Atlanta Jewish Times No. 40, Oct 11, 2013

Pro

BRAD

ben stiller’s latest cameo PAGE 27

atlanta

VISIT OUR NEW

WEBSITE & like US ON

Weber high school c0-founder remembered PAGE 36

OCTOBER 11, 2013 – OCTOBER 17, 2013

7 cheshvan – 13 cheshvan 5774 vOL. LXXXVIII NO. 40

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

congregation or Hadash honors rabbis pages 20-21

page 16

simchas!! pages 12-13

special section pages 14-24

SCOT CLAR LILY K JEFFR

ELIN H CHRIS ALAN PAT C

...

PRESENTING SPONSORS: Barbara and Ed Mendel, Greenberg Traurig, PNC Bank • SPON Family, Atlanta Newspaper Gastroenterology Associates, Marriott Perimeter Center, PJ Library, A Cari THE Weekly Uniting Trust, L. Community Halpern, Northside Hospital, Georgia Humanities Council, Publix Super Mar the David Jewish for Over 85 Years The Zaban Foundation • IN-KIND SPONSORS: Atlanta Magazine, Atlantajewishnews.com Classic Tents and Events, Creative Loafing, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, WABE 9 Newspapers, Jewish Georgian, Reporter Newspapers, Scoutmob, Ali's Cookies, Goodfrien PARTNERS: ABO Global Ground Transportation, A Cappella Books, Canterbury Press. (As

Parmat Family Celebrates at Camp Barney

second annual KOSHER BBQ

Fea

YOUR DREAM DAY

Customize the beach wedding of your dreams, outdoors or indoors for up to 550 guests.

2

Scott Hopkins Photography

OCTOBER 11 â–Ş 2013

Our $30M renovation, award-winning Heavenly Spa and dedicated coordinators ensure your dream day becomes a reality.

westinhiltonheadisland.com 843.681.4000

Become a member of Starwood Preferred Planner and earn Starpoints ÂŽ for your groups, meetings and events.

letter to the editor

Government Shutdown Hits Veterans To the Editor:

A

s the son of a decorated WWII vet, now deceased, and as one who has visited the memorial to him

and his comrades, I can well understand the spiritual draw of that site to vets who, despite their frailty, traveled from Texas during the government shutdown.

Their determination in remov-

ing the barricades erected because of the shutdown might be excusable; this, in spite of their having fought to defend our system of checks and balances.

However, what is entirely inex-

cusable, and disgusting, is their being aided and abetted by some of the very Representatives of the People

atlanta 's only event space with

ocean views.

who instigated the shutdown. Their assertions of patriotism ring hollow and mock the memory of my father.

I might add, with respect to the

shutdown in general, the time is overdue for thinking Republicans, who really care about the welfare of the Republic, to heed the words of

Your guests will never forget the extraordinary experience waiting for them at Georgia Aquarium. Through two large observation windows in our ballroom, they’ll come face-to-face with fascinating animals from around the globe. Whether you’re hosting a wedding, bar/bat mitzvah or other memorable simchas, our flexible space can be customized to create a unique, personalized setting for your special occasion.

Complementing this dramatic scenery, Wolfgang Puck Catering also maintains a kosher kitchen with innovative cuisine to elevate your one-of-a-kind event. Email booking@georgiaaquarium.org or visit www.GeorgiaAquarium.org/book-your-event 404.581.4126 | WHERE IMAGINATIONS GO TO PLAY. |

author Leo Landry, “Eat your peas, Louise!”

Rabbi Scott Saulson

Letters to the Editor should be sent to

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Atlanta

cmweiss@atljewishtimes.com 3

AJT

israel

‘Israel Up-Close 2014’

ISRAELI DELEGATION TO OFFER ACADEMIC OVERVIEW OF ISSUES IN THE MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

E

ytan Gilboa, director of Bar-Ilan University’s School of Communication in Israel, will lead a delegation of experts from the fields of political science, economics, women’s rights, law and policy-making to the U.S. in November, including a stop in Atlanta.

