No 29, July 20 The Atlanta Jewish Times

CHIP IN FOR LEAH

TKE Brotherhood Golf Tournament for a Good Cause PAGE 2

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WITH A JEWISH TWIST Promoter Oblas Teams Up With Fighter Seltzer PAGE 10

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GAP YEAR INSPIRES YOUNG AUTHOR Dosetareh Writes, Publishes “I, Israel” PAGE 15

Company J’s “Spring Awakening” Wild Ride Through Teenage Years Coming to MJCCA in August PAGE 3

HOME & GARDEN SPECIAL SECTION Roofs, Carpets, and Everything in Between and Around | PageS12-13

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news

TKE Brotherhood Hosts “Chip in for Leah” ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES FUNDS, AWARENESS

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ach year, the Temple Kol Emeth Brotherhood chooses a partner to co-benefit from its annual golf tournament, and for the 15th edition of the event – held May 6 at The City Club of Marietta – the Brotherhood chose 19-year-old Walton High School graduate Leah Giammarva.

At one time a very active young lady, Giammarva worked as a waitress to save money for her continuing education in the arts or photography.

But on Sept. 21, 2011, life changed – a passenger when her friend lost control of the car in which they both rode, she suffered a serious and traumatic accident which left her paralyzed.

Leah, who sustained C7 complete spinal cord injury, today has no feeling or movement below her upper chest and has lost the fine motor skills in her hands. Only through hard work during rehabilitation at The Shepherd Center in Atlanta has she regained more movement and strength in her hands.

Through the tournament, Leah, her parents and the TKE Brotherhood aimed to raise awareness of the challenges and difficulties associated with spinal cord injuries, and between a tremendous turnout and excellent fundraising efforts, their goal was realized. This year, the Brotherhood also honored Lon Goodman with a lifetime membership in the Brotherhood in recognition of his 10 years of chairing the event.

The tournament offered a holein-one prize of a 2012 BMW 328 and many other raffle and auction items from local retailers, hotels and service companies. The golfers joined together for lunch after a round on the greens.

Editor’s note: Temple Kol Emeth is a congregation located in East Cobb, known for its community outreach, social action and musical programs.

TKE is the host of the annual Nibble & Noshfest on Labor Day Weekend, which brings together a cornucopia of ethnic foods, entertainment and fun (noshfest.com).

Top From left to right, Lesley Litt and Lon Goodman of the TKE Brotherhood present the check to Leah Giammarva and her parents Mona Gimmarva and Jim Giammarva.

Below: This year’s TKE Brotherhood Golf Tournament Winners went home with trophies and Blu-ray/DVD players. PHOTOS/courtesy Lon Goodman

Sally Kellerman Comes to Atlanta CONCERTS, SCREENING SET FOR JULY 27-29

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conic actress and singer Sally Kellerman will be making a series of special appearances in Atlanta during the final weekend of July.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

Oscar-nominated for her performance as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houllihan in “M*A*S*H,” Kellerman also starred in Robert Altman’s “Brewster McCloud” and “Pret-a-Porter” as well as “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “Foxes” and “Back to School,” sharing the screen at various points of her career with Julia Roberts, Alan Arkin and Rodney Dangerfield.

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Besides appearing in more than 90 films and TV shows – including episodes of “Law and Order” and “Beverly Hills 90210” – Kellerman has also resumed her singing career and will make the At-

lanta debut of her cabaret show at Jerry Farber’s Side Door (3652 Roswell Rd., adjacent to the Landmark Diner).

Showtimes are 8:30 p.m. (July 27)

Then, on July 29 at 10:15 a.m., Kellerman will be on-hand at Atlanta’s Landmark Midtown Art Theater for a special screening of Robert Altman’s “M*A*S*H.” Afterwards, Emory University’s Dr. Eddy von Mueller will hold a question-and-answer session, which will be followed by a VIP brunch at Apres Diem adjacent to the theater.

and 8 p.m. (July 28). Both appearances support two local charities: Fix Georgia Pets and Kids’ Chance of Georgia, respectively.

A portion of proceeds from the screening and brunch will benefit Friends of Film in the Department of Film and Media Studies at Emory University.

“I couldn’t be more excited that Sally has chosen to come to Atlanta and play at my club her first time

here,” Jerry Farber, owner of the Side Door, said. “This promises to be a very unique weekend, between her intimate performances in Buckhead and screening of M*A*S*H in Midtown.

For anyone looking to get up close and personal with one of the classiest individuals in the entertainment business, this is an ideal opportunity.”

Editor’s note: Tickets for the concerts (limited to 100 per show) can be obtained at xorbia.com.

AJT

FROM THE JCC

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Company J Presents “Spring Awakening” MUSICAL EXPLORES TRIALS OF TEEN YEARS

Bell Carpet Galleries Brian Brandt leaps in a scene of Company J’s production of “Spring Awakening.”

ompany J at the MJCCA is set to present its teen summer stock production of “Spring Awakening,” a groundbreaking fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & roll. To show in the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta’s Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, shows will run from Aug. 8 to 19, 2012.

The musical, written by Duncan Sheik and based on a book by Steven Sater, celebrates the remarkable journey from adolescence to adulthood and won eight Tony Awards including “Best Musical.” The use of traditional rock music and colloquial lyrics sets the work apart as bold, direct, clear and challenging (mature audiences only).

Company J’s rendition will be directed by Producing Artistic Director Brian Kimmel with music direction by Annie Cook and choreography by Eileen Edwards.

“It is thrilling for me to continue our tradition of providing a summer learning laboratory for teens,” Kimmel said. “‘Spring Awakening’ is the perfect vehicle to raise the bar for our program while allowing our young performers to tackle challenging issues using music and lyrics that they can relate to.”

“Spring Awakening” will feature will feature a strong ensemble of teen actors from around the metro Atlanta area. For more information, visit Company J online at companyjatl.org or call the box office at (678) 812-4002.

6223 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs 404-255-2431 www.bellcarpetgalleries.com

McCormick Helps Celebrate MJCCA Olympic Day 2012 PAST OLYMPIAN, ATHLETIC EVENTS SPREAD SPIRIT

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n June 29, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) held one of more than 700 nationwide events in celebrating the birth of the modern Olympic Games. The MJCCA Day Camps Olympic Day featured special guest Marty McCormick (kayak competitor in the ’92 Games) and included a range of activities and sports.

in an Olympic year, to highlight the good that sports and the Olympics can achieve for everyone.

“We spend a lot of time in our camps talking about respect, sportsmanship,

community and honesty. The Olympics is a wonderful representation of those values and really gives the kids something tangible to embody as they participate in sports and games.”

The day began with the carrying of an Olympic torch, flag relay and an opening ceremony. Campers participated in activities with McCormick and also had a chance to compete, participate and show their spirit as members of “national teams” representing Great Britain, USA, Israel and Canada.

The afternoon included a field day with track and field competition, soccer matches and a gymnastics event. Ryan Pollard, Event Coordinator and MJCCA Sports Camp Director, was thrilled with the proceedings.

“This was our second year celebrating World Olympic Day,” he said. “It was a great opportunity, especially

Past U.S. Olympian Marty McCormick and Ryan Pollard, MJCCA Sports Director, led campers in the MJCCA Day Camps Olympic Day. PHOTO/courtesy MJCCA

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

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IF YOU ASK ME

The Jewish View on Healthcare APPLYING TORAH, HISTORY TO TODAY’S CONTROVERSY

By Eugen Schoenfeld AJT Columnist

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s the nation gears up for the coming presidential election, the attacks on “Obamacare” have become extremely ferocious, vitriolic and generally mean-spirited. And even though the Supreme Court has ruled that Obamacare is constitutional, the Republican attacks on it have not abated; to the contrary, they have become even more vehement.

The common theme of these attacks is that Obamacare contributes to the loss of individual rights; it is said that this program mandates people, whether they like it or not, to buy medical insurance. The opponents of this program argue that it is a major threat to the sacred and holy principle of individualism and the freedom of the individual to make his own choices.

The opponents of Obamacare do not deny that many people in the United States do not have access to the medical care they need. Their fear, at least as I understand it, is that Obamacare will introduce socialized medicine.

For a long time, there has been a sizeable contingent of U.S. citizens opposed to any program that could be defined as “social.” Such attacks were directed against Franklin D. Roosevelt’s introduction of Social Security and Lyndon B. Johnson’s program of Medicare and Medicaid.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

The most frequently-given reason for why people in this country are vehemently opposed the ideal of collective action is that many people equate anything “social” with Russian or Chinese totalitarianism, in which the individual must submit to the will of the dictator. Perhaps this fear stems from the historic response to British rule when the King of England demanded total submission to his authority; since then, our opposition to totalitarianism has only become stronger, and individualism has become the sine qua non of this 4 country’s ideal.

The American ideal of individualism has its roots in the laissez faire philosophy, a view that advocates that the natural relationship between individuals is the struggle for survival (bellum omnia contra omnes, they would say in Latin). From this perspective, society is nothing more than a collection of individuals who “signed a social contract,” agreeing to have a limited form of government and, most importantly, to set limits on government’s power over the individual.

It is interesting to note that while the Bill of Rights assures and specifies the limits of the collective’s authority over the individual, it does NOT specify our duties to the collective…

Reciprocal Responsibility The Torah specifies that the court should not honor the rich because of their power; for instance, Samuel cautioned us against appointing a king because in the end the king would use his power for his own benefit. And didn’t Nathan challenge David precisely because he abused his authority?

