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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 5

Protests Envelop Atlanta and the Nation Growing up in Atlanta, you can’t ignore the city’s history and involvement from the Civil War to the civil rights movement.

I’ve always paid attention to politics and for a long time would interrupt journalists I saw doing their job in public, asking them how they got into it and what they did. I started doing my own coverage of video game production when I was 13, interviewing voice actors and video game content creators at local conventions, such as MomoCon. As I grew older, I combined my two interests in politics and digital content creation by working on campaigns and covering them. Now as a rising sophomore at Georgetown University, I plan to major in government and minor in film and media studies as well as statistics, hoping to eventually get into a career creating digital content for campaigns or possibly covering them for media outlets.

I photographed these protests because it’s important and the history being made here should be covered from a perspective that doesn’t favor anyone, but rather looks at it from an unbiased position. Our city has a story to tell, and I think that it can be told through my eyes as a photographer. Atlanta has a history of being on the forefront of change, and I think as a photojournalist it is my job to document that change factually as it happens on the streets of our city, both for those who can’t be there and for future generations.

Nathan Posner is a rising sophomore at Georgetown University.

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Nathan Posner

Guest Photojournalist

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1. A protester holds a Black Lives Matter sign in front of the Georgia state capitol building. Protesters marched for the fifth straight day in Atlanta Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

2. Protesters confront Atlanta police outside of the CNN center and State Farm Arena Friday, May 29. Protesters and police clashed after a peaceful march over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis May 25, 2020.

3. A protester yells at police as marchers confront them on the 5th day of protests in Atlanta. Protesters marched around Centennial Olympic Park June 2 over the death of George Floyd and police brutality against people of color.

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6. Protesters hold up their fists to Georgia state patrol officers, blocking off an entrance to Interstates 75 and 85 Saturday, May 20.

7. Blue light from a police vehicle reflects off a Black Lives Matter sign held up by a protester during a clash with police after a peaceful protest Friday, May 29.

8. Protesters stomp on an Atlanta police vehicle left behind by police in front of the CNN center during a clash after the peaceful protest May 29.

9. A protester stands atop a destroyed police cruiser, one of many vandalized May 29.

4. A protester holds a Black Lives Matter flag on top of the CNN sign in downtown Atlanta. Protesters and police clashed outside of the iconic CNN center May 29.

10. A police officer stands outside an entrance to the CNN center which has been coated with anti-police graffiti. Protesters broke windows of the building as they confronted police May 29.

5. Protesters march by the Varsity downtown on the fourth day of protests Monday, June 1.

11. A police cruiser burns as protesters watch.

Protesters vandalized multiple vehicles left behind by the Atlanta police during the clash May 29.

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15 12. A protester stands on top of a burning police cruiser while holding a riot shield. Protests turned violent after a march over the death of George Floyd in front of the CNN Center and State Farm Arena May 29.

13. Atlanta police protect a fireman as he extinguishes a police cruiser lit aflame by protesters in the clash outside CNN Center May 29.

14. Atlanta police push back protesters using riot shields May 29.

15. Lieutenant Knapp of the Atlanta police holds hands and marches with a protester in an attempt to get them to disband after a 9 p.m. curfew. Some protesters attempted to get others to leave Sunday, May 31.

Photos by Nathan Posner ĂŹ

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8 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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Dog Daze Our furry companions don’t seem to care that America is getting back to business, other than their owners being less available for walks around the block. They are unaffected by the latest figures about the global health crisis and the racial protests raging around the country. They eagerly await our attention, welcome our every homecoming with exuberance, seeking only a belly rub or warm snuggle, and possibly another neighborhood outing. That’s why we honor our pets this week, for their unconditional adoration. This week we also feature our most vulnerable elderly population. Both deserve our devotion and so we fill our pages with their stories.

There’s the 102-year-old Bea Blass, born during the Great Depression and an influenza pandemic, whose family celebrated her birthday at a social distance.

We share with you some senior bucket lists and how life for some in senior residences has changed dramatically since the pandemic.

In our pet section, we explore the recent rise in pet adoptions, how some pets

THIS WEEK can sniff out cancer, and now COVID-19.

You can read our interviews with a veterinarian about pets and the pandemic, a groomer for the elite, a few community leaders and their pets, and an avid equestrian.

While COVID-19 has been occupying our attention for the past few months, headlines lately have focused on racial protests throughout the country. Atlanta’s Jewish community leaders weigh in on the unrest close to home. We spotlight the Jewish mayor of Minneapolis, the center of that city’s crisis, sparking national outrage, and offer a sample of the diverse perspectives in our community on the racial strife.

Life during COVID and since the city was rocked by its latest civil rights battle is anything but the status quo. Still, it has fostered greater innovation and creativity. You’ll see examples of that in our special issue next week, Style magazine’s Summer Simchas. Time to celebrate Jewish Atlanta’s life cycle milestones and bring a little levity to this dark period in our history. ì

Cover image: Winning our pet issue cover contest is a COVID compliant 2-yearold goldendoodle Belle, who seems to understand the global health crisis.

CONTENTS PROTESTS �������������������������������������� 10 NEWS ����������������������������������������������� 20 BUSINESS ��������������������������������������� 22 ISRAEL NEWS ������������������������������� 26 OPINION ����������������������������������������� 29 FATHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE ������ 36 PETS ������������������������������������������������� 38 SENIOR LIVING ���������������������������� 50 KEEPING IT KOSHER ������������������ 54 BRAIN FOOD ���������������������������������� 55 OBITUARIES ���������������������������������� 56 CLOSING THOUGHTS ����������������� 60 THE LOWDOWN ���������������������������� 61 CALENDAR ������������������������������������� 62

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 9

PROTESTS Jewish Atlanta Pledges to ‘Not Stand Idly By’

Photo Credit: Audrey Galex // Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim Synagogue speaks

during a June 4 interfaith march from near the state capitol to downtown Atlanta.

By Dave Schechter In Atlanta, in the cradle of the civil rights movement, there is a history of the

10 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jewish community praying, with their voices and their feet, speaking up and marching in support of African Americans seeking equality under the law and in the

Photo credit: Audrey Galex. // Rabbi Joshua Lesser of Congregation Bet Haverim takes

a knee during the June 4 interfaith march that ended outside CNN Center.

in the name of law enforcement, by police application of justice.

Over the decades there also have been and citizens, are horrific. These slayings points of friction between the communi- are part of a pattern of systemic violence ties, differences of opinion over issues in- against Black Americans that cannot conternational and local, and times when the tinue. We cannot stand idly by these and Jewish community might have done more countless other transgressions against our Black brothers and sisters.” to assuage their neighbors’ pain.

Harkening back to the “history of In the aftermath of the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Breonna Tay- Black-Jewish solidarity during the Civil lor in Louisville, and Ahmaud Arbery near Rights movement,” the statement went on Brunswick, Ga., segments of Atlanta’s Jew- to say, “our tradition compels us to actively ish community decried violence against fight racism and systemic injustice. As our sages taught, ‘It is African Amerinot incumbent upon cans and called for you to complete the greater efforts to work, but neither counter racism at are you at liberty to the individual and desist from it.’ Seginstitutional levments of our comels. The statements munity have been they issued struck active in this fight, common themes as and the entire Jewwell as differences ish community is reflecting how each called to re-engage views its mission. in this effort.”

“Do not stand The Atlanta idly by the blood of JCRC also issued a your neighbor” (Leseparate statement, viticus 19:16) was the extending condofirst line of a joint lences to include the statement issued families and “countby the Jewish FedLeslie Anderson, executive director of less others, Black eration of Greater Atlanta JCRC, said that the organization “felt it was important to include a call Americans who Atlanta, the Jewish for action” in its separate statement. have been killed in a Community Relations Council of Atlanta, the Anti-Defama- wanton and senseless manner and whose tion League Southeast region, the American deaths spotlight the lack of equal rights Jewish Committee regional office in Atlanta, and treatment under the law,” and pledging to “join the fight against institutional and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

Citing the deaths of Floyd, Taylor, and and acts of individual racism, which conArbery, the statement said, “These crimes, tinue to traumatize, terrorize, and devalue

PROTESTS

Photo credit: Audrey Galex // Rabbi Mitch Cohen holds a sign bearing the

phrase "Justice, justice, shall you pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20) during the June 4 interfaith march against racism and police violence.

the lives of black and brown people in can epidemic, a blight that has continued because, time and again, perpetrators have America.”

Leslie Anderson, executive director of not been brought to justice,” said the CCAR Atlanta JCRC, said that the organization statement signed by Segal and Rabbi Hara “felt it was important to include a call for Person, the group’s CEO. The CCAR statement included a call by action given the work we have done in criminal justice and based on the input Reform rabbis to demonstrate solidarity by from the Jews of color and black partners “Reaching out to African-American friends we spoke with.” JCRC’s statement also in- who are in pain, frightened, or angry to cluded a call for passage of the hate crimes offer support and to demonstrate our enduring presence,” as bill that currently well as patronizing sits before a state black-owned busiSenate committee nesses, supporting and called for repeal community organiof Georgia’s law perzations “that work mitting citizen’s arto empower Africanrests. The latter “was Americans” and the cornerstone of “joining efforts to Jim Crow-era hachange policies that rassment and disperpetuate systemic crimination against racism.” minority commuCongregants nities and does not of The Temple, a represent the due Reform congregaprocess of law ention, received a letter shrined in our Consigned by current stitution,” the JCRC and former clergy. statement said.

“As we lay awake at As president of “Racist extra-judicial executions are an the Reform move- American epidemic,” read a statement signed night, listening to the ment’s Central Con- by Rabbi Ron Segal of Temple Sinai, president sirens and wonderference of American of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. ing how we will exRabbis, the name of Rabbi Ron Segal of plain the headlines to our children, considTemple Sinai appeared at the bottom of a ering all the of the terrible suffering heaped upon suffering already brought about by statement issued by the CCAR. “Once again, the lethal reality of sys- COVID-19, we recognize that this is a time of temic racism has shown its evil face. ... Rac- deep hurt,” read the letter, whose signatories ist extra-judicial executions are an Ameri- included Rabbis Alvin Sugarman and Peter

their claims are dismissed as nonsense.

Berg, the former and current senior rabbis.

In noting its “historic and close re- They are not speaking nonsense. They are lationships with our African-American speaking from their truth, their reality and brothers and sisters,” the letter said, “this we must be open to hearing it, regardless is an inflection point in America. On no of how uncomfortable it feels to shake our other issue does the mandate lo ta’amod own consciousness.”

Listening is at al dam reyecha, you the heart of a curshall not stand idly rent effort by the by the blood of your Black-Jewish Coalineighbor, speak more tion of the AJC’s clearly to us. How we Atlanta office, a respond shall be a project that grew test of our collective out of a joint push humanity and moral in 1982 to support maturity. Our Temple, renewal of the Votas we have always ing Rights Act. The been, is committed to AJC is fostering working for a better what regional diworld for our children rector Dov Wilker and for our neighbors’ called “small conchildren.” versations” among Rabbi Laurence groupings of coRosenthal is both sealition members nior rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim “to educate, to talk Synagogue wrote about a conversation about what’s going and president of the with a police officer who told him “nobody on. We can create rabbinical associahates a bad cop more than a good cop.” venues for the Jewtion, a signatory to ish community to hear what people in the the community letter.

Rosenthal wrote to his congregants: black community are doing.”

Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school at “We all want peace, but it cannot come without justice. Our nation is at the same the Atlanta Jewish Academy, wrote to the crossroads we have been at for many years, AJA community that he headed into Shastanding idle, unable to decide the path to vuot on May 28 “feeling hopeful, energized take. I wish I could say that it was simply and celebratory,” but emerged after Shaba lack of courage or resolve, but it is not. bat “feeling the collective pain and hurt for There is a sickness deep in the soul of our our school community, city, and country country that will take more than courage to and a heavy heart” as he watched the news.

“One of our heal. It is a sickness core values as Jews that leads an armed, is Pikuach Nefesh (the trained, officer of the preservation of hulaw to kneel on the man life). We place neck of an unarmed, immeasurable value handcuffed man, exon this – as we are tinguishing his life, created in the image while his partners of G-d. We value juslook on, all hearing tice (Justice, justice his cries, ignoring you shall pursue) his pleas for breath.” and we are commitThe rabbi reted to teaching our lated a conversation students to underhe had with “one of stand and respect our AA family memour common hubers, a police officer manity across our here in Atlanta,” communities,” Leuwho told Rosenthal bitz wrote. that “nobody hates a Rabbi Ari Leubitz, head of school of “We are frusbad cop more than a Atlanta Jewish Academy, wrote that “we trated.

We are angood cop.” are committed to teaching our students to understand and respect our common gry.

We are sad. We Among his humanity across our communities.” are devastated.

We recommendations, stand in solidarity with communities of Rosenthal said, “We need to be better liscolor across the country as they are yet teners. There are large groups of people in America who cry out for justice and fair- again subject to unnecessary pain and ness in our systems of government, law, suffering. They are not alone. We are with business, healthcare, and education, but them,” he concluded. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 11

PROTESTS

Rabbis Criticize Letter on Killings, Protests

By Dave Schechter Less than 48 hours after five Jewish organizations in Atlanta issued a statement in response to the death of an African American man under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer, its authors received a rebuke from one rabbi and an endorsement of that criticism by another.

The signatories to the original statement issued the morning of June 1 were the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, the Anti-Defamation League Southeast region, the American Jewish Committee regional office in Atlanta, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta.

The community letter said that the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery are “part of a pattern of systemic violence against Black Americans that cannot continue. We cannot stand idly by these and countless other transgressions against our Black

12 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Shalom Lewis, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Etz Chaim, wrote that he was “appalled and embarrassed by the text,” of the community letter.

Harold Kirtz, president of JCRC of Atlanta, said that Lewis’ objection “signals how much work needs to be done in recognizing our own part in systemic racism.”

“A community as diverse and large as ours has a myriad of perspectives so no one statement can capture them all,” said Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

brothers and sisters.

“Police brutality against Black Americans is the most visible manifestation of institutional racism,” the letter

said, going on to say that, “Misguided and immoral public policy that preferences white Americans over people of color and contributes to ongoing inequities must come to a swift end.”

Late on the night of June 2, Rabbi Shalom Lewis, rabbi emeritus at Congregation Etz Chaim who retired in June 2019, sent the signatories an email objecting to the tone of the statement and citing what he felt a serious omission.

Soon after, Lewis’ criticism was endorsed in an email by Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Congregation Beth Jacob.

The AJT received copies of the email thread, which spread beyond its initial recipients.

The subject line on Lewis’ email — addressed to “Colleagues and Friends in the ARA and beyond” — was “Dam Reyecha,” taken from the Torah portion Vayikra in the book of Leviticus (19:16), which includes the admonition: “Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor.”

“I waited a day to calm down but remain appalled and embarrassed by the text,” Lewis began, going on to call it a “shameful expression” that “relies on pandering generalizations, progressive doctrine and untruths.”

Lewis wrote that “the opportunity of rare unity was lost by an orgy of pillaging, arson and urban rape that was ignored by the authors and agencies that send out this document. The rampage became the face of the protest not the lifeless body of George Floyd.

“The chutzpa of community leaders assuming they speak for all of us resulted in an inarticulate undeserved

Mea Culpa that ignored the hijacking of legitimate, peaceful protest,” Lewis continued.

Lewis concluded by saying: “From the Oval Office down Blacks have found a place in American society albeit an imperfect society in need of much improvement. In mere decades we have come a great distance from a Woolworths lunch counter and [an Alabama] bridge. We must celebrate the change and not slacken in the effort to bring every American of every color across the Jordan to the Promised Land. But that day will not come by issuing sanctimonious statements that ignore thuggery, blame law enforcement and dismiss the destruction of our great cities. I doubt our prophets and Martin Luther King would find comfort and hope in this irresponsible, reckless text.”

Soon after, Feldman replied to the recipients: “Shalom, I applaud your courage. Thank you for saying what needs to be said, to say it with passion, and for the willingness to stand for integrity. If I would have said those words (and I doubt I ever would have been so eloquent), they would have been dismissed as the predictable ravings of an extremist Orthodox rabbi. Group-think is a powerful thing. It takes no courage or moral clarity to parrot clichés.”

The AJT sought comment on Lewis’ response from each of the five groups that issued the original statement, and asked the two rabbis if they wanted to elaborate on what they said in their emails.

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim Synagogue, who is also pres-

PROTESTS ident of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, said, “I really appreciated Shalom’s willingness to speak up. The community message referenced was representing felt feeling and values that the authors identified and believed we needed to be articulated clearly at this difficult time.

Of course, a community as diverse and large as ours has a myriad of perspectives so no one statement can capture them all. Shalom is giving voice to others in our community. Ultimately that is what this is all about.”

A statement issued by the Federation said: “We are fortunate to live in a community of people who care deeply, and we welcome a diversity of perspectives, and above all dialogue. Our intent in invoking Dr. King’s commitment to nonviolence was to get across that injustice cannot be solved by more injustice and that violence and vandalism cannot be allowed to distract from the important message that must be sent.

This is such a difficult time, and we hope that people will continue to listen to one another, give some grace, and find constructive and peaceful ways to make their voices heard.”

Harold Kirtz, president of JCRC of Atlanta, said that Lewis’ objection “sig-

nals how much work needs to be done in recognizing our own part in systemic racism. In no way do any of our Jewish institutions condone violence or looting,” he wrote to the AJT. “These criminal actions are committed by law violators who take advantage of unrest and volatile emotions. The looting of Jewish stores in some cities is a crime worth pursuing by law enforcement; and the antisemitic graffiti in several locations and captured by various media is also disturbing.

“The issue at hand is the deeply embedded racism that our society as a whole must deal with in substantive and substantial ways. The 99 percent of demonstration participants have been peaceful and earnest protestors, and the magnitude of the protests throughout the nation raises hope that much will be done. To condemn statements of support because they lack mention of the 1 percent is short-sighted, as Rabbi Lewis’ comments have done. The uncomfortable truth is that all of us must change our mode of thinking in order to meet the challenges raised by systemic racism in society,” Kirtz said.

Feldman said that his comments “were made among colleagues,” adding,

“I don’t think a public forum is the best way to have this conversation.”

Lewis told the AJT that he understood why the five organizations felt compelled to issue a statement.

“I don’t have a problem with that at all, on a significant issue and a piece of American history,” Lewis said. “The problem with something like this is that it’s crafted rapidly, because of the urgency of the moment, not that much thought goes into it. . . . What is sacrificed, I think, is wisdom and a statement that unassailably has the moral high ground.”

The community letter issued by the five organizations cited “Black-Jewish solidarity during the Civil Rights movement,” and said, “Our tradition compels us to actively fight racism and systemic injustice. As our sages taught, “It is not incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from it.” Segments of our community have been active in this fight, and the entire Jewish community is called to re-engage in this effort.”

As did Lewis, the community letter ended with a reference to the civil rights leader from Atlanta: “‘We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end

is a community at peace with itself,’ said Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts.’ Let us channel the fear and anger of this moment into real change,” the letter said.

Lewis told the AJT, “I am associated with a document I find repugnant in words of commission and the words of omission. The most flagrant absence, transgression of this document, is there is no mention whatsoever of the rioting and the violence that has ensued, not a word.

“When you are dragging me down a path I do not wish to go down, it’s a problem,” he said.

Rabbi Dan Dorsch, who succeeded Lewis as senior rabbi of Etz Chaim, told the AJT how he views the path being taken by the Conservative congregation in Marietta. “We are a congregation of nearly six-hundred families with a wide variety of perspectives and opinions, but who are united in our belief in B’tselem Elohim, the importance of according dignity to all human beings the world over.

As Jews, we always stand with those who advocate for a more just society,” Dorsch said. ì

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PROTESTS

Minneapolis Jewish Mayor at Center of Crisis

John Minchillo/AP // Protestors demonstrate outside of the burning Minneapolis

3rd Police Precinct, Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Minneapolis. Protests over the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in police custody Monday, broke out in Minneapolis for a third straight night.

By Bob Bahr On May 23 Sam Blustin sat in front of his computer monitor at home in Minneapolis to participate in the virtual graduation

Minneapolis 3rd Police Precinct May 28 in Minneapolis.

ceremonies of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and to be ordained a rabbi in the Conservative branch of Judaism.

Just three days later the new Rabbi Blustin watched the same computer moni-

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John Minchillo/AP // A protestor sprays graffiti on a wall near the

tor as the city where he grew up and first fered from discrimination, finally built their decided to become a religious leader explod- own hospital, Mount Sinai, in 1948 to obtain ed in rioting and violent protests over the medical privileges.

Ironically, today the mayor of Minnedeath of George Floyd, an African American.

Blustin, who will become the new as- apolis, who has had to answer charges of sociate rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue racism and discrimination in the city, is a in Atlanta later this month, was asked if 38-year-old Jewish attorney.

Jacob Frey, who he was surprised by attends two Reform what he saw. synagogues in Min“I think in many neapolis, was elected ways, no. There’s a three years ago. Belot of frustration in fore the rioting, he general, economiwas generally concally, and add to that sidered a popular the situation that leader, with good minority communilooks and charisma, ties have been hit a description that particularly hard by he told the Jewish COVID. … There are Telegraphic Agency a lot of people who news service that he are sick and tired of appreciates as a Jew. young people dying “In seriousness, for no reason.” traditionally Jewish S eve n t y- f ive New AA Rabbi Sam Blustin, who males are stereoyears ago when Jews grew up in Minneapolis, was an typed through Nazi first began moving eyewitness to the city’s turmoil. propaganda to be to the Minneapolis suburb of St. Louis Park where Blustin grew ugly and weak. And if nothing else, I think up, they were the ones protesting injustice. it’s good when media and the community An article at the time in Common Ground rejects that notion.”

Although he grew up in a secular Jewmagazine, written by Carey McWilliams, said “Minneapolis is the capitol of anti-Sem- ish home, he told the JTA that, as a politician he is inspired by Jewish values. itism in the United States.”

“The moral imperative outlined by tikMcWilliams, who later became the long-time editor of The Nation, went on to kun olam,” he said, referring to the Hebrew say that in almost every way, “an iron cur- for repairing the world, “is something I betain separates Jews from non-Jews in Min- lieve in strongly and is foundational both to Judaism but also my philosophy in governneapolis.”

Many neighborhoods were restricted. ment.”

On May 27 Frey said he supported the The Rotary, Lions and Kiwanis clubs barred Jews and local resort hotels accepted “Gen- firing of four police officers who were actiles only.” Jewish doctors, who had long suf- cused of killing Floyd by restraining him

PROTESTS

John Minchillo/AP // Protestors demonstrate outside of a burning fast food

restaurant, Friday, May 29, in Minneapolis. Protests over the death of George Floyd continued in Minneapolis for a fourth straight night.

and ignoring his complaints that he could not breathe.

“Being black in America should not be a death sentence. For five minutes we

watched as a white police officer pressed his knee into the neck of a black man. For five minutes. When you hear someone calling for help, you are supposed to help.”

The police officer, Derek Chauvin, was “weak” by President Donald Trump, will get charged initially with third-degree murder any direct federal assistance.

For Blustin, there’s an even bigger isand manslaughter. On Wednesday, June sue than rebuilding 3, the charges were physical structures; increased to secondit’s rebuilding reladegree murder and tionships between three other officers the races. who were involved With the knowlwere charged with edge he’s gained in aiding and abetting Minneapolis in the second-degree murpast several weeks, der. he says he’s eager The alleged killto continue to work ing has led to protests toward better underand violence across standing when he the nation and chargtakes over his new es that Mayor Frey role this month at was slow to act when AA. looting and arson be“One of the gan in the city.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey is things that I hope On Tuesday, only the second Jewish mayor to to do when I get to June 2, first estibe elected in the city’s history.

Atlanta is to meet mates of the damages described the losses as totaling at least with different faith leaders of different back$55 million dollars. Mayor Frey indicated grounds to try to build coalitions in which the city would need state and federal aid to we can actually make some change towards reconstruct the hundreds of buildings that equality in a deeper way. We need to bring communities together to hear each other’s had been damaged or destroyed.

It’s unclear whether Frey, whose re- stories and to really see each other and try to sponse to the rioting was described as lift each other up.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 15

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Rabbi Practices What He Preaches This past weekend I had the privilege of standing up for my beliefs.

I heeded the call to join in the protests taking place in the heart of Rabbi Brad my city and asLevenberg sembled with Guest Opinion thousands of others to confront oppression. Though my own comfort level with social activism has evolved over the years, I have always believed that when our neighbors cry, we should cry with them. When our friends are in pain, we approach and hold them close.

When our loved ones feel alone, we show up and say with our presence, “You are not alone, and I am here with you.”

I came to Atlanta as a rabbi seeking to live my principles and to work for a time when inequity is no more. Over the years, I have come to understand that, while there is much about our country

16 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Another row of officers appeared every few minutes, culminating in SWAT as well. ”I stood on the front lines, attempting to help create a barrier between the protesters and police,” said Rabbi Levenberg.

that I most certainly love, we are living in a system that is most certainly broken. And I do not believe that I can pray for peace on Shabbat morning and work for it in the afternoon by binge watching Netflix, tempting as that may be. As

front lines. As I stood, a part of a peaceful protest, I watched what happened from the front lines as the police formed rows and then columns, moving all peaceful protesters from several spots into one central location. And then they got closer and barricaded us in. And then the SWAT team showed up. And then the drones.

And it was scary. And it was provocative.

And it was wrong.

To their credit, the police were restrained. They took the verbal abuse from the crowd in stride. But the system that emerged in plain view was one of containment, of power, of order. They had – and have – the power and ability to diffuse the situation but instead chose to This sign captures one frustration of the incite. protesters. The crowd was multi-ethnic, The system, friends, is broken. And multi-gender and inter-generational. the fight is raging around us. And at this point, silence is complicity. Please, wherever you are, in whatever city you live, I have preached and as I have taught, please try to do a few things: 1. Reach out to your friends of colperhaps, just perhaps, God put us here on or.

They are hurting. They are bleeding. earth to be the answer to the prayers of They need you to check in, to listen, hell, others. even just to tell them that you are aware My friends, the prayers are there, of their pain. should we allow ourselves to listen. They 2. Stand up. Go to the front lines. are there in the tears shed over yet anLock arms other black or do so with man mura bit of disdered by the tance.

If you police. They don’t know are there in where the the voices cryprotest is taking for justice, ing place torealizing that morrow, look without jusat where it tice, there can took place tobe no peace. day. And don’t The prayers worry about Protester holds aloft a sign outside of Centennial Park. are there in the timing – the multi-generational gatherings across show up.

And if you have to wait a bit, the country where people are shouting wait.