The delegation has joined forces to share their fresh perspectives on Israel and the Middle East with diverse audiences, including universities and colleges, religious and civic organizations, professional associations, high school students and key public figures.

Beginning the first week of November, ‘Israel Up-Close 2014’ will present an academic overview of pressing Middle East issues and trends in an effort to promote open dialogue about Israel.

“We hope to paint a comprehensive and objective picture of the Middle East and encourage audiences to view occurrences in Israel and throughout the Middle East, as well

as U.S.-Israel relations, as a significant part of a much larger story,” said Prof.

Gilboa, an expert on international communication and US-Israeli relations.

“Our delegation will provide fresh insights and unique commentary from the region and employ academic research to put past and current Middle East events into context.”

The experts joining Prof. Gilboa on the mission include MK Dr. Aliza

Lavie, Chair of the Committee on the Status of Women in the Israeli Knesset and a senior lecturer at the School of Communication; Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig, Deputy Director of the School of Communication and an expert on political communication and new media; Hillel Schuster, Principal Head of Corporate Finance at KPMG in Israel and an adjunct lecturer in Business Administration at Bar-Ilan University; Sharon Evans, Director for International Project Development at Bar-Ilan’s School of Communication.

The ‘Israel Up-Close 2014’ delegation is scheduled to visit Atlanta from Nov. 3-6, Dallas from Nov. 6-9, and Chicago, from Nov. 10-12.

Prologue BRAD MELTZER 10.24

Featuring SCOTT TUROW 11.2 CLARK HOWARD 11.6 LILY KOPPEL 11.7 JEFFREY TOOBIN 11.7 ELIN HILDERBRAND 11.9 CHRIS MATTHEWS 11.10 ALAN DERSHOWITZ 11.16 PAT CONROY 11.17

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

...and 30+ more!

4

PRESENTING SPONSORS: Barbara and Ed Mendel, Greenberg Traurig, PNC Bank • SPONSORS: The George Stern Family, Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates, Marriott Perimeter Center, PJ Library, A Caring Approach, Bessemer Trust, David L. Halpern, Northside Hospital, Georgia Humanities Council, Publix Super Markets Charities, Target, The Zaban Foundation • IN-KIND SPONSORS: Atlanta Magazine, Atlantajewishnews.com, Atlanta Jewish Times, Classic Tents and Events, Creative Loafing, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, WABE 90.1 FM, Neighbor Newspapers, Jewish Georgian, Reporter Newspapers, Scoutmob, Ali's Cookies, Goodfriend's Grill PARTNERS: ABO Global Ground Transportation, A Cappella Books, Canterbury Press. (As of press time)

AJT

israel

Israeli Pride

GOOD NEWS MADE IN THE JEWISH STATE THIS PAST WEEK

CLEAN ENERGY MILESTONE. Half of Israel’s electricity now comes from natural gas – mainly from the new Tamar offshore gas field. Israel Electric Corporation announced that this is its cleanest year ever for environmental quality and the production of clean, green electricity.

NEW WAKE-UP BEVERAGE WINS BIG. Israeli startup Inno-Bev’s allnatural WakeUp won “Best Functional Drink” at the Drinktec Beverage Innovation Awards. Instead of a high caffeine energy drink, enjoy guarana, ginkgo biloba, elderberry and a unique apple sugar with a low glycaemic index that reduces sugar fluctuation.

WORLD OF HIGH-FLYING TECH COMES TO ISRAEL. Jerusalem is hosting the 61st annual International Congress of Aviation and Space Medicine. Israeli technology showcased will include an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and a robotic dog, both of which can evacuate wounded under fire.

UNEMPLOYMENT HITS 20-YEAR LOW. Israel’s August unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent, the lowest in two decades. At the same time, participation in the labor market continues to expand, reaching 64 percent in August.

RECOVERING LOST ENERGY. Israel’s Ormat Technologies builds Recoverable Energy Generators (REGs) that turn waste energy from industrial processes into usable electrical pow-

er. It already recovers 160 megawatts in the U.S. and 595MW worldwide. It has just agreed to build a 5MW REG power plant for eBay in Utah.

