Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCIV NO. 51, December 27, 2019

IN TWO WEEKS: EDUCATION

VOL. XCIV NO. 51 | YEAR IN REVIEW YEAR IN REVIEW

2019: Jewish Atlanta's Entrepreneurs of the Year SANDRA AND CLIVE BANK

AJT'S TOP 2019 STORIES LOOKING BACK AT SOME OF OUR MAJOR HEADLINES FROM THIS YEAR.

CHAI STYLE ARLENE AND JAY GOULD'S URBAN JOY IN A JEWEL BOX.

THE LOWDOWN WINNING CATERING BANK TEAM IN AJT'S "I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW..." COLUMN.

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Hindsight is 2020 This week we bring you our annual Year in Review, where you can revisit the stories that made headlines in 2019. These are the articles that gained the most attention online or elicited the most community interest. We take you through the year, month by month, and either recap the big stories we published or provide the latest update, where appropriate.

The names filling these pages are a who’s who of Jewish Atlanta and beyond, beginning with the AJT’s 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year winners: Catering team Sandra and Clive Bank.

The well-recognizable names in this issue are matched by powerful topics, including: the Jewish mafia; Jews in the Super Bowl; anti-Semitic and anti-Israel acts; a shul shooting; abortion; murder; elections; AIDS; gender equality; Jews of color; and addiction.

Beyond the articles from the past year, we offer you some new ones. We recount the evolution of a Chanukah party for employees of The Coca-Co-

la Company. With Chanukah having started three days before Christmas, it’s appropriate that we show the commonality between the faiths. We cover a concert at two Atlanta churches by a choral group that includes Jewish members, that features Christmas music, some of it written by Jewish musicians, such as Irving Berlin.

Jews are known to flock to Chinese restaurants on Christmas, so it’s fitting that we share how Chai Peking in the Toco Hills Kroger celebrated its 22nd year.

Take a few moments – preferably longer – to reflect on our Jewish year and contemplate what the future holds at the cusp of 2020. You’ll have plenty of time to review and ponder as this Year in Review issue is your keepsake for two weeks. The AJT is taking a much-needed holiday break.

Our next issue is Jan. 10, starting 2020 with education because each calendar change provides more opportunities for Jewish learning. Happy New Year! ■

THIS WEEK

Cover photo: Sandra and Clive Bank, who own several catering companies, are the winners of our 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year contest.

CONTENTS LOCAL NEWS ���������������������������������� 6 ISRAEL NEWS ��������������������������������� 8 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 10 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR ��� 12 YEAR IN REVIEW �������������������������� 14 CHAI STYLE ����������������������������������� 27 CALENDAR ������������������������������������� 30 COMMUNITY ��������������������������������� 32 REFLECTIONS ������������������������������� 33 OY VEY �������������������������������������������� 34 BRAIN FOOD ���������������������������������� 35 OBITUARIES ���������������������������������� 36 CLOSING THOUGHTS ����������������� 37

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 5

LOCAL NEWS Chai Peking Celebrates 22 Years

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Reuven Michoel Robbins has had a winding career path that led to an enduring kosher Chinese restaurant inside Toco Hills Kroger. Landing in Atlanta in 1974, he was a fur buyer for Rich’s, then he ran shoe repair shops.

Before the ’96 Olympics here, he knew the power of a big box store and was looking to hitch his shoe repair into Walmart for obvious ready-made economic benefits.

Concurrently, his light bulb was signaling that Gary Lebowsky was the Jewish manager at Toco Hills Kroger, smack in the middle of Atlanta’s largest Orthodox neighborhood. Robbins said, “Gary did the selling for me [to Kroger corporate] and offered me an unused space in the store. Thus Chai Peking’s birth in November of 1997.” It celebrated its 22nd anniversary last month.

Since Robbins is a competent connector, he realized that an important part was missing: how to make the food! He was friendly with the Ing family, which owned the Lotus Garden Restaurant on Buford Highway adjacent to Snack and Shack, then the nexus of a large Jewish crowd affectionately called “The Juf.” Robbins said, “The Ings helped me hire cooks and [provided] recipes. Twenty-two years later, I have five full-time employees, some of whom have been with me for 21 years. My philosophy is, ‘If you take care of your employees and customers, they work for you in return.’”

Robbins assures that everything is strictly kosher.

For example, there can be no oyster sauce. Since most

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Chai Peking found its home inside the Toco Hills Kroger more than two decades ago. Owner Robbins is on the right.

This colorful zucchini, carrot and chicken dish is shown here over fried rice.

Asian food does not include dairy, he has a huge menu and multiple traditional categories. With 35 percent of his business non-Jewish, the food is as authentic and tasty as a non-kosher establishment’s. Of course, no pork or shrimp. According to Robbins, “Most everything is made on site from our four master sauces. Egg roll skins and wrappers are shipped from New York. Also, we respect peoples’ diets and have a gluten-free menu with items like udon noodles and substitute soy sauce for celiac-sensitive diners.”

Doing retail business inside a busy store has advantages: it’s closed only on Christmas Day, though Chai Peking closes on Friday at 1:30 and all day Saturday to observe the Sabbath. Robbins does a huge volume on

Friday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

He likes that he is positioned on the right at the front of the store to begin the shopping experience.

“That way people can pay, grocery shop and return to pick up the order. Anything located by the cash registers would not get as great of a response as people are tired and want to exit.

We cook while they shop. They get into the store and realize that sometimes it’s easier to pick up food than to cook from scratch. The good news is that Jews traditionally like Chinese food,” he notes.

Since Atlanta Reuven Michoel Robbins said he is the Jewish hub befriended the Ing family, who of the Southeast, helped him get staff and recipes Chai Peking cawhen he opened in 1997. ters brit milah, weddings, b’nai mitzvah, and even events at the Merchandise Mart. “I did a bar mitzvah in Asheville, and once shipped 28 gallons of chicken soup to Nashville.

We sent seven dozen egg rolls to Missouri. I like the ‘people part’ of the business. Sometimes I recognize customers twice a year who come to Atlanta on business or on their way driving kids to summer camp.”

The menu is extensive: appetizers, soups, chop suey, low mein, hot and spicy, steamed, moo shu, veal, curries, fish, American fare. … The most popular item is General Tso Chicken.

“Our dumplings are very popular. We steam, deep fry or pan fry them. We often take customer’s ideas to expand the menu like the Chinese hotdog, wrapped in pastrami inside an egg roll and deep fried. The colorful zucchini, squash and chicken dish is light and popular with women.”

A man of faith, Michoel notes, “I’m not in competition with anyone. On Rosh Hashanah, it is determined what I get. I do the best I can to make a living and make it easier for people to keep a kosher home. On a lighter note, when I see customers eating, I ask ‘Is anything ok?’

That’s an old Jewish joke.” ■

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6 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

LOCAL NEWS

Concert Honors the Jewish Music of Christmas

By Bob Bahr For the past month or so what we have come to call holiday music has been nearly inescapable. Many of the most commercially successful of the melodies avoid overt appeals to religious faith and appeal more to the emotions, of romance and family, of wintery pleasures and joy.

And many of the best known of these non-religious tunes were composed by Jews.

Leading the list is Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” written over 75 years ago for the motion picture, “Holiday Inn,” which was released just after America entered World War II. Last week, a concert at two churches by a multifaith choral group, paid homage to “White Christmas,” among other holiday songs.

In his novel, “Operation Shylock,” the author Philip Roth mentions its creation and Berlin’s “Easter Parade” as a stroke of genius that rivals the work of the Divine. “… This is Jewish genius on par with the Ten Commandments,” wrote Roth. “God gave Moses The Ten Commandments and then He gave to Irving Berlin ‘Easter Parade’ and ‘White Christmas.’”

The immense success of “White Christmas,” particularly among GIs, inspired other Jewish songwriters to write their own Christmas tunes, especially in the years following World War II. Many of them became holiday standards.

There was “Let It Snow” by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, which was written in 1945, and Mel Torme’s song about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, “The Christmas Song,” which also appeared in 1945. The very successful songwriting team of Jay Livingston, who was born to Jewish immigrant parents, and Ray Evans, created “Silver Bells” for a 1951 Bob Hope film, “The Lemon Drop Kid,” but it was Bing Crosby that made it a hit.

At the Dec. 17 concert, the Choral Guild of Atlanta, a nonprofit group that includes at least four Jews among its singers, presented two performances of “Dreaming of A Jewish Christmas – Holiday Music by Jewish Composers.”

The two concerts, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in College Park and the Northside Drive Baptist Church in Buckhead, included not only “White Christmas” but many highly recognizable tunes.

The idea for the program came not from the president of the Choral Guild, Gene Morgan, who sings in the choir at Temple Sinai, but the Guild’s conductor and musical director, Clair Maxwell, who

One of the two concerts of Christmas music by Jewish composers was held at Northside Drive Baptist Church in Buckhead.

works at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody.

“He came in one day with the idea and I didn’t hesitate,” Morgan remembers, “‘Let’s do it,’ I said.”

James Kaplan discussed the seminal influence of “White Christmas” in his new book “Irving Berlin: New York Genius.” It’s the latest work, published in November, in the Yale University’s series of important Jewish lives.

Although Berlin was not an observant Jew, when I interviewed Kaplan last week by phone he spoke about the Jewish spirit Berlin brought to much of the music he composed.

“I think that as a New Yorker and as an immigrant, he felt himself deeply Jewish without going regularly to shul,” Kaplan pointed out. “He brought a lot of different parts of the Jewish experience to his music. I feel that his lyrics always had a Jewish snap to them - kosher salt in them, if you will.”

Despite its association with the Christmas holiday, Kaplan believes that “White Christmas” expresses a yearning that was so much a part of the move that Jews made when they journeyed to America in search of a new life.

“I compare ‘White Christmas’ in certain ways to ‘Blue Skies,’ which I call the saddest song about happiness ever written,” Kaplan said about the 1926 song, also written by Berlin. “‘White Christmas’ is not a joyous song. It is a song of loss and yearning.”

Some of that sadness is reflected in a quote that Kaplan mentions in his book about the Jewish life of Berlin. Kaplan recalls the highly evocative words of Carl Sandberg, the great American poet and biographer. Sandberg wrote these words

about ‘White Christmas’ and its hopeful vision of the future during the early tragic years of World War II. “The hopes and prayers are that we will see the beginnings of a hundred years of White Christmases – with no blood-spots of needless agony and death on the snow.”

Berlin, for all of his success and

Irving Berlin achieved fame early, but also experienced tragedy, when his first wife died shortly after their honeymoon and his son died at 3 weeks old.

wealth, experienced great tragedy in his life. He lived through the loss of the family home in Russia as a young child, the sudden death of his beloved bride and first wife a few months after they were married, and the death of a son, born to him and his second wife in the late 1930s.

He was just 3 weeks old when he died on Christmas Day in 1938. ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 7

ISRAEL PRIDE

News From Our Jewish Home

Menachem Kahana/ AFP // Liran Carmel of The Hebrew University reveals a 3D printed model of a Denisovan face.

Israeli Researchers Make Breakthrough in Genetic Analysis

Hebrew University scientists have reconstructed the face of an ancient Denisovan girl based on genetic analysis, causing them to be finalists in the prestigious Science journal’s “people’s choice” category of its Breakthrough of the Year contest.

The Israeli researchers developed a genetic analysis method that recon-

Today in Israeli History Dec. 27, 1925: Moshe Arens, who serves as Israel’s defense minister three times and foreign minister once as a Likud member, is born in Kovno, Lithuania. Arens, who immigrates to the United States in 1939, is studying at MIT when he enlists in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1944. He makes aliyah in 1948 and is a founding member of Herut, Likud’s predecessor, in 1949. He is first elected to the Knesset in 1973. He is the ambassador to the United States in 1982 and 1983.

Hebrew Language Academy photo //

Ze’ev Ben-Chaim served as the second president of the Academy of the Hebrew Language.

Dec. 28, 1907: Ze’ev Ben-Chaim is born in Mosciska, Galicia, in present8 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

structs an ancient face from other human subspecies, according to The Times of Israel.

The other finalists include new Ebola drugs, a technique to make a black hole “visible,” and a new cystic fibrosis drug.

“Denisovans, extinct cousins of Neanderthals, have been known only by scraps of fossils from a Russian cave in Siberia, yet their genetic traces are found in modern humans, especially in Melanesia and Australia,” the magazine’s contest web page says. “This year, scientists used a new protein method to identify a jawbone from the Tibetan Plateau as Denisovan — the first physical trace outside Siberia — and another group used genetic data to reconstruct the face of a Denisovan girl.”

With few intact Denisovan remains discovered, it has been impossible to create a depiction of them until now.

The researchers discovered a method of reconstructing Denisovans’ appearance using open-source sequencing of ancient DNA that was taken from a single bone fragment.

The Israeli researchers developed a way to reconstruct the way DNA would express itself in a living organism, as

DNA alone would not allow someone to reconstruct the total physical appearance of ancient people.

“We did this trick for all genes relevant to skeletal morphology and came up with a detailed anatomical prediction for what Denisovans look like,” Hebrew University's Liran Carmel said at a press conference earlier this month.

day Ukraine. Ben-Chaim is regarded as one of the greatest scholars of Hebrew and Aramaic. His research reveals that the Samaritans maintain a tradition of reading Hebrew texts that dates to the Second Temple period, and he publishes five volumes of translations of ancient Samaritan texts into Hebrew and Aramaic. He receives the Israel Prize for Jewish studies in 1964.

where to serve. The court fears that allowing soldiers to refuse certain assignments will turn “the people’s army … into an army of peoples,” a particular danger “in a polarized society such as ours.”

Dec. 29, 1946: Angry that the British government administered 18 lashes to Irgun member Benjamin Kimkhi the previous day for his role in a bank robbery Dec. 13, the underground militant movement abducts British soldiers in Netanya, Rishon LeZion and Tel Aviv and flogs them 18 times each in the streets.

The operation is known as the Night of the Beatings. Three Irgun members captured in the subsequent manhunt are hanged in April 1947.

Dec. 30, 2002: The Israeli Supreme Court rules that IDF reservists may not refuse to serve in the West Bank and Gaza. Issued during the Second Intifada, the ruling finds that those who agree to military service give up the right to be conscientious objectors on

The Times of Israel // Waste discarded

on a beach in Israel.

Eilat Banning Disposables on Beaches

In a first for Israel, Eilat has decided to ban disposables from its beaches

Dec. 31, 1898: Eliyahu Dobkin, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who founds the Israel Museum, is born in Bobruysk, Belarus. He immigrates to Palestine in 1932. He works with the Jewish Agency’s immigration department from the 1930s to the 1950s, increases the organization’s fundraising and helps organize illegal immigration after World War II. After founding the Israel Museum in 1965, he serves on the advisory board until his death in 1976.

Jan. 1, 1837: An earthquake estimated at 6.8 on the Richter scale starts a landslide that kills thousands and causes extensive damage in the Jewish and Arab sections of the Upper Galilee mountain city of Safed (Tzfat). Almost all the Jewish quarter and the synagogues are destroyed, and most of the Jewish survivors flee the holy city, leaving only a dedicated few to rebuild the center of Kabbalah.

to protect the Red Sea from the “threat” of plastic pollution, The Times of Israel reported.

People will be forbidden from bringing disposable items onto the beach, including plastic, aluminum, cardboard or paper. “Disposable items break down into particles of various sizes on land and in the sea, harming terrestrial and aquatic animals,” according to the text accompanying the new bylaw approved Dec. 11.

“Eilat has unique natural resources,” said Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevy.

“We must safeguard them in every way.

Israel currently lags behind the European Union in phasing out the use of disposable plastic.

Maya Jacobs, the CEO of Zalul, an environmental NGO, called Eilat’s move “groundbreaking.” She urged all of Israel’s other coastal cities to adopt similar measures, but said Eilat’s ban was “especially important for protecting the coral reef near the beach.”

Global warming is threatening coral reefs around the world, but the population near Eilat has remained stable due to its unique resistance to heat.

The city of Herzliya is preparing similar regulations. ■

Israel displays weapons seized from the Karine-A, a ship bound for Gaza, in January 2002.

Jan. 2, 2002: Israeli navy commandos take off from Eilat in helicopters at night to intercept the Karine-A, a ship carrying 50 tons of Iranian weapons from Yemen to Gaza via the Red Sea. The commandos seize the shipment before dawn Jan. 3 without firing a shot. The Palestinian Authority purchased the arms, including long-range Katyusha rockets, despite Yasser Arafat’s declaration of a cease-fire in the Second Intifada in mid-December 2001. ■ Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details.

ISRAEL NEWS 2019 Unprecedented in Israeli Political History

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

year terms. In fact, no Israeli government has completed its four years since 1988.

The Israel Democracy Institute in JeFew, if any, would argue with the charge rusalem reported that that 2019 was the most there’s been a “deterioradysfunctional in Israeli tion of the average perigovernment history. od of time between” elecIt started in late tions, and it is now down 2018 when the country’s to 2.3 years. If one looks parliament, or Knesset, at other established dedissolved and elections mocracies, the IDI rewere called for April ports, there are strong 9, 2019. For the first concerns about whether time in Israel’s history, the Israeli electorate will no Knesset party was return to the polls for a able to cobble together third time in less than a government. Prime one year.

Minister Benjamin Ne“The experience tanyahu asked that the of other countries that Knesset be dissolved again, and a second Benny Gantz of the Blue and White have held election after party is Netanyahu’s main challenger. election within a short round of elections was period of time demonstrates that in almost set for Sept. 17, 2019.

