools across the region resulting in more inclusive and respectful school cultures.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

Since 1913, ADL’s mission has been “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people…and secure justice and fair treatment to all.” As much as we hope that our mission would be accomplished soon, history shows that this work is timeless and our organization has continuously adapted to everevolving forms of antisemitism and hate of all kinds. While we may not be able to predict what battles we’ll be facing in a decade regarding hate and bias, our work in the areas of education, advocacy, and investigation will always be necessary as we continue to fight hate for good.

National Council of Jewish Women In conversation with Sherry Frank How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

The National Council of Jewish Women was founded in 1883, and the NCJW Atlanta Section was established on Oct. 10, 1885.

We are a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action. Inspired by Jewish values, NCJW strives for social justice by improving the quality of life for women, children and families, and safeguarding individual rights and freedoms.

How does your organization help the community?

For over 125 years, we have created countless agencies and services to meet the needs of senior citizens, troubled children, new immigrants, and homeless and abused women. During normal times, we’d be helping our community through direct service projects such as the Atlanta Jewish Coalition for Literacy, for which over 100 volunteer tutors work in nine Title I schools with children in kindergarten through third grade. Our School Backpack Project provides a full year of school supplies to needy students. Since students aren’t sharing supplies this year, we’re in need of more school supplies to distribute. We also supply much-needed personal hygiene products, clothing and home items to immigrant women who have been victims of abuse.

While advocacy is a key part of NCJW, it is even more important now in this COVID world with continuing assaults on the very issues that are our priorities. We speak out for abortion, voting rights, maternal and infant health, gun safety, hate crimes, Israel, and qualified judicial nominees. This fall, we are launching a new study series titled “Seeing Whiteness for Anti-Racist Action.”

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

We see NCJW Atlanta stronger than ever 10 years from now because of our advocacy on cutting-edge issues that address the concerns of young women: reproductive health and freedom, childcare, workplace equality, family and medical leave, just to name a few. We feel we will keep attracting activist young women as we continue to meet community needs affecting women, children and families as we have done during our first 125 years.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 47

COMMUNITY Four Keys in Survival Kit for Future The second part of a three-part series.

We’re entering unknown territory as our kids and grandkids head back to college and school, whethDr. Terry Segal er in the physical classroom or virtually. I offer 10 keys to nourish body, mind and soul to help you manage your stress and create meaningful experiences. The first part of this series covered mindfulness and altered perceptions, www.atlantajewishtimes. timesofisrael.com/keys-to-mindfulnessand-altered-perceptions/ The next four keys: Journaling releases stress, anger, frustration, fear, and moves them out of your body and mind, onto the page.

Hopes, dreams, inspiration and repetitive patterns also appear in the writing.

Many schools have implemented

48 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

journaling as a daily practice to develop critical thinking, self-exploration, expression, and stress/anxiety reduction, all within the boundary of the journal.

Students have the option to fold a page they prefer not to be read.

A composition book or notebook paper are great for writing daily journals. The occasional collaged art journal piece with a few meaningful words returns you to the time you wrote it. (This entry of mine says: “Sometimes her heart cracked in half at the suffering in the world. But she was always able to staple it back together.”)

How to practice Journaling: Parents guiding their children’s learning at home

can make journaling part of the curriculum. Allot 10 to 15 minutes daily and set rules regarding privacy/sharing about what’s written. I recommend a mix of free writing, which is unstructured, and prompts. An example of prompt writing is: “What I’m struggling with about learning from home is …” or, “I feel mad, sad, glad, or scared today because …” Everyone benefits from this practice, so you can journal, too, at the allotted time each day. Journaling can foster conflict-resolution. For younger children and adults, journaling may contain images and colors rather than words.

Sensory Experiences. Awareness of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures makes life’s experiences memorable.

Certain fragrances can transport you to another time. A perfume may spark memories of a departed loved one. Ocean sounds can invoke a sensory snapshot from a special vacation. Opportunities occur every day, but mindfully stopping to observe a bird twittering on the branch or a fluttering leaf twirling to the ground halts moments that connect us all to Hashem and the world’s beauty.

Matzo ball soup evokes sensory experiences of being home for the holidays or of healing aromas.

How to practice Sensory Experiences: Recall group memories that conjure a sen-

COMMUNITY sory experience. For example: “Remember when it was so hot at the beach and we ate cold watermelon at sunset?” You can initiate a family ritual for each member to observe (or record in their journal) one experience for each of the senses, every day, and share them at dinner. For example: “Today I saw a yellow butterfly, heard thunder, smelled oregano on the pizza, tasted a tart cherry, and felt soft, damp grass on my feet.”

A clean, organized space and a clear, expansive mind reflect each other.

Reduced Clutter. Physical clutter congests space. When the environment’s messy, often so is the thinking, with no room for order or inspiration. Figuring out whether a room is cluttered because the mind is, or vice versa, becomes important.

Physical clutter can also take place in the holy vessel of your body when you feed it processed foods, sugary drinks, excessive alcohol or unhealthy substances.

This clouds the mind and dulls the spirit, resulting in depression, anxiety, disconnection from self, others, and G-d.

Mental clutter keeps too many plates spinning in your overcrowded mind. Fear of dropping them causes stress and anxiety, which compromises your health and quality of life. If you’re the cruise director of your household you have to manage your own work, supervise the work of others, perhaps also be the one to cook and clean up after the crew and tend to everyone’s health and well-being.

Spiritual clutter. I’ve defined and observed this in people who become so caught up in their mundane tasks and responsibilities that they don’t carve out time to allow Hashem to enter. G-d and G-d’s messengers, the angels, call out to us when we’re off balance. When there’s no room for them, the angels beat their wings inside of our chests to awaken our hearts. It’s often perceived as panic or anxiety.

Emotional clutter. This occurs when there’s no time for self-exploration of emotional responses that are wounding,

explosive, etc. A mindful self-check and acknowledgement of your emotions can help clear them. Yom Kippur offers us a chance each year to clean house with regard to relationships, but consider making it a real-time process each day so the clutter doesn’t mount.

How to practice reduced clutter: On the physical plane, it’s a valuable life skill to teach discernment regarding what’s worth keeping and what can be discarded. Regular disposal of trash, seasonal sorting of clothes, toys and the like develops a habit of only keeping what’s loved or serves a purpose (á la Marie Kondo) and sets up a practice of creating space while also giving to those in need.