Judaism realizes that individuals must co-exist with the collective, with society. This coexistence is guided by norms which specify the rights of the individual while at the same time perceiving the society as an independent entity; our values describe the individuals’ duties to the collective and, reciprocally, the duties of the collective towards the individuals.

This is expressed in the term kelal Yisrael; the best description of this view was enunciated by Emile Durkheim, one of the founders of sociology. To him, society is an independent entity, sui generis, and the individual and society are bound not by a business contract, as the English philosophers argued, but rather by a sacred relationship – by a covenant.

G-d, in a sense, is the sacred symbolic representation of the Jewish collective, and we, the individuals and G-d, are bound by the covenant

whose terms are laid out in the Torah.

Your Duty, As Well As Mine Judaism teaches the view that the collective is responsible for the welfare of its people. We are told, kol Yisrael achraim zeh bazeh, basically that all Jews are responsible for each other’s welfare and that this responsibility is carried out through collective action; early examples of this in practice include the Temple’s funds for widows and orphans (the laws of leket and peah, respectively) and the right of the poor to have access to share in the product of harvested fields.

The sages proposed an organic analogy: Society is like a hand with fingers, each representing different social groupings, be they social or economic. And if one finger hurts, does not the whole hand suffer? If any subgroup in a society suffers, because of insufficient medical care, lack of food and clothing, does it not affect the whole society?

To me, the fundamental perspective that should govern man’s relationship to the living world is expressed in the principle of tzar bal chai – that is, not to cause hurt to any living thing – and kol shekeyn, “all the more so,” does this instruction apply to humans. Not only do our laws forbid us to cause pain to living beings (the commandment of lav), but in addition we must alleviate pain (the commandment asseh) wherever there is suffering.

The Meaning of Healing As I interpret the Torah, the purpose of medicine is two-fold: to alleviate pain and to save lives. Therefore, medicine in Judaism was originally the domain of the priests, the representatives of the world of the sacred, and this made the clear differentiation between medicine and magic, which belonged in the profane world.

Unlike the magicians, who use their craft to serve their own self-

interest (that is, for extrinsic purposes), the priest’s role was intrinsic.

In contrast to the magicians, when priests heal the sick, they do not ask “how much?”

The priest as the physician makes this profession holy and sacred, for by saving one life, he saves the world.

This elevates medicine into a noble profession and the physician into a humanitarian – a saver of the world.

Lessons Applied For a long time, this nation struggled with the issue: Do all people have a right to have a share in this nation’s health services? In short, do the poor have a right to have access to life giving skills of physicians and medicines, or should medicine be treated as a business with extrinsic goals?

If we follow the Jewish model, then we propose that all people in society must be given a share in the goods and services that alleviates pain and saves life. In my view, the Hippocratic Oath implicitly supports this.

I hope that we will bring back into medicine the idea that it is a noble profession – one that professes the Jewish view – that medicine should have an intrinsic, humanist aim: the betterment of human life. I wish to propose that gemilath chasodim is not only guiding interpersonal relationships, but also guiding society’s duties toward the individual.

Access to medicine should not be like a nedovoh, a charitable act that reinforces the beneficiary’s self-image as a poverty-stricken individual who must become dependent on other individuals. Instead, medicine should be given as a right, as all individuals are required to pay for the upkeep of the institutions that serve the dispensation of medical help.

In short, let us follow the wisdom of our sages and make medical help a right for all rather than a privilege for the few.

AJT

ask bubbe

The Consequences of Over-Eager Eating ASK BUBBE CHARMA Dear Bubbe,

To prevent a problem next year, lis-

As has happened so many times,

ten to my bubbe, who always said:

gravy from the Shabbat dinner bris-

“Min kin, cut up your food and don’t

ket dripped onto my shirt while I was

eat so fast.”

eating, oy! What is the best way to get rid of the stain, and is there any way

- Your Bubbe Charma

P.S. I’m checking with the Rabbinical Panel to make sure Shout is kosher; see my next column for the answer.

concern(s) to submissions@atljewishtimes.com, and you might just get a little free – but valuable – advice!

Editor’s note: Submit your questions and have them answered by one of the AJT’s four Bubbes! Email your

that I can avoid this happening every year?

- Stained and Ashamed

Dear Stained,

What are you, a shlemiel? Of all things, you spilled brisket gravy on your shirt.

Well, if your bubbe came from Brooklyn or the Bronx, no problem.

You’ve probably got a bottle of oldfashioned seltzer in the house; a spritz of the stuff should cut the schmaltz and easily remove the spot!

Now, as I know you only by your endearing nickname, I’m not sure if

“The 6th District could have no one better than Josh Belinfante in the Senate. We need Josh in the State Senate. He’s a proven leader who understands the legislative process like few others I know. Josh Belinfante’s leadership, integrity and intellectual capacity is needed in our State Senate.”

“Our community needs an effective voice in the State Senate. We need Josh Belinfante. He knows our neighborhoods, so lets send him to the State Senate to be our voice.”

— MAX BACON, Smyrna Mayor

“Reforming Fulton County is long overdue, with Josh Belinfante…we can make it happen. Josh helped us create Sandy Springs, and we need him in the Senate so that we can finally reform Fulton County.

“I urge you to support my friend Josh Belinfante. Josh has the background and passion for our community to hit the ground running on day one as a strong advocate for reform in Fulton County.”

— EVA GALAMBOS, Sandy Springs Mayor

— REP. EDWARD LINDSEY Majority Whip

— SAM OLENS, Georgia Attorney General

we’re speaking of a man’s dress shirt take your shirt to the cleaners, you might like to know, this bubbe recently heard of a study that showed that at some cleaners, a woman’s shirt is more expensive to clean; just be careful to ask zu feel (“how much”)?

Of course, lots of balebostes use Shout, “the stain-lifting foam formulated for greasy stains.” Keep an orange and blue can by your washing machine for such problems.

Then again, if you’re a klutz – like my Uncle Issac from Chicago – you may have to even call a special “1800” number. But that’s just if you

Josh Belinfante. Ready: Former Chief Counsel to Governor Perdue Former High School Teacher Attorney with Robbins, Ross, Alloy, Belinfante & Littlefield Proven Conservative Reformer JULY 20 ▪ 2012

or a lady’s blouse. In case you have to

need “help on the spot from the stain professionals!”

5

AJT

from the publisher

Be a Part of Something Big

By Cliff Weiss

and heritage for several generations,

cal Association, Israeli Consulate

majority of the community is not yet

Publisher

I did not want to see it come to an

and Jewish day schools; sponsoring

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end, especially not in the tragic man-

community events; and increasing

cult to contribute to your community

ner that led to the crisis of this past

the distribution of the newspaper

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January. As a result, on March 1,

from approximately 1,800 paid sub-

ways you can help.

2012, my company purchased some

scribers to 10,000 papers delivered

of the assets of the AJT from Adler

throughout metro Atlanta. Those

Firstly, you can advertise with us

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n behalf of the Atlanta Jewish Times, we hope that everyone is having a happy summer and

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I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to read this message, and particularly thank the thousands of people who have supported the AJT in the past four months.

As you may know, after 86 years of serving the Jewish Community in Atlanta, the AJT nearly ceased doing business earlier this year. As this paper has been part of our community

damental changes to the AJT, such as: improved quality of paper, print, and color; more local content; return

nists, rabbis, leaders of the Jewish

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Let them know:

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Rico Figliolini ez2BSocial

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CHANA’S CORNER

The New Old

WILL 90 BE THE NEW 20? AND WHY STOP THERE?

By Chana Shapiro AJT Columnist

“To a hundred and twenty!”

W

hen we wish such a blessing to one another, we invoke the Jewish standard of a fulfilled lifespan, the ideal set by our forefather, the biblical Moses.

This prophet, to whom G-d spoke directly, led the Nation of Israel out of Egypt, received the Ten Commandments and shepherded his unruly and ungrateful people through the dessert. In spite of huge tribulations and disappointments – and the fact that what Moses did for some of those 120 years remain a mystery – it’s clear that his jam-packed life was profound, momentous and complete.

So, implicit in the wish for a long life like that of Moses is the intention that the years be ones of continuous experiences and meaning. But, does an action-packed 120-year life span seem kind of “science-fiction-y”?

Not anymore. In fact, there may come a time when we wish one another, “To a thousand and twenty!”

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

A few years ago, a gentleman named Aubrey de Gray threw his hat into the ring of biology/gerontology with the wild idea that men and women could live a thousand years or so. He claims that we weak-willed humans have blindly accepted the notion that every single one of us will naturally become stiff-jointed, incontinent and senile in our 70s and 80s.

He also chides people for not looking forward to a very long life, for sometimes even dreading it. In other words, we have been conditioned to believe that very old people who are in good shape financially, emotionally, physically and mentally are, well, freaks.

Every day, scientists, biologists and engineers hammer away impediments to living a really, really long time. Even as we speak, diseases and conditions that make us sick and se8 nile are going the way of smallpox.

Smart people are inventing superior robotics and bionic replacements and retooling our brains. Does this creep you out?

Not me! I love the idea of living a thousand years, give or take a hundred or so in either direction. Let’s consider the possibilities: Anxious parents will no longer worry if their sons and daughters don’t crawl, walk, talk, read or achieve any other developmental milestone according to the timetable set by our current society. If a kid just doesn’t feel like speaking a full sentence until he is 10 or 12 years old, no big deal.

Hey, he’ll have another 990 years of conversational opportunities!

And you know the “gap year”?

Make that plural. Parents need not be concerned if their offspring spend a decade or two volunteering in Israel between high school and college.