This time, not only was Netanyahu all cases, the participation is indeed lower,” unable to form a government coalition, wrote IDI’s research fellow Dr. Ofer Kenig.

Defying those odds, but neither was his Israel’s turnout in Sepmain challenger, Bentember rose to 69.8 perny Gantz of the Blue cent from 68.5 percent and White party. At in April, but it’s imposmidnight Israeli time sible to project what Dec. 4, the Knesset was will happen in March. dissolved once again, For one reason, and now the country although the choice of is preparing for a third political parties will round of elections set be about the same, the for March 2, 2020. situation is different.

Although IsOn Nov. 21, Israeli Atrael’s election system torney General Avichai is extremely differMendelblit announced ent from that of the indictments of NetanUnited States, in both IDI President Yohanan Plesner said the indictments have yahu in three separate cases governments are weakened Netanyahu. cases, charging him designed to last four years. But unlike in the U.S., Israeli gov- with breach of trust and fraud in all cases, ernments don’t often fulfill their full four- and additionally, bribery in one case. Since

this, along with most everything in Israel’s if he’s able to form a new government. government in 2019 is unprecedented, no This is the first real challenge to his leadone is willing to speculate the indictments’ ership in more than a decade, but it is impact on voters’ choices. However, initial not expected to be successful, although there’s no question polls indicate Blue and that “Netanyahu has White – which won been weakened by one more seat than the indictments,” Netanyahu’s Likud stated IDI President party in September – Yohanan Plesner. will expand its lead in The country is the third election. also waiting to see if Earlier this Netanyahu will remonth, the Israeli quest immunity from Supreme Court ruled prosecution from the that Netanyahu was Knesset, which any not required to give public official has the up his leadership poright to ask. Technisition because that cally, he has until Jan. would have led to elecLast month, Avichai Mendelblit 1, 2020, to decide. But tions anyway. Howannounced indictments against Prime since the Knesset is ever, he was asked to Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “essentially in a state relinquish his portfolios as health, welfare, agriculture and di- of recess,” it’s not clear whether there’s an appropriate committee from which aspora affairs minister.

On Dec. 26, the Likud party was to he might make that request.

If there’s any doubt that the current unhold primaries to determine whether Netanyahu will continue to lead the party paralleled stalemate will continue, there’s and serve as its potential prime minister already talk of a fourth election in 2020. ■

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OPINION For Gezunt un Kum Gezunt Our son, a junior at a In advance of his deparschool in Georgia’s universiture for a semester in France, ty system, will leave in early we have had a version of “the January for five months talk” with the youngest of our study in Strasbourg, in the three children, about how to Alsace region of France, near comport himself when conthe border with Germany. fronted by anti-Semitism.

He has a Hebrew, non“The talk” often written Biblical first name, as do about is that which African his older brother and sisAmerican parents have with ter, and a last name identheir children, about how to Dave tifiable as Jewish. He wears conduct themselves in inter- Schechter From Where I Sit a small star of David penactions with police. I do not dant around his neck, usupresume to know the depths of concern that lie behind that conver- ally tucked into his shirt.

Should we worry? sation, nor do I suggest an equivalency The estimated 500,000 to 600,000 with what Jewish parents tell their chilJews in France, the largest diaspora popudren in our circumstances.

That said, has “the talk” become lation after the United States, account for something Jewish parents do more often 1 percent of the French population. Acwhen their children head off for college, cording to the French government, antiSemitic acts increased 74 percent in 2018, let alone a semester abroad?

There are lists online of American compared with the previous year.

As to why, answers frequently given college and university campuses deemed hostile toward Jewish students. As for involve Arabs, who make up 7 to 9 pertravel away from the United States, there cent of the French population; anti-Israel may be no country where anti-Semitism sentiment from the left, and from the far is not a concern, to some degree. [Israel, left and far right, anti-government, antiwith a three-quarters Jewish population, establishment protest, as embodied in the “Yellow Vest” movement. presents other issues.]

10 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The most celebrated case of French anti-Semitism is that of Alfred Dreyfus, the army captain wrongly convicted in 1894 of espionage and imprisoned until his innocence eventually was proven.

Recently, more than 100 graves in a Jewish cemetery in a town about 15 miles from Strasbourg were vandalized with swastikas and anti-Semitic graffiti. It was the third Jewish cemetery in the Alsace region desecrated this year, one of more than 50 incidents of anti-Semitic vandalism in that region this year.

In Strasbourg 670 years ago, on Feb. 14, 1349, as the plague raged uncontrolled, several hundred Jews were burned to death publicly and the remainder of the city’s Jewish population forced to leave the city.

During the Crusades, Jews were expelled from France in 1182, but allowed to return in 1198. Since then, Jewish fortunes have ebbed and flowed, ebbing enough in recent years that this past February, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke of a “resurgence of antiSemitism unseen since World War II.” So, as he packs for his semester away, what do we – what should we – tell our son?

We want him to experience as full a range as possible of life beyond the class-

room, including engaging with the Jewish community. There are an estimated 20,000 Jews in Strasbourg and several synagogues not far from the university.

Compared with when his mother spent her junior year at the American University in Cairo (after her parents said no to AU-Beirut, during the Lebanon civil war), technology makes it easy to stay in touch. But these five months are our son’s opportunity to take on a greater measure of independence, to judge what he feels comfortable with and what he does not.

He will learn how to assess his surroundings and maintain his personal safety.

He will decide how to express or share his Jewish identity. He will determine whether to engage in discourse about Israel, a country he visited with me a decade ago.

With journalists for parents, he hears plenty about the world at large and aspects of Jewish life, including anti-Semitism. He follows the news and, since he was quite young, asks a lot of questions.

Perhaps the best we can do is to follow a custom in my wife’s family when anyone travels and, in Yiddish, wish him for gezunt (travel in health) un kum gezunt (and return in health), which over the years they have shortened to “forgie and kimmie.” ■

OPINION

Publisher’s Note As the fifth year of my course, be kosher noshes, tenure as owner of the Attwo stages of entertainment, lanta Jewish Times comes face painters and magicians, to a close, I can look back and an entire aquarium of on many accomplishments. excitement. But most imHowever, I prefer to look portantly, nothing speaks to forward to what the AJT will our mission of keeping Jewdo for our community in the ish Atlanta connected more coming years. The guiding than having over 6,000 principle behind your commembers of our tribe under munity newspaper is our Michael A. one roof for a day of fun and mission statement, which is, Morris camaraderie.

Publisher in a nutshell, keeping Jewish Another way we will Atlanta connected. This dicontinue to fulfill our misrects our future endeavors. sion is the Atlanta Jewish Connector.

One of our newest initiatives is set Currently, there are over 3,000 events to return in just a few weeks. On Sunday, listed and linked on our calendar. PeoJan. 26, we will celebrate the second an- ple come to the Connector to figure out nual Atlanta Jewish Life Festival at the which high holiday service they would Georgia Aquarium. I am excited that like to attend, where they can find Passover 80 Jewish community partners will over seders open to the public, what Jewhave a table at this year’s festival. Our ish social events are on tap for the weekcommunity partners will be inform- end, and which of our over 120 religious ing thousands of attendees about what and social service organizations is havthey do within our community and how ing an event or fundraiser in any given each one of us can get involved. Commu- week. If something with Jewish content nity partners include synagogues, teen is happening in greater Atlanta, there is groups, camps, schools, social service only one place to look! Over 35,000 peoorganizations, and more. There will, of ple log on to the Connector each month

to see what is going on in our community. That is what I call keeping Jewish Atlanta connected.

One interesting facet to a newspaper is that engagement with the Jewish community begins at your mailbox. You don’t need to go anywhere, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money (but please consider spending $65 a year for a subscription). The paper, the Connector and the Festival all let you know what is going on in the community, what well-known figures are coming to town to speak, who is graduating or celebrating their 100th birthday, what our politicians think about subjects germane to Jewish interests, and what Jewish news is happening in Atlanta, the U.S. and in Israel, but this is just the tip of the iceberg in our coverage. Whether in the paper, online or even in person, I hope you find the value in our services.

This coming year, the AJT will look for more ways to engage the community and keep us connected. One of our plans is to have regular Jewish Breakfast Club gatherings again. We will look to hire more interns from our high schools and colleges. We will seek to participate in

more community events like the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, Atlanta Kosher BBQ and MJCCA book festival. And we plan to offer more online content, breaking news and email engagement. The only other thing our team needs to fulfill its mission of keeping Jewish Atlanta connected is your participation.

I will leave you with one tip for the holidays. Take a break from politics and enjoy the family. The left and the right will have plenty of time to argue and debate next year. Time with our family — now that is limited. Right before Thanksgiving I was watching TV, (either CNN or Fox), and two experts were literally yelling at each other and calling the other a liar. The last question posed by the moderator was “Should families talk politics at the dinner table this holiday?”

Both pundits immediately said no, absolutely not. Take this opportunity to enjoy, not antagonize. The pundits looked at one another and noted that this was the first time they had ever agreed with each other on air. So, it is unanimous: enjoy the holidays.

I look forward to seeing you in 2020. ■

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 11

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR Teamwork+Risk = Winning Added Touch Entrepreneurs

By Marcia Caller Jaffe “Being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art.” - Andy Warhol After two months of neck-to-neck voting, Added Touch Catering & Events emerged as the winner of the AJT’s 2019 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. As selected by our readers, Added Touch has been a staple in Atlanta’s upscale catering scene for nearly three decades and includes divisions A Kosher Touch and A Healthy Touch.

The term “entrepreneur,” stolen from French “to undertake,” carries gravitas in managing, organizing, and assuming a business risk.

Owners Sandra and Clive Bank have certainly done that. They met in Johannesburg when Sandra was 15. She said, “We dated for four years, and I just knew he was the one.”

The couple arrived in Atlanta from Columbus, Ohio, nearly 30 years ago. As our winners, they are recognized as key influencers of charitable and lifecycle events. Added Touch operates out of a 9,500-square-foot facility in Sandy Springs, which includes a full commercial kitchen, pastry kitchen, cold rooms, warehouse, and offices. The fullservice kosher catering branch is certified under the Atlanta Kosher Commission and is located in the Marcus JCC with separate dairy and meat kitchens. They also operate the kosher café within the MJCCA. Sandra, who is company president, said, “As difficult as it is, it’s extremely rewarding. I’ve made fantastic friends, and I don’t feel like an immigrant from South Africa. I love the variety from event to event with a different set of colors and situations.

We go from celebrations that make people happy to delivering a shiva meal and comforting the family.”

Emphasizing the “added,” in the company name, Sandra is known for her artisanship and attention to detail. Client Viki Freeman notes “Bank is dependable and calm, when you most need someone to be calm. She is not only a great caterer, but she also continues to mesmerize by her creativity in making events so memorable that she never duplicates ideas.”

Erin Lis, director of marketing and communications, said, “This all seems glamorous being in upscale houses and eating good food; but the Banks work harder than anyone. They can perform anyone’s job. The bottom line is this is very hard work.”

Sandra got her cooking start at an early age. “In South Africa we loved to entertain.

The weather was pleasant, California-style, and we had a large labor staff. I was never 12 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Photos by Heidi Morton // Clive and Sandra

Sandra has rows and shelves of cookbooks in the corporate headquarters.

Clive says that healthy cuisine is among the most current trends.

afraid to entertain and set a beautiful table.”

After many years as a chef for other people’s companies, she started her own.

“I started in my garage and took risks along the way. We funded this business ourselves. Every event is a risk. Sometimes the ovens don’t work, or I am running to Publix because the host forgot the flowers. I’ve cleaned bathrooms and windows too.” A not-so-funny emergency involved a kosher AIPAC dinner for 500 at the Atlanta History Center, where Sandra suspected that the chicken was spoiled. During the cocktail hour she sent cars to get new chicken to reconstruct the Wellington dish. She laughed looking back, “A senator stood up and said, ‘This is the best kosher meal I’ve ever had.’

They should only know what went on before.”

Hosts go to Sandra for all sorts of details — what kind of tent to rent, music, lighting, what to wear. “Every event is like setting up a restaurant from start to end.

Every event has to be special. You know, we eat with our eyes!”

Vice president Clive heads finances and accounting, and is the engine keeping 14 full- and 60 part-time employees on task.

Noting the demands of catering, Clive said that everyone works seven days a week during busy seasons. Chefs are up “chopping” at 6 a.m. and sometimes 4 a.m. He estimates that they did 50 parties in November alone.

Here’s what Clive told the AJT:

ing in the fresh food industry?

Clive: Getting the quantities right. Not buying too much or too little. G-d forbid at a Jewish event, you run out of food!

Clive: 60 percent Added Touch, 35 percent kosher, 5 percent school catering.

Bank pose with Erin and Moshe Lis, who will take over the business in several years with the Banks consulting.

Marcia: Since you took a leap in starting a new business, at what point did you realize that you were a success?

Clive: I’m not sure we have reached it.

We are only as successful as the last party.

Catering is a strange business. You never know what’s coming from one week to the next.

Marcia: What are the challenges of be-

Marcia: What do you see trending in cuisine?

Clive: Healthy, healthy, healthy! We attend conventions to keep current. Catersource in Vegas and Kosherfest in Hoboken, N.J. Marcia: What’s the key to you and Sandra working together so harmoniously?

Hard to mix marriage and business?

Clive: We both run different parts of the business and stay in our own lanes not stepping on toes. I cover the financial end, food ordering and such; and she does client relations, menu development, the creative parts. Plus, our offices are at different ends of the building (haha).

Marcia: What happens in five to 10 years?

Clive: “I’m in my late 60s and cannot envision running around like this for another decade. We’ve selected our current employees, Erin and Moshe Lis to take over.

She’s in charge of marketing and communications and is an attorney and he’s head of operations. Very capable people. … We will not go away. We will stay on as consultants.

Marcia: What other company do you most admire?

Clive: On a personal level, since I am a Type 2 diabetic, Abbott pharmaceuticals because they developed a sensor (versus sticking oneself with a needle), which can change the world or at least make life easier for a lot of people.

Marcia: If you drew a pie chart, how would your revenue fall?

Marcia: Do you have any statistics on the growth of the kosher food industry?

Clive: Kosher growth is phenomenal.

We started from almost nothing. The demand is there for avant-garde and tasty kosher food.

Marcia: Are Atlantans spending more on entertaining? What does the average wedding cost?

Clive: I am only commenting here on the food portion: $125 per person Added Touch, $150 per person A Kosher Touch.

Does not include tax, liquor, gratuity, but it’s a guideline.

Marcia: What are some of your most interesting events?

Clive: For the Super Bowl NFL Tailgate we were selected as a minority (female) business and served 2,000 sliders in four hours.

Then the Maccabi Games we served 4,000 meals, breaking down to 600 a meal, two meals a day (kosher). Plus, a huge a variety of special diets. The logistics were challenging over six venues.

Marcia: What is your formula for charitable contributions?

Clive: We do well more than our share by putting aside 8 to 10 percent. And not just Jewish ones. We want to give back.

Marcia: As the Jewish entrepreneur for 2019, for what are you most thankful?

Clive: This community which has embraced us. Plus “Sa;” without her there would be no business.

Marcia: Last word.

Sandra: Nothing like this happens without a terrific group. This is a team effort! ■

The Lowdown I Bet You Didn’t Know …

The Banks

Atlanta is chock full of interesting movers and shakers, some bent on creativity, public persona, empire building and activism, others on just plain having fun and living the good life. Lean in to hear some off the cuff remarks about what makes catering magnates Sandra and Clive Bank tick.

Lucy and Desi, Rodgers and Hammerstein, oxygen and water are all balanced elements where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Added Touch Catering & Events founders Sandra and Clive Bank have experienced phenomenal growth over the past 26 years. Both South African born, Clive heads up the financial management end while Sandra is the talented chef, menu creator, and food presentation artist. She said, “Food brings people together and can make any occasion shine.”

Find out why Clive, a trained architect and former retail store designer, likes South African French fries, and how Sandra is the wife “who’s always right.”

Get to know the jovial pair right here.

What do you miss most about South Africa?

Sandra: Everything. I miss a sense of the closeknit community there.

Clive: The food: steak, biltong, boerewors, and French fries (they soak them in stale oil for three weeks)!

What do you binge watch?

Clive: Everything. I’m a TV addict for relaxation, currently into “Watchmen.”

Sandra: I watch Clive watch TV.

If you could eat one thing three times a day, what would it be?

Clive: Sandra’s spaghetti bolognese.

Sandra: Desserts and chocolate (I’m glad he likes my spaghetti, cause he’s getting it tonight).

You’ve met a lot of famous folks. By whom were you most awestruck?

Clive: Former Ambassador Nikki Haley.

Sandra: Michael Solomonov, the award-winning chef and author.

I found him to be very humble.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

Sandra: Pause, … think before you speak (or yell).

Clive: Don’t speak, listen, per my father-in-law.

If I could change one thing about her (him):

Clive: Sandra is always damn right; even when she’s wrong, she’s right.

Sandra: His snoring.

When I’m not working, you can find me …

Sandra: With grandkids.

Clive: On The Standard Club golf course.

What annoys you the most when eating out?

Clive: Cold food.

Sandra: Inattentive service.

Reported by Marcia Caller Jaffe ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 13

YEAR IN REVIEW 2019 was quite a year for Jewish Atlanta. Join us in remembering some of the headlines that most captivated our AJT readers. The stories below had higher than average online traffic or overall community buzz. Many of the articles have been updated with new information. Take a walk down memory lane as we recapture some of the most popular stories filling our pages this year.