Mindful eating that honors your body and fuels your energy becomes desirable rather than drudgery. Mental clutter can be eased with organizational systems such as dry erase boards or planners, so your mind isn’t the container for it all.

Delegating responsibility to others can be helpful. You may give up control but gain space. Say “no” to taking on more responsibilities. Reserve the right to sleep on a request before responding. For spiritual connection, devote a specific time each day to invoke holiness. Talk to G-d, offer gratitude, pray, and remember that you are not alone. Emotionally align with your triggers of anger, sadness, fear and even joy. Consider tightening the circle of those who have access to your inner world.

My daughter Sage, at 9 months old, dressed for her first Halloween (and then again for Purim) is still displayed at the children’s corner in our tearoom at home, bringing happy smiles and laughter to all who see it.

ability to see humor in situations. Laughter releases tension and endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, and resets your breath.

How to practice Humor: Seek opportunities to laugh. Animal videos are abundant and provide humor. Hang a board in a common area or create a

humor Pinterest board and post jokes, memes, photos that make you laugh.

Historically, Jews are known for our sense of humor, which has been used universally to bring us through the darkest times.

Play with at least one of these keys on your path forward. ì

Toffee, our 13-year old rescue dog, has provided humor for years, by putting herself in these positions, along with her joyful antics.

Humor. Laughing with, rather than at people is vital. It fosters connection versus separation. Sarcasm, a tenet of our people, is not cognitively understood by children nor often those raised in other countries and cultures. Cultivate the ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 49

COMMUNITY

Texting Contest Engages Jewish Teens With teens spending a large portion of their days on their smartphones, a new Jewish trivia game that engages them via cell phone is gaining traction in North Fulton and East Cobb counties.

Launched by the North Fulton chapter of Cteen, the Chabad teen outreach arm, Jtext is a pilot Jewish trivia game with gift card awards for teens that text the correct answer to trivia questions they receive on their phones. Every Monday and Thursday at 7 p.m. a Jewish trivia question is texted out.

The 18th person to respond with the correct answer wins an Amazon gift card.

“Teens can now put the time on their phones to good use by learning important Jewish facts with Jtext,” said Evan Pollack, who has been playing Jtext for the last year.

“Jtext is a fun way to test your general knowledge of Judaism,” added Pnina Sasson, a Pope High School student in Marietta.

Along with the question, the text includes four multiple-choice answers. Once they submit an answer, the students immediately receive a response telling them if they are correct or not. The questions range from a wide spectrum of Jewish trivia such as “Which country had the earliest settlement of Jews?” “Who were the first set of twins in the Torah?” and “Which location celebrates the longest Shabbat?”

Steve Kramer, a Johns Creek resident who is a supporter of the pilot program, said, “It is gratifying to me so see my daughter excitedly engage in Jtext.”

Jtexter Hunter Siegel, an Alpharetta

‘Punim in the Pew’ Heather Blank and her husband paid to have their faces in the stands at Truist Park for Braves games this season. The concept inspired her to initiate a similar fundraiser at Congregation Or Hadash.“We call it ‘Punim in the Pew’ and so far we have had 60 congregants purchase photo cutouts of their own heads, which we will attach to the chairs in the sanctuary for the high holidays,” Blank told the AJT. “It’s a fun way for members to be in ‘the room where it happens’ and to give Rabbi Lauren Henderson familiar faces to keep her company as she leads our community.”

“We are charging $36 a punim.” The profits, over $1,100, benefit the Sandy Springs Community Assistance Center as Or Hadash’s high holidays tikkun olam project.

On Aug. 16, congregants who were concerned about uploading a photo had the opportunity to have their “punim picture” taken at a social distance outside Or Hadash, Blank said.

Meanwhile, Or Hadash has improved its streaming production quality by purchasing new cameras for the sanctuary and partnering with LiveControl, which will manage the two cameras remotely. High holiday services will incorporate pre-recorded elements, such as a congregational song montage of ‘Avinu Malkeinu,’ the annual youth production of the Book of Jonah, and thoughts from congregants, as well as the live view of the sanctuary, featuring the punims.

“The response from the congregation has been extremely positive,” Blank said.

50 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

• Be’chol Lashon, which will offer diversity training and facilitate conversations about race and identity in a Jewish context; and • The Jewish Fertility Foundation to support a growing number of single moms by choice and an increase in multi-faith couples using JFF’s emotional support services and receiving JFF fertility grants.

Since last year, Federation Innovation has awarded $500,00 in similar grants, intended to ignite innovation in the Jewish community.

Jtext is a pilot Jewish trivia texting competition twice a week with gift card rewards.

navirus lockdown, and that is exactly what Jtext is all about,” he said. “Through Jtext we get to have a weekly check in and contact with our teens.”

Jtext is open to all Jewish teens. To sign up, text “JtextCobb/NF” to 678-263-2232. For more information and for sponsorship opportunities, email Rabbihertz@chabadnf.org.

Pace Academy’s First Horowitz Athletics Leadership Awards

Photographer Devi Knapp takes Ed Berman’s photo to be used as a “Punim in the Pews” facial cutout.

Four Programs Receive $100,000 in Innovation Grants Four innovative programs received the latest Propel Innovation Grants from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. The nonprofit announced $100,000 in grants to organizations and entrepreneurs serving the community and meeting its “evolving needs.”

The grant recipients include: • A film highlighting and documenting the history of the Atlanta Jewish community during COVID-19; • Trybal Gatherings, an overnight camp for millennials;

student at The Weber School, said, “Jtext is a great way to make some Amazon cash while learning about Judaism. For me, personally, it has become one of my ‘Jewish moments’ of the week.”

Bella Spector of Johns Creek High School agrees, adding, “Jtext is a fun way to learn about Judaism and the Torah while competing with your friends!” Bella and Hunter are among more than 150 teens that have actively played Jtext during its pilot year.

“Jtext is a simple, yet innovative game, which is rich with content, engagement, value and Jewish thought. It’s a real win-win,” says Rabbi Gedalya Hertz, youth director at Chabad of North Fulton. “We were trying to find a way to engage the widest spectrum of Jewish teenagers, especially during the coro-

Troy Baker, Pace Academy director of student life, with Scott Horowitz.

During a virtual Honors Day ceremony in May, Pace Academy named rising seniors Logan Baker and Jamie Kornheiser as the first recipients of the new Horowitz Athletics Leadership Award.

