Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. 99 NO. 17, September 15, 2024

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ALLEN H. LIPIS

BOB BAHR

DAVE SCHECHTER

DAVID OSTROWSKY

MARCIA CALLER JAFFE

ROBBIE GARBER

ROBYN SPIZMAN GERSON

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UP IN SMOKE: Is the Kosher BBQ Festival Cooked?

By Sasha Heller

For the past 11 years, the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival, presented by the Hebrew Order of David, has filled the bellies of community members with savory delicacies and filled their hearts with goodwill and Jewish pride. But unfortunately, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

In this series, entitled “Burnt Ends,” the AJT will recall the festival’s legacy, speaking with those who were heavily involved over the years, and discussing what plans there are for a potential replacement in the future.

Jody Pollack, the festival’s executive director, has announced that he is stepping down from his leadership position to focus on his family. The AJT recently spoke with Pollack about his personal history with the festival and what it means to him to be a part of its legacy.

AJT: How would you describe your experience leading the festival for the past several years? What was it like for

you?

Pollack: First off, it was a joy but filled with trepidation, angst, frustration, amazement and immense satisfaction. Each festival, I worried about the weather, how many teams would participate, would the community come out, could we get the sponsorships and donations and so on. Every year since 2015, I put in a lot of work that ultimately paid off with the realization that I led a team ef-

fort that brought disparate members of the community together for great kosher BBQ and a day of family fun.

AJT: What will be your lasting memories of the festival over the years?

Pollack: The people that I met and interacted with as I led the team to put the festival together were, for the most part, people that under other circumstances, I would have not had any reason

to chat with let alone work closely with and now call friends. On top of that, seeing so many people of all flavors, eating the same food, listening to the same music, following the rules of kashrut in preparing their BBQ and enjoying the day are memories that I will cherish forever. In addition, being able to convince some amazing filmmakers to join me in making one of my dreams a reality by creating the documentary, “No Pork on the

Team Grillin’ Barbie-Ques, a.k.a. the Atlanta Jewish Times staff, are pictured at the 2023 festival.

(From right) Jody Pollack and Michael Marks, a.k.a. Brisket

Fork.” We were so fortunate to finish it just in time for the 2020 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and to have it shown just before COVID shut everything down.

AJT: Why have you chosen to not continue hosting the festival?

Pollack: I had to do a lot of soul searching before stepping down. For the past 10-plus years, this has been an integral part of who I was, and I am now in a phase of my life where I need to refocus my efforts and priorities. The workload was not decreasing, and family responsibilities were increasing. It is a huge effort to pull the festival together and it is time to focus on our accomplishments and go out on top. We ran the festival for over 10 years and made a movie about it. We truly brought a diverse community together and lived by the phrase, “We don’t care what flavor you are, as long as you love BBQ.” And on top of that we raised a few dollars for the community.

AJT: Please speak about the donations that were raised each year and how the Order helped support local organizations through the festival pro-

ceeds.

Pollack: As we looked into taking over the festival and determining how to assess the goals of continuing it, we had to define success. In other words, were we going to be a fundraising event or a community event? After looking into the financial projections, we realized that we would be lucky to break even each year and if we had funds available to donate, that would be a bonus. The realization was quickly made that this festival needed to focus on its value as a community event where we would be breaking down cultural barriers and truly provide a safe, fun space where everyone from all levels of Jewish observance and the non-Jewish community could gather in one place under the umbrella of togetherness.

AJT: What would you like to see replace the festival going forward? Should there be some type of community gathering to take its place?

Pollack: I would love to see a festival with a similar vibe that I can bring my family to and just enjoy without the pressure of ensuring its success. I am happy to leave that to someone else. ì

Giving Back

Through the generosity of donors and the stewardship of the festival’s accounting team, organizers were able to donate approximately $30,000 to various Jewish and non-Jewish community organizations, including:

Atlanta Israel Coalition

Backpack Buddies

Cobb County Sheriff's Fund

United Hatzalah

I Care Atlanta

Jewish Educational Loan Fund

Jewish HomeLife Communities

Kingswood Church

St. Patrick’s Church

DeKalb Fire & Rescue

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Temple Sinai Stirred by Columbia Univ. Student Leader

By Bob Bahr

In a program timed to coincide with the beginning of another school year, Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs hosted a visit by Columbia University student Noa Fay. The recent college graduate has become a symbol of resistance by Jewish students at the school to the attacks and intimidation they have encountered over the past year.

The violence began shortly after the invasion of Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 and culminated in the arrest of more than 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators in April after they occupied the university’s campus in Manhattan. Commencement ceremonies were cancelled this past spring.

But for Fay, the message she delivered to her audience at the Atlanta synagogue is that the issue is far from over. The battle, at Columbia, she believes, is more than with a small number of radical students. It’s about, as she told her Temple Sinai audience, rethinking how Columbia University is run.

“There has to be a serious purge of the faculty, and there has to be also a serious reconsideration and restructuring of how our admission system works, because this is not how Ivy League students behave, I can tell you that. And then the

ZooATL-Sippin-2024-AJT.pdf 1 7/26/2024 11:50:44 AM

other piece to it is that we also have to have a very serious restructuring of our core curriculum, because the fact that Jewish history, and antisemitism in particular, is not included.”

The issue of antisemitism on the Co-

lumbia campus was addressed in a report by the university that was released Aug. 31. The report, based in large part on interviews and listening sessions with 500 students, describes how Jewish students were harassed on campus and in their

Hillels of Georgia CEO Larry Sernovitz (left) emphasized that antisemitism on college campuses threatens American democracy.

American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum in Washington in June presented Noa Fay an award for her activism at Columbia University.

dorms, ostracized by many of their peers and insulted by faculty members. Last month, two weeks before the report’s release, the president of the university, Nemat Shafik, an internationally known economist who was born in Egypt, resigned only a year after she took the job.

Her decision came shortly after the three deans at Columbia also resigned after it was disclosed that they had exchanged text messages that “touched on antisemitic tropes” at a school sponsored event about Jewish life on campus.

Fay’s appearance at Temple Sinai comes after a year in which her words have stirred audiences at a number of important appearances. The student leader who grew up as the daughter of Black and Native American Jewish parents spoke at the massive March for Israel in Washington, D.C. last November. The event attracted nearly 300,000 attendees.

She also testified before the U.S. Senate’s Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Antisemitism and at the United Nations. This summer, Fay received an award at the American Jewish Committee’s Global Forum in Washington, D.C. for her efforts on campus. In accepting the award, she reassured the AJC delegates, which include 150 from the Southeast, that the Jewish students at Columbia “did not yield one inch to the fear we faced this year. And we will continue to stand strong in the face of hatred in all forms.”

Joining Fay for the discussion in Sandy Springs was Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, CEO of the statewide Hillels of Georgia organization. He noted that on the three university campuses in Georgia where pro-Palestinian protesters sought

to replicate what happened at Columbia, action was swift and firm.

At the University of Georgia, for instance, the organization of Students for Justice in Palestine has been banned and six of the top leaders of the protest have been suspended for the rest of the fall term. Sernovitz warned that, going forward, without such concerted efforts to quell campus violence, American higher education could suffer irreparable harm.

“On the surface this may be about antisemitism and anti-Zionism,” Rabbi Sernovitz noted, “but underneath this is about the destabilization of the university system in America, and even more so, it is an anti-democratic, anti-American movement. It’s going to take chutzpah and it’s going to take a backbone to shut this stuff down.”

Sernovitz went on to point out that the chancellor the University of Georgia system, Sonny Perdue, sent a letter to the presidents of every university in Georgia, public and private, that they have a legal obligation to protect Jewish students. They have an obligation under the recently passed state legislation as well as existing federal law.

The program was moderated by Temple Sinai’s Director of Adult Learning, Rabbi Natan Trief, who emphasized the need for students and the community to remain strong in the coming year.

“We have the power to take control of our destiny, to help craft the reality on the ground. If tonight did anything, I hope that it left us all feeling more empowered. If we have learned one thing from Oct. 7, it is that we must wear our Judaism and our Zionism with pride, with purpose and with perseverance.” ì

Columbia University student Noa Fay (right) was the featured speaker at Temple Sinai.

‘Legend of Destruction’ Carries Modern & Ancient Message

By Bob Bahr

The recent photographs and video showing a half million Israelis jammed together as far as the eye can see to protest the policies of their present government is nothing new. As the newly released film from Israel, “Legend of Destruction,” dramatically underscores, Jews were doing much of the same thing 2,000 years ago, when The Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.

Then, an incipient revolution against Roman imperialism, coupled with the rivalries ignited by religious extremism, set off a debilitating civil war that ended in monumental upheaval for the Jewish people.

It has taken three years for this remarkable film to reach America in an English language version after winning a warm critical welcome in 2021, and four Ophirs, the Israeli Academy Awards. The world premiere of this newly created version came early in June on the opening night of the 12th annual Israel Film Center Festival at the Meyerson JCC on the

“Legend of Destruction” won four Ophirs, the Israeli Academy Awards.

Upper West Side of Manhattan.

The Atlanta premiere was somewhat more low key. It was shown last month just before Maariv, or the evening service on Tisha B’Av, at Congregation Beth Tefil-

lah in Sandy Springs. No red carpet, no paparazzi, no scantily clad starlets, just a sparse crowd sitting on hard back chairs who gathered on this saddest of Jewish observances that marks the Temple’s de-

mise.

Some, like Ari Sollish, the Chabad rabbi who briefly introduced the film, came with the hope that this film might shed some important light on an event

The Roman legions who eventually destroyed The Temple waited to attack until while internal division weakened the Jews.

that arguably ranks right up there with the Exodus in its influence on our lives as modern Jews.

“We, as Jews, can withstand threats from the outside,” Rabbi Sollish said. “So long as we are cohesive on the inside, as long as we stand together within, we can withstand challenges from without. But when we are fractured within, then it takes only a little bit of pressure from the outside to allow the whole structure to crumble. This is a truth of history.”

According to tradition, The Temple was destroyed by sinat chinam, or in English, “mindless hate.” It was a condition not unlike what exists today, where divisions between Jews are often so deep and intractable that we actively work to undermine those with whom we disagree. In a thoughtful interview with Mizrachi, the online journal of the religious Zionist movement, the director of the film, Gidi Dar, who is a secular Jew, is quick to point out the modern-day parallels.

“In the movie,” Dar says, “we also try to depict how all the different groups have some truth to them, but they were right all the way until the destruction. For society to function, groups have to be able to compromise to work together.

His creative partner in the project, Shuli Rand, who is observant, co-wrote the script and says that the tragedy they portrayed is rooted in how Jews 2,000 years ago were riven with hatred, made even more bitter by economic and religious differences.

“The message is how we destroyed ourselves from within,” Rand emphasizes. “We include that in the movie, that at one point the Romans delayed their

attack, because the Jews were weakening themselves from within!”

Despite its rather prosaic title, “Legend of Destruction,” or in Hebrew, Agudat Churban, tells its story of ancient Israel coming apart in an epic cataclysm. It’s a spectacular downfall created through an imaginative mix of art and sound. The story is told through 1,500 monumental works of art, created by the same team that brought to life the critically acclaimed 2008 Israeli animated documentary, “Waltz With Bashir,” about the war in Lebanon.

During the eight years the film was being assembled, they Photoshopped and edited together their compelling narrative largely from the classic first century works of Flavius Josephus. He was a Jewish general of the period who befriended the Roman occupiers and convinced them to underwrite a history of what was called The Jewish War. It survives to this day as a Roman inspired view of history and is generally accepted as an accurate, if somewhat biased, view of the period.

For the director, Dar, though, the theme of his film is not bound by geography or time. It is not just Jews who need to think seriously of where the divisions in their society are taking them

“The story of different groups arguing, of not being able to work together, and tearing society apart from within, definitely applies to many Western countries. How did this happen? How did some of the most successful societies become so divided, their politics so extreme, and the center so weak? The story of the Churban of the Destruction is a cautionary tale not only to Israel, but to the West as a whole.” ì

Much of the film takes place in an imaginative re-creation of The Temple.

Woodworkers Get ‘Jiggy’ With It

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Radiologist Ed Gerson has always been a man of creative hobbies. Just ask about his collection of antique telephones and cash registers. For years, Gerson has been hands on, hunkered down in his well tooled studio where he handcrafts complicated and beautiful woodwork projects. He has expanded this universe by starting a Jewish men’s woodworking club which grew to more than 30 members.

Gerson said, “I can’t count the number of times when I’d mention that I did woodworking as a hobby, and hear, ‘Are you sure you are Jewish?’ Where this interest came from, I’m not sure, but my dad (OBM) would say, ‘There is nothing that a guy with an eighth-grade education can do that I can’t, if shown how.”

So being naturally mechanical and handy, it all came easily to Gerson who became seriously interested in woodworking in the 70s when he bought his first table at a garage sale. Having a “non-Jewish” hobby, he was excited when he met a fellow woodworking member of the tribe.

Recently, Gerson, while buying exotic lumber, struck up a conversation with another shopper, Jody Pollack, whom he recognized from the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival. They quickly bonded and compiled a list of potential members. Five showed up at an arranged lunch, and through networking, the list has grown to 32, including two younger ladies. Gerson laughed, “What seemed like an ominous task has them coming out of the woodwork (pun intended)!”

The group meets once a month on Sunday morning -- shmoozing, problem solving, sharing tips, and show and tell. They’re a mix of mostly more senior

“sawdust makers,” mixed with a few enthusiastic younger folks. Backgrounds vary and include retired and active doctors, educators, IT types, and CPAs.

Gerson mused, “We all share a common interest, and there are usually five different conversations going on simultaneously. Most woodworking is done in solitude, but this gives us an opportunity

to come together.”

Member David Liss has an IT background and is setting up a website: Jewish Woodworker of Atlanta, or JWWOFATL. com. For most members, woodwork is a hobby, but some sell their wares at craft shows, synagogue benefits and online. The main treasures are cutting boards, wall plaques, Chanukia, me-

zuzahs, toys for grandkids, and hobby boxes. In terms of selling, most feel that these are therapeutic works of love that are indeed priceless.

Pollack said, “I got into woodworking over 50 years ago as a kid helping my dad. I have been making and selling menorahs and mezuzahs for 25 years. Helping Ed found this group has been great

The men’s jig club has grown to more than 30 members. Several members are pictured displaying their handcrafted wares.

Jody Pollack shows off a wooden menorah he crafted.

Ed Gerson with Rabbi Joshua Heller at Congregation B’nai Torah.

because we have discovered so many more of us than the community would believe. We are bonded by the love of creating beautiful objects with glue.”

Doug Pisik, who has created wood art for decades and been a member of other woodworker groups, said, “Being a member of a Jewish woodworker group adds an additional level of enjoyment. In addition to discussing different materials, tools and techniques, we share our Judaic projects with a unique appreciation. I love both teaching and learning from others, and the members of this group are extremely talented.”

Retired gastroenterologist Gene Hirsh echoed, “I never imagined retirement could be so much fun. After all those years being productive ‘working,’ it’s great to be involved with a creative group of people who are so productive ‘playing.’”

Retired urologist Roy Rubin jokes that he likes woodworking “because it doesn’t get infected, bleed, and or call

me in the middle of the night!” He finds camaraderie in the group of aspiring “Bazaleels,” talking shop is fun and educational, certainly more personal and participatory than YouTube.”

He listed a breadth of topics from a recent meeting: preventing warping; the esoterica of vacuum chucking on the lathe; preferred glues; donating and pricing pieces for a charity event; how best to upgrade a dust collection system; and the best electric miter saw.

He concluded, “What’s not to like about a group like ours?”

Gerson shared, “I prefer to work with exotic woods like zebrawood, paduk, wenge, purple heart, canary wood, and less exotic woods like walnut, oak, cherry, and maple. My favorites are exotic wood-mix cutting boards, tzedakah boxes made with old post office box doors, personalized wedding and bar mitzvah gifts, and toys.”

If interested, please email jww@ egerson.com.  ì

Ed Gerson created these wooden toy trucks.

Doug Pisik has been crafting woodworking projects for decades.

Harvard’s New President is a Jewish Doctor

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

In the world of musical chairs for Ivy League university presidents, Harvard’s new choice of Dr. Alan Garber stands out.

National news headlined former President Claudine Gay’s early January resignation from Harvard as she was unable to admit that hypothetical calls for genocide of Jews was bad, versus “depending on the circumstance,” along with the departure of University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill.

Dr. Garber was Harvard’s Provost and stepped in as interim president for seven months. On Aug. 2, he was given the official title until mid-2027.

Unlike recent newsmaker Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, who lists his Jewish day school background (along with his wife’s), not much is known about Garber’s personal life. His wife, Dr. Anne Yahanda, of Asian descent, with whom he shares four children, is also an MD. Garber hails from Illinois, and attended Stanford University in addition to Harvard.

Because he was Provost at Harvard,

he was the likely choice to step in as interim president. With its billions in capital accounts, Harvard equals money. The Ivy League schools have lost donor funds

because of administrations’ failures to address antisemitism on campus and in the classroom. Thus, Garber has been working to allay fears to get back on course.

Some noteworthy positions surface in his background; recently, a PETA activist, who was subsequently arrested, threw gold glitter at Garber during a speech. With much aplomb, he maintained his poise and laughed, “I could use a little glitter.”  Then went on to maintain that Harvard would always allow freedom of thought and speech.

He was involved in a case in 2016 against faculty/grad students unionizing. He recently drew criticism by not allowing 13 undergraduates to collect their diplomas at commencement because of their pro-Palestinian protest activity.

Garber is on record as having collected in the millions for serving on pharmaceutical boards -- with full legal disclosure.