Heck, let them take 30 or 40 years to run with the bulls in Pamplona, practice animal husbandry or master the bagpipes. What’s the rush?

Universities with 40-year-old freshmen will be the norm, recognizing that folks deserve ample time to navigate rivers, climb mountains and trek through jungles before selecting a major.

Speaking of majors, an elongated lifespan enables adventurous individuals to explore many careers.

Let’s say that being a neurosurgeon just doesn’t feel fulfilling after 70 or 80 years in practice; go ahead and try your hand at legal mediation, cosmetology or open a flower shop.

If that doesn’t go well, take out a 150-year loan to establish a bed and breakfast, and after several decades in that line of work, you can devote four score and seven years to learning a new language or two and then to planting vegetables in a thirdworld country, where the life expectancy would sadly be a mere three or four hundred years.

The overused and exaggerated phrase, “You look exactly like your mother!” or “You look exactly like your grandmother!” would become a

reality. With only a couple hundred years separating generations, physical differences could be minimal.

This might cause a slight amount of confusion in family portraits, but otherwise, it sounds like fun.

There would be innovations in the rare gem and greeting card sectors.

You know those milestone symbols – silver, gold, diamond – that connect the relative rarity of the occasion with its symbol? What an opportunity!

to date a variety of potential mates before selecting the perfect one, plus decades to resolve all possible difficulties with the chosen spouse before producing offspring.

And having worked out all the kinks, these couples would be serene, wise and compatible, rearing welladjusted children.

Speaking of home life, I promise I’d use the newfound time wisely. The way things are going at our house, it will take me at least 50 years to go

“Every day, scientists, biologists and engineers hammer away impediments to living a really, really long time. Even as we speak, diseases and conditions that make us sick and senile are going the way of smallpox.

Smart people are inventing superior robotics and bionic replacements and retooling our brains. Does this creep you out?

Not me! I love the idea of living a thousand years, give or take a hundred or so in either direction.”

In our new world of extreme longevity, the new gifting categories may include serendibite, grandidierite, jeremejevite or (dare we say it… yes!) kryptonite.

Intergalactic travel would be commonplace, of course, so the possibilities are endless.

Naturally, the average lifespan would continue to extend. Older generations in our new world would live to dance and give toasts at the weddings of their great-great-great… (well, you get the idea)…grandchildren, and loving couples could marry a good bit later than nowadays.

The new bride and groom may be a couple hundred years old, but with the anticipated biological shifts, couples would still be able to have plenty of kids. They’d have centuries

through all the stuff in my attic, and another 50 to organize the carport; yes, dear reader, it’s going to take a while to tidy things up around here.

As it happens, the idea of longevitas extremis is nothing new to us Jews: We know that Methusela lived 900 years. Or we could work it the other way…

How about packing everything challenging, wonderful, important and holy into the lifespan we’re given? One hundred and twenty years just might do the trick.

Editor’s note: Chana Shapiro is an educator, writer, editor and illustrator whose work has appeared in journals, newspapers and magazines.

AJT

FROM MY LIPS

The Metaphysics of Tuna Salad

A TRIBUTE TO MY PEOPLE’S STARKIST LEVIATHAN

W

henever I read Moses’ immortal words, “Man does not live by bread alone,” I want to add:

“That’s right. He also needs a little tuna salad.”

I don’t know what it is with the Jews and tuna, but let’s make the critical distinction first off: “tuna” and “tuna fish” share neither genetics nor kindred spirit. The former is

virtue in the Bible or Talmud. It was not known to our Eastern European ancestors, and in fact, for the first few years, my Polish grandfather the grocer could barely give the stuff away to his immigrant coreligionists.

And mayonnaise? Feh. What was it? Lard? Was it kosher? Was it dairy? It sure looked dairy, but they keep telling me it’s vegetarian.

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“Somehow, though, tuna fish and mayo weathered the tsunami and morphed into the darling of the Jewish kitchen. It became so integral to the American Jewish hausfrau’s repertoire that it turned into the subject of bragging rights, family traditions, secret recipes, hypercriticism and regional variations, just as if it were gefilte fish or matzo balls.”

ruby-red, velvety and seared rare, so that it is indistinguishable from filet mignon. Beyond rosy-pink, you might as well be gagging on Astroturf; most of my coreligionists do not display extraordinary passion for ahi au naturel.

Tuna fish, on the other hand, is spineless, tubular and about three inches in diameter, fitting perfectly into an inch-high can. Its flesh is ecru, flaky and stewed in brine. I have heard that lower species – brown, oilmuddled – inhabit some waters, but avoid major centers of Jewish population.

Tuna fish redeems itself from its humble origin only when it is chunked or flaked, combined with greenery and/or eggs and napped in a savory dressing…ah, tuna salad.

American Jews have a love affair with tuna salad. It is my perennial breakfast and midnight snack, even though it is also my wellspring of unrelenting heartburn.

I have found no precedent for its

ish kitchen. It became so integral to the American Jewish hausfrau’s repertoire that it turned into the subject of bragging rights, family traditions, secret recipes, hypercriticism and regional variations, just as if it were gefilte fish or matzo balls.

My rabbinical interview in Greenville was built around a covered-dish dinner. But, forgetting to coordinate the menu, the table was laden with no less than twenty varieties of tuna salad, the more modest of them laced with celery, onion, bell pepper, pickle relish (again, feh) and eggs.

The more garrulous bore every means of provender: olives, grapes, pecans, pistachios, corn, peas, bleu cheese and feta. And next to each artistic platter – some molded in the shape of turtles or Torah scrolls – stood a proud homemaker, heaping my plate and smugly winking, “I can’t believe you’re even tasting that cat food Mrs. Schwartz made.”

Tuna salad is our trusty companion through the changes of seasons and the vicissitudes of life: There it

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is at the reception after Sabbath services. Don’t miss it at the Holy Day table. It’s the staple of Jewish lent, the nine meatless days before the doleful fast of Tisha B’Av. Break your Yom Kippur fast with it. Take it to work on matzo for Pesach. It is the mainstay of celebrating a bris (circumcision), pidyon ha-ben (redemption of the firstborn), babynaming, bar mitzvah and aufruf (calling bride and groom to the Torah).

Bury the dead, and you come home to a table set with – you guessed it – tuna salad.

My ever-pragmatic Linda says that the Jewish obsession with tuna fish is simply a function of convenience. Maybe.

My guess, though, is that the Jewish fascination with tuna fish is a portent of Messianic times. We know so very little of those days, but we have

it on Talmudic authority that the righteous will be served a celebratory feast of leviathan, the primordial fish left over from the days of Creation.

The problem is that no one knows what leviathan is. No one but me.

So, whether the Messiah turns out to be the Grand Rabbi of Lubavitch in his long black frockcoat, or a Conservative rabbi in his three-piece suit, or some hippie in torn, dusty raiment, I guarantee you one thing: The main course at that wondrous celebration will come from a can marked StarKist – a little onion, a little celery, a little mayo, hold the relish.

Tuna fish…our omnipresent foretaste of the world-to-come. Ah, no wonder.

Editor’s note: Marc Howard Wilson is a rabbi and writer in Greenville, S.C.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

AJT Columnist

lI NE ST W IN G

By Rabbi Marc Wilson

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AJT

SPORTS

Local Promoter, Fighter Bring Jewish Presence to the Ring OBLAS AND SELTZER FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT When we go in there and she’s got a black eye after sparring, I get the evil eye from the whole staff.”

By Josh Steinberg For The Atlanta Jewish Times

T

he sports of boxing, kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) are not oftentimes associated with the Jewish community, but two locals are doing what they can to change that.

On July 28 at Wild Bill’s Fight Night in Duluth, members-of-theTribe David Oblas – fight promoter – and Rachel Seltzer – a Buckhead real estate agent by day currently carrying a 5-1 record – will bring a doubledose of yiddishkeit to the main event as Seltzer squares off with Alpharetta resident Mary Matia (13-3).

Oblas and Seltzer have each been Atlanta residents for nearly 30 years and are both heavily involved in the combat sport of testing one another’s skills in the ring. Oblas has been in the business of promoting for more than a decade, helping to put together more than 100 fight nights; he’s been responsible for all the biggest bouts in Atlanta since 2002 and is the resident fight promoter for Wild Bill’s Fight Night.

Seltzer has been competing for more than two years in kickboxing, has never lost a fight in the state of Georgia and doesn’t plan to anytime soon.

Rachel graduated from North Springs High School and Georgia State University and Oblas went to Chattahoochee High School and Auburn University.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

“This is what I love doing,” said the 34-year-old Rachel, a graduate of North Springs Charter High School and Georgia State University.

“I started taking cardio kickboxing classes, and it just clicked with me.

I’ve suffered from Crohn’s disease since I was 12 years old and always felt very weak; and I was.

“I had no muscle and was never really able to participate in any type of sport. I started building muscle and felt empowered by kickboxing. When I watched girls from my gym compete one day, I decided I was ready to take on the challenge of competing myself.

“Now, three years later, I’m ready for one of the toughest females in 10 Georgia.”

Wild Bill’s Fight Night No. 48 features fighter Rachel Seltzer on a card promoted by David Oblas.

To prepare for fights, Rachel trains twice a day, six days a week. Her routine includes interval training in the morning and time in the evening at Knuckle Up Fitness in Sandy Springs, but every work out is different so as to incorporate strength and conditioning, sparring, bag work and more.

Her training regimen is made more difficult by working a 50-hour work week as the Assistant Community Manager at The Goodwynn in Brookhaven.

PHOTO/courtesy Undisputed Productions

Oblas, who has had Seltzer fight for him three times in the past, knows the importance of this fight. To take away some of the tension, the two have organized meetings each Tuesday for lunch.