Recognizing two junior studentathletes for “consistently demonstrating qualities that represent positive athletics leadership, both on and off the field,” the annual award was created in conjunction with Pace’s newest endowment fund, the Horowitz Athletics Leadership Endowment, established late last year by alumnus Scott Horowitz, class of 1984.

The Horowitz award includes a leadership development component, an aspect that distinguishes it from other student awards. Recipients will participate in lead-

ership development training as seniors and help lead a new student organization, the Athletics Leadership Council, that will offer programming for student-athletes in grades nine through 12.

Horowitz credits his convictions to his Pace experiences — both as a student and an athlete — and to his parents, Gerald and PearlAnn Horowitz, for whom he named the endowment. “They instilled in me the values of integrity, pride, responsibility and determination,” he said.

Experience as a varsity soccer player from 1982 to 1984 made a lasting impression on Horowitz. “The team was very competitive and was typically playing for the state championship.” In addition to the thrill of competition, he said the experience contributed to his “personal development.”

Horowitz added, “Through sports, students learn to be inclusive and to support their teammates’ success.”

Baker and Kornheiser will lead the Athletics Leadership Council in its inaugural year.

Baker, a varsity soccer and basketball player and a member of Pace’s 2020 state-champion basketball team, said “As a student athlete at Pace, I’ve tried to be a coachable player and an all-around team player.”

A catcher for Pace’s softball team and member of the basketball and tennis teams, Kornheiser said, “Both [academics and athletics] play an important role in the development of a person’s leadership qualities.”

COMMUNITY SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Mazel Tov Zev Fine

Zev Fine was valedictorian of The Cottage School. Zev was to participate in the Aardvark Israel Immersion Program before studying at Boston University. At The Cottage School, Zev received many distinctions for his leadership and academic excellence, including studying the highest math level in school history.

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Share it with your community with free AJT simcha announcements.

Send info to submissions@atljewishtimes.com submissions@atljewishtimes.com..

Engagement Announcement Bock-Habif

Debi and David Bock of Highlands, N.C., and Atlanta announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Josephine Bock, to Daniel Alan Habif, son of Elsie and Steve Rothstein of Atlanta and the late Mark Habif, also of Atlanta.

Bock graduated from the University of Maryland in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in education and a Master of Fine Arts from George Washington University in 2018. She is an interior designer at an architecture firm in Washington, D.C. Habif graduated from the University of Michigan in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts and earned a law degree from American University last year. He is an attorney with the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. Bock is the granddaughter of Bill Weiller and the late Margaret Weiller, and Barbara Bock and the late Leonard Bock, all of Atlanta.

Habif is the grandson of the late Ike and Louise Habif of Atlanta and the late Saul and Sarah Sacks of Indianapolis.

The couple plan to marry in 2022 in Atlanta.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 51

NEW MOON MEDITATIONS Elul: Accounting of Soul’s Journey, COVID and Beyond Moving from spontaneous choices thrust upon us

by COVID-19 to the conscious choices of who we’d like to be in the New Year gets sorted durDr. Terry Segal ing the Hebrew New Moon Meditations month of Elul.

Rosh Chodesh Elul began Aug. 20 at sundown. Who could have imagined how much change we’d experience this year? Elul offers us the opportunity to look back at all of the decisions we’ve made from last fall, through the onset of the pandemic, and all the way to the conscious choices going forward into 5781.

The task of Elul is cheshbon hanefesh, the accounting of our souls. The acronym for Elul is ani l’dodi v’dodi li, which translates to, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”

It’s time for us to initiate our relationship with G-d. This is when Hashem is believed to be most accessible.

During Elul we practice teshuvah, tefil-

52 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

lah, and tzedakah. Teshuvah involves repentance and returning to love G-d, not out of fear, or as a way to superstitiously ensure good health, but from a desire to connect to the Divine. Tefillah, or prayer, along with self-judgment, elevate the power of goodness over evil. Tzedakah is the moral obligation to engage in acts of social justice in service to others. At this time, we also examine the tools of our practice, such as tefillin, mezuzot, and even our mitzvot, to see if they’re intact.

The zodiac sign is Virgo, the virgin. The theme of purification through acknowledgement of our shortcomings, actions that make things right with G-d and others, and charting our course forward while changing specific behaviors, makes us pure as if a virgin again.

Balanced Virgos are keenly observant, analytical, precise, and reliable problem-solvers. Out of balance, they’re inflexible, picky and indifferent to feelings and things that can’t be measured.

Elul’s Hebrew letter is yud, the smallest letter in the aleph-bet. Although it’s tiny, it represents the world to come, likened to the life-giving power of a single sperm/egg or “seed,” of man and woman that, with union,

becomes life itself.

Mercury is the ruling planet of communication.The tribe, Gad, means “luck” or “good fortune,” and is the name of Jacob’s seventh son, who is the seventh son of the seventh son, thought to be an intuitive healer.

Gad became one of the Lost Tribes.

Action is the sense. The rituals of hearing or blowing the shofar, reciting the 27th chapter of Psalms before morning and afternoon prayers, and spending the last 12 days of Elul making peace with each of the 12 months that has passed, are active.

The controlling limb is the left hand.

That’s the side wrapped in tefillin, on the same side as the heart.

Practice teshuvah. Turn from the ways that don’t serve Hashem, you, or the world.

During COVID, have you developed habits that dishonor the holy vessel of your physical body? Have you been numbing yourself with alcohol or self-medicating with prescription or illicit drugs? Are you consuming food mindlessly? Do you drink the poisons of politics, media news, and rage with violent protests that boil your blood and rouse you from sleep? Are you lonely, perhaps even with others, and have you forgotten that Hashem is

always there, waiting to hear from you?

Perform tefillah, prayer. G-d doesn’t require prayers to be chanted in perfect tune, nor in our ancient language. The only real requirement is the desire to connect and to show up in partnership. Align with the Divine and return to the pure essence of your soul.

Provide tzedakah. Helping others is always a pathway back toward helping yourself. When you’re at your low points, you may not feel as if you even deserve any help.

But you do. Money is not the only way to give. Kindness shines from your heart, even behind a mask. Smile with your eyes. Offer time, energy or compassion to others. Share your bounty. Find ways to be of service and you will feel served.

Meditation Focus: Sit in stillness in a patch of splendor on G-d’s green earth.

Be mindful of all for which you are grateful. Begin a gratitude journal and make at least one entry each day. There’s power in guiding your attention to what is positive.