Student Shabbos Kappenstein was a star of the Republican National Convention when he passionately spoke about his own experience at Harvard. With the appointment of Garber, just how does the pendulum swing from antisemitic to Jewish, or not so fast, as the dust settles?

Senior statesman, the late Henry Kissinger, said that to maintain credibility, one has to have the appearance of fairness; in other words, not being too openly pro-Jewish or pro-Israel. Rabbi David Wolpe, included in Newsweek’s “Most Influential Rabbis in America” in 2012, and author of “Why Faith Matters,”

recently resigned in protest from Gay’s Harvard advisory group on antisemitism; while this reporter implored him to stay and fight from the inside instead of risking the appointment of a hostile replacement.

Penny Pritzker, a Jewish-American billionaire heiress from Chicago and is related to the family who co-founded Hyatt Hotels and the current Illinois governor, is the current U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery. Also a Stanford and Harvard alum, she wrote the recent statement formalizing Garber’s appointment:

“This Fall will bring new and existing students and faculty back to campus. All eyes are on what will or will not change. Photos of a bearded 69-year-old Garber could easily be that of a Yeshiva ‘bucher’ (boy). In terms of Garber’s appointment, local retired physician and political pundit, Steve Morris, MD, said, ‘It depends on what kind of Jew … a Bernie Sanders Jew? Just because someone is Jewish, we can no longer presume they are proIsrael or even Zionists or even if they have the best interest of Jews in their core DNA. I like Brett Stephen’s editorial, ‘For Jews, everyday must be October 8.’”

Columbia University’s Egyptianborn president Minouche Shafik, a Muslim baroness and economist, resigned unexpectedly on Aug. 14 amid months of swirled controversy. Atlanta’s Jewish Emory University President Dr. Greg Fenves has been in the eye of the storm, so far successfully navigating college unrest with a liberal faculty not willing to support him. ì

Dr. Alan Garber will serve as Harvard University President until mid-2027.

Weber’s Goldschein is a Pokémon Phenom

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Gotta catch ‘em all!

Fifteen-year-old Weber student Shane Goldschein discovered Pokémon eight years ago when his brother, Sammy, handed him a Ziploc bag of cards. Fast forward to mid-August 2024 when Goldschein was invited to play with other top competitors (based on their stats) in the 2024 World Championship in Hawaii.

He stated, “My goal was to qualify to play in the second day of the tournament that allowed 48 people out of 500 to move to the next level.”

Ultimately, Shane finished 41st out of 500 in his age division, ranking him in the top eight percent in the world. His skill doesn’t come easy. While preparing for major tournaments (regional, international, or world), he devotes up to 50 hours a week, which varies with school demands.

Not just for fun, mom, Rachel said, “It’s amazing to watch both of my children learn to think ‘outside the box’, have patience, persistence, determination learning when to buy/sell/trade while honing their math and strategy skills. The Pokémon community is a welcoming, kind, competitive social group. They were patient while my boys were inquisitive and young beginners. I can see their growth and business mindset.”  Although it’s essentially a hobby, Shane can win prizes and money -- around $100 to $200 at a time.

A Pokémon season lasts for 10 months and is complex as new cards appear monthly; so Goldschein’s strategy must change accordingly. He shared that he is curious about each card and evaluates each me’s special powers and point values.

He recalled, “Years ago, while shop-

ping at Target, I passed the Pokémon aisle and bought some cards. Amazingly, I discovered the best card possible valued at the time -- around $200. For a 7-year-old kid, I was pretty happy!” He then sought out ways to sell or trade it for other cards. When he walked into a local Pokémon card store, he got multiple offers. Instead of “one for one,” he secured 60 cards to enable him to play the official card game.

Every week, Goldschein visits card stores with his dad and brother for local tournament play. He’s already preparing for the 2025 Pokémon season. Rachel said, “I’m grateful the World Championship is in California for the next two years, so it is easier for travel while attending school. Shane qualified for the world tournament the last few years, but they were in London and Japan -- too far to travel. I made him a deal that if he qualified in 2024, and it was held in the U.S., I’d take him. So, it was Hawaii!”

Goldschein may not play forever. He’s already planning his investment strategy by buying some items to hold. He said, “Cards have sold at auction for several hundreds of thousands of dollars and are considered a good investment. I met a man in the Pokémon Pop Up Shop who related that he carries his cards in a metal suitcase valued high enough to purchase a home. He advised me to hold for at least 10 years.”

Ever entrepreneurial, over the summer, Goldschein worked at the Chickfil-A corporate office, hosted a Pokémon summer camp, and offered private lessons. He speaks of the future and being a Pokémon investor as well as being a financial analyst or real estate investor.

Rachel concluded, “I truly believe Pokémon has set an incredible foundation for him to start the thought process

of when to buy, when to sell, when to trade and know what ROI really means at such a young age. He and his brother hold impressive collector binders filled with fun, playable decks as well as collector’s items. I am now getting to add my name to that list with my boys. It has brought us closer and gives us something to enjoy

together, while my husband learned how to play to stay connected with them. I love that my children have always had similar interests. From watching Marvel movies to collecting Lego sets to Lego Mini figures, from Funko Pop figures to now Pokémon. It really creates a competitive spirit [and] unbreakable bond.” ì

Shane passed on attending previous world championships because they were too far away to travel. However, Hawaii in 2024 was the right place at the right time.

Rachel and Shane stood in line for three hours to buy an autographed Bear Walker Pokémon skateboard.

Shane Goldschein is proud to have landed in the top eight percent in the World Pokémon Championship.

Shane poses with mom, Rachel, in front of their hotel in Honolulu.

Berman Named Jewish HomeLife Board Chair

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

Candy Berman has a long history of making a difference with laser-focused goals. Her passion has always been fueled by helping non-profits thrive. Her clear vision continues with a long history of volunteerism and built on a deeply personal mission.

Recently, Berman accepted a beloved endeavor and was officially welcomed at Jewish HomeLife’s annual community meeting as the organization’s new Board Chair for the next two years. She previously served as Board Vice Chair and Resource Development Committee Chair and her devotion comes as no surprise. Across her decades of service, Berman’s involvement with Jewish HomeLife is marked by her significant contributions to the organization’s mission. The installment as the organization’s Board Chair marks a new chapter in Berman’s Jewish HomeLife journey.

She shared, “When my mother got dementia, I saw, firsthand, how isolating it was for her, but also for my dad, her primary caregiver. Berman Com-

mons was built, Deborah Maslia got me involved.”

At the recent Jewish HomeLife meet-

ceed feeds her soul professionally and she stated, “That’s how important my company was to me. I learned about the issues and priorities needed by non-profits to succeed and have dedicated my life to creatively and purposefully moving things forward.”

Jewish HomeLife President & CEO Jeff Gopen added, “Candy is poised to elevate the organization’s reputation as a premier provider of senior care services. Together, we are embarking on a new strategic plan focused on growth, innovation and collaboration, creating a palpable sense of excitement and momentum. Candy’s unwavering commitment to the residents and staff of Jewish HomeLife has been a beacon of inspiration and support from senior leadership to the day-today care team. Her dedication to our mission and her tireless pursuit of excellence and innovation makes her ideally suited for this new leadership role.”

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• Reminders of medication, events, birthdays and more

• Other personalized services

ing, Berman’s acceptance speech focused on the aging landscape, her gratitude to those who have supported it and shared her husband, Steve’s, devoted decades of impact on the Jewish Home. An actiondriven philanthropic power couple by all definitions, the Bermans have always had a mission driven perspective with a strong sense of values. Now, Candy has exciting plans as she continues that mission.

She commented, “I grew up in a family where leadership and involvement were practiced daily. It wasn’t only through philanthropy, but a commitment to leave the world a better place. My parents inspired me and their grandchildren, my children. And, I might add, at 97 years old, my father is still doing it.” Berman emphasized, “We are commanded to honor our fathers and our mothers and not just those with means. We need to provide a great quality of life for all -- regardless of their ability to pay.” Berman’s motives are well-defined as she is focused on fundraising, a transformation with capital improvements, services, scholarships, staff, emergencies and a list of goals.

To know Berman is to also know she deflects credit though credit is welldeserved. She has skillfully blended her love of community with a keen focus for non-profit growth. Her professional business, Alloy Fundraising (appropriately named as when two metals are put together, they become stronger) is a labor of love and her volunteerism is built on vast experience. Helping nonprofits suc-

Under Berman’s leadership, “The board will embark on a new strategic plan and is eager to explore new initiatives that will address the rapid growth of Atlanta’s aging population. In her role as Board Vice Chair, Candy helped create a new Board of Community Advocates to engage and inspire civic and community leaders throughout the Atlanta area. From engaging young leaders in technological advancements to fostering community partnerships and creative fundraising initiatives, Candy is well-positioned to usher in a new era of growth for the organization.”

Also acknowledged for her volunteerism nationally, The Association of Jewish Aging Services recently awarded Berman their 2024 Trustee of the Year from the Association of Jewish Aging Services (AJAS). Berman has served in leadership roles with United Way, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Atlanta Chapter of the American Jewish Committee Atlanta as President, chair of their Leadership Atlanta Class of 2004, and board member for the International Women’s Forum Georgia.

As Board Chair, Berman is excited to engage the community in Jewish HomeLife’s ongoing evolution. For more than 70 years, the organization has cared for Atlanta’s aging population. Rooted in Jewish values and supported by local philanthropists, Jewish HomeLife offers unparalleled continuum of care services for diverse aging needs. Candy Berman’s commitment to civic engagement is more than a passion—it’s a defining element of her personal identity. ì

Candy Berman has been named Board Chair for Jewish HomeLife.

Dazzling ‘Music Man’ Comes to City Springs

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

March, don’t walk, to Sandy Springs to see “The Music Man,” a fun for all ages musical based on author-songwriter Meredith Willson’s 1957 script as a love letter to his Iowa childhood. The City Springs Theatre Company’s production at Byers Theatre runs until Sept. 22, and rivals anything Broadway could dream of. Lush, feathered brocaded costumes, live orchestra, floating mesmerizing choreography, and the multi-talented cast all add up to a charmed evening.

Directed by Shuler Hensley, starring Billy Tighe, as Harold Hill, and Scarlett Walker, as Mairan, “The Music Man” had toes thumping and audiences charmed in the first three minutes with the orchestra’s overture (by music director Mile Plant) promising favorites like “Seventy Six Trombones” and “‘Till There Was You” (later recorded by the Beatles).”

The acoustics and set design were brilliant with an elevated arched bridge, sometimes a charming home, a “ginormous” library, alternated with the town square, keeping the audience enthralled.

Two Jewish veteran performers, Pamela Gold (Mrs. Paroo) and Brian Kurlander (Mayor Shinn) lit up the stage. Gold, as a widow, enchanted with her portrayal of a devoted mother, who through her sincerity, delivered one of the fastest most difficult early songs, and later landed comedic lines, all with a relatable concern over her children’s wellbeing -- even encouraging her daughter to give the distrusted suitor a chance.

She told the AJT that she had never before played an Irish character and met that challenge working on that melodic dialect. She said, “I enjoy playing women who are both strong and vulnerable, such as Mrs. Wilkinson in ‘Billy Elliott’, and Elizabeth Arden in ‘War Paint,’ two of my favorite past roles. As a Jewish mother, I identify with Mrs. Paroo’s well-meaning and sometimes overbearing concern for her children! I also love tapping into her enthusiasm for life, even though she has endured the loss of her husband.”

Gold had not seen “The Music Man” as a child but had indeed performed it in a production years ago with Theatre of the Stars, starring John Davidson where she played Zaneeta Shinn, the mayor’s daughter. In terms of what she feels she uniquely brings to this production, Gold mused, “When a musical is as wellknown and beloved as this one, it’s especially important not to replicate what has

“The

already been done … I tried to bring empathy and joyful energy to Mrs. Paroo.”

Gold, who sings, dances and acts, has appeared on Broadway in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” with Matthew Broderick, “Once Upon a Mattress,” with Sarah Jessica Parker, and toured with “A Chorus Line.” As a lifelong member of The Temple, she sings in their volunteer band, Shir Chadash.

Kurlander takes on the role of Mayor Shinn whom he describes as, “A selfimportant, pompous blowhard politician with a penchant for malapropism. But he’s also a man who loves his family and the city he serves. I can’t say there is another individual role I’ve played that is quite like it. It’s an amalgamation of several characters that I’ve played over my 35-plus years as a working actor.”

Kurlander was attracted to the iconic music in the show. He said, “It’s been a part of my life as far back as I can remember. How many times have you come upon a situation and mouthed, ‘Oh, we got trouble. Right here in River City?”

Kurlander has performed in theatres across the country from New York City to Los Angeles and most of Atlanta’s professional theatres. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows.

Jan Collins, board member of the Sandy Springs Arts Foundation, told the AJT, “’Music Man’ is a beautiful show and remains a classic standing the test of time. My take-away is how the magic of

music can change a whole town! This is what we are working on for Sandy Springs -- to become known as the ‘City of the Arts,’ both performing and visual!”  ì

An emotional Gold cares deeply for the wellbeing of her children // Photo Credit: City Springs Theatre Company

Music Man” is playing at City Springs through Sept. 22.

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

Participants in one of Tamir Goodman’s basketball camps at the Jerusalem YMCA in the summer of 2024 // Photo Credit: Tamir Goodman/Facebook

‘Jewish Jordan’ Holds Free Clinics for Kids Affected by War

Five days after the worst terror attack in Israel’s history, former professional basketball player Tamir Goodman realized he had to do something.

“After Oct. 7, we were all frozen, we were all shocked, and I felt like, as a former basketball player and a coach, I can’t [allow] myself to be frozen and stuck, too,” he told eJewishPhilanthropy. “I have to find a way to inspire, help motivate and empower people again.”

Today in Israeli History

Richard Goldstone, shown at Beloit College in 2007, acknowledged in 2011 that his 2009 report on the Gaza conflict was flawed. // By Sifiboy31, English Wikipedia, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sept. 15, 2009: Judge Richard Goldstone presents his U.N.-sponsored report criticizing the actions of Israel and Hamas in the 200809 Gaza war. In April 2011 he acknowledges flawed methods and recants suggestions that Israel intentionally killed civilians.

Sept. 16, 1949: Israel joins the Parisbased U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Israel quits UNESCO in 2018 after repeated accusations back and forth regarding abuses and denials of history.

Sept. 17, 1978: Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin sign the Camp David Accords, brokered over 13 days by President Jimmy Carter. The accords lead to the March 1979 peace treaty.

Sept. 18, 1918: Champion swimmer Judith Deutsch is born in Vienna, Austria. She joins fellow Austrian swimmers Ruth Langer and Lucie Goldner in refusing to go to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin and later makes aliyah.

He typed a message into social media announcing a free basketball clinic, held at a court with a bomb shelter close by in case people needed to take shelter. Within hours, more than 100 kids showed up to ball.

“People just felt like they needed to experience life again and to communicate and to smile and to live,” Goodman said.

Families gathered on the sidelines, cheering them on. “Basketball BEATS Terror,” Goodman posted on his Instagram.

Compiled by AJT Staff

The Israeli Film Academy awarded Avraham Heffner an Ophir for lifetime achievement in 2004.

Sept. 19, 2014: Filmmaker Avraham Heffner dies at 79 in Tel Aviv. He made his acting debut in 1964’s “Hole in the Moon.” He wrote and directed “But Where Is Daniel Wax?” — considered Israel’s greatest movie by some scholars.

Sept. 20, 1890: Rachel Bluwstein, considered one of the four founding mothers of modern Hebrew poetry, is born in Russia. She is one of the first modern poets to write in Hebrew in a conversational style.

Sept. 21, 2010: Diplomat and legal scholar Shabtai Rosenne, a Bar-Ilan University professor, dies of a heart attack at 92. He contributed to the law of treaties and law of the sea and formulated Israel’s 1949 armistice agreements.

Sept. 22, 1943: Singer-songwriter Ariel Zilber is born in Tel Aviv. In the 1970s and 1980s he establishes an eclectic sound, leads multiple rock bands, then has a solo career. He spans rock, pop and hip-hop. He moves toward the Orthodox right in the early 2000s.

A view of beds prepared to receive patients at an underground emergency hospital in a parking lot at Rambam Health Care Campus, in Haifa, northern Israel Aug. 1, 2024 //

World’s Largest Underground Hospital Built

The Rambam Health Care Campus has converted its underground parking garage into a fully functioning underground fortified hospital. Hospital beds are stretched as far as the eye can see,

Sept. 23, 1920: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef is born in Baghdad. He moves to Jerusalem at age 4. He is Israel’s chief Sephardi rabbi from 1973 to 1983, then serves as the spiritual leader of Orthodox Sephardi political party Shas.

Sept. 24, 1950: Two planes carrying 177 Jews to Israel from Aden mark the end of Operation Magic Carpet, the airlift of nearly 50,000 Jews from their ancient community in Yemen over 15 months.

Sept. 25, 1917: Amir Gilboa, one of Israel’s leading poets, is born as Berl Feldmann in Ukraine. His contemplative, often heavy poems draw on his military experiences and biblical issues of morality.

totaling approximately 2,200. The threefloor facility, with each level spanning over 20,000 square meters, is the largest underground hospital in the world.

Professor Michael Halberthal, Director General and CEO of Rambam Health Care Campus, explained that after the devastation of the Second Lebanon War, the hospital’s management resolved never to leave their patients so vulnerable again. Driven by a commitment to their patients, they built this fortified underground medical facility from the ground up, with all the necessary infrastructure—ready in the ceilings and walls—to provide shelter for more than 2,000 patients.