Watch.

Listen.

Engage with those for change (I just wish there were more who are lingering in those spots.

Hear the people there who looked like me). The stories.

Receive the pain. prayers are there in the pleas that have 3. Recognize the privileges you bring become the slogans of a new (but not so to the conversation and use them. This new) movement: I can’t breathe. I can’t is the time for a privilege check, and it’s breathe. I can’t breathe. time to bring the tools in our toolbox, Our brothers and sisters are praywhether it is contacts you have, or bottles ing. And crying. And bleeding. And dyof water, or the color of your skin, or ing. And that means that we are as well, your cultural narrative, or your religious for we are a part of the same system, the identity, or your … bring it. Bring it all. same country, and the same humanity.

Use it all.

I went this past weekend to stand But most of all, just show up. Live on the front lines because I couldn’t look the words we read on Shabbat and each at the words of our prayerbook and the and every day. Then will our prayers be words of our Torah the same had I choanswered.

May that day come speedily sen not to go. And as I heard the voices of and soon. ì my friends and read their posts on Facebook and spoke on the phone, I came to Rabbi Brad Levenberg is one of the spirrealize that my place was not at home itual leaders of Temple Sinai. but rather was standing together on the

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It Is Time

Tarece Johnson Guest Opinion

We carried the chains in Egypt and our necks held the shackles in Africa before our long journey over the rough seas. Our lands were looted, our belongings stolen, and our

sacred spaces were burned.

We toiled in the fields and labored to build this country you call great. For centuries we have worked, we have fought, we have bled, we have suffered, and we have died.

We are tired.

The time has come. The time has come when we say, “enough is enough.” The time has come when we stand up and shout “never again.”

The time has come when we know we will never forget. We will say the names of the people who were murdered by law enforcement, and we will remember.

The time has come. The blood we shed that created the soil of the earth and fed the roots of the tree has grown to be a solid trunk with sprouting branches that now blooms. The blood to eat, the blood to vote, the blood to learn, the blood to be humanized, the blood to be who we are, and the blood to live. The time has come when we no longer shed our blood. The time has come when we stand together and with our allies as one human race and recognize we all bleed the same color blood.

The time has come when we fight.

We fight for justice, equity, humanity and liberation. We fight for love.

The time has come to unpry the crippling fingers from around our necks and push the boot off of our chests, ... so we can breathe.

The time has come for a revolution.

A revolution to value the lives of black/ brown people and for the world to know our power and that we matter. Black lives matter is not just a hashtag; it is a movement to ensure justice, equity and liberation. The time has come where all people stand together as one humanity to fight to end the structural oppressions, injustices and modern-day issues that negatively impact the livelihood of black/brown people.

The time has come for systemic police reform. We want to end the militarization and brutality that black/brown people experience from police. We want police that stop the excessive use of force that disproportionately impacts black lives. We want to stop the implicit biases, racism and anti-

blackness that result in targeting, disrespectful interactions and unequal sentencing of black people.

We want to end qualified immunity.

If there is an incident when a law enforcement person murders or uses excessive force, we want them to be convicted like a civilian would in the same scenario. If civil rights are violated, we want the ability to sue to get justice.

We want a Georgia hate crimes bill that is included with comprehensive criminal punishment reform. We do not want this bill to disproportionately impact black people, for this reason criminal reform, ending mandatory minimum sentencing, stopping cash bail, and investing in education (instead of prisons) are all important.

A Georgia hate crimes bill may discourage people from committing acts of violence against another person because of their race, color, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, nationality or ethnicity.

We want to end citizen’s arrest, stand your ground and open carry laws that may encourage terrorism and murder of black people.

The time has come to divest from police, jails and prisons, and invest in education. We must end the school-to-prison pipeline by investing in early literacy; arts; tutoring; after- school programming; socialemotional programs; constructive discipline policies; implicit bias training; diversity representation; and culturally relevant curriculums. Instead of school resource officers, we need more counselors, social workers and paraprofessionals. We need to reduce class sizes, improve the school environment and engage the rich diversity of our communities. We need school leaders who reflect the demographic, have lived experiences, are empathetic, and work to meet the needs of the community.

The time has come to remove confederate names and symbols. We must demolish the representations of a history of terror and racism. The statues, street and school names and monuments must be replaced with symbols of unity, hope and peace.

The time has come to stop making empty promises and statements of solidarity without anti-racism systems. Many organizations are homogenous and because they do not reflect diversity in their leadership, they uphold structural racism. The time has come to actually abolish structural racism in our Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. We must engage BlPOC [black, indigenous and or/people of color] leadership in institutions, establish affirmative actions for black people and end the capitalistic greed over humanity. We must invest in

Jewish participants in the Black Lives Matter interfaith prayer vigil June 4 at the state capitol included Rabbi Michael Bernstein, Dedra Walker, Leslie Andersen, Johnson and John Eaves.

the people to close the wealth gap that keep black/brown communities oppressed.

The time has come when all injustices must be reconciled, and reparations made to descendants of chattel slavery.

The time has come for change. We need change now and we are joining together all around the world in solidarity against systemic racism. Black people have grieved for centuries, the systemic racism before COVID-19, the disproportionate deaths due to racism during this epidemic, and the per-

petuation of injustices during this health pandemic are too much.

Enough is enough. We want strategic and sustainable actions to abolish systemic racism now. The time has come for change.

The time is NOW. ì Tarece Johnson is founder of the Global Purpose Approach, which promotes understanding, appreciation and respect for diversity, inclusion, equity and social/economic/education justice.

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Atlanta Minister Calls for Stronger Black-Jewish Relations In the wake of the recent “lynching,” a lot of my Jewish friends in Atlanta are asking me “How can we help?” and “What Rev. Anthony A. needs to be Johnson done?” What Guest Opinion should be the response of Jewish Atlanta to the killing of George Floyd? The answer is simple: We’d like for Jewish Atlanta to help us to end the murder of innocent blacks in Georgia, Minnesota, Kentucky and everywhere with the exact same fervor, dedication and commitment that you show towards preserving and defending your own families, that you show for Israel.

One of the main challenges to interfaith collaboration in Atlanta is that every community tends to prioritize its own, making the needs of other communities less of a priority, and even making reciprocity and interfaith collaboration

18 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

less of a priority. Those of us who seek to once again re-establish black-Jewish relations in Atlanta have to learn how to prioritize one another’s efforts. And in order for our respective cultures to understand one another’s needs, there must first be “real” dialogue, real understanding. Understand that each and every day, every one of your black friends in Atlanta and across America, including me, lives with the reality of being killed by police officers. Many Jews are passing as white.

Black Atlantans need you to be proud kippah-wearing Jews and stop passing as white (to those who it applies to) and experience the “inconvenience” of being people of color (which is what you are) even if you’re Ashkenazi. My black is beautiful. And YOUR black is beautiful.

Atlanta, we know that there is power in numbers. The truthful acknowledgment of Jews in Atlanta, throughout the Southeast and around the world as people of color will not only allow you to be your authentic selves, a proud people who protested and subsequently defeated Pharaoh of the Torah/Old Testament, but it will cause a deep, transformational change in your hearts toward your

Johnson’s grandfather Rev. N.H. Smith Jr.; Rev. A.D. King, Dr. King’s brother; and Rev. John T. Porter are known as the “Birmingham trio” for leading marches in that city in support of desegregation.

Johnson’s grandfather, Rev. N.H. Smith Jr. of New Pilgrim Baptist Church in Birmingham, co-founded the SCLC with Martin Luther King Jr. and others.

black brothers and sisters, understanding the plight of blacks in white Atlanta and white America, feeling with “empathy” versus “sympathy” because we have the same Pharaoh in common.

Atlanta’s native son Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “There’s a little black in every white. And there is a little white in every black.” I say to all of my Jewish friends and family in Atlanta, across this nation and around the world that we may all be a different hue, but we’re all the same color. This is what Dr. King was saying to us while alive and what continues to resound from beyond, that every single human being is connected through our DNA. And it is this brick and mortar that he used to build his “Beloved Community.”

We need you to denounce any racist friends that you may have in your circles of influence and speak against the racist “Hamans” that you personally know (you know who they are).

We need you to stop racist comments when you hear them, to break business ties with racist whites. We need you to understand that blacks and Jews are in this together; white racists view you as the n-word, too. We need you to embrace blacks as absolute equals.

Jews have used their influence to make a difference in society. You’ve used it in the past, during the civil rights movement right here in Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement where The Temple was bombed by racist extremists in 1958. We need you to join us in today’s modern-day struggle for civil-human rights and the basic right of human life.

When I attended the recent day of solidarity in Sandy Springs, there were only a handful of blacks amid thousands of Jews. When I attend black solidarity rallies, there are only a hand-

ful of Jews. If we can have meaningful, robust dialogue, understand one another’s priorities and come together, when Jewish communities are attacked by anti-Semitic actions or death threats, as in the case of the most recent acts of anti-Semitism in New York, which led to the death of Jews in synagogue, then the black community will be there for you by the masses, right here in Atlanta.

And when injustices like the lynching of George Floyd happen, Jews must be there to support our black communities by the masses as well. As Rabbi Abraham Heschel once said, “The black church is the salvation of Judaism.” We need each other.

I believe that these recent, unjustifiable, malicious, heinous acts of violence and murder leave us no other choice but for all people of color as well as people of every race, creed, sexual identity and economic class to at last come together to defeat white supremacy. We can do infinitely more to bring about real justice, true freedom and democracy if we at last come together as one people. Baruch ata Adonia Eloheinu Melech ha’olam.

Shalom, and in the spirit of tikkun olam, May G-d’s blessings rest upon each of you and your families. Together, we shall overcome! ì Rev. Anthony A. Johnson is a Martin Luther King Jr. scholar and doctoral student in interfaith studies at the United Theological Seminary. He is an ordained minister, longtime civil-human rights activist and former Alabama state representative. He is also the grandson of Rev. N.H. Smith Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., co-founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Dr. King and others. Johnson was a member of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham for 10 years and is a member of The Temple.

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Is This a Jewish Issue?

The past several weeks have been among the most painful and heartbreaking that I can recall: the overwhelming loss of life to COVID-19, the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, seeing the frustration, anger, sorrow of the black community of the United States as we learn of Lois Frank the disproportionate losses.

Guest Opinion After the demonstrations and destruction in Atlanta, I needed to take a hard look at where I am, where have we failed, what more can we be doing as individuals and as communities. It’s not only how we respond now, but how we have addressed or failed to address so many issues that have resulted in this moment in history.

The black leadership of Atlanta pleaded to the crowd: “don’t destroy, … use constructive means to achieve change as did the heroes of the civil rights era.”

The Jewish community has always felt and acted on its obligation to work toward a just society through “constructive means.”

In my self-searching, I took some solace in knowing the Jewish community has been, and we ARE, working on the disparity of justice. We need to redouble our efforts and be strategic.

Before this pandemic, before the Arbery and Floyd deaths, the Jewish community was addressing issues of education, jobs, access to affordable health care, voting rights, criminal justice reform, nutrition and hunger, hate, affordable housing, women’s rights, gun control.

Each one of these has tremendous significance and impact on the black community in particular.

Some ask if these are Jewish issues.

For the Jewish Council for Public Affairs every policy issue is prefaced by its biblical citation for its action.

Combating anti-Semitism and assuring a strong, viable Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people are two pillars of the JCPA mission, but our sources challenge us to act beyond our unique concerns.

JCPA is an umbrella for the organized Jewish community, representing some 14 national agencies such as ADL, Hadassah, National Council of Jewish women, the Orthodox Union, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements, and 125 Jewish communities around the country.

For over 75 years JCPA, formerly National Jewish Community Relations Council, has crafted policy platforms on all the above issues, and many others, informed by consensus among all the constituents.

These policy positions are available to inform the education, advocacy and action of each organization and community that chooses to use them.

In addition, each year JCPA selects an area of focus as its own national initiative.

In past years, some focus issues have been cyber security, confronting racism, poverty and the food stamp challenge.

The JCPA national focus for the past 18 months has been criminal justice reform.

The criminal justice system is among the greatest concerns of communities of color today. The tragedies of the past several weeks confirm the need for reform, and we have been asked to be part of this effort. A portion of this national initiative is in coalition with many faith communities and is being spearheaded by Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta.

What more relevant and proximate place for Atlantans to invest our resources.

JCPA’s Criminal Justice Initiative engages Jewish communities around the country in reforming the criminal justice system, and aims to: • Educate and empower the Jewish community to TAKE ACTION on criminal justice • Advocate to CHANGE UNJUST LAWS and improve law enforcement practices • SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES harmed by incarceration • BUILD ALLIANCES between Jews and communities of color.

The inequities people of color suffer at the hands of the justice system constitute one of the most pressing civil rights issues in the U.S. The Jewish community has a distinguished track

record on fighting for racial equality and civil rights throughout the U.S. However, more than 50 years after the passage of landmark civil rights legislation, our society still struggles to fully embrace equality. But through partnerships and active engagement, we can help to change that.

If you, like I, am saying, “I haven’t done enough, I need to be more proactive in addressing the inequities in our society” please consider being part of the work of Atlanta’s Jewish Community Relations Council under the JCPA umbrella. We welcome and need your participation.

American Jewish Committee, ADL, NCJW, Hadassah, every synagogue in Atlanta is part of JCRC here as are most national organizations. We partner with other faith communities, ethnic and racial communities, think tanks and caring individuals to work toward the day when peace and justice prevail.

If not now, when? ì Lois Frank, a longtime community activist, is a past national chair of the JCPA and past president of the Atlanta chapter of the AJC. She sits on the national board of the AJC, and the board of the Atlanta JCRC, in addition to her leadership in other human rights and humanitarian organizations.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 19

NEWS JCC Reopens After COVID-19 Closure

By Dave Schechter

line.

Powers later told the AJT, “We have been in constant communication with Seventy-nine days elapsed between medical and public health officials and have March 13, when the Marcus Jewish Commumade our plans in accordance with guidenity Center of Atlanta closed its doors, and lines from local, state, and federal agencies, June 1, when those doors reopened. including the CDC,” Centers for Disease The JCC was among the local Jewish Control and Prevention. institutions severely imThe COVID-19 emerpacted by COVID-19, as the gency fund established by loss of revenue-producing the Jewish Federation of programs resulted in job Greater Atlanta provided cuts. the JCC with $100,000 to “When we reopen, we aid in the reopening. won’t look the same overPowers did not annight,” CEO Jared Powers swer questions from the said during the JCC’s May AJT about the extent of 27 annual meeting, this the financial hit that COyear held via the video VID-19 leveled on the JCC. conferencing platform On a conference call early Zoom. in the crisis, Powers said Even with enhanced Robbins told the JCC’s annual meeting that “community and that 60 percent of its revhealth and sanitation connection will never be more enues came from summer procedures the JCC faces important than when we find programs. a challenge. “We all know our way out of this thing.”

A major program that reentering daily life casualty of COVID-19 was summer 2020 at will include some degree of risk and every Camp Barney Medintz, the JCC’s overnight family will have to make that decision for their own,” Powers told those watching on- camp near Cleveland, Ga.

20 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The Marcus JCC’s outgoing board chair, Ken Winkler, middle, is flanked by his predecessor Joel Arogeti and CEO Jared Powers.

“Camp Barney” annually attracts more services with Rabbi Brian Glusman.

As phase one of the JCC’s reopening than 1,200 boys and girls, ages 8 to 16, from throughout the southeastern United States gets underway, Powers and the JCC staff are and beyond. According to its website, the reshaping its future. “The possibilities here cost of a two-week session begins at $3,170 are endless. The Marcus JCC is so fortunate for JCC members and a four-week session to have its 52-acre Zaban Park campus and begins at $4,865, depending on age, with a highly creative staff who are always innoout-of-town or nonmembers paying slightly vating our programs and services. We are currently developing plans for reimagined higher fees. sports and recreational The JCC was spared programs, and we look another revenue loss forward to sharing the dewhen an executive order tails with the community issued by Gov. Brian Kemp soon,” Powers told the AJT. made it possible to plan for Barely two weeks afday camps and preschool ter closing its doors, the camps to open.

JCC announced the layoff “Summer Days @ the or furlough of more than J,” the June 29 to Aug. 7 day half its employees, citing camp for children from risan anticipated loss of proing kindergarten to rising gram fees and membersixth grade will cost $350 ship revenue. At the time, for members and $400 for CEO Jared Powers cautions Powers said the cuts were nonmembers per week. that the JCC “won’t look the part of “necessary, though “July at the J,” the name same overnight” as it did when the doors closed March 13. very difficult, decisions to given to the preschool proensure the long-term future of the Marcus gram, will operate June 29 to Aug. 5.

The day camp plan calls for small JCC.” The JCC has declined to answer quesgroups of 10 campers and two counselors, and outdoor activities on the 52-acre Zaban tions about the number of jobs eliminated.

Park campus that include boating, ropes The Federation emergency fund thus far courses, fishing, swimming, archery, along has made grants totaling $310,000 to the JCC to help extend health insurance coverage to with arts and crafts.

“We know many working parents need those furloughed and laid off.

Powers told the annual meeting that a safe and enriching summer program for their children as they head back to work. the JCC hopes to bring back a “limited” numThis program will provide that quality care ber of the furloughed employees.

In his remarks to the JCC meeting, Eric for your children, and priority placement will be given to families who need child- Robbins, Federation president and CEO, said, “Yes, this is a time when we’re sepacare,” a statement on the JCC website reads.

In addition, throughout June the JCC is rated, but I can tell you that community offering 10 “virtual” day camp programs on- and connection will never be more important than when we find our way out of this line, the offerings geared to age groups.

During the closure, some JCC program- thing.”

Ken Winkler, outgoing chair of the JCC ming migrated to online presentation, including preschool and day camp programs, board, said in his parting comments, “I am the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning, unwavering in my confidence that the MJCthe Book Festival of the MJCCA, BBYO, and CA will see brighter days ahead.” ì

NEWS

Synagogue Homeless Shelters Expand Services

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

that will treat them with dignity. People are very desperate right now. It’s an espeAt a time when the economically dis- cially scary time for them. There are peoadvantaged of Atlanta ple who are experiencare increasingly losing ing bad circumstances their jobs and homes and don’t always have because of the global other support.” health pandemic and For the two exsubsequent economic ecutive directors of crisis, the city’s Jewish the shelters, working community is steptogether on a joint ping up to the plate. program was a noStarting this month, brainer.

According the community’s two to Hamilton-Butler, synagogue-based she and Wesley had homeless shelters are worked together at partnering to provide a domestic violence “The work of these organizations summer day services aligns with our steadfast commitment shelter in Forsyth to aid and uplift those who are for homeless women, County from 2012 to vulnerable and marginalized,” said couples and families.

2013.

The Temple’s Rabbi Peter Berg.

Most homeless “When I became shelters are not open 24 hours a day, director of Zaban and realized that we seven days a week. And the homeless had programs in common, we started shelter season is gentalking” about joint erally October or Noventures, Hamiltonvember through April.

Butler told the AJT. The new collaborative That was not long afday services program ter she joined Zaban in that started in June December, and before will operate through the virus had startAugust. The program ed its deadly march will include access to across the country. computers, showers, “Once COVID haplunches and job trainpened, we realized we ing support. Although did need to come toit will operate at the gether.”

Shearith Israel’s Rabbi Ari larger Zaban Paradies Hamilton-ButKaiman, said the new collaborative Center at The Temple ler said she first apeffort is part of a broader vision and will be staffed by proached The Temple steeped in Jewish tradition. that center Mondays Senior Rabbi Peter and Wednesdays, the staff at Rebecca’s Berg and “he was extremely receptive.”

Tent: Spiegel Women’s Shelter at (ConBerg said, “The Temple is proud of its gregation) Shearith Israel will provide historical link to the Zaban Paradies Censervices on Tuesdays ter and supports its and Thursdays. The efforts to help couples program will be availexperiencing homeable by advance reserlessness to transition vation from 9 a.m. to 3 to self-sufficiency, esp.m. pecially during this The program is challenging time. We based on a pilot day believe that the collabservices program oration between the started last year, said Center and Rebecca’s Tasho Wesley, execuTent to address the intive director at Rebeccreased need for food, ca’s Tent. “We saw an shelter, and emotional The majority of the 400-plus opportunity to expand support will have a volunteers at the shelters are from the transformational imour services.”

Adrianne Hamil- Jewish community, said Tasho Wesley, pact on our commuexecutive director of Rebecca’s Tent. ton-Butler, executive nity. The work of these director at the Zaban shelter, said. “Peo- organizations aligns with our steadfast ple experiencing homelessness are in cri- commitment to aid and uplift those who sis and need places to go that are safe and are vulnerable and marginalized.”

Hamilton-Butler said, “The Jewish Similarly, Rabbi Ari Kaiman of Shearith Israel pointed out that the col- community has been amazingly suplaborative effort is part of a broader vi- portive.” For people who feel hopeless right now, it means a lot sion steeped in Jewish “to know we have brothtradition. “We are taught ers and sisters wanting to that the beginning of reach out.” our future redemption is In fact, Wesley said with a homeless woman the majority of the more named Ruth, who comthan 400 volunteers who mitted herself to be part prepare meals, serve of a community and remeals and provide other ceived great kindness. services at the shelters Ruth’s great-grandson are from the Jewish comwas King David. His munity. legacy was uniting the Rebecca’s Tent has Kingdom of Israel. The operated at Shearith Isunited work of Rebecca’s rael in Morningside for Tent and Zaban Paradies more than 30 years to help Center to show kindness Adrianne Hamilton-Butler, to our most vulnerable executive director of the Zaban homeless women in Atlanta and DeKalb County population has within Paradies Center, said “people it the seeds of redemp- are very desperate right now.” work toward stability and tion. May this collaboration bring suc- independence. Zaban Paradies Center, cess and growth for those who receive for 35 years located on the campus of The these new services, and may their suc- Temple, provides support to homeless cesses be a part of our future collective couples as they transition from homelessness to economic stability. ì redemption.”

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 21

BUSINESS Back to Business When it comes to returning to the workplace as state lockdowns ease, one of the big issues businesses confront is a shortage of personal proRoni Robbins tective equipment such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies and for some, isolation gowns to keep their employees safe from the virus.

The AJT, like other businesses, has struggled to find PPE, according to Kaylene Ladinsky, managing publisher and editor. “Everything is back-ordered by three or four weeks,” she said.

To keep up with requests for PPE, a national healthcare consultant, who helps durable medical equipment firms and others comply with government regulations and billing issues, joined forces with a company that specializes in making and importing orthotic braces.

The two Atlanta-based businesses, Jane’s Healthcare Management and Unite Medical, are using Georgia manufacturers to help satisfy the demand for PPE in the state. Their PPE business has tripled since starting in early March, when the shelter-in-place mandates in the country began. They provide a variety of hand sanitizers, masks, face shields and isolation gowns, which are more protective than typical hospital gowns, repel secretions and are used in medical applications, restaurants and salons, she said.

“From the very beginning a lot of clients were asking me where to get PPE,” said Jane Wilkinson-Bunch, CEO

of her eponymous healthcare management firm. She speaks and consults nationally in her field of expertise. “I had a captive audience I knew I could help.

The whole reason was to help my providers stay safe.”

Many of her clients, at that time, were essential healthcare businesses that wanted to protect their employees according to FDA and CDC regulations.

Some were from other states that were not yet on lockdown, she said. Since then, her business has expanded to include restaurants and hair salons “just trying to survive the pandemic,” and according to the CDC, that’s going to be for quite a while, she said.

“We want to make sure we take care of our own. This is the reason we really got into this,” she said of the PPE business she formed with United Medical owner Damon Reed to meet the needs of local companies.

We at the AJT had been back to our office for two weeks as part of the national effort to return to work after the global pandemic shuttered businesses and forced employees to work from home. Despite vigilant disinfecting, the use of masks and gloves, and access to hand sanitizer at every turn – with most employees in their own individual offices – some employees expressed concerns about returning too soon.

I should add that our building, owned by Selig Enterprises, also required masks while inside with signs throughout to maintain distancing, offer hand washing recommendations and limit numbers in bathrooms and elevators.

To offer employees further peace of mind, AJT Owner-Publisher Michael Morris sprung for the top-of-the-line

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Dr. Ajala Ngarndi, The I.V. Doc Atlanta division medical director, helps record for registered nurse Anna John.

testing service by The I.V. Doc, a New York-based company with U.S. and international offices formed in 2013 to offer I.V. hydration through personalized medically administered treatment.

The company had just started its Atlanta office in November, three months before COVID-19 gripped America. To meet the needs of its clients, it expanded in April to offer testing for the virus. The AJT was the first in Atlanta to receive their in-office COVID-19 testing services.

Ladinsky said the I.V. Doc reached out to her about using their services, and she thought it was a “great option to make sure the staff felt comfortable in their work environment. It gives them that much more reassurance that we are taking the extra step.”

The process was quite simple. On Tuesday, June 2, we were told about the testing and the next day, The I.V. Doc asked us not to eat or drink for 30 minutes before our appointment. We either signed up online for a time slot to be prescreened or were asked a series of questions prior to our individual testing. The screening questions included an assessment of significant medical history, current symptoms and medications, travel outside the country and any known exposure to anyone who had tested positive for the virus. I had none of each.

Soon after arriving in our office, a masked and gloved Dr. Ajala Ngarndi, The I.V. Doc Atlanta division medical director, and a registered nurse, set up a makeshift medical testing site in our conference room. They used germicidal wipes to clean the table, then laid a disposable pad as an extra barrier of pro-

tection under my arm and began the process of testing. First, I was asked to fill out a form with basic information and again state my symptoms, agree for the results to be used for research purposes and sign the standard Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) health information use and discloser consent form.

The medical duo then took a vial, 3 ml of my blood, to be tested for antibodies, generated by the body in response to COVID-19 infection.

This test can be used to determine recent or past exposure, which tends to offer protection from the virus, but doesn’t mean you’re immune for the rest of your life, according to The I.V. Doc website.

The results, sent to the Access Medical Labs in Florida, are received back in as little as 48 hours.

If the viral swab test is positive, someone who is asymptomatic could potentially spread virus, Ngarndi said.

She recommends quarantining at home for 14 days before being retested.

“If the patient exhibited symptoms, treatment would be focused on controlling the symptoms such as fever, muscle aches. There is no FDA approved medication proven to directly cure the COVID-19 infection, but research is still ongoing. If symptoms were severe, such as acute shortness of breath, the patient would be recommended to the ER for medical assessment.”