May you honor your body, clear your mind, unburden your heart, and commune with G-d. ì

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OY VEY

JEWISH JOKE

OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM... sn’t Dear Rachel, about her. Since she doe ious issues, and I worry ser of list g . lon her a ng” has er eri My baby sist the role of “moth ents, I have stepped into par r ou h m wit p fro s shi fer on ati suf and have a good rel re than a few months, uggles to keep a job mo . Being a nonconool sch in She has a short fuse, str on ked ldhood and got pic chi gh rou a h our had she ly, depression. Sad ool. Her relationship wit both at home and in sch – le ub tro of lot a o gs. int lin fee formist, she got ups and downs and hurt very rocky with a lot of long list of posia has she e, parents has always been sid ght pede her. On the bri im t tha . ms ble pro the Those are well, from start to finish cares that it be executed she , job a s doe . she her ts en sui Wh tive qualities. g others when the mood -hearted and enjoys helpin e enShe is intuitive and warm optimum success. I hav path in life and achieve her d fin she t re is tha the ch ng mu isti I care so is resistant, ins go for therapy – but she to , her rkged wo beg con her eve , s, lt. It’s her bos couraged her t of the world that is at fau res the it’s .

– life her h her wit in g g nothing wron that goes wron er to blame for anything nev is she w, eho som s; er, our parent can I help my sister?

What should I do? How Sincerely, Amy Dear Amy, You have asked a beautiful question. Your caring and compassion for your struggling sister comes through in every line of your poignant letter. She is lucky to have you as her support system.

I’m sorry that I don’t have a perfect solution. I wish I could wave a magic wand, and presto!

Your sister will happily dance her way into an excellent therapist’s office and stick with the process until her issues are satisfactorily resolved.

I feel that a person has to want to help herself, and only then can she achieve success. If her mind is open and she truly wants to maximize her potential and make the most of her life, she will be willing to undergo whatever it takes to reach her goals. But if her heart is sealed, no amount of outside pressure can force her to take the steps necessary for change to take place.

I am sure this is not the answer you were hoping to hear. Perhaps you hoped I would suggest getting someone she admires on her case, which may not be a bad idea. If there is a rabbi or mentor somewhere in the picture, maybe she will be more open to listening to that person rather than from a know-it-all older sister. No offense, but that seems to be the way most younger siblings view the oldest, accurate or not.

I wonder if your job may be to take a step back. Perhaps your role is simply to be a listening ear and to offer compassionate support. Lending your ears and heart is of invaluable assistance to anyone on this planet; there is not a single person who doesn’t need someone to love and care about them! And, when your sister is ready, hopefully she will get up on her own two feet and take the necessary measures to affect her healing and move forward with her life.

Maybe, just maybe, your sister craves independence. You did mention that she is a nonconformist. It is possible that once she stops hearing “orders” from you, she will assert herself and devise a plan that will help her succeed in her endeavors.

Thank you for being a stellar example of what it means to be a caring sister. Wishing you all the best and much nachas from your younger sister, Rachel Atlanta Jewish Times Advice Column Got a problem? Email Rachel Stein at oyvey@atljewishtimes.com, describing your problem in 250 words or less. We want to hear from you and get helpful suggestions for your situation at the same time!

Jewish Food Glossary Kasha Varnishkes One of the little-known delicacies which is even more difficult to pronounce than to cook. It has nothing to do with varnish but is basically a mixture of buckwheat and bowtie macaroni [noodles]. Why a bowtie? Many sages discussed this and agreed that some Jewish mother decided that “You can’t come to the table without a tie” or, G-d forbid, “An elbow on my table?”

Cholent This combination of noxious gases had been the secret weapon of Jews for centuries. The unique mixture of beans, barley, potatoes, and bones or meat is meant to stick to your ribs and anything else it comes into contact with. At a fancy Mexican restaurant [kosher, of course] I once heard this comment from a youngster who had just had his first taste of Mexican fried beans: “What! Do they serve leftover cholent here too?”

Latkes There is a rumor that in the time of the Maccabees they lit a latke by mistake and it burned for eight days. What is certain is you will have heartburn for the same amount of time.

Matzah The Egyptians’ revenge for leaving slavery. It consists of a simple mix of flour and water, no eggs or flavor at all. When made well, it could actually taste like cardboard. Its redeeming value is that it does fill you up and stays with you for a long time. However, it is recommended that you eat a few prunes soon after.

Source: Harry Leichter’s Jewish Humor

YIDDISH WORD OF THE MONTH V'GEYT'S? What gives? What's up? What's new? What's wrong? pronounced v-gayt-uhs "Nu, I haven't seen you for a while; so, v'geyt's?"

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1. Notable Moabite 5. Large athletes 10. Yisrael preceder 14. Indonesian ox 15. Give an address 16. Gambling locale 17. Cliff notes for "Death of a Salesman"?

19. Fictional Hansen 20. Openings 21. Necessitate 23. They're fed on the street?

25. Where the largest percentage of American Jews can be found 27. Was a ganav 28. Soon to be freshies 29. Bible Belt city 30. NFTY alternative 31. A sci.

32. Shepherdess of verse 33. Jewish warriors 36. 87 or 89, at a gas station 39. Author Brown 40. What you trade a USD for in the Holy Land 43. Ankle bones 44. 9th letter 45. Heavy black wood 47. There might be one when saying Kidush Levana?

49. "Dances With Wolves" land-

scape 50. Wife of Haman 51. Yanks 52. Sci-fi baby that was a 2019 sensation 53. Mount Hermon might be the only place you can find it in Israel 57. Hoffman of Women of the Wall 58. Observe Yom Kippur 59. You might see them snorkeling in Eilat 60. Subject of Himalayan legends 61. Iconic Jewish role 62. JNF "product"

24. They're in several Spielberg and Abrams films, for short 25. Expand, as one's scope 26. A schluff 28. "Attack," to a dog 31. Letters used in dating 32. Jewish son 33. Ferrari rival 34. "Dragon Ball Z" genre 35. Go to the plate 36. N.Y.C. betting initials 37. Stromboli alternative 38. Slangy "Amen!"

40. More likely to be ousted from the library DOWN 41. Provider of accommodations 1. "...and one ___ for a burnt offer- 42. The "S" in iOS: Abbr. ing" (Lev.16:5) 44. "... love, and a time ___": Eccle2. "Bi" halved siastes 3:8 3. "War and Peace" writer 45. When added to Ari it becomes 4. It's said on some Jewish holidays a girl's name 5. Alphabetizes, perhaps 46. It may keep you on your toes?