In the event of a serious attack from Hezbollah or Iran, the hospital can relocate all its operations underground in less than eight hours and accommodate two other hospitals in the area, ensuring that most of Haifa can continue its medical services without disruption.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Sept. 27, 1955: Gamal Abdel Nasser says Czechoslovakia, a key source of Israeli arms in 1948, will supply Egypt with Soviet weaponry, including tanks, MiG-15 fighters and heavy bombers. The deal influences Israel’s decision to attack in 1956.

Sept. 28, 1995: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, known as Oslo II. It establishes the elected Palestinian Authority.

The U.N. partition plan called for an international zone around Jerusalem and a smaller Jewish state than emerged after the War of Independence.

Sept. 29, 1947: The Arab Higher Committee for Palestine rejects the U.N. Special Committee on Palestine’s partition plan, which calls for separate Jewish and Arab states and an international zone around Jerusalem.

Sept. 26, 1955: Oil is discovered in Heletz, a moshav founded by Yemeni immigrants in southern Israel. Holding an estimated 94.4 million barrels of oil, the field becomes the site of the state’s first successful wells.

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

A well pumps oil at the Heletz field in 2004. // By Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo Credit: Ammar Awad/REUTERS

Israeli Young Adults Head to Trybal Gatherings

They came for more than just the s’mores and Shakshuka. For the 20 Israeli young adults who joined with hundreds of their American Jewish peers at three multi-day sleepaway camp experiences, they were there to recharge, make new friends, and have fun. The camp experiences in Wisconsin and the Berkshires did exactly that. Run by Trybal Gatherings, this was the first time Israelis had a chance to participate, building connections to last a lifetime.

“Trybal Camp gave me the chance to truly feel part of a community,” said Nir Zachar of Israel. “After such a challenging year, coming together to celebrate our lives and our Judaism was exactly what I needed. Trybal offers a unique and powerful opportunity to connect with yourself, with others, and with our shared heritage.”

Added Israeli Boaz Lavon, “Going to Trybal was a great experience for me, giving me a real break from my time in the IDF and a chance to meet amazing people. The camp showed a new way to bring Jewish communities together, making it especially important in these times. It was also a fun experience with diverse opportunities to try new things and step out of your comfort zone. I made strong friendships and felt a deeper connection to the Jewish community in the U.S”

From an applicant pool of more than 300, 20 Israelis were selected to be “campers” at Camp Chi in the Wisconsin Dells and Eisner Camp in the Berkshire Mountains. They led programs with and for their peers, including Krav Maga, a Moroccan Henna workshop (and life as Moroccan Jews), an IDF Basic Training Boot Camp, serving as color war captains, and discussions on growing up Orthodox and now living a secular life, on being a

female commander in the army, and on the situation in Israel today.

Stacy and Matt Kaplan of Milwaukee enjoyed the Wisconsin Dells camp so much they also attended Trybal in the Berkshires. “Being able to connect with the Israelis and learn about their experiences has been eye opening and makes camp more fulfilling,” they said.

Ben Warshaw of Harwich, Mass., who went to the Berkshires camp, commented, “Previously, when comparing Trybal with my childhood summers at camp, the single missing element was Israelis. Having Israeli counselors was key to my developing a strong connection with Israel from an early age. By including a sizable delegation this summer, Trybal Gatherings has bridged that gap and taken the experience to a new level.”

Carine Warsawski, head of Trybal Gatherings, noted that the timing of the last camp coincided with the news of the murdered hostages. She said that tragic news made the connections developed at camp that much more profound and authentic. “We saw the Israelis and Americans comforting each other in grief and pain. Even if our American participants haven’t visited Israel in years, or ever, they developed a closeness to Israel and Israelis, especially at this moment. This is how we strengthen the relationship between our people and support each other.”

The Israelis previously participated on Birthright trips, and some are licensed Birthright tour guides. But this was their first opportunity to be in an immersive  mifgash—a “meeting” experience—themselves, serving as cultural ambassadors.

“This camp was everything I imagined it to be, and more. I was excited to

have fun and meet new people, but I did not expect to create a new family, said Israeli Ariel Sidi. “Seeing the strong community and connections this camp symbolizes was simply magical, and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of that. I experienced what life is like for Jewish people in America, through stories and deep conversations I had with amazing people, and I got to share my story as well. I hope we brought joy and a new perspective to Trybal camps.” ì

Compiled by AJT Staff

Israeli young adults joined American Jewish campers at Trybal Gatherings this summer.

In aftermath of Oct. 7, Trybal Gatherings’ multi-day camp experiences created community among Israelis and North American Jewish peers.

Hughes Brothers Make Video Game History

David Ostrowsky

It was one of the coolest moments of the last NHL season – and now it’s making video game history.

On Dec. 6 in Vancouver, the three Hughes brothers (Quinn, Jack, Luke), all of whom are budding NHL stars raised by their Jewish mother, Ellen WeinbergHughes, played in the same game for the first of what promises to be many times. Jack tallied a goal and two assists and Luke potted a power play goal as the New Jersey Devils edged Quinn (two third-period assists) and the Vancouver Canucks 6-5 in a game that drew national attention as it was only the second time in NHL history that an American family had three brothers skating in the same game.

And then, just a couple months later, eldest brother Quinn, 24, texted his middle sibling, Jack, 23, about the proposal to have all three Hughes grace the cover of the deluxe edition of Electronic Arts (EA) Sports’ NHL 25 video game. As all three grew up as video game junkies when they weren’t honing their puck-handling skills in basements, on driveways, and at rinks, Jack, Quinn, and their baby brother, Luke, 20, consented to a subsequent offseason photo shoot for this year’s cover. In doing so, the Hughes brothers became the first trio of brothers to be the face of the NHL’s marquee video game (the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, were showcased on the Swedish cover for the NHL 11 edition) and the first Jewish athletes to ever have their image splashed on the cover of an EA Sports product.

“We feel incredibly honored to be on the cover of NHL 25,” said Quinn, in an official press release issued by EA Sports, which has long been regarded as the premier video game brand in the market. “Being featured alongside my brothers is the sort of thing you dream about as a kid but could never imagine happening in real life.”

Quinn, the NHL’s reigning Norris Trophy winner for league-best defenseman (17 goals, 92 points in the regular season), made his NHL debut for Vancouver during the 2018-19 season. During the following pandemic-truncated 2019-20 campaign, Jack broke in with the Devils as the No.1 overall pick in the 2019 draft. Since then, he has been one

of the league’s more prolific scorers and a household name in the Tri-State area. Meanwhile, at the conclusion of the 202223 season, Luke, fresh off a dominant run with the University of Michigan, joined Jack in New Jersey and this past season was a finalist for the Calder Trophy given to the league’s top rookie.

While the Hughes are not the first family to have three brothers play in the NHL concurrently – in fact, eight such hockey bloodlines have preceded them – Quinn, Jack, and Luke have already built impressive resumes and could one day account for the all-time most prolific trio of brothers in NHL history.  But at the present time, they’re evidently some of the sport’s most marketable players as they join megastars such as Auston Matthews, Alex Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid in receiving this prestigious honor to be front and center on the sport’s signature video game.

“It was a very proud moment for all of us when we saw the Deluxe cover,” said Jack, who’s coming off an injury plagued

2023-24 season in which he still managed to rack up 74 points (it should be noted that he will be the only one featured on the game’s cover for the U.S.). “It reminded us that on the ice, we’re competitors, always learning from each other, but off the ice, we’re brothers who love to play hockey.”

Sports video game history is encapsulated in an image that will be posterized across not just North America, but the entire globe: Quinn, decked out in his old school Canucks uniform, is flanked by his two younger brothers of the New Jersey Devils. They are sitting at their stalls in a generic locker room, skates on, helmets removed. All the world can see this next generation of Jewish superstars who came from the same athletically gifted household in which their mother, Ellen, was a three-sport (ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse) athlete at the University of New Hampshire and father, Jim, was a star defenseman at Providence College.

“Being on the cover with my brothers is incredibly exciting,” added Luke.

“We have a one-of-a-kind hockey story growing up together and now a one-of-akind cover. We can’t wait for fans to experience NHL 25.”

The video game, which is engineered for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, has been hyped up for delivering an unprecedented level of authenticity that closely simulates the breathtaking playmaking skills and explosiveness displayed by the Hughes brothers and their NHL colleagues. In more technical terms, NHL 25 is driven by a cutting-edge, logic-driven animation engine that enables gamers to be immersed in highly realistic scenarios, whether it be gliding along the blue line or squaring up to the puck carrier.

It is available for pre-order now and will be officially released on Oct. 4, the same day the NHL regular season kicks off when the Devils skate against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague. And just over three weeks later, on Oct. 30, the Hughes brothers reunite on the ice when the Devils and Canucks square off once again in British Columbia.  ì

The three Hughes brothers are pictured on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL Hockey 2025 // Photo courtesy of Facebook

New Jersey Devils’ defenseman Luke Hughes is all of 20 years old yet has already played in two Frozen Fours and has a full NHL season under his belt // Photo Credit: New Jersey Devils

In a few short seasons, Vancouver Canucks’ defenseman Quinn Hughes has established himself as one of the most dynamic skaters in the NHL // Photo Credit: Vancouver Canucks

Wilf Family Celebrates 20 Years as Vikings Owners

By David Ostrowsky

When the Minnesota Vikings kicked off their 2024 season this past Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., against the New York Giants, brothers Zygi and Mark Wilf, co-owners of the fabled Vikings franchise for the past 20 seasons, couldn’t help but harken back to how they first became enamored of football by rooting for the Giants in rickety bleacher seats at old Yankee Stadium on the other side of the George Washington Bridge.

The Wilfs, whose parents, Joseph and Elizabeth, had fled Europe after World War II to settle in New Jersey, were, along with their children, heavily invested in the fortunes of the Giants. Starting in 1959, the family had season tickets at wherever the Giants called home -- Yankee Stadium, Yale Bowl, Shea Stadium, and ultimately Giants Stadium where they leased an end zone luxury box starting in its inaugural 1976 season.

“For my parents and my family, watching football was a big part of our growing up and my parents becoming part of the American Dream, part of this great country,” Wilf said in speaking with the Atlanta Jewish Times in late August. “Football embodies this country more than anything else as far as a sport.”

The father, Joseph, who passed away in 2016 at the age of 91, came of age in 1920s Poland and during the Holocaust, was deported with his brother, Harry, and parents to a Siberian work camp, where they ultimately survived, while his sister, Bella, perished in the Warsaw Ghetto. When post-World War II antisemitic pogroms erupted in Poland, the Wilfs immigrated to America; soon thereafter Joseph and Harry settled down to have families and founded Garden Homes, a corporation that would emerge as one of America’s most prominent real estate development firms, of which Mark and Zygi eventually became executives.

When the Wilfs parlayed their amassed commercial real estate wealth toward becoming NFL owners in 2005, the Vikings franchise was bumbling through a series of humiliations that included former head coach Mike Tice’s $100,000 fine for scalping Super Bowl tickets and the notorious boat party scandal in which over a dozen players came under investigation by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office for alleged sexual misconduct on a cruise on Lake Minnetonka.

However, in the two decades since, the NFL approved of the sale to the Wilf

family (multiple relatives including cousin Leonard Wilf, owner/vice chairman, sit atop the masthead), the Vikings’ leaguewide reputation and fortunes have improved drastically. Though still in search of that elusive first-ever Super Bowl title, the Vikings have moved into their gorgeous Super Bowl-hosting U.S. Bank Stadium, drafted well – fifth-year wideout Justin Jefferson is one of the NFL’s most electric playmakers – and garnered recognition for providing team personnel with a first-rate work environment as evidenced by the high marks received in the NFL Players’ Association survey.

“We’re really proud of things we’ve been able to accomplish,” added Wilf, whose ownership group has prioritized, among other initiatives, providing gameday childcare and assistance with finding local housing to everyone up and down the 53-man roster. “We want to make sure we are a first-class organization. It was really important to create consistency on an annual basis. We want the players to know we care about them.

“It’s a testament to the people we have. It’s nice to have validation. We believe it’s about people in the building. I know our fans and community would want the same. We view ourselves as stewards of a great franchise.”

It also happens to be one that was rocked by tragedy and misfortune this summer. Before this milestone season for the Wilf family unfolded, the

organization received horrific news over July 4th weekend when 24-yearold rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was among three people killed in a car accident in Maryland. In response, the Vikings organization contributed more than $20,000 toward funeral expenses and paid out the remainder of Jackson’s signing bonus to his estate.

“It’s certainly an extremely tragic situation,” reflected Wilf. “I know we experienced it very much together as a team. I’m just so proud of how everyone responded in terms of supporting his family. I know it’s a business, but to us the Vikings are a family. Khyree was a member of this family. We wanted to make a difference for his family in any way we could.”

Just over a month later, rookie firstround quarterback J.J. McCarthy, considered by many to be the future of the franchise, was shelved for the entire regular season with a torn right meniscus that would necessitate surgery. With McCarthy’s rookie season over before it even began, journeyman Sam Darnold was left to pilot the star-crossed Vikes through what promises to be a rigorous NFC North division.

“This time of year, there is always a heightened level of excitement,” offered Wilf. “We think our roster is much improved. We’re excited about this season and the direction of this team. We have bright existing stars and newcomers

like Sam Darnold and rookies and free agents. We’re in a very competitive division and our goal is to go out starting Week 1 in New York and win games and ultimately compete for a championship.”

As his family’s 20th anniversary season rolls on following Minnesota’s impressive Week 1 28-6 win (the Vikings host the Falcons on Dec. 8) Mark remains heavily engaged in Jewish philanthropic causes. In July 2022, following a fouryear run as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), he was appointed as Chairman of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency for Israel, the impetus for which he refers to as “making sure there’s a strong state of Israel that can safeguard the ability of the Jewish community to practice and have a safe haven in the world.”

As children and grandchildren of Holocaust survivors, Mark and Zygi continue to ensure that the Jewish and Israeli philanthropic legacy of their late father, who was a founder of the American Society for Yad Vashem, a U.S.-based fundraising arm for the Israeli Holocaust Museum, and a chief benefactor behind Yeshiva University’s Wilf campus in New York City, endures as the years pass.

Acknowledged Mark, “One thing very clear to us growing up is had there been a state of Israel during those dark days, the families of millions who were murdered would have been changed.” ì

Brothers Zygi and Mark Wilf, who have presided over the Minnesota Vikings franchise as co-owners for 20 years, experienced a whirlwind of change -- and even trauma -- going into the 2024 NFL season // Photo Credit: Minnesota Vikings

Zachariah’s Champ Secures Belmont Stakes Win

SPORTS By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Local businessman Allan Zachariah knows the sweet smell of success … and alfalfa.

Along with wife, Alison Rand, and partners Lillian and Larry Connolly, his horse, Dornoch, won the coveted Belmont against 17:1 odds. And the winning continues.

Zachariah explained, “We were thrilled to have not only Dornoch in the Kentucky Derby this year, but also 3-year-old colt Society Man. For a small outfit like ours [West Paces Racing] in our fourth year, having two horses in the Kentucky Derby is like a’ black swan’ event. It just doesn’t happen!”

The group goes to most major racing events: the Kentucky Derby, Pegasus Cup, Breeders Cup, and spends summers in Saratoga Springs for the racing season.

Zachariah’s first memory of horse racing was in 1969 when his Louisville synagogue, Anshei Sfard, held a Kentucky Derby raffle. He got hooked “watching” their horse win. As a teen, he worked at Derby parties and started going to the Derby at 17.

He recalled, “I went 18 years in a row … starting off paying $5 to get in the infield where we never saw a horse, until years later when I was working for Arthur Andersen, going in a suit and sitting in the famous Third Floor Clubhouse boxes.”

As a student at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, he went to the Keeneland Racetrack which he labels the “Augusta National of horse racing.” As a CPA, he helped establish the first Saudibacked horse farm in Kentucky and had family clients that were in the thoroughbred and Arabian horse business.

Now with varying syndicates, annually they invest in up to one-half the value of 8 to 12 horses as yearlings; then send them to an Ocala, Fla., farm which lasts four to six months. They are then sent to training to get race ready.

He said, “We had some early success prior to 2024. Dubyuhnell won an early Grade 2 Derby prep race in December of 2022 and had us on the Kentucky Derby trail. Unfortunately, “Duby” failed to progress as a 3-year-old. This past year we were fortunate enough to have a horse “for the ages.”

Dornoch is named after the famous Scottish golf course Royal Dornoch. He won the same race as Duby in December of 2023 and then the Fountain of Youth (Grade 2) at Gulfstream in February 2024, which qualified him for the

Derby. Dornoch ran a disappointing fourth in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August. He has one more race, the Breeders Cup Classic, in November. If he performs well there, he could be awarded 3-year-old Horse of the Year. After that, he is on to his next career as a stallion.

Dornoch’s breeding rights were sold after his Belmont win, where they retain the right to two breedings per year to breed Dornoch to a mare they own.

Understanding the math, Dornoch cost $325,000 at auction (2022). They buy into horses ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 at sales. It costs about $40,000 a year to properly care for each horse.

He explained, “In the 2-year-old year, we start to race them and hope they start to cover their costs if not more at the racetrack.”

Although they are not yet into extensive breeding, Zachariah said, “The fee to bring your mare to a stallion can be as little as $10,000, all the way up to $250,000 for the most sought-after stallions. At the sales, we buy the best athlete we can find for the money. Usually an equal number of colts and fillies.”

They work with a bloodstock agent -- a blood lines expert who evaluates what it takes to be successful at the track. “The typical horse will race three to five

years. The super successful colts, like Dornoch, tend to stop racing after three as they are so valuable in the breeding shed. Less successful colts are gelded … and may race until seven and later. The fillies will race until they become broodmares and start having babies of their own.”