“It’s a good stress relief after my Tuesday morning sparring session,” said Rachel of the meetings. “Since I’m an amateur and I can’t be paid by the promoter for a fight, I told Oblas he’s buying me a meal each week.”

Oblas enjoys the opportunity as well.

“For me, it’s just a nice break to meet up with the best-looking fighter on my roster,” he smiled. “All my other fighters are not only guys, but they’re so incredibly ugly from getting their face pounded in all day long; Rachel is not only a great fighter, but she’s easy on the eyes as well.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a fight contract that stipulated ‘zero pay, but free Goldberg’s lunches,’” he continued with a chuckle. “This might be a first.

“The only negative about our lunch meetings is that the staff there now knows us as fighter and promoter.

“I’m working harder than ever before to beat Mary and win the [International Sport Karate Association] 127-pound title,” she said. “Nothing will stop me. I’m focused, determined and ready for this. It’s something I’ve wanted for a long time, and she won’t be able to match my intensity in the ring.”

For Oblas, this is new territory, as his normal event usually sees a couple 200-pound guys in the MMA main event rather than a couple of much-lighter female fighters showing off their skills.

“This is one of the biggest fight nights for me,” he said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see both Mary and Rachel climb through the ranks of Georgia fighters and become two of the most talented female fighters in Georgia, if not the Southeast.

This is a fight that I’ve wanted for a long time [and] I think it’s the fight that our fans have wanted for a long time.

“Going into this, Rachel is a huge underdog. If she beats Mary, she’ll

instantly become the no. 1 female fighter in Georgia. Every female fighter in Georgia has backed away from fighting Mary, [each] citing different reasons. Rachel asked for this fight.”

Female fighting, once considered a sideshow, has been receiving more notoriety as the skill of the female fighters has increased. It’s not uncommon to watch a kickboxing or MMA event and have the fight of the night be two females.

With names like Christy Martin, Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg growing in recognition and Strikeforce – owned by the same company that owns the Universal Fighting Championship – routinely featuring female fights, the day when UFC promotes a female fight is definitely not something that’s too far away.

“The better our fights, the better our skill level and the more entertaining us females are in the ring or the cage, the better our chances of getting placed in national television fights,” Seltzer said. “It’s not going to be long until us females are mentioned in the same breath as our male counterparts with regards to fighting.

“It’s not just something for the boys anymore.”

THE DETAILS WHAT: Wild Bill’s Fight Night No. 48 WHEN: Saturday., July 28 (Doors @ 7:30 p.m., fight @ 8:30 p.m.)

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AJT

COMMUNITY

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From left to right, Mt. Scopus members of Greater Atlanta Hadassah Edie Barr, Jody Franco, Regine Rosenfelder, Pearl Schaikewitz, Marilyn Perling and Shoshana Kagan enjoy a delicious kosher lunch cooked on a wood fire grill. PHOTO/courtesy Jody Franco

Sandy Springs’s kosher Argentinian grill Fuego Mundo donates 10 percent of your bill for lunch or dinner to Greater Atlanta Hadassah when you eat on the first Monday of every month.

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Steinbergs Donate Winnings to Local Schools $10,000 RAFFLE PRIZE SPLIT BETWEEN TDSA & YA Mickey Steinberg (second from right; pictured with, from left to right, Rabbi David Kapenstein, Dr. Allen Lipis and Rabbi Naphtali Hoff) and his wife were the winners of this year Torah Day School of Atlanta $10,000 raffle. The Steinbergs generously split their winnings between two schools that they support generously, TDSA and Yeshiva Atlanta.

PHOTO/courtesy David Kapenstein

Massell to be Honored by Council

Sam Massell, President of the Buckhead Coalition and former Atlanta Mayor, has been designated as recipient for 2012 of the coveted “Four Pillar Award” by the Council for Quality Growth.

He follows such dignitaries as Charlie Loudermilk, Arthur Blank, Tom Cousins and George Busbee as recipient of this honor.

The mission of the Council is to promote balanced and responsible growth throughout the state of Georgia. The tribute is given for “accomplishments Massell has made to the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia,” and will be awarded Oct. 4 at the World Congress Center.

Find out more about sponsorship and tickets by calling (770) 813-3381.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CITY, STATE RECOGNIZED

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AJT

HOME & GARDEN

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One of the best ways to protect your investment is to maintain it; and a key area should you decide to sell your home in the future is the exterior.

AJT

home & garden

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We offer active animal removal through humane pest control exclusion methods. Our wildlife solutions are guaranteed to discourage wildlife from entering your home or surroundings, and with over ten years of experience in pest/animal management in Georgia, we have the knowl-

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AJT

ARTS & LIFE

Kosher Movies: Catch Me If You Can (2002) STEVEN SPIELBERG’S CRIME DRAMA EVOKES TALMUDIC PARENTING LESSON

By Rabbi Herbert Cohen For The Atlanta Jewish Times rabbihjco@msn.com

O

ver 25 years ago, one of my sons asked me a question regarding Jewish law. I meditated for a moment and gave him an answer that I thought was correct, but about a year later, I discovered that what I told him was incorrect.

I apologized for giving him the wrong answer, and life went on, but my quick response of many years ago still rankles in my mind today. My son came to me because he assumed that I was a source of wisdom upon whom he could rely, like money in the bank; my hasty answer wasn’t fully researched and turned out to be flat-out wrong.

I realized then and know now that, in spite of their sometimes challenging behavior, children intuitively respect and revere parents, and we always have to be conscious of our status as teachers and role models for them, and behave at our very best for them.

the rest of their lives.”

He also reveals that he knows his son has stolen millions of dollars from unsuspecting victims and is being investigated by the FBI. Frank Jr. pointedly asks him: “Why didn’t you ever ask me to stop?”

This father-son dynamic is tested in “Catch Me If You Can,” an entertaining and thoughtful drama based upon the true life story of Frank Abagnale, Jr., a clever young man who impersonated an airline pilot, a doctor and a lawyer in order to bilk others out of millions of dollars on three continents, and all before age 20.

His love for his father is still there, but he is angry and disappointed that his father never voiced objection to his life of crime.

The narrative begins with a dinner honoring Frank Jr.’s father, who has worked for his local civic organization for many years. Frank Jr. watches his father in admiration as he tells the story of two mice

who were in peril of drowning in a vat of milk: One succumbs, and the other keeps on scurrying about until the milk turns into butter and he is saved.

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The moral: hard work leads to ultimate success. It is a great lesson for a father to teach his son.

However, Frank’s father is not the confident and wise man he seems.

He has money problems, which he denies, and does whatever he can to avoid responsibility. Frank Jr. follows his lead but is more creative than his father, charting an egregious course for himself that gets the attention of the FBI. When, after many months of crime, Frank Jr. pays a surprise visit to his father, the meeting turns into a painful realization of his father’s failure to parent him in morality. Frank Sr. complains that the government is after him: “The IRS wants more,” he says.

“I gave them cake. They want the crumbs. I’ll make them chase me for

The Talmud tells us that a father has an obligation to teach his son a trade and that if he doesn’t do this, it is tantamount to teaching his son to be a robber.

A parent’s task clearly is not just to provide for a child’s material needs but to give him moral guidance, to teach him how to navigate an ethical life in a world in which morality is tested every day.

The concrete image of this parental role is what transpires on the Passover Seder night, where the father sits at the head of table and conducts an evening of moral instruction for his family. The evening is filled with life lessons, focusing on the interchanges between father and son.

Metaphorically speaking, parents always sit at the head of the table, and it is from that vantage point that we should exercise our parental roles.

Editor’s note: Rabbi Cohen, former principal of Yeshiva Atlanta, now resides in Beit Shemesh, Israel. koshermovies.com.

AJT

LET IT BE READ

From a Formative Gap Year Comes “I, Israel” ATLANTA DAY SCHOOL GRAD DOSETAREH PUBLISHES OWN REFLECTIONS

Transcribed by Sloane Arogeti, Editorial Intern

A

fter growing up in Atlanta’s day schools (Greenfield Hebrew Academy followed by the Weber School) Ariel Dosetareh was looking for something more. His one previous trip to Israel, as part of the GHA’s 2006 eighth-grade class, had offered a tantalizing two-week glimpse of what might be.

ing for was more typical of a yeshiva setting.

Now, the process of choosing a yeshiva in particular, I applied to three different yeshivas. It was winter break of my senior year; that was the time that I finally sent out all the applications, finished all my essays.

I kind of knew by the time I conduct-

So, before this past school year – his first at the University of Maryland – Dosetareh took a year abroad in the Jewish state. Something funny happened on the way to a simple bridging of the “gap,” though, and the unexpectedly tremendous impact of his studies at Eretz Hatzvi Yeshiva in Jerusalem and Shabbat travels is now reflected in his very own book, “I, Israel.”

John McCurdy: Tell me about deciding to take a gap year and deciding on where to spend it. Obviously a big decision!

There were a handful of us in Weber’s 2010 graduating class that went to Israel for a year, but I was the only student who went to a yeshiva. The other students did programs like Young Judea and a year course, and I think that those are all great programs, but what I was look-

Then, in the later summer or early fall after I got back, the same friends who suggested that I keep a journal asked, “Why don’t you put it into a book form?”

JM: When did you realize you needed to write about the experience?

I thought about it and said to myself, “Maybe I will, and see what happens” [smiles].

AD: One thing I should mention: This was never meant to be a book.

As for how I got started – in the last week before I left the States, a friend suggested that I keep a journal during my time in Israel.