The company typically sends a hard copy in the mail or in a sealed envelope delivered to the office. We received copies sent by secured encrypted email fol-

BUSINESS

Living Your Best Life At

My daughter, Lena Robbins, gives a blood sample to be tested for COVID-19 as her mother looks on.

lowing HIPAA guidelines, she said.

The difference between this test and other free or low-cost ones available at point-of-care testing locations, Ngarndi explained, is that this one looks at DNA for the virus and they look at common proteins attached to virus, losing some sensitivity and specificity. She said the main benefit of having a doctor consultation and a registered nurse come to a client’s home or office is it reduces exposure at testing sites to high-risk chronic diseases.

You pay for the convenience and luxury of one-on-one time with the medical professionals readily available to explain the process and results, answer questions and recommend possible treatment options if warranted, in an atmosphere that is comfortable and not rushed, as might be the case at a testing site, Ngarndi said.

“There’s a lot of information on the internet. It can be confusing.”

Morris said he chose the more expensive testing because this has more reliable results, as compared to other tests that might have “a fair number of false negatives.”

The results should make employees “feel more comfortable if they know we’ve succeeded in the last three of four months” of keeping COVID at bay. “It lets everyone know we’ve done the right things.”

The overall consensus from employees following testing was that they were appreciative of management considering their anxiety and going the extra mile to ensure their comfort and safety in the workplace.

Brenda Gelfand, a senior account manager and one of the longest-serving employees, said she thought getting tested was “personally a great idea, to find out myself if I have antibodies.” But she cautioned against getting a false sense of security if all the tests come back negative. “I don’t think the office should relax because we are having this done.

People can walk in any day with the virus. I don’t want people to think we are all good after this.”

After her test, Gelfand called the medical testers “very professional” and said that although it’s difficult to find her veins to take blood, “it didn’t hurt.”

After learning of the results she reiterated, “It doesn’t mean nobody can get it in the future.”

Community relations director Jen Evans expressed similar sentiments about the procedure. “I did not feel pain. … We can go outside and get COVID even if swabbed. If you know you’re a carrier or had before, you are cognizant about that.” Meanwhile she believes her daughter, who has been participating in protests in Athens, should be tested weekly to ensure she doesn’t contract the virus.

“I thought it was amazing,” said our newest employee, Amy Seidner, community events and PR manager. “It was thoughtful and considerate and made me feel so much more comfortable. It was a step above what was expected.”

Lilli Jennison, creative and media designer, said it was nice to know all the tests came back negative and she was grateful for the opportunity to be tested in what felt like a germ-free environment with quick results and without leaving the office. “I have a friend that took a test with the county [DeKalb] and he’s not gotten his results back, and we got ours so fast,” she said, adding that “we still need to be careful.”

After learning of the actual results, Morris said, “I’m glad to see that we all, as a mini community here, clearly have been cognizant of our social responsibility throughout the shelter-in-place period. I’m glad we are all clearly on the same page; we have all done the right things.”

Was it a worthwhile financial commitment? Morris seems to think so.

“Since most people in the company chose to do this, it’s a good investment.” ì

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BUSINESS

Millennials Set Standards to Help ‘Prevent the Spread’

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

to the University of Alabama. Halpern to Riverwood International Charter School While many are tragically out of en route to the University of Georgia.

Pre-COVID, they were work, some are generatboth in Los Angeles: Engeling opportunities in this hard in film production erratic market. Someone and Halpern, accounting. is manufacturing huge “We began brainstorming, stand-up yard letters, foldand our ultimate goal was able pizza boxes, major to help people get safely deployments of hand saniand quickly back to work,” tizer stands, stylish masks, Halpern said. wipes, swipes and sprays.

On March 15, they Andrew Halpern and created the education proAdam Harris Engelhard gram “Back to Work Force.” found themselves out of “We would love to have an work because of the COAdam Engelhard is shown VID-19 crisis. “Playing the cheering for his home team effective vaccine, but who knows how quickly? We cards we were dealt means from LA. He originally conceived the business cannot sit back in fear,” that no one wanted this [pandemic}; our job was model to work with movie Halpern said. “We want to to react the best way we and production companies, help people live their lives. then expanded the vision.

Businesses shut down. We could,” Engelhard said.

Thus formed his partnership with Halp- took our shot to help with a solution.”

Engelhard originally thought their ern: C19 Certified.

Both Atlantans are 29. They attend- business model would help film comed The Epstein School together and then panies reopen. They soon realized that Engelhard went from The Weber School there was a bigger need outside film. The

24 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Former Epstein grads Adam Harris Engelhard and Andrew Halpern are doing their parts to provide standards and guidelines for safely reopening businesses by training employees and boosting consumer confidence.

resulting certification format offers on- personal commitment by each employee line standardization that companies fol- to comply with current guidelines establow and employees learn best practices lished by federal and state public health of how to operate in the “new normal” authorities to minimize risk of spreading virus. This should provide reassurance COVID-19 environment.

Employees are taken through sev- of safety to all employers, employees, en lessons with 10 to 12 questions over as well as customers and clients. Andy 45 minutes to learn about recognizing and Adam have done a great job creating symptoms, face coverings, disinfecting, this program presenting ‘public domain’ sanitizing, etc. The basic module is a stan- information in a simple format to help dard guide: “How to Prevent the Spread.” Georgia get back to business.”

Attorney-consultant David Cooper Plus there are industry specific options for hospitality, traveling salespeople, added, “Premises liability is a bona fide gym/fitness, and corporate offices. The concern of businesses and employers. basic course is $500 plus $9.99 for each They want to be able to welcome a workemployee receiving certification. “We force and guests/clients/customers into want it to be affordable and not break their premises. While employees are anyone’s budget. The whole procedure is typically covered for an illness contracttouchless, all digital. It all can be done on ed on the job by workers’ compensation, others (such as independent contraca cell phone or tablet,” Halpern said.

Happy customer Michael Miller, tors and guests/customers) do not enjoy owner of Arena Tavern in Duluth, has 40 those same protections. The goal here is employees. “A friend told me about Andy to meet a ‘standard of care’ for the operaand Adam and sent their sample video. I tion of the premises (or a camp, for example) and avoid claims of was sold. Our staff was well negligence. COVID-19 certitrained, and this validated fication is designed to help the process. C19 Certified businesses avoid claims by was worth it!” utilizing published health For their business guidelines and on-site to succeed, Halpern and protocols that make good Engelhard knew they needsense. We do live in a litied credentialed experts, and gious society.” reached out to hometown Engelhard concluded, contacts. Dr. Paul Schein“We want to do our small berg, retired chief medical part to make an impact. officer of Emory Saint JoThis is about what each seph’s Hospital, serves as Andy Halpern sports his individual can do. Each medical consultant/advisor, Certified cap. Both young men want to help get the person can help make a biglending practical expertise economy rolling safely. ger impact. A weak link can from years of clinical, scienbreak a chain.

Education is the key and tific and management experience. can help mitigate [this pandemic], and “Certification provides objective eviwe’re doing our part.” ì dence of education and training with a

BUSINESS

Federation Names Walter VP Program, Grant Making Compiled by the AJT The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta announced June 1 that Rich Walter, an Israel educator, would become vice president of Program and grant making at the end of the month.

“Rich is a nationally recognized communal leader, program developer, speaker, facilitator and educator,” said Eric Robbins, Federation president and CEO. “His expertise will help Federation increase and enhance strategic partnerships and programs in order to identify and address community needs.”

Walter comes to the Federation from the Center for Israel Education/Emory University Institute for the Study of Modern Israel, where he served as vice president of curriculum and outreach and as the associate director for Israel education since 2012.

In his new role, which he assumes June 30, Walter will support Federation’s mission to care for, connect and strengthen the Jewish community throughout greater Atlanta, Israel and the world. He will oversee Federation’s community initiatives and the grantmaking for five major community impact areas: inspiring more Jewish journeys, making more Jewish places, rising up higher for those in need, moving to global Jewish peoplehood, and creating radically welcoming spaces.

Or as Walter puts it, “my role at Federation will be to oversee the community initiatives of both the Federation’s global and domestic portfolio.

Together with the Federation staff, volunteers, and our community partners, I will help strengthen existing programs

and support new endeavors as community needs continue to evolve.”

Walter’s background includes partnering with and influencing a wide variety of local and regional community leaders and organizations, including clergy, educators, youth, college students and adult learners in areas of program design, innovation and change, education, history, Israel and Judaism, and professional development, the Federation reported. He also has prior experience in Jewish education and program development.

Walter said that in his work with ISMI and CIE, “I have been fortunate to have worked with a wide variety of stakeholders from numerous types of institutions in helping to plan and deliver Israel learning programs and initiatives. This has required me to listen to the needs of our constituents in planning programs, mentor educators in creating meaningful engagements, and most importantly, deliver experiences for diverse audiences. Evaluating programmatic impact and measuring learning outcomes are also skills that will serve me well in my new role.”

He added, “Perhaps most importantly, a key component of my work was engaging with groups, be it teens, educators, or adult learners, who all had a wide variety of personal opinions on Israel. As such, I have had to learn to engage and embrace groups with multiple perspectives by challenging previously held assumptions, raising new questions, and promoting dialogue.”

When asked if he’ll use his background in promoting Israel and Israel education in his Federation role, Walter

said, “Absolutely! While I am energized that this new role allows me to broaden my impact beyond Israel learning and engagement, I also have learned firsthand the importance of Israel to the Jewish community.

“I was privileged to learn many lessons working with Ken Stein at Emory and CIE, but among the most important is the concept of ‘Owning Israel’s Story.’

For me, this concept represents the notion that no matter how one connects to his or her Judaism, that Israel can and should play a major role in that connection. Beyond Israel’s religious significance to us as a people, the nation’s history, cultural contributions, scientific achievements, innovation, and social justice accomplishments are all templates for fusing Judaism into our everyday life. So beyond the global peoplehood portfolio, which works directly on programs and services that Federation supports in Israel, and of course the shinshinim [Israel student emissaries] program, which engages broad segments of our community with Israel, the more we can help the community embrace these concepts, the stronger our relationship will be with Israel, and the stronger our community will be regardless of one’s personal political beliefs.”

After eight years at Emory and CIE, Walter said he was ready for a new challenge. “At the top of my wish list was a desire to stay in Atlanta, our adopted hometown. …The opportunity to enhance existing skills, and learn new ones, combined with the chance to contribute more directly to a community I care about were also prime motivators.

After eight years at Emory’s Institute for the Study of Modern Israel and its sister, the Center for Israel Education, Richard Walter said he was ready for a new challenge.

Before I came to Emory, I worked for the Federation in New Haven, Conn., and prior to that at the Bureau of Jewish Education in Rhode Island, so, in some ways, I am returning to my roots as a communal professional.”

Still, Walter said he would maintain his connection with his previous work in Israel education. “One of my personal passions is education and teaching. So, I hope to continue to be of assistance with Emory and CIE as a guest presenter at their programs for teens and educators.” ì

HR Exec Named to Magazine Board Barry Flink, executive vice president and partner of Flex HR, Inc., has been named to the advisory board of Departures magazine. The publication is a source for high-end travel, restaurants, hotels and fashion, shopping, art and culture.

Flink has 40 years of management experience in multiple industries. His favorite jobs have always been in the hospitality industry. He has held senior level management positions in Westin Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels, Service America Corporation, the

Greyhound Corporation, and the Peasant Restaurants, Inc., based in Atlanta. He began his career in the hospitality industry as the Hyatt Hotel Corporation’s first national management trainee.

Flink is also an executive in residence at Kennesaw State University and has served on the board

of directors of Georgia Tech’s College of Management as well as KSU’s Coles College of Business. He has also served on the President’s Advisory Board of Oglethorpe University.

He has been a visiting lecturer at Cornell University, Washington State University, Florida State

University, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Emory University, and the University of Guelph and Ryerson University in Canada. He also wrote a chapter for a college textbook, “Business Acumen II.” Flink was board chair of the Edge Connection and has served on the Small Business Council of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors of the AmericanIsrael Chamber of Commerce, and an advisory board of Saint Joseph’s Hospital. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 25

ISRAEL NEWS U.S. Burials in Israel Delayed By COVID-19

By Chana Shapiro In the Book of Genesis, Joseph had the leaders of Israel swear that his bones ultimately would be buried in the Holy Land, although he would die and be buried in Egypt. In the Book of Exodus, 210 years later, Moses and the generation that left Egypt located Joseph’s tomb and his remains were carried through the desert, ultimately fulfilling the obligation.

Under normal circumstances, the process of Jews anywhere in the world being buried in Israel was accomplished smoothly. This was achieved through efficient coordination between local and New York funeral homes, where taharah, preparation of the deceased, takes place before transportation to Israel.

But this arrangement was halted when travel and health restrictions necessitated by COVID-19 made it impossible for families in the United States to carry out the wishes of their loved ones.

Therefore, to fulfill the obligation of immediate burial, Jewish law necessitated the implementation of a rare procedure.

The deceased were buried in the city where

they died, al t’nai, a legal concept stating on condition that final permanent interment be in Israel.

Jewish reburial is a serious matter, essentially because it is held to be a sacred duty to respect and not disturb the condition of the deceased. Yet, according to the Shulchan Aruch, the 16th century code of Jewish law, there are specific conditions under which it is permitted to disinter a body, including flooding of the grave, destruction of the grave, or other events that could compromise the dignity of the person buried there.

In recent years, Atlantans, with and without families in Israel, have purchased plots in Beit Shemesh at Eretz HaChaim Cemetery. Many of them are members of Congregation Beth Jacob, whose Rabbi Ilan Feldman shared prevailing thoughts on the matter of re-burial.

“Under present circumstances, in which a second burial would have to take place long after the first one, and considering the Jewish reluctance to disturb a grave, re-interment is not an optimal recommendation,” Feldman said. Unless there is an established traditional family plot in Israel,

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by COVID-19, and arrangements were completed for transport on the last plane from New York before all flights were canceled.

To avoid possible conflicts or problems, funeral director Dressler received clear instructions from the Israeli Consulate. Any transportation on El Al of a deceased person, whenever that might again take place, must be accompanied by an official letter from a doctor stating that there was no evidence of a contagious disease on In the Book of Genesis, Joseph had the leaders of Israel swear that his bones the corpse. would be buried in the Holy Land. He “I was told that, because anyone who died and was buried in Egypt, but his died from COVID-19 would not be flown bones were later moved to Israel. to Israel, we must make all arrangements it may be advisable to permanently bury a for immediate local burial here,” Dressler loved one here. A second burial in Israel noted.

Currently, Atlanta has no known COcould be carried out, but it would depend VID-19-related deaths of persons with cemon an individual circumstance. In all such etery plots in Israel. However, I spoke to cases, mourners will go through all the two local residents, who cemetery rituals a seceach lost relatives from ond time, including sayCOVID-19. The first had ing Kaddish, and they a parent who died in a will sit shiva again for metropolitan New York one day,” he concluded. nursing home and was I remember my buried there. The famfirst trip to Israel, when ily requested anonymmy parents asked me ity because of pending to bring home one parissues. ticular item. They didn’t A second, Dr. Zvi want gifts of jewelry Aviner, who lives in Ator art or ritual objects.

Eddie Dressler of Dressler’s lanta part-time, lost his Jewish Funeral Care in Atlanta My parents wanted soil has dealt with only one death brother, Avraham, who from the Land of Israel. that involved burial in Israel. contracted the virus “I pray we won’t need it for a long time,” my mother ex- in New Jersey and is buried there. “We all plained, “but when we die, put some of the understand the restrictions, and we agree soil in our casket. It’s the closest we can get with them,” Dr. Aviner stated. “When the to being buried there.” I fulfilled their re- time comes, and no one knows when that quest in the mystical city of Safed, where I may be, our family will fulfill my brother’s will and bring him to obtained two small cona family plot in Israel tainers of earth. where his first wife is Jews often observe buried.” this custom by includTo carry out the ing a small bag of Israeli desire of the deceased soil as part of the burial today, some families are preparation. willing to disregard IsIt is a traditional raeli law.

Several mainbelief that the ultimate redemption of man- Rabbi Ilan Feldman of Congregation stream publications, including The Wall Street Beth Jacob said that “considering kind, an age of eternal the Jewish reluctance to disturb Journal and The Times peace, will take place in a grave, re-interment is not an of Israel, report that, to Israel. For that reason, optimal recommendation.” avoid the El Al restricJews of every generations and two-week quarantine order, prition yearned to be laid to rest in Eretz Yisvate planes have been chartered to bring rael, the Land of Israel. If their dream could deceased persons for immediate burial in not be fulfilled, a bit of Israeli soil, if it could Israel, resulting in legal conflicts and at be acquired, would have to suffice as a subleast one police investigation. stitute.

Most bereaved families’ loved ones During the pandemic, Eddie Dressler are now buried conditionally, al t’nai, until of Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care in Atlanta, they can finally be laid to rest in the Holy has dealt with only one death that involved Land. ì burial in Israel. The death was not caused

ISRAEL NEWS

Israel Faces Spike in New Cases of COVID-19

By Jan Jaben-Eilon At the end of May, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he would not impose another lockdown on the country despite a marked increase in COVID-19 cases since the country emerged from nationwide confinement.

In school after school around the country, teachers and students are being diagnosed with the virus, accounting for most of the nation’s new cases.

In one Jerusalem high school, more than 170 students and staff were infected in late May, closing the school immediately. Israeli Education Minister Yoav Galant announced that a school would only be shut down if a person there was found to be infected, rather than close all schools in the country.

Although the prime minister said a possible new lockdown of the country was under consideration, it appeared doubtful that he would take that action after the economy started reopening.

The country reported the rate of posi-

tive results of daily COVID-19 tests were found to be five times higher than in the previous several days.

Netanyahu blamed the “loosening” of Israelis’ observance of social-distancing rules.

“As long as no vaccine is found for the virus, it will return and spread if we aren’t meticulous about the rules,” he said. “If we don’t do this, there will be no choice but to return to limitations on the economy and public sphere.”

Netanyahu also warned the public not to be complacent as the temperatures rise. “Unfortunately, this virus is not impressed by the weather. It is not affected at all by the climate.” He pointed to the spreading virus in hot countries around the world, including in nearby Egypt and Turkey as well as in cooler Scandinavian countries.

“In Sweden, where the number of citizens is identical to ours and which deliberately declined to impose health restrictions, … there are currently 4,300 dead from coronavirus,” the prime minister pointed out. “In Belgium, where the

population is also identical to ours and which took cautious measures but very belatedly, there are currently almost 10,000 dead.”

Israel’s death toll stood at 284 the last day of May, with a total of about 17,000 cases, according to Israeli press. By June 7, the total number of cases had risen to 17,863, and deaths to 298.

Netanyahu added that Israel had “not reached the horrific numbers of other countries because we took effective, rapid and timely steps.”

Worldwide, COVID-19 has taken more than 400,000 lives, with more than 100,000 in the United States alone, according to Johns Hopkins University. ì

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the coronavirus “is not affected at all by the climate.”

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ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

Photo courtesy of The Technion - Israel Institute of Technology // Two masks

that have been modified by Yair EinEli to make them self-cleaning

Masks Could Soon Be SelfCleaning

An Israeli scientist has invented technology that aims to make face masks clean themselves.

Israeli scientist Yair Ein-Eli has invented technology to make face masks clean themselves using power from a phone charger. He has applied for a patent.

“Our idea could change masks from disposable items into gadgets that people

Today in Israeli History June 15, 1970: A plot to steal a commercial aircraft to escape the Soviet Union is foiled when 12 dissidents, all but two of whom are Jewish refuseniks, are arrested at Leningrad’s Smolnoye Airport.

June 16, 1933: Haim Arlosoroff, who has just returned from a mission to Germany to arrange Jewish emigration in exchange for the import of German goods in Palestine, is fatally shot on a Tel Aviv beach.

Haemtza Blog photo // Haredim demonstrate support for the 35 fathers jailed in a dispute over competing schools in Emanuel.

June 17, 2010: Thirty-five Haredi fathers of girls attending a Hasidic school accused of discrimination in Emanuel are jailed after refusing a Supreme Court order to send their daughters to a different school in the town.

28 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

clean, meaning they wouldn’t need replacing so regularly and hospitals wouldn’t need such large supplies,” said Ein-Eli, dean of the faculty of materials science and engineering at the Technion – Israel Institute for Technology. He estimated that his cleaning mechanism can be added at around 90 cents per mask.

The only difference in the appearance of the self-cleaning masks will be an input for a USB cable to power the heating element inside the mask. This gets it hot enough to kill germs and is the only modification needed to regular masks to make them self-cleaning, Ein-Eli said.

“We have inserted a heating element of carbon fibers, and connected it to a USB input like one used to charge a cellphone,” EinEli told The Times of Israel. “The element can heat the mask to 65 to 70 degrees Celsius (149°-158° Fahrenheit), and it heats anything absorbed in the layers of the mask.”

He said that a 15- to 30-minute heating cycle would be enough to clean a mask. “If you are in your car and take your mask off, you can simply connect it to your cigarette lighter charger, and then put it back on as if it’s a new mask,” Ein-Eli said.

June 18, 1992: Painter Mordecai Ardon, known for using religious symbolism and developing artwork from realistic to abstract, dies at age 95. He directed the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts from 1940 to 1952.

June 19, 1983: Simha Erlich, the deputy prime minister in Israel’s first two Likud-led governments, dies. As finance minister, he tried to free the economy from government controls, but inflation soared.

Photo by Yoni Reif // Eran Avraham, right, and Izaak Cohen, researchers at Bar-Ilan University, standing at the entrance of the sanitation and disinfection tunnel developed by RD Pack at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv June 2.

Disinfectant Tunnel Could Mean Safer Public Events

RD Pack, a Karmiel-based industrial automation firm, has created a sanitation and disinfection tunnel that sprays visitors at mass events using disinfecting technology developed by Bar-Ilan University researchers, according to The Times of Israel.

The tunnel, composed of an aluminum and polycarbonate frame, is being piloted at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv as soccer teams are set to resume playing there. There will not be fans in the stands.

“When people walk through the tunnel, their whole body gets sprayed with the disinfectant, which works fast and efficiently, and provides the complete sterilization of a person,” said Eran Druker, business development manager at RD Pack.

In April, the Bar-Ilan researchers said they had developed a way to make strong, environmentally friendly disinfectants to kill bacteria and viruses using electrified tap water. The water produces hypochlorous acid.

The method was developed and patented by Dr. Eran Avraham, Dr. Izaak Cohen and professor Doron Aurbach, head of the electrochemistry group of the Department of Chemistry and Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials at Bar-Ilan University.

The advantage of the disinfectant over others, Avraham said, is that hypochlorous acid, unlike other commercial disinfectants like bleach, is not harmful to human skin or food.

The tunnel is the first implementation of the technology, Avraham said at a demonstration June 2 at the stadium. “It will help reduce the chances for infection,” he said.

Tel Aviv. His photo of a Bus 300 hijacker in custody in 1984 disproves the official story of how the four terrorists are killed.

June 24, 1987: Israeli Arabs hold an Equality Day strike, demanding an end to discrimination and equal funding for Jewish and Arab local authorities on a per capita basis.

June 20, 1950: Israel’s first Festival of Jewish Music begins at the historic YMCA building in Jerusalem and runs until July 1.

Most performances present classical music, but two events showcase Israeli folk music.

Photo by Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office // The Bridge of Strings is

June 21, 1882: Filmmaker and photographer Ya’acov Ben-Dov is born in Ukraine. He obtains a movie camera in 1917 in Jerusalem and begins a documentary career with footage of the British army’s arrival that December.

June 25, 2009: Jerusalem inaugurates the 1,180-foot-long Chords Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Strings, to serve pedestrians and the new light-rail system at the entrance to the city.

June 22, 1989: Omri Casspi, the first Israeli to play in the National Basketball Association, is born in Holon. The Sacramento Kings select him in the first round of the 2009 NBA Draft, picking him 23rd overall.

June 26, 2004: Musician Naomi Shemer dies at age 73 after a long battle with cancer.

She wrote her best-known song, the anthem “Jerusalem of Gold,” for a festival in 1967 before the Six-Day War reunified the city.

June 23, 1944: Photojournalist Alex Levac, a 2005 Israel Prize winner, is born in

June 27, 1945: Ami Ayalon, who leads Israel’s navy from 1992 to 1996 and the Shin Bet

Photo by Mark Neyman, Israeli Government Press Office // Retired Shin Bet head Ami

Ayalon speaks at the President’s Residence in 2013 during his time as an advocate for people with intellectual disabilities and as a proponent of the peace process.

security service from 1996 to 2000, is born in Tiberias. He represents the Labor Party in the Knesset from 2006 to 2009. prominent in an aerial view of the entrance to Jerusalem in 2011.

June 28, 1967: Israel publishes the Jerusalem Declaration, announcing the reunification of the city under Israeli sovereignty after the Six-Day War. Prime Minister Levi Eshkol promises holy-site access to all.

June 29, 1946: The British military launches Operation Agatha, a two-week series of weapons raids and arrests of Jewish resistance leaders and fighters, on a day that comes to be known as Black Sabbath.

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

OPINION When You Hear a Dog Whistle, Pay Attention Let’s dispense with the COVID-19 myth/slogan: We are all in this together.

We have not been, we are not now, and in recent Dave Schechter times there has From Where I Sit been ample reason to suggest that any change is unlikely. We are us and them, them and us.

COVID-19 has become yet another issue by which to measure the gulf between segments of society. Consider this quote from a Washington Post article in midMay about Georgia businesses reopening, from a man enjoying an afternoon at the Avalon mall in Alpharetta: “When you start seeing where the cases are coming from and the demographics – I’m not worried.”

That was followed by a quote from his friend, who sipped a beer and said, “I know what people are going to say — ‘Those selfish idiots are killing our old people!’”

Starting with the geography, the Georgia Department of Public Health reports that the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the state have come from four metro Atlanta counties: Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett and Cobb. (Fulton and Cobb rank first and second in the number of deaths attributed to COVID-19.)

A map created by the Atlanta JournalConstitution identified the greatest metro area concentrations of cases per 1,000 population as coming from zip codes inside the I-285 perimeter, and from west and southwest of downtown Atlanta.

The Fulton County Board of Health says that Alpharetta has accounted for less than 2.5 percent of its cases. So, “where the cases are coming from” is not in the vicinity of the Avalon mall.

Moving on to the demographics, Georgia is roughly 60 percent white and 32 percent African American. According to the DPH, as of June 4, African Americans made up nearly 32 percent of the state’s COVID-19 cases but 48.5 percent of the deaths.

The state classifies close to 28 percent of COVID-19 cases as “unknown” when it comes to racial identification. Using census percentages to redistribute those cases, African Americans clearly are even further over-represented.

Maybe “demographics” means they’re not like us, and if they’re not like us, why worry?