Zachariah spent his early career as a tax accountant. In 2010, at age 50, with two partners, he started Pathstone, an integrated wealth management outsourced family office company, focused on building multi-generational wealth. He describes himself as “a CPA at heart, but one with a personality.” ì

Alison and Allan take a famous stroll at the Kentucky Derby.

Allan and Alison started racing as a hobby, but recently became more involved in the industry. Last year, Allan organized his own entity, Rosemont Racing. Here they share the coveted Belmont Stakes trophy.

Allan Zachariah poses with winning horse Dornoch at Saratoga.

Bunco Not Just a Game for Hadassah Ketura

Hadassah Greater Atlanta’s Ketura members and guests joined together in an afternoon of playing the game of Bunco on Aug. 14 at the Sandy Springs Library. However, it’s not just a game when a therapist thinks about occupational therapy. The challenge is simply throwing three dice, an important small motor skill, in search of specific numbers. Focusing on keeping score is essential. This game also serves another purpose. With every hand you switch tables and meet lots of new friends. It provides social interaction, which is also an important part of the healing process.

Hadassah’s new Gandel Rehabilitation Center in Jerusalem is busy helping patients recuperate from injuries and illnesses. Occupational therapy is a major component of the therapy performed in this center where many clients are wounded IDF soldiers. Occupational therapy helps patients take part in everyday activities such as eating, dressing, and communicating. The use of targeted activities and games are a valuable tool in the occupational therapy playbook, as

it helps in developing fine motor skills and enhancing dexterity and hand eye coordination.

Arlene Glass, Hadassah Ketura’s event chair, explains, “I am proud to say that Israel’s Hadassah Hospital is a beacon of science, innovation and health created to heal humanity.”

“We are deeply grateful for the doctors, the nurses and the staff for all they are doing for the patients and for each other during this very difficult time,” explains Simone Wilker, Zionist Affairs Chair for Hadassah Greater Atlanta.

At the end of the day, two lucky participants were awarded prizes: one for

the highest score, and one for the lowest score. It shows that participating, having fun with Hadassah friends and learning new skills are more important than simply winning or losing.

Go to www.Hadassah.org for more information. ì

Compiled by AJT Staff

Susan Proctor is the lucky winner of three dice, so she can have fun playing bunco at home!

Michael Rapaport American Actor & Comedian

Rabbi David Wolpe Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi, Sinai Temple

Aviva Klompas

Bunco participants show their support of Israel. Standing left to right: Simone Wilker, Maxine Schein, Rhonda Weiss, Gail Bates, Suzy Wilner, Leora Wollner, Joan Solomon, Karen Feibel, Elaine Clein; sitting: Maurey Gerson, Rosalie Agrow, Arlene Glass (program chair), Katie Kloder, Gerry Taratoot

A Boy Dreams of His Father’s Return

Dave Schechter

From Where I Sit

As he leaves home for his first day in third grade, a boy tells his mother about a dream he’s been having.

“That dad is here at home. He returned home and said that he received permission from Hamas to come only for one day and then return to Gaza. And a day after that he will be released,” the boy says.

Every morning, I check for news about the hostages kidnapped last Oct. 7, when Hamas-led terrorists attacked kibbutzim, towns, and a music festival in the “Gaza envelope” of southern Israel. This includes posts from the Israeli branch on my family tree, which is where I found the mother’s note about her son’s dream.

I make no pretense of understanding the grief and anxiety that they have experienced since that day, when the cal-

endar pages stopped turning.

The terrorists who invaded Kibbutz Be’eri murdered one of the boy’s grandfathers, along with a great-aunt and -uncle. Their bodies were not identified for more than a week.

The boy was kidnapped — along with his father, mother, sister, a grandmother, another great-aunt and her daughter.

After 51 days in Gaza, six of the seven, the women and children, were freed in an exchange of hostages for prisoners held in Israeli jails.

But not his father.

At this writing, 97 hostages — onethird believed dead — remain in the bowels of Gaza. Hamas also holds two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 and the bodies of two soldiers killed that year.

Those planning Oct. 7 commemorations face challenges: How best to honor the lives of the 1,200 men, women, and children slaughtered that day and the 250 kidnapped. How to demonstrate support for the Israeli people without becoming political, one month before the U.S. presi-

dential election. How (or even whether) to acknowledge the discord in the Jewish community over the war in Gaza.

Two local events are being organized: Oct. 7, in the evening, at the Byers Theatre in Sandy Springs, and Oct. 27, in the afternoon, at The Weber School. The latter date is close to 22 Tishrei, the date of Simchat Torah on the Jewish calendar, the holiday Israelis were celebrating last Oct. 7. Future commemorations will be in accordance with the Jewish calendar.

The planning process in Israel has mirrored already existing tensions between the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many families of those killed and kidnapped.

An official commemoration, without an audience, will be held in Ofakim, a small city in southern Israel. According to published reports, some hostage families have asked that images of their loved ones not be used, and several popular entertainers have declined to participate.

In a post on “X” (formerly Twitter), the Hostage and Missing Families Forum said the decision not to have an audience “stems from the fear of the government and the minister [Transportation Minister Miri Regev, in charge of the event] to look the families of the kidnapped, murdered and displaced in the eyes and take real responsibility for the abandonment that began on 07.10.”

An alternative commemoration is being planned for Tel Aviv, in conjunction with hostage family groups, though some kibbutzim and families of the music festival victims may hold their own ceremonies.

As a compromise, Israeli President Isaac Herzog offered to host an event “without political trappings,” but report-

edly was rebuffed by Regev, who has derided objections as “noise.”

Oct. 7 this year falls at the midway point of the “Days of Awe,” the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. At the start of the new year, we are told, the book of life opens and then closes on the Day of Atonement. In between, G-d determines who will live and who will die.

Netanyahu’s calculus has prioritized continuing the war over a ceasefire deal that would bring the return of some or all of the hostages. His position is not without support in Israeli society.

Rightist ministers he recruited to form a 64-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset have pledged to bring down the government if Netanyahu agrees to a ceasefire.

The large numbers of Israelis who continue to protest in Tel Aviv (upwards of 500,000 there on Sept. 7), in Jerusalem and elsewhere against the government contend that by making the hostages a secondary concern, Netanyahu has decided who will live and who will die.

Nadav Eyal, a columnist for the newspaper Yediot Aharanot, wrote on X: “The idea that Israel will do everything — not only through military force, which no one doubts, but also through political moderation and compromise — to return Israelis who were kidnapped, sometimes from their beds, by a cruel enemy, is central to the Israeli identity. And it is this part of the Israeli identity that the government has completely managed to unmoor by its actions. It is this part of the Israeli identity that people are demonstrating for.”

Meanwhile, a 9-year-old boy dreams of his father’s return. ì

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For Seniors, Balance Issues can Impact Overall Health

By Bob Bahr

At the Atlanta Sport and Spine Center, Laurel Brigham, a physical therapist with specialized training in balance issues, is helping several of her older clients to stay on their feet. As they move around the specialized balance equipment in her exercise room, they are challenged to tap randomly with one foot while studying themselves with the other. Or they practice walking on a narrow foam tube, their arms extended to the side, one foot following closely immediately behind the other. To steady themselves, they can touch a nearby wall.

For those in their sixties and beyond, practicing the skills to help walk with confidence and avoid falls is an important part of staying healthy. According to the National Institute on Aging, one out of every four older Americans will fall this year and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, one out of five of these falls will lead to a serious condition, like a broken arm or leg or a head injury.

Moreover, the lengthy hospital stay or rehabilitation in a medical center can weaken a person’s health and make another fall much more likely. As Brigham works one-on-one with clients to help them master the exercises they’re practicing, her concern is how to make life

easier and longer for them.

“I want people to see that working on important things like balance and strength can be fun,” she says. “We’ve got music playing to create a fun atmosphere and different station focused on balance challenges and strength needed for func-

tional activities.”

For seniors, staying safely on their feet as they move through their days can be difficult. As we age the muscles in our legs and back slowly lose their strength. This process, called sarcopenia, can start decades before we notice it. Brigham says

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Laurel Brigham works one-on-one with a client to improve balance.

Poor balance can lead to a fall that can cause serious health issues.

the familiar phrase, “if you don’t use it, you lose it,” is an important part of staying steady on our feet.

“If we stay sedentary or don’t work to regain lost strength, we run the risk of losing important muscle mass needed to perform daily tasks such as going for a long walk, walking up stairs and the endurance to move over an extended period of time.”

Conditions like arthritis or osteoporosis, which affect bones and joints, can slow us down and affect our range of motion.

Medical researchers say that as we age, we also begin to lose the sensitivity we’ve developed about how our body is moving in the space around us. What they call proprioception may change. Problems with our feet and ankles may also make it difficult to walk normally.

A big factor in keeping our balance is a healthy inner ear. What is called the vestibular system plays an important role in maintaining our equilibrium. A common cause of dizziness and vertigo is BPPV, which stands for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. According to medical experts, the condition is caused when calcium carbonate crystals break free in the inner ear and become part of the fluid in semicircular canals there. A technique has been developed to move the crystals back to where they belong and out of the canals of the inner ear.

At Emory Brain Health Center’s Dizziness and Balance Clinic, Alli Nogi, with

a doctorate in physical therapy, sees patients for whom balance issues have taken much of the joy out of life. The fear of falling can keep affecting us psychologically as well as physically.

“If individuals start feeling unsteady,” Nogi says, “whether they do it consciously or unconsciously, they start limiting their movement, first inside the house and then also out in the community. They might not be walking as much or do anything that over time can challenge their balance.”

At Emory, they use a team approach to diagnose balance issues. In addition to the physical therapy component of care, a neurologist may be involved, or a vestibular technician may be called upon to test the inner ear. With proper care, Nogi feels balance issues can get better.

“I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I didn’t believe that they were correctable. You know, we always want to be 100 percent but I think with different simple intervention, like just going for a walk, or even standing in the corner, having your eyes open and then closing your eyes, that can actually start challenging your balance in a very safe way and start improving it a lot of times.”

Being more active carries its own rewards. Walking for as little as 10 minutes a day, Nogi says, can be what she calls good homework for her patients. It strengthens the legs and all those muscles that get a workout when we put one foot in front of another. ì

Better balance may be possible just with more exercise, like walking.

Retired Docs Stay Connected via Zoom

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Retired Old Men’s Club hardly describes the energetic group that retired bariatric surgeon Sidney Appel conducts every weekday at 3 p.m.

Although the group initially started meeting in-person, they transitioned to using Zoom after COVID and quarantine. The group has remained in the virtual format -- but nonetheless lively and scholarly.

The group’s topics range from discussions about the arts, science, a smattering of politics, and “heaven knows” what else. On any given weekday, a few dozen show up -- many of whom are retired physicians living their best lives, learning sharing, alongside a bit of bragging.

Appel, 85, retired 19 years ago and can remember back to his time living on Buford Highway five decades ago. He recalled, “Our Zoom group began in-person with the late Leonard Brown. After COVID, we went to online. I have 70-plus on the distribution list. We have no limi-

tation as to who attends -- all religions although mainly Jewish. We revolve around daily lectures from the Great Courses and current topics, from physics to climate change.”

Generally, Appel selects the lecture

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topics along with input from others. “No officers -- no dues but occasionally we have a contribution for the lecture series. We have lawyers, doctors, bankers, artists, architects -- in other words, everyone is welcome,” he said.

Group member and retired physician Martin Throne moved to Atlanta from Montreal to do a fellowship in clinical pharmacology at Emory University. After practicing internal medicine on the staffs of Northside and St. Joseph’s

Dr. Sidney Appel conducts lively educational Zoom sessions at 3 p.m. every weekday. Dr. Martin Throne has made new social connections because of the group.

hospitals, he switched to clinical (pharmacology) research. Now 82 years old, he has been a member of the men’s Zoom/ study group for seven years.

He said, “The Great Courses I’ve found most informative have been the music programs taught by Professor Robert Greenberg who is not only an excellent teacher, but also imparts a great amount of humor. By attending these courses, I’ve made several new friends with whom my wife and I now socialize.”

Memphis native Gilbert Halpern who graduated with a Bachelor of industrial engineering from Georgia Tech in 1955, describes the sessions as “both mind bending and/or numbing.” His career was as a pacemaker technical service specialist. He currently performs film, video, and audio restorations.

He relayed, “I like the weekday Zoom group for two different reasons: Sidney offers daily video courses featuring the Navy, art, music, the Constitution, and other topics; and we attract an interesting panel of retired people to discuss the courses. This is usually followed by discussions of the courses and then followed by discussions of current events, both lively. The participants cover a wide range of experiences and knowledge of the topics and life in general … It’s always fun and sometimes educational.”

Raymon Franco, a retired plastic surgeon, is a loyal Zoomer. He told the AJT, “Sid Appel’s ‘retirement’ discussions involve topics ranging from politics to

sports to travel, music, art history, and the sciences. Each session begins by viewing a 45-minute DVD from the Great Courses teaching company which are highly instructive and generally delivered by top-notch university professors or practitioners. We intentionally stay away from any sort of formal organization and administrative structure.”

Jerry Blumenthal, 86, a retired cardiologist, has been a "Zoomer” since 2020. He regularly participates on Mondays for music and Friday’s art education. His favorite guest presenters have been well prepared with visuals about physics, no less. He stated that most sessions end in discussions about politics, and said, “By and large we are mostly Big D’s, with one or two R’s.”

Retired pediatrician Mike Levine, who turns 90 this December, most enjoys the history of the Constitution, symphony music sessions, how to look at and understand great art, America after the Cold War, and Middle East history and politics.

He recalls “Most days I check in the morning, to see whether I like the topic to tune in or not.” Levine was featured March 13, 2024, in the Atlanta Jewish Times “Retired Men take a Hike” about his own initiative with fit male seniors meeting weekly at various walking paths.

None in the group mentioned current attire … Zooming in pajamas which was “all the fashion rage” during COVID. Those interested can email Sidney at sidneyappel1@hotmail.com. ì

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Dr. Mike Levine checks every morning to see the afternoon’s topics to decide on his participation.

New Alzheimer’s Research Promises Cheap, Easy Test

By Bob Bahr

Research into the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, which has frustrated medical researchers for years, is finally beginning to make some promising advances. A study earlier this summer in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that researchers in Sweden have developed a blood test that correctly identified the disease in 90 percent of the patients who had reported memory problems.

The success of the test was particularly impressive when compared to existing techniques such as the use of PET imaging scans and invasive taps of spinal fluid, which predict the disease only 73 percent of the time. Both the imaging technology and the examination of cerebrospinal fluid require highly trained diagnostics and in the case of imaging is extremely expensive.

The research on the new blood test was presented in late July at the international science conference of the Alzheimer Association in Philadelphia. It is cheap and relatively simple to administer. The

co-director of the Penn Memory Center at the University of Pennsylvania hailed the study as a major step forward in dramatically slashing the cost of diagnosis for Alzheimer’s. Dr. Jason Karlawish, who was not involved in the Swedish study, reportedly was impressed.

“Not too long ago measuring the pathology of the brain of a living human was considered just impossible,” Dr. Karlawish said. “This study adds to the revolution that has occurred in our ability to measure what’s going on in the brain of living humans.”

The day may not be far off, some experts suggested, when a test for Alzheimer’s may be as routine as a test for cholesterol.

Furthermore, the announcement of a small-scale pilot study at the University of Melbourne last week indicated that

New testing will one day allow for much earlier treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Allan Levey believes Alzheimer’s research is on the verge of an exciting new era.

SENIOR LIVING

measuring potassium isotopes in blood serum showed the potential to diagnose the disease before cognitive decline or other disease symptoms became apparent.

At Emory’s Brain Health Center, Dr. Allan Levey, director of the Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, was optimistic about further breakthroughs in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

“It’s been a dramatic, dramatic revolution in healthcare,” Dr. Levey said, “to be able to all of a sudden increase the efficiency of diagnosis, increase the number of patients that can be seen with concerns about memory loss, create the specialized testing with the amyloid PET imaging samples, and then create the teams necessary to safely administer these new medicines.”

Also, earlier this summer, the FDA approved the third drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages. The federal agency in early July approved Kisunia, a drug developed by Eli Lilly. It’s administered through an expensive intravenous infusion therapy every four weeks but has been shown to be effective for patients with mild cognitive impairment.

The ability to diagnose the disease earlier, combined with drugs now and in the future that are effective early in the disease’s progression, according to Dr. Levey, would be an important advance for clinicians.

“We are needing to make a lot more progress on other causes of Alzheimer’s, but we can’t overlook this is a huge, huge advance to be able to identify people in the earlier stages more rapidly, efficiently, on a large scale that so we can get this into public health. These new medicines only work in the very early stages of the disease.”

The Swedish study used a blood test that measures a protein called ptau-217 that develops into tangles in the brain of those with Alzheimer’s. It has been found to be the most accurate way of predicting the development of the disease. Approximately 1,200 patients with mild memory loss were used for the research.

For now, these tests are available only to doctors, not consumers. The test was briefly offered to consumers last year but Alzheimer’s experts became concerned that they should be restricted to a clinical setting until further treatments are available and doctors should decide who could get them.

Another important problem in this new era of research is how to bring in more primary care physicians to the treatment process. A severe shortage of trained neurologists, according to Dr. Levey at Emory, is one of the bottlenecks to overcome if treatment on a larger scale is to be accomplished.