WATCHING OVER THEM. An Israeli company has made a watch to keep your loved ones safe. The Foxiwatch has GPS, a mobile phone and an emergency contact button. For children or at-risk adults.

KOSHER FOR UNDER FIVE. All food and beverages at Israel’s new café chain, Cofix, will be kosher and just NIS 5 (under $1.5 or £1). Cofix plans 300 takeaway-only franchises.

ISRAELIS ARE MAGIC. An Israeli, 19-year-old Shahar Shenhar, is the 2013 Magic: The Gathering (MtG) world champion. MtG is a trading card game, which is as popular as chess among young intellectuals. The champion in 2007 was Israel’s Uri Peleg, who has five graduate degrees.

Dubious backdoor politics in “...an incisive new play that crackles with authenticity.”

—The New York Times

By Kenneth Lin, 2006 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition Winner for ...,” said Said Directed by Eric Ting

YAD VASHEM HONORS ‘RIGHTEOUS’ EGYPTIAN DOCTOR. Egyptian doctor Mohamed Helmy is the first Arab to be designated “Righteous Among the Nations” by Israel’s holocaust center Yad Vashem. Dr Helmy hid a Jewish family in Berlin from 1942 to 1944.

Dr Helmy died in Berlin in 1982.

NEW TECH CAMPUS FOR TEL AVIV. A site for a new technology and engineering campus has been allocated in southeast Tel Aviv. The 6.75-acre site will accommodate 5,000 students, dormitories, the Afeka Academic College of Engineering, plus education institutions already in the area, such as the ORT Singalovksi School.

DIGITIZING MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPTS. Israel’s National Library will be digitizing the Palatina Library’s collection of about 1,600 documents dating to the Middle Ages.

Items to go online include one of the

Tickets as low as

$25

October 25–November 17 Tickets @ 404.733.5000

alliancetheatre.org/warriorclass | Groups 404.733.4690

Series on the Hertz Stage

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

BREAKTHROUGH TO UNDERSTANDING LEUKEMIA. A mutated gene RUNX1 inherited from one parent is responsible for producing leukemia stem cells. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered that the healthy copy of the gene from the other parent is also required otherwise the leukemia cells die.

5

AJT

israel

Idan Raichel Project Making Return Performance ISRAELI GROUP SET TO PLAY AT ATLANTA’S RIALTO CENTER FOR THE ARTS

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

is an exemplary representative of the Israeli spirit.”

T

he internationally renowned Idan Raichel Project will come to the Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University in Atlanta on Sun., Oct. 20, part of a 16-city U.S. tour.

The tour is the group’s first since the international release of their latest album “Quarter to Six” (Cumbancha) in June. It continues their 10-year streak of topselling and critically acclaimed recordings.

The October 20 performance marks the highly anticipated return

The leader of this inspiring collective of culturally diverse musicians is Idan Raichel, a composer, keyboardist and producer who is now a household name in his native Israel.

of the Idan Raichel Project to the Rialto.

“We are excited to welcome the Idan Raichel Project back to Atlanta for a return performance at the Rialto,” said Opher Aviran, the Consul General of Israel to the Southeast.

“Bridging borders through music and captivating diverse audiences, Idan

In 2006, the U.S.-based record label Cumbancha released a compilation of the group’s first two albums worldwide. Billboard Magazine called The Idan Raichel Project “One of the most fascinating titles to emerge in world music this year … a multi-ethnic tour de force.” And the New York Times selected the album as one of the top world music releases of the year.

toured with Grammy winner India.

Arie, performed at the Nobel Peace Prize awards ceremony in Oslo, Norway, and sold out shows at Radio City Music Hall and other major venues worldwide.

This year, Raichel joined pop star Alicia Keys on stage as a special guest during her July concert in Tel Aviv.