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January 3

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January 2019

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January 23

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Ex-Mobster Thrills Chabad With Storied Past

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Arthur Blank faced disappointment again on the football field in 2019.

Blank Steps onto the Field as Mega Performer for Atlanta

By Bob Bahr (Original story by Marcia Caller Jaffe) When we first wrote about Arthur Blank in 2019 it was to salute him as the AJT’s Entrepreneur of the Year. He was poised to host the 2019 Super Bowl at his lavish $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium and he was also coming off a win in the Major League Soccer Championships for his Atlanta United team before a record crowd of over 73,000 fans in his stadium. Steve Koonin, the CEO of the Atlanta Hawks, then praised his accomplishments, saying, “Arthur Blank has raised the bar for sports and hospitality in Atlanta.From bringing home the MLS Cup to bringing the Super Bowl to Atlanta, Arthur deserves all the accolades possible.”

But, as the year ends, Blank is less than happy with the performance of his football team, which had their worst early season start in 16 years. As the season progressed, they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the second year in a row.

But if the news on the field was disappointing, Blank was making spectacular news off the field. Just last month, 14 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

the Arthur Blank Family Foundation announced a three-year, $6.8 million program with CARE, the international humanitarian relief organization based in Atlanta.

It’s the first large-scale international program for the foundation, which since its founding in 1995 has donated over $400 million to a variety of projects in education, civil rights and public interest media programming. The money will be used by CARE to help the organization avert humanitarian crises and support a village small saving and loan program for women in the African nations of Tanzania, Malawi and Nigeria. Blank will also be the honorary co-chair of a new Atlanta committee for CARE, which is part of a nationwide network to help women become agents of change.

As a holiday gift to documentary film fans back home, Blank is underwriting free screenings across America of the HBO documentary, “True Justice – Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Justice.” It’s about an African American attorney in Alabama who has spent his career fighting for the release of death row inmates and others who have been wrongly convicted.

A feature film about Stevenson, “Just Mercy,” starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx, was released Dec. 25. ■

The AJT first reported on Myron Sugerman in January 2019 when he appeared at the Chabad Intown to promote his book “The Chronicles of the Last Jewish Gangster.” He riveted the audience with tales of his prison time, suitcases of Meyer Lansky’s cash, and his own role in nailing the reviled Nazi Joseph Mengele. The assumption was that a thriller movie was just around the bend.

Not so fast. Sugerman, who speaks eight languages and is considered one of the world’s experts on the underworld, especially well-versed in Jewish links to intrigue in Vegas, boxing, the beginnings of Israel (and how helpful cash “got” there), Bugsy Siegel, the Stern Gang, and even Jack Ruby, is not ready to settle. Current discussions with agents, producers, and script writers envision a six-part series focusing on his Simon Wiesenthal Nazi hunter connection. Sugerman cracks, “I helped him immensely, but it was sideline, … my main purpose was running illegal gambling machines throughout the city of New York and knowing every mobster from every street corner with whom I did business.

I don’t want to fictionalize when what I witnessed with my own eyes makes the real story … there are four groups vying for the story. One of the interested parties is Daniel Finkelman, who produced ‘Menashe.’

“I did help Wiesenthal, but Finkelman’s focus is ‘the gangster and the Nazi Hunter’ and is fiction.” Sugerman can go on for hours with tales about joint ventures with Arab underworld bosses from Beirut operating Bally slot machines in the slums of Nigeria in 1970 “with incredible sums of money coming out of the depths of Africa.” He furthered, “There was a major mob battle over my

Guest speaker Myron Sugerman enthralled a packed Intown Chabad audience, seen here with Marcia Caller Jaffe.

jurisdiction. The Gambinos claimed me, then Tony Bananas, the caporegime of Newark from the Angelo Bruno Philadelphia Mob claimed me and then finally the Genovese people.”

Sugerman sent money to Wiesenthal and traveled to South America using his language skills to convey messages between survivors and lawyers to nab Nazis. He concluded, “Do it [the series} right or not at all.”

To get things moving, Sugerman is scheduled to speak Jan. 6 at Beth Jacob Congregation, Beverly Hills. On that trip, he’s planning more script meetings and enlisting some big names to get on board.

One that Sugerman is aiming for is actorproducer Jason Bateman.

No stranger to stars, Sugerman consulted with Dustin Hoffman on a past movie characterization.

More about what he does want in the series: “Every mob in New York besides Italians, Russians, Israelis, Cubans, Albanians, Greeks, Dominicans, and Puerto Ricans were coming to see me every minute of the day for machines, technicians, business propositions; but most of my day was spent in mob sit-downs adjudicating disputes.

Some of those got hot; … there were those that ended up ‘very ugly.’”

When asked what “very ugly” means, Sugerman said, “Alfredo could end up being Fettucine Alfredo.”

Netflix here he comes! We will be watching. ■

YEAR IN REVIEW

January 23 Leslie Gordon Begins Reshaping Breman Museum

By Dave Schechter The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum scored a coup by hiring Leslie Gordon as its executive director.

Gordon, who had been hailed for her work as director of the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University since 2003, took charge of the Breman Museum in February.

By year’s end, hints of her strategy to increase the Breman’s visibility, within and outside of the Jewish community, were evident.

“I hope to build on the great foundation that’s already been laid,” Gordon

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told the Atlanta Jewish Times in January.

Several months earlier, the Breman’s board had approved a five-year plan that called for the institution at 18th and Spring streets “to transition into a role as a cultural center and gathering place for the community, while retaining its primary role as the Southeast’s repository, caretaker, and storyteller of Jewish history, including the Holocaust.”

In November, the Breman partnered with First Congregational Church of Atlanta and the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival to sponsor a program at the church, a discussion about Jews, African Americans and popular music, featuring musician and author Ben Sidran with the Rev. Dwight Andrews, himself an accomplished musician.

In her introduction, Gordon called the event an example of “taking the Breman on the road.”

In the 2016 Jewish community sur-

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Photograph by Judy Ondrey //

The Breman's new Director, Leslie Gordon.

vey conducted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, 30 percent of respondents described themselves as being very familiar with the Breman, 46 percent somewhat familiar, and 19 percent not at all familiar. The Breman is home to the Weinberg Centre for Holocaust Education and the Cuba Family Archives for

February 2019

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February 4 Hate Crime Hits Local School

By Dave Schechter A photo of a swastika in blue spray paint on the outside of Centennial High School appeared Feb. 4 in social media postings. The vandalism was discovered when school employees arrived that Monday morning.

“I am especially disgusted that this perpetrator or group of perpetrators painted a swastika, a historic and extreme emblem of hatred, on our school,” Centennial’s Principal Anthony Newbold wrote in a letter addressed to “Centennial Family.”

He wrote, “Let me be extremely clear, graffiti and school vandalism will not be tolerated, and our community rejects the hatred these symbols represent. Be assured that as Centennial Knights, we find these actions offensive and completely against our beliefs as an open and accepting school community,” Newbold continued.

In a letter to teachers and staff, Newbold wrote, “An activity bus, the main building and entrance, a trailer for band, signs, the weight room, and the stadium areas were all vandalized. While all of

A swastika spray painted on the outside of Centennial High School. Other anti-Semitic graffiti was found inside.

this was disturbing, what was reported later was worse. These perpetrators also painted two swastikas on the stones in the front of our building.”

Wendy Frank, a Centennial parent, told WSB-TV News, “I’m horrified. I’m so sad and I’m furious. I want them to know this hurts many, many, many people. Not just Jewish people, not just kids at Centennial High School, it hurts our whole community.”

School staff cleaned up the vandalism within the day.

“Fulton County Police did investigate the vandalism thoroughly, yet unfortunately, was not able to find enough evidence to make an arrest of the perpetrators,” Brian Noyes, chief communications officer for the Fulton County school district, told the AJT in December.

Within a week of the event, the Atlanta Initiative Against Anti-Semitism

Southern Jewish History, and also hosts cultural events and temporary exhibits.

Gordon is a Savannah native who grew up attending Congregation Bnai Brith Jacob, then led by Rabbi A.I. Rosenberg.

Her career in arts management began in 1985 as director of cultural affairs for her hometown. She moved to Atlanta in 1992 as a producer of the Cultural Olympiad, four years of arts and cultural programming that preceded the 1996 Olympic Games. Gordon was artistic director for the 1997 Arts Festival of Atlanta and manager of humanities and education for the 2000 and 2002 editions of the National Black Arts Festival.

The Breman is the largest tenant at the three-acre property owned by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, which is considering both renovation of the existing facility and possibly new construction at the site. ■

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held a town hall meeting at Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs.

Centennial High School worked with the Anti-Defamation to become a certified “No Place for Hate” school. The school also took part in the Holocaust remembrance “Daffodil Project,” which Noyes said will become an annual ninth grade class project.

Georgia is among the states that requires teaching about the Holocaust in school curricula, in certain grades and coursesl, but also is among a handful of states without a hate crimes law, something that parents interviewed by local media said was needed. ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 15

YEAR IN REVIEW

February 6 Do Jewish Day School Students Have an Advantage?

In February, the AJT did a deep dive into some of the statistics behind education in Georgia, with a specific focus on where Jewish day schools rate as compared to other schools.

Through the research we found that in every testing category, The Weber School and Atlanta Jewish Academy high school were on par with the highest ranked in the state, both public and private.

As for the more human face of education, two local high schoolers, Carly Judenberg and Gabriel Weiss, shared their experiences in and beyond Jewish education.

Both attended Jewish day schools through middle school, but Judenberg

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left The Epstein School for Walton High School after eighth grade, while Weiss continued on to AJA. Judenberg explained that she was looking forward to the new prospects and new faces that awaited her.

“I was really excited for the new experience because I knew that I would only know one or two kids going to Walton High School with me from Epstein.

It really was an opportunity to be in a whole new environment,” she said.

Weiss explained that he thought he was best served by the smaller class sizes at AJA. “Because it’s a smaller school it’s much more personalized, and I’m able to get the attention I need and to explore other things outside of school,” he said, adding that he’s known 15 of his classmates since sixth grade. “We’ve grown up with each other and it’s a very close group.”

Also at the core of the topic is the question of affordability, and three of

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Students and educators discussed their thoughts on Jewish Education’s successes and challenges.

Jewish Atlanta’s heads of school – AJA’s Rabbi Ari Leubitz, Weber’s Rabbi Ed Harwitz and Davis’ Amy Shafron — addressed the complicated subject in depth.

March 2019

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March 9 Jewish Leaders Respond to Anti-Israel Incident at Autrey Mill Middle School

By Eddie Samuels An incident at Autrey Mill Middle School’s Multicultural Night March 7 spurred reactions from members and leaders of the Jewish community.

On the night in question, families at the school of Palestinian heritage displayed a map of British Mandatory Palestine prior to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Many reacted strongly to the idea of erasing Israel from the map. Alongside the map was an image of “Handala,” a political cartoon of a Palestinian boy with his hands behind his back.

Rabbi Michael Bernstein of Gesher L’Torah, just down the road from the school, argued that while it was difficult to see something, “so disregarding of who you are” in his own community, it set the stage for a discussion of how to treat conversations about Israel in classrooms.

“It’s something that the community 16 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

A map of the Middle East with Palestine in place of Israel was displayed at Multicultural Night at Autrey Mill Middle School.

doesn’t take lightly,” he said. “I hope it can lead to a conversation because it’s important to understand what’s at stake in how we talk about issues involving Israel, especially in a middle school setting.”

In the wake of the incident, Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz met with Autrey Mill’s Principal, Trey Martin. Minkowicz said it was important to see it as an opportunity for learning.

“We believe that families should pay what they can afford to pay and that’s based on income, number of children and a variety of factors,” Leubitz said.

“Truth be told, that doesn’t mean that it’s still not expensive, but it becomes a value consideration.”

Harwitz articulated a similar concept, noting that Jewish education shouldn’t come at the cost of other opportunities.

“The core mission of Jewish education is that a family shouldn’t have to choose between a Jewish school and a camp or a synagogue,” he said. “These aspects are central to a child’s Jewish development, but also to the development and future of the Jewish people.”

Shafron explained that increasing education costs were an issue for all schools, not just Jewish day schools, but that those expenses were important, “especially in the context of the more personalized and individualized setting of an independent school,” she said. ■

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“As the school principal so correctly explained to me, … whereas in the past there was no need to check in displays brought in from parents for events as these, we now know that we are living in different times and extra vigilance is needed, … to check and approve before being out in an open forum,” he said.

Edward Ahmed Mitchell, executive director of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations Georgia, represented several of the families of Palestinian heritage involved, and noted that some of the children had been bullied after the incident, a response universally condemned by those the contacted by the AJT. “What has happened now will hopefully create this opportunity for a teachable moment, but I wish it did not happen at the price of these kids having to live in a safe educational environment,” Mitchell said.

After meeting with the principal and confirming the bullying had ceased and no punishment would be given to the children, Mitchell was satisfied, and had met with school leadership and spoken to local rabbis.

“Obviously the way that it happened was very distressing for a variety of reasons, but it happened, and what matters now is the future,” he said.

YEAR IN REVIEW

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April 5

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April 2019

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Emory University Caught in Israel-Palestinian Flap

By Dave Schechter When Emory Israel Week and Israeli Apartheid Week come around in the spring of 2020 Emory University officials will hope for less controversy than the campus experienced a year earlier.

Mock eviction notices created as part of a pro-Palestinian student protest appeared April 2 on doors at the Emory Clairmont Campus and the Woodruff Residential Center, and at the off-campus Emory Point apartments.

The university will hope to avoid a repeat of the confusion that saw the flyers initially approved by the Emory Residence Life office, then ordered removed because they violated a policy against posting flyers on dormitory doors without student consent.

“In reviewing this incident, we found no evidence that individual students or a particular group were targeted,” the university said in an April 3 statement.

The official-looking notices, which stated that the dormitory would be demolished in three days, were posted by Emory Students for Justice in Palestine, as part of Israeli Apartheid Week. The annual anti-Israel event took place the same days as Emory Israel Week, sponsored by Emory Eagles for Israel.

The flyers read: “Palestinian homes are destroyed as part of the state of Israel’s ongoing attempts to ethnically cleanse the region of its Arab inhabitants and maintain an exclusively ‘Jewish’ character of the state.” A disclaimer at the bottom of the flyer advised that the warning was not real.

Similar flyers have been posted on other campuses in recent years.

An estimated 17 percent of Emory undergraduates and 10 percent of its graduate students are Jewish, according to the Hillel International website.

Allison Padilla-Goodman, Southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, sent a letter April 4 to Emory University President Claire E. Sterk, calling the university’s response “slow and inadequate.

Mock eviction notice posted on Emory students’ dorm room doors.

“The anti-Israel activists who passed out these notices are creating tension, intimidating and isolating students, and fostering a hostile atmosphere on campus. The academic environment should be a place where constructive dialogue and discourse about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can thrive, not a place where perspectives regarding the conflict infringe on students’ personal space,” the letter said.

The chances for dialogue were not enhanced by statements issued April 5.

Pro-Palestinian students, contending that “right-wing extremist groups are smearing student activists,” called for the university community to boycott several Jewish campus organizations.

Rabbi Russ Shulkes, executive director of Hillels of Georgia, said that it wanted: “The Emory SJP chapter punished.

They should not just receive a slap on the wrist for putting up a flyer in the wrong place. They purposefully flouted their responsibilities of an Emory club in good standing. … SJP’s Emory University adviser should resign, or be asked to resign and the university should assign another adviser. … SJP should, at the very least, be on probation for at least one year.”

Beyond statements by the Atlanta offices of Jewish communal organizations, congregations Beth Jacob Atlanta and Young Israel of Toco Hills distributed 300 yard signs that read “We Stand With Jewish Emory Students!”

Sterk acknowledged April 5 that “this week’s events exposed several flaws in our process for the approval, authorization, and distribution of flyers.”

“Emory’s commitments to creating an environment where all members of the community feel safe and protected

and to upholding free speech and vigorous debate remain unquestioned. Emory stands firm against all forms of racism and intolerance,” Sterk said in her statement.

On April 12, Sterk sought to mollify Jewish concerns. “I have had the privilege of listening to the concerns of a wide range of voices both within and beyond our Emory community. I have been deeply moved not only by what I’ve heard, but also by the personal pain shared by students — and by members of the wider Jewish community — who feel threatened, afraid, and angry,” she said in a statement.

[Sterk will step down as university president in August 2020.]

In mid-April, a report issued by a committee of the Emory University Senate concluded that, aside from the improper posting of the mock eviction notices, “the rest of the flyer is fully protected political speech under the Open Expression Policy.”

Emory Law professor Alexander “Sasha” Volokh, chair of the Senate Standing Committee for Open Expression, also cautioned that “Anyone saying that this committee determined that the flyers were not anti-Semitic, they are saying this with no basis, in our opinion.”

April 24

MODL Bottle Kickstarts Jewish Entrepreneurs

By Eddie Samuels Aiming to innovate in a market that hasn’t changed much in decades, three Jewish friends and fraternity brothers set out to reinvent the water bottle.

“I had a Nalgene that was full of water and every step I took for miles it was banging up against my leg,” Barak Zitron said of the hike that spurred his innovation. “I was so frustrated with why there wasn’t just one other point on the bottle to clip it in place. It’s a rigid, single-purpose container, and I thought I could improve on it.”

The project, called MODL, aimed to redefine what a water bottle could do, by replacing hard walls with a dishwashersafe, collapsible silicon design with

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MODL’s founders, from left to right: Zack Leitz, Barak Zitron, and Justin Guld.

multi-purpose head attachments, such as purifiers or a shower head for camping.