Still, that journal was never meant to be

An Atlanta Jewish Times representative got a chance to sit down with the young author.

Ariel Dosetareh: I guess the idea was implanted [at] the end of my sophomore year. I thought at that time that perhaps I would, but it did not really progress to something I really wanted to do until beginning of senior year.

students to make decisions and implications on their own. Plus, it’s in the heart of Jerusalem, so the location was great.

ed the phone interviews that Eretz Hatzvi was the place, that I wanted to go there.

At Eretz Hatzvi, there are kids from a variety of backgrounds and are headed in a variety of directions in the future; I’d say 80 to 90 percent of my peers planned to attend secular colleges after their gap year.

Additionally, the classes offered opened me up to a wide array of topics, and the fashion in which instructors at Eretz Hatzvi teach allows

JM: Talk about the practical process of putting a book together and then self-publishing. Seems daunting.

AD: This was a long process. It took from November until May; I worked on it that whole, and I had a full load at school also. So his semester was probably one of the busiest four months of my life.

In terms of practicals, put it all together. I formatted it into an 8.5-inch by 11-inch page, making sure the crease doesn’t bend over your words…a lot of these things you take for granted, but if you actually go through the process by yourself, it’s really hard.

So that was all put on my shoulders, and all that took three or four months; I worked on it heavily from January until April.

I wanted to get it out Ariel Dosetareh faster because these are journal writings; after a certain amount a like narrative jour- of time, they begin to lose their value, nal; it was just going their importance. I wanted to get it to be bullet points. It out less than a year after I got back. wasn’t supposed to be entries or thoughts or This whole thing was really a reflections, but after I self-directed project; I didn’t do it for wrote the first entry, I the money or for a mass audience. I realized that it is a lot more fun to feel like it could be utilized as a tool write what I feel. That progressed for students, and now that it’s pubinto writing about experiences, d’var lished, I’m beginning to go down that Torahs, different types of teachings path, speaking to groups. After all, from class on the bible and in par- I’m not so much trying to sell a book as sell a message. ticular on the weekly Torah portion.

I would like take time to write at least once a week; much of that I sent back home in emails for my family to read. It was all saved on a file in my computer, called “Israel writings,” and when I returned, I had like 50 or 60 entries from the whole year.

Editor’s note: Email I.IsraelBook@ gmail.com for purchasing info and more information.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

Interview by John McCurdy, Managing Editor

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AJT

Food for Thought

What Do You Mean, Matza was Soft?

SAVANNAH-BORN AUTHOR GIL MARKS TALKS LATEST WORK

By Suzi Brozman AJT Contributor suzibrozman@gmail.com

W

hen Gil Marks starts talking about food, people listen. It’s not just his credentials (Marks is a rabbi, a cookbook author and blogger, a lecturer and cook).

He’s also – perhaps more importantly than any of the aforementioned – a storyteller.

Whether on paper or in person, bring up a topic associated with food, and sit back, relax and prepare to be educated, entertained and enthralled.

And yes, he says, matza was originally soft, and still is in some communities. He reveals more, as well: “Indeed,” he writes in his newest book, “the biblical name for the seven-day spring celebration of the redemption from Egypt is actually Chag ha-Matzot (Holiday of the atzas), not Passover.”

Marks’ first several books were traditional cookbooks, focusing on vegetarian recipes in “Olive Trees and Honey,” on sweets in “The World of Jewish Desserts,” on the basics of the Jewish food landscape in “The World of Jewish Cooking” and on cooking graciously for everyone you know in “The World of Jewish Entertaining.”

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

His latest work, “Encyclopedia of Jewish Foods,” is a compendium of everything you want to know about the culture of cuisine in Judaism, plus many things you didn’t even know you wanted to know. It runs the gamut from aakode (don’t know what it is? Check page 422) to zucchini, with stops along the way to explain foods, preparation methods, recipe origins and much more.

There are even some recipes, though that is not the book’s purpose. Rabbi Marks explained in a recent phone interview:

“I tried to make the book as comprehensive, accurate and readable as possible. It’s not dry. Each entry is 16 an enjoyable little tale. Together it

tells the story of the Jewish people for the past 2,000 years.”

I asked how he could take a topic as big as the world and make sense of it.

“I reconstructed the food history bit by bit,” he explained. “It’s easier with Jewish food. You don’t find Jewish cookbooks until the 19th century, with the advent of cheap printing.

With most peoples, you only hear about the food of the upper classes. With us Jews, it’s the opposite, with kashrut, the Bible, Halakha (law) and Talmud full of Jewish foods.

One thing he discovered is that latkes were originally cheese; the word means “little oilies.” They changed from cheese to buckwheat to potato when they became popular in eastern Europe after the 1840s.

“The Maccabees never saw a latke, let alone a potato!”

Another tidbit: The Pilgrims learned to make baked beans from Sephardic Jews in Holland.

As the Jewish people changed, so did food and the terminology associated with it. Food, its names, recipes and uses, reflect Jewish history, culture and sociology.

And for Gil Marks, that’s the fun part.

“Some we have trouble with. Others we can cross reference to Italian and other references. The first

“I was able known Jewish recipes to turn my avocaare found in a Moortion, my interest in Gil Marks ish Spanish cookbook. food, history, law It’s an Islamic book, and writing, into a but has about eight career.” recipes designated as Jewish. I look for these kinds of things, like putting And he has reason to be happy.

His first book, “Olive Trees and Honpieces of a puzzle together.” ey,” is selling better today than it did The biggest problem he faced was when it came out five years ago, and bubbemeises, old wives’ tales, things it won the prestigious James Beard we thought were true but aren’t. Award. Today it’s considered a clasFor instance, there’s a biblical spice sic, and Saveur Magazine considers called cinnamon; its name is the it a source for serious cooks. source for our modern word, but the spice and what you put on toast to- Originally from Savannah, Ga., Marks’s family was in the linen busiday have nothing in common. ness. They moved from there to West We know from various mentions Virginia, eventually settling in Richthat ancient cinnamon grew in or mond, Va. near Israel, while today’s spice comes from Sri Lanka and doesn’t appear As a child he complained about until the late medieval period in Eu- his mother’s food. Being a good Jewish mother, she told him, “If you rope. don’t like my cooking, make your It’s the same with challah: Bib- own meals.” lical challah has nothing to do with modern challah except that they’re So he did. After several years in a both names for bread. Challah, Rabbi Jewish high school, being miserable Marks says, comes from perforated pushed him into the culinary arts.

Preparing Shabbat meals for friends, bread. he developed a reputation as a great Soft Sabbath bread is eastern cook, despite having no formal trainAshkenazic, developing much later. ing.

So you can’t assume something fa He attended Yeshiva University, miliar is true…you have to verify. earning a degree in community social

work and history plus his rabbinic ordination.

He later started Kosher Gourmet magazine, which ran for seven years, and then segued into books and lecturing, often accompanying his talks with demonstrations. Today he divides his time between New York’s Upper West Side (imagine living within spitting distance of Zabar’s when you’re a gourmet!) and Israel.

How, one might ask, can you follow an encyclopedia without being repetitive? How can you eat your cake and have it too?

By writing the American cake book! That’s in the works now, and when he heads back to Israel in the fall, Marks will contemplate what to do for the next Jewish cookbook.

He’s positive about it: “Life takes you where you’re meant to be!”

And lest you think this famous, erudite author is inaccessible, you couldn’t be more wrong. He invites you to visit his website, gilmarks. com, to get in touch with your questions and to follow his weekly Torah column, in which he goes through the parsha looking at foods, plants and animals mentioned and explaining what they really are – he puts them in a context readers can appreciate.

He also welcomes Facebook contacts.

One more thing that’s got him amused and pleased: Michael Israel, a CIA graduate who runs a kosher food truck in Los Angeles, is doing a “Julia and Julie” – that is, he’s preparing all 300 recipes in “Encyclopedia of Jewish Food,” sometimes with a new approach, and blogging about it in the “Jewish Journal” (his third installment focuses on Agraz, or sour grapes; see jewishjournal.com).

Editor’s note: “Encyclopedia of Jewish Cooking” is available at bookstores or through Amazon.com. Think of it as a wonderful addition to your library and a great hostess gift for the holidays.

AJT

Food for Thought

Czar Ice Bar: A Chilly Delight BUCKHEAD’S NEW SUSHI & VODKA SPOT and the Super Crunch roll as well as an excellent spring roll appetizer and (at lunch) noodle and teriyaki bowls. The martinis ofestled among other posh es- fered are inspired and delicious, especially tablishments of the Andrews the Lychee Berry, which incorporates two Entertainment District and ca- fresh juices among other ingredients… ter-corner from the super-pop- Which brings this writer to the vodkas. ular Souper Jenny The menu – stretch(featured in the ing the length of an May 13, 2011 ediover-size page and tion of the AJT) is viewable as a PDF the newly-opened via the bar’s website, Czar Ice Bar. Here, czaricebar.com – ina splash of Russia cludes varieties from – as well as a taste no fewer than 22 of Japan – awaits countries. Of specific patrons. interest is the kosher

With tiled Russian Standard as white floor, elecwell as two variettric-blue lighting ies of Israeli vodka: and jet-black walls, L’Chaim Kosher Vodthe interior of ka and Peisachovka Czar is beautifully Raisin Vodka. clean and crisp, if

Andrews Ena touch cold; then tertainment District again, how could President Stephen de a place with “ice” Haan says these parin its name not be? ticular spirits are not Seating options run the terribly easy to come by in gamut from communal Georgia, but he’s proud to couches to traditional taserve them. bles (inside and outside) “I’m not aware of any to the high seats at the other carriers in the state,” bar itself. he said. “But these vodkas

And speaking of the are well worth the trouble A flight – four vodkas of your choice – bar, the serving surface is served to patrons in a block of ice. of finding.” itself is indeed ice, and PHOTO/Lauren “Algernon” Volkerding Peisachovka especially behind, the bottles of had an excellently balanced vodka sit on shelves that finish, not to sweet but stretch up to the high ceiling. The brilliant smooth all the same. Enjoy it on the rocks chandelier lighting shining on the colorful or as part of a flight – which are served as menagerie of labels in front of traditional four shot glasses, each with the vodkas of mirror bar-backing makes for a stunning your choosing, cradled in a block of solid impression. ice.