Editor’s Note: Visit the Idan Raichel Project Site to learn more about the collective and sample their celebrated musical stylings. For tickets and other information, call the Rialto Box Office at (404) 413-9849 or visit www. rialtocenter.org/

In the past four years, Raichel has co-written numerous songs and

BEGIN ANEW Begin your journey at The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North where new experiences are always celebrated.

• Our Grand Ballroom accommodates up to 600 guests.

• The Bernstein Ballroom accommodates up to 150 guests.

• Professional events staff to make your vision a reality.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

For more inFormation or to check availability, please visit Westinatlantanorth.com or call 770.395.3900

©2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates.

6 WIAtlantaPerimeter_Weddings_9-0625x5-806_Opt2.indd 1

8/28/2013 12:36:01 PM

atlanta

PUBLISHER CLIFF WEISS

cmweiss@atljewishtimes.com

BUSINESS OFFICE Business Manager

Kaylene rudy

krudy@atljewishtimes.com Customer Service

elizabeth friedly efriedly@atljewishtimes.com

ADVERTISING SALES Senior Account Manager

MICHAL BONELL

mbonell@atljewishtimes.com Senior Account Manager

STACY G. FIALKOW sfialkow@atljewishtimes.com Senior Account Manager

jay bischoff

jbischoff@atljewishtimes.com

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief

CLIFF WEISS

cmweiss@atljewishtimes.com Web Editor

RON FEINBERG

rfeinberg@atljewishtimes.com Associate Editor

elizabeth friedly efriedly@atljewishtimes.com Contributing Writers

ARLENE APPELROUTH BRAM BESSOFF Eden Farber Rachel LaVictoire marcia jaffe Al Shams CHANA SHAPIRO JEFF ZELL CREATIVE SERVICES Creative Design

Rico Figliolini ez2BSocial Photographer

GABRIEL WEISS CONTACT INFORMATION general office 404.883.2130 KRUDY@atljewishtimes.com The Atlanta Jewish Times is printed in Georgia and is an equal opportunity employer. The opinions expressed in the Atlanta Jewish Times do not necessarily reflect those of the newspaper.

The Atlanta Jewish Times Established 1925 as The Southern Israelite 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 Phone: (404) 883-2130 www.atlantajewishtimes.com THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-33451) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY ZADOK PUBLISHING, LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, ATLANTA, GA 30328 ©COPYRIGHT 2012 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES MEMBER AMERICAN-ISRAELI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Please send all photos, stories and editorial content to: submissions@atljewishtimes.com.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES (ISSN# 0892-3345) is published weekly by Zadok Publishing LLC 270 Carpenter Drive, Suite 320, Atlanta Ga 30328.

Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, Ga. POSTMASTER send address changes to The Atlanta Jewish Times 270 Carpenter Drive Suite 320 Atlanta Ga 30328.

7

AJT

Jaffe’s Jewish Jive

What’s New about Rabbi New? PUT MORE LEARN IN YOUR LUNCH AT CHABAD

BY MARCIA JAFFE

AJT Contributor

G

rowing up in a small, Tennessee town, we were among the .most observant Jews, yet were not exposed to traditional or Orthodox Judaism.

We shipped kosher meat on a dry ice block via Greyhound bus from an Atlanta shochet; but, for example, had no knowledge of the laws of modesty.

Even now in my foreign travels, I seek out the Chabad house. Let me assure you that there is one in every nook and cranny (try Bangkok or Marrakech). It feels like home base even if we only walk the neighborhood; and all the rabbis know each other from our U.S. towns.

Six years ago, I was assigned to a young bilingual(yiddush)

Is it similar to the disadvantage of not learning golf or tennis as a child, then bridging the gap to become competitive as an adult? Can one walk into Chabad at age 40 and catch up?

I first learned about Chabad 12 years ago when my children were in college. The Chabad rabbis embraced the students with home cooked meals and a family like environment. At the University of Florida, it was not unusual for Chabad to host 250 students for a gourmet Shabbas dinner with 15 varieties of challah.

They often helped the rabbi’s wife with babysitting and got adjusted to sitting separately (male and female at services); the atmosphere was always warm.