As of April, the three recent University of Georgia graduates — Zitron, Justin Guld and Zack Leitz – had just launched the MODL Kickstarter — a crowdfunding campaign. They spoke to the AJT just over a week into the process and had, at the time, raised $35,000.

That number, however, was far surpassed during the remainder of the project, ultimately raising $133,163 on Kickstarter and another $8,079 on Indiegogo, another crowdfunding site.

After wrapping up the project, production was into full gear as the trio worked to produce bottles for their backers. Knowing that manufacturing was an area in which they lacked experience, they consulted with experts who could provide guidance, and Leitz spent time in Asia, working with the manufacturer directly.

December was an exciting month for the new entrepreneurs.

“We just wrapped up packaging everything and it was shipped on Friday,” Guld said, calling 2019, “a beautiful adventure. A lot of diving into the unknown, but also a lot of discovery because of that.”

As for what the future holds for MODL and its three founders, sales are just beginning on their website, with the bottle and four “MODs” listed for $125 at modloutdoors.com.

“We’re taking this to the world and now we get to hear from our customers on how they use MODL and we’re going to keep innovating on it from there,” Guld said.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 17

YEAR IN REVIEW

April 29 Shul Shooting Hits Home for Atlanta Chabad

By Dave Schechter Just as several members of Atlanta’s Jewish leadership had personal ties to Pittsburgh and the Tree of Life synagogue, an Atlanta rabbi found that he had personal ties to the tragic events in Poway, Calif.

Six months to the day that a gunman spouting anti-Semitic venom massacred 11 worshippers and wounded seven people at the Tree of Life synagogue, another lone gunman evincing similar attitudes attacked the Chabad of Poway.

Just as Oct. 27, 2018, will be remembered for Pittsburgh, so will April 27,

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2019, for Poway.

Killed at Poway was 60-year-old Lori Gilbert-Kaye, a founding member of the Chabad center, which opened in 1986.

Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein had an index finger ripped away when shot at close range. Almog Peretz, 34, who was visiting from Sderot, Israel, and his 8-year-old niece, Noya Dahan, also were wounded.

When the Chabad center was attacked during Shabbat morning services, Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz, the director of Chabad of North Fulton, was a 90-minute drive away, at the Chabad center in Los Alamitos, where his brother-in-law is the rabbi.

Minkowicz grew up in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, where his classmates included one of Goldstein’s brothers. “I spent a lot of time growing up in that house. We used to have playdates all the time,” he told the AJT at the time, speaking from Cali-

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fornia. Two of Goldstein’s brothers have homes adjacent to Minkowicz’s parents in Crown Heights. “I know his family really well.”

Minkowicz was visiting California with his eight children. His wife and their mother, Rashi Minkowicz, passed away in 2014 at age 37. [Minkowicz remarried in May the now Devora Leah Minkowicz, “North Fulton Welcomes New Rebbetzin” (June 26)] Minkowicz’s second connection was through the brother-in-law he was visiting, Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, whose wife, Bluma, is the sister of Minkowicz’s late wife. Marcus’ sister, also named Bluma, is married to Rabbi Mendy Rubenfeld, a member of the Chabad of Poway staff.

The Rubenfelds, who operate the center’s Hebrew school, were away for the Passover holiday.

A police officer entered the Los Alamitos Chabad center and informed

May 2019

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Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz, director of Chabad of North Fulton

Marcus that there had been people shot at Poway. Because there were numerous children present, the two rabbis maintained a calm demeanor while “freaking out” on the inside, Minkowicz said.

“The reality is that Judaism is based on a pillar of brotherly love,” Minkowicz said. “This was in a Chabad center, but in Chabad theology, our foundation is based on brotherly love. If it was a Jew that was attacked, I felt the same pain as when I heard about Tree of Life.”

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May 15

May 29

Leo Frank Gets Second Look

Lewis Takes Well-Deserved Bow at Westin

By Dave Schechter

By Roni Robbins It’s been 104 years since Leo Frank was lynched in the Marietta woods by a confederacy of Cobb County men angry at the commutation of his death sentence in the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in the downtown Atlanta pencil factory that Frank managed.

Nonetheless, Frank’s murder conviction will be re-examined by a new Conviction Integrity Unit announced May 7

by Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard Jr. Speaking to reporters at the Fulton County courthouse after the announcement, former Gov. Roy Barnes credited Rabbi Steve Lebow of Temple Kol Emeth with telling him, “There is no statute of limitations on doing the right thing.”

Through his 33 years at the Reform congregation in Marietta, Lebow has been a leading voice in the effort to exonerate Frank.

Barnes, who will be an adviser to the unit, stood with Howard as the district attorney explained that the Frank case 18 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Shelley Rose, former deputy director of the Anti-Defamation League regional office in Atlanta, chats with Rabbi Steve Lebow of Temple Kol Emeth before the press conference, while former Gov. Roy Barnes checks his phone.

fit the fourth of four criteria for re-examination – cases that are in the “interest of justice.”

Frank was found guilty of murder in 1913 in large measure based on testimony

by Jim Conley, an African American janitor at the factory, who, according to a former factory employee who came forward in 1982, was seen carrying Phagan’s body.

Barnes recalled newspaper reports that as jurors walked to the courthouse from the Kimball House, where they were sequestered, a mob chanted “Hang the Jew or we’ll hang you.”

The Supreme Court of the United States rejected Frank’s appeals, but on June 21, 1915, Gov. John Slaton, who had doubts about Frank’s guilt, commuted the sentence to life in prison. On the

night of Aug. 16, vigilantes, including the grandfather of Barnes’ wife, kidnapped Frank from the state prison in Milledgeville and drove him to the woods near Frey’s Gin Road in Marietta, where he was hung from a tree in the pre-dawn of Aug. 17.

The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles posthumously pardoned Frank in 1986 but did not exonerate him.

There is no timetable for the CIU’s re-examination of the Frank case.

Descendants of Mary Phagan have objected to Howard’s intention to re-examine the case, accusing Lebow, Barnes and others of having “colluded” in efforts to clear Frank’s name and said that Barnes should recuse himself from any role in the process.

About six months ago Congregation Etz Chaim’s first rabbi, Shalom Lewis, assumed emeritus status following a hotel gala attended by 300 and a more intimate “Shalom, Shalom” ceremony at the East Cobb synagogue. And while he has more time to travel and visit family, Lewis doesn’t seem to be slinking into the traditional retirement.

“I’m not sleeping in. Let’s put it that way,” he said when I caught up with him earlier this month.

Lewis, who was the rabbi for more than 40 years, said that in retirement he still teaches, leads the occasional service and comes into the synagogue several days a week.

“I still visit people who are ill or in recovery from surgery. I still lead shiva minyan or pay condolence calls,” he said, and he helps his successor, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch, with lifecycle events. “Though I’m retired, I still have a deep love and history with the people of the Etz Chaim commu-

YEAR IN REVIEW nity and am happy and honored to still be a part of their lives.”

He explained the paradox of his status.

“I look at the calendar and there’s nothing written down, yet every day I find myself rather busy. I do not punch a time clock nor have the expectations as before, but I do not hide behind retirement or disappear.

This is still my life. I’m still functioning like a rabbi, but admittedly it is different.”

In addition to his synagogue involvement, including a weekly blog, Lewis is catching up on his reading and seeking a publisher for a book he’s writing about his theology. It is based on a sermon he gave for Kol Nidre several years ago, he said. “Folks

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June 13

Photo by Bernice Isaac // Man of the hour, Rabbi Lewis takes center stage. Behind him

are his portrait and a plaque announcing a new rabbinic suite in his honor.

think that unless they are fundamentalists, they are in spiritual exile. I want people to know they are not.” He said the book should help readers find an authentic faith

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that fits both tradition and reason.

Lewis is also developing a website with his sermons as well as topics for scholar-inresidence weekends for other Jewish com-

June 2019

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Young Israel of Toco Hills Votes to Part Ways

By Dave Schechter In the end, Young Israel of Toco Hills became Congregation Ohr HaTorah, remained a Modern Orthodox congregation but severed itself from the National Council of Young Israel.

Before that happened, a dispute between YITH and the national movement played out on social media.

The trouble began Feb. 25, when NCYI president Farley Weiss publicly endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to bring into his electoral coalition a party formed by followers of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane, whose ultra-nationalist party was banned in Israel in 1994 for incitement to racism.

In response, 22 Young Israel synagogues wrote to NCYI and asked it “to immediately cease making all political pronouncements,” suggesting that the issue was long-standing.

That’s when things got personal.

Emotional buttons were pushed by a March 4 Twitter post from Yechezkel Moskowitz, then president of NCYI’s advocacy division (but who is no longer on its board): “Everyone of the Rabbis on this list from reconstructionist lover @RabbiStarrYITH to tree hugger Barry Kornblau should be ashamed of themselves joining with liberal progressive groups like @

Young Israel of Toco Hills is now Kehillat Ohr Hatorah after leaving the National Young Israel movement.

IfNotNowOrg in attacking @NCYIYoungIsrael for defending Israels democracy. #NotMyJudaism” The “reconstructionist lover” remark referred to a gathering Nov. 2, 2018, on the first Shabbat after the massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh.

Members of YITH and Congregation Bet Haverim met in the street between their synagogues for prayers, psalms and songs led by Rabbi Adam Starr and Rabbi Joshua Lesser of CBH, a Reconstructionist congregation.

Starr rebuked Moskowitz March 5 on Facebook: “This is not just an ad hominem attack on me (and Rabbi Barry Kornblau for his tree hugging) but by extension it’s an attack on my Shul and community,” as well as other YI syna-

gogues that signed the letter. Starr also apologized to Lesser.

Kornblau, the rabbi of Young Israel Congregation of Hollis Hills-Windsor Park in Queens, N.Y., posted a photo of himself hugging a tree.

Young Israel of Toco Hills demanded an apology from NCYI for Moskowitz’s comments and created a committee to study the synagogue’s future affiliation with the movement.

When no apology was forthcoming, the issue was put before the congregation. More than 80 percent of eligible members voted and more than 93 percent favored disaffiliation.

Holocaust historian and Emory University professor Deborah Lipstadt, whose resignation in February from

munities.

So while he may not be a fixture at the synagogue as before, Lewis is still very connected to Etz Chaim and can be found in his office or schmoozing in the hallways with his congregants.

“I think I found the sweet spot between fading away in retirement and remaining active. I am in a happy, creative place at this point in my life. I am truly blessed.”

Although some may have thought he would “head off into the sunset,” he said, “People now see we have a wonderful new rabbi to take us forward and a retired rabbi who remains a part of the congregation and the community.” ■

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YITH to disassociate herself from the national movement had received national attention, told the AJT June 12 that she was “delighted to have already rejoined . . . as soon as I heard results of vote.”

On June 12, Starr and congregation president Marc Sokol sent members a letter, saying: “At this time, we are pleased to assume our shul’s Hebrew name, Kehillat Ohr HaTorah, which reflects our mission of spreading the light and beauty of the Torah to all who wish to learn and grow with us, a mission that has resonated in Atlanta and beyond. After deliberation and through an open and inclusive process, our members have decided to no longer affiliate with the National Council of Young Israel due to our organizations not being a strong fit for one another. We are proud to be a Modern Orthodox kehilla kedosha [holy community] and will continue to affiliate with the Orthodox Union, the largest Orthodox synagogue organization in the country. We wish the National Council of Young Israel the best as they continue to serve Klal Yisrael.”

Moskowitz told the AJT, “My personal reaction is that I think it’s good for both parties. I wish the community well in its future endeavors and service of Hashem. But what this makes abundantly clear to me is that the 22 rabbis who signed against NCYI, many did so not because they were upset with the leadership of the NCYI not consulting them, but because of their right-leaning philosophy – which for whatever reason [they] felt hurts the name of the movement. That’s their right, it’s a free country.” ■ ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 19

YEAR IN REVIEW

June 19

Jewish Law and Abortion

By Dave Schechter As of this writing, a federal judge has blocked Georgia from enforcing a new abortion law that was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1.

If the state appeals the ruling, made Oct. 1 by Judge Steve Jones of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, that would be heard by the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, in Atlanta.

An eventual appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States by either supporters or opponents of the law is likely.

Jewish law applies the interpretation of ancient texts to present-day circumstances.

The new Georgia abortion law cites advances in modern medicine as supporting the state’s right to restrict abortion, even if potentially in conflict with federal law.

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Georgia's "Heartbeat Bill" is scheduled to take effect January 2020, and would ban abortion after a doctor detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into pregnancy.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the so-called “heartbeat bill” into law on May 7. The measure would ban abortion after a doctor detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into pregnancy. Existing Georgia law bans abortions after 20 weeks.

The new law would make exceptions “to avert the death of the pregnant woman or avert serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman.

No such condition shall be deemed to exist if it is based on a diagnosis or claim of a mental or emotional condition of the pregnant woman.” Georgia also would make exceptions if the pregnancy is determined

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to be “medically futile,” or in cases of rape and/or incest — in the latter instances, if the pregnancy is not beyond 20 weeks and a police report has been filed.

Jewish law – halacha, in Hebrew, meaning to walk a path – differs from Georgia law on the issue of personhood and the circumstances under which abortion is permitted, though both make an exception if the life of the mother is endangered.

“Jewish law is not clear or unequivocal as to whether a fetus is ever a person and whether abortion could ever be murder,” according to an article co-authored by rabbi and Emory University law professor Michael Broyde.

The greater priority is the health and welfare of the mother. “Jewish law sees the fetus during the first 40 days of gestation as ‘simply water’ and during the rest of gestation ‘like the thigh of its mother.’ It does not become a full human being until birth, specifically, until the head emerges from the vaginal canal or, if a breach birth, when ‘the majority of the body’ or the shoulders emerge,” said Rabbi Analia Bortz, co-found-

July 2019

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July 10 Robbins Steering Federation Into Future

By Dave Schechter After three-plus years as president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Eric Robbins believes that the organization is facing forward with the wind at its back.

“I think we have a very clear direction. I think we have the right talent, both volunteer and professional, on board to get us there. And we have some momentum,” he said in a July interview.

To meet its priorities – “Ensuring a Jewish Future,” “Caring for Jews in need,” and “Strengthening Jewish community” – the current “20 for 20” fundraising campaign hopes to raise $20 million for fiscal year 2020, which began July 1.

About two-thirds of the money will go to organizations in Atlanta and the United States, with one-third designated to connect with Jews globally, including in Israel and in the former Soviet Union.

In addition, the Federation’s Inno20 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

This rendering provided by JFGA reflects an architect’s conception of what a new Federation community building might look like, not a final design that will be built.

vation Fund supports emerging efforts to enhance Jewish life in Atlanta, while targeted philanthropy support programs ranging from books for children to overnight camping scholarships to initiatives for teenagers.

“We don’t just exist to fundraise for the community. If that’s all there is, you could argue there is no relevance for us,” Robbins said. “But who is planning for the future of the Jewish community? Who is bringing the community together? Who is handling security on a community-wide perspective? Who is

helping to build relationships with the non-Jewish community?”

That future starts with millennials (born 1981-1996) and the “Gen Z” postmillennials (born from 1997 forward). To connect with them, the Federation backs “Next Gen” involvement with Birthright Israel, convened “The Interchange” forum to explore how the community can be more welcoming toward interfaith families, and pairs younger entrepreneurs with those more experienced, for mentoring and intergenerational learning.

er of Congregation Or Hadash. Bortz is also a medical doctor with post-doctorate studies in bioethics.

Unlike Jewish law, the Georgia statute does not consider psychological and emotional distress experienced by the mother as legitimate reasons to sanction an abortion.

Rabbi Jonathan Crane is the Raymond F. Schinazi Scholar of Bioethics and Jewish Thought at Emory University’s Center for Ethics. He said, “Modern streams of Judaism take very seriously both the physical and psychological well-being of pregnant women. This is demonstrated by the many resolutions by rabbinic organizations and pieces by Jewish bioethicists that say that rape and incest are legitimate reasons to terminate a pregnancy. Forcing a woman to gestate and give birth to a child begun by rape or incest imposes immeasurable psychological distress. Ensuring a woman’s mental well-being holds true for other pregnancies as well,” said Crane, who is also an associate professor of medicine in Emory’s School of Medicine and an associate professor of religion in Emory College. ■

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Renee Kutner, the Federation’s vice president of marketing, said that success will not be measured by whether young adults come to the Federation annual meeting but whether “we are coming to them at the places where they want to be.”

Where they want to be are sections of Atlanta where the Jewish community is growing. North Metro will be the first target of a five-year grant the Federation has received to target neighborhoods.

“We’re moving forward on ideas to help support part-time and day school education in the community, and on the concept of a family camp. We have a vision of a camp that operates year-round for families. We would prototype it, lease a site somewhere and try it,” Robbins said.

Meanwhile, the Federation announced a partnership with the Secure Community Network, an initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, to manage its security programs. The Atlanta Federation and SCN will work together to hire a new director of community security.

A goal of Robbins when he arrived in 2016, gathering numerous Jewish organi-

YEAR IN REVIEW zations under one roof, may be realized in a renovation of the Federation’s three-acre headquarters site at 18th and Spring streets.

When Robbins addressed the 2019 annual meeting, a sketch – dubbed “the Jetsons building” (a nod to the early 1960s television cartoon) – appeared on a screen behind him. The drawing was not “the” building, Robbins said, but rather one architect’s idea, a “rendering of what we are exploring having in this space, which is a multi-use building for Atlanta’s Jewish community.”