6. Links 48. Joseph's wife 7. Merry month, in Paris 49. Culinary blend 8. Fun-loving swimmers 51. Like Bruce Banner, but not The 9. "I ___ reason why not."

Hulk 10. Splits 52. "Woohoo!"

11. Harry Potter hero Longbottom 54. Baal Shem ___ (Hasidism 12. Study closely, British style founder) 13. "+" or "-" particle 55. NBA briefly coached by Israel's 18. Limerick's land David Blatt 22. From head ___ 56. Greece to Israel dir.

23. East Lansing sch.

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erts Drive in Dunwoody. Construction continued on the first phase of The Epstein School’s 50,000-square-foot expansion; and Torah Day School finalized designs and fundraising plans for its new building on LaVista Road in Toco Hills.

Remember When 15 Years // August 26, 2005 ì A service commemorating the 90th anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank took place in East Cobb. Nothing symbolized the change in the climate for Jews since then more than the fact that the grandchildren of those who defended Frank and the grandchildren of those who lynched him were all in the crowd, said Rabbi Steven Lebow of Temple Kol Emeth.

The service was organized by the ADL, several area rabbis, and author Steve Oney. ì Matthew and Cindy Rosenhaft announced the birth of their son Pierce Benjamin on June 7, 2005. A brit milah was performed by Dr. Mark Safra June 15 at the Rosenhaft home. Pierce was given the Hebrew name Pinchas Binyamin in memory of his grandmother, Paula Rosenhaft.

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The bar mitzvah of Benjamin Aaron Levin of Atlanta took place Aug. 19 at Temple Emanu-El. Ben is the son of Ann and Fred Levin. He is the grandson of Miriam Kessler and the late Edward Kessler, and Mary Lee Levin and the late Morris Levin.

A service marking the 90th anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank took place in East Cobb.

25 Years // August 25, 1995 ì Three of the Atlanta-area Jewish day schools expanded their campuses over the summer. Groundbreaking began on The Davis Academy’s new two-story school on Rob-

50 Years August 28, 1970 ì Mr. and Mrs. Yehuda Ben-Yaacov of Atlanta announced the birth of a daughter, Rachel Donna, Aug. 21. Grandparents were Mr. and Mrs. Sam Goldberger of St. Paul, Minn., and the late Rabbi and Mrs. Yaacov Monsa of Jerusalem.

ì Mrs. Gaylon B. Savage announced the marriage of her daughter Sharon Ann Leslie to Edward Bromberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. William W. Bromberg. The bride is the daughter of the late Irvin I. Leslie. The ceremony took place at the Progressive Club Aug. 23 with Rabbi Harry Epstein officiating. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 55

OBITUARIES

Marcia Joan (Sacks) Freedman

Herbert Kohn

Marcia Joan (Sacks) Freedman passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family Aug. 21, 2020, in Sarasota, Fla., after a lengthy illness. She was born in Albany, N.Y., in 1934 to Florence and David Sacks, of blessed memory.

Marcia and her husband Arnold were teenage sweethearts, enjoying a love-filled marriage that would last 66 years, until Arnold’s death last year. Her husband’s 48-year broadcast career took them from Albany to Buffalo N.Y., New Haven, Conn., and Fresno, Calif., until they retired to Sarasota in 1997.

Marcia, a talented and prolific artist, established herself in the local art communities along the way. She graduated from high school at age of 16 and earned a degree in fine arts from Endicott College at just 18 years of age. She worked as a fashion illustrator for Whitney’s, Flah’s, and Jenss department stores, and as an art teacher for the Buffalo School District.

She studied watercolor with acclaimed artists at the Silvermine Guild in Connecticut and the Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota. Her artwork is displayed in private homes and businesses nationwide. During a juried art competition in Connecticut in the 1980s, one of the jurors, upon seeing Marcia’s entry, began his commentary with: “this artist has a love affair with color.”

Her artwork appeared in a 1995 calendar for the California Blood Bank, earning a first place ADDY award from the American Advertising Federation in California. But as passionate as she was about her art, Marcia was above all else a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. With relentless perseverance, Marcia was a three-time ovarian cancer survivor and recognized the rare opportunity she had been given to live, to paint and to enjoy her family.

She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law Wayne and Nancy Freedman of Atlanta, and Ken and Victoria Freedman of Columbus, Ohio; grandchildren Joseph (Jessica), David (Brittany), Stanley, Eli, Eric (Blair), Scott, and Jennifer Freedman; greatgrandson McIntyre Abraham Freedman; and brother Stuart Sacks. A private service was to be held. The family requested donations be made to the Plymouth Harbor Foundation, 700 John Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236, or to the charity of your choice.

Herbert Kohn died July 16, 2020, at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, at the age of 93. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1926.

After escaping from Germany during the Holocaust, Herbert and his family came to the United States after a year in England, eventually settling in Columbus, Ga. Herbert served in the United States Army during World War II and retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves.

He graduated from Auburn University with a degree in agriculture majoring in dairy husbandry.

He later became a certified public accountant and worked in Columbus for several years. Then he joined Cohn Communities, a major home building company in Atlanta, as chief financial officer, retiring in 1991 as president and CEO. Herbert then served as executive director of the new Urban Residential Development Corporation for the City of Atlanta promoting the availability of affordable housing for families in the low- and moderate-income range, retiring in 1998.

Herbert served twice as president of Jewish Family & Career Services, an agency dedicated to providing social services. He continued to serve on the board of trustees and was a member of the Holocaust Survivors Advisory Committee for many years.

He also was on the board of trustees of the Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, which is the umbrella organization of Family Service agencies in North America.

His passion became teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and he spoke widely over many years through the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum to public and private schools, universities and civic organizations to relay the message of “It Shall Never Happen Again.”

Herbert served in many leadership roles in other local and national professional, civic, educational and charitable organizations, including involvement in their management, planning, fundraising and allocation processes.

He was the recipient of a channel 11 Community Service Award in 2010 for his efforts of further teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and in 2016 received the Abe Goldstein Human Relations Award from the Anti-Defamation League. He was a member of Congregation Shearith Israel and a founding member of Congregation Beth Shalom.

Herbert was a kind, loving, caring and passionate husband, father, grandfather and friend whose mission in life was “to make the world a better place.” He was a great humanitarian and will be missed by many in the community.