“There’s nowhere near the number of specialists available to administer these new treatments that will come with easier testing. So, we’ve got to clearly address that gap. These are the strategies that we and others are taking to try to scale this so this can be done and managed more simply by primary care doctors, and then have the support of the specialists, rather than the specialist having to see every patient.” ì

ATLANTA THEN & NOW

Couples Share the Art of Laughing & Forgiving

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

As an Atlanta Jewish Times tradition, couples take a look back at the “crazy glue” that binds them so sweetly together. Looking at decades, the average wedded bliss of the nine couples spotlighted here is 57 years, with legendary businessman “Turtle” Al and Renay Levensen at 63 years. Not far behind, Sheila and Allan Bleich at 62 years, found that spark because she thought he looked good in his intern scrubs, never mind that she hadn’t washed her hair in a month. Mark Lichtenstein thought Brenda looked like a Swedish maiden, yet his future father-in -law had to give him an ultimatum. The Weinroths bonded over flying a kite; and Arthur Bodner laid down his coat in the snow for Rita before he shipped out to Korea. Ask Arthur Silver and Sydney Tourial if older guys have the edge. It all boils down to the Beatles song, “All You Need Is Love,” with the Jewish twists of humor, sharing, and some honest enough to admit that “wife is boss.”   The questions posed to our subjects were: years married, how you met, place of wedding, what the initial attraction was, and, ultimately, their secrets to a happy marriage.

Renay and Al Levensen

63 years

Aug. 14, 1961, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue

How they met:

Renay: I had a blind date with someone else, and Al sat beside me and called soon thereafter. Then I had to train him to not call at the last minute. I had other dates, so he would chat with my mother.

Initial attraction:

Renay: I thought he was nice and good looking. Al: I wanted a family, and I loved her parents and brothers. And they were good golfers.

Secret to a happy marriage: You both have to want it to work.

Sheila and Dr. Allan Bleich

62 years

Sept. 8, 1962, at Congregation Beth Jacob

How they met: At the Department of Radiology at Emory University. Sheila was a radiology tech student. Allan was an intern doing his rotation.

Initial attraction:

Allan: I saw a beautiful, happy young lady with a strikingly unique hairstyle. Sheila: I had mono and my doctor said I couldn’t wash my hair for a month. I just leaned over and brushed my hair all to the top of my head, and it stayed there! I saw Allan walking down the hallway of the X-ray department wearing his whites. He looked very cute! I didn’t want to think about it anymore because I didn’t know if he was Jewish.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Allan: Disagreements occur. There is nothing worth arguing about. Sheila: Focus on the positive. Give to him and learn from him.

Susan and Dr. Sidney Tourial

59 years

July 11, 1965, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue

How they met: Riding the bus to Camp Blue Star. Sidney was the bus counselor, and Susan was one of the teenaged campers he was escorting. Dating a “camper” was definitely not allowed!

Initial attraction:

Susan:  Sidney was fun and an Emory college student, and most importantly Jewish! Our friendship grew when we got home from camp.

Sidney: Susan was smart, laughed at my jokes, and we became good friends.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Susan: Listening and being able to compromise. Sidney: “Yes, Dear.”

Brenda and Mark Lichtenstein

58 years

Dec. 18,1966, at The Standard Club

How they met:

Mark: I was at the barber shop and  met her brother-in-law first. Then we met later at Fan and Bill’s (an old Atlanta restaurant).

Initial attraction:

Brenda: He was the cutest Jewish boy that I had seen coming from LaGrange and college, too.

We dated 18 months, and my dad said, “Make a move or move on.”

Mark: I thought she was a beautiful blonde Swedish maiden. She was also a lot of fun.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Brenda: Oh gosh, I can’t answer that. Lot of space. Bottom line: love and respect. I bought her a jet plane (and fuel) that she flew for 30 years.

Carla and Dr. Arthur Silver

58 years June 19, 1966, at Ahavath Achim Synagogue

How they met: We saw each other at the old Jewish Community Center on Peachtree.

Initial attraction:

Arthur: I saw Carla at 15 years old having a tennis lesson at The Standard Club and fell in love! Unfortunately, she looked better than she played. Carla: I had a big crush on him. He was taller and more handsome than the younger boys.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Arthur: Realizing the other’s ideas may be correct; and it goes both ways. Carla: Don’t let the little things obscure the big picture!

Elaine and Dr. Jerry Blumenthal

55 years Feb. 23, 1969, in Topeka, Kan.

How they met: Blind date. I moved here from Kansas and my friend fixed me up with someone who worked at Rich’s and Jerry. I chose the latter. On our first date we knew this was IT!

Initial attraction:

Elaine: He was handsome, warm, and had a great sense of humor. Jerry: She had a tight ponytail that made her eyes look big and pretty. She made me a quiche, and we ate sitting on the floor.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Jerry: Common interests. We can sing Broadway tunes for hours. We just dovetailed. Elaine: One of our children said, “Nobody loves each other more than you and Daddy.”

Rita and Dr. Arthur Bodner

55 years

March 16, 1969, at the Delmonico Hotel in Manhattan

How they met:

Rita: A close friend of mine in New York introduced me to a man stationed at McGuire Air Force Base. She told me that he was from a small town in Alabama. I said: “Are you serious? A Southerner from a small town?” She insisted! I decided to give it a try.

Initial attraction:

Rita: We went out on a snowy night. I was totally charmed when he took his jacket off and laid it on the curb so I wouldn’t get my feet wet. I loved listening to his Southern accent. He just swept me off my feet with love letters from abroad.

Arthur: On our first date after clubbing in Greenwich Village, we talked until 4:30 a.m. I knew that she was the one for me. We dated for one month. I got sent to Korea, met after six months in Hawaii, and got engaged.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Rita: Being able to communicate feelings, sharing new experiences, showing respect and affection towards … enjoying life together!

Arthur: Always be supportive and each other’s best friend, although Rita still always get my dry sense of humor!!

Linda and Michael Weinroth 54 years

June 14, 1970, at Jacksonville Jewish Center

How they met:

Michael: We went on a beach picnic. As the day progressed on that cold day, flying a kite was fun and relaxing.

Linda: Then we had dinner at Mike’s parents’ house – who has dinner with your date’s parents on the first date? But they were very warm and welcoming!

Initial attraction:

Michael: When I first saw Linda, I thought she was cute and attractive with her red hair and green eyes as a great combination. My mother had already heard about Linda in the beauty parlor before the date!

Linda: Initially Mike made a snarky comment, so “no initial attraction,” but as the date evolved, we had much to talk about and never went out with anyone else after that!

Secret to a happy marriage:

Patience, apologizing, even if it hurts … and having easy children! We complement each other’s strengths – I love to cook, and he likes to clean! We support each other’s interests and are proud of each other’s achievements.

• Matzoh Ball Soup (Regular and Gluten Free)

• Vegetarian Matzoh Ball Soup

• Noodle Kugel

• Knishes

• Potato Latkes

Esti and Dr. Rick Blue

50 years May 1974 in Tel Aviv

How they met: During the Yom Kippur War, Rick was a volunteer in Tel Aviv, and Esti’s sister was teaching Hebrew at The Epstein School and gave Rick her name.

Initial attraction:

Rick: Esti was a true Sabra filled with energy and a great sense of humor. She had the best spirit and was so adventurous. She was willing to come to America with minimal English.

Esti: I met him in a hot youth hostel room. I felt sorry for this “shirtless” volunteer and invited him to dinner.  When it was time for him to return to the U.S., he asked me to come; but I told him, “Only with a ring on my finger.” He promised me just one year in Atlanta before returning to Israel. Fifty years later, we’re still here.

Secret to a happy marriage:

Rick: A sense of humor and kindness.

Esti: We are different individuals and took time to accept each other for our unique differences.

125 Years Later: Golivesky Cousins Meet at Camp

By Robbie Garber

When Abby and Emily Warden attended Camp Barney Medintz for the first time this past summer, they knew they might see some relatives there. What they didn’t know, however, was exactly how many they’d meet. At lunch one day, their names, along with eight others, were called – each of them told to meet outside.

“I was like ‘who are these people?’” Emily said.

One of those people was Devin Golivesky, who had pretty quickly figured out what was going on. “They were asking us, ‘What’s your name, and who are your parents,’” Devin Golivesky said. “They were trying to get us to see if we could figure out how we were all related.”

His younger brother, Grant Golivesky, caught on shortly afterwards. “I was just confused at first,” Grant said, “but then I was like ‘oh wait, I’m related to all these people.’”

All told there were 10 cousins, some

more distant and some more closely related to each other, but all sharing a common, recent ancestor – one Devin and Grant Golivesky already knew something about.

“Somehow, not by design, I’ve kind of become the Golivesky historian” said the boys’ father, Alan Golivesky, displaying a watch engraved with the initials N. G. – Nathan Golivesky, the forefather of the cousins that met at camp.

“Nathan and his wife, Bayle, had two kids,” Alan said, “Well, three, technically, but one died before they came to America.”

Nathan, born in 1865, had fled to America around 1900, during the pogroms in Russia under Tsar Nicholas II. The story goes that he walked from Savannah all the way to Valdosta, and shortly made enough money to bring the remainder of his family there with him. The family became an important part of the already established, but small, Valdosta Hebrew Congregation (now Temple Israel).

“Nathan housed the first Torah down in Valdosta in his own home,” said Alan, “His son, my grandfather, Abe, brokered the deal for the Jewish section of the cemetery in Valdosta. And my dad, Norman,

managed the plots in the cemetery for 40 or 50 years.”

Since then, Nathan’s descendants have spread out across America, with some living in Georgia, some in Virginia, and some in Florida – though, since the recent passing of Lamar Golivesky, none remain in Valdosta. The fact they all reunited at Camp Barney, and the fact that anyone realized they were all there at once, was an interesting matter of chance.

“One of my first cousins [Karen Stark], we were talking on the phone for some reason,” Alan said, “and she says, ‘did you know there are 10 cousins at Camp Barney right now?’”

After a few phone calls to the camp, the little reunion was organized, with more than a few surprises in store. Emma Levin found that she had not one, but two, distant cousins in the same cabin as her – Abby Warden and Taylor Smith.

“Both of our parents sent us letters, and we were reading our letters and we both looked at each other and we’re like ‘Oh, we’re cousins,’” Emma said, “and then we looked at Taylor and we’re like ‘We’re all three cousins.’” She had been going to camp with several of the cousins for years, without realizing she was

A photo of the 10 cousins at Camp Barney Medintz. From left, starting with the top row: Abby Warden, Lindsey Mirsky, Devin Golivesky, Teddy Smith, Taylor Smith, Emily Warden, Emma Levin, Grant Golivesky, Millie Smith, Jordan Benator

ATLANTA THEN & NOW

related

Meanwhile, Emily Warden didn’t find any new relations among the campers in her cabin – instead, she found one with a counselor, Lindsey Mirsky.

“I already knew a second cousin named Jordan,” Emily said, “but then the first time I met Lindsey was when we were getting assigned to our cabins. She sent her mom all the names of the kids in her cabin. Her mom said that Lindsey was related to me.”

“It’s a very small world, especially for Jewish people,” Emma Levin’s dad, Brian Levin, joked – but it’s also an interesting truth.

Professor Itsik Pe’er, who studies the statistics of Ashkenazi genetics/relations, notes that hidden relationships in the

Ashkenazi community are reasonably common. “For any random Ashkenazi individuals A, B, and C, it is reasonably likely that A-B are fourth cousins, A-C are fourth cousins, and B-C are fourth cousins,” he said.

Still, what happened with these 10 cousins was rather remarkable. “Having a specific group of 10 people share the same fourth or fifth generation ancestor is highly unlikely,” Pe’er noted.

This is not lost on Nathan Golivesky’s youngest descendants.

“Everything started with one man, and his dream to start life in South Georgia,” said Devin Golivesky, “It’s just kind of hard to process that all 10 of us are descendants of that same person meeting all at the same summer camp.” ì

FAMILY HELPING FAMILIES

Nathan Golivesky (right) and his wife, Bayle “Bessie” Golivesky (left).

ATLANTA THEN & NOW

Standard Club Renovation Recalls History & Legacy

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

After a year of planning, The Standard Club recently completed a major renovation and premiered the new space on Mother’s Day.

Club President Michael Jacobson said, “The goal of the renovation was to create a comfortable relaxing environment for our members and their guests. The key was to highlight our rich history, which is displayed throughout the clubhouse with items like the invitation from the club’s Brookhaven Clubhouse –Formal Opening in 1949 to Atlanta’s first Jewish Mayor Sam Massell’s membership card and club application.”

Additional artifacts on display include photos from clubhouses, such as: Concordia Hall, The White Hall Street Clubhouse, and the Ponce De Leon Clubhouse. This renovation provided an opportunity to modernize the facilities and enjoy club dining including the ever popular matzoh ball soup (served daily).

The Standard Club has had four location changes since 1904. Many “seasoned” Atlantans remember the popular Brookhaven location, which was moved in 1987 to the current location in Johns Creek, off Old Milton Parkway.

According to Jacobson, legacy is part of the club’s tradition. “We continue our Jewish heritage and enjoy our multigenerational members. It actually works both ways: for the younger generation, as well as grandparents moving to Atlanta. I can’t wait for my daughter to move back here from Chicago so that she can join.”

Recently, the club hosted a legacy event with 54 people who have been members for 40-plus years. One couple scored 71 years. Current club membership is 565 households, with 250 of those under age 40. The majority of the membership, but not all, is Jewish.

Paul Silver, House Committee Renovation Chair, stated, “The club has always looked to improve facilities for our members and guests. Over the past few years, we have made significant investment in our golf course, which was featured as a top 20 Georgia golf course in Golf Digest. The history of the Standard Club is on display throughout the clubhouse where a magnificent picture of our signature 17th hole is on display by local Atlanta golf artist Rob Matre.”

Club historian Justin Silver, a fourthgeneration member, and his committee were in charge of capturing the club’s history, resulting in more than 75 artifacts being displayed throughout the clubhouse.

“The goal of the interior renovation was to design an environment where our members will want to spend time just being together and watching some great sporting events on more than 25 new TV’s throughout,” Silver said. “The furniture selected by our design team, in partnership with important efforts of the House Committee, chaired by Chuck Tilis, focused on elevating the interior to

be modern and comfortable while preserving the rich 150-plus year heritage.”

Kali Hough of Troon Golf, the interior designer (along with Power Architects LLC), said, “The design was unique due to the goal of integrating contemporary elements while preserving the timeless elegance of the club.”

The upgraded areas include: Concordia Hall, The 1867 Grille, The Member Bar, The Brookhaven Lounge, The Stan-

dard Room, the fitness center, kids’ club, main entrance, and Presidents Hallway. Sports is a huge club amenity: 16 outdoor and four indoor tennis courts; eight outdoor and four indoor pickleball courts; the 18-hole championship golf course on 300 acres was constructed by Arthur Hills with no houses anywhere on the course. Shortly, Mizuno Golf will open a state-of-the-art R&D center with an indoor teaching and golf fitting studio.

Paul Silver and Michael Jacobson worked to realize the club’s vision of preserving the past along with the new interior’s elegance.

The Standard Room, located within the business center, boasts vintage artifacts and memorabilia.

The Member Bar has a mix of tabletops, comfortable couches and chairs.

ATLANTA THEN & NOW

is

Some member events include wine tasting, prime rib night, Mother’s Day Brunch, and July 4th with day-long activities for adults and children, culminating in nighttime fireworks. Concordia Hall, the grand ballroom, hosts lifecycle events including more than 30 weddings per year. ì

Standard Club History

* The Standard Club, through its predecessor, The Concordia Association, traces its history back to 1867, making it the oldest social club in Atlanta.

* The first social event held in the club’s quarters was the first Jewish wedding in Atlanta, Mr. and Mrs. A. Rosenfeld, on Jan. 1, 1867.

* In 1904, the club changed its name to The Standard Club.

* The Standard Club has made four location changes since 1904, with the first golf course built in Brookhaven in 1947 by architect Robert Trent Jones.

* In 1987, the club’s current location in Johns Creek was formally opened.

The 18-hole golf course spans 300 acres of natural beauty.

Concordia Hall Ballroom

the club’s event space offering versatile seating along with magnificent chandeliers.

Flavors Among the Flowers and Mirrors DINING

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Ilene Kapper Oxman is a “two timer” from the tomato sauce to salmon tartar running through her veins. Getting her adrenaline rush in a traditionally “hard” business, she works two “floors” in the restaurant industry.

Oxman, a member of Temple Sinai, does this double duty by owning the newly opened Reunion in East Cobb and the fan favorite Harry’s Pizza on Powers Ferry. Originally from Long Island, Oxman moved to the South in 1999 to open MyGym Children’s Fitness Center.

She said, “Since then, I have always owned businesses as a serial entrepreneur, including Harry’s Pizza and Subs which I own with my family and continue to work. I work lunch at Harry’s and dinner at Reunion: Kitchen and Bar – it’s a lot, but this is what I love, and I’m passionate about this business.”

We dined at Reunion on a Saturday night to find a spacious, well decorated layout and a middle-aged crowd with the bar on one side, dining on the other. Ilene did an especially spectacular job with the interior design while collaborating with Jess Davis (Muchacho in Reynoldstown). Ilene wanted Reunion to feel “modern and cool, yet welcoming and warm.” The wallpaper, the lighting and the mirrors all add to this aesthetic. They handpicked approximately 60 unique mirrors from antique stores to adorn the back dark gray wall as the mirrors relate to one another in a thought-provoking way. She explained, “It was just a cool idea and people seem to love it.”

The term “reunion” brings forth visions of groups of relatives or friends at regular intervals or after a separation. Oxman wanted it to be a place for locals to gather regularly, and more importantly, where first timers are made to feel like regulars.

She said, “We want the vibe to be warm and inviting, and also fun -- and we think that the bar brings the vibrant energy.”

What’s most important is the food, glorious food, served artistically and in full-size shareable portions. One pretty much knows a restaurant is going to be noteworthy when the owner is on site, greeting diners, watching the service and monitoring how the food comes out of the kitchen. The presentation here is no less than art.