In addition to Federation’s headquarters, a new building could house workspace for smaller and emerging Jewish organizations, offices or satellite space for more established agencies, more room for the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, a small theater, an Israel experience center and, perhaps atop all of these, residential properties. ■

July 10 Rabbis Gottfried, Charyn Take on New Challenges

By Eddie Samuels This summer two rabbis filled gaps in metro Atlanta’s congregations. Rabbi Jesse Charyn, a newcomer to Atlanta, stepped into his first-ever congregational post at Temple Beth David, and Rabbi Pamela Gottfried, a familiar face, took on a new role at Congregation Bet Haverim.

Charyn, or Rabbi Jesse to his congregation, was the answer to a nearly threeyear search at TBD. He came to Atlanta after serving in the Israel Defense Forces, where he met his wife, Shira, and studying at Arizona State University and the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute.

He made the drive to Snellville from Arizona, and recently spoke to the AJT about his time since stepping up to the bimah.

“Everyone is passionate and filled with excitement and a rabbi is a very important part and the spiritual director of a congregation,” he said. “TBD didn’t have that direction for the last few years and everyone is so excited, and we have people with young families and people who were members coming back.”

He shared that the excitement has expanded since he’s landed in town, with increased programming, classes, and lunch and learns that he’s been able to get off the ground, and a new opportunity during Chanukah this year.

“We’re going to have the first-ever public menorah lighting on the Snellville town hall green,” he said. “We had a con-

July 19

Hemy Neuman Murder Trial Resurfaces

Rabbis Pamela Gottfried and Jesse Charyn took up new roles this Summer at Congregation Bet Haverim and Temple Beth David, respectively.

gregant whose family works in the construction industry that built a very large, beautiful menorah for us to light.”

Gottfried is not new to Atlanta, and prior to her new role, served as the dean of Judaic studies at The Weber School. This summer, however, kicked off a journey in redefining what the role of a rabbi could be.

With the support of a PROPEL Grant from Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and a Reconstructing Judaism Innovation Grant, the position is part of CBH’s “Your Jewish Bridge: New Pathways for Your Jewish Connection,” program.

“I was really happy teaching and I loved my job at Weber, and I wasn’t really looking for a job,” Gottfried said, “but when I found out about this position, I was really drawn to it.”

Combining traditional congregational work and outreach to Jews unaffiliated with any congregation, the post aims to make Gottfried a resource for all Jews in Atlanta.

Gottfried recently reflected on the first few months in her new post, saying she was grateful to have the support of CBH’s staff and membership in launching the initiative.

“My earliest referrals were from CBH members, who helped spread the word that the synagogue had engaged a rabbi to serve the educational, pastoral and lifecycle needs of the unaffiliated in our community,” she said. “After two months of meeting people individually to discuss these needs, along with facilitating some programs, … I was officially introduced to the wider community on Rosh Hashanah.”

As for what the next few months entail, Gottfried looks forward to continuing to deepen relationships at CBH, as well as officiating numerous lifecycles for those who have found her through Your Jewish Bridge.

“We’ll be celebrating at CBH and MACoM, and in their homes and backyards,” she said. “It’s a privilege to serve those in need of pastoral care during times of illness and bereavement and a joy to welcome babies and teenagers into the covenant, and counsel couples and plan their weddings.” ■

Jewish Atlanta was once again rocked by the Hemy Zvi Neuman murder scandal when Neuman requested another trial in July.

On Nov. 18, 2010, Russell “Rusty” Sneiderman was shot and killed outside his child’s preschool. Hemy Neuman, the boss of Sneiderman’s widow, Andrea, was arrested for the murder. The families involved were prominent members of the Jewish community, as Neuman’s now exwife Ariela Barkoni was a teacher at The Epstein School and the Sneidermans were members of Congregation Or Hadash.

On March 15, 2012, Neuman was found guilty, but mentally ill, of malice murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole and another five years for the felony weapons charge. Four years later, he was found guilty again after a retrial, without the acceptance of an insanity claim, and sentenced again to life in prison without parole.

This year he asked for another trial, claiming mental illness caused by his love for his victim’s wife, Andrea. She was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice for her testimony about her relationship with Neuman during his first trial. The 2012 trial was painful, severing long-term friendships when members of the Jewish community were called to testify. Threats and hate mail were sent to an attorney.

This new development in the case is reopening old wounds. “First of all, it was a Jewish man murdering another Jewish man in front of his kid’s daycare,” attorney Esther Panitch told the AJT. “Then

Hemy Zvi Neuman enters a Dekalb courtroom during his motion for a new trial heard by Judge Gregory Adams on July 9, 2019.

sides were quickly taken” when details of the affair became public knowledge. “No one wants to relive this nightmare.”

Panitch, of The Panitch Law Group, represented Neuman’s ex-wife in their divorce and the family of the deceased in a wrongful death case against Andrea Sneiderman.

“It was a very painful episode in the history of the Jewish community in Atlanta that broke long-term friendships,” said one prominent Atlanta Jewish leader who asked not to be named. “It divided the whole community.”

On July 31, Neuman’s request for a new trial was denied.

“The Court further finds that after weighing the evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, the verdict was not contrary to the weight of the evidence such that a miscarriage of justice resulted,” Dekalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams wrote.

Barring an appeal, it seems likely this will be the last development in the Hemy Neuman saga. ■

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YEAR IN REVIEW

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August 2019

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August 12 Jeffrey Epstein Consulted Atlanta Attorney Days Before Death

By Dave Schechter Of all the strange twists in the Jeffrey Epstein story, one involved Atlanta resident and criminal defense attorney David Schoen.

Just days before his death, the 66-year-old financier with an alleged predilection for young girls and a coterie of well-known friends met with Schoen about his federal sex-trafficking case. “It was just the two of us in a room, though other people came and went” during their five-hour Aug. 1 meeting, Schoen said soon after. “We talked about the future, all sorts of plans for the case, things he hadn’t thought about before. “He was very upbeat, eager to go. I’ve heard from other people who told me how much that meeting meant to him.”

Several days after Epstein’s death on Aug. 10, Schoen told the AJT that, based on the tone of that conversation, he was skeptical about that the circumstances of the death. “I don’t believe it was suicide. …

I think someone killed him. I don’t like to speculate. I’m not a conspiracy theorist,” he said.

The New York City medical examiner ruled after an autopsy that the death was a suicide and rejected suggestions that Epstein was murdered. Four months later, Schoen remained more than skeptical.

“I think that the definitive findings by the independent medical examiner I had attend the autopsy further support my view based on anecdotal evidence that Mr. Epstein did not commit suicide,” Schoen said to the AJT in early December. “Dr. Michael Baden is probably the most respected medical examiner in the world, and he has now said that after performing over 20,000 autopsies over more than five decades, he has never seen the injuries he saw in this case consistent with a suicide. These were injuries from someone crushing his throat.”

In November, two guards at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Center were indicted by a grand jury on 22 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell on Aug. 10.

six counts related to falsifying prison records, after allegedly spending time on the internet and in a common area some 15 feet from Epstein’s cell. Epstein was not checked on from approximately 10:30 p.m. on Aug 9 until about 6:30 a.m. the next day, when he was found dead.

Epstein had pleaded not guilty – and faced up to 45 years in prison if convicted – to a single count each of sex trafficking and conspiracy, as outlined in an indictment unsealed July 8 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. He had been arrested July 6 at a New Jersey airport when he returned aboard his private plane from Paris. At a July 18 court hearing, Epstein was denied bail. A trial date was expected to be set for 2020.

The New York indictment alleged that: “over the course of many years, Jeffrey Epstein, the defendant, sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in Manhattan, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida, among other locations.” The indictment said that some of the girls were as young as 14 years old.

The indictment also stated: “In particular, from at least in or about 2002, up to and including at least in or about 2005, JEFFREY EPSTEIN, the defendant, enticed and recruited, and caused to be enticed and recruited, minor girls … to engage in sex acts with him, after which he would give the victims hundreds of dollars in cash. Moreover, and in order to maintain and increase his supply of victims, EPSTEIN also paid certain of his victims to recruit additional girls to be

similarly abused by EPSTEIN.” Schoen countered that contention.

“I have sworn testimony a woman gave to the FBI to the effect that she sent many of the girls to Epstein and that he had one rule – no one ever underage. She told each girl, she swore under oath, that they better either be over 18 or have a fake ID because if he had any reason to believe they were underage he would throw them out,” he said in December.

Over the years, Epstein’s well-known friends included, at various times, President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, attorney Alan Dershowitz, and Prince Andrew, son of Queen Elizabeth (who has given up his royal duties “for the foreseeable future” because of his links with Epstein).

Four months later, “It remains shocking to me the number of people coming out of the woodwork to make claims now that he cannot defend himself and the number of lawyers making a cottage industry out of claims against Jeffrey Epstein,” Schoen said. “I have never seen a case like this before in which the presumption of innocence was universally abandoned. I also do not understand the phenomenon of institutions giving back the millions of dollars he gave through his philanthropy. That money was intended to do good and it should be used to advance the good things for which it was intended. There is no evidence that he made money through illegal conduct.”

Schoen, who is an Orthodox Jew, said he discussed their common faith with Epstein. “We spoke about it a little bit. He was not observant. He was very proud of being Jewish,” Schoen said. ■

August 28

The Jewish Marilyn Monroe – Gone but Not Forgotten

By Bob Bahr If you found the well-worn, brass plated Chanukah menorah pictured on the next page you might pay $10 for it at a neighborhood garage sale. It’s only about 10 inches high and 9 inches wide and when you wind it up, it plays Israel’s national anthem. Ok, you say, maybe $12.50.

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In the days before her Jewish marriage to Arthur Miller in 1956, Marilyn Monroe thought she had found true happiness.

But how much would you offer if you knew it was once owned by Marilyn Monroe and was given to her soon after she was married to the Jewish playwright Arthur Miller in 1956?

Moreover, what would you pay if you knew that Monroe treasured it as a symbol of her conversion to Judaism when she wed the famous author of the American classic, “Death of a Salesman?”

It was displayed on the mantle in her home in Hollywood until she died and was subsequently included in an exhibit at The Jewish Museum in New York from 2015 to 2016.

Last month, three years after the exhibition, in November 2019, it was auctioned

by Kestenbaum & Company in New York as Lot 354. The menorah was described as having a “cylindrical trumpet-form base supporting a baluster stem and continuing to ringed curved arms ending in nine candle nozzles.” It was said to have been a gift from Miller’s mother, who often spoke Yiddish to her husband when she didn’t want her son or new daughter-in-law to know what she was saying. Last month, it sold for $112,522, including commissions.

The former owner was the Miami real estate investor and art collector, Amir Ben-Zion. He had originally bought it in 1999 at an auction of Monroe’s personal property and not many people had paid much attention to it then.

But in the years since, as we mentioned in our story in August of this year, the interest in the Jewish Marilyn Monroe has grown. The siddur that Arthur Miller had given her before they were married sold in November 2018 by the J. Greenstein auction house in Cedarhurst, Long Island, for $26,250. It was said to have some notes in it that were written in her handwriting, and it was in her collection of books when she died, an old siddur from Miller’s boyhood Brooklyn

YEAR IN REVIEW

Marilyn Monroe’s menorah was a simple, worn, brass-plated item.

synagogue, Congregation Torah Vodat.

Another hot seller four years ago was Monroe’s signed certificate of conversion, dated July 1, 1956, the same day she married Miller in a religious ceremony at the home of his literary agent. On Dec. 17, 2015, just after the end of Chanukah that year, it went for $70,500.

These ritual objects were all symbols of a happy time in Monroe’s life. But the five years they were married were generally difficult ones and they gladly parted ways after their divorce became final in January 1961. She died of an overdose of barbiturates Aug. 4, 1962. ■

August 28

Rabbis Bortz, Karpuj Preparing to Make Aliyah

By Eddie Samuels

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In August, a mixture of excitement and sadness filled the halls of Congregation Or Hadash as the congregation’s rabbinic duo, Rabbi Analia Bortz and Rabbi Mario Karpuj, announced that they would be making aliyah in 2020.

The pair has been with Or Hadash from the conservative synagogue’s first days, and there is little doubt that they will leave enormous shoes to fill.

And while the pair looked forward to their future in Israel, they also reminisced about their time at Or Hadash and their love for the congregation.

“The president of our shul is someone who we married and did his baby namings and saw his kids growing up,” Bortz said. “It changes you forever and becomes a part of who you are, seeing the whole lifecycle of a family.”

Now, four months later, the rabbi search is beginning in earnest, led by two former presidents of the shul, Lynn Epstein and Gita Berman.

“We were quite honored to be asked by the current president, Ben [Nadler] to chair the search committee. That is, after we came out of the shock that came with our rabbis’ exciting news,” Berman said.

The pair were Or Hadash’s first two presidents, and, as such, have worked well together for a long time. The official job posting with Conservative Judaism went up just before Thanksgiving,

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following a period of conversation with congregants.

“The teens made us promise that we wouldn’t hire a scary rabbi,” Berman joked.

“I left those sessions totally energized by the community that we collectively have created,” Epstein added.

“Some of our teens were babies in the early days of this congregation. They were probably named by Mario and Analia within weeks of the founding of the shul, and here they were telling us what they want is more time with the rabbis, … together with the congregation.”

As applications have begun to flow in the duo didn’t want to give a number, but emphasized that they have been very happy with what they’ve seen so far, and have already begun the next steps.

“Applications have been coming in, and we’ve been setting up screen-

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Dahlonega Says ’No‘ to Nazis

By Roni Robbins The quiet town of Dahlonega, known for its factory outlets, became the scene of a rally Sept. 14 pitting a small group with ties to white nationalists against triple the number of protestors fighting the perceived hatred they felt from the other side of police barricades.

A known member of the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacist movement, Chester Doles, organized the “Patriot” demonstration. It was originally advertised as a rally in support of President Donald Trump. A number of the demonstrators touted their support of the president, the military and police.

Rabbis Analia Bortz and Mario Karpuj.

Photo by Roni Robbins // Signs protest Nazis

and white supremacy at the rally.

Doles is a Lumpkin County resident, which is why the rally was held there.

The protestors carried signs such as “Nazis not welcome in Georgia” and chanted refrains such as “Sexist. Racist.

Anti-gay. All the Nazis go away,” “No Na-

zis, No KKK. No fascists USA,” “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” and “When black people are under attack, what are we going to do? Stand up, fight back.”

More than 450 officers from throughout the region came to maintain the peace, far outnumbering the two factions. The patriot group made no mention of Nazism and the only sign of farright beliefs was a small group wearing T-shirts stating: “Confederate Patriot Rebel: Breathing Life Back into the American People.”

No violence was reported, and religion was only mentioned briefly when one pro-patriot speaker cited lessons from Jesus, while there were pastors and church groups among the counter-protestors.

A week before the rally, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Doles

ing interviews with our committee, and preparing to do video interviews with candidates,” Epstein said. “Everything is with an eye on January and February for the top three candidates to come in and spend Shabbat with us.”

Nadler explained that after an emotional period following the announcement, things have mostly returned to business as usual, but noted that he is excited seeing how this has driven engagement.

“We’ve always had a very active and engaged membership base that has given us a lot of feedback, but I think the most encouraging thing is just how involved everyone has been throughout this whole process,” he said.

As part of the initial discussion, Bortz and Karpuj were careful to state that while they were looking forward to the future, nothing would change in their day-to-day roles for at least a year, something executive director Scott Allen said still holds true.

“Analia is starting with b’nai mitzvah students for October, November and December of next year, even though it’s highly likely she won’t be here come that time,” he said. “Inside the building there’s a tremendous amount of love and respect, and that doesn’t get turned off, and everyone is grateful they’re here and continuing to do what they’ve been doing.” ■

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had been in and out of federal prison and was on probation for a 2016 assault. At the rally, Doles summed up his violent checkered past as “youthful indiscretion.”

Speaker Jovi Val was probably the most radical of the assembly. Online sources say he is a far-right neo-fascist who promotes political violence, and he became a white nationalist with extremist views, including anti-Semitism. At the rally, he expressed disappointment more Confederate flags weren’t being carried.

Counter-protestors were concerned the rally gave far-right demonstrators a chance to gain a foothold in Georgia.

Although many of the downtown businesses were closed for the rally, a few remained open. Outside one restaurant there was a rainbow-colored flag and a sign with an American flag containing a heart with the phrase: “Hate has no home here.” ■ ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 23

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September 25

Female Rabbi-To-Be Emerges From Orthodox Roots

By Roni Robbins “Rav Amalia” Mark, Congregation Etz Chaim’s first female intern and clergy member, joined the congregation in August. She was an integral part of the clergy team during the high holidays, leading the youth service and giving the sermon on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. She continued to lead Shabbat services and perform other duties during the year while completing her fourth year of a five-year program at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Boston.

She also serves as a rabbinic intern at the Mayyim Hayyim, a nondenominational community mikveh in Boston.

“I’ve learned so much in the half of the year. From giving my first sermons, to leading Shabbat morning davening, to discovering the fine art of calling page numbers, I’ve grown in my rabbinic pul-

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Mark is studying to be a rabbi at the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Boston, which is pluralistic.

pit skill set,” Mark said in an email correspondence last week.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch said Mark is part of a larger effort by the synagogue to be more inclusive of women.

“Given our synagogue’s strong history of egalitarianism, the decision to employ a female rabbinic leader, as well as to [allow women to] duchen on the

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October 7

From a Fan of the Game to the Voice of the Team

By Eddie Samuels Ira Liebman has been a sports fan his entire life, and the new voice of the Atlanta Gladiators minor-league hockey team is settling into life behind the microphone.