He is predeceased by his parents Irene and Leo Kohn; brother Ernest Kohn; and his first wife Elaine Friedman Kohn. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years Frances; children Barbara Zoppo (Eugene) and Frank Kohn (Debra) of Fort Myers, Fla.; as well as Frances’s children Debra Halpern (Harold), Sheryl Brandt and Mark Goodman (Terri); and brother-in-law Joel Butler, with all of whom he was very close. He is also survived by his grandchildren Andrea Zoppo in Decatur, Ga., Damian Zoppo (Tammy) in Israel, Rachel Kohn (Joshua Dawson), and David Kohn of Orlando, Fla.; and Frances’s grandchildren Ben Halpern, Ryan Halpern (Stacy), Joshua Halpern (Gig), Brett Goodman (Rachel), Sara Leaf (Brian), Jennifer Jones (Bill), Matt Goodman; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Heartfelt thanks to the staff at Belmont Village Buckhead for the care and kindness given Herbert in the time he was there.

Donations may be made to the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Jewish Family & Career Services or a charity of your choice. Due to COVID-19, the funeral was limited to immediate family on July 19 in Columbus, Ga. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

85, Sarasota, Fla.

Alvin Halpern 90, Atlanta

Alvin Halpern, age 90, passed away peacefully Aug. 13, 2020. He was born at the old Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, the only child of Aaron and Mary Halpern. He attended Boys High, where he was all-state in basketball and baseball. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Georgia, where he was a member of Tau Epsilon Phi. At the age of 15, Alvin met Sherry King, the love of his life, at the Progressive Club.

They began dating and were married at the age of 19. They were married for 70 years and enjoyed raising their four children. He was an avid reader, a life master in bridge and passionate about his golf game. He owned several businesses in his lifetime and was proud to be partners with his sons. He and Sherry travelled extensively, loved cruising and lived in Boca Raton during the season.

He was predeceased by daughter Debra Bernes (Gary.) He is survived by his wife of 70 years Sherry; daughter Gail Holzer (Gil); sons Jay (Barbara) and Marty (Lisa); grandchildren Alex (Alli) Halpern, Andy Halpern, Katie (Drew) Groner, Lance (Tammy) Levitt, Lanie (Jordan) Genee, Lewis (Rachael) Halpern, Matthew (Heather) Bernes, Melissa (Richard) Prusan, and Neil (Emily) Halpern; 12 great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The William Breman Jewish Home, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, or the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

56 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

93, Atlanta

OBITUARIES

Constance Kruger 93, Atlanta

Constance A. Kruger, an exceptional woman of many talents, passed away Aug. 18, 2020.

She was born September 11, 1926, to Morris Ackman and Sadie Pemstein Ackman in Worcester, Mass. She was the widow of Reuben Kruger, who died in 2011.

After marrying Reuben in 1946, Connie lived in Fitzgerald, Ga., for over 60 years, working with him in their shoe store while holding leadership positions in many local organizations.

She served on the boards of the Fitzgerald Library and Fitzgerald Humane Society. (Her love of dogs, especially rescues, was legendary.) She was an expert bridge player, classical music lover, seamstress, knitter, counted cross-stitcher and cook.

She had vast knowledge on many subjects and never missed “Jeopardy!”

Of all her interests, she was most passionate about her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Adam Beckman said his Grandma Connie “embodied the eloquence of Massachusetts blended with the Southern charm of Fitzgerald, Ga. She was brilliant, dignified, loving, witty, and opinionated.” Grandson David remembers Connie greeting him on his visits to Fitzgerald with warm cookies. He said she was someone who used “grammar learned in Massachusetts, charm learned in the South, and fashion sense learned from shopping sprees with her daughters.”

After Reuben’s death, Connie moved to the Atlanta area to be closer to her family.

She quickly became a well-known resident of Brookdale Chambrel, where she made many new friends and participated in exercise programs, trivia games and bridge. But her favorite activities were outings with family to local restaurants, shops and attractions. She traveled with the family to St. Petersburg and the North Georgia Mountains.

She celebrated her 90th birthday at the John C. Campbell Folk School, where she demonstrated her talent as a water colorist.

Connie was predeceased by her brother Barry Ackman. She is survived by daughters Barbara Kruger and Anne Beckman; son-in-law Paul Beckman; grandsons Adam Beckman and David Beckman; as well as David’s wife Cameron and their two sons Oliver and Theo.

Burial was held Aug. 23 in Fitzgerald at Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to Fitzgerald-Ben Hill Humane Society, 106 Lions Park Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750; or Temple Beth Tikvah, 9955 Coleman Road, Roswell, GA 30075; or the Fitzgerald Hebrew Congregation: The Big Store c/o Phil Perlis, 346 Main St., Tifton, GA 31794.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 57

OBITUARIES

Jerome Marvin (Jerry) Mendel

Alfred Schneider

Jerome Marvin (Jerry) Mendel, 91, died Aug. 10, 2020, at Northside Hospital after a courageous attempt to overcome acute promyelocytic leukemia. This illness was the first time he had ever spent a night in a hospital.

Jerry was born Oct. 22, 1928, to Simon and Dorothy Mendel, of blessed memory, and raised on Springdale Road in the Druid Hills area.

He graduated from Boys High School and the University of Georgia, where he was a proud member of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity. After graduation, he joined the management teams at H. Mendel & Co. in the wholesale dry goods business and Majestic Manufacturing Company in the ladies’ dress business.

Later Jerry and his brother Don, of blessed memory, formed Mendel Distributing Company in the wholesale carpet business. After he and his brother sold that business, instead of being content to retire and travel, Jerry decided at age 56 to become licensed as a commercial real estate broker and thoroughly enjoyed a successful 35-year career, primarily with AFCO Realty. Those were some of the happiest professional years of his life and he begrudgingly retired from the business just last year.