G ATLA IN

The dining menus feature primarily With reasonable priceless and an insushi (nigiri, sashimi and creative rolls) valuable ambience, Czar Ice Bar is a – forYEARS prepared by Chef Saito Saito and include give the poor pun – “cool” placeNto be. C A such popular offerings as the California roll

By John McCurdy Managing Editor

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JULY 20 ▪ 2012

L IT A LIA N

Dinner Reservations Suggested

1989 Cheshire Bridge Rd. Altanta GA 30324

404-876-1380 E S TA B L I S H E D 1 9 7 4

alfredosatlanta.com

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AJT

FROM CAMP WITH LOVE

The Buzz at Camp Gan Izzy SUMMER CAMP AT CHABAD OF GEORGIA Camp Gan Israel (a.k.a. Camp Gan Izzy, a.k.a. CGI) offers arts and crafts, drama and comedy, athletics, field trips, water play and much more, all within a rich Jewish setting.

For more info, visit chabadga.com/camp.

PHOTOS/courtesy Chabad of Ga.

Adventures at Camp Ruach CONGREGATION ETZ CHAIM SUMMER DAY CAMP Camp Ruach, the preschool (ages 14 months to rising kindergarteners) summer day camp of Congregation Etz Chaim, celebrates the season with water play, music, sports, games and more. Campers enjoy weekly, daily and monthly themes, this summer highlighting life on the land and in the sea.

For more info, visit etzchaimpreschool.com.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

PHOTOS/courtesy Tamar England

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Right: Karen Needle of Cookies by Karen (karenneedle1@gmail.com) sponsored the first “Wow! Wednesday!” with delicious homemade sugar cookies that became the scape for “desert desserts.” Campers decorated Karen’s cookies with frosting and colored “sand.”

Far Right: Eric Somers of East Cobb Lawn Care (eastcobblawncare. com) provided hayrides for “Down on the Farm Week.” Eric has volunteered his time and resources to Camp Ruach for two summers and is always a big hit.

AJT

EDUCATION

Life at Home is the Key to IndependenceSM

Javits Academy Center Opens PRESCHOOL OFFERS BILINGUAL EDUCATION

T

hese days, parents in the Atlanta area have the opportunity to send their children to a preschool dedicated to complete bilingual learning. The Javits Academy Center comb3ines local curriculum alongside various cutting-edge educational programs from Israel, all focused on Jewish values and the acquisition of the Hebrew language.

“Each one is entitled to respect and appreciation, and that is exactly what we want to give each child.”

Javits also stresses that the Academy will focus on each student’s physical, social-emotional and academic needs hand-in-hand with Jewish values and bilingual education.

Our staff is dedicated to enhancing the quality and security of your life by providing in home services customized to your needs.

• Nursing Care • Personal Care • Respite Care

The opening of the institution marks the continued growth of the general Jewish community in the metro Atlanta area.

CareMinders has been awarded the highest achievement for quality in the industry, the gold seal of accreditation from the Joint Commission.

“This is a unique educational initiative that can be implemented in Academy students Guy and Leehi enjoy an education centered Atlanta only now that Javitsaround Judaism that incorporates English, Hebrew and more. the Jewish community PHOTO/courtesy Javits Academy Center of this city is so large and diverse,” Shoshi Javits, the experienced educator behind the “I decided to implement bilingual Academy, said. instruction and combine Israeli and Javits’s rich career in education in- American curriculum based on my cludes six years of preschool teaching understanding of how important expoin Israel; 10 years of running Renanim, sure to Jewish heritage and values are a bilingual school in New York; and 11 for the parents of young children,” she years of teaching in Atlanta Jewish explained. “This early knowledge will day schools Greenfield Hebrew Acad- provide the basis for these children’s emy and the Epstein School. She also Jewish identity and ties to Israel as coordinates the elementary school He- they grow older.” brew department at Torah Day School of Atlanta and teaches Ulpan – the intensive Hebrew-learning program for adults – at the Chabad Israeli Center in Sandy Springs.

Her latest endeavor, the Academy is located in East Cobb and offers an educational option for Israeli and American parents who are interested in not only teaching their children Hebrew but also giving their children a deep understanding of the Jewish culture and heritage. A special feature of the school is providing each class with both English- and Hebrew-speaking qualified and certified teachers.

The Academy will operate under the Bright from the Start license of the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning and follow a model set by bilingual schools in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, in which children are learning in an environment that offers much creativity and combines the newest learning methods used in Israel and the United States.

“Our children have a natural curiosity and urge to learn that helps them in order to grow and develop and ultimately fulfill their social, academic and emotional potential,” Javits said.

The preschool will offer three classes for various age groups, starting from six-week-old infants and ranging up to 5-year-olds. Regardless of age, each class will benefit from the same unique philosophy of combining English and Hebrew instruction and immersing the children in a warm and loving educational environment that will encourage active, hands-on learning.

Small group instruction will allow children to freely express themselves at their own pace in order to increase self-esteem and encourage individual abilities. In addition to traditional learning, the school will offer enrichment in music, movement, drama, science and more.

And to top it all off, every Friday, there will be challah baking followed by a unique Kabbalat Shabbat led by special guests.

Editor’s note: For more information, please call (404) 645-5792 or (770) 3218484 or visit javitsacademycenter.com.

The Center will also offer an Ulpan course for adults with classes held on Sundays.

Licensed • Insured • Bonded

All caregivers are checked using an industry exclusive background screening process.

Each CareMinders Home Care franchise is independently owned and licensed to operated under the Franchisee Agreement.

• Preventative Care • Concierge Services • Companion Care

We specialize in customized services dedicated to meeting the needs of those who choose to have their healthcare and support services delivered at home…

Lisa M. Reisman, RN, CPNP

(770)551-9533

www.careminders.com

Yeshiva Atlanta Welcomes Dr. Pamela Mason NEW SCHOOL COUNSELOR TO WORK WITH NEW STUDENTS, FAMILIES

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eshiva Atlanta announces the addition of Dr. Pamela Mason, school counselor, to its faculty. She will work with new students with their transition to YA, serve as a resource for students and families and collaborate with Dr. Paul Oberman, Head of School, in running monthly parenting meetings.

Dr. Mason, a native of Monsey, N.Y., received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Barnard College at Columbia University. She then defended and earned her Ph.D. in clinical and school psychology at Hofstra University, studying the impact of cultural and religious factors on body image and eating behaviors among Orthodox Jewish adolescents.

After completing her degree, Dr. Mason was a school psychologist at Ardsley High School (Westchester County, N.Y.). During her four-year tenure, she implemented a comprehensive skills program – the first of its kind in a mainstream school setting – to help teens improve their ability to regulate

Dr. Pamela Mason

their emotions and improve interpersonal skills.

Dr. Mason moved to Atlanta two years ago with her husband; they have two young children.

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

From the Javits Academy Center For The Atlanta Jewish Times

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AJT

WHAT’S HAPPENING

This Week’s Highlighted Events

Friday

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Fri., July 20

Mingle at the Marketplace, the Georgia Center for Humane Education invites you to a unique shopping experience featuring local vendors and businesses.

Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22, 11 a.m. Dunwoody Village Shopping Center.

Microbrewery Tour and Tasting, come take a tour of the brewery, sample beer, and meet new people.

Stay after the tour and tasting and have dinner. Sat., July 21, 7 p.m. $12/person. 5 Seasons Microbrewery. mhorv00@gmail.com.

Sunday

Sat., July 21

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“Come Wine with Us,” join CNT Women’s group and taste wines from around the world. RSVP requested. Sat., July 21, 5:30 p.m. $20/person. Marietta Wine Market.

Wednesday

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Wed., July 25

The Great Indoors with PJ, enjoy an afternoon “at camp” Sun., July 22 indoors. Come for snacks, a fun Essentials for Pregnancy, Birth camp-themed craft to take home, & Beyond, presentation with guest and enjoy playing in the Doodlespeakers, Mayim Bialik, PhD, midwife bugs indoor play center afterIna May Gaskin and other parenting wards. Please bring a snack to specialists. Sun., July 22, 11 a.m. share. Wed., July 25, 2 p.m. $5/ Holiday Inn Atlanta Perimeter. www. child. Doodlebugs Play. belliestobabiesfoundation.org.

Tuesday

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Torah Studies: “Opportunity in Disguise,” join the Intown Jewish Academy for a class about turning around a difficult situation. Registration requested.

Wed., July 18, 7:30 p.m. $20 optional textbook fee. Intown Jewish Academy.

Thursday Thurs., July 26

Fri., July 27

Dive Into Shabbat, open swim followed by poolside song and prayer with Rabbi Brian Glusman. Sat., July 27, 5 p.m. MJCCA’s Zaban Park. brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org.