Liebman grew up a fan of the Yankees, Islanders, Jets and Knicks, and always dreamed that a career in sports might be in his future.

“When the Yankees lost, I woke up in a bad mood, and when they won, I woke up feeling great,” he said. “There was something there that went beyond the norm and that I knew I needed to be involved with.”

From selling audio technology, Liebman transitioned into a role in broadcasting and interned for WFAN, for shows such as “Mike and the Mad Dog,” but “the next step was getting on the air,”

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holidays, fit well into our historic vision for our community.” The AJT wrote about “The Evolving Role of Women During the High Holidays” Oct. 2.

“One of the more touching stories I heard, for example, were stories of the tears of bnot-kohanim crying in the back following the duchening experience, having been profoundly moved by the opportunity to bless members of the congregation. This success continues to affirm for me that our vision of inclusivity and egalitarianism must remain at the forefront of who we are,” Dorsch said.

“At Etz Chaim, we have always striven to be an out of the box, creative, modern congregation, not afraid to experiment. Needless to say, both of these ‘experiments’ have taught us how powerful inclusion is as a tool to continue to engage different voices among members of our kehilla.”

Mark said that “witnessing the first group of women duchening on the high holidays was a true shechiyanu moment for me. I was trying very hard not to cry as I listened … There was a radiance in their faces as they left the bimah. I was

Liebman at the 2009 World Baseball Classic, during which he worked for Team Australia.

he said.

He started out calling Stony Brook University’s baseball team as they made a run in the NCAA tournament, and transitioned to calling bigger games over 16 years in California, Colorado, Texas and more.

Liebman spoke to the AJT shortly

before the season kicked off in October, and since then has been exploring some of the exciting opportunities that his new position affords.

“Some of the guests I’ve had on the broadcast have been big highlights,” he said. “I had Matt Mangum from ‘The Walking Dead,’ and the GM of the Winnipeg Jets on the broadcast. Our second home game was a tribute to the 25th anniversary of the Atlanta Knights winning the Turner Cup.” As for what’s new to him after a career in baseball, Liebman said, “In baseball you have to kind of tell the story, whereas in hockey the story is dictated by the action. There’s not a lot of downtime for things like profiles of players.

The action takes care of itself.”

As for the new venues he’s visited, Liebman pointed to Orlando’s Amway Center in particular.

“I just went to Orlando, which is, I think, the best venue I’ve ever broadcast in,” he said. “It’s the home of the Orlando Magic. … We won one of those games, which was our first overtime game as well.” ■

deeply moved …”

She recalled another time in the service during which a woman was leading musaf and she was calling page numbers and there were only women on the pulpit.

Dorsch said, “From our end, her [Mark’s] presence has been wonderful for women of all ages, especially for our young children (including my 2-year-old daughter) who now have a strong, charismatic, female rabbinic role model to look up to in our community.”

Mark will be visiting Etz Chaim monthly between now and the end of the academic year, Dorsch said.

So what does the future hold for Mark? “We have begun initial conversations about the formation of an Etz Chaim Jewish Art Collaborative. Rav Amalia has a passion for art (her mother is an artist as well) and we are optimistic that this will serve as a terrific internship project for her to build in 2020.”

She said she also wants to “facilitate some learning around mikveh and our local, pluralistic community mikveh, MACoM.” ■

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October Politically-Inclined Lean Toward Georgia Politics

By Dave Schechter Think of 2019 as the calm before 2020’s political storm.

Back in October, the AJT reported that “More than an old sweet song will keep Georgia on the nation’s mind in 2020. Georgia is, as the pols and pundits like to say, ‘in play.’ Democrats again envisage turning a red state purple, while Republicans look to keep what they have and regain what they’ve lost.”

Georgia’s presidential primary will be March 24. The Democrats likely will have at least several names on their ballot. The state Republican party has decided that only President Donald Trump will appear on its ballot.

The decision by 74-year-old Republican U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson to retire before his term expired in 2022, because of health dif-

YEAR IN REVIEW ficulties, left Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in a pickle (Southern fried variety).

Kemp named businesswoman Kelly Loeffler as the interim senator until the November 2020 “jungle primary,” in which every candidate seeking the seat, regardless of party, will be on one ballot. In doing so, Kemp rejected Trump’s desire that the nod go to Republican Rep. Doug Collins, from Georgia’s 9th District.

Whether Collins will enter the contest remains to be seen.

Among those already seeking Isakson’s chair as a Democrat is Matt Lieberman, a Jewish Atlantan whose name usually is followed by a reference to his father, former Connecticut senator and 2000 Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Lieberman.

If no candidate wins a majority in the November vote, the top two finishers will enter a run-off to be held Jan. 5,

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Democrats hope to turn a red state purple, while Republicans try to keep what they have and regain what they lost.

2021, two days after the 117th Congress convenes. The winner will serve the final two years of Isakson’s term and, thus, be up for re-election in 2022 – as will Kemp.

Meanwhile, a May 19 primary will determine which Democrat will face off in November against incumbent Republican Sen. David Perdue, who has amassed a sizable campaign war chest.

The Democratic hopefuls in that race

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November 1

Does Atlanta Welcome Jews of Color?

By Paula Baroff (Original story by Jan Jaben-Eilon) In October, we spoke to the Atlanta Jewish community about the work that needs to be done in welcoming Jews of color. Heidi Senior, one of the many Jews of color in Atlanta, said that she feels like “a round peg in a square hole.”

Senior, a biracial woman whose mother was Jewish, and her family, haven’t had positive experiences with synagogues in the past, leading them to feel dismissed.

“I don’t see people who look like me in shul and we don’t want to feel like we have to have proof of being Jewish,” Senior said.

Brian Weiss and his wife Yang Yang, who is Chinese, are both in leadership positions at The Temple. Yang converted to Judaism, but there have been times at other synagogues where “the guy greeting people said, ‘Shabbat Shalom’ to Brian and not to me,” she said. “It’s still a novelty [to people], but I’m happy to share my story.”

Tarece Johnson, a black and Jewish diversity professional, is making efforts to educate the Atlanta Jewish community about inclusion. Since she spoke to the AJT for the original story, she led an event Dec.

include Jon Ossoff, who came close but failed to win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017 from Georgia’s 6th District. Ossoff is Jewish. The only Jewish candidate to win a partisan statewide race in Georgia was Republican Sam Olens, who was elected attorney general in 2010.

In the U.S. House, Republican Karen Handel, who defeated Ossoff in a 2017 special election, lost the seat in 2018 to Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath, a gun control advocate. McBath is running for reelection in 2020 and Handel appears the most likely challenger to emerge from the May 19 Republican primary.

In the 7th District, the decision by Republican Rep. Rob Woodall not to seek re-election in 2020 has created crowded fields seeking the Democratic and Republican nominations.

Georgia State University professor Carolyn Bourdeaux, who narrowly lost to

John Eaves with his children, Isaac and Katura.

22 at The Epstein School about diversity in education for Jewish educators and other youth organizers, as well as students.

She also led an event at The Weber School with JumpSpark to develop leadership skills in Jewish teens exploring diversity, inclusion, and how to live values of chesed (loving-kindness) and kavod (respect.)

“This should be embedded in the curriculum. Diversity should be taught in arts and crafts and incorporated into history classes,” Johnson said of her education work earlier this year.

A recent study released in May called “Counting Inconsistencies” showed that

1 million out of 7.2 million Jews in the United States are Jews of color, around 12 to 15 percent. Jewish organizations and synagogues are just beginning the work of recognizing this diversity, said Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder, director of education for Be’chol Lashon. “This is work that will have to happen institution by institution and by the community as a whole.”

Some synagogues have made efforts to educate congregants about diversity. For Sukkot this year, The Temple organized a Unity Sukkah at which about 235 people wrapped yarn around 32 poles that stated various ways of identifying, creating the roof of the sukkah.

According to Abusch-Magder, “I’ve been doing this work for a decade and I’ve seen more emphasis on diversity, but change will not come quickly enough to fix the problems already there.” ■

November 20 From The Fonz to the Former First Lady

By Roni Robbins The 28th annual Book Festival of the MJCCA hosted some of its largest crowds this year, with a final count of 12,000 in attendance during the two-week event. The 36

Woodall in 2018, is one of several Democratic hopefuls. Another is former Fulton County chairman John Eaves, who is a member of The Temple.

Republican State Sen. Renee Unterman, who is Jewish, is one of several candidates for the GOP nomination.

Incumbent Democratic congressmen John Lewis in the 5th District, and Hank Johnson in the 4th District, have no announced opposition.

In the 11th District, Jewish radio talk show host Dana Barrett left that job to run as a Democrat, eyeing the seat currently held by Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk.

How Georgians vote will change in 2020. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has said that new touchscreen voting machines, which produce a paper ballot that then is scanned, will be in place statewide by March. ■

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Photo by Eddie Samuels // Michelle Nunn, who leads CARE USA and ran for U.S. Senate in 2014, interviews the Clintons about their book and lives.

events and 50 authors, ranging from politicians and sports figures to Holocaust survivors and major achievers, included former first lady and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley and actor and author Henry Winkler.

“The festival went extremely well, and overall, we were very pleased with attendance,” festival director Pam Morton recently told the AJT. “Although Henry Winkler had to cancel for opening night due to the wildfires in Los Angeles, we were fortunate that he and his co-author, Lin Oliver, were able to rearrange their busy schedules and reschedule.”

The celebs joined other headliners such as Jodi Kantor, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who broke the Harvey Wein-

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 25

YEAR IN REVIEW stein sexual harassment scandal, and former NFL star Akbar Gbajabiamila, co-host of “American Ninja Warrior.”

Among the subjects explored at the festival were Israel, the Holocaust, music, pop culture, food, politics and stories of resilience and overcoming adversity.

The full MJCCA book festival team hadn’t debriefed since the festival, which ran from Oct. 30 to Nov. 18, but Morton said “I’m happy to say that there wasn’t a lot we felt went awry. Our major logistical issue that we face each year is parking, but under the incredible organization and direction of our security team, led by Security Director Karl Hydrick, the majority of the feedback we received was extremely positive.”

Already confirmed for the 2020 A Page From the Book Festival are: John Carreyrou, “Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup,” 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4, and Steve Madden of “The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever” at 7:30 p.m. May 14. ■

November 19 Jewish Names Remembered as AIDS Quilt Leaves Atlanta

By Dave Schechter

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The quilt has some 50,000 panels sewn into 12-by-12-foot blocks bearing the names of more than 105,000 people that when spread out would span more than 1.3 million square feet.

By the end of February 2020, the AIDS Memorial Quilt – with threads that tie it to the Jewish community – will have left Atlanta after 18 years and returned to San Francisco, where it originated in 1987.

The AJT reported in November that the quilt will be moving to the AIDS Memorial Grove in Golden Gate Park, and its archive transferred to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. There are more than 105,000 lives memorialized in the quilt. The quilt is made up of more than 50,000 panels, each 3-foot-by-6-foot, the size of a grave.

The quilt weighs some 55 tons and if displayed in full would cover 1.3 million square feet.

The quilt moved to Atlanta in 2001 from San Francisco at a time when it was imperiled by financial issues. “What

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Jewish Atlanta Tackles Addiction

By Paula Baroff (Original stories by Paula Baroff and Bob Bahr) In December, the AJT reported on the dangers of social media addiction among youth and the stigma surrounding addiction more broadly in the Atlanta Jewish community.

Atlanta’s Jewish teens were urged to “look up” and spend less time on their phones and other electronics. This advice was part of a new program by JumpSpark to limit the time teens spend on social media to combat social media addiction.

JumpSpark Director Kelly Cohen started the program to create an open dialogue between teens and their parents over social media.

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Atlanta really did, Atlanta gave it a home and started programs that had not been done,” said Leslie Gordon, executive director of Atlanta’s William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum and a former member of the NAMES Project board. “We were a holding place for something very precious to a community and we allowed it to be spread to an even larger community.”

There is no count of the number of Jewish lives remembered in the quilt, but the first name stitched into its fabric was of a Jewish man. “The AIDS Memorial Quilt is a yahrzeit memorial itself: It is dedicated to the memory of Marvin Feldman, who was the best friend of quilt founder Cleve Jones,” Robbie Medwed wrote in a 2017 AJT article.

“Names are really important in Judaism,” said Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim Synagogue. “Names connect us to heritage. Names contain personality traits and part of our loved-one’s soul, which is why we name people after people we love and care(d) for. When you stand in front of a quilt block, it is striking how personality and those beautiful qualities of a soul come out through the fabric.” One of the lives memorialized is that of Michael Shure, a member of Ahavath Achim.

Billy Planer estimated that during the past 15 years, as part of his Etgar 36 civil rights tours of the South, he has brought 23,000 people to the NAMES

The opioid crisis is a national problem the federal government is trying to address.

At three programs held at The Temple, Temple Sinai and JumpSpark offices in Sandy Springs, teens and their parents discussed a problem that is getting increased attention by mental health professionals.

The hold social media exerts over teens is increased by the need teens have to be accepted by their peers, according to Dan Arnold, director of clinical service at Jewish Family & Career Services in Atlanta.

“Social status and connectedness are hallmarks of the adolescent struggle, and

the prevalence of social media compounds the issue. Whether it is cyber-bullying, the lack of privacy or trying to keep up with the Joneses – or Kardashians – the impact of social media and the related pressure can be extremely damaging.”

Scilla Andreen, a filmmaker who created a documentary called “Like” about the effects of social media on young people, spoke to participants in the JumpSpark program.

The AJT also examined the stigma of addiction in the Jewish community and the advances that have been made by Jewish mental health organizations in Atlanta. “I think one of the most powerful ways that we can address stigma is by telling our stories,” said Leslie Lubell, program manager of Helping Atlantans Manage Substance Abuse, or HAMSA, a program of Jewish Family & Career Services.

Lubell shared her own story about her addiction recovery and cooperation with other Jewish addiction organizations.

“While I believe the Atlanta community is much further along than two years ago,

Project, with 90 percent of the groups coming from Jewish communities from throughout the country.

“They find the gentleness and humanity of the quilt so powerful. The ability to find a connection, even if you don’t know anyone affected by the disease, because you will see a panel made for someone from your town or who shares an interest with you, is powerful, so that they now have a connection to this disease,” said Planer, a member of the NAMES Project board.

Two of the names in the quilt, those of Gary Piccola and Robert Needle, remember co-founders of Congregation Bet Haverim.

Rabbi Joshua Lesser, now in his 20th year at Bet Haverim, first encountered the quilt as a “newly out” 21-year-old living in New Orleans. “The ultimate goal is for the quilt to have its maximal impact, and if that means leaving Atlanta, then I hope we are able to let go with honor and appreciation for all that [NAMES Project president and CEO] Julie Rhoad and the NAMES Project staff and board have done to be such good stewards. It will be sad on a local level, but I believe that things change and take different form, and if it is for a greater good, then we say farewell and look forward to the next part of the quilt’s historic journey,” Lesser said. ■

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many people still aren’t ready to talk about mental health and substance abuse,” said Justin Milrad, co-founder and president of The Blue Dove Foundation.

Since the article, The Blue Dove Foundation hosted an event Dec. 9 called #QUIETINGTHESILENCE at The Temple, featuring a panel of people who shared their stories about addiction. The attendees discussed topics around mental health and substance abuse.

They are planning to release a book in the spring that shares stories of people in recovery.

According to Daniel Epstein, director of client care for The Berman Center, the Jewish community is beginning to move in the right direction. “I’ve seen a substantial shift over the past two years,” he said. “When I first moved to Atlanta, there was just this thick denial or underplaying and an unwillingness to acknowledge what’s going on. For various reasons, and one was the increase of programming from Jewish organizations around mental health, they’ve started to increase exposure and reduce stigma.” ■

The dramatic armoire with a view to the kitchen is by John-Richard from Neiman Marcus.

Chai Style Homes

Photos by Duane stork // Jay and Arlene Gould enjoy the Buckhead

views with mini rat terrier Moxie. The triptych “Hawaiian Sunsets” on the left is by Philippine artist Octavio.

Urban Joy in a Jewel Box

Arlene and Jay Gould decided that life was too short Jay: I am now actively heading the private-public for just ordinary. They created a fashion vault with tons partnership to raise $250 million for the Hub404 park of personality and fiery focal points atop primo views over Georgia 400 right here to our northeast. It’s a very overlooking Buckhead and beyond. Arlene, who likes to exciting component in the Atlanta system which will go off script to make a splash, is a self-taught tastemak- connect to the BeltLine and is planned to be fully funcer who gave up a career as a human resources execu- tional by 2025. It will cross over the highway and span tive at The Coca-Cola Co., Merck, GE and the Southern nine acres on top of MARTA. Company to manage the care of her mom We will have an amphitheater park in Savannah. She recalls, “I used to support and a world-class city green space. c-suite executives, but now am focusing on In terms of Buckhead living, we love the needs of the people that I love is what’s the convenience of walking to dinner, and I most important. It is definitely a transition commute to work on MARTA. to pivot off the corporate ladder.”

Jay Gould is CEO of Interface, which Marcia: What did you envision when is the second largest employer in Troup you bought this unit?