Jerry was a lifelong member of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and also enjoyed a lengthy membership in Rotary. He proudly served during and after the Korean War as a first lieutenant in the Air Force Reserves. He always looked forward to his Wednesday night poker games with his buddies, but hated regularly winning their hard-earned money. Always optimistic, every season was going to be THE championship one for his Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta Braves, and a couple of times he was actually right.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife Joanne, with whom he had a remarkable love affair for over 69 wonderful years. Also surviving are his four children and their spouses, Richard and Muriel Mendel, Howard Mendel, Karen and Michael Saul, and Larry and Caki Mendel; brother and sister-in-law Herb and Marsha Mendel; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Marvin and Natalie Harris; and many nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom were special to him. Poppy will also be fondly remembered by his 11 grandchildren: Jarrod and Greer Mendel, Matt and Rebecca Mendel, Jennifer and Tripp Sheldon, Ryan and Dori Mendel, Erin and Andrew Coren, Julie and Craig Habif, Amy and Jason Mollengarden, Joseph and Heather Saul, Bradley Mendel, Stacey Mendel, Jason Mendel and fiancée Madison Connell; and 10 great-grandchildren. He will be remembered for his positive outlook, dry wit, love of family, enjoyment of good food, cooking with Joanne, and being admired for his gentlemanly approach to life. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Alfred Schneider, age 93, died Aug. 20, 2020. It was the same date as his 70th wedding anniversary with his wife Tosia.

Born in Romania, Alfred survived the Holocaust and later lectured extensively on the topic. Alfred received his bachelor of chemical engineering from The Cooper Union in 1951 and his doctorate from Polytechnic Institute of New York University in 1958. He was involved in the peaceful use of nuclear energy for medical and energy production fields, working at Argonne National Labs and Allied-Gulf.

Alfred was a highly decorated professor at MIT and Georgia Tech, and held many patents for his work.

He is survived by his wife Tosia; sons James, George and David; and five grandchildren: Isabel, Benjamin, Zachariah, Lilly and Samuel.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Alfred may be made to The Breman Museum or Yad Vashem. A graveside service was held at Crest Lawn Memorial Park Aug. 21. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

91, Atlanta

93, Atlanta

Morris (“Morrie”) Serwitz 78, Atlanta

Morrie passed away at his home in Atlanta Aug. 5, 2020.

He was born in New Haven, Conn., March 5, 1942. Morrie grew up in Richmond, Va., with his younger brother Arthur.

Morrie was a 1964 graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), now Virginia Tech, with a bachelor of science degree in animal science. He also graduated from Ohio College of Podiatry in 1969, earning honors in senior clinic proficiency and being the editor for the school yearbook, the Occopodian.

After marrying Laurie Shiffman of Cleveland, Ohio, they settled in Atlanta, where they had their two children and Morrie started his podiatry practice. Morrie was the eternal optimist and adventurer. He was a writer, a movie critic, an inventor (medical device), a world traveler, a tinkerer, a builder, a smooth dancer, a good dresser (took after his father), a snow skier, a water skier, and a creative cook.

Morrie was proud of the merit badges he earned as a Boy Scout, and he loved the camping experiences of his youth.

He loved to help others, and especially finding unique “gifts” to thank people. Morrie loved to laugh and enjoyed the old comics, especially Milton Berle, Red Skelton, Rodney Dangerfield, Buddy Hackett, Don Rickles and more. He also loved listening to the “old” and “not so old” crooners. Morrie liked mentoring young people just starting out in business or in a new practice. And Morrie volunteered for Wounded Warrior Project veterans at the VA. In his later years he took care of his mother Esther Serwitz, who lived to be 103 1/2.

Morrie was a member of The Open Synagogue, Shema Yisrael, and was so inspired with their holiday services. He particularly looked forward to Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Passover, bringing alive our large family gatherings and traditions from our youth. Morrie was preceded in death by his parents, Rubin and Esther Serwitz. He is survived by his children Jodi Serwitz Poole (Jason) of Warrenton, Va., and Jennifer Serwitz Bartolome (Glen) of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren Taylor Gama, Josh Gama, Khloe Poole, Colton Poole; and his brother Arthur Serwitz (Joyce) of Birmingham, Ala. Private funeral services were held at Arlington Memorial Park Aug. 7 with Bob Bahr (from Shema Yisrael) officiating, and his brother, Arthur, remembering Morrie.

May Morrie rest in peace, and may his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

Donations can be made in his honor to the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

‫זיכרונה לברכה‬ 58 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

OBITUARIES

Charlotte Brown Smithloff 95, Atlanta

Charlotte Brown Smithloff was born in Atlanta April 17, 1925, to Celia and Abe Brown. She passed away Aug. 10, 2020. Charlotte grew up in Atlanta, graduated from Girls High School and attended The Ohio State University for one year. After one icy winter in Ohio, Charlotte wanted to live in Atlanta for the rest of her life.

Charlotte was a beautiful woman, inside and out. Tall, slim and strikingly lovely, she looked elegant in whatever she wore. However, her true beauty came from her love and loyalty to friends and family. Charlotte was blessed to have a close, ever expanding circle of friends, many of whom grew up together, raised families together and, for over 60 years, never missed their weekly canasta or mahjong game.

Charlotte’s love also extended to her children’s friends, who appreciated her nonjudgmental affection. Expanding her circle during her 25-year career at SunTrust Bank and her varied volunteer activities, Charlotte graced new friends and colleagues with her warmth, caring and wry sense of humor.

Charlotte’s devotion to family was paramount. While her love and support were demonstrated most clearly during her son’s five years of cancer treatment, everyone in Charlotte’s family benefited from her caring nature. Well into her 90s, she consistently remembered birthdays and anniversaries and never missed attending special family celebrations. Charlotte’s love of family was expansive and inclusive; when she married, Charlotte became the most devoted of daughters-in-law and her sister-in-law became her closest friend and confidante for over 70 years. Everyone in Charlotte’s immediate and extended family will remember her many kind, loving, generous gestures.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved son Ben Robert Smithloff; and by her son-in-law Jerry Church. She is survived by her daughter Linda Stone; granddaughter Deborah Kalish; nieces and nephews Carla Michalove, Barbara Michalove, Brad (Mary Beth) Michalove, Amy Michalove and Steven Michalove; her special cousin Lynn Morris; and the extended Wolensky and Maziar families. She dearly loved each of them. The family is especially grateful to the four caregivers who made the quality of Charlotte’s final years infinitely better: Audrey Cox, Patricia Terrell, Yolanda Reed and Linda Chavous.

Donations may be made to The Temple, Weinstein Hospice or a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Steven J. Zier 82, Atlanta

Steven J. Zier, age 82, passed away peacefully Aug. 22, 2020. His beloved wife of 60 years Ilene was by his side, as were his children and grandchildren. Steve was born in Trenton, N.J. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in geology and received a graduate degree at Tulane University, where he and Ilene met.