If you say “demographics” to get your meaning across without using another, well, less polite word, that’s known as a dog whistle. Maybe that wasn’t what the guy quoted in the Post meant to do, but numerous people who read that comment heard a whistle.

As for “killing our old people,” twothirds of the COVID-19 related deaths in Georgia have been people age 70 and older. Older people are more likely to have health issues worsened by the coronavirus and are the population of nursing homes and assisted-living residences, where about a half of the state’s COVIDrelated deaths have been recorded.

The myth that “We’re all in this together” is refuted all the more when you read a Facebook page that advocates opening all Georgia businesses and removing all restrictions – now. There, COVID-19 has been a “HOAX from day 1” and is responsible for “the continuing destruction of our Constitutional rights.” People wearing masks are ridiculed as “sheep” and the medical establishment, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, derided as know-nothings or on the take.

Elsewhere on social media, of course, any number of mask-wearing, socialdistancing, guideline-following people contend that those folks are themselves a threat to public health and welfare.

The “us and them” gulf is evident in the response to the aftermath of an African American man under the knee of a Minneapolis police officer. This column was in the works before “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances,” as enumerated in the First Amendment, became enmeshed in a tangle of vandalism and violence, of politics and policing.

It did not take long for posts to appear on that reopen Georgia from COVID-19 page, blaming the violence – “irrefutable evidence” one said, without presenting any – on George Soros, accusing the Holocaust survivor, Hungarian emigre and financier of hiring the people who smashed windows and looted stores. The constant invocation of Soros’ name is a dog whistle, though I have no doubt that the people doing so would deny there being even a hint of anti-Semitism in their suggestion that a wealthy Jewish person is the puppet master behind such activity. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 29

OPINION

Publishers Note I would like to personally and publicly thank Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms for her leadership, courage and strength Michael A. Morris over the last two weeks.

Publisher Here are some excerpts from her speech late Friday night, May 29: “This is not a protest. … This is chaos.

When you burn down this city, you are burning down our community. We are better than this. We are no longer talking about the murder of an innocent man, we art talking about how you are burning police cars in the streets of Atlanta.

Go home!”

I commend her ability to lead this city, not just downtown Atlanta, during a very dark time period. I am amazed at how deftly she has handled the pressure from her constituents, who include the peaceful protestors, rioters, bystanders and onlookers; owners of small Atlanta businesses and large corporations as well as looted and non-looted storefronts all over the city; journalists, the police and a host of other law enforcement; and all of us watching, in person, on CNN or on local channels.

Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms had little time to prepare, yet her words spoke volumes, her message struck at every Atlantan’s core (maybe not the criminal elements in our society), and she demonstrated leadership for which we could unite and follow. I am a proud Atlantan and I am proud to call Keisha Lance Bottoms our mayor.

The incidents that led up to the riots are dreadful. I am glad to see charges filed against all of George Floyd’s attackers and bystanders. I appreciate the right, in America, for people to congregate, protest and ensure their feelings and voices are heard. I also abhor the vio-

30 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

lence that has ensued. How unfortunate that the criminal riots overshadowed an extremely important protest.

People have been asking me, in the Jewish community, is this a Jewish issue? This is a human issue, therefore it is a Jewish issue. This is a minority issue, therefore it is a Jewish issue. This is an Atlanta issue, therefore it is an Atlanta Jewish community issue. This is an issue which our Torah specifically addresses, therefore it is a Jewish issue. I want to thank the various Jewish organizations that have been speaking out and supporting the protests, equity and equality under the law in this great country. I appreciate those that are using the Atlanta Jewish Times as one of their platforms.

There are a few people I want to specifically call out. I want to recognize the police and other law enforcement that kneeled with the protestors. I want to recognize the protestors that have protected the police during the riots. I want to recognize all the peaceful protestors that are exercising their rights and are reminding the rest of us how important equality is in America. I think all of these actions remind us that we are all in this together and we will all get through this, together.

I want to end by thanking the police and other law enforcement for doing their job, a very difficult job, a job that is often not black and white, but gray.

Most of us are not willing to become law enforcement because it brings about a certain amount of risk. Most of us have not been presented with the situation of whether or not lethal force is imminently warranted. I count myself as one of these people; therefore, I feel as though it is my duty and honor to support, maintain and thank those that do. It goes without saying, on every tree, there are a few bad apples. I do not condone, respect, nor thank those who serve without honor and integrity. I believe – and hope – there are very few of them. That is why I publicly salute the police on these pages and when I see them in the street. ì

OPINION

My View Protests and a pandemic are a lot to swallow all at once.

Shoot, it is a lot to swallow within one year’s time, let alone one month. Yet here we are.

Kaylene Ladinsky I find myManaging Publisher self watching & Editor and listening to the world around us with my jaw on the ground. I am not confused by anything that is going on around me. I am more concerned. There are so many feelings that I am trying to sort through. Yet, I have my feet planted firmly in the direction that I want to lead the AJT. The most prominent word that comes to my mind is “UNBIASED.” As editor of this newspaper, it is my goal to publish content that does not divide, nor censor. So, I thought that I would share just a few of my thoughts with respect to the current issues that our community is facing.

I believe in the right to peaceful protests. Protesting is an expression of our freedom as Americans and gives our society an outlet necessary to demonstrate like-minded beliefs or ideas. It

is a fundamental right that no citizen should ever be denied the opportunity to exercise.

We cannot ignore the destruction that comes from riots, nor can we ignore the cause of them. The riots that have broken out across our country are the climax of a problem or conflict that must be addressed. The recent deaths involving police brutality have ignited a problem that has surfaced time and time again over recent years. The riots we witnessed are the result of the lack of attention to these issues over time. The world’s reaction to George Floyd’s death has marked the beginning of real change.

I do not agree with demonizing the civil servants that put their lives on the line to protect and serve our communities. The officers that cross the line need to be dealt with and punished. Although, I also believe that there is more to fixing the problem than just firing and punishing the officers involved. Reform needs to start at the root. Training and understanding need to play a bigger part in police reform. When officers are placed in intense and dangerous situations, a proper response is essential to the safety of everyone involved. It should never take three officers to subdue a suspect, not if they are properly trained.

Social injustice and racism are part

of our society and we, as a community, need to address them. Whether it is racism against someone because of their color, religion or sexual orientation, it is just as real to those that are experiencing it as anti-Semitism is to Jewish communities around the world.

Our Jewish heritage has survived many attempts made on our people to oppress and annihilate us. It is my opinion that we have a responsibility to support the black community in its efforts to make a change. There is an obvious issue of oppression that arises daily. As a community, we can relate to the climax of frustration and anger that they are experiencing.

I wanted to publish the picture I have featured here on our cover for this issue. I was discouraged and told that it was upsetting, that there would be “backlash” from you, our readers, because it looked like I was depicting “hoodlums” destroying our town, and that we were only focusing on the negativity of the protests.

What I see is the truth behind the emotional outcry of injustice and racism that our country is now confronting. The man on this police car doesn’t have a bat or hammer in his hand, but a guitar. It screams emotion, strife and anger that he is feeling. I wanted to put this photo

on our cover because I felt as if it depicts the climax that resulted in a disturbance that will hopefully make a change in our society for the better. Unfortunately, I went along to get along and pulled this photo from the cover.

It is my mission to make my best efforts to stay away from anyone’s political agenda and give our community a reasonable and responsible platform to share diversity in thoughts, beliefs, opinions and ideas. If I am not doing a good job, then I will try harder.

It’s also okay to disagree. It is so upsetting when we get calls and angry mail from readers because we reported on something that someone disagrees with, especially when they are angry and emotional about someone else’s thoughts or opinions and shame us for sharing those views. I prefer to read opinions and thoughts that I do not agree with, even if they challenge my own beliefs and views.

That is one of the most interesting aspects of life for me.

Most importantly, I want to report the news, unbiased and factual news.

We are a small newspaper and we make mistakes, but I can assure you that we are doing our very best to produce an engaging and interesting publication that will continue to “Keep Jewish Atlanta Connected.” ì

Photo by Nathan Posner ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 31

OPINION

Why Are Georgia Roadways Honoring Anti-Semites?

It is not uncommon for streets and highways to be named after prominent members in the community, and that is how Cynthia McKinney Alex Blecker Parkway and Guest Opinion James E. “Billy” McKinney Highway came to be.

Billy McKinney was a longstanding state representative and his daughter, Cynthia, was believed to be the first black woman ever elected to represent Georgia in the U.S. House. Unfortunately, both also have a troubling history of antiSemitism.

When Billy McKinney was still serving as a state representative in 2002, he publicly stated that Cynthia’s congressional election was rigged because “Jews have bought everybody. Jews. J-E-W-S.” While his comments likely contributed to the loss of his house seat the same

32 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

year, the James E. “Billy” McKinney Highway was already dedicated to him. It is a part of I-285 that runs between I-20 and I-75.

Cynthia McKinney has also received backlash after her repeated obsession over conspiracy theories. Notably, she called for the impeachment of President George W. Bush after she implied his administration knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks before they occurred. But once again, the Cynthia McKinney Parkway was already dedicated to her prior to the revelation of her true character. The road is part of Memorial Drive, which runs from Stone Mountain to downtown Atlanta.

A failed effort was made in 2007 to rename both of the roadways following these incidents, but the General Assembly was unable to reach enough votes to remove their names from our city. But while a push to erase their names from Atlanta has stopped, Cynthia McKinney remains controversial.

Since the failed 2007 resolution, she has followed in her father’s footsteps of anti-Semitic behavior by preaching the

James E. “Billy” McKinney Highway is a part of I-285 that runs between I-20 and I-75.

“Dancing Israelis” conspiracy theory on nity should not be overlooked. With this her Twitter account, which asserts that in mind, the replacement street names the Israeli intelligence agency was be- must be carefully thought out to not punhind the 9/11 attacks. On top of this, the ish the black community for the McKinADL notes that “McKinney has a history ney family’s actions. While it does seem of using anti-Israel rhetoric, including only fitting to return Cynthia McKinney accusing the pro-Israel lobby of sabotag- Parkway to its original name of Memoing her political career and alleging that rial Drive, the recent murder of Ahmaud Israel is committing genocide, apartheid Arbery in Brunswick, Ga., should be a call to rename James E. “Billy” McKinand war crimes.”

Even more recently, on May 16, ney Highway to something like Ahmaud Arbery Highway. This she made it clear on way, Arbery’s tragic Twitter that she was death will never be against the Senate forgotten. voting to fund a HoloBy rewarding caust education webtwo anti-Semites site. A day later, McKwith namesake roads, inney took to Twitter Georgia is conveying once again to deny the that anti-Semitic benumber of Jews who havior is acceptable were killed in the Howhen it comes from locaust, inferring the prominent members commonly accepted of our community.

6 million figure was Maybe I am naive, but overinflated because I do not believe most a Jewish person first Georgians or Americited it. Overlooking Cynthia McKinney Parkway is a part cans would knowingthe irony of her provof Memorial Drive, which runs from ing that Holocaust Stone Mountain to downtown Atlanta. ly praise anti-Semites.

Given Cynthia McKeducation must be furthered, her vocal anti-Semitism is inney’s continued history of spewing anti-Semitism, either directly or through troubling.

McKinney’s recent statements anti-Israel activism, it is disturbing that should be a clear signal for the Georgia her name has remained on our roads for General Assembly to once again vote to this long.

The renaming of Cynthia McKinney remove her father’s name and hers from our city roads. While freedom of speech Parkway and James E. “Billy” McKinney rightfully exists and the content of one’s Highway might be long overdue, but that Twitter page is up to them, we can and doesn’t mean it is too late to correct this should control whose names our streets error. Lawmakers need to say “no” to bear. As a Jewish Georgian, their state- anti-Semitism and “no” to the McKinney ments are incredibly upsetting, and ac- family. ì tion must be taken.

Alex Blecker is a rising sophomore at Despite the blatant anti-Semitic history of the McKinney family, their Oglethorpe University double majoring in accomplishments for the black commu- economics and political science.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 33

OPINION

Letter to the editor,

Letter to the editor,

I have been attending multiple Black Lives Matter protests in downtown Atlanta the past week and will continue to do so once I hear back about a negative COVID-19 test. I would like to mention my experience, why I am doing it, and educate you as to why you should care as a Jewish publication.

Being Jewish, I find it imperative to stand with other minorities because at the end of the day we are all targets of white supremacy. Even though I am able to “hide” behind my skin color and my grandma was able to “hide” in Southern France for having blonde hair during the Holocaust, I will stand with those who are not able to hide.

At the protests I have seen nothing but peace from protesters and the police and military agitating us. I had to watch as my 20 friends and I were tear-gassed, alongside many other peaceful civilians, right outside of the capitol as military officials started closing in on us. Let me also make it clear that it was 7:45 p.m. Monday night [June 1] (1 hour and 15 minutes before curfew) and nothing was thrown at the cops then.

On that note, I’ve seen water bottles thrown at cops. However, a police officer is standing in a $3,000 protective suit, they can handle a water bottle. Even then, a water bottle should not equate to being tear-gassed the same way that being black should not be a death sentence in this country.

Today is Thursday [June 4] and I have had time to process being tear-gassed with my friends who were there, family and therapist. One thing it reminded me of was the Holocaust, being enclosed while having “authority” gas us for no reason. Obviously, the Holocaust gassing was lethal in a room while this was outside.

1) Tear gas is not even used in war (war crime) 2) We are in a pandemic that attacks the lungs.

I hope I made it clear that I’m not making a direct comparison, but rather experiencing generational trauma. As a Jewish publication you have a voice, and right now the voices of the unheard need to be heard. Being a Jewish publication, you need to recognize who has also fought with us (black people) and who has been our enemy (anything upholding white supremacy). By not using this voice, you are not acknowledging our history with other minorities and just using our white skin to defend white supremacy.

Let’s not forget how white supremacy also hates us. Don’t be another media outlet that lets authority get away with harming their citizens.

Gabby Weis, Atlanta

For any American Jew to stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter is to embrace its anti-Semitic platform.

Just read the platform of BLM. It could have been written by Hamas; its charter in Article 7 demands the murder of every Jew on earth, and it sounds like “Mein Kampf.” It declares that the Jewish people of Israel perpetrate genocide against Palestinian Arabs and that Israel is an apartheid state. That same BLM platform supports Omar Barghouti’s anti-Semitic genocidal BDS movement. Barghouti, the co-founder of BDS, has said the SOLE purpose of BDS is the euthanasia of the Zionist dream of Israel. A student of history, Barghouti knows full well that the Nazi T4 Euthanasia Program was the foundation of the Final Solution of the Jews as enacted in the Wannsee Protocol in January 1942. Barghouti’s use of the word euthanasia leaves no doubt he co-founded BDS to continue the anti-Semitic eliminationist mission formalized by Reinhard Heydrich and Adolf Eichmann at the Wannsee Conference.

There are many worthwhile civil rights organizations in the United States that do not wallow in anti-Semitism as BLM does. At this time of unrest, it is worth remembering an op-ed by Congressman John Lewis in the San Francisco Chronicle in January 2002. In that op-ed commemorating Martin Luther King Day, Congressman Lewis recalled the wise and prescient words of Dr. King spoken at Harvard University a few weeks before his death: “When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews; you’re talking antisemitism.” For a Jew to support BLM is to have the myopic mentality of the judenrat. We all know how that worked out.

Richard Sherman, Margate, Fla.

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Letter to the editor, “’It’s a War Crime’: Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv Against Netanyahu Annexation Bid,” Atlanta Jewish Times (online), June 8.

People certainly have the right to make their views known in public. But I must disagree with the claim that Israel is committing a war crime by extending Israeli civil governance to Jewish communities on land of religious and historic importance to Jews, land of strategic importance to Israel, land that was liberated from an illegal occupier (Jordan) in a defensive war.

When I think of war crimes, I think of Hamas firing missiles at Israeli population centers from Gazan population centers! I think of Hamas building tunnels to facilitate the abduction and murder of Israelis, using Israeli-supplied cement intended for the repair of Gazan houses damaged when Israel was forced to respond to Hamas’ attacks on Israeli civilians. I think of terrorists using helium taken from Gazan hospitals to float incendiary devices into Israel, sometimes attaching balloons and ribbons in the hopes of attracting Israeli children to exploding objects.

When I think of war crimes, I think of the Palestinian Authority inciting its people to attack Israelis and giving handsome stipends to murderers (and/or their families) when the murderers answer the call for violence. I think of the BDS movement, acknowledged by one of its founders (Omar Barghouti) to be an effort to “euthanize Israel.” And I see BDS not as a response to Jews’ building on land that the Oslo Accords designated for eventual Israeli control, but as an attempt to shut down businesses employing both Israelis and Palestinians and serving both Israeli and Palestinian consumers. What BDS truly opposes is the idea that Israelis and Palestinians might get to know each other and (horrors!) actually begin working to achieve Two States for Two Peoples, meaning a Palestinian state (the first ever!) co-existing with the nation-state of the Jews.

The organizers of the Tel Aviv rally oppose Israel’s attempt to move unilaterally on what was to be part of a negotiated process. But what could be more unilateral than insisting that everything must be settled via negotiation and then refusing to negotiate? Viewed in this light, Palestinian leaders are the prime exemplars of unilateralism. Palestinian leaders need to stop trying to destroy Israel and begin building the infrastructure needed by a viable state, one in which the Palestinians (including those claiming descent from Arabs who fled or were displaced by Arab-initiated violence decades ago) can become productive citizens.

Toby F. Block, Atlanta

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The AJT welcomes your letters. We want our readers to have an opportunity to engage with our community in constructive dialogue. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

Letter to the editor,

OPINION

My Formal Response to the TikTok #AutismChallenge I am a teenager with autism, and am also an avid TikTok user. You might be wondering what TikTok is. TikTok is a social media platform that has exploded in the past year and especially during the pandemic. The content that is created on the app is mostly dancing videos that can range from 15 to 60 seconds. It’s very entertaining and sometimes addictive, and is also [believed to be] the most downloaded app in the world. As much as I appreciate who I am as a person with autism, I also appreciate TikTok being a huge part of my social media life. It is a place where I can watch funny content all the time, as well as express myself through dance trends and storytelling.

However, I recently stumbled across a TikTok challenge called the #AutismChallenge. Sadly, it was not started by people on the spectrum or promoted to spread acceptance or understanding. In fact, it was started and promoted by neurotypical people to make fun of autistic people.

The actions that were shown in the #AutismChallenge videos assumed what all autistic people look and act like. Even more offensive, a lot of these videos were being used with the “Let’s Get Retarded” parody song. As someone who has autism, I was completely hurt when I learned about this.

First, not all autistic people look and act like the way users that participated in the challenge depicted. Second, I would not be where I am today without my family, friends, teachers, therapists, doctors, and anyone who helped me make it this far.

Thanks to dedicated disability advocates, TikTok removed the #AutismChallenge from their platform. I personally want to thank TikTok for taking action and supporting people with disabilities.

For participants of the challenge to be depicting autism in the way they did was not acceptable. Not only does it impact me and the autistic community to see that, but the entire disability community itself.

Every day I am grateful for who I am as a person. I celebrate disability diversity and acceptance every single day. I will keep fighting to make sure people with disabilities are more represented and included in this world along with everyone else.

I personally want to thank every single person who has been by my side and has made an impact on me. Family, friends, teachers, you know who you are! So thank you!

Perri Schwartz, 17, The Cottage School ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 35

Gifts That Will Make Dad Glad With Father’s Day around the corner, it’s all about the beloved men in our lives who are our superheroes. Father’s Day is their day for a little TLC, and let’s make them feel extra special.

Here’s a list of gifts that are Dad-approved and will put a smile on any guy’s face. For starters, consider Dad’s favorite things: hobbies, food preferences and beyond. Is your Dad sentimental, car-loving, workshop obsessed? And what does he love to do? Is your pop tops at fixing things, grilling or a devoted foodie? Order early and make Dad glad this Father’s Day with gifts galore. Here are some favorites that have passed the test with flying colors.

The Grill-Loving Dad – These ingenious kabob baskets, from www.uncommongoods.com, will be Dad’s new favorite grilling accessory. Made from steel wire and topped with a wood handle, the basket design makes for easy flipping. No skewer necessary.

eCreamery Ice Cream - eCreamery Ice Cream and Gelato is dishing up delicious Dad’s Day hand-churned, premium ice cream in mouth-watering flavors. Each unique creation is made from premium ingredients in a small batch process for the ultimate ice cream experience. This amazing ice cream, combined with unique personalized packaging with clever titles or photographs, has garnered small business national recognition on shows such as ABC’s Shark Tank and the TODAY show, which I had the pleasure of featuring live while I was reporting on the show about the best personalized gifts.

Each Father’s Day pint features a fun message, and as if ice cream wasn’t enough, eCreamery also offers sorbet and dairy-free options. Packages start at $59.99. eCreamery ships direct to customers nationwide in reusable coolers packed in dry ice. Standard, express and rush shipping options are available. Customers are encouraged to let gift recipients know when to be expecting their deliveries. Visit www.ecreamery. com or call 800-920-5344 to order.

Dad Will Go Nuts - Does Dad love pistachios, but finds himself stuck cleaning scattered piles of shells? Uncommon Goods’ Pistachio Pedestal might be the perfect gift for him which is a fun gadget that makes pistachio eating a pleasure.

This two-tiered server is designed to offer an elegant solution for serving his favorite snack and hiding those discarded shells, see www.uncommongoods.com.

Who’s That Masked Man? Atlantan Tascha Katz (Martha Jo Katz’s daughter-in-law) started making masks when COVID-19 hit, and has donated over 350 masks to healthcare providers, hospitals and senior centers. She began getting requests from friends and family to make her custom fabric masks and even made them for members of the University of Georgia football team, kids, brides, grooms, EMTs, teachers and more. Tascha’s mask are comfortable and delivered via mail to your door.

Dads will appreciate her sporty masks, themed fabric and thoughtful gift for Father’s Day. To place orders, message Tascha at her @Craftykraut Facebook page, email katznat@yahoo.com or Etsy at thecraftykraut.

36 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Coffee Toffee - Enjoying a sweet treat and piece of decadent bourbon toffee will have Dad feeling like he’s indulged on Father’s Day. Amelia Toffee Company makes the indulgent, small batch toffee with a special recipe. The brand takes its artisanal, handcrafted toffee, covering each piece in gourmet chocolate and dusting the outside with roasted almonds in a pinch of sea salt. From flavors like key lime, orange blossom, to even yummy coffee toffee, you really can’t go wrong gifting Dad a slice of toffee heaven this year, at https://ameliatoffee.com/.

Robyn Spizman Gerson

Popping in to Say Happy Father’s Day – Tell Pop he’s tops! Pure. Simple.

Popcorn happiness. Poppy’s hand-crafted popcorn is made in small batches, using real ingredients, sourced as close to home as possible in Asheville, N.C. From traditional favorites to new and unusual flavors, each batch is made with love and it shows! www.poppyspopcorn.com.

Wall of Family Fame – Here’s a clever work of art that represents your family with this Personalized Family Print by Oregon-based artists Mary and Shelly Klein. Choose skin tones, hair and clothing color to create a lovely family member lineup, then customize with your family name and the year you were established. This framed print comes with hanging hardware and is available at www.uncommongoods.com.

Order early for Father’s Day or let Dad know his customized gift is in the works.

For Chocolate Loving Dads – If Dad is a chocolate lover, check out the Chocolate Pizza drenched in chocolate and candy toppings. Your dad’s eyes will light up when you send him the delectable, No Frills, No Fluff Gift Basket for Men. Chocolate Pizza Company is the only place you’ll also find Peanut Butter Wings — a unique salty-sweet treat that is sure to be the hit of your next party or the gift your loved ones won’t stop raving about. The “Mansket” includes a no-frills, no-fluff, man-cave approved for the tough guy on your list brown paper bag that holds Peanut Butter Wings (8 ounces), six chocolate covered cookies, Candy Avalanche Pizza slice, chocolate-covered Twinkie (Moompa) and is topped off with a duct tape “bow,” at https://www.chocolatepizza. com/product/mansket-gift-baskets-men/.

Patio Daddy-O – For the dad who loves to grill, be sure to check out Farmers & Fishermen Purveyors fresh fish and fine food.

Check out their kosher section, fabulous marinades, vinegars and lemon-infused olive oil.

Previously, they serviced restaurants and recently also began offering their incredible edibles with a complimentary home delivery, making a delicious difference for customers while also helping regional farms and fishermen.

Signature gift boxes include the Fabulous Fish Box, USDA Prime Love-Me-TENDERloin Filets and an array of outstanding choices for the thrill of the grill. You’ll love the outstanding selection of freezer pleasers perfectly suited for Dad! Call Farmers & Fishermen for the gift that keeps on giving at 770-441-1100 and online at www.farmersandfishermen.com.

For the Superhero Dad - Make the ”Super Dad” of your family feel like a celebrated superhero with his very own personalized storybook featuring his name and photo. The entire family will love the book and when ordering you can also include up to five names of family members who love their Super Dad, and a family photo. Send Dad your love and appreciation this Father’s Day with this personalized can’t-miss superhero-style gift. Order at www.iseeme.com.

Dairy Free Dad – If Dad has food restrictions and prefers dairy-free or vegan options, Sweet Vegan is here to show you just how delicious a truffle can be without using any dairy or other animal products. Sweet Vegan chocolates come in a variety of gift box choices. You can also create your own. Sweet Vegan offers “Dreamy Bite” truffles. Each are made with organic, sustainable and fair-trade ingredients. Also check out their Dreamy Bites. Your guiltiest pleasure comes alive with smooth and velvety ganache, blended with subtle notes of flavor and dipped in dark chocolate, at www.sweetvegan.nyc/.

For Tech-Friendly Dad: Working from home can be a great change of pace from the hectic and loud office life. Make Dad’s life easier and stay in the zone with the all-in-one Hub Turbo 6700 mAh (milliamp hours) from myCharge. The do-it-all portable charger provides up to four times extra battery life and charges up to 75 percent faster, taking your smartphone from 0 to 50 percent in only 30 minutes.

The Hub Turbo has built-in Apple Lightning and USB-C charging cords as well as an additional USB-A port to recharge another device using your own cable. The Hub Turbo also features foldout wall prongs on the back to directly recharge the unit.

Purchase at www.mycharge.com or on Amazon.

Home Run – Home Depot Gift Card – Want to nail gift giving? Here’s a gift that every dad will enjoy.