County, though the newly renovated corArlene: We started by stripping the porate office is in Midtown. Most recently, beige walls, heavy brown doors and outhe took on the highly publicized challenge Marcia dated kitchen to utilize the natural light to to raise millions to build the much needed Caller Jaffe create a modern chic backdrop with light Hub404 park. textured gray walls to give voice to Asian The couple’s condo is bathed in natural transform- and Parisian furnishings. Actually, some of my favoring light with laid-back splendor. Make no mistake that ite furniture and ivory carvings are recovered from my the one with the best spot on the couch is miniature rat Aunt Sophie (Bodzner). My uncle Milton Bradley was an terrier Moxie. accomplished artist, and I am so grateful to have many of his works. His still life oil painting of flowers in an Marcia: You look out the floor-to-ceiling window antique silver vase (1939) was all from his creative imagiand what do you see? nation. My mom sat next to him while he painted most

of it, and all he had in front of him was an empty Peter Pan jar with one artificial flower.

Jay: Arlene did quite a decorating job. The walls are hand painted and textured in metallics and silver leaf .

She found 300 yards of Italian silk for the curtains. The lighting is hand blown from Italy, Poland and mainly from the Lighting Loft.

Marcia: What’s your credo where art is concerned?

Arlene: Growing up as a ‘Savannah gal’ near SCAD, art is in the eye of the beholder. It doesn’t have to be the Mona Lisa to be meaningful in our home. If I see it and like it, I don’t care who did it. I also enjoy commissioning artists to create our visions. Art comes through living life, like the [Steve] Penley “Abe Lincoln” in the hall, which relates to when he slept on my couch during college at UGA. We got it at an auction at the American Heart Association ball.

By the window is my mother’s Japanese woman woodcarving. The tangerine-hued painting is “Healing Palm” by Jim Draper. Next to it is a cactus that I groomed from 5 inches high to the giant is it now. Jay liked the “Ballerina” oil in the master bedroom for its simple beauty.

I have a variety by Octavio because I like his bold use of texture and color. In the bedroom we have a butterfly painting over which I had him repaint to add texATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 27

CHAI STYLE Arlene likes unusual textures like this tree composed of glass shards.

Jay acquired this original Japanese warrior from Taiwan for the comfy den.

ture.

Marcia: How would you describe your decor?

Arlene: We gave up our entire dining room to create an area for conversation and relaxing. The dining set by the window is Panther chairs by Victoria Hagan.

The table base was gold and I decided to paint it a flat black and changed out the glass top with a custom-made painted wooden top.

Kravet Couture fabric was used on my favorite sofas from Aunt Sophie. My mom saw the sofas in a furniture store when she was 16 years old and promised them to me. They are over 90 years old and are 9 feet long each

and curved.

In the foyer we have her bronze sunburst; and on a whim, I saw these 30 round mirrors and had to have all of them to hang in a cool design.

Marcia: What are your favorites?

Jay: On our honeymoon in Capetown, I bought the wedding canopy painting “Bright Sunny Day” by Mabote (2011). Across from it in the guest powder room is an energetic mixed media by Lauren Esposito I had commissioned depicting the Eagles band for Arlene’s birthday.

The original Japanese warrior on paper in the den

In the conversation area, the Buddha was shipped from Thailand. Painting on the right is

by Paula Blackwell. The cloud-like pair of Lighting Loft fixtures adds levity.

The Gould foyer displays 30 mirrors found and arranged by Arlene. Above is a hand-blown light fixture from Poland. Center is Penley’s “Abe Lincoln.”

28 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHAI STYLE Arlene poses on her master bed with Moxie.

The horizontal abstract above is by Octavio.

Gould, CEO of Interface, has volunteered to raise the mega funds to build Hub404 park within his east window’s view.

appealed to me along with the huge lemon-hued hall abstract that I acquired as another surprise for Arlene.

Gardner and Frank Sinatra trysting there.

Marcia: So how do you describe a good day?

Jay: I like to grill halibut and veggies on the balcony and watch the sunset with Arlene. Then drink some good wine. Maybe a Château Margaux.

Jay: Since I am in the flooring business, I want to try out new products in here [as he peels up the actual flooring]. See, these charcoal slats aren’t even real wood.

Let’s replace it with a cork product. Our carpets are recyclable and sustainable.

Arlene: Visiting our Savannah home on the Intracoastal Waterway that is painted in hues of white, which has a Hollywood coastal theme … envision Ava

Arlene: What I’d really like is more closet space, forever sunsets and another dog. Dogs are all about love. ■

Local dentist Cary Goldstein created this aqua foliage photograph in 2009. On the right, “LOVE” in butterflies was inspired by an Israeli artist.

Jay surprised Arlene with this original Eagles acrylic by Lauren Esposito.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 29

CALENDAR CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Mikeitz Friday, December 27, 2019, light candles at 5:18 p.m.

Saturday, December 28, 2019, Shabbat ends at 6:18 p.m.

Vayigash Friday, January 3, 2020, light candles at 5:23 p.m.

Saturday, January 4, 2020, Shabbat ends at 6:22 p.m. tified teens and allies to share, learn and connect in a safe space. Free. For more information, contact tumtum@ sojournsgd.org or visit facebook.com/ events/469275077179100.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28

Menorah Lighting, Glover Park Stage at Marietta Square – Marietta Square Glover Park Stage, 50 Park Square, Marietta, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Celebrate Hanukkah with Congregation Ner Tamid of Marietta/West Cobb, featuring Chanukah music and dancing by the Smyrna Team Dancers, books from PJ Library, free hot chocolate and gift card raffle.

For information, www.mynertamid.org or call 678-264-8575.

Trivia Night at Bambinelli’s – Bam-

annual cycle of Torah reading, consider joining this new class by Rabbi Gedalya Hertz on the weekly parsha. Free. For more information, www.bit.ly/34E5JS1.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1

Open Play Games – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open play tables are set up every week on MJCCA’s Main Street on Mondays and Wednesdays for you to enjoy popular strategy and skill games while making new friends. Free for members, $5 for the community. For more information, www.bit.ly/2H6mYRt.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2

Mahjong for Beginners & Advanced Players – Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. If you have played in the past and just need some reminding, you are welcome to join. If you have just learned and want to get better, you are welcome. If you are experienced, come alone or with your group. Open to the public. $2 for sisterhood members, $5 for non-sisterhood members. RSVP, 770399-5300 or office@bshalom.net.

Kabbalah and Coffee – Chabad Intown on the BeltLine, 730 Ponce De Leon Place NE, Atlanta, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore and journey through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This ongoing class probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior kabbalistic experience required.

Free. For more information, www. chabadintown.org.

Jewish Spirituality & Mysticism – Grand Menorah Lighting Decatur – Decatur Square, 101 E Court Square, Decatur, from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/2RayRg4.

binelli’s Italian Restaurant – Roswell, 2500 Old Alabama Road, Roswell, from 7 to 9 p.m. Join members and friends of B’nai B’rith Achim Gate City Lodge, as the Lodge meets new people and plays trivia at Bambinelli’s. Free to play, food and drinks for purchase. RSVP to Helen Scherrer Diamond at 770-289-8964 or helenscherrerdiamond@gmail.com.

Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, from 8 to 9 p.m. weekly. Join Rabbi Hirshy for a weekly class on Jewish spirituality, mysticism and how to apply it to your personal growth in a meaningful way.

Free. For more information, www.bit. ly/2WPA3Gn.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 29

Rosh Chodesh Service – Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway NE, Marietta, from 9:15 to 10 a.m. Congregation Etz Chaim for morning minyan each Rosh Chodesh in solidarity with the Women of the Wall. Free. For more information, www.bit.ly/31lbWk4.

Tum Tum Teen LGBTQ + Allies Group – Phillip Rush Center, 1530 Dekalb Ave. NE, Suite A, Atlanta, from 2 to 4 p.m.

Join SOJOURN for Tum Tum, a new teen group for Jewish LGBTQ+ iden-

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

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 two weeks in advance. Contact community relations director, Jen Evans, for more information at jen@atljewishtimes.com.

30 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

MONDAY, DECEMBER 30

Divorce & Separation Support Group – Jewish Family & Career Services, 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, from 6 to 8 p.m. Join this biweekly support group facilitated by Helen Kotler, Ph.D., LPC. $25 per session. To join the group, hkotler@jfcsatl.org or call 404210-9571.

Monday Night Parsha – Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, from 7 to 8 p.m. weekly. As Chabad of North Fulton begins the new

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

Beyond the Vote: Israeli Politics & Diaspora-Israeli Relations with Richard Walter – Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join in for a lox and bagels breakfast. The guest speaker will be Richard Walter, associate director for Israel education from the Institute for the Study of Modern Israel at Emory University. $7 for brunch. For more information, www.bethshalom.net.

DECEMBER 29-JANUARY 14

MONDAY, JANUARY 13

other parents with children of the same age and be a part of a loving and engaged group. Open to the community for tots and their loved ones. Free. For more information, www.bit.ly/388PqPx.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

Jewish Prayer Series: “Standing, Sitting and Bowing/Shmirat HaGuf” – Con-

Coffee with Clergy in Dunwoody – Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 9 to 11 a.m. An informal gathering of interfaith conversations to gain a better understanding of the rich diversity within our community. Several faith leaders will be on hand for casual dialogue. Free and open to all. Food and beverages available for purchase. For more information, www.bit.ly/35ju8wE.

gregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, Atlanta, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Congregation Shearith Israel is pleased to present a series exploring the meaning, purpose, power and potential of Jewish prayer during the 2019 – 2020 year, entitled “Jewish Prayer: Getting Our Head Around, Our Hearts In and Our Bodies Engaged.” All sessions will be led by Rabbi Ari Kaiman. cinating in the N.Y. measles outbreak”.

Free series once monthly through April.

For more information and to register, www.bit.ly/34aiCTm.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Shabbat, Me & Rabbi G – Marcus JCC,

MONDAY, JANUARY 6

Rosh Chodesh Society - Insight : Changing of the Garden – Chabad Intown on the BeltLine, 730 Ponce De Leon Place NE, Atlanta, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. “Insight” is a remarkably transformative experience that unveils the purpose, beauty and power buried within ourselves, our destiny and all of existence. It does so by distilling the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s unique wisdom and infusing our lives with the ability to see things beneath the surface. Explore the Rebbe’s broad view of the world at large, personal failures, the feminine role, current trends and events and more. $10 per class, $59 for the full series. For more information, www.bit.ly/32H8cJT.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

Synagogue Scholars & Authors Series – Congregation Shearith Israel, 1180 University Drive, Atlanta, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Dr. Cindy Weinbaum, deputy director of Immunization Services Division for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discusses “Working Title: Jews vac-

5342 Tilly Mill Road, Atlanta, from 5 to 6 p.m. Bring your children to the JCC for a Shabbat celebration featuring fun songs with Rabbi G. Program begins at 5 p.m. with an activity and/or craft followed by songs and blessings with Rabbi Brian Glusman, concluding with a visit from the popular “Weinstein School Shabbat Dinosaur.” Challah and grape juice will be served. Free and open to all. For more information, www.bit.ly/2VnuIFE.

Shabbat Sasson – The Monthly Musical Friday Night Service – Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway NE, Marietta, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Come be part of our Friday night musical service. We are looking for musicians of all ages, so if you play an instrument that enhances the ruach of Shabbat, join in.

Free. For more information, www.bit. ly/2KGOyGZ.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11

Tot Shabbat – Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Atlanta, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Filled with music, laughter, spirituality and soul, join us one Saturday a month for Tot Shabbat. Rabbi Rachael and Rabbi Max have crafted a program to bring together those little ones from birth to age 5 to feel the rhythm of Jewish music and Jewish time. Meet

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

Blood Drive – Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway NE, Marietta, from 9 a.m. to noon. Come during religious school or before or after the Men’s Club Jewish Film Festival Preview Breakfast. The blood mobile will be in the Etz Chaim parking lot. Free. For more information, www.bit.ly/38tt1fT.

Bearing Witness – William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring St. NW, Atlanta from 2 to 5 p.m. The speakers of Bearing Witness, all Atlanta residents, recall their experiences during the Holocaust. Their words rise above hatred and retribution to speak about the strength and will that enabled them to survive and go on to build new lives.

Free. For more information, info@thebreman.org or 678-222-3700.

Speaker Charlene Aminoff – Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 Lavista Road NE, Atlanta, from noon to 2 p.m. p.m. Speaker Charlene Aminoff will discuss “How 4 Minutes Changed My Life”. A miraculous story of near tragedy and triumph.

Charlene Aminoff is the founder of Gali Couture Wigs, wife, mother of five, philanthropist, and a renowned speaker.

Charlene travels the world speaking about the miracle of her daughter Gali, and her life-changing experience that led her to become a proud observant Jew. Free. For more information, www.bit. ly/2rIqP3w.

Judaic Needlework Meetings – Off North Shallowford Road and I-285, Atlanta, at 7 p.m. The Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework is an international organization devoted to needlework traditions through the sharing of handcrafted items for both Jewish ritual and everyday cultural use. $45 for an annual membership. For meeting location and more information, email, peachstatestitch@aol.com.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

Heroes of the Holocaust – Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway NE, Marietta, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. During the dark days of Nazi-occupied Europe, Jewish and non-Jewish men and women took heroic actions to save Jews from extermination. Join Judy Schancupp in examining some of the courageous individuals from various countries, whose acts of rescue and resistance are part of Holocaust history. Judy is a Lerner Fellow of the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous and has developed a series of lectures on the Holocaust. Free for members, $5 donation for non-members. For more information, www.bit.ly/2RLARvF. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 31

COMMUNITY Chanukah Lights Up Coke

SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Mazel Tov Rae F. Jaben The wall display titled, “Eight Lights, Eight Lessons,” is one part of Coke’s ever-growing Chanukah celebrations.

Celebrating 95 Years Young!

Rae F. Jaben will be spending nearly the whole month of January celebrating her 95th birthday.

Born Jan. 7, 1925, in Kansas City, Mo., Jaben has been an Atlanta resident twice in her life. The first time was from 1973 to 1977, when her late, second husband Edward Jaben (and first cousin of her first husband, Larry) relocated here to work at Citizens Jewelry. They moved to Houston after Gordon’s Jewelry acquired Citizens.

Rae and Ed subsequently moved to Dallas, Texas, when Ed took a job at Zale’s.

The celebration included family members of some of Coke’s Jewish employees.

Rabbi Ari Sollish and Evan Charles light a menorah in recognition of the upcoming holiday.

Rabbi Ari Sollish, of Chabad Intown on the BeltLine and Intown Jewish Academy, While Santa and polar bears may be has also been leading Torah study lunchthe first images that come to mind when and-learns at Coke every four to six weeks. thinking about Coca-Cola in December, He brought kosher food to the party and other holidays aren’t ignored by the bev- shared eight messages, one for each night.

“Chanukah is definitely a Jewish holierage giant. day, but its message seems For the third consecuto reverberate for many tive year, Coke has celepeople,” Sollish said. “Ideas brated Chanukah, uniting of light over darkness and many of the employees, fighting for our values, both Jewish and non-Jeweven when they weren’t ish, in recognition of the the popular ideology, seem festival of lights at The Coto resonate.” ca-Cola Co. headquarters While Chanukah in Midtown on Dec. 16. hadn’t officially kicked off, Evan Charles, a 23those gathered symbolicalyear Coke veteran and a ly lit a menorah and Sollish group director for the comoffered menorah kits for pany’s revenue growth those who wanted. management, organized The food was, unsurthe event. He spoke to the Evan Charles helped to lead AJT about the program’s Coke’s Dec. 16 Chanukah event. prisingly, also a big hit.

“We had latkes and jelimportance.

“Three years ago, I asked if I could ly donuts, chocolate gelt as well, but Coke bring in my menorah and they displayed supplied the beverages, of course!” Sollish it prominently in the main reception said. “We sang Chanukah songs and people area,” Charles said. “They said, ‘next year, got really excited about the holiday.”

The event was certainly fun for all in we’re going to include it in our budget,’ and they purchased a 12-foot-tall electric attendance, but Charles also stressed the importance of the educational nature of menorah, which is absolutely beautiful.”

In addition to two menorahs now the afternoon.

“It really is an educational opportudisplayed at prominent locations, there is also a Chanukah wall display this year nity, whether people are affiliated Jews, for the first time ever, which includes a unaffiliated Jews or not Jewish,” he said. decorative menorah and a story to go “It’s a holiday that really speaks to lighting up the world, and that’s a message along with each night of the holiday.

“Each year it just grows more and that relates to Jewish people, but also othmore, and our company is so receptive to ers, as we all can continue to bring light into the world.” ■ celebrating Chanukah,” Charles said.

By Eddie Samuels

32 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

After he passed away in 2016, Rae decided to return to her favorite city, Atlanta, where two of her daughters, Jan and Darla, live.

Rae is an avid reader and bridge player, but especially loves being with family.

Rae’s stepson Bruce and wife Galina will travel from Kansas City to Atlanta to celebrate the landmark birthday with her. Two weeks later, son Keith will visit from Iowa and daughter Cheryl from California, to continue the birthday celebrations.

Birthdays have always been big in the Jaben family, but this one will take the cake!

B’nai Mitzvah Notices: Ari Low, son of Elizabeth and Adam Low, on Dec. 14.

Jack Fishbein, son of Melissa and Daniel Fishbein, on Dec. 21.

Phillip Fishbein, son of Melissa and Daniel Fishbein, on Dec. 21.

Have something to celebrate?

Births, B’nai Mitzvah, Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries, Special Birthdays and more ...

Share it with your community with free AJT simcha announcements.

Send info to submissions@atljewishtimes.com submissions@atljewishtimes.com..

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REFLECTIONS A Special Moment on a Rainy Day Sunday and Monday in I am old, but for a young Jerusalem, we were blessed woman to help me in the with rain, sometimes heavy, way she did lit up my day. sometimes a little less so.