Friday Night Funnies, come for a Shabbat dinner followed by and improv comedy show at Dad’s Garage. Fri., July 27, 7 p.m. $35/person Private Residence. mhorv00@gmail.com or (770) 722-3834.

Sun., July 29

JULY

“Avenue Jew,” come to this fun and family friendly Shabbat service and watch as puppets take over the bima. Fri., July 20, 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Temple Kehillat Chaim. (770) 6418630.

CBS Night of Baseball, Gwinnett Braves v. Scranton Wilkes-Barre YanShabbat Under the Stars, join kees. Sun., July 22, 5:05 p.m. (770) Rabbi Boxt and Mitch Cohen for a 804-9721 or office@bshalom.net. picnic in the park and then celebrate Shabbat. Fri., July 20, 6:30 Chuldah the Prophetess, come p.m. East Cobb Park. and learn the value of a women’s voice. Registration required. $10/ class. Sun., July 22, 8 p.m. Beth JULY Jacob. (404) 321-4085.

Saturday

interfaith families. Tuesdays July 24, Aug. 21, Oct. 16, Nov. 6 and Dec. 4, 7 p.m. MJCCA. suzanne. hurwitz@atlantajcc.org.

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Family Fun Night at the J, poolside karaoke, bounce house Tues., July 24 and food available for purchase.

The Grandparents Circle, fiveThurs., July 26, 5 p.m. MJCCA’s session course for Jewish grandpar- Zaban Park. brian.glusman@ ents and grandchildren growing up in atlantajcc.org.

Safe Sitter, class for 11-to-15-year-olds offering babysitting skills. Sun., July 29, 9 a.m. MJCCA. linda. citron@atlantajcc.org.

Tues., July 31

God and the Brain: Mind, Body & Soul, class with Steve Chervin and the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning. Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. beginning July 31. Congregtion Beth Shalom. (770) 399-5300.

National Jewish Retreat, “Experience Heaven on Earth” with the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute. Tues., July 31 through Sun., Aug. 5. Hyatt Bonaventure in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (877) 573-8732 or jretreat. com.

Wed., Aug. 1

Siyum Hashas 2012, the 12th cycle of the worldwide Daf Hayomi Program celebrating the completion of the entire Babylonian Talmud. Wed., Aug. 1. Check of $54 reserves a seat in Congregation Ariel’s section. MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, N.J.). (770) 390-9071.

Torah Studies: “The Jewish Festival of Love,” join the Intown Jewish Academy for a class about the 15th of Av. Registration requested. Wed., Aug 1, 7:30 p.m. $20 optional textbook fee. Intown Jewish Academy.

Wednesday Night Live: Michael in Mesopotamia, Michael Froman will be discussing his most recent trip to Iraq. Iraqi Chai tea will be served. Wed., Aug. 1, 7:30 p.m. $5/person. Congregation Shearith Israel.

Thurs., Aug. 2

Camp Sunday Open House, check out the Camp Sunday program (pre-K through 2nd) that begins in September. Thurs., Aug. 2, 5 p.m. MJCCA. (678) 8123881.

AJT

D’var Torah

Parashat Pinchas

WAS MOSES AN ACTIVIST JUDGE?

AJT

special interest

Highland Capital Group Offers Unique Take on Investments

STRATEGY ALLOWS FOR MINIMUM RISK, CONSISTENT RETURNS Orthodox Union

I

t was a typical park bench conversation. I hadn’t seen my friend for quite some time, so weshook hands and withdrew to a bench in the shade to spend a few minutes together catching up.

We found ourselves discussing mutual acquaintances with whom one or the other of us had lost touch, and we remembered Sam, a person who had many fine qualities. The quality that made the biggest impression upon us was Sam’s impeccable honesty.

“Once Sam says something,” my pal remarked, “he never backs out or changes his mind. You can count on him to keep his word.”

Something deep inside of me, perhaps the ornery part of me, then spoke up.

“Is it always a virtue to keep your word and never change your mind?

Isn’t that a sign of a certain rigidity, which is not always beneficial, and may even sometimes be morally wrong?”

My friend objected: “Surely,” he said, “you don’t mean to condone lying.”

At this point, I realized that our idle conversation was taking a deeper turn. We were beginning to wax philosophical and would soon have to resort to a higher level of discourse than we had bargained for when we initially sat down.

But before changing the topic of conversation, I was reminded of this week’s Torah portion, Matot-Ma’asei; its opening passages discuss the binding nature of vows and promises and the circumstances under which those verbal commitments can be annulled.

“When a man vows a vow…or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth (Numbers 30:3).”

It is apparent that being true to one’s words is a universal ethical standard. However, the Torah – while fully supporting the binding quality of one’s promises – also recognizes that there are situations

which call for the revocation of those promises.

From Highland Capital Group

Times change, circumstances are altered, and a reassessment of past commitments is not only permitted but is to be commended. Blind obedience to one’s past vows can lead to disastrous consequences.

For the Atlanta Jewish Times

Whereas the Torah explicitly grants the authority to a father to annul the vows of his daughter – and under certain circumstances allows a husband to abrogate his wife’s vows – our sages recognize that every individual must have access to a wise man, a chacham, who can help him assess his verbal commitments and, when justified, release him from those commitments.

The classic case of misguided adherence to one’s words is the story of Jephthah (Yiftach), narrated in the book of Judges, Chapter 11.

Jephthah was a great military leader who, when he embarked upon a battle against the Ammonites, vowed that if G-d would grant him victory, he would offer “whatever comes out of the door of my house... as a burnt offering.”

Tragically, it was his daughter, his only child, who came out to meet him. He felt bound by his words and “did to her as he vowed.”

Our sages see his blind obedience to his own words as being a result of his ignorance, and they do not commend his fidelity to his vow. Quite the contrary; our rabbis recognize the complexities of life and understand full well that situations which call for morality can be most ambiguous.

The opening passages of this week’s Torah portion recognize this complexity and teach that one must be careful never to profane or violate his words. And at the same time, they teach that one’s words need to be revisited, re-examined, and reassessed, and that – under the guidance of a wise and pious chacham – the bonds of words can be undone and the chains of past commitments can be loosened.

Editor’s note: Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb is the Executive Vice President Emeritus of the Orthodox Union.

H

ighland Capital Group is a real estate investment firm with a new approach.

By utilizing private investment strategies to generate above-average returns for people looking for better growth and income opportunities, HCG has found a formula that works in today’s economic climate.

Owner and manager Sabi Varon, who has lived in Atlanta and worked in the city’s real estate industry for just as long, is in this business for everyone involved.

ect. HCG also makes available to its clients their network of professionals, who provide brokerage and financing solutions.

The Group works closely with its network on a regular basis, which allows it to provide innovative and creative solutions to assist clients in achieving goals in the most efficient manner. The strategy is to buy right, pay down or refinance and enjoy the cash flow.

Some of the many HCG successes include: • Currently serving more than 500 investors • Investing over $500 million in commercial real estate • Managing over 160 properties and 750,000 square feet of real estate

“We bring together 30 years of Atlanta real estate knowledge, high yield investments, financial savvy, asset management, construction skills & syndication services, so that all will benefit,” he said.

Varon and HCG have always made a commitment to the community. Pioneers in urban development and empowerment, the company has made a major investment in the South DeKalb business district and created Candler Point; this Sabi Varon, an Atlanta resident for mixed-use business more than 30 years, leads Highland community created 54 Financial Capital Group.

PHOTO/courtesy HFCG retail storefronts and 17 town homes, totaling eight buildings with more than The HCG model was conceived in 100,000 square feet of space.

2002 y a group of professionals with The Candler Point community expertise and experience in commer- demonstrates how the power of busicial real estate, asset management ness ownership and economic emand entrepreneurship. Originally powerment can positively impact a formed as the holding company of its local community. own investments, over the years the Group evolved in to what it is today: HCG is committed to business an alternative investment vehicle for own ers and other professionindividuals and entities alike to capi- als who are seeking a better return, talize on the experience and network want to diversify their retirement dollars and take advantage of comof the founders. mercial real estate opportunities in Investors get the benefit of being the Atlanta metropolitan area. See part of a family-owned boutique-style highlandfinancialgrp.com for more investment group in which every info. project matters and every member 21 has a financial interest in each projJULY 20 ▪ 2012

By Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

Atlanta Synagogue Directory CHABAD

Non-denominational

Congregation B’nai Torah 1633 Hwy 54 E Jonesboro, GA 30238 www.bnai-israel.net 678.817.7162

Chabad Israel Center 5188 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30324 www.cicatlanta.com 404.252.9508

Atlanta Chevre Minyan Druid Forest Clubhouse North Crossing Dr. Atlanta, GA 30305 www.atlantachevreminya.org

Congregation Dor Tamid 11165 Parsons Rd. Johns Creek, GA 30097 www.dortamid.org 770.623.8860

Chabad Jewish Center 4255 Wade Green Rd. Suite 120 Kennesaw, GA 30144 www.jewishwestcobb.com 678.460.7702

Congregation Shema Yisrael 6065 Roswell Rd., #3018 Atlanta, GA 30328 www.shemaweb.org 404.943.1100

Congregation Ner Tamid 176 West Sandtown Rd. Marietta, GA 30064 www.nertamidonline.com 678.264.8575

Guardians of the Torah P.O. Box 767981 Roswell, GA 30076 www.guardiansofthetorah.org 770.286.3477

Congregation Rodeph Sholom 406 East 1st Street Rome, GA 30161 www.rodephsholomga.org (706) 291-6315

Nediv Lev: the Free Synagogue of Atlanta 3791 Mill Creek Ct. Atlanta, GA 30341 My.att.net/p/PWP-NedivLev 770.335.2311