After 48 years working as a financial advisor, Steve retired in 2012 to pursue other passions. He audited classes at Emory University in archaeology, biblical studies, classical literature and history, and served as a docent at the Carlos Museum. He also studied with Atlanta Scholars Kollel and was an active member of the Atlanta Jewish community. Steve’s endless curiosity and thirst for knowledge led him to explore a variety of hobbies throughout his life, including photography, traveling, gardening, reading, spirituality, fishing and golfing. He was most content smoking a cigar and drinking a single malt Scotch in his backyard or surf fishing at Flagler Beach with his family. The greatest love of Steve’s life was undoubtedly his family.

He is survived by his wife Ilene (Bock); brother Roger (Ellen) Zier of Raleigh, N.C.; daughters Lisa Zier, Amy (Zier) Rosenthal and Julie Zier (Davidorf); sons-in-law Ross Rosenthal and Brad Davidorf; grandsons Myles and Alec Rosenthal; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Congregation Or Hadash or Rabbi Donald A. Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University. A graveside service was held Aug. 24 at Arlington Memorial Park. Shiva services were held by Zoom, 7:30 p.m. each day through Aug. 27. Due to COVID-19, the family respectfully requests no visitors to the home. Please sign the online guestbook at www.dresslerjewishfunerals. com. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770.451.4999. ì

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.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES AUGUST 31, 2020 | 59

CLOSING THOUGHTS It’s Just Not Fair Why do I stay overweight? It is totally unfair.

It is downright unreasonable.

Some people eat just what I eat and they stay thin.

Allen H. Lipis Some people The Bottom Line are taller than me, they weigh the same as me, and they look trim. Some people don’t enjoy ice cream, or sweets, or desserts, or bread, or pasta. They stay slim and trim. Why in G-d’s name did He give me a sweet tooth, a desire for spaghetti and pastrami? Why do I like chocolate and vanilla so much? Why can’t I enjoy lettuce and cucumbers, and carrots and broccoli as much as cheese and potatoes?

Why do I constantly have food on my brain, thinking where the candy can be bought, where pizza can be found, and where various food places are located?

It is downright unfair that my brain

60 | AUGUST 31, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

knows where every restaurant I like in Atlanta is located. I need to focus on other things, but food persists in my head.

This is not a good thing, and yet I don’t know how to get rid of those thoughts.

It’s just not fair.

It’s not right that I have to work hard to lose weight. It’s not right that running one mile only uses up 100 calories. Why 100 calories is just a couple of bites in a hamburger or a hot dog. I would have to run a marathon to really lose weight. I won’t do it, and I don’t like it.

There are a lot of fat people who want to lose weight and fail, and some thin people with a high metabolism who eat all they want. Why didn’t I get a high metabolism so I could eat what I please, and not gain weight? I feel just like Rodney Dangerfield, the comedian, who often said, “I get no respect.” I want the weight to just drop off of me and it isn’t easy. I don’t like it, it’s just too hard, and I want to complain about it. But no one will listen. I tell you, it’s just not fair.

It is easy to write about the time when I was 10 years old, when I could

not smell anything because of a sinus problem. I was thin then, a kid that could not enjoy food. I was cured with penicillin, the wonder drug just being used after World War II. Once my sinus problem was cured, I could smell my food and that began my troubles with weight.

I could place the blame for being way overweight on Dr. Waldman, the family doctor who put an aviator mask on me, forced me to inhale the penicillin and cured my illness. I could blame my mother, who was also overweight most of her life, worked in a bakery and brought home some of the best desserts that a first-class Jewish bakery in Brooklyn made. There was an unlimited supply, and I had my share of them, sometimes for breakfast and often after dinner. I could blame my overweight on my wife’s good cooking, even though she is careful to make meals that satisfy a Weight Watchers food program.

There are plenty of scapegoats for me to choose, but I know that it is all rationalization. The buck stops with me. I

have free will, I decide what to eat and how often. I decide whether to exercise or not. There’s no one to blame but me.

Being overweight is my failure. It is reinforced every day, morning, noon and night when I eat. The cure is well known; it takes no drugs, no special equipment and not even an advisor. It is just a matter of committing to losing weight.

I can get control of the situation if I put my mind on losing weight, not just part of my mind, but all of it. I have to think weight loss 100 percent of the time: morning, noon and night. I have to dream about it, write about it, talk about it and then just maybe the weight will drop off.

It’s just too much effort, and it’s totally unfair. When all is said and done, I can’t change nature, I can’t change my body, I can’t find an easy solution, and I want one. I want to sleep late, lie around all day, eat often and well, and lose weight.

That’s what I want, and I can’t have it. It’s just unfair and I’m not alone.

The bottom line: Commitment is everything. ì

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Over 30 years’ Experience Stand behind every job we complete and we make customer satisfaction our number one priority! www.thingshoneywontdohomerepair.com

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Fair cash prices paid on the spot.

Stella Tarica Gordon

Eleventh Series Jubilee Bonds 2.14% Eleventh Series Maccabee Bonds 2.00% Eighth Series Mazel Tov Bonds 1.68% Eighth Series eMitzvah Bonds 1.68%

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Serving students since 1986

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PLOTS FOR SALE Two Cemetery Plots for Sale with adjacent bench area Shalom Section of Arlington Cemetery Call Dr. David Cohen - 404 -775-8555

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Glatt Kosher Meat & Poultry

Fully Prepared Dishes & Sides

Ph: 770-454-8108

www.grillerspride.com

Our Huge Range Surpassed ONLY by our Quality & Customer Service

Home Deliveries OR Contactless Pickups Welcome Home Delivery Orders Due By September 9th • Pickup Orders Due By September 13th

Just a “Snippet” of our Product Range!

See our Entire Range at www.grillerspride.com

Uncooked

Prepared Dishes

1st Cut Brisket, American Angus (Special)

Chicken Soup, Semi Clear

1st Cut Corned Beef (Pickled) Brisket

Matzo Balls, Individually Handmade

8-Piece Cut up Chicken (Special)

1st Cut, Sliced Cola Braised Brisket

Chicken Breasts, Boneless, Skinless

Chicken in Apricot Sauce (8-piece cutup)

Ribeye Roast, Prime Rib, Boneless

Meatloaf, Unsliced

Lamb Shanks, Bone-In, Trimmed

Goldie’s Tender Meatballs in Cranberry Sauce

Honey Citrus Chicken, Oven Ready, Uncooked

Carrot & Butternut Squash (Tzimmes)