What we had:

Appetizer: Salmon tartar ($16) – red onion, avocado, soy ginger, finished with wasabi oil and wontons.

Salads: Parmigiana reggie Ceasar ($12) “ginormous” portion with the accent on fresh shaved parm, no sight of anchovies which may or may not please some. House special lettuce wedge salad alongside blue cheese and hard-boiled eggs came out looking like a bundled bouquet.

Entrees: The evening’s star was miso glazed sea bass ($44) a palette of sauce choices (sherry soy ginger and wasabi) alongside broccolini; gluten-free penne primavera ($18) with capers, spinach, garlic, artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes topped with lemon grass in a mini mountain. We chose to substitute non-glutenfree pasta as a base; but it’s a nice option

for those in that gluten-free realm.

Desserts: Chocolate overload and key lime pie (both $12 and hugely sharable). Also on the menu were chocolate chip cookie a la mode, vanilla bean crème Brule, lil’ red velvet, and coated mango passion sorbet.

Next visit: Roasted beets and burrata cheese ($18) with greens, balsamic glaze and extra virgin olive oil; Faroe Island salmon ($30) cedar plank salmon with green beans topped with honey grained mustard glaze.

On Tuesdays, they have live music and $4 draft beer. Wine Down Wednesday has half-price glasses of wine. Thursdays are live music and ladies’ nights – free ap-

petizer at the bar. On Fridays, they offer $8 martinis; and half off margaritas on Saturdays. They also feature food specials which change via Executive Chef Santiago Echavarria’s choice. With a fivestar background, part of his signature style is using edible flowers that have been blended into some dishes, and not just as décor.

The front private dining room seats 40 or 50 for cocktail. They also rent out the entire restaurant or patio. Reunion: Kitchen and Bar is located at 1255 Johnson Ferry Road. 678-653-8822. Reunion is closed on Mondays and is open 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Sunday brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ì

Owner Ilene Kapper Oxman loves the restaurant business and oversees the details at Reunion: Kitchen and Bar.

The Reunion bar offers different specials throughout the week.

The miso cod was served with broccolini on an artistic plate.

The roasted beet burrata is one of Oxman’s favorite dishes.

The salmon tartar works well with chopped avocado.

ARTS & CULTURE

Israeli Comic Sensation Sponder Atlanta Bound

By Marcia Jaffe

Social media sensation Yohay Sponder has gone viral with his charming and unapologetic comments on Jews in general, Israeli Jews specifically, and overall audience interaction on topics ranging from political correctness (or not), Muslims, women, terrorists, gays, and the Holocaust -- many things people are feeling, but stand back from expressing. He’s very unassuming and his comments are not laced with malice, though sometimes an “F” bomb slips out.

The energy behind his stop here is Moran Avidan, an IT professional, who has formed “Show In Motion,” where her passion translates into bringing joy, culture, and laughter to the Jewish community. In her efforts to attract Sponder, she said, “After Oct. 7, I realized laughter would bring us together.”

She spearheaded a series of cultural and entertainment events here during September, starting with a Jewish tech and entrepreneurship party, followed by Zvi Yehezkelion’s lecture (Hebrew), and Guri Alfi’s performance (Hebrew), now Sponder’s show (English) on Sept. 28. She stated, “That is what will set up my mission: to turn Atlanta into a hub for Jewish culture and comedy. Sponder’s show feels like home, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

Part of Sponder’s shtick is his word mish mash translating from Hebrew to English and his easy un-

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scripted explanations. Avidan continued, “In my tech role, I found myself on stage, giving innovation lectures, participating in panels, and standing in front of rooms

filled with C-level executives, investors, and clients … trying to pass my point through a thick accent and the cultural gap. That’s when I discovered something powerful: laughter. Humor became my bridge, the way I broke down walls and made people feel comfortable and engaged.”

As a burgeoning comedian herself, Moran opened for Rotem Abuhav, Israeli comedian, and took a leap. She stood on stage with her most personal material and was lauded as funny.

Cheryl Feingold Dorschinsky, executive director of the Atlanta Israel Coalition added, “The fact that we are supporting someone from Israel right now is a bonus, given the constant boycotts [of Israel] we constantly see in the media. I absolutely can’t wait to see him here. He’s my favorite comedian.”

Dorchinsky initially reached out on the Facebook group, Jewish Women of Atlanta, to locate a venue, which will only be released after ticket purchases. Since it’s on Saturday night, showtime is 9 p.m.

To purchase tickets, please visit www.sponderstandup.com/sept-2024-tour/

Sponder cautions beware of scammers and only buy through authorized sites. Avidan concluded, “His exaggerated Israeli accent during his English shows always kills.”

Tune into the AJT interchange with Sponder:

Jaffe: Describe your childhood:

Sponder: I grew up in the Golan, my family owned an orchard, and we grew citrus fruit. I had a magical childhood, I was surrounded by good, loving people. As for the army, I had a meaningful service.

Jaffe: Were you funny as a child or the class clown?

Sponder: Yeah. I guess I was, my parents had a huge influence on me. Growing up, they were always

Sabra Moran Avidan arranged Sponder’s appearance in coordination with her mission to unite through laughter.

very funny. I feel that as a comedian, our gift is to find the funny in everything, especially during sad times.

Jaffe: Has Oct. 7 changed your popularity in the U.S.?

Sponder: Since 2016, I have been producing “Funny Monday,” an Israeli standup show in English that, among other things, touches upon current events from an Israeli-Jewish point of view. Needless to say, after Oct. 7, our community came together and put the whole process “on steroids” so to speak; and as a result, my videos went viral. I can’t express in words what an honor it is to receive messages from Jews all over the world saying how my comedy has helped them through this rough time. Of course, if given the opportunity, I would give up all the fame in the world to take back what happened Oct. 7.

Jaffe: What really is your funniest bit that gets the most laughs reliably?

Sponder: “This I Can Do,” it is a bit that is part of my Special (releasing at the end of September) about political correctness in the States from my Israeli point of view. ì

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Popular Israeli comic Yohay Sponder will appear in Atlanta on Sept. 28.

CALENDAR

All Month - Naturally Artistic - Visit Chattahoochee Nature Center and enjoy Naturally Artistic, a homegrown exhibit that celebrates the connection between art and nature. You’ll enjoy creations from local artists, participate in making art, and be encouraged to see the world around you with a fresh set of eyes. This year we present 5 areas where you can get inspired and get your art on! Included with general admission and free to CNC Members. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/24bbhy9v.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Mensch Makers – 10: 30 to 11:30 a.m. Introducing Mensch Makers, a program where preschoolers, ages 3-5, alongside their parents or caregivers, dive into the essence of tikkun olam, repairing the world. During this four-week series, families will explore food insecurity in Atlanta, visit a local retirement community and engage in a service learning series highlighting Jewish values.  Join Davis Academy by registering at https://tinyurl.com/4wj8ehjc.

Back to your Roots Farm Fair - 12 to 4 p.m. Get back to your roots with down-home fun at the Back to Your Roots Farm Fair! Join CNC for family fun celebrating one of the best harvesting seasons of the year. Meet live farm animals, bring a picnic, and get down in the dirt! Continue enjoying the fall season with partners, games and crafts. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/ mtmpruwy.

Hadassah Fashionably Fall Fashion Show - 1 to 4 p.m. In addition to featuring mothers, daughters, grandmothers, and granddaughters modeling the latest fashions, you are invited to participate in a silent auction, the proceeds of which will benefit the good works of Hadassah. Participants will have the opportunity to bid on a variety of items, including accessories, artwork, books, collectibles, decor items, event tickets, services and more! Location will be provided upon registration. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/3tvzzts9.

Mitzvah Day - 2 to 4 p.m. JFCS is inviting young professionals to join us for Mitzvah Day on Sunday, September 15. Attendees will choose from one of five projects, each designed to benefit our areas of service. Projects will last 2-3 hours. Registration is $36 and covers program, supplies and a post-project happy hour. Register at https://tinyurl.com/499kb9k4.

Keshet - North Fulton - 4 to 5:30 p.m. Join IAC for a true Israeli experience! We will meet for fun, learning, and of course community! We would like to open a few groups. Please register at https://bit. ly/3Rlcxi0 if you would like your child to be part of the Keshet family. Please indicate your child’s age.

The Joe Alterman Trio - 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. Experience the rich tapestry of “The Sounds of Jewish America,” an educational musical extravaganza that unravels the captivating narrative behind iconic American tunes. Critically acclaimed jazz pianist and scholar Joe Alterman will take guests on a melodic journey through the 20th century, showcasing the indelible contributions of Jewish composers and artists to the American musical landscape. This unique concert blends captivating performances with insightful storytelling, revealing the hidden Jewish essence embedded within beloved melodies. Purchase tickets at the MJCCA at https://tinyurl. com/2hesvc9r.

SEPTEMBER 15-30

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

Election 2024: A Jewish View of the Hot-Button Issues – 7:30 to 9 p.m. Election season is in full swing and the biggest issues facing our country are front and center. In this new series The Torah Center Atlanta cuts through the politics to examine five critical issues through the non-partisan lens of Torah wisdom. Join us in spirited discussion as we delve into Jewish teachings to help navigate today’s increasingly divisive political landscape leading up to this historic election. Be an informed Jew. Be an engaged citizen. Be a part of a constructive conversation about the issues that matter! Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/mpbujtt8.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

NCJW/ATL Mitzvah in Motion – 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join NCJW to assemble Post-abortion Comfort Care Kits. Get more information at https://tinyurl.com/3jnfcm56.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Fingerprints of Connection: Jewish Holiday Art – 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. Join La Dee Da and Nurture for a colorful six-week journey as we introduce your little ones to the joyous traditions of the Jewish holidays through the magic of art and play! Designed specifically for toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years old, this series blends creative exploration with age-appropriate learning about the Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. Through hands-on crafts, sensory activities, and playful experiences, children will discover the significance of each holiday while fostering their imagination and social skills.  Register at https:// tinyurl.com/r3z99y2z.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

Rosh Hashanah Challah Bake – 7 p.m. Join JWC Atlanta along with the amazing Giti Fredman from Just Bake It to welcome the High Holiday season with learning how to make a round challah for Rosh Hashanah.  Each registered participant will take home two challahs! Register at https://tinyurl.com/3np9s9rr.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

One Good Deed 18th Anniversary Luncheon - 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Since 2006, One Good Deed, a program of Aviv Older Adult Services, has carefully matched more than 500 independent older adults with volunteers for friendship and companionship. These kind and compassionate friendly visitors make a monumental difference in the lives of the older adults in our community - reducing loneliness and isolation and giving them meaningful social connections. RSVP at https://tinyurl. com/4uju4zbf.

Lunch N Learn with Rabbi & Dena Schusterman -12 p.m. Renewing the Soul: Finding Inner Peace and Purpose During the High Holidays. This Lunch N Learn will explore how the High Holidays provide a powerful opportunity for spiritual renewal and resilience, especially in the wake of this very challenging year. We will focus on the themes of teshuvah (return), tefillah (prayer), and tzedakah (acts of lovingkindness) as essential tools for personal and communal growth, even during challenging times. Through mindfulness, meditation, and reflection on these themes, participants will be guided on an inner journey to find peace and renewed purpose. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/yx82xcfj.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Torah Reading: Ki Tavo

Friday, September 20 Light Candles at: 7:18 PM

Saturday, September 21 Shabbat Ends: 8:12 PM

Torah Reading: Nitzavim-Vayelech

Friday, September 27 Light Candles at: 7:08 PM

Saturday, September 28 Shabbat Ends: 8:02 PM

SATURDAY,

SEPTEMBER 21

FRIDAY,

SEPTEMBER 20

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

Tot Shabbat - 6 to 8 p.m. Tot Shabbat is a Shabbat Program geared for children (second grade and younger) to laugh, meet new children, make new friends, and explore the wonders of Judaism in an exciting fun way! The service is filled with songs, prayers, blessings, stories, snacks, and a place where a kid can be a kid when they pray to God. This Congregation Dor Tamid service meets on selected Friday nights throughout the year at 6:00 pm. Each service is followed by a potluck Shabbat dinner. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3KE9PMj.6.

Intown Atlanta Unity Shabbat – 6 to 9 p.m. Let’s come together in the spirit of Jewish community and pride, celebrating the beauty of Shabbat with delicious food and our vibrant community. Register at https://tinyurl.com/k9f3ptsy.

Prime Timers Shabbat Dinner- 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for a beautiful Friday night service, followed by dinner. Find more at https://tinyurl. com/yc3byadj.

Sarah Chang, violin and Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome, piano - 8 to 10 p.m. One of the foremost violinists of our time, Sarah Chang has performed with the most esteemed orchestras, conductors, and collaborative pianists in an international career spanning more than two decades. The Schwartz Center welcomes this virtuosic artist back to the Emerson Concert Hall for a recital concert with pianist Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome featuring Sonatensatz in C Minor, WoO2 and Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, op. 108, by Brahms and Sonata No. 2 in D Major, op. 94a, by Prokofiev. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/4vd8n3cf.

CDT Homecoming – 7 to 10 p.m. Join Congregation Dor Tamid for a Homecoming Event. There will be tailgating, BBQ, and dancing. Learn more at https://tinyurl. com/27a9x56w.

SUNDAY,

SEPTEMBER 22

Harvest on the Hooch - 1 to 5 p.m. Chattahoochee Nature Center welcomes guests of all ages to our annual outdoor food and craft beer festival, Harvest on the Hooch. This event raises awareness for the nature center’s Unity Garden. Visit https://tinyurl. com/ycyctttx for more information.

Kibbitz & Konnect 50s+ Happy Hour - 4 to 7 p.m. Join Kibbitz & Konnect at the bar at Ecco Buckhead! RSVP at https://tinyurl. com/mrx2yjyp.

Annual Pre Rosh Hashana Round Challah Bake – 7 to 9 p.m. Join Chabad of North Fulton for a ladies’ night out of inspiration, challah making, food, and fun. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/yc58nwn3.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season. All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

Atlanta Scholars Kollel 21st Annual Networking Event – 6 to 7 p.m. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel Networking event hosts 300 participants making business and social connections with great food and an inspiring speaker Bob Diener (hotels.com) before the High Holidays. Bob credits his business success on following the principles found in the Torah and Jewish tradition. Just the message the Kollel seeks to promote. Learn more at https:// tinyurl.com/25tr8c2j.

A Conversation with Coach Bruce Pearl – 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Bruce Pearl, head Coach of the Auburn Tigers, joins Roey Shoshan, senior director of philanthropic engagement at the MJCCA, to discuss his outspoken support of Israel, how Judaism has shaped his coaching career, his great pride in his Jewish identity, and of course, basketball. A Q & A with the audience will follow the program. Find out more at https:// tinyurl.com/8v5j5nzw.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar. or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season, All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/23rs3wch.

Memorial Event for October 7 - 6 to 10 p.m. Let’s stand together and remember the massacre that happened on October 7. Learn more with the IAC at https://tinyurl. com/ms4az92w.

Fall Native Plant Sale - 4 to 7 p.m. Fall is the perfect time for planting! A long cold winter enables plants to develop dense root systems for strong healthy growth in the spring. Horticulturists and local experts will be onsite to help you find the right plants to attract butterflies, pollinators, birds, and more, as well as herbs and veggies for your edible garden. Credit cards are accepted, and CNC members receive a discount. All proceeds support gardens, education, and conservation by the Horticulture Department. Visit https:// tinyurl.com/pa4s7pfn to learn more.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

High Holy Days Food Drive - Drop off Kosher items at Congregation Dor Tamid. Please no glass. Most needed: canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans, canned tomatoes, and dry pasta. Non-Kosher items will happily be accepted and donated to other families in need. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/ jw2wtr98.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street - 11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

Fall Native Plant Sale - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fall is the perfect time for planting! A long cold winter enables plants to develop dense root systems for strong healthy growth in the spring. Horticulturists and local experts will be onsite to help you find the right plants to attract butterflies, pollinators, birds, and more, as well as herbs and veggies for your edible garden. Credit cards are accepted and CNC members receive a discount. All proceeds support gardens, education, and conservation by the Horticulture Department. Visit https:// tinyurl.com/pa4s7pfn to learn more.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

High Holy Days Food Drive - Drop off Kosher items at Congregation Dor Tamid. Please no glass. Most needed: canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans, canned tomatoes, and dry pasta. Non-Kosher items will happily be accepted and donated to other families in need.  Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/ jw2wtr98.

Fall

Native Plant Sale - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fall is the perfect time for planting! A long cold winter enables plants to develop dense root systems for strong healthy growth in the spring. Horticulturists and local experts will be onsite to help you find the right plants to attract butterflies, pollinators, birds, and more, as well as herbs and veggies for your edible garden. Credit cards are accepted, and CNC members receive a discount. All proceeds support gardens, education, and conservation by the Horticulture Department. Visit https:// tinyurl.com/pa4s7pfn to learn more.

Two Sweet Li’l Shabbat from the Garden - 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Get ready to celebrate and groove! Bring the whole family to our Two Sweet Li’l Shabbat bash in honor of Nurture turning 2. Rabbis Rachael and Max Miller will lead a Tot Shabbat filled with catchy tunes and awesome dance moves. Afterward, enjoy a buzz of fun activities, including a live bee show with Amy Price and sweet sensory play galore. Register with The Davis Academy and Nurture at https://tinyurl.com/5dzdppch.

Selichot – 6:15 p.m. Join Congregation Dor Tamid for Selichot. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/2hv3kf5p.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

High Holy Days Food Drive - Drop off Kosher items at Congregation Dor Tamid. Please no glass. Most needed: canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans, canned tomatoes, and dry pasta. Non-Kosher items will happily be accepted and donated to other families in need. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/ jw2wtr98.