Little by little the cab edged There was also a waterits way to Rupin Street, spout – thunder, lightning where it “floated” down – sadly a bolt hit a young the street with buildings man; he survived. Until we rising, in particular my made aliyah in 1977, we had favorite the new national never lived in a community library finally getting its that was not blessed with Rabbi David own home.

Geffen an abundance of rain.

Then, I turned my In Fort Sill, Okla., thoughts to this young from 1965 to 1967, there was not a lot woman, an angel, who helped me. She of rain, but we had an unusual snow just helped, not pausing for a moment. fall. It came on Tu B’Shevat when we Since I have been worrying about havwere planting symbolic trees for that ing elections for an unprecedented holiday. The trees were real, the snow third time and since I have been liswas real, the two trees had a good start tening to the bile flung at each other – one has survived since 1966. by the politicians, this young woman Since my Meuhedet (HMO) doctor showed what our society should be is at the office on Rehov Beit Hadfus, I about –kindness to one another. Just went there to pick up my prescriptions before I left my apartment to run my for the next three months. I was able to errands, I had heard on the TV about buy drugs for this month at the phar- the minimum monthly allotments for macy nearby. Since I had my shopping the elderly. I could not believe it; this is cart with me, even though it was rain- the Jewish state, and this is how we are ing, I walked over to Rami Levy. I bought treating the aged in their final years. I a minimum number of items because I know the Holocaust victims who are wanted to return to my diur mugan (as- penniless are being denied the funds sisted living) in Nahlaot. The rain had given to Israel by the Claims Conferbegun to fall heavily, but I walked to the ence. The ministers have big cars; we street to find a cab. None would stop; hold unnecessary elections throwing some had passengers, but I stood there away more money, but those in need determined, unable to take out my um- are not given what they are due. brella and open it. As you can imagine, I cannot expect everyone to have I was getting wet and wetter because I their own “angel,” but having met one, I did not have a coat with a hood. know they exist here. A few words come Then the angel appeared. A young to my lips. We have such wonderful creOrthodox woman, with a small hat on ative individuals who have changed the her head and dressed in a light purple entire world with their inventions. I coat, came out of the parking lot, stood would like to ask them to invent for our by me. She asked, “Are you waiting for a nation something desperately needed. cab?” I said that I was. She asked, “Did Let us drive our cars with a thought you call for a cab?” I said that I had not. about all the drivers beside us. Let us She handed me her light purple umbrel- volunteer at the hospitals; let us visit the la, closed up my shopping cart because I elderly, sick and suffering. Let us eduhad left it open, went out on to the street cate our politicians, who are our elected and tried to hail a cab for me. representatives, to speak respectfully to She would not give up; a few cabs each other. Let us educate our children passed. Finally, one stopped, she took to have respect for their teachers and apmy shopping cart over to the trunk, preciate the real value of their education which had opened. She was about to for their futures. pick up my basket when the driver Will it happen? My angel is going came out to help. to help. If we try to take a step in the I was overwhelmed. I returned her right direction, then success may not be umbrella. I asked her if I could take her so far away. ■ anywhere. She paused for a moment and waved me on. I sat in the cab as it David Geffen is an Atlanta native moved through the heavy rain and the and Conservative rabbi living in Jerusastreets overflowing with water. Surely, lem.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 33

OY VEY OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM... utine checkup home from a ro e m Dear Rachel, ca ie rn Be I listened, and o, my husband uent warnings. eq bs A few weeks ag su d an s ng e doctor’s findi and reported th . dy bo y ,” Dr. S. intoned. m n d dow well as diabetes as es su chills slid up an is t ar gimen immedious risk for he t an exercise re ar st d “You are at seri an et di your est you modify s.”

“I strongly sugg in three month e m e 70, but I’m not se to ck ba e m co may be touching d e H e. nc ately. An ka as , oked at Bernie I gulped and lo e lf to some fudg m yet. n helping himse ga be d ready to lose hi an , up picked himself Bernie sighed, g container out . bed the offendin ab gr d an ripple ice cream m hi d a nice, refreshlunged toward have an apple an y, “Bernie, NO!” I ne ho e, er H . on his is pure pois e of his hands. “T mped the entir er.” remoniously du ce un I g, ing glass of wat hu ar cream in a be as a deterrent.

Holding the ice der wads of food un it g in s eyes narrowed ry bu age, ie demanded, hi rn Be ” box in the garb g? in do think you’re “What do you y life, y’know.” guy’s gotta enjo “A . its sl e ik t-l into ca But said to modify. e doctor said …”

I like again. He “But … but … th ng hi yt an ve can never ha “He didn’t say I d nd and stompe od y fo ?” s swiveled arou de ca de a to take away m e us pl ak m ur I fight. Did sband of fo e almost never W With that, my hu . ed gh si I .

TV room to watch into the family

Jewish Joke of the Week

Did Noah Fish?

The Hebrew teacher asks Moshe, “Do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the ark?”

him if not me? g to take care of in go ’s lging. ho w t Bu n I see him indu on too strong? y reactions whe m conn mistake? Come I w do am ly ne to do. Not on e tried to Since then, I’v t know what to n’ any do d d te an ar st ed ’t also hasn ally frighten he re t g bu in t, el n’ fe ld I’m ou But igerator gs he sh to raid the refr him eating thin to the kitchen ng ki stantly catching al w an th exercise other serious type of his famdiabetes run in as l el w . as ry s nt m pa le and t prob ention that hear Oh, and did I m r the grandkids? keep on hand fo e w ily? at th n’t he care ks ac all our sn e, too? Why does m ct fe af ill w Do I throw out it ts sick, ize that if he ge Doesn’t he real anges? ch e m e to make so enough about m ? , Rachel Any suggestions ife W d A Concerne

Dear Concerned Wife, We all worry about our loved ones, especially when they engage in unhealthy habits. It’s intensely difficult to watch your husband hurt himself, and, by extension, you. So, what can you do?

First, I would advise you to figuratively remove yourself from the picture (I know, I know, easier said than done). Of course, he cares about you! It’s simply incredibly challenging to overturn the pleasurable habits accrued over a lifetime.

Dear wife, you cannot put an adult on a diet, nor can you force him to exercise or do almost anything that he doesn’t want to do. As all of us who have ever worked on kicking a habit know: In order to make any significant and lasting change, it has to come from within. No one can do it for us.

Perhaps, what may help is to show Bernie how much you care. Can you tell him, “I’ve been thinking about what the doctor mentioned. Is there anything I can do to help? It must be overwhelming to think about giving up things you’ve always enjoyed.

And you’ve never been into exercise. Starting now must seem like such a challenge!”

You may be surprised at Bernie’s response. When a person feels validated and understood, he is usually more receptive. And who knows? Maybe your display of compassion and validation will segue into a productive give and take regarding some beneficial lifestyle changes that he will welcome and even enjoy.

Kudos to you for being a concerned wife. I wish you the best of luck in walking alongside your partner for many healthy years to come.

All the best, 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!

“No,” Moshe replies.“How could he? He only had two worms.”

Yiddish Word of the Week Gatkes Higher power

‫גאטקעס‬ ַ

The Hebrew teacher says to her class, “We have recently been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Biblical times. But there is a higher power.

Can anybody tell me what it is?”

Long underwear; longjohns

Sarah has the answer: “Aces,” Joke provided by David Minkoff www.awordinyoureye.com 34 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Don’t forget your gatkes, it’s going to be a cold day.

BRAIN FOOD

Looking Back at 2019

ACROSS

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Challenging 1

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22. Actor who recently won an Emmy for directing 24. Where Trae Young plays bball 26. Doubled, a Pacific island 28. "War of the Worlds" weapon 29. Snarky sound 30. Yellow canine of comics 31. Flanders and Ryerson 32. Indicate you're in 33. Tragic fate 34. They were a major world power in 2019 35. Utter 38. Mannerless fellow 39. School basics, initially?

DOWN 42. Is displeased and then some 1. Felix Salten book made into a 44. Sox color classic Disney film 46. More comfy 2. One way of reading 47. Verses often found in cross3. One of his nicknames is Ye words 4. Rock-music genre 49. Gapes 5. Dippin treat 51. Helps in holding up 6. Titania's husband 52. Wasn't kidding 7. Go off course 53. Palindrome of women's names 8. Disrespect, in slang 54. Rebbe Nachman's city 9. Many a sch. in Israel for 19-year- 55. One named NBA player in his olds 18th season 10. Beat the admission fee 56. Beethoven strolled in them for 11. Big name in coding in 2019 inspiration 12. No longer docked 57. It isn't what it looks like 13. Darth Sidious, e.g.

60. HS org. run by NCSY 18. Evil goddess in "Thor: Ragn61. Roll-call vote arok"

50. Hoover and Roosevelt, e.g.

54. State of harmony 56. Does nothing 58. Arthur of "The Golden Girls" 59. Shearim in Jerusalem 60. What to be aware of when solving this puzzle, with "the" 62. Notable Frank 63. Drink made from rice 64. Giant insurer 65. Loch name 66. Superpower until 1991: Abbr.

67. Ship poles

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15 Years Ago// December 31, 2004 ■ Temple Beth David in Snellville held its second annual adult confirmation class graduation service. Participants included Evie Cherkas, Jerry Cherkas, Bradley Duckett, Mike Ewanowski, Sandy Ewanowski, Anne Finkelman, Jackie Fletcher, Joan Garland, Margo Hunt, Lanny Lesser, Sandra Lesser, Cindy Ruchin, Andrea Settles, Dick Settles, Sue Taylor, Harold Yuspeh and Rebecca Yuspeh.

■ A photograph of Sandy Springs Congregation Or Hadash’s bein gavra, a cover placed over the Torah between readings, was chosen as one of the winners of Conservative Judaism’s calendar photo contest. The photograph was featured in the 5766 (2005-2006) United Synagogue art/engagement calendar.

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abuse. The meetings were held weekly at JFS headquarters. Participants met individually and in a group setting with group leaders who were all licensed, clinical social workers.

■ Mr. and Mrs. David Colin of Dayton, Ohio, formerly of Greensboro, N.C., announced the engagement of their daughter, JoAnn Carol, to Richard Scott Koblitz, son of Mrs. Betsey Kahn of Atlanta and Mr. Kenneth Koblitz of Sagamore Hills, Ohio. Ms. Colin has an associate of science degree in office administration from DeKalb Community College. Mr. Koblitz attended the University of Georgia, where he received a bachelor of arts in speech communications.

50 Years Ago// December 26, 1969 ■ Atlanta delegates to the 20th biennial convention of Women’s American ORT held in New York returned with many awards presented to the various chapters comprising the Atlanta region. Some awards were granted Atlanta delegates attended for expansion and membership achievements, while each of the six Atlanta the biennial convention of chapters won an individual Honor Roll award.

Women’s American ORT in ■ Mr. and Mrs. Franklin M. Benamy of Atlanta invited their relatives New York in December of 1969. and friends to attend the bar mitzvah of their son, Paul Frederic Jan. 10 at 25 Years Ago// December 23, 1994 Temple Sinai, Birney School.

Paul is the grandson of Mrs. Joseph Benamy and Mrs. Benjamin ■ Jewish Family Services started a confidential support group for survivors of sexual Brener, both of Atlanta.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 35

OBITUARIES

Hans Benjamin Marx 92

Hans Benjamin Marx, son of Elise and Ernest Marx, was born Jan. 9, 1927, in Mannheim, Germany. In 1930, the family moved to Frankfurt. After his father was exiled following Kristallnacht, Hans remained in Frankfurt with his mother and sister. He was deported to Theresienstadt on Feb. 14, 1945, in one of the final deportations of the war. After liberation, Hans returned home to his mother and sister. The following year they immigrated to New York and were reunited with Ernest who came separately from Egypt in 1947.

As a new immigrant, Hans was inducted into the U.S. Army and stationed in Germany with the Engineer Corps. After his military service, Hans studied at City College of New York and graduated with his bachelor’s degree in 1955 in mathematics and philosophy. Also, in 1955, Hans married the love of his life, Norma Shear, moved to suburban Philadelphia, and began his career in computer systems development. He had an exemplary 36-year career working on logic design, system engineering and program management, receiving several patents for processors that laid the groundwork for current computing systems.

Hans and Norma made a home outside Philadelphia, raised three children and were involved in their community. He was an avid reader and book collector, hiker and traveler and excellent amateur photographer.

After retiring in 1994, Hans and Norma moved to Jerusalem, fulfilling a lifelong Zionist dream, and enjoyed life there for 17 years. There he wrote his memoir, “Tales from the Other Side: Growing Up Jewish in Nazi Germany.”

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Norma, and his children Steven (Barbara) of Havertown, Pa., Judy (Eric Miller) of Atlanta, and David (Claudine) of Westlake Village, Calif.; and granddaughters, Elisa, Adina, Talia and Jenna.

Contributions may be made to Jewish Family & Career Services Holocaust Survivors Fund, 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody, Atlanta, Ga. 30338, or Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave, Atlanta, Ga. 30327.

Funeral services were held Dec. 18 at North Atlanta Memorial Park. Arrangements

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

Esther Izenson Steiner 81, Atlanta

Esther Izenson Steiner passed away Dec. 15. Esther was born in Pittsburgh in 1938. She attended Taylor Allderdice High School. She was married to Edward Steiner and they raised their three children in Pittsburgh, briefly in Boston and finally in Atlanta, where she lived for almost 50 years. Esther was funny, funny, funny and loved crafting and singing. She loved her dogs, and she adored her grandchildren.

Her first job in Atlanta was at Solo Foods, then she worked in property management for Tempo Properties for almost 20 years. Everyone who met Esther was touched by her warmth, caring and her charm. She completely lived up to her name “Queen Esther.” Esther Izenson Steiner was the daughter of the late Nathan and Tilly Izenson. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (and Mike) Levison, Bernie (and Lee) Steiner and Stuart Steiner. She leaves behind her loving grandchildren, Andrew (and Maayan) Levison, Cari Levison, Naomi Levison and Will Steiner.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Atlanta Humane Society. Funeral services were held Dec. 17 at Dressler’s Chapel. Interment followed at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

‫זיכרונה לברכה‬ Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details.

36 | DECEMBER 27, 2019 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

My Second Grade Christmas I didn’t grow up in a metropolis with lots of Jewish people or in a small city with a few Jewish families. I was raised in the rural Midwest, and we were the only Jewish family in town. We observed our Judaism quietly, buying kosher meat and celebrating Jewish holidays by regular trips to St. Louis. In most Chana ways, however, we were 100 Shapiro percent town folk, and I was immersed in every school activity.

In October we decorated the classrooms with paper pumpkins, colored leaves and ears of corn. Mothers baked pumpkin-shaped cookies with orange icing, and we performed in costumes made from burlap bags.

November featured the traditional Thanksgiving play, an idyllic version of the first Thanksgiving. It was highly unlikely that any kids in my school had ancestors who arrived on the Mayflower, but we gave it our all.

Christmas was the high point of the school year. Stores in town were

gorgeous with lights, and houses were magnificently decorated. Christmas trees sparkled at front windows, and every church and public building had a crèche in front, including our school.

Students covered the walls with holiday décor. I cut countless six-sided snowflakes and mastered dozens of Christmas carols. I performed in the Christmas play, which focused on the birth portion of the narrative. I had no idea what “holy virgin” meant or who the “three kings of Orient” were. “Virgin” and “Orient” were not in my vocabulary at the time. My parents, who allowed me to participate, were fine with my ignorance. I, the only Jewish student in the entire school, learned my lines, emoted convincingly and sang as if I knew what it was all about.

On the local radio station, my mother heard about a contest. Children, ages six through 10, were invited to mail Santa Claus a letter with their Christmas wish list. Letters would be read during Christmas week, and one would be rewarded

CLOSING THOUGHTS

with a $10 cash prize. My brother wasn’t old enough to compete, but I was a second grader. We discussed the letter at dinner that night, and two ideas seemed worthwhile. First was to write a take-off on “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth,” a popular Spike Jones and his City Slickers song at the time.

The other idea was to reference my maternal grandfather’s favorite song “The Best Things in Life are Free.”

I was cautioned not to deal with the prevalent misconception that Chanukah is the Jewish Christmas. (That year Chanukah and Christmas fell at the same time, making it harder to separate them.) I don’t remember what I wrote to Santa; however, I imagine it was something like the best present would be freedom for all and peace on earth. Sappy? Sentimental? Well, my family believed it, and I believed it, too.

Years later my mother explained that she knew the contest letter would be fun to write and the perfect opportunity to use the stationery my cousin Rhoda had given me.

On Christmas eve, my father closed the store and we drove to St. Louis to celebrate Chanukah with our Jewish family.

When we went home two days later, my mother heard the news on the radio. I won!

When they announced my name as the Santa letter winner, my father was worried that it would adversely affect business in our clothing store on State Street. Everybody in town knew we were Jewish, and they’d likely resent the Jewish girl writing a letter to Santa, and, even worse, winning.

Another surprise followed.

People of all ages came into our store and stopped us on the street. How wonderful, they exclaimed, that our Jewish family understood the spirit of Christmas!

My mother taught us that because we were the only Jews most of the folks in town would ever meet, they’d generalize from us, so we had to be the best representatives possible. It’s true we ate different food and didn’t go to church, but I could demonstrate that Jews care about others. Winning the contest was great, but did I really need that $10? My father suggested giving the prize to my class to buy picture storybooks.

And that’s what I did. ■

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 27, 2019 | 37

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