Many faculty members mingled in, which was an added bonus. Students even emailed the rabbi for a special prayer to do well on a particular important exam! They carried their problems to the rabbi. Along the way they learned observance at various levels.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Although they attended Jewish Day School in Atlanta, my children were not among the most zealous by any means. So hanging out at the rabbi’s house in college seemed out of character initially.

8

Similarly at Tulane University, my son (now 31) has yet to reveal what sort of “trouble” the Chabad rabbi bailed him out of, but it was meaningful enough that he felt compelled to get up at 7 a.m. to attend morning minyans as part of the deal.

My children explained that I should not hug the rabbi upon meeting him, nor wear a mini skirt and décolleté top. So I began learning at Chabad here to be able to relate to my children.

Steve Barton student(bocher) in the Chabad smicha class for a once-a-week “eye opening” session over the course of the year. What we had in common, what was worlds apart. He went to summer camp in Russia; we went to Hendersonville, N.C. When I offered to introduce him to modest young girls in Atlanta, he explained how a formal matchmaker was already seeking an appropriate mate that he would “learn to love.”

I spoke at the graduation ceremony, but by now knew not to hug him.

This, by the way, is a fascinating topic and a future column here will reveal how our Atlanta rabbis (across various sects of Judaism) met and courted their prospective wives – arranged or otherwise. And ”arranged” is not as structured as one might think, though there are rules.

Traditional Judaism is growing exponentially faster than other streams – yet some look at me puzzled; “Do you really enjoy studying with a Chassidic rabbi?” The visualization being of something somber.

Americans’ biggest fear is of public speaking, running out of money, or having poor health. Are we secular Jews afraid of a dark suit and beard; that we will be judged, questioned or have our ignorance exposed about

our own religion which we may not understand?

Not so. After a very few minutes, Rabbi Yossi New, the son of an Australian fabric importer, has us “learners” laughing and engaged. He has problems with his Sprint bill and anguishes over the Atlanta Braves.

We immediately feel his humanity.

He is open and honest, and shar-

other religions.

“This is not a comparative college course,” he exclaims, “This is teaching about life!”

It was not always so easy. As a young rabbi, he scheduled his first lecture at Chapter 11 Book Store in Peachtree Battle Center with posters promoting, “How to be Mystical with Your Feet Firmly on the Ground.”

Setting up a large table in the back of the store, only one, lone elderly woman showed up.

Rabbi New said to his young ego, “I’ll give the lecture for one, the same as for 100,” and therein stood the meaning. The woman, who wasn’t Jewish, was seeking a connection to her deceased Jewish husband. The rabbi learned he was the next stop after the palm reader. He guided the Rabbi Yossi Scott Glazer woman to realize that the Kadish connects the dead to ing his own struggles. He giggles this world and to her main relationand mocks us combining his Aussie ships on earth. Instead of looking to accent with our southern drawl. He the stars, he convinced her that her hands out papers calling them, “Mah husband would be looking for her (my?) Paginations.” here.

Father of nine and grandfather of But momentum grew, and our 14, he is head of Chabad of Georgia hero Phil Levetan, gets credit for nuras well as Congregation Beth Teffilturing the longest standing “Lunch lah’s rabbi and chazzan. One of his and Learn,” which has morphed into missions has been this outreach to our Tuesday sessions at the Selig ofthe Jewish community at large by fice complex on Spring Street. Rabbi conducting five “Lunch and Learn” New calls Phil “a giant of a mensch.” sessions per week with no link to a Phil schleps to Publix and Costco to particular program. Many learners provide a delicious kosher spread. are actually members of other local “Phil is our anchor. He calls evsynagogues. eryone each week to personally in Once a month Rabbi New also vite them to participate,” says Rabbi conducts a session in the Blue Ridge New. “He is humble and serves othMountains where he draws a crowd ers. I am touched by him.” of 50! Quite a lot of hillbillies (don’t take offense, I’m from Knoxville) Phil reciprocates by complimentwant to feel connected and seek an- ing the rabbi’s teaching style. “He swers to things that help us live a brings Jewish