Blood Drive – 9:15 to 11 a.m. Do a mitzvah and donate blood at Congregation Dor Tamid. Register to donate at https://tinyurl. com/3u42rh8v.

Play Tamid – 9:15 to 11 a.m. Play Tamid is led by Rabbi Jordan and is open to the public (Members and non-members of Congregation Dor Tamid). Enjoy crafts, songs, fun activities, and more for children under 4 (parent/ guardian must attend). Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/56y37k6e.

Prospective Member Lunch – 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Interested about learning about Congregation Dor Tamid. Come meet Rabbi Jordan, Cantorial Soloist Mike Zuspan, staff, Board of Directors. Learn about Religious School, Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Prime Timers, and more. Bring the whole Family. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ bdhvrw4x.

Alliance Theatre Presents The Curious Cardinal - 10 and 11:15 a.m. Enjoy this fun, immersive theater experience with your little ones! As the seasons come and go in this Georgia forest, so too do all the varied wildlife. Except, of course, for the curious cardinal, “CC,” who stays put the entire year, curiously exploring all the changes that the seasons bring. Join CC on their adventure beyond the city and soar to new heights in the spring, bid a fond farewell to the friendly otters in the summer, bicker and befriend squirrels in the fall, and explore the crisp, cool air in the winter. Reserve tickets with MJCCA at https://tinyurl. com/3xrmt43y.

Eitan Force Athletic Complex Dedication - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come celebrate at Weber School as we dedicate the Eitan Force Athletic Complex. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/bdhwzsrw.

In Memory and In Hope: A Global Reform Movement Commemoration of Oct. 7 - 1 p.m. Join the Reform Movement around the world as we come together to commemorate one year since October 7, 2023. This event marks the beginning of our season of memory, a time for reflection and renewal as we approach the High Holy Days. Through shared stories, inspiring messages, and communal ritual, we will honor the experiences of the past year and set our intentions for the future. Get the Zoom Link by visiting https://tinyurl. com/yr4u9c6u.

Keshet - North Fulton - 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Join IAC for a true Israeli experience! We will meet for fun, learning, and of course community! We would like to open a few groups. Please register at https://bit. ly/3Rlcxi0 if you would like your child to be part of the Keshet family. Please indicate your child’s age.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30

High Holy Days Food Drive - Drop off Kosher items at Congregation Dor Tamid. Please no glass. Most needed: canned meat, canned fruit, canned vegetables, rice, beans, canned tomatoes, and dry pasta. Non-Kosher items will happily be accepted and donated to other families in need. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/ jw2wtr98.

Daily Shofar Blasts on Main Street -11 to 11:15 a.m. The blowing of the shofar, or ram’s horn, is an important part of the Jewish High Holiday season. There is a special tradition of blowing the shofar in the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah to remind us to “wake up,” reflect on the past year, and begin the spiritual preparation for the High Holiday season All are invited to listen the shofar in the main lobby and Brill Family Fitness Center. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/prs2wz7.

Piano Recital with Benjamin Warsaw

Sunday, September 22 | 3:00 p.m. Ahavath Achim Synagogue

The Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund presents a piano recital featuring Benjamin Warsaw performing a musical tapestry of classic, 20th-century contemporary compositions for the virtuoso pianist: Couperin, Chopin, Scriabin, Prokofiev, Schulhoff, Shemer, Gulda, Part, and Warsaw.

This concert is open to the community. There will be a reception following the concert. No admission charge or reservation is required. A $20 entrance donation for the Cultural Arts Fund is appreciated. Students are welcome to attend gratis.

More info: ivanmillender@earthlink.net

KEEPING IT KOSHER

Rosh Hashanah Chicken

Barley Bake with a Honey Sesame Glaze

We love a good chicken bake recipe around here. They’re easy, low maintenance, always delicious, and give you a main and side dish all in one. This chicken bake is inspired by the apple and honey theme of Rosh Hashanah, plus it includes some of the other simanim.

Ingredients

1 and 3/4 cups Gefen Pearl Barley

2 cubes Gefen Frozen Garlic or 3 cloves fresh grated garlic

1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

3 tablespoons oil, divided

2 large leeks or 4 small leeks, sliced

4 shallots, sliced

2 apples, cubed plus extra for garnish dried parsley

4 to 6 chicken thighs and legs

2 tablespoons Gefen Honey

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

splash of sesame oil

salt pepper, to taste paprika

3 cups chicken broth

Directions

1. Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. In a medium frying pan, heat one to two tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add leeks and shallots. Sauté until golden brown and soft, about five to eight minutes. Set aside.

3. In a 9×13-inch oven-safe baking dish, add the barley. Add/grate in your garlic and mix with the barley. I recommend doing this with your hands. Add in the pomegranate seeds, the apples, and the sautéed leeks and shallots. Stir to combine. Sprinkle some dried parsley.

4. Place chicken on top of the barley. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle some paprika and use your hands to make sure the chicken is coated.

5. In a bowl, mix the honey, sesame seeds and sesame oil. Add in one tablespoon of a neutral-flavored oil. Mix.

6. Drizzle one tablespoon of avocado oil over the chicken. Drizzle the honey mixture over the top of the chicken.

7. Add your chicken broth. Cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil.

8. Bake for two hours covered. When you remove the aluminum, feel free to add some extra sesame seeds on top and fill in the spaces between the chicken with some sliced, fanned apples.

9. Bake for an additional 30 minutes uncovered.

10. Serve hot and enjoy!

The Car

Hetty arrives home quite late one night and says to her worried Moshe, “Sorry I’m late. I had to come home by train, as I couldn’t get my car to start. But I’m sure I know why.”

“So, what’s the problem then, my mechanical engineer of a wife?” asks Moshe.

“I think there’s water in the carburetor,” said Hetty.

“How on Earth can you know that?” asks Moshe. “You don’t even know how to open the hood or to change the time on the car’s clock yet alone know where the carburetor is.”

“Maybe so,” says Hetty, “but I still think there’s water in it.”

Moshe then says, “OK, I’ll go along with you. Let’s check it out right now. Where did you leave the car?”

Hetty replies, “In the lake.”

YIDDISH WORD

Swollen prostak

n. The quality of a vulgar, ignorant person who believes themselves to be classy and clever.

“Turn off your hearing aids, here comes Eddie and his swollen prostak.”

From the Yiddish prostak, meaning “an ignorant boor.”

BRAIN FOOD

Class Materials

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

ACROSS

1. Part of a major daily tefilah

6. Airport shuttle

10. Chronicles, to the rest of the Torah, in a way 14. Issue with a plan 15. Avraham nickname 16. Nofei or Tel

17. Make a kiddush, perhaps 18. “Half” of Torah

19. Side dishes: Abbr.

20. Those who say there were no Jews who lived in ancient Israel 23. Malik formerly of One Direction 24. Abbr. at Kennedy

25. Invent a story

28. Hashem, during Creation 33. Lawyer abbr.

34. Yesh ___

35. “Kool” ending

37. School near PHX

38. Treif homes

41. Computer center, for short 42. Charge that makes MADD mad 43. Bayou soup ingredient

44. Williams of Cooperstown

45. Agag, Amon or Antiochus IV 50. New alums, last yr.

51. Football great Umenyiora

52. Surfing paradise

54. What can be found at the end of 20, 28, 38, and 45-Across....or another name for this puzzle

61. Israeli oil port (Var.)

62. Detach from a dependency

63. House swing spot

64. Number cruncher’s raw material

65. Italian volcano seen in Vietnam?

66. “Buenos Aires” musical

67. Lift option, but not a Lyft option?

68. One of the last men on Earth, once 69. Plant again

DOWN

1. Burn into

2. Agnon or Gilgeous-Alexander

3. Goes bad

4. Kind of derech

5. Foray

6. Home of Hudson Valley Comm. Coll.

7. Like Knesset members all agreeing on an issue

8. Common word at the start of a Talmudic argument

9. Number in a Uris title

10. Spelunker’s spot

11. Makes a mountain out of a molehill

12. Does archeology work

13. Colorado NHL club, to fans

21. Scandinavian rug

22. Vegas hotel where the Rat Pack hung out, with “The”

25. Make like Moses or Joshua

26. Topic

27. Apologize, but not admit wrongdoing

29. From the Vatican

30. 5G preceder

31. ___ Od Milvado

32. Closer to being harvested

36. 46-Across and “Battlefield Earth”, e.g.

38. What most Americans have been vaccinated for

39. “You’re tellin’ me!”, in a text

40. Steve Carell animated villain turned hero

46. Beatty-Hoffman bomb of 1987

47. Women who might have faith?

48. Music genre not usually heard at Jewish weddings

49. What people eat at a seder?

53. “___ Lucy”

54. Marble chunk

55. Frequent comedy costar with Vince

56. Jared who played Adam Neumann

57. Yemen’s capital

58. Van Gogh floral subject

59. Endo- opposite

60. Only Oscar winner/Nobelist before Dylan

61. YU email ender

OBITUARIES

Patricia B. Cohen

86,

Atlanta

Patricia B. Cohen, age 86, passed away peacefully on Sept. 7, 2024.  She was predeceased by a son, Bruce, and daughter, Brenda Joy.  She is survived by her children, Lori Cohen and Rodney Cohen, her daughter-in-law, Terri Cohen, and her grandchildren, Allison, Erin and Sara Cohen, and her former husband, Isadore Cohen.

Pat, first and foremost, was a loving, caring mother and grandmother, who loved nothing more than being surrounded by family and friends. She proudly and joyfully entertained in her home often. Pat was an avid reader, who also loved caring for her plants and cheering for her favorite sport teams.  She held a prominent position at Kellen and Company for over 30 years. She started her own business, Culinary Delights, in the 1980s and catered events with her homestyle cooking. Her coffee cake was unsurpassed and was always a top request. Her presence will be greatly missed. Rest In Peace, MOM. We love you.

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

Jean A. Diamond

82, Atlanta

Jean A. Diamond, age 82, Atlanta, died Aug. 17, 2024.

Jeanie Diamond, daughter of Dora and Morris Bobby, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of love, strength, and grace.

Jeanie was born with a beauty that only deepened as she grew, blossoming into a stunning woman. She graduated from Erasmus High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she laid the foundation for a life filled with accomplishments and love. At just 14 years old, she met Jerry, the love of her life, and their bond only grew stronger with time. At 21, they embarked on a lifelong journey together, building a beautiful life and career side by side.

A strong and savvy businesswoman, Jeanie had a passion for fashion that was more than just a hobby—it was her way of expressing her style and grace. She had impeccable taste and took immense joy in her personal styling, always ensuring she looked and felt her best.

Jeanie cherished the moments spent with loved ones and found happiness in vacationing with her family on Hilton Head Island, S.C., a place where countless memories were made. Jeanie also loved dining out with friends, drinking a nice glass of wine, and discussing the news and politics.

Her elegance and unwavering love will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Jeanie leaves behind a legacy of style, strength, and love that will forever be remembered by her family, friends, and all who were touched by her remarkable spirit.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Diamond, of blessed memory. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Jonathan Elster, and son and daughterin-law, Mark and Shay Diamond, Atlanta; grandchildren: Evan and Jordy Elster, Davis, Allison and Reed Diamond; brother-in-law, Barry Diamond and his wife, Lisa. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jerry Diamond Memorial Fund at Temple EmanuEl. A graveside service was held Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024, at 2 p.m., at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Spike Anderson officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta 770-451-4999.

May her memory be a blessing.

Leila Kaminer 85, Roswell

Leila Kaminer, 85, of Roswell, Ga., peacefully passed away on Aug. 20, 2024, after a long battle with illness. She was born in The Bronx, N.Y., and lived there throughout her childhood with her mother, father, and two siblings. She developed a great love of music and the theater as a young girl and enjoyed it throughout her life.  Later in life, she married the future father of her two children and relocated to the Atlanta area with them in the early 1980s.

Throughout her life, she was a successful homemaker, as well as an accomplished administrative assistant and office manager for several different companies and industries. She especially enjoyed her work at various schools in the Atlanta and New York areas.

Leila is survived by her son Jonathan (Shelley), daughter Zinah (David), grandsons Jordan Ian-Patrick and David Warren, brother Henry (Ricki), sister Ellen, nephew Martin, nieces Aimmee, Zoe, and Ariel, as well as other relatives and friends.  She will also be dearly missed by her friends at Oak Leaf Manor in Roswell, GA.  Leila is predeceased by her mother Belle and her father Irving.

A memorial service was held on Aug. 25, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Ga.  Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Philip Abram Kaplan 89, Marietta

Philip Abram Kaplan, of Marietta, a retired businessman and philanthropist, passed away peacefully at his home Wednesday, Aug. 14, from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He celebrated his 89th birthday on Aug. 13 with his family and loved ones. The funeral was held at Arlington cemetery on Monday, Aug. 18 with Rabbi Lawrence Rosenthal and Rabbi Neil Sandler officiating.

Born in Baltimore, Md. to Elsie and Joseph Kaplan, Philip came to Atlanta to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology where he met and married the love of his life, Sally Ann Cavalier. After graduating with a Mechanical Engineering Bachelor of Science degree, he enlisted and proudly served as an officer in the United States Navy.

His professional career started as an engineer, but his logical and sharp mind combined with his compassionate heart led him to the world of Finance and Investments, portfolio management and strategic family legacies.

"When Philip Kaplan speaks, people listen" was a favorite family phrase during his employment at E.F. Hutton, as Assistant Vice President. Through the years and several mergers, he also worked for Shearson Lehman Brothers, Smith Barney and finally Morgan Stanley Wealth Management as Vice President Wealth Portfolio Manager. Helping older generations plan for their future and especially the education of their children and grandchildren became his forte, and he dedicated his final working years to helping make their dreams come true. When asked if he was going to retire as he neared 70 years old, he refused adamantly, replying, “I have too many little ladies whose husbands have passed that depend on me.” Philip Kaplan didn’t retire until the age of 82.

In his spare time, Philip started a second career in public speaking, educational lectures and story-saying that spanned over four decades. From Toast Masters classes to serving as a Docent for the Atlanta History Center to the Georgia Story Telling Network to the Financial Guest Speaker on cruise ships, he embraced every opportunity to share his knowledge with others. As a wordsmith extraordinaire, his stories were masters of alliteration, research, imagery and humor.

Philip was prominent and active in many religious and philanthropic organizations including the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, the William Breman Jewish Home, the Atlanta Jewish Federation, The Weber School, B’nai B’rith, JNF, and The American Cancer Society. His love for helping others was witnessed every Wednesday night when he called Bingo at the Jewish Home for over 35 years. His dedication was unfaltering, and even family celebrations or vacations had to be planned around these special nights. He taught Sunday School at AA Synagogue and coached basketball at the Jewish Community Center.

Nothing was more important to Philip Kaplan than his family and being the role mod-

el they deserved. His love for Judaism served as the structure for his daily lifestyle. An avid reader with a quest for continuous learning, he studied Rabbinical teachings and principles, Jewish observances and traditions and wisdom found in the Torah. He used this evolving knowledge to guide his family with not only words and teachings, but by his actions and examples. He and his beloved bride Sally rarely missed a Shabbat morning service. As a "regular," he became the leader of the duchaning during High Holidays and even taught the younger generations proper protocol for this beautiful and meaningful practice.

Philip's three grandchildren were truly his pride and joy, as they easily captivated his attention and adoration. From spelling bees to ballet recitals, soccer games and All-state Symphony Concerts to high school plays and lacrosse games, he cherished their talents, intellect, and ever-expanding minds and personalities. As he converted from Father to Papa, he emerged with a much stronger sense of compassion and tolerance, patience and do-overs and negotiations that always went their way.

Philip’s marriage was a poetic fairy-tale and defined by a full life ... full of energy and love, activities and exercise, volunteering, reading and praying, self-improvement and travel. There were romantic trips, family beach trips, grand-children only trips, hiking adventures on trails near and far, heli-hiking on snow-capped mountains, journeys to China, Israel, Italy, Prague, Budapest, Germany, England and Alaska.

Of all of Philip’s profound life lessons, these will forever be etched in his family’s memory:

“Always make time to help others,”

“Leave the world a better place than how you found it,”

“Be the reason someone smiles today.”

Philip is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sally Cavalier Kaplan, son Michael Robert Kaplan and daughters Rebecca Ellen Kaplan and Elissa Debra Kaplan, three grandchildren Jonathan Kaplan, Rachel Kaplan and Ethan Kaplan, and one great-grandson, Philip J. Kaplan.

The family wishes to thank everyone for all the prayers, visits, calls, compassion and support over the past few years during Philip’s extended illness. Your kindness and concern embraced us with warmth, hope and love.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Ahavath Achim Synagogue- the Helen Cavalier- Joe Cohen Daily Minyan Fund, the William Bremen Jewish Home and JNF. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Loretta Held Love 89, Dunwoody

Loretta Held Love, age 89, Dunwoody, Ga., passed away Sept. 2, 2024. Loretta Held Love was born Oct. 23, 1934, in New York. Her parents, Sylvia and Arthur Held, moved the family to Birmingham, Ala., when Loretta was a child, where she and her sister, Phyllis, were raised. They were a very closeknit family, and it was her family and her upbringing that instilled in Loretta her love of Judaism and Israel. Loretta met her husband, Melvin Tillem, of blessed memory, who was travelling through Birmingham for work, when she was 18 years old, and they married less than a year later. Loretta and Mel moved to Atlanta in 1960 with three young children and quickly became among the influential families of Congregation Beth Jacob. Loretta was extremely active in the shul, both in structured positions within the Sisterhood, as well as all areas of the shul where she made an impact.