Temple Beth David 1885 Mcgee Rd. Snellville, GA 30078 www.gwinnetttemple.com 770.978.3916

Chabad of Gwinnett 3855 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Suite 770 Norcross, GA 30092 www.chabadofgwinnett.org 678.595.0196 Chabad of North Fulton 10180 Jones Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.chabadnf.org 770.410.9000 Congregation Beth Tefillah 5065 High Point Rd. Atlanta, GA 30342 www.chabadga.com 404.257.9306

Conservative Ahavath Achim Synagogue 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. Atlanta, GA 30327 www.aasynagogue.org 404.355.5222 Congregation Beth Shalom 5303 Winters Chapel Rd. Atlanta, GA 30360 www.bshalom.net 770.399.5300 Congregation B’nai Torah 700 Mount Vernon Hwy. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.bnaitorah.org 404.257.0537

JULY 20 ▪ 2012

Congregation Etz Chaim 1190 Indian Hills Pkwy Marietta, GA 30068 www.etzchaim.net 770.973.0137 Congregation Gesher L’Torah 4320 Kimball Bridge Rd. Alpharetta, GA 30022 www.gltorah.org 770.777.4009 Congregation Or Hadash 6751 Roswell Rd. Atlanta, GA 30328 www.or-hadash.org 404.250.3338

Orthodox Anshi S’Fard Congregation 1324 North Highland Ave. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.anshisfard.com 404.874.4513 Congregation Ariel 5237 Tilly Mill Rd. Dunwoody, GA 30338 www.congariel.org 770.390.9071 Congregation Beth Jacob 1855 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.bethjacobatlanta.org 404.633.0551 Congregation Beth Yitzhak 5054 Singleton Rd. Norcross, GA 30093 770.931.4567 Email: anatoliy@bjca.com Congregation Ner Hamizrach 1858 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.ner-hamizrach.org 404.315.9020 The Kehilla of Sandy Springs 5075 Roswell Rd. Sandy Springs, GA 30342 www.thekehilla.org 404.913.6131 Young Israel of Toco Hills 2074 Lavista Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.yith.org 404.315.1417

Reconstructionist

Congregation Bet Haverim 2676 Clairmont Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.congregationbethaverim.org 404.315.6446

by Kathi Handler (bookssss@aol.com)

Reform

Chabad Intown 928 Ponce De Leon Avenue Atlanta, GA 30306 www.chabadintown.org 404.898.0434

Chabad of Cobb 4450 Lower Roswell Rd. Marietta, GA 30068 www.chabadofcobb.com 770.565.4412

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Congregation Shearith Israel 1180 University Dr. Atlanta, GA 30306 www.shearithisrael.com 404.873.1743

JEWISH PUZZLER

Temple Beth Tikvah 9955 Coleman Rd. Roswell, GA 30075 www.bethtikvah.com 770.642.0434 Temple Emanu-El 1580 Spalding Dr. Atlanta, GA 30350 www.templeemanuelatlanta.org 770.395.1340 Temple Kehillat Chaim 1145 Green St. Roswell, GA 30075 www.kehillatchaim.org 770.641.8630 Temple Kol Emeth 1415 Old Canton Rd. Marietta, GA 30062 www.kolemeth.net 770.973.3533 Temple Sinai 5645 Dupree Dr. Sandy Springs, GA 30327 www.templesinatlanta.org 404.252.3073 The Temple 1589 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta, GA 30309 www.the-temple.org 404.873.1731

SEPHARDIC Congregation Or VeShalom 1681 North Druid Hills Rd. Atlanta, GA 30319 www.orveshalom.org 404.633.1737

Traditional Congregation Shaarei Shamayim 1810 Briarcliff Rd. Atlanta, GA 30329 www.shaareishamayeim.com 404.417.0472

Crossword Clues Across 1. Deliverance from danger prayer 6. Eat (Yid) 9. Buckwheat groats 14. Cohanim?

15. Feh!!

16. Swift scribe 17. Pesach month 18. Kunstler org.?

19. Suez or Panama 20. First lady 21. Samson’s sweetie 24. Exist 25. World for Koufax 27. Neither’s partner 28. Jerusalem mount 29. Seduce 31. 2,101 33. Father (Yid) 36. Supreme (Abbv) 38. Candles, feathers and ___ 42. Son of Gad 44. Vav with a dot 46. “__ Hall”, Allen film 47. Night spirit 49. __ Kippur 51. Ellis or Cypruss 52. Khazars’ homeland 54. Ramat Gan specialty 56. Diplomat and orator 59. Bissel (Eng) 61. Nachmanides 65. Capp or Jolson 66. Kern and others 68. “__ Maamin”, Wiesel work 69. Extent 71. Hug, kiss, hug 72. Like Madoff’s funds 74. Nosh (Eng) 75. Biblical fishing device 76. Hungarian sculptor 77. Karpas 78. Hirsch, initially 79. Amos and Micah Down 1. Tay-Sachs carriers 2. Israeli wood 3. Shylock 4. Arkia stat 5. Bagel maker 6. Israeli Mountain 7. Polio vaccine inventor 8. Greeting

9. Political party 10. Yoelson 11. Commandment site 12. Shema starter 2wds 13. Woody or Steve 22. Father of Edomites 23. Tsahal must 26. Primo Levi or Modigliani 28. Herzl movement 30. Arafat’s gang 32. Auditor 33. Prayer for dew 34. Rabbi Isaac Luria 35. __ Aviv 37. Chatchke (Eng) 39. Switch positions 40. Bubkes 41. Prophesy 43. Tis, to Nelly Sachs 45. Chazzer (Eng) 48. Afikoman action 50. Slight bit 53. Copland and Spelling 55. Makes the Tsimmes 56. Genesis creation 57. Shofar’s sound 58. Starring voice of “Up” 60. Calif. Senator 62. Yellow Star?

63. Noodge 64. Scientist, Bohr 66. El Al vehicles 67. Night flyer 70. Schmooz 73. Ashdod to Jericho (dir) Last week’s answers

AJT

MAY THEIR MEMORIES BE A BLESSING

Frank Feldman 70, OF PITTSBURGH

Frank Feldman, 70, of Pittsburgh, died July 10, 2012. He was born in McKeesport on Jan. 17, 1942 and is the son of the late Ben and Bobbe Caplan Feldman. He was a retired Information Technology Consultant and was a member of Temple B’nai Israel.

He is survived by his son, Joshua Alpert of Portland, Ore.; granddaughter; Lucy Alpert; brother; Steve (Gail) Feldman of Miami; sister Lisa (Ron) Brill of Atlanta; many loving nieces, nephews and cousins; and countless friends. His noble life will forever be remembered and blessed by those whose lives he touched. Services were conducted

by Rabbi Paul Tuchman on Thurs., July 12, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at Temple Cemetery, Center Street, Versailles Borough (Pittsburgh). Arrangements were entrusted to Strifflers of White Oak Cremation and Mortuary Services.

Harriet Shind 86, OF ROSWELL

Harriet Shind, age 86, died July 11, 2012. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Mrs. Shind, while living in Massachusetts, was involved at Temple Israel in Natick, Mass. and has resided in Roswell, Ga. since 1981. Survivors include her loving son, Stephen Shind, and his partner Phyllis Keane, Marietta; daughter, Helene, and her husband Herman Brown, Roswell; brother, Aaron; sister, Bernice; and grandchildren: Sammy and Ashley Shind and Melissa, Koby and Alexie Brown. Sign online guestbook at edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The American Heart Association or a charity of your choice. A graveside service was held Sun., July 15, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Scott Colbert officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Bette Wildfeir Sills

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Bette passed away on May 20, 2012. She leaves behind her brother Al; her daughter Marlene Weingart; her son-in-law Freddy; and their two grown children, Max and Eden. Bette was the daughter of Minna and Benjamin Mashioff of Palestine. While her eldest three siblings were born in what is now Israel, she and two of her siblings were born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where her family had immigrated on their way to New York. Bette and her family lived in Manhattan, N.Y. as well as Sea Gate, Brooklyn, N.Y. Two of her brothers were rabbis who had their own congregations.

Another brother, Lou, was a cantor and Borscht Belt comedian. It was in Brooklyn that Bette met the love of her life, Mac Wildfeir; they married in 1948 and had Marlene some time after. Bette was extremely stylish, and she and Mac loved to dress up and go dancing. During the ‘60s, Bette started an interior design business, which she enjoyed immensely. She loved going into Manhattan to the furniture showrooms. In 1970, Mac lost his battle with leukemia. Four years later, Bette married Sam Sills and relocated to Springfield, Queens, N.Y. She and Sam enjoyed spending summers in upstate New York at their summer home. Two years after Sam passed away in 2002, Bette relocated to Sandy Springs to be near her daughter and her family. She lived at Huntcliff Summit and enjoyed socializing, eating meals with friends and all the great parties that Huntcliff put on for the residents. Bette had many active years participating in Epstein School events with her grandchildren. She loved attending both Congregation Etz Chaim and Chabad of Cobb. She was very devoted to Judaism and its traditions, and the move to The Carlton gave her the opportunity to experience life in a Jewish environment. Bette was known for her quick sense of humor and her ability to remember and tell a good joke. She had a generous and caring heart. She was grateful and appreciative of all that life had given her and was immeasurably proud of her grandchildren. Her devotion to them showed in many ways. Sign online guest book at edressler.com. If you would like to make a donation in Bette’s memory: The Epstein School, Chabad of Cobb Mikvah Project, Congregation Etz Chaim, JNF. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

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