Give Dad the iconic orange gift card from The Home Depot, which I featured in a segment on gift cards on NBC’s TODAY show nationally when the gift card was new to gifting. I attached it with a ribbon to a hammer, and the wooden handle was hand-painted by the kids, for a knock-out gift for Dad. Still a grand slam by all measure, The Home Depot Gift Card is the ideal gift for the dad who is a fix-everything-guy or just loves to tool around in his workshop. Thanks Home Depot for the gift that keeps on giving, at www.homedepot.com.

A Saucy Gift – Aubrey Lenyard, the entrepreneurial creator of AubSauce, is an award-winning Atlanta hand-crafted barbecue sauce made for the man, grill master, foodie, or Dad who loves to cook on your gift list. Aubsome flavors include Southern loving choices such as Spicy Peach, Fiery Pineapple Mango, and Original AubSauce, www.aubsauce.com/shop-sauce/aubsauce-gift-box.

No One Can Fill Dad’s Shoes! If your dad is a golfer, then he’ll love these performance golf socks from Bombas. Available in ankle or calf, these socks include signature features, such as a mesh under-toe ventilation zone and thermoregulation to help your feet breathe. as well as full cushioning for all day comfort. And Bombas donates an item to someone in need for every item purchased, www.bombas.com .

Robyn Spizman is an award-winning New York Times best-selling author and media personality. She wrote, “Loving Out Loud: The Power of a Kind Word,” published last year, available on Amazon. She also has appeared on local and national television for over three decades, www.robynspizman.com. ì

Experience the Gift of Luxury.

2799 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 MercedesOfBuckhead.com • (800) 713-5938 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 37

PETS Jewish Atlanta Pets of 2020 For our fifth annual pet issue, we once again asked Jewish Atlanta to submit photos of their furry, fuzzy, feathery, scaly and otherwise precious pets. We promised to publish a gallery of the most photogenic with one lucky winner to grace the cover. We chose Belle, a 2-year-old goldendoodle who clearly understands the global environment. Within these pages you will find 50 pet images, about half of the more than 100 submissions we received. The rest will appear on our website. All entries were entered into a drawing for a gift card.

Cover 2020

Belle - Betsy of Dunwoody 2-year-old goldendoodle

Blu - Mariya of Alpharetta 8-year-old husky

Flash - Alyson and Gabe of Dunwoody 4-year-old basset hound

Brodie Doods - Stacie of Sandy Springs 8-week-old petite goldendoodle

Belle knows the word kitty! If you say kitty she will go crazy and run to the neighbor's house who has a cat!

Flash lays on her back minutes at a time waiting for someone to rub her belly.

38 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Blu throws screaming tantrums so wild that they even landed him a spot on Good Morning America!

Already sitting and laying down for a treat; loves chasing his tail!

Rolo - Tamar of Sandy Springs 3-year-old terrier mix Rolo loves jumping up on a chair and sitting with us while we eat dinner.

Beau & Virginia - Shelly & David of Johns Creek 2-year-old black Lab and red-fox Lab Virginia has high energy and is fast. Beau wags his tail for anyone and loves hugs!

Kyya - Risa of Peachtree Corners 6-year-old tripod tabby Kyya is a sweet, typical cat whose favorite thing to do is watch birds out the window.

Sammy & Maggie - Micah of Brookhaven 4-year-old mix They can both play dead when you say “bang bang� (you must have a treat in your hand)

Zoey - Ilana of Midtown 6-month-old Havanese Zoey fetches and brings stuffed animals back to Mama like clockwork.

Veronica - Rachel of Alpharetta 2-year-old Siamese Veronica chases lizards and protects the family by sitting on top of the fridge.

Kirby - Whitney of Brookhaven 2-year-old shepard mix Kirby carries MASSIVE sticks when walking at all times.

Gracie - David of Loganville 13-year-old pug Gracie is totally blind, but is emotionally attached to me. She's my "souldog."

Negev - Deborah of Dunwoody 3-year-old boxer/shepherd mix Along with several tricks, Negev protects our daughters!

Bogart - Jeff of Virginia-Highland 8-year-old golden retriever mix Kids come running from their yards to pet Bogart as he strolls by on his walk.

Morse - Melanie of Roswell 3-year-old mutt When Morse is excited to see you he will prance around on his tippy toes!

Boba - Lauren of Chamblee 2.5-year-old goldendoodle Boba walks herself towards the Frosty Caboose for her doggy ice cream sundae.

Rosie - Simonie of Sandy Springs 1-year-old Labradoodle Rosie jumps in the pool and swims to cool off and have fun.

Rosie - Thais of Cumming 6-month-old mini goldendoodle Rosie loves to play outside and jumps super high.

Gigi - Lexie of East Cobb 5.5-year-old cocker spaniel / terrier Gigi has five different barks to communicate her needs with us.

George - Bea of Historic Norcross 34-year-old yellow naped Amazon parrot George says hello when phone rings, byebye when I pick up keys, barks like a dog.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 39

Brooklyn - Stacey and Mitchell of East Cobb 2-year-old Labradoodle In the mornings Brooklyn will not get up unless her tummy is rubbed for 10 minutes.

Mac - Lindsay of Dunwoody 12-week-old mini-goldendoodle Mac is 12 weeks old and the most cuddly happy puppy. Mac can skateboard!

Oscar - Dani of East Lake 2-year-old Cavachon Oscar gives hugs which we all need right now.

Frankie - Amy of East Cobb 12-year-old Yorkie mix Frankie spends time at night in each boys’ room to watch over them.

Bernadette - Erica of Sandy Springs 2-year-old red standard poodle Bernadette is the perfect combination of star athlete and couch potato.

Dorothy "Dot" - Felicia of Decatur 1-year-old terrier mix Dot has become a JScreen swag model and makes appearances on JScreen Zoom calls.

Hannah - Eileen of Brookhaven 3-year-old Chihuahua Jack Russell terrier mix Hannah sings to Trumpets on Sunday Morning With Jane Pauley Show!

Tybee and Peanut - Randi and Sid of Buckhead 2-year-old Scottish terriers Tybee and Peanut dance, kiss, bark a lot and love life.

Goliath - Keith of Sandy Springs 12-year-old Malti-poo Goliath has to run up to everyone he sees and greet them with tail wags and kisses.

Jagger - Diann of Sandy Springs 1.5-year-old golden retriever mix rescue Jagger walks up driveways and lawns & sits down to give fellow walkers right of way.

Gracie Jane - Monica of Buckhead 11-month-old Great Dane Proud of her Jewish Sephardic heritage, Gracie Jane loves to cook with her dog mom and sister.

Iggy - Karin & Matt of Sandy Springs 7-year-old mini goldendoodle Iggy may be mini but she can jump twice her height, or 2.6 ft!

Vinny - Isabella of Briarcliff Woods 1.5-year-old pit bull mix Vinny is a total clown. He lives for the dog park, steals our stuff, and loves to cuddle and play.

Angus Clyde - Toni of East Cobb 5-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix Angus is a huge fan of romaine lettuce, his grandma and burying himself under the covers.

P - David & Daniela of Peachtree Corners 3-year-old sulcata tortoise P is a spurred, stubborn, and spoiled champion of our hearts. Thrives in sunshine.

Sunflower - Lindsay of Midtown 11-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix She can jump nearly 5 feet straight into the air (but only when she wants to)!

40 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Georgia - Shari of Roswell 9-year-old golden retriever mix Georgia can high five and can wave! She loves long walks and lounging on the couch.

Nina - Chadd of Tucker 4-year-old mixed breed Nina's vertical jump is about 5 feet from standing still

Harley - Lisa of Alpharetta 10-month-old mini goldendoodle Harley jumps so high she looks like she is flying.

Chloe - Lydia of Brookhaven 8-year-old half American bulldog half pug Chloe is known for her nickname Boo and loves to carry around toys twice her size.

AJT Pets Bishop - Heather of Dunwoody 7-year-old golden retriever/collie mix Bishop opens doors when he wants to be by our side.

Murray - Bev of Toco Hills 14-week-old Havanese Murray is Houdini -- an escape artist.

Mushu - Michael: Owner & Publisher 12-year-old rescued pound pup Mushu is a beloved office mascot.

Lilly - Kaylene: Managing Publisher & Editor 7.5-month-old imperial shih tzu Lilly is very smart, tenacious, adorable, cuddly and loving; our perfect lil' girl.

Munchie - Michal: Senior Account Manager 14-year-old boxer mix Munchie is my shadow and is always happy to see me.

Athena - Brenda: Senior Account Manager 2-year-old Persian mix Athena is spunky, affectionate and very mischievous.

Scout - Roni: Associate Editor 11-year-old golden retriever terrier Scout rolls over for belly rubs!

She is just the best!

Bagel - Lilli: Creative & Media Designer 1.5-year-old Jackahuahua rescue pup Bagel loves playing with tennis balls.

He loves being with his family.

Squeaks & Rocky - Jodi: Executive Assistant 3-year-old tabbies Trapeze artists who will jump and walk the highest location possible.

Dug - Amy: Community Events & PR Manager 10-year-old Maltese/Yorkie mix Dug is a talkative, expressive, lovable guy, whose favorite place is perched on your shoulder.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 41

PETS

Dogs Have Nose for Cancer and COVID

By Bob Bahr For years Dr. Claire Guest, a British expert in animal behavior, studied the ability of certain breeds of dogs to sniff out disease.

As she was working with her own dog, Daisy, a Labrador retriever, she noticed the dog poking her nose into the scientist’s chest, as if to call her attention to something that was going on in her own body.

Guest was surprised to find a small, barely detectible lump in her breast, and after a mammogram and a core biopsy, she was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.

Because of the early diagnosis and prompt treatment, today, 11 years later, she is still cancer free. Guest started her British firm Medical Detection Dogs as a way to advance research. The firm’s website describes the nose of a dog as “the best biosensor we know of.”

The site goes on to state that dogs can detect “tiny traces (around one part per trillion – the equivalent of one teaspoon of sugar in two Olympic size swimming pools) of the odor created by different diseases.”

Scientists working in both the United States and in Britain point to promising new research that shows that dogs may also be able to easily and inexpensively sniff out the coronavirus. They point to the fact that respiratory diseases such as COVID-19 can produce subtle changes in personal body odor.

Arlene Weintraub, an author and former science writer for The New York Times, wrote about the developments in her 2015 book “Heal: The Vital Role of Dogs in the Search for Cancer Cures.”

“Dogs can be trained to recognize certain scents,” she told the AJT. “Tumors are thought to give off scents that are not necessarily unique to them, but in concentrations that are unique. And so dogs can be trained

Because dogs are resistant to infection by the coronavirus, they are being trained to sniff it out in humans.

to recognize that and then to alert when they find it.”

Researchers at Penn Vet Working Dog Center of the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine are trying to catch the odor of the virus from patients as they have for disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, which has no single reliable test for its presence in the body.

Research with dogs, according to Weintraub, could ultimately lead to the development of an electronic system that could detect viruses and disease by recognizing the volatile substances that have caused the dogs to react.

“What is so exciting is the effort to translate that sensory ability into a diagnostic tool. In other words, to invent an electronic nose, which several researchers have been trying to do, including a team at the Technion [Israel Institute of Technology] in Israel.”

Weintraub points to the work of pro-

fessor Hossam Haick at Technion, who developed a prototype of an electronic nose that uses sub-microscopic gold metal sensors. Using the device, he has been able to flawlessly detect cancer in a group of 62 volunteers with head, neck and lung cancers.

But, Weintraub warns, there are a number of regulatory hurdles to overcome before the device can be commercially marketed.

“It’s the type of thing that will take many years because in order to get it through regulatory approval like the FDA, it has to be near perfect.”

Much more promising is the role that dogs have played in developing drugs in a clinical setting. Unlike laboratory rats and mice, dogs naturally develop cancers. Because of that, drug companies have been eager to test their new drugs in a setting that approximates real world conditions. According to Weintraub, because dogs process drugs in ways that are similar to humans, medical researchers have been particularly successful in creating drugs that act on the immune system.

Author Arlene Weintraub’s book “Heal” deals with the role of dogs in medical advances.

“One big area is immunotherapy. These are drugs that help the immune system to recognize cancer as a foreign invader and to eliminate it like it would eliminate a virus or some other type of pathogen. Because cancer is very deceitful in the body, it can trick the immune system into not recognizing it as foreign. And that’s why cancer is so hard to treat. And so the same principle can be applied to treating dogs with cancer as well.”

Weinberg believes there is a new appreciation of dogs and the role they play in our lives, from the research being carried on to detect COVID-19 rapidly and effectively to the developing of what is described as the comparative oncology of drug therapy, using dogs to test drugs that might work in humans as well.

“I see a lot more listings of clinical trials for pets, meaning that if your dog develops cancer, you can enroll in a clinical trial and have a lot of your medical expenses paid for.

And you have access to all this great cuttingedge research which may end up benefiting people.” ì

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To boost our archives, we will come pick up any AJT issues from 2014 or earlier.

Please call 404-883-2130 or write kaylene@ atljewishtimes.com to setup retrieval.

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As always, thank you for reading your Atlanta Jewish times.

42 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

PETS

Atlanta Vet Talks about Pets and COVID-19

By Chana Shapiro Concern spread quickly in April when COVID-19 was identified in a Malayan tiger, followed by two African tigers and three African lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York.

Soon after these unexpected discoveries, two pet dogs and two pet cats in the United States (and a few in other countries) were diagnosed with the virus, thereby increasing pet owners’ anxiety. Could one’s own beloved pets be vulnerable to the virus, and could they possibly spread the disease to humans?

To address mounting concerns, we contacted Dr. Lance Hirsh of the Veterinary Center of Buckhead. It’s a full-service veterinary medical facility that provides preventive healthcare and treatment for animals, while offering educational opportunities for their owners. Hirsh is the founder-owner of the center, which has served Atlanta since 1992.

Hirsh’s own household includes two French bulldogs. His clients regularly bring their pets for standard immunizations. Still, he said, “I don’t anticipate a time when we would be vaccinating dogs and cats for COVID-19. The likelihood of domestic pets be-

coming infected is extremely low. Also, we cannot infect each other or our patients. We know that the house cats that were infected wear masks and gloves when we work, and in the United States all recovered, and the we maintain proper distancing and wear two dogs [that reportedly died of COVID-19] gloves and masks when we meet pet owners outside our office to receive their pets and to were quite old, likely with other conditions. return them.”

“It is believed that When asked about these animals were inpossible contamination fected by their owners,” of his facility’s boarded he said. “I follow the CDC animals, Hirsh laughs, guidelines in this mat“Pets are boarded here ter, and fear by owners when their owners are or veterinarians about working or go on vacahouse pets contracting tion. At this moment, or spreading the virus with no boarded aniis not indicated. The inmals, we aren’t thinking cidence of COVID-19 in about it! When boarding pets is so insignificant, I don’t see it as a current Dr. Lance Hirsh, a native Atlantan, is resumes, we’ll take eva pet owner and is active in charitable ery necessary precauveterinary issue.” organizations that support animals. tion.”

Hirsh added, “ObHirsh detailed the CDC guidelines and viously, each of us in our office takes COVID-19 seriously. We will vigilantly continue procedures his facility would follow in case to safely provide all the services pets need, of the very unlikely presence of COVID-19 in which can include surgeries, treatment of a pet. “If someone brought us a sick animal injuries, stem cell procedures and meds with respiratory issues and we had reason assessments. Our staff consists of myself, to suspect infection from the virus — and I my associate Dr. Greg Jenkins, and several don’t anticipate this happening — we would technicians. We essential workers are deter- submit our own testing to a large, regionallymined to come to work healthy so that we based, national veterinary lab like Antech

here in Atlanta, which gathers extensive data and works on diagnostic solutions,” he said.

On June 1, The New York Times reported the first confirmed COVID-19 case of a canine house pet, a German shepherd. One of the dog’s owners tested positive for the virus, and the other owner showed symptoms of the disease. The dog is expected to make a full recovery.

“The best advice I can give is to treat your pet just as you would a family member.

Keep pets away from infected family members, don’t let your pet interact with other pets, as in doggie parks, and walk your pet on a leash.”

Hirsh is eager to reassure all pet owners who may be concerned that their pets could infect them. “We have no scientific evidence whatsoever that house pets play a role in the transmission of COVID-19 to humans. I treat pets and I own pets, and I feel no more vulnerable to COVID-19 than the next person.”

In this time of uncertainty, those comforting words are good to hear.

Veterinary Center of Buckhead is located at 3615 Piedmont Road in Atlanta and can be reached at 404-841-9679. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 43

PETS

Pet Groomer to Atlanta’s Elite

By Marcia Caller Jaffe The majority of homes in the U.S. today – 67 percent – have a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association’s 2019-20 National Pet Owners Survey. That’s a lot of dogs and cats being dunked in laundry sinks or outsourced to professionals who have the tools and set up.

Grooming legend Rhoda Stahlman is a pet whisperer who is trusted by Atlanta’s elite. Those pampering pet owners patronize Stahlman, who was flown multiple times to France to groom media scion Anne Cox Chambers’ pooches.

Beginning with an early love of pets, Stahlman grew up in Chattanooga in her grandfather’s home. No pets were allowed. Her favorite store was the feed and seed downtown. She saved enough to buy two baby chicks, which she raised in the backyard. They grew up to be beautiful Rhode Island Reds. Unfortunately, one day they disappeared and were served for dinner. She laments, “Yes, this is one of the reasons I am so obsessed over living creatures.”

44 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Stahlman explains how she fell into the profession. “When the economy took a downturn in the late 70s, it was time for a career change. I left the office world and followed my lifelong passion of caring for pets. My husband and four teenagers were supportive, and I started a pet sitting business. I took care of a parrot who said ‘Good Morning’ even at night, and visited with ‘Baby Cat’ on whom I never laid eyes, but hissed and growled the whole visit.”

The tide turned when Stahlman spotted an ad for a pet grooming school in Sandy Springs. Stahlman enrolled and her career took off. In the meantime, she told her hair stylist about this new endeavor. Three chairs over was a friend of one of the country’s wealthiest women, Anne Cox Chambers, heiress of Cox Enterprises, who had just rescued a dog and was looking for someone special to spend quality time with it. Thus began a storybook adventure of grooming in Atlanta, New York and France. Stahlman opened a grooming salon in Marietta. When that closed, she began grooming at home. “My clients are amazingly loyal. I try to retire,

Arts advocate Jan Collins with Havanese Lola touts Stahlman’s professionalism.

Groomer Rhoda Stahlman has a list of prestigious clients and shares her knowledge and love of pets.

but who can resist a new puppy or one newly adopted?”

From that point on, Stahlman was on call for Chambers’ pets until the billionaire died in January at age 100. Chambers was a major donor for the Atlanta Humane Society and the High Museum of Art. Stahlman went several times to France to groom Chambers’ dogs. “She was most gracious and welcoming, and I will always cherish those times. Her dog Helen was given to me and went on to become a Happy Tails therapy dog. I now have Leila, who came from the Atlanta Humane Society, adopted by Mrs. Chambers. I was asked to find her a home; she came to my house and never left.”

Another high-profile client is real estate magnate Jenny Pruitt. Stahlman said, “She has known and trusted me for decades to care for her dogs.” Arts advocate Jan Collins brings her Havanese dog.

“Rhoda does a wonderful job. Her doggy spa is as clean and sterile as an operating room. She is like the ‘dog whisperer’ and can get them to do what she needs with only gentle persuasion.”

Stahlman recalls some near misses, “We’ve never had a dog disappear, but we’ve had scares. One ran outside up and down every neighbors’ driveway and finally returned because she was thirsty.

I boarded a cat that vanished within hours. I was mortified, called the owners to come over, shouted for the cat, put food out and several neighbor cats came, but not the missing one. Panic set in and ‘kitty’ remained missing for days. A few afternoons later, I heard a jingle bell, and there was missing kitty behind a door.

She later came to adore the shop and sat on the table whenever a dog was having his hair done.”

To keep current, Stahlman reads the latest information on dog health, behavior, and signals. “Every dog is different, but they all have the need to be loved and give love back.”

Stahlman and her husband also “share love” with 10 grandchildren.

“During COVID-19 lockdown, a clean, fresh-smelling pet brings joy. Grooming shops are open and welcome your pet in the safest distancing manner.” ì

PETS

The Cat’s Meow

Thank you for your votes!

We appreciate this honor and the trust and confidence you have shown in our veterinarians and staff.

We are proud to have also received the Consumer Choice Award for Best Veterinary Hospital in 2019, 2018 and 2017.

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

Please visit one of our 3 hospitals.

Dr. Jay Empel & Dr. Andrew Empel

The Heller children had to wear down Rabbi Heller to take on a third feline.

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Amelia Heller turned 15 at the end of April. During her drive-by quarantine birthday party, one of her friends brought a kitten that they were fostering and let Amelia and the family hold her.

The family all joked that she was so cute they might just have to adopt her. After this interaction, the Hellers did not discuss getting another cat for quite some time, but in mid-May, discussions began anew. At first Rabbi Joshua Heller, senior rabbi at Congregation B’nai Torah, was opposed to the idea of adopting another cat since the family already had two. He said, “Having a pet is a big responsibility.

I don’t want to take on the responsibility if we can’t do it 100 percent.” Even with his reservations, the children and wife Wendy Heller wore him down. On May 19, Ellie, the very same kitty from weeks earlier, arrived at the Heller’s house and was welcomed with hugs and snuggles.

Amelia said, “Ellie is a small 1-pound, 7-ounce tabby with big blue-grey eyes, a skinny ringed tail, and black and gray striped fur. When she is not sleeping, Ellie is quite curious, excited, energetic, and playful, but always ready to cuddle.

She loves all of her toys, the laser pointer and string, but she especially loves climbing and exploring her new home.”

The Heller family’s experience with cats began in 2014 when they adopted their first. Prior to Ellie, the Hellers had two felines, Rashi and Tosefot, named for the Talmudic sages. The family has not yet introduced the other two cats to Ellie, but it seems clear they are aware of her.

Currently, Ellie is located in the basement, and the other two cats are on the upper floors of the house.

Rabbi Heller had one condition: If the family was to get another cat, he would name it, and he had picked out the name “Rabbeinu Tam” long before Ellie.

The Hellers seriously considered Tommi as the name for Ellie but knew

The Heller family had lively input into the Talmudic origins of the new kitten’s name.

that variations of “Tam” would never quite fit a girl kitten. Rabbi Heller explained, “I like that the first two are named Rashi and Tosefot, and wish we had named our third Rabeinnu Tam. That is my greatest disappointment.”

The night the Hellers got Ellie, they had a long conversation debating names like Josie, Princess Carolyn, Duchess, Tommi, Missy and Rava, but they could not agree. A name the whole family liked was Ellie because it could stand for so many things: Elazar Ben Azaria, Eliyahu Hanavi, Eleanor, and Elliot, all of which had cultural, family or Jewish significance and many cute variations that could serve as nicknames. Eventually everyone agreed that Ellie would be the new kitten’s name.

The children knew when they first got cats that most of the duties would fall to them. Caleb, the oldest child, gives the cats water daily; Amelia, the middle, cleans the litter boxes and is responsible for medications; Ezra, the youngest feeds the cats; and everyone pitches in when it is time to go to the vet.

These responsibilities have increased since Ellie arrived because kittens are especially needy. Amelia continued, “Ellie needs a mix of kibbles and canned food four times a day and goes to the vet often for immunizations and check-ups just like an infant would. Because she is secluded in the basement, Ellie needs constant attention, but that feels less of a chore because the entire family enjoys spending time with her.”

Though the Hellers cannot say for sure as Ellie is very young, they intend to take her out on a leash occasionally like they do with Rashi. Ellie will not have lengthy outside outings to avoid the dangers that come with the great outdoors like coyotes, fleas and getting into trouble with other stray animals.

Vernon Woods Animal Hospital 270 Vernon Woods Drive NE Atlanta, Ga. 30328 (404) 252-1641 www.vernonwoodsanimalhospital.com

Northsprings Animal Clinic 7541 Roswell Road Atlanta, Ga. 30350 (770) 393-9889 www.northspringsanimalclinic.com

Brookhaven Animal Hospital 205 Town Blvd Suite 210A Atlanta, Ga. 30319 (404) 237-0316 www.brookhavenanimalhospital.com

Ellie, welcome to the family! You landed on a good perch. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 45

PETS

Stuck at Home, Atlanta Families Adopt and Foster Pets

By Jan Jaben-Eilon In late 2018, when Cole Thaler first started developing an idea for temporarily fostering pets of families evicted from their homes, he didn’t foresee the pandemic of 2020. A Jewish attorney working for the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, Thaler focused on low-income tenants who had problems with landlords.

“Evictions were high even before the pandemic,” he pointed out. “Many led to homelessness. Usually after two to three months, families can find a more stable situation. I knew from volunteering with animal shelters that the shelters were overloaded. So in late 2018, I had a lightbulb moment.

What if there was a temporary foster option for the family pet for a couple of months, and then the family could reunite with it?”

As Thaler researched the options, he learned that “there was something for [pets of] families of domestic abuse.” He called the director who told him that she had been having similar conversations about helping evicted families with pets. Fast forward to January 2020, and the founding of Paws Between Homes.

A month later, Rabbi Don Seeman, wife Debra Shaffer Seeman and their four kids started fostering “Boss,” a “playful, fun and sweet” pointer-mix dog through Paws Between Homes. “The agency is so responsive and so involved,” gushed Shaffer Seeman. “They provided food, a cage and bowl.

It has really been a privilege. We can take care of this sweet animal while its owner can get back on his feet.”

The timing has worked out perfectly for the Seeman family, which almost immediately – like nearly everyone – became homebound due to the highly contagious coronavirus. “We’ve been able to give the dog a lot of love and attention and he’s the perfect excuse to escape from the house for a 20-minute walk,” Shaffer Seeman told the AJT. Indeed, the pandemic has offered an unexpected silver lining to many Atlanta Jewish families, with both adults and children home rather than at work and school.

Suddenly, there’s been a huge increase in interest of families wanting to foster or adopt pets they might not otherwise have had the time for.

Toco Hills resident Ashley Marx, a so-

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Emily Kaiman and her four children, acting as pets here, have found adoption a challenge.

cial worker, started researching various support opportunities for her clients when she learned about PAWS Atlanta, a no-kill animal shelter and pet rescue agency. Her two daughters had been asking to foster a dog. With everyone home, she decided the timing was right. For two months, her family fostered a dog, which subsequently was adopted by a neighbor.

“It was a phenomenal experience,” Marx said. “It was great to get everybody out walking.”

Not every family is willing to fall in love with a dog, and then be forced to give it up.

Shaffer Seeman admitted that it is “definitely going to be a transition.”

Emily Kaiman and her family had been discussing adoption of a dog for a while, “but we didn’t think we had enough time” for it – until the pandemic struck, she said. “With the virus, we are at home and can commit the time and space to get to know it. We eventually knew it was the right time” to try to adopt. Her four children, ages 6 to 10, were quickly on board. “My husband was the last,” she said, referring to Rabbi Ari Kaiman of Congregation Shearith Israel.

Unfortunately, the family didn’t know how difficult adoption would be. They turned to animal rescue organizations and Petfinder, an online, searchable database of animals who need homes. “We started the process in mid- to late-April,” Emily Kaiman told the AJT. “It wasn’t that there was a shortage of dogs, but every time we sent in an inquiry, the dog was already adopted.”

For now, the search is on temporary hold while the family takes a camping trip, but Kaiman said they are determined to restart the process upon their return.

Adoption may not be any easier when the Kaiman family returns. “On Petfinder. com, adoption inquiries in the four weeks between March 15 and April 15 jumped 122 percent from the previous four weeks,” reported Lorie Westhoff, a spokeswoman for Petfinder. “The number of adoption inquires throughout the pandemic has consis-

tently been at least double the volume that we saw prior to the pandemic.”

Similarly, the Atlanta Humane Society said that pet adoptions have not increased since the coronavirus pandemic, but adoption inquires have. “This is partly due to a change in our adoption process, and virtual adoptions taking longer than our normal adoption process, and partly due to us having to temporarily stop our intakes due to COVID-19,” said Christina Hill, director of marketing and communications at the Atlanta Humane Society.

On the other hand, Hill added, “at the peak, we had about a 200 percent increase in adoption interest!”

Thaler reported that Paws Between Homes is “getting more calls from people who lost jobs and had to move.” Atlanta has one of the highest eviction rates in the country, according to his organization’s website.

Thaler said evictions are on hold in Fulton County until late June, “so this is the calm before the storm. There is a backlog of evictions so I know the phone will start ringing off the hook,” which means more pets will need foster homes in the next few months.

Some animal experts are already looking ahead to when families return to their normal activities outside the home, leaving behind their pets in an empty house. “We highly recommend pet owners start preparing their pets now for when they start returning to work,” said the Atlanta Humane Society’s Hill. “As pets felt the change to our routine when we started being at home more, they’ll also feel the change of routine as we start going back to work. Separation anxiety is going to be the hardest hurdle for our pets to overcome.”

She said simple tips for preparing one’s pets can be found at www.atlantahumane.org/separation-anxiety-in-pets.

“We also have a free behavior helpline for those with questions or those noticing changes in behavior in their pets: www. atlantahumane.org/free-virtual-behaviorassistance/. ì

PETS

Joey Chooses a Happy-Go-Lucky Breed

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Our unofficial literary laureate, Joey Reiman, waxes poetic about his new dog Layla, a Coton de Tulear named after the city of Tulear in Madagascar. As the African island’s national dog, the Coton de Tulear (“pronounced cotawn day two-lee are”) is a bright, happy-go-lucky breed known for its profuse soft white coat and sympathetic awareness and connection to its owner. According to the American Kennel Club, the Coton female is “robust and sturdy, averages between 8 and 13 pounds, and is 81 of 195 breeds in popularity whose favorite activity is clowning and cavorting.”

Reiman, who co-founded Brand New World Studios, exclaims, “The Coton’s ancestors were brought to Madagascar in the 16th century by pirate ships — I especially love that! There was a time that you had to be ‘royalty’ to own one!”

Dog lover Reiman’s first pup was a Cocker Spaniel named Meeyam. He explained, “I tried to say ‘Miami,’ but was only 4. Then came my wire-haired terrier

48 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Joey Reiman has bonded with 1-year-old Layla, his Coton de Tulear, the official dog of Madagascar.

named Tammy O Shanter who lived 16 years.

“Layla, a one-year-old, has loved the stay at home directive. Cuddle time is up a thousand percent. Dogs call it ‘The Great Paws!’”

Layla runs with a high pedigree crowd: Bella, Oreo and a big white dog named John Snow. Her menu includes Royal Canin and occasional strips of Wagyu beef.

Before COVID-19, Reiman took Layla

to restaurants and ordered her grilled chicken breast and carrots. He chose the name Layla from the most romantic story of all time — “Layla and Majnun” – where the former was the most beautiful woman in all of Persia. Eric Clapton based his hit song on her and sent the tune to Pattie Boyd. “Layla, you got me on my knees ...”

Reiman concludes, “Layla brings more light to me than a thousand suns.

She is one of the only beings on earth who loves you more than she loves herself.

“Her agenda is simple: I want to go out, come in, eat something, lie here, play with you. ”No ulterior motives, no mind games, no second-guessing, no complicated negotiations or bargains, no gaslighting, guilt trips or grudges. ”The very best thing, though, is that she knows when I need her the most, and will drop everything to sit with me. ”My goal in life is to be the person Layla thinks I am. “ì

PETS

PR Whiz Goes for the Jump

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Lapidus describes him as “earnest, stoic and putting his heart into his job.” She A leader in Atlanta’s public relations explained that jumpers are judged on community for more than 20 years, Liz speed and precision. A course of jumps is memorized Lapidus shares her and includes a set passion for the amount of time to sport and love of hurdle them. The her horse Benjafastest horse who min. Many youngkeeps all the rails sters get smitten up wins. While goby equestrianism. ing fast is imporThe daughters of tant, tight turns Jerry Seinfeld and also play a key Michael Bloomrole in shaving off berg graced blue time. Tighter turns blood magazines also make it more as noted young fechallenging to get male equestrians. the right approach Think of the to a jump and put thrills when watchthe rider at risk of ing horses jump at knocking down a the Olympics -- the rail, which adds manners, accuunwanted points racy, boldness, the to the score. flirt with danger, Liz Lapidus poses in her public relations Lapidus elabopower and style office in front of an original portrait rates, “I like to get with the outfits done by Bahamian Fahamu Pecou. to the ring early of breeches and boots. Consider the head game of the and memorize my course. I walk through rider and the dependency on the horse, it with my trainer to measure how many and who’s in control. Reminiscence ‘strides’ are in between jumps and develop about Old England and France, where strategies. We map out where we can cut time, so that when we’re ready to comthe sport began.

Growing up in Miami, Lapidus re- pete, we have a game plan. Riding is a very called, “Horses have been a part of my mental sport. Unlike a game played with life for as long as I can remember. I’ve a ball or bat, riding a horse factors not been riding since I could walk and com- just your ability, but also a 1500-pound peting since I was 9. I can’t remember animal’s current mood. A horse can have a time that I wasn’t crazy about horses. an off day. Maybe he didn’t sleep well the Benjamin is my current obsession. An night before. Perhaps it’s windy or he 18-year old Draft Cross, I’ve owned him doesn’t like another horse in the ring. Still, for six years and we compete in the I have a job to get done.”

She imagines galloping toward an “jumpers.”

Benjamin thrives in the show ring. obstacle with every intention of jump-

Lapidus describes Benjamin as “earnest, stoic and putting his heart into his job.”

While jumping, Lapidus keeps her game face on and away from potential danger.

ing over it, but the horse could have other ideas. Something could spook him. Or that jump that looks completely basic to the rider and similar to a dozen other jumps done before, but something about it is terrifying to the horse. And just like that, the rider is on the ground.

“I have fallen numerous times. I’ve never been seriously hurt. Still, I have to block all that out. You can’t focus on the danger; you have to keep your game face on. My horse counts on me for a committed ride. When I get in my head, it throws us both off.

After a lifetime of embracing this sport, I feel blessed that I’m still riding today. When you’re a kid, you only have a set number of years to compete before aging out to amateur status. Every show counts. These kids move up to flashier horses to take them to the next level of competition. When they’re done, they go off to college, get jobs, and horses be-

come a distant memory. I picked riding back up as an adult, and I am fortunate to still be at it.”

As an amateur adult, she is in it for the love of the horse. Some see horses as an investment. For Lapidus, her horse is also a pet. She is happy just being at the barn and grooming him. “In fact, the discipline of cleaning and conditioning my tack (saddle, bridle) and brushing my horse is as much a part of the sport for me as competing.”

Lapidus rides three times a week.

Benjamin lives at Three Bears Farm in Cartersville, an hour north of Atlanta.

She is very organized with her time to give her work team and clients what they need, show up for family, and still be present when she’s at the barn.

“Owning a horse is a huge luxury, but it remains my passion. Some people live to work; others work to live. I live and work to ride my horse.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 49

SENIOR LIVING Striving in Place

By Chana Shapiro

ners, but not now,” she said.

“If we leave the premises, other than Let’s meet some Jewish men and for essential doctor visits on a Holbrook vehicle, we must quarwomen who live in antine ourselves for two of Atlanta’s senior two weeks. We walk living communities, in the courtyard or Holbrook Decatur in building perimeter, the Toco Hills area, but with masks and and Renaissance on distancing.” An upPeachtree in Buckbeat, outgoing “reguhead. Their reactions lar” at the Mason Mill to challenging social Recreation Center, restrictions reveal adCarson now exercises mirable candor, equaremotely. She philonimity and resilience.

Norma Max was a volunteer sophically shares her Holocaust surpolice officer in Israel and wrote life motto: “If I can’t vivor Lucy Carson is a book about her experiences. change a situation, I a model of resilience.

She lives at Holbrook. “I don’t drive much, will adapt to it.”

Drs. Cynthia Cohen and Gerald Shulso I moved close to my shul and the Beth Jacob community. My son lives out of town man chose Holbrook for its security and and visited often, but this coronavirus af- comfort along with very few restrictions. fects my attending synagogue services “But, these days, we must remain in our and simultaneously prevents my son from apartment for all three delivered meals, visiting me in person. Instead, we light and no one has visitors. We meet other candles and make Zoom Kiddush together. residents outside, on site. Deliveries are I used to see friends and share Shabbat din- dropped at the front door, sanitized, and

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brought to us,” Gerald explained, as Cyn- or physical therapist visits. The Waitzmans thia sits nearby immersed in her Zoom appreciate selecting meals from a menu, but are not fond of “eating in isolation.”

Duolingo Spanish class.

Renaissance “I study remotely COVID-19 testing with a Hebrew tutor included temperafrom the language ture checks and nose institute in Athens, swabs by the U.S. Greece, and I’m readNational Guard, and ing a book in Hebrew. forehead temperaWe participate in tures are taken daily.

Zoom OLLI [Osher The Waitzmans exLifelong Learning Inercise in their apartstitute at Emory Uniment and walk in versity] classes and the hallway, wearing programs from the masks. They keep up DeKalb Senior Center.

Aviva and Mort Waitzman are not fond of eating in isolation. with current events We’re quite busy, and I and enjoy Zoom programs, yet they are would say that we’re not suffering at all.”

Norma Marx at the Renaissance concerned about other residents who don’t moved to Atlanta to be near her daughter, have Zoom or access to other liberating who took her to doctor visits. Now Renais- technology.

The Waitzmans joined Congregation sance vehicles transport her to essential appointments, but the hairdresser is not B’nai Torah to be with family; now they atone of them. “When I look in the mirror, I tend virtual services and receive a Friday morning Zoom program from The Bremen scream!” she joked.

When Marx and her late husband Museum. Aviva summarizes, “We’re occuHans lived in Israel, she was a volunteer pied, and doing our best.”

Renaissance resident Ralph Sacks is police officer, steadily rising through the 102 years old. He is a ranks. She wrote a symphony and arts book about her experilover, whose appetite ences, “Stories of Jerufor camaraderie and salem, Israel and Othcultural excursions er Loves.” Using her cannot be satisfied unliterary skills, Marx der the current reguled a writing group at lations. He regularly the Renaissance, eventook part in Rabbi tually becoming the Ronald Bluming’s editor of the RenaisFriday night services, sance Journal. which were held at the With in-person gatherings on hiatus, Lucy Carson applies her survivor mantra Renaissance. Now he to the current confinement parameters. participates remotely. life changed, she said.

“People’s joie de vivre is diminished and Sacks wryly assesses the solitary dining fewer residents have the desire to write,” situation and quality of delivered meals as she noted. “The current journal is slimmer “adequate.”

Yet, he figured out how to maintain and covers two months, not one.

“It’s easy to get lazy. My laundry is his vitality. “I read quite a bit and listen to picked up and delivered at my door. I used classical music all day, and my virtual asto prepare some of my food; not now. I sistant Alexa supplies me with Beethoven sometimes see people while walking in the whenever I like!” He remains diligent hallway for exercise, but I miss interaction about completing 90 to 100 full-body at dinner and entertainment in the lobby. pushups every day. “As long as I have my lifelong sustenance of music and pushMost of all, I miss my autonomy.”

Aviva and Mort Waitzman, who ups, I’m fine!”

As national and local constraints ease, moved to the Renaissance to live near the families of their daughter and grandson, the residents the AJT interviewed voiced now wave to their loved ones from their appreciation and approval of their facilfifth-floor balcony. The Waitzmans gave up ity’s strict precautions. And, in spite of the driving, but the Renaissance does not cur- stress of imposed isolation, they say they rently offer transportation for errands or respectfully comply with restrictions and outings, and residents may not leave in pri- share a single sentiment that they can’t vate vehicles. Other restrictions include el- wait for life to get back to the way it was evator occupancy limits and no podiatrist when they moved in. ì

SENIOR LIVING

What’s on Your Bucket List?

Traveling to Israel is still on the bucket list of Barbara and Dick Planer.

By Flora Rosefsky From world travel to writing one’s memoirs, putting off for tomorrow what can be done today became a central theme of the COVID-19 global health crisis. Otherwise known as a bucket list, tasks that may have been postponed in younger years as a result of work or family commitments often come into clearer view as retirement approaches.

The AJT spoke with a few Jewish retirees in Atlanta who are starting to think about their personal bucket lists, turning wishful thinking into action. Their bucket list items range from adventurous and exotic to investigative and legacy-creating.

High Adventure Norm Mandel, for instance, said his bucket list would be herding buffalo in Yellowstone National Park during the winter months. Years ago, he saw a documentary about buffalo wandering outside the park’s boundaries during the winter in search of food. Once the buffalo were outside the boundaries, they were likely to be shot and killed by local farmers and ranchers.

Groups of volunteers during these months on horseback patrolled the borders, herding them back to safety. He told the AJT, “I would love to be a volunteer and help save one or more of these magnificent animals.”

His wife, Anne, said her dream is to work in construction. “I would love to work alongside a crew who are building a house.

I would learn and become skilled in all aspects of this work: framing, sheet rocking, installing hardwood and tile flooring, etc.

My work would include all interior and exterior parts from beginning to end. All this while not having to climb a ladder.”

The idea came to her when several years ago she saw someone building a brick wall and thought she’d like to try that someday.

Using Zoom, Dr. Herb Alperin and his daughter Moose conduct genealogy research together.

Living Out of a Suitcase Air travel may have taken a dive during COVID-19, but that doesn’t stop Ray Ann Kremer and her husband George Shapiro from wanting “to take a family trip as an adventure to explore cultures around the world,” selecting a country where their children and grandchildren had not yet visited.

Barbara and Dick Planer hope to return to Israel for one last trip when it is safe to travel again. Meanwhile, visiting Australia and New Zealand is on Barbara and Bruce Ribner’s future bucket list.

Digging Up Family Roots Dave Slater’s bucket list doesn’t require travel, but genealogy research, a venture that came to him after waking up from a dream 10 years ago at age 65. This retired Cobb County High School teacher told the AJT he kept thinking of his childhood growing up when he had lived with his grandparents. “I wanted to go back to them, to learn about their lives. It hit me – where were my family roots?” So he decided to research his family’s history. “I needed to do this; I felt compelled.” Now he mentors for the Jewish Genealogy Society of Georgia.

Dr. Herb Alperin, a retired pediatrician, and his daughter Moose, who has a doctorate in education, also are genealogy sleuths, fulfilling a shared bucket list to learn about their family history. As recommended by the Genealogy Society, their detective work is currently focused on discovering facts about Herb’s side of the family, instead of trying to tackle all four family lines at the same time.

While bucket lists tend to be fulfilled by seniors in their twilight, they can be created at any age by anyone with a goal. No time like the present to get my own memoir started. ì

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SENIOR LIVING

‘Mama’ Bea Blass Celebrates 102

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Bea Reisman Blass was born in 1918 amidst the Great Depression and an influenza pandemic. This May, instead of getting greetings from the White House, Blass was saluted by her family and caregiver at a social distance. The other White House (restaurant on Peachtree Road) played a role, as in past years, her birthday was celebrated there.

Over the past few decades, there’s been an increasing, almost mystical fascination with longevity in terms of unlocking the genetic, mental and physical attributes of centenarians. Also, cyclically significant will be the outcome of the 2020 census.

According to the last census, 1980 to 2010 saw a nearly 66 percent increase in centenarians. Some observations remain constant: women outlive men and as we age, we become less diverse (more Caucasian). Other studies have shown living past 100 involves a combination of genetics, lifestyle and plain ole’ luck. Cleaner water, vaccinations, treatments for cancer and heart disease also contribute to longevity trends, along with a positive attitude.

Enter Blass’s granddaughter Naomi Blass-Schutz. “My favorite thing about my grandmother, besides her brownies, is her phenomenal positive attitude. Rain or shine, in good times or bad, if you ask, ‘how are you?’ She will answer without fail and with a twinkle in her eyes, ‘I’m wonderful.’”

Bea Reisman also made history by marrying Saul Blass in 1935 in her living room on 8th Street as the first couple united in marriage by Rabbi Harry Epstein, Congregation Ahavath Achim’s new young rabbi. Two children, five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren later, Mama Bea counts her two living siblings (Donald and Rose) among her healthy ‘mishpocha.’ Daughter Charlotte Kaminsky said,” She was very proud of ‘we’ children and made us feel we could accomplish anything. She was always beautifully dressed and even today still looks ‘like a bandbox’ and can put on lipstick without looking. She exercised at the JCC on Peachtree and played canasta and bridge (into her 90s). Her 1960s friendship group was called ‘The Darling Dozen’ and included Dot Levy, Esther Libowsky, Rose Berkowitz and Elsie Boss.

She survived them; and today she still does chair exercises.”

Bea Blass celebrated her 102nd birthday at a social distance from family, but still in fine form.

Pre-pandemic, Blass “held court” every Sunday at Goldbergs on Roswell Road to host children and grandchildren “or whoever would show up.” She enjoyed AA synagogue’s Tuesday study sessions, and weekly visits to the beauty salon. Kaminsky continued, “Before her time, Mama had many secrets to good health like the importance of hand washing, soaking up sunlight even in winter, taking vitamins, and keeping a stash of chocolate in the freezer.” Kaminsky recalled an unselfish ‘mother experience’ where Blass finagled from a Coke sponsor a ticket to see Eddie Fisher perform at the Fox Theatre. Since there was only one ticket, she stood in line, then switched in Charlotte to go solo into the show. Kaminsky said, “She wanted us to always be busy. She got a sewing machine (a Singer for all of $25) and made doll clothes. You wouldn’t want to miss her carrot nut cake with ganache icing or jelly rolls.”

Blass-Schutz echoed, “We never entered Mama’s house, let alone her kitchen, without being asked: ‘Did you wash your hands? Go wash your hands.’ As kids we grumbled about it, but you know what? She was right! Secondly, there were two vitamin Cs: the traditional tablet and a constant supply of Hershey’s Kisses, homemade brownies, or Thank You Chocolate Pudding. If you were to check her purse today, you’ll find sweets tucked inside.

“No alcohol. No smoking! And her very special ‘nurse/guardian angels’ provide extraordinary care in her Buckhead apartment.”

Kaminsky concluded “Mother is always appreciative and never cranky. Her favorite quote is: “’Old age can kill you,’ but it hasn’t in her case.” ì

SENIOR LIVING

Learning New Ways to Connect With Mom

By Susanne Katz As we visit my mother-in-law Arlene Karlick by phone calls, FaceTime and conversations looking up to the two-story balcony from the parking lot, we share feelings with friends who are also experiencing this new way of connecting.

Miriam Saul’s family at her mother’s 95th birthday.

Miriam Saul Misses Personal Touch with Mother Zhenia Greszes We connect twice a day and tell each other about our day.

Some days are less frustrating than others! As positive as my 97-year-young Mom is, she is realizing that the absence of physical visits may go on for much longer than anyone thought. It is now going on a bit over nine weeks!

We try to connect in new creative ways. We sent mom an iPad. She is wrestling with it, trying to learn (on her own) how to do FaceTime calls. It is so difficult when we can’t be there to show her!

We have been able to connect several times and she has been able to see and talk to the grandkids and greatgrand kids. She says those calls give her the fuel and energy she needs. She is so afraid that they will forget her; even the younger ones know and love “mama”! No way they will forget her.

We do drive-by visits and sometimes get to talk to her from afar, but at least we get to do that from time to time when the Renaissance allows. These distance measures are so hard for all. My husband Danny and I also feel the “pain” of not being able to be with our own grandkids. It’s not natural to say, “stay away,” “air kisses and air hugs.” What they must be thinking!

We are grateful for the blessings we have, our health, our family, our friends, we have homes and plenty of food to eat; there are so many who are not as fortunate. We keep waking up each day, thanking Hashem that we are one day closer to the end [of COVID], but when will it be?

My mom keeps me optimistic and reminds me of how lucky we are. Her

spirit is amazing and her zest for life is inspiring.

The thing that I look forward to the most when this is all over is to be able to hug and kiss my mom and my grandchildren; I won’t let go!

The situation is what it is, … for now.

Richard Siegel, Judy Schulman, Dr. Garry Siegel and Mark Eden with Lorraine Siegel.

Richard Siegel and Judy Siegel Schulman Appreciate Mom’s Attitude We are so fortunate to have Mom in our lives for the last 50 years. We lost our mother in 1968, and Dad married Lorraine Eden in 1970. When the families were joined, Lorraine came with her son Mark, and she gained the two of us along with our brother Garry. Since then, the Siegel and Eden families have blended well together.

Mom is truly unbelievable! She is active, smart, thoughtful and positive. She moved into The Piedmont at Buckhead a little more than a year after our father’s death in 2010, and it is a great fit for her. She loves the people, the activities and even the food! It is very rare to hear her complain.

All of our friends comment on her attitude and her ability to adapt to any situation. At 95, she still drives, participates in building activities, and until the shut-in, played at the Bridge Club three times a week, where she is a top player. She even goes out of town with her “much younger” friends to bridge tournaments and never misses a beat!

Though we have not seen her since the shut-in, we talk to her every day and see her through Zoom and FaceTime. She tells us that her building has been wonderful, caring, compassionate, and doing everything possible to keep the residents safe. Meals are delivered to her door, and she even says that they are good! She spends her time reading, working on her biography on the computer (a gift from her grandson Brent Eden and his wife Sara), walking outside with friends from the building, and watching Netflix. She can discuss television shows, novels, current events and politics with the best. She has always supported us, all of her children, grandchildren and now her great-grandchildren. Even with the shut-in, she stays in touch with everyone

and knows what everyone is doing. She is a great listener and confidante, only offering advice when asked.

Mom totally understands the pandemic and the need for separation and social distancing, and she knows it’s in the best interest of public health to do so. She’s been a real trooper through it all! And while we are not presently able to visit with her in person, we hope that we will soon be able to have dinner together, as we do very often. Her family adores her and she adores us. She’s one in a million and we’re so lucky she’s ours!

Lauri Lavine Admires Mother’s Strength and Positivity

Lauri Lavine and her mother Estelle Karp saying the blessing over the candles during the holidays.

COVID-19 has affected my mother and I positively, because we wouldn’t have it any other way! We used to see each other on the weekends; now I “see” her every day with FaceTime. Though this isolating disease keeps us from physically getting together, we find ways around it. Birthday? No problem! Zoom with the entire family from West to East coast celebrating her! The other day she sounded a bit melancholy, so I asked if

everything was ok. She responded with, “I’m a little lonely, but the whole world is right now.” What a trooper!

Then there is mahjong. We got a 96-year-old an iPad and one of my special memories I have made from this is playing mahjong on a computer with three generations while mother continues to win and we all watch in amazement. What an incredible woman my mother, Estelle Karp, is! ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 53

KEEPING IT KOSHER Copycat Devil Dogs

JEWISH JOKE OF THE WEEK

Cooking & Prep: 1.5 hours Servings: 18 Preference: Pareve Difficulty: Medium Diet: Vegetarian, pescatarian Supple chocolate Devil’s Food cake batter nestles sweet, sweet marshmallow creme filling (you can use Fluff). These can be made as a dairy dish, and dare we say they just might be better than the original?

Batter 2 cups flour ½ cup Gefen cocoa 1½ teaspoons baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 stick margarine, softened 1 cup sugar 1 tablespoon Gefen vanilla extract 1 egg 1 cup orange juice Cream 1 stick margarine, softened ½ teaspoon Gefen vanilla extract 2¼ cups powdered sugar 2 egg whites

For the Cake Preheat oven to 425 F. Sift together first four dry ingredients. Set aside.

Cream the softened margarine and sugar; add the vanilla extract and the egg.

Slowly add the orange juice to the margarine mixture, alternating with the flour mixture. Mix well.

Spoon batter by teaspoonfuls onto very lightly greased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart. Bake for 7 minutes. Cool.

Note: Cookie batter can be shaped with the back of a spoon into ovals, circles, or rounded rectangles, if desired.

For the Cream Cream margarine, vanilla extract, and 1 cup of powdered sugar.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff, gradually adding remaining powdered sugar.

Combine the 2 mixtures.

To Assemble When cookies are completely cool, lay out half of them on a work surface (For example, if there are 36 cookies, lay out 18).

Evenly spread cream on the cookies and cover with the remaining cookies.

Refrigerate.

Source: “Dining In” cookbook series, presented by the Ladies Auxiliary of Yeshiva Masoras Avos in Lakewood, N.J. Photography and Styling: Chavi Feldman ì

54 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Pet Names It’s Dovid’s 70th birthday, and to celebrate, their son Avrum invites the close family to dinner at his house. During the evening, Avrum gets very emotional every time he hears his father call his mother by such endearing terms as “darling,” “flower” and “sweetheart.” It’s clear to Avrum that his father is still very much in love with his mother. While his mother is out the room, Avrum goes over to his father, kisses him and quietly says, “Aba, I’m so pleased for you both. I think it’s fantastic that even at 70 years of age, you’re still calling Ima by those loving pet names.”

But Dovid, looking very embarrassed, says, “Things are not always what they seem to be, son. I must tell you the truth, I forgot your mother’s name about five years ago.”

Joke provided by David Minkoff www.awordinyoureye.com

YIDDISH WORD OF THE WEEK Farklemt

‫ֿפארקלעמט‬ ַ Choked up (with emotion) (cf. German verklemmt)

Letters to the Holy City?

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1. "Why?", in 39-Across 5. One way to get (close) to 39-Across 9. "The Last of the Mohicans" author Fenimore Cooper 14. Coach Parseghian and others 15. "It's a ___ formality" 16. General Robert, and others 17. Put "Fiddler on the Roof" back in theaters 19. Ball-bearing entertainers 20. "Mmes." of Spain 21. Does high-tech eye work 23. Nephew of King David and brother of Joab 25. Actresses Thompson and Salonga 27. Vegas opening act?

30. Brooks and Blanc 31. What people sometimes called Seinfeld on "Seinfeld" 32. Three-legged stands 35. Shirt-size abbr.

36. Part of Cass Elliot's group 38. Charlotte ___ (clothing store) 39. City celebrated on May 21... whose letters are the only ones used in this puzzle 41. Sleeper's rouser 44. Makes like Solomon 45. Muppet eagle 48. "Let my people go!" addressee 50. Abbr. in an apartment ad 51. What one might have you over for on Shabbat

23. Grand Pontiacs 24. Where some girls spend a yr. in 39-Across 25. Long-tailed creature with large eyes 26. Deletion of a sort 28. Gore and Jolson 29. Haifa to 39-Across dir.

31. Jelly container 33. Foe of Gadot's Wonder Woman 34. Total amount 36. One that might cause you to lol 37. "Frida" star Hayek 39. Dads' namesakes 40. First word of many French titles 41. deGrom's asset 42. What a felon may be on?

DOWN 43. Gathers 1. Shirt-size abbr.

45. Challah seeds, often 2. Is for many?

46. Letters on many cars 3. Cooking wine 47. D.C. United's org.

4. Word before "Y'mai t'shuva" (var.) 49. Benny Goodman's "Gal" 5. It's the truth 51. Capt. Kirk subordinate 6. Herd's home 54. Salk vaccine medium 7. River ends?

55. Maritime inits.

8. "Futurama" character with one 57. Biblical king and others eye 58. Uncool 9. 1915-1919 heavyweight champ 59. Lentil lover, perhaps Willard 60. 59-Down's dad was replaced 10. Sailing 101 word with one 11. Spotty condition 61. Olympics chant 12. "Electric" fish 63. Great time 13. Viper's sound 64. ___ Lingus 18. California NBAers, on a score- 65. Suffix with Japan board 66. Kazakhstan, once: Abbr.

22. Wall St. group

52. Hybrid combat sport, for short 53. Drifting the ocean 55. Sky bears 56. La ___ (Philadelphia university) 59. She, in Italian 60. 2006 World Series-winning manager Tony La ___ 62. Takes on again 67. How to sow ___ ___ 68. Chemical in fertilizer 69. More, according to some 70. En ___ (as a group) 71. Badtz-___ (penguin friend of Hello Kitty) 72. Computer operator

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Remember When 15 Years Ago // June 10, 2005 ì The bar mitzvah ceremony of Jared Isenstein was held Feb. 26, 2005.

Jared is the son of Dr. Douglas Isenstein and Dr. Debra Venner. He dedicated his ceremony to the memory of his maternal grandparents, Julius and Ceil Venner, and his paternal grandmother, Sherie Isenstein. Jared was a volunteer at the Gwinnett Community Medical Clinic and also participated in the Epstein School’s Nediv Lev program that donates money to various charities. ì Saba Silverman received WXIA’s Community Service Award in recognition of her work with the JCC’s Habima Theater, which she founded 12 years earlier. Silverman said getting the award was “like you’re receiving the Oscar.

It’s black-tie. You walk up on a red carpet, and they play the film a reporter has made about you.”

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ces, May 18. Elana has an older sister, Ariella, who was 3. Elana was given the Hebrew name Elana Chai, in memory of her great-grandmothers, Eva Short and Frances Gordon. ì Cantor Isaac Goodfriend planned for his retirement from Ahavath Achim Synagogue. After serving Ahavath Achim for so long, watching congregants grow up was one of his greatest joys. “You spend almost half a lifetime with people day in, day out,” he said. “You feel a sort of achievement and accomplishment that you’ve crossed one generation gap and you are working with the next generation.”

50 Years Ago // June 12, 1970 ì Israeli Hapoel Petah Tikva soccer team played the Atlanta Chiefs at Tara Stadium. It was the first team from Israeli ever to play in Atlanta. Mayor Sam Massell greeted the visitors at his office and a reception followed the game at the American Hotel, where soccer fans gathered to meet the players of both teams. ì A prize-winning film, “Siege,” was shown in the Atlanta International Film Festival.

The movie shows Israel in a realistic way. The star, Gila Almagor, said of the movie, “It shows the stupidity of war. These are the real victims of war, the widows. ... This is not a private story.

25 Years Ago // June 9, 1995 ì Drs. Louise Short and Joel Axler announced the birth of their daughter, Elana Fran- This is an anti-war picture.” ì Gila Almagor, the star of “Siege,” said the movie “shows the stupidity of war.”

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 55

OBITUARIES

Jason Matthew Bock

Edward (Eddie) Robert Carmichel

Jason Matthew Bock, 50, died peacefully in his sleep May 29, 2020. He was the beloved son of Bonnie and Ivan Bock of Alpharetta, Ga. He graduated from Riverwood High School, University of Tampa, and Georgia State University. Jason was a native Atlantan born Nov. 3, 1969. He had a career as a computer consultant for several companies. Jason was an avid sports fan and enjoyed playing baseball.

He is survived by his parents, Bonnie and Ivan of Alpharetta; brother Kevin of Fort Collins, Colo.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Jason loved his 4-legged companion of 18 years Bruester, who preceded him in death.

A graveside funeral was held June 1 at Greenwood Cemetery. The size was limited due to COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The William Breman Jewish Home or Temple Sinai. Arrangements by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Surrounded by loved ones, Edward (Eddie) Robert Carmichel, 83, passed away peacefully May 25, 2020. He cherished his titles as husband, daddy and Poppy. Eddie was born in Plattsburg, N.Y., Sept. 18, 1936. He lived in several cities but spent the last 52 years as a resident of Atlanta. After serving in the Army, Eddie worked for AT&T for 30 years.

He will be remembered for his charity work, his extensive bowling career, and his sense of humor. If laughter is truly the best medicine, he cured many people over the years! He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Stefanie and Robert Carmichel. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Janice Carmichel; daughters Debra Kasen (Michael), Lisa Hewitt (Gregory), and Lori Lasky (Michael); and grandchildren Stefanie, Russell, Brad, Daniel, Josh, Sophie and Anna.

A private funeral took place May 27 at North Atlanta Memorial Park. Donations in Eddie’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements

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

50, Atlanta

Robert Stanley Botnick 89, Augusta

Robert Stanley Botnick, 89, of Augusta, Ga., passed away May 23, 2020. Dr. Botnick was born April 8, 1931, in New Orleans, La., the son of Harry and Mollie Botnick, and grew up in Hattiesburg, Miss.

He received his high school diploma from Phillips Exeter Academy, his undergraduate degree from Duke University, and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. He completed internal medicine residency training at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia before moving with his growing family to Augusta to begin medical practice.

In building a successful medical practice in Augusta, Dr. Botnick was one of the first to provide polio vaccinations and one of the few to provide FAA examinations for area pilots. He was one of the founding physicians of Doctors Hospital of Augusta and served in leadership positions with the Georgia Society of Internal Medicine, the Medical Association of Georgia, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia. After more than two decades in private practice, he transitioned to a career on the medical staff at the Savannah River Site, before retiring from there.

Dr. Botnick was a longtime member of the Adas Yeshurun Synagogue and served on the board of directors of the Augusta Jewish Community Center, funding a JCC pavilion in memory of his daughter, Laura Botnick Krafchick. A pillar of the Augusta Jewish community for decades, he was part of a 1970 Augusta delegation to Israel that led to an ongoing role in fundraising for Israel and the establishment of the Augusta Jewish Federation, for which he served as secretary. His early and instrumental role there included representing the Jewish Education Loan Fund, ensuring that needy students were awarded scholarships to fund their higher education.

He was preceded in death by his brother Marvin Z. Botnick and daughter Laura Botnick Krafchick, and is survived by his wife Lelia Botnick; Warren Botnick; son and daughter-in-law, Randy Botnick and Rita Sinkoe Botnick, and daughter and son-in-law Jennifer Botnick Britanisky and Robert Britanisky; and grandchildren Jacob, Joshua, Ian and Hannah Botnick, and Laura and Hunter Britanisky.

A private graveside service was held for family only due to COVID-19 safety restrictions and livestreamed on Facebook for his many friends and family members. Memorials may be made to the Jewish Education Loan Fund, 4549 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road., Dunwoody, GA 30338 or online at www.jelf.org/donate.

‫זיכרונה לברכה‬ 56 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

83, Atlanta

Mark Codner 58, Atlanta

Renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Mark Codner died peacefully in his sleep June 4, 2020, in the comfort of his Atlanta home. An Atlanta native, he was known for his genuine kindness, soft-spoken manner and individual care of his patients. He performed his medical training at Emory University, Cornell Medical Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City, and was awarded dual aesthetic and oculoplastic fellowship training with Drs. Baker, Gordon and Stuzin in Miami and Dr. Sonny McCord in Atlanta.

Dr. Codner was a pioneer of modern oculoplastic surgery, setting the standards for eyelid surgery, face-lifting, rhinoplasty, Mohs [skin cancer] and breast reconstruction.

He elevated 48 fellows under his tutelage, rewarding the opportunity to those he believed would enhance the field of plastic surgery. He was a virtuosic surgeon who lived in constant pursuit of perfection in surgery. His students and fellows described him as having an infectious personality. He cultivated a culture of living in service to the future and betterment of surgery. As a mentor, he will forever serve as a lifelong testament for guidance, innovation and friendship.

Dr. Codner was the president of the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. As a clinical assistant professor of plastic surgery at Emory University, Dr. Codner authored 10 textbooks, many of which were translated into over 100 peer-reviewed articles and invited book chapters. He presented over 200 lectures worldwide as an educator in his field of medicine.

Over the last 20 years, he was the chairman of both the Atlanta Oculoplastic Symposium and the Atlanta Breast Surgery Symposium, which brought leaders in plastic surgery together from around the world to collaborate. Dr. Codner was awarded the prestigious Sherrell Aston Award by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

He was invited to perform live educational surgery all over the world in countries such as England, France, Belgium, Egypt, Brazil, Peru and Canada.

Mark navigated life with poise and grace, always uplifting those around him. He enjoyed engaging this world’s knowledge and pleasure to the fullest in the company of his beloved family, friends and trusted colleagues. He was also an accomplished painter, a passionate musician, and a budding screenwriter. He believed in the magic of things, always taking the bad and transforming it into good. In the darkness, there will be a guiding light and under it, Mark will be there, lighting the way. Father, husband, brother, friend; a patriarch and a humble mensch, respected by all.

Mark was predeceased by his parents Saul and Marjorie Codner and father-in-law Howard Hoffman.

He is survived by his wife of 35 years Jane Hoffman Codner; daughter Molly and son Blake; sisters Gloria (Richard) Lapin and Sheila (Sheldon) Friedman; brother Fred (Candy Shaw) Codner; mother-in-law Marilyn Hoffman; sister-in-law Ellen Hoffman; and brother-in-law Barry Hoffman.

A private family graveside service was held June 7 at Atlanta’s Greenwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mark Codner Fund to honor his contributions to the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, https://www.sesprs.org/donations/fund.asp?id=19817. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Rosalyn Joann “Roz” Wilensky Bernard Gross (Baruch Bendit) 97, Atlanta Cohen 76, Atlanta

Rosalyn Joann “Roz” Wilensky Cohen, 76, born in Atlanta, Ga., left this earth at her home May 31, 2020, in Marietta, Ga. Roz loved her husband of 54 years, daughter, son, grandchildren, extended family and friends more than anything. She let us know this every day, even when our attitudes and behaviors were under her scrutiny. We know we can do anything and are all stronger from her love. Roz worked at Piedmont Hospital and retired after almost 30 years, cherishing her relationships with professionals and patients alike. She took pride in making us latkes that we ate right out of the frying pan that never made it to the table and showed us her discipline and strength striding through the Peachtree Road Race year after year. “Get a move on, you have it in you, and don’t worry about getting credit.”

We miss her, boy do we miss her, and love her as much as she loved us all.

Rosalyn is preceded in death by her parents Julius and Ida Brody Wilensky. She is survived by her husband Martin W. Cohen of Marietta; children Alison Jordan (Jay) of Marietta, and Ethan Cohen (Jacqueline) of Castle Rock, Colo.; grandchildren Marcus Worth Cohen, Benjamin Samuel Jordan, Blythe Kay Cohen, and Nathan Charles Jordan; sister Sherry Dawkins (Pete); brother Alan Wilensky (Coralie); brother-in-law Michael Cohen (Lynda); sister-in-law Judy Cohen; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held June 2. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Roselyn Baer Greenberg 101, Atlanta

Roselyn Baer Greenberg, 101, passed away peacefully at home May 25, 2020. She was born December 9, 1918, to Gertrude and Max Baer. She was raised in St. Augustine, Fla., the home of the “Fountain of Youth.” It was often said that Roselyn must have sipped from that fountain, which might have accounted for her longevity.

Roselyn met and married the love of her life Nathan Greenberg when she was just 19 years old and a freshman at Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee, which later became FSU. They moved to Dothan, Ala., where they raised three loving daughters and had a successful business, Dothan Auto Parts.

The Greenbergs were well known in the Dothan community for their involvement and philanthropy. Roselyn was involved in many civic activities and was twice Sisterhood president of Temple Emanu-El, where she also taught Sunday School. She and Nathan traveled the world and shared a wonderful life together for 66 years.

Roselyn moved to the Renaissance in Buckhead, where she spent her remaining years enjoying her family and making new friends. She was known for her smart, “with-it,” upbeat, non-complaining attitude, which made her a joy to be around. She always had a smile on her face and a kind word for everyone. She was truly a beautiful lady inside and out.

Roselyn had a large, loving family who will miss her forever. She was predeceased by her husband Nathan and her older sister, Lillian Besser Schultz. She is survived by her daughters Roberta (Ed) Marblestone, Susan (Butch) Frumin and Linda Rosh (Marshall Fox); and nine grandchildren Sherri (Jeffrey) Weissman, Debra (David) Blanke, Nancy (Todd) Schusterman, Laura (Brad Dowling), Steven Frumin (fiancé, Margot), Jeffrey Frumin, Elizabeth (Blair) Douglas, Ilene Rosh and Meryl (Lenny) Rindsberg.

She will also be lovingly remembered by great-grandchildren Matthew, Gabby, Jake, Max, Molly, Seth, Josh, Sarah, Sophie, Nathan, Zachary, Emily and Asher; and many nieces and nephews. The family extends thanks and gratitude to her special caregiver Melissa Williams and her team.

A private funeral service was held May 27 at Memory Hill Cemetery in Dothan and officiated by Cantor Neil Schwartz. The funeral was limited to family members only because of COVID-19.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temple Emanu-El, 188 N. Park Ave., Dothan AL 36303; Weinstein Hospice, 3150 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta GA 30327 or any charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Bernard Gross (Baruch Bendit) peacefully left this world to join his beloved wife and son, Ruth and Marvin, on April 8, erev Pesach. He was born on Simchat Torah, Oct. 22, 1922, in Polanka, Czechoslovakia, the third of seven children.

Bernie, a Holocaust survivor, was conscripted into the Hungarian Munkatabor at age 19. On Aug. 12, 1945, he attended a wedding where he met the love of his life, Ruth (Rivka).

They escaped from the Soviet Union by hopping a freight train. In 1949, they immigrated to Ellwood City, Pa. They raised their children in Youngstown, Ohio, where Bernie worked for his brothers’ business, Albee Homes. And they moved to Atlanta in 1973, where they opened “Bernie’s Tailor Shop.” Bernie was an artist in his tailoring, a skill which he learned from his father.

After retiring, Bernie and Ruth moved to Pembroke Pines, Fla., where they lived for 22 years, before returning to Atlanta in 2010. They were members of Beth Jacob in Atlanta, and later attended Congregation B’nai Torah. Bernie was a founding member and president of Young Israel of Pembroke Pines. Tzedakah, Jewish tradition, and religious observance were the foundation of their lives. They were married for 69 years Bernie was also incredibly musically gifted and could have been a cantor. Even at an advanced age, he was debonair in his dress, had a twinkle in his eye, a sheepish grin, and a wry sense of humor. His mother used to call him her “gut schtekel broyt” (good stick of bread).

He said that he wanted to be remembered “as trying to do the right thing, to be a good person, and that he went to shul once in a while” (by which he meant twice a day).

He was predeceased by his wife Ruth; son, Marvin; brothers, Philip, Ben, Bill and Sam; and his parents, who died in the Holocaust, Chaim Akiva and Etta.

Bernie leaves behind his brother Alex; sister Rosalyn; his much-loved children Edward, Estelle and Etja; daughter-in-law Linda; son-in-law Alan; nine grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren; and a large, loving extended family. Special thanks to The William Bremen Jewish Home for taking amazing care of him during the coronavirus crisis. Donations may be made to Congregation B’nai Torah, the William Bremen Jewish Home, and amitchildren. org. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 57

OBITUARIES

Lyons Barnett Joel

Richard L. Ormand

Lyons Barnett Joel was a renowned “super-salesman” who climbed the ranks at the Atlanta-based firm started by his grandfather in 1896 to become president of Selig Chemicals. He bravely fought his complications from cancer, then finally succumbed May 29, 2020, surrounded by family at his bedside and on FaceTime, all sharing how much they loved him and how grateful they were for what he’d brought to their lives. He was 86.

Lyons was a diehard Georgia Bulldogs fan who never missed a game. “He never missed one of our swim meets growing up, either,” recalled prominent Atlanta realtor Alan Joel, one of three children with Lyon’s late wife of 44 years Renee, who died in 2000.

“Run the damn ball” was his favorite phrase, said Alan, a former UGA varsity swimmer and volunteer coach at North Atlanta Swim & Dive Team who took his father to see his beloved “Dawgs” beat Oklahoma in the 2018 Rose Bowl.

At the same time, his father was cheering on his grandchildren and the children of strangers as an active board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta. He ran marathons into his 70s and was still playing tennis when he went in for a routine physical last year and learned he had leukemia. “He was shocked,” said his daughter Connie Jervey of Richmond, Va. “He said, ‘I don’t feel sick. I feel great. I’m going to keep on living.” And live he did.

A former UGA varsity tennis player, he’d still hit the courts regularly at Bitsy Grant Tennis Center, was seen dining at Hal’s steakhouse, and flying around town in his convertible, top down, smile on his face, the new love of his life by his side, that Lyons Joel signature twinkle his eye. “He was a guy’s guy with my brothers, but he was the greatest father any girl could ever have,” Jervey said. “He was full of kindness and compassion, made us all believe in ourselves, and how important it was to help other people.”

Indeed, Lyons Joel had a life to smile about. A native Atlantan, he was born March 24, 1934, one of three children of parents Lyons Barnett Joel Sr., and Dorothy Selig Joel.

He graduated from Marist High School in 1952, went on to the University of Georgia, where he became president of his fraternity (Phi Ep) and was promoted to editor of The Red & Black as the last man standing after the university fired the staff his sophomore year.

After college, he joined the Army where he was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Then it was on to Selig Chemicals, where he sold innovative cleaning and household products while developing new formulas, even naming one for his wife Renee, called the Big R. “Everyone thought it was a rug cleaner, but it was named after Mom,” Alan said.

Known for his problem solving, he once raced to a local hotel, where the manager had threatened to call police after a relative trashed a room during a party and stained a pricey marble tabletop. “Dad brought the chemist and got out the stain. When the manager saw it, he asked, ‘What else you got like that?’ And Dad landed a huge hotel account for the company,” said Ben Joel, his oldest son.

He ran Selig Chemicals after it was acquired by National Service Industries and retired in 1999. After his first wife died, he remarried Gay Kahn, a psychologist, who died in 2017. She was said to have fallen in love with his fun-loving spirit.

A prominent member of the Jewish community, philanthropist and member of The Temple, he served as president of The Standard Club, board of directors of the Boy & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta and was a member of the Kiwanis Club, active in community affairs. “When Lyons came to a party, it was like Seinfeld hitting Goldbergs deli, the crowd parted. He always had an upbeat spirit and a new joke that made everyone smile,” said Ben Joel, a top Atlanta financial manager.

Lyons is preceded in death by his first wife Renee Rosier Joel, who died in 2000, and his second wife Gay Kahn Joel. He is survived by sisters Susan Joel Tancill and Dorothy Ann “Dottie” Joel; children Benjamin, Teresa, Alan and Sophie Joel, and Connie and Darrell Jervey; grandchildren L.B., Austin, Helen and Holly Joel, Jinks, Mac and Renee Jervey; and many nieces and nephews.

A private ceremony was held for immediate family. To watch the celebration of life, for more information regarding streaming of the funeral, donations and the future memorial service, visit www.adayforlyons.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Atlanta and The Temple. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

It is with great sadness that the family of Richard L. Ormand, 72, announces his passing June 4, 2020, from a rare form of lymphoma.

Rick was raised in Westport, Conn., and graduated from Staples High School in 1965. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington (Class of ‘69) where he was a proud Hoosier and member of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Mu. Rick then went on to earn his law degree at the University of Georgia in 1972.

Following the trail of many young Jewish professionals at the time, he moved to Atlanta and into the Seville apartments on Buford Highway. It was there that he met the love of his life Sandy Friedman, who would soon become his wife. They married in 1977 and spent 29 wonderful years together before her passing in 2006. Rick would consider his greatest achievement becoming a father to two precious daughters Gina Lynn, born in 1981, and Jill Victoria, born in 1985.

They were both at his bedside in his final days.

Rick was a respected personal injury attorney for 42 years with a sterling reputation as a litigator, and later a mediator. He joined GEICO in 1997 as staff counsel, known for his caring approach and advocacy with clients, and mentorship to many young associates who regularly sought his advice and guidance. In 2014 he retired and founded his own mediation practice, Pathway Mediation.

Rick loved his adopted hometown of Atlanta: walks in Piedmont Park, nights at the Atlanta Symphony, and rooting for the Braves, Falcons and Georgia Bulldogs. You would always know by his cheers or loud groans how each team’s season was shaping up. He was a wiz at trivia, never missing a night of “Jeopardy!” (he ALWAYS got the final answer right) and dominating team trivia nights at Mellow Mushroom.

For most of his adult life, Rick managed his advancing kidney disease until undergoing a transplant at Johns Hopkins in 2012. He received the greatest gift in life, a kidney from daughter Gina, and his family became passionate advocates for living organ donation. . Rick was predeceased by wife Sandy; parents Joseph and Estelle Ormand; and sister Joan Chitel. He is survived by daughter Jill Ormand of Los Angeles, Calif.; daughter and son-in-law Gina and Josh Cherwin; and granddaughters Stella and Amelia Cherwin of New York, N.Y.; his devoted partner of many years Pamela Roberts of Atlanta; sister Diane Ormand of Westport, Conn.; and brother Kenneth Ormand, also of Westport.

A small graveside service was held June 5 at Arlington Memorial Park in Atlanta, where he was laid to rest next to Sandy. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in memory of Rick Ormand to Johns Hopkins in support of the Stepping Stones fund. The contributions will provide financial assistance to organ donors and transplant recipients facing financial hardships due to time away from work and travel needed for procedures. To make a gift online, visit https://secure.jhu.edu/form/surgery, or make checks payable to Johns Hopkins University, care of Samantha Oliphant, Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 550 North Broadway, Suite 722, Baltimore, MD 21205.

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999. Sign the online guestbook is www.dresslersjewishfunerals.com.

86, Atlanta

58 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

72, Atlanta

James Rogoff 73, Alpharetta

James Rogoff passed away at home in Alpharetta, Ga., June 4, 2020. Born in Sewickley, Pa., Oct. 15, 1946, “Jimmy” attended the Sewickley Valley School system and graduated Boston University with a business degree. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and started his business, Rogoff Financial Services, in Sewickley. He and Judy lived in the Pittsburgh suburbs for 44 years. After selling his business, they retired in Alpharetta.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Judith Rogoff (nee Kirstein); sons Evan (Jodi) Rogoff of Alpharetta, and Eric (Jennifer) Rogoff) of New York, N.Y., and Woodstock, NY; grandsons Andrew, Ari, Benjamin and Alexander Rogoff; and brothers Robert Rogoff of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Kenneth Rogoff of New York, N.Y. A private, family graveside service was held at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. The family requests that donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Sara Elaine Jay Schoenberg

Anita Weinstein

Sara Elaine Jay Schoenberg, daughter, sister, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away at home May 9, 2020, at the age of 88. Sara was born in Buford, Ga., to William and Ruth Jay. After growing up in the only Jewish family in Buford and attending school there, she studied at the University of Georgia in Athens before moving to Atlanta and meeting the love of her life Arthur Schoenberg. An avid needle pointer and excellent cook, Sara was devoted to raising her children and supporting her husband.

Sara was predeceased by her beloved husband Arthur of 66 years in 2019, her parents, and brother Furman Jay. She is survived by sons Howard and Barry Schoenberg; son and daughter-in-law Alan and Emily Schoenberg; granddaughter and grandson in-law Sharon and Brian Whelton; grandson David Nabers; sister and brother in-law, Zelda and Charles Moog; several nieces and nephews; and close friend of many years Rhonda Colbert. The family is grateful to caregivers Gladys, Sandra, Mylakia and Mary from Kadan Homecare for their kind and compassionate care.

A service was held at Greenwood Cemetery May 10 with Rabbi Neil Sandler of Ahavath Achim Synagogue officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Anita was a know-it-all who actually knew it all, an aficionado of all things, from history to politics to movies. Other than dessert with a fresh cup of coffee, nothing made her happier than her children and grandchildren. Survivors include her daughter Rhonda Findling; son Drew Findling; daughter-in-law Beth Findling; and grandchildren Zachary, Samantha and Madison.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Foundation for Criminal Justice (www.nacdl.org/content/support). A graveside service was held May 24 at Arlington Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-4514999.

88, Atlanta

85, Atlanta

Rita Schor 70, Marietta

Rita Schor, 70, of Marietta, Ga., passed away at The William Bremen Jewish Home May 31, 2020, following a courageous 15-plus year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Rita was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sept. 12, 1949, the daughter of Czechoslovakian immigrants and Holocaust survivors, Sol and Flora David. Her family immigrated to the United States while Flora was pregnant with Rita and she became the first member of the David family to be born in this country. Her dad worked hard as a local tailor and her parents were highly respected in the community. Rita never spoke much of her family’s past, but she never took an opportunity for granted and cherished each day of her life. While uncommon at that time, Rita was determined to attend college and became the first generation in her family to graduate. She earned a degree in early childhood education and had a love for educating children.

Prior to graduating, while attending a wedding, Rita met her husband Neil Schor, from Utica, N.Y. From the second Neil met Rita, he was smitten. The two were married in July 1969 and from that day forward, they were rarely seen apart. In 1972, Rita gave birth to a son Lee Schor, and 7 1/2 years later, daughter Alissa Schor was born. In the late 1970s, Neil and Rita left the cold weather of the Northeast behind when they moved to Marietta, and Rita loved the community she found there.

Family was everything to Rita and she has often been described as the glue that kept the family together. Rita loved her children with all of her heart and led by example. She was an incredible wife, mother and loyal friend and would do anything for those she loved and cared about. When she wasn’t doting on her family, Rita loved to travel, as long as it was to somewhere warm.

She was an avid reader and was always up for a long walk and a great conversation with a close friend. Rita had an innate love for educating children and spent many years as a preschool teacher at the Atlanta Jewish Community Center in Marietta.

Rita is survived by her husband Neil of 51 years; son and daughter-in-law Lee and Sarah Schor; daughter and son-in-law Alissa Schor and Daniel Kedme; and two granddaughters Madison Kedme and Sasha Schor.

While Rita was never able to really “meet” her grandchildren, her children believe strongly and are determined that her legacy will remain strong with them. Rita will always be remembered as a loving wife, a selfless mother, a generous friend and a compassionate woman of Jewish faith that was always proud of who she was and where she came from.

Due to COVID-19, a graveside funeral was held for immediate family only June 4 at Arlington Memorial Park in Atlanta. Shiva was observed virtually, and friends and relatives asked in lieu of flowers to please consider donations to the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at Emory University or the Alzheimer’s Association in her memory.

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 about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES JUNE 15, 2020 | 59

CLOSING THOUGHTS April Fools’ Day Arielle, Chien, Patches, Tippish, Shaina, Kelev, Ari. One of these things is not like the other. Take a guess. Nope, take another one.

One day, about 10 years ago, actually exactly 10 years ago the end of April, my hubby and I took four of my 10 grandchildren up to the North Point shopping disShaindle trict. We needed something Schmuckler to do, it was kids’ choice and Shaindle’s Shpiel the kids picked the pet store.

They loved looking at the puppies, snakes, rodents, fish, birds and kittens.

My luck, the pet store was sponsoring pet adoptions day.

A little background music maestro please.

Growing up in the Bronx, my sisters and I never even considered having a dog, or any pets for that matter. Where would we keep it? It would have been cruel to have a dog in an apartment. Well, truth to power, every now and then over winter break, one of us would bring home the class gerbil. Believe me when I tell you, our parents were not gerbil lovers. Mom did have a bird, whom she loved, and who scared the kishkes (in-

60 | JUNE 15, 2020 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

sides) out of me. I am terrified of birds ‘til this very day.

By the way, did you happen to see the movie “The Birds”? YIKES! That confirmed my greatest fears and it was then I made a vow to be much more of a discerning moviegoer.

Back to April Fools’ Day, the day our soon-to-be puppy was born. Yes, we do sing “Happy Birthday” in English, Hebrew and Yiddish. Who is this puppy I speak of? This is a legitimate question. I shall now give you a legitimate answer. Hold on, this could be a bumpy ride.

From the very beginning of our journey in building our family, my hubby and I knew that having a pet, more specifically, a puppy, was part and parcel (what does even mean?) of the ‘deal.’

Soon our family grew in the best way possible.

We were blessed with our four precious children, two rabbits, a gerbil and a puppy. They all seemed to get along famously, respecting each other’s space. Dogs inside our home; rabbits on the back porch. Children, of course, inside, nu vooden (where else)? All was dreamy until one of the rabbits committed suicide by jumping off the picnic table. The second rabbit lived happily ever after at his doctor’s family.

We never, no we never, had a bird! I would take a cockroach before I would take a bird. (Oh, who am I kidding, I would never take a cockroach!)

I present to you a quick rundown of the do’s and

don’ts before you make a commitment as to which of the adorable puppies you decide to adopt.

First, I remind you, all puppies will eventually grow into dogs. This is important, or you would be in for the shock of your lives. There comes a day when, waking from a restful sleep, still a bit foggy, you notice the person sleeping next to you is not a person at all.

Not a stuffed animal either. There is your dog sleeping on your bed, snoring. The realization that this dog was once your sweet, cuddly puppy would catapult you right out of your bed.

Second, and I might say critically important, check the background of your chosen animal. Vet that animal as if he/she were running for president of these United States. Who were his/her mom and dad? What about extended family members? Any siblings? Were any one of them girls’ panty eaters? Squirrel, rabbit or deer chasers? Part of a gang of bums, who roamed the streets and it might take forever to call him/her home?

Explorers who would cause their owners to ride up and down the streets of your quiet, tree-lined neighborhood yelling his/her name to come home, begging PLEASE and shouting his/her name over and over until all the neighbors came out of their homes looking at you as if you were a nut job? Did any one in their family bite the ankles of mail carriers? Did any of them come from a nice Jewish family? Were any of them veterinarians (just kidding folks)?

Third, check to be sure the family tree DNA did not sport any phobias. For instance: were any relatives scared to the death of doggie crates, or the shape of some cookie treats, or only accustomed to eating the most expensive dog food?

I know from whence I speak, believe me.

One day, thanks to Debbie Sonenshine, more than 22 years ago, my family moved from Stone Mountain to Roswell. It was time for another, in our long line of puppies. I dreamed of a smallish, white, hypoallergenic, fluffy dog. My luck, which of all the dogs on the rescue market came right up to our grandkids? A little black, white and a little bit brown, not-so-fluffy puppy.

We did not vet the dog! We trusted the word of the person caring for this puppy. Armed with lots of information, we formally adopted this puppy. One of the grands held the dog, as we loaded a crate, food, snacks, toys and a little blanket into my SUV. On our way home, we started the process of naming this adorable little puppy. Traveling Georgia 400 proved to bring out some very creative possibilities. We had all voted this puppy should have a Hebrew name.

As we headed for the exit ramp, a name was chosen.

Ari is the name of our 10-year-old rescue cockapoo.

Why a cockapoo? Simple, my friend Miri had a beautiful little white fluffy cockapoo, and I fell in love with it. Not the best way to choose a breed, but it seems to have worked out.

And so folks, back to the burning question from the beginning of this column: Which one of these things is not like the other? The answer is Ari. Why Ari? Because all the other dogs on the list above have moved on.

Ari, born April 1, our sweet little April Fools’ gift. ì

The Lowdown I Bet You Didn’t Know …

Nadia Bilchik

Atlanta is chock full of interesting movers and shakers, some bent on creativity, empire-building, activism; others on just having fun and living the good life. Lean in to hear some off the cuff remarks as to what makes Nadia Bilchik tick.

Bilchik is an internationally renowned speaker, author, television personality and communication skills/training expert.

She has anchored and hosted feature programs for M-Net TV (South Africa), CNN International, CNN Airport Network, and she reported for CNN Weekend Morning Passport. Her uniquely dynamic, entertaining and substantive approach to communication comes from her extensive experience in conducting training workshops and coaching business professionals for clients such as The Coca-Cola Co., The Home Depot, University of Georgia Terry School of Business , Emory University and Porsche, and in delivering keynote addresses to a broad range of audiences both in the USA and abroad.

Bilchik moved to Atlanta in 1997 from Johannesburg with husband Steve Kesler and daughters Alexa and Julia. Recently she had to pivot from in-person audiences to online. Bilchik refers to herself as a pandemic “baby zoomer,” having perfected the art of virtual keynotes and her shows on TV and podcast now available on YouTube.

Read on to find out how she’s learning to speak Turkish in spite of being an onscreen murder victim.

My biggest on-air goof?

Calling actress Leah Michelle, “Michelle Leah.” Another time, I was explaining Easter traditions, and my huge bunny slid off the set. Then once I was on air for New Year’s Eve and prompted to eat 12 grapes at one time, a Spanish custom. Very awkward.

My most dangerous safari moment ….

Being charged by a white rhino in Madikwa [South Africa].

Most unusual job?

As an actress, in EVERY film, I died, … got shot or had my throat slashed. One of my killers was Gary Busey.

My guilty pleasure?

I’m a tequila connoisseur. There’s Petrone, but the Costco brand works just fine.

I was starstuck meeting?

Anthony Hopkins: gracious; Nelson Mandela: awe inspiring; then there was J. Lo. My last fashion disaster …

I did a live on-air segment with my zipper open.

My daughters would say about me …

“Mom is a wonderful motivational speaker, but her daily quotes are a bit much.”

What lesson have you learned from the lockdown?

Agility, … being able to adopt quickly without fear. One day I was a keynote speaker, then the next I was a “virtual” keynote speaker working with a 17-year-old podcast expert.

Move fast, hire the right people.

My guilty pleasure?

Binge watching Netflix “Black Money Love.” [Filmed in Istanbul]. I now know 54 words in Turkish. ì

Reported by Marcia Caller Jaffe

CALENDAR Virtual Classes and Events:

MONDAY, JUNE 15 Virtual Support Group, Primary Infertility – Noon to 1 p.m. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation virtually on Monday, June 15, for a private support group discussing primary infertility. To register, www.bit. ly/3e7ZFpC. Parenting Preschoolers in a Pandemic Support Group – 1 to 2 p.m.

A weekly free JF&CS support group for parents dealing with difficult issues during this unprecedented time. For more information, rbrown@jfcsatl.org.

JUNE 15-JUNE 26 TUESDAY, JUNE 16 Virtual Resume Workshop – 10 to 11 a.m. Join JF&CS to learn to create an effective resume or improve the one you already have. Transform your resume into a powerful tool.

This workshop will identify the different parts of a resume and their purpose, help you create a master profile of core competencies and accomplishments, and provide a checklist of resume do’s and don’ts.

It will also help you develop a cover letter to accompany your resume.

To register, https://bit.ly/2Y4agvp.

Brain Health Bootcamp – 1 to 2 p.m.

Join JF&CS for a program to enhance memory techniques through cognitive stimulation, physical exercise, education and socialization.The Brain Health Boot Camp provides individuals recently diagnosed with or recognizing symptoms of memory loss with an opportunity to connect with others experiencing a similar situation.

For more information, contact Georgia Gunter at ggunter@jfcsatl. org.

Virtual Support Group, Primary Infertility – 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation virtually for a private support group discussing primary infertility. To register, www.bit.ly/3e7ZFpC

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

Monday Night Parsha – 7 to 8 p.m. Join Rabbi Gedalya Hertz and Chabad of North Fulton for his weekly parsha. To join with Zoom, www.bit. ly/2zpsgIl.

JELF’s Virtual No Go Event – 7:15 to 8 p.m Join JELF for a “live conversation” with best-selling author Angela Duckworth and Dr. Marianne Garber, educational consultant and JELF past president. JELF will also share a short video on the impact of COVID-19 on current recipients during the pandemic. For more information, events@jelf.org

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

Torah Studies Live – 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Join Intown Jewish Academy for an in depth analysis of the Torah portion. This program brings you the tradition of classical Jewish learning in a series of inspiring and engaging weekly classes. The lessons probe the depths of contemporary Torah thought, with a special focus on issues surrounding spirituality, the human psyche, love and relationships. Every experience offers meaningful and timely lessons from the most timeless of texts. You will walk away surprised, inspired and knowing more about who you are and who you can be. To join with Zoom, www.bit.ly/2VkBLjZ. College Admissions Testing in 2020 – 8 to 9 p.m. JumpSpark has created a session to answer all your college admission testing questions.

Much has changed in the world of standardized testing in the last several weeks: spring SAT and ACT test dates have been postponed; APs were taken at home; and the ACT’s move to computer-based testing anticipated for September may be here sooner. Almost every day another college announces they will be “test optional,” but does that mean students should be opting out of testing altogether? Join Applerouth’s founder Jed Applerouth, Ph.D., for a thorough investigation of what we know about standardized testing for 2020. To register, www.bit.ly/3dmyyak Virtual Support Group – Moms After Infertility -- 8 to 9:15 p.m. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation for a free private support group discussing Moms After Infertility. To register, www.bit.ly/3e7ZFpC.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 Significant Others of Addicts Support Group – 1 to 2 p.m. Free weekly support group from JF&CS. This group is for spouses, partners and/or significant others of those struggling with addiction. To register and for more information, sanderson@jfcsatl.org.

High School Seniors Missed Moments Group – 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. A free weekly support group from JF&CS for high school seniors. A safe place to share how COVID-19 has changed and challenged you.

Learn self-care strategies, discuss next steps after high school and more. To register for more information, uzusman@jfcsatl.org.

Teen Girls Supportive Group Chat – 4 to 5 p.m. From JF&CS, join Ina Enoch, Ph.D. and Rebecca Brown, LCSW, for a weekly free support group. This group will be a safe space for teen girls to talk about how they are dealing with difficult issues during these unprecedented times. To register and for more information, ienoch@jfcsatl.org.

Think Different – 8 to 9 p.m. Join Intown Jewish Academy for a weekly group to study the single most transformative Jewish spiritual text written in the last three centuries with master Tanya teacher Rabbi Ari Sollish. To register, www. bit.ly/3eNGmCi. Virtual Support Group, Secondary Infertility – 8 to 9:15 p.m. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation virtually for a private support group discussing secondary infertility. To register, www.bit.ly/3e7ZFpC.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19 Why Georgia Needs a Hate Crimes Bill – Noon to 1 p.m. Georgia is one of five states in the nation without a hate crimes law. The time for change is now. Please join ADL, the Hate Free Georgia coalition and leading influencers in the fight for a hate crimes law, and learn what you can do to join the fight. To register, www.bit.ly/2LMl5MM. Family Caregivers During a Pandemic Support Group – 1 to 2 p.m. This JF&CS weekly group will provide a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings and help you to devel-

op a network of support through an exchange of information and experiences. For more information, jgay@jfcsatl.org.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Parenting Elementary Age in a Pandemic Support Group – 1 to 2 p.m.

Join JF&CS for a weekly free support group for parents dealing with difficult issues during this unprecedented time. For more information, uzusman@jfcsatl.org.

Naso Friday, June 5, 2020, light candles at 8:28 p.m.

Saturday, June 6, 2020, Shabbat ends at 9:30 p.m.

Behaalotecha Friday, June 12, 2020, light candles at 8:31 p.m.

Saturday, June 13, 2020, Shabbat ends at 9:33 p.m.

Pregnant in a Pandemic Support Group – 1 to 2 p.m. Join JF&CS, Tzipporah Gerson-Miller and Ellen Zucrow, LCSW, for a weekly free support group for expectant mothers dealing with fears and concerns during this unprecedented time.

Gain support and learn from others in a therapist-facilitated environment. To register, email tgersonmiller@jfcsatl.org.

TUESDAY, JUNE 23: University of Texas – 5 to 6 p.m., www. bit.ly/3coJran.

THURSDAY, JUNE 25: Virginia Tech – From 5 to 6 p.m., www. bit.ly/3drHPxU.

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

For more information, www.bit. ly/2UgUFId.

JUNE PROGRAMS: Virtual College Road Trip – Join JumpSpark for formal information sessions led by college admissions directors and representatives, Hillel on-campus reps and student leaders.

Yoga for Shabbat Live Stream – 4 to 5 p.m. Join congregant and yoga instructor Paula Coplon for a relaxing livestream yoga/meditation before Shabbat begins each Friday afternoon. The entire community is welcome to check it out on Etz Chaim’s Facebook page, www.bit. ly/3cszQj2.

MONDAY, JUNE 22

MONDAY, JUNE 15:

James Madison University – 5 to 6 p.m., www.bit.ly/2MiyKLA.

TUESDAY, JUNE 16: Florida State University – 1 to 2 p.m., www.bit.ly/2XQ7OID. University of Central Florida – 5 to 6 p.m., www.bit.ly/2BhRiJK.

Getting Personal & Political About Infertility Webinar – Noon. Join Jewish Fertility Foundation and Hadassah for free live webinar. To register, email emily@jewishfertilityfoundation.org.

College of Charleston – 5 to 6 p.m., www.bit.ly/2yU1x6n.

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

University of Richmond – 5 to 6 p.m. www.bit.ly/2zG3Avf.

College Applications: What To Do Before the Beach – 1 to 2 p.m. Take advantage of your summer vacation.

Learn what you need to do for your college applications before you hit the beach. Hear from two experienced college counselors. To register, www.bit.ly/2XP0AEO.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17:

In the City Camps Presents Virtual Camp – Every weekday afternoon from 3:30 to 4 p.m. In an effort to keep the community connected, they are giving their campers opportunities to see one another.

To watch and join in, www.bit. ly/2xhGR71.

Jewish Spirituality & Mysticism – Join Rabbi Hirshy Minkowicz for a weekly class on Jewish spirituality, mysticism and how to apply them to your personal growth in a meaningful way. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wmSBFp.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19:

MONDAY, JUNE 22:

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

University of Virginia – 5 to 6 p.m., www.bit.ly/3dp1deR.

MJCCA BBYO – Tune in to BBYO On

Emory University – 1 to 2 p.m., www. bit.ly/2U0DDNQ.

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

MJCCA Aquatics – A few things that you can work on at home to keep your swimming abilities top notch.

Please see our swim skills guide that describes exercises for your child’s ability along with a picture.

For more information, www.bit. ly/3bmmlRC. PJ Library is Viral! – Mondays at 9:30 a.m., Tuesdays through Fridays at 9 a.m., and every afternoon at 2 p.m.

PJ Library is bringing to you fun, crafts, stories, Q&As, scavenger hunts, food demos and so much more every morning and afternoon. To join in and for more information, www.bit.ly/2WzFFqh. Repair the World – Repair the World welcomes you to sign up for its programming. Join them from the comfort of your home for a discussion on compassionate care for ourselves and our community.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2xhUsv5.

MJCCA Day Camps – Weekdays, 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Check in for weekday live activity sessions on their Facebook page. To participate and for more information, www. bit.ly/2wvLOcn. MJCCA Fitness – MJCCA is posting daily workouts and conducting live workouts on the Fitness Facebook page. They also have a free option to help keep you active and working out at home. For more watch here, www.bit.ly/2WHcSQz.

THURSDAY,, JUNE 18: THURSDAY

Demand, a new virtual experience for teens worldwide. Enjoy amazing programming and global events. Some of the sessions will even be led by our very own Greater Atlanta Region BBYO members.

For more information, www.bit. ly/2QFlCD2.

Virtual Hillel Connections – If you’re looking for community, connection and meaningful learning opportunities or if you’re just bored and need a distraction during coronavirus cancellations, then you’ve come to the right place. Hillel has virtual meetups and online gatherings that bring you together with Jewish and Jew-ish students from around the world in real-time! For more information, www.bit.ly/3af7wjA. Please send Virtual Classes & Events to jen@atljewishtimes.com.

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

young professionals and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli and Jewish heritage, online activism and to one another. IAC @Home lets you enjoy a coast-to-coast community right from your own home.

For more information, www.israeliamerican.org/home.

JF&CS – Emergency Financial Assistance – JF&CS provides emergency assistance to individuals and families. Please call 770-677-9389 to get assistance. For more information: www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

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

Atlanta Community Food Bank Text for Help SMS Function – The Atlanta Community Food Bank’s mission to provide nutritious food to the people who need it has reached a major milestone in achieving access to food for all. The Text for Help SMS function recognizes two keywords – “findfood” (no space) in English or “comida” in Spanish. Each will activate automated responses in the relevant language. When a person texts either keyword to 888-976-2232 (ACFB), they’ll be prompted for their zip code or address to enable location services for food pantries closest to them. Responses will include a list of three different nearby pantries and their contact information. If no pantries are located within a 10-mile radius from the zip code entered, the program provides information on the nearest food pantries in neighboring zip codes. For more information, www.acfb.org.

Atlanta Jewish Music Festival Updates – Music is a powerful force. It heals.

It can bring people together. In the wake of the tragic events over the last few weeks, the AJMF has reached out to its community seeking “healing music.” To listen, www.spoti. fi/2Uuq7BB. For information about the AJMF, www.atlantajmf.org.

Israel American Council – IAC @Home brings you the most innovative content online while continuing to build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens,

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

Jewish Federation of Great Atlanta COVID-19 Resources – The unsettling, fast-moving and unpredictable world of life with COVID-19 is upon us. As we’re all discovering, a worldwide pandemic disrupts everyone on an unprecedented scale. For updates and more information, www.bit. ly/3ahrNVM. Marcus JCC Updates – Please visit www.atlantajcc.org/reopen to learn about all the details and procedures, including hours of operations, for engaging with the JCC during our reopening. For more information, www.bit.ly/2QEAuRX. My Jewish Learning Resources – Jewish learning resources to get you through these difficult days. For more information, www.bit.ly/3bms5dQ. Please send Community service opportunities to jen@atljewishtimes.com.

ly/2YJf0rU. The Temple Live Streaming Services – Find live streaming services here, www.the-temple.org.

Synagogue Live Streaming Services:

Please lease send Synagogue and Temple Streaming Services to jen@atljewishtimes.com.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Participate in services live from your computer. Ahavath Achim’s Services are broadcasted from the main sanctuary and Ellman Chapel. Open to members and the community. To watch and for more information, www.bit.ly/33EJfAU.

Creating Connected Communities: www.bit.ly/3bekKNI

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

Donate for Emergency Groceries: www.pawkids.org

Congregation Etz Chaim’s Virtual Morning Minyan and Shabbat Services – Sunday through Friday at 8:30 a.m. Join Rabbi Daniel Dorsch for livestreaming daily morning minyan and Shabbat evening and morning services. To join in, www. bit.ly/3gWL02s.

Congregation Shearith Israel – Zoom Service – Daily and Shabbat services will continue at regular times in a virtual manner. They are counting participants in these Zoom services as part of a minyan, or prayer quorum, allowing members to recite full prayer services including Mourner’s Kaddish. To participate via phone, dial 929-205-6099 and then enter the meeting code 404 873 1743. To be a part of services, visit the Zoom link, www.bit.ly/2wnFWlD. Temple Emanu-El Live Streaming Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 10 a.m. Join in on Facebook at www. facebook.com/TEAtlanta/.

Temple Beth Tikvah Live Streaming Services – Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m. To join in, www.bit. ly/2ZlCvrr Temple Sinai Live Stream Services – Temple Sinai will have live Shabbat services on Friday night and Saturday morning. For more information and to view services, www.bit.

Ways to Help Through CCC: www.bit. ly/2vAXqdN Become a Virtual Tutor: www.mindbubble.org

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

Package and Deliver Meals Through Open Hand Atlanta: www.openhandatlanta.org/volunteer Package and deliver meals through Concrete Jungle: www.concrete-jungle.org/ Help Atlanta Public Schools deliver food on bus routes as well as food distribution sites in kitchens and drivethrough lines. For more information, www./bit.ly/2Uk7lga.

JFCS FCS Kosher Food Pantry: www.jfcsatl. org.

Repair The World: A one-page resource for caring for the sick in the time of crisis. For more information, www. bit.ly/2JamMlQ. Cards & Care Packages for Jewish HomeLife Staff: www. bit.ly/2WDncsY & www.bit. ly/2WDncsY Second Helpings Volunteer Opportunities: www.bit.ly/2UpkxQE Help with COVID-19: A list of additional volunteer opportunities, www.helpwithcovid.com Please send Community Service Opportunities to jen@atljewishtimes.com.

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

Connector Chatter Directory Spotlight www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Congregation Dor Tamid Vanda House

In conversation with Dr. Michael Chan-Frazier, Licensed Professional Counselor In conversation with Rabbi Jordan M. Ottenstein How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

Congregation Dor Tamid was founded in 2004 as the merger between Temple B’nai Dorot and Congregation Shir Shalom.

How does your organization help the community?

We are committed to tikkun olam. We have an active social action committee that is committed to helping the broader community. Our religious school curriculum includes an entire year focused on this as well. Additionally, I am a founding member of the Johns Creek Interfaith Alliance, a group of interfaith clergy from Johns Creek looking to form relationships and partnerships among ourselves and our houses of worship, and I also serve as a chaplain for the Johns Creek Fire Department.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

In 10 years, we hope to be able to broaden our reach into the larger community, grow our membership, and be able to deepen the continued relationships among all of the members of Congregation Dor Tamid.

In conversation with Elliot Karp

How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

It has been 20 great adventurous years that have brought us full circle to where we are now.

How does your organization help the community?

We are a support to our community through various platforms. From making a wish, to enriching a relationship, to supporting your home and self growth.

Our enrichment programs and tools nourish and support a higher connection to one’s self in raising self-awareness and spiritual attunement, while educating and learning about modalities that align with one’s emotional well-being and happiness. We are all about enriching our quality of life and sharing that essence through our brand, our Cafe I Am and celebrating our unique difference to raising the love on the planet.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

It is amazing to say that a decade will fly by just as the last two decades have. We at Vanda strongly feel that we, as an organization, will still “feel” that we are just beginning. We love this worQ, we honestly love everything we do and share here. It has all been created to support self-growth. The truth is we are never done and we are always looking to be the best and achieving. With that being said, there’s no doubt that we will be focused on supporting our communities throughout the world in closing the gap on what no longer serves humankind. ì

Hillels of Georgia

How long has your organization been in Atlanta?

Hillels of Georgia, as an umbrella organization serving Jewish college students on campuses across the state, was established in 1994, although Hillel has been active at our community’s colleges and universities for decades..

How does your organization help the community?

Hillel’s mission is to serve Jewish college students on campuses across the state by creating, supporting and sustaining dynamic Jewish life and by ensuring a friendly, welcoming, safe and secure home for them. We are passionately committed to helping students develop and grow their personal Jewish identities and commitments while creating an exciting array of programs ranging from Shabbat and holiday celebrations; Israel activities and trips; community service and tikkun olam projects; leadership development and much more.

Where do you see your organization in 10 years?

Hillels of Georgia will continue to grow and thrive over the next decade. We are very excited to be building a new Hillel House at the University of Georgia, thanks to the generous support of The Marcus Foundation, which will provide Jewish students at UGA with a warm and wonderful “home away from home.”

We also plan to expand our outreach and engagement efforts with students at all our campuses, including increased efforts at smaller colleges and universities across the state. We also look forward to continuing to connect our Jewish students with the Judaism, the Jewish community, Israel and world Jewry.

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