Loretta continued to work within the Jewish community, with roles as advisor to NCSY as well as Young Judaea, a Zionist youth movement that Loretta held dear to her heart. She was the chairman of the Camp Judaea committee of Southern Region Hadassah. Her love of Israel was a constant theme in her life, from organizing Arthur’s Bar Mitzvah to be held at the Kotel, to hosting shichimi from Young Judaea at their home for months at a time when needed. Loretta and Mel’s home was always open to anyone travelling through Atlanta; their Southern hospitality was well known to all. Loretta established herself as a travel agent and in hotel sales after her children were grown and organized many trips to Israel as a hallmark of her travel agent career. After Mel passed away in 1986, Loretta married Jerry Love of blessed memory and moved back to Birmingham with Jerry for several years until they decided to relocate to Atlanta. After Jerry’s passing in 2018, Loretta moved to Berman Commons in Atlanta where she quickly became an integral part of the community. Loretta was constantly looking for ways to elevate the Jewish community of Berman Commons, and to increase access to Jewish learning. She loved being able to walk to shul at Congregation Ariel, and when she was no longer able to walk to shul, the Ariel community came together and sent volunteers to lead services at Berman Commons, as well as organizing study of Jewish history and other relevant topics. Having Oneg Shabbat became a regular occurrence, something that was so important to Loretta.  Loretta shared a close bond with her sister, Phyllis, and always looked forward to their weekly adventures as well as when they travelled together. Loretta will be sorely missed by her family and all that had the privilege to know her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin Tillem, and later by her second husband, Jerry Love, of blessed memory. Survivors include her sister, Phyllis Busch (Neal), her daughter, Gayle Benator (Paul); daughter Amy McCarthy (Terry), son Arthur Tillem (Roni); grandchildren: Max Benator, Jonathan Benator (Sarah), Alix Horovitz (Jared); David Tillem (Jessica), Nicole Chanson (Alex) and great grandchildren: Zachary, Joshua, Leo, Samuel, Charli and Simon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Congregation Ariel, Atlanta Scholars Kollel or Congregation Beth Jacob. Sign guestbook at online www. jewishfuneralcare.com. A graveside service was held Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at noon, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Binyomin Friedman officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta 770-451-4999.

Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Editor and Managing Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

OBITUARIES

Helen Zaban Miller

95, Atlanta

Brandon Scott Reisman

41, Atlanta

Helen Zaban Miller passed away on Aug. 21, 2024. A lifelong resident of Atlanta, Ga., Helen enjoyed growing up in a close-knit Jewish community. Her parents, Sam and Rose Zaban, husband Alvin Miller, and siblings Sylvia (Jerome) Merlin and Robert Zaban, preceded her in death. Helen married her high school sweetheart, Alvin, after his service in the Navy during World War II. They married and started a family three doors down from the Sherith Israel Synagogue. They lived across the street from her best friend and sister Sylvia Z Merlin while raising their three sons, Larry (Leslie) Miller of Mobile, Ala., Richard (Debbie) Miller of Atlanta, and Michael (Valerie) of Atlanta; Helen was a dedicated grandmother, known as Mema or Meme to Amelia (Nick) Collins, Adam (Rebecca) Miller, Amanda (Greg) Walling, Brian (Elanor) Miller and Megan Miller. All of her grandchildren have moved away, but she has stayed in touch with them through Facebook and Facetime.

Helen was blessed with nine great-grandchildren. After living in her home for 60 years, Helen moved to The Piedmont at Buckhead, where she blossomed, meeting and making many new friends. Helen had two green thumbs. She enjoyed gardening and could pinch a plant, place it in a pot, and it would thrive. Helen enjoyed playing games, reading, and working on puzzles. She never turned down an invitation and looked forward to going out with friends and family. Helen will be remembered for her spirited independence and generosity. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice and JNF. A graveside funeral was held at Crest Lawn Memorial Park on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Brandon Scott Reisman, of Atlanta, Ga., left us unexpectedly 10 days before his 42nd birthday. He was a fifth generation Atlantan born Aug. 30, 1982. He graduated from Riverwood High School and attended Indiana University as a member of AEPi fraternity. He then went on to earn his JD from Emory Law School and was a practicing closing attorney for the last ten years. Brandon was a loyal friend and cared immensely for his family. Family get togethers and traditions were moments he looked forward to and held dear, especially Shabbat dinners and the 35+ year Annual Reisman Thanksgiving.

An avid Braves fan, he could be found watching games throughout the season. He had a widely known love of pugs and a knack for recalling decades old movies and commercials. Brandon was reserved, never enjoying being the center of attention, but never turning down the opportunity for a goofy smile or good laugh.

Brandon is survived by his parents, Linda and Howard Reisman; siblings Jared Reisman (Tristyn) and Brooke Wagenheim (Gavin); nieces and nephews Jace, Reese, Max and Charlotte; as well as numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins. He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Shirley and Donald Reisman and maternal grandparents Jean and Harold Goldstein.

Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 23, at 10:00 a.m., at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shirley & Donald Reisman Media Outreach fund at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.’

Lothar Schloss

99, Atlanta

Lothar “Lou” Schloss passed away peacefully two days after his 99th birthday surrounded by family. Lou was born on Aug. 14, 1925, in Leiwen, Germany, the youngest son of Moses and Franciska Schloss. Having been refused an education by the Nazis in Germany he was sent to live with his cousins in Luxembourg at age 9. He was able to return home to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in Germany right before the Synagogue was destroyed during Kristallnacht. He and his parents then fled Germany and made their way to the United States, settling in New York City. His older brother Kurt (Claude) Schloss stayed behind to fight the Nazis with the French Resistance. Lou’s first years in the U.S were difficult, going to school by day and then working after school to help pay family expenses. Immediately upon high school graduation, he was drafted into the US army and sent to Macon, Ga., for basic training. Upon completing basic training, and preparing to be shipped out for D-Day, he was found to have high blood pressure and deemed ineligible to join the invasion, where many of his friends did not make it home. After his discharge he returned to New York City to once again help support his family. He worked many jobs before settling on the trade of Tool and Die Maker- a beginning of a life of being able to fix anything. In 1960, he married Roslyn Herzog, and they raised their two children in West Orange, N.J. He was devoted to his family, friends, and the Jewish community and loved to travel. In 2001 he and Roslyn retired to Delray Beach, Fla., and he again committed himself to caring for others and helping his community. In 2014 they relocated to Atlanta, Ga., to be closer to family but Lou retained his Florida “bachelor pad” for many years. They lived “separately” but together at Huntcliff Summit, with dad living in independent living and Roslyn in memory care. During this time, he traveled extensively on large family overseas trips, including traveling to Israel for the first time for his granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah. Other trips included Alaska, Spain, Hawaii and the Dominican Republic for his 90th birthday. Lou loved getting to know the extended family and enjoyed watching the countless antics of his grandchildren and great nieces and nephews.

Lou was predeceased by his parents, Moses and Franziska Schloss, and his brother, Kurt (Claude) Schloss and his wife of 60 years, Roslyn Schloss.

He is survived by his daughter Caryn Hanrahan (Andy Siegel) and his son Michael Schloss (Nancy Leduc). Grandchildren Rebecca Couture (Wilson), Hannah Siegel, Jonah Siegel, Sarah Schloss Rae and Locke Schloss and many nieces, grandnieces and nephews. Donations may be made to the National Council of Jewish Women at www.ncjw.org/ act/action/donate/ or National Council of Jewish Women Attn: Development Department, 2055 L St, NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-4514999.

Norman B. Silverstein 89,

Dunwoody

Norman B. Silverstein died peacefully on Aug. 20, 2024, in Dunwoody, Ga., a few weeks shy of his 90th birthday.

Born on Sept. 13,1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to parents, Irving (Jesse) and Lillian Silverstein, Norman grew up in a tight knit family, alongside his baby brother, Ronnie, and next door to his aunt, uncle and cousins. A proud Brooklynite and baseball enthusiast, Norman’s sole disappointment in his otherwise happy childhood occurred when the Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles.

Norman met his future wife Diane at a mutual friend’s sweet sixteen party, and upon graduating high school, he proudly served in the U.S. Army before returning home to marry Diane and study business at City College. Norman found success in the corporate world, ultimately taking an executive position at a large Florida-based citrus company. In 1972, the family relocated from the chilly Northeast to sunny Miami, where snow shovels were no longer required. Norman was then transferred to Tampa, and finally Sarasota in 1978, where Norm and Diane remained until 2022. Norman often travelled internationally for his job, among the most memorable of his trips was to Israel where he surveyed orange groves near Tel Aviv alongside former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Later in his career, Norman became a successful certified business broker, served as SCORE mentor, and was a longtime treasurer of his HOA.

Norman possessed a wonderful sense of humor and a friendly and outgoing nature. Within minutes of meeting him, you would likely learn that he hailed from Brooklyn, attended Lincoln High School, loved chocolate (he shared a birthday with Milton Hershey!), was a military veteran, enjoyed meals at First Watch, drove only Lexus cars, and favored flying on Delta (they sent him a birthday card every year). You would also learn that he was a sports fan, as evidenced by his signature Braves cap which he wore every day, along with a crisp Brooks Brothers shirt and khaki pants. Norman was a Broadway, big band/ Frank Sinatra music and film aficionado who could sing all the lyrics to any musical, knew every word of dialog from “Casablanca” (the best movie ever made), and could recite Abbott and Costello’s entire “Who’s on First” comedy routine verbatim. Norman was a proud fitness devotee and enjoyed running, racquetball, hand grip exercises, pushups, and later, mall walking, always making time for a pit stop at Starbucks, where all the baristas knew his name.

Paramount to all the facets and interests in Norman’s life was his love for his family. “We have the best family! Everyone gets along!” he often said, and it was true, largely because Norman passed along his own nuclear family’s legacy of love and harmony to the next generations. Norman was the quintessential hands-on dad, grandfather and great-grandfather, always willing to get on his hands and knees to engage with the kids. He had a talent for making an authentic train whistle sound between his hands, a trick that never failed to wow his toddler crowd. Dad shared his deep sense of patriotism, love of music, books (mostly espionage and legal thrillers), theatre, sports, strong code of ethics, and business acumen with his family, cultivating individual relationships with each family member, keeping up with their school, sports, careers and hobbies, attending concerts and countless children’s theatre productions, always proclaiming, in a not-so-subtle whisper, that his grandchildren stole the show. It was not uncommon to receive late night texts from Norman regarding the Braves/Rays/Bolts games, complete with appropriate emojis. Norman relished celebrating family milestones, always beaming with pride as he recited blessings over the wine and challah.

Norman was fond of quoting from baseball great Lou Gehrig’s famous retirement speech, “…I consider myself the luckiest man on earth.” And surely, all of us whose lives Norman touched consider ourselves to be pretty darn lucky, too.

Norman was preceded in death by his son, Lee Silverstein, and is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Diane, beloved brother, Ronnie Silverstein (Claire), daughters, Layla Berger (Brian) and Marjie Shindler (Norman), daughters-in-law, Linda Mann and Lynn Silverstein, grandchildren, Andrew Silverstein (Kelli), Daniel Berger (Alison) Elliot Silverstein (Molly), Greg Berger ( Elana), Ryan Shindler, Adam Shindler (fiancé Mary DuBose), and the apple of his eye, Carly Shindler. Norman is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Nora Silverstein, Teddy and Lily Silverstein, and Jace, Jordyn, and Blake Berger. He also leaves behind sisters-in-law, Lorraine Lester, and Annette Fidler, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta 770-451-4999.

Denise Levy Solomon 91,

Atlanta

Denise Levy Solomon, born on Aug. 13, 1933, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Aug. 27, 2024. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She attended James L. Key Elementary School and Hoke Smith High School.  She was in Brownies and Girl Scouts, as well as Young Judea. Denise worked for Georgia Department of Revenue (1952 – 1960) and MARTA (1972 – 1994). She played canasta, bridge, mah jongg, and bingo. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, travelling, and watching the Atlanta Braves. She met her husband-tobe, Donald Solomon, in November 1958, and they got engaged on New Year’s Eve of that same year. They were married on June 7, 1959.

Denise is predeceased by her husband, Donald Solomon, mother, Rachel Levy, father, Sam Levy, brothers-in-law, Asher Benator and Alvin Byer, sisters-in-law ,Shirley Byer and Audrey Greenberg. She is survived by her sons, Alan Solomon (Heidi Haiken) and Milton Solomon (Diane Solomon), sister, Grace Benator, grandchildren, Donald Solomon, Maya Solomon, Chris Bailey, and Michael Bailey, greatgrandson, Michael J. Bailey, and brother-in-law, Jody Greenberg.  She is further survived by other relatives and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to Congregation Or’VeShalom, 1681 N Druid Hills Road, Brookhaven, GA 30319 (404-633-1737) or to a charity of your choice.

A funeral service was held at 12:00 p.m., on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Dressler’s Chapel, 3734 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30341, followed by burial at Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

Joan Vitner 90, Atlanta

Joan Vitner, an intelligent, talented, and creative woman who was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, passed away peacefully on Aug. 26, 2024, just 13 days after celebrating her 90th birthday. Born in Georgia to immigrant parents from Eastern Europe, Joan’s adventurous spirit led her on a unique path through life.

Choosing the road less traveled, Joan attended the University of Alabama, a departure from the University of Georgia, where most of her childhood friends went. After completing two years at Alabama, she married her first husband and moved to New Haven, Ct.—a world away from her hometown of Savannah. Together, they had two children, but their marriage ultimately ended in divorce.

Joan returned to Savannah, where she completed her degree in Elementary Education at Armstrong State University. Shortly after, she met Dr. Saul Vitner, a widower with seven children under the age of thirteen. True to her adventurous nature, Joan embraced the challenge and joy of blending their families, and together they built a happy and loving home.

After the children had grown and left home, Joan and Saul enjoyed traveling the world together, creating cherished memories. Following her husband’s untimely passing, Joan once again demonstrated her resilience by reinventing her life—cultivating new hobbies, forming lasting friendships, and continuing her travels.

Joan will be remembered as a kind, strong, practical, and principled woman, whose intelligence, honesty, sense of humor, and eye for style and beauty touched the lives of everyone who knew her. She is survived by nine children, 13 grandchildren, a sister, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donations in her memory may be made to a charity of your choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

It’s Powerful to Always Believe G-d is with You

Allen H. Lipis The Bottom Line

In the last book in the Torah, Moses gives the first of three speeches to his people, who are about to enter Israel. This speech takes place in the desert in the 40th year on the 11th month, so Moses knows that he will not be entering the Promised Land. So, his time on Earth is about to end.

Imagine that you know you are about to die with no chance to live much longer. You know this with certainty. All of your family is listening for your final remarks. What will you say? These are your last words on Earth, so what do you want to tell your family, your children and your grandchildren. What exactly would you say?

The battles the Jews won under Moses’s leadership gave him the right to speak candidly to his people about their

future. In a similar fashion, if you give advice to family or to anyone else and that advice helps the success that occurs, then you rightly have the authority to provide future advice to the same people who succeeded partly because of you. Your leadership is measured by whether your advice turns out to be useful for another’s success. Advice matters, and it will be judged by the people who follow it.

Moses then makes two additional points. He says that the task of leadership was too great for him alone, so he set up a system of justice by finding others who could take on the task of providing good advice. In the same way, none of us can provide advice on a large variety of subjects, so we have to find advisors for ourselves on topics where expertise is required. In today’s world, we often turn to advisors on all kinds of subjects.

And the second point that Moses makes is that the advisor must be impartial in making a decision. It means that we should provide advice, if asked, with the famous statement: Decide “without fear or favor.”

There are two other ways to gain the confidence in your decision. The first way is to review all of the issues that led up to the decision. Go over the history, how it happened and what actually occurred. The more you discuss the history of an issue, the clearer you will see the right path to follow. I like talking about the history of a problem several times before deciding.

The second area to consider in a competitive race is what the competition may be thinking. This applies, for me, in

Having decided what to do, Moses tells the people that they should move forward and not question the decision or be fearful that they will not succeed. I see this all the time in my own decisions, often second guessing whether it is the right decision. I even see this in the athletes participating in the Olympics. For them and for all of us, key decisions must be dealt with psychologically. You have to tell yourself again and again that you are doing the right thing and not look back to reconsider what you decided. Second guessing is never good, for it undermines what you have decided. Move forward with confidence. It’s the only way to succeed.

the Texas Hold ‘Em poker that I play. I can win pots by making it look like I have a better poker hand and that is enough to win. In business, appearing to look very competent may be enough to win a contract, even if you know you aren’t as competent as you indicate to others. Confidence is good for yourself, and it often scares the competition.

When you win, you may not win alone. Winning often takes teamwork. And when you win, Moses says to be gracious. Share the joy and the spoils fairly. It makes the winning right for all the winners. And thank G-d for His support.

In the movie, “The Count of Monte Cristo,” Edmund Dantes is wrongfully thrown in prison, but eventually becomes the Count of Monte Cristo. However, in prison Edmund meets another prisoner, a priest, and Edmund tells him that he lacks confidence in himself and of ever escaping from prison. He says he doesn’t believe in G-d. The priest says with his dying breath, “You may not believe in G-d, but G-d believes in you.”

As advice for success, it is powerful to always believe that G-d is with you. ì

Gather.

t Canterbury Court senior living community, you can enjoy the company of interesting new people from all backgrounds. Whether you take advantage of the many scheduled social events or decide to stay in, you’ll enjoy a new, elegantly finished apartment home, and enhanced amenities and services. All with the peace of mind of a continuum of care, if ever needed. With all this awaiting you, what are you waiting for?

To learn more and to schedule a personal tour, contact us today at 404-905-2444, visit CanterburyCourt.org/Gather, or scan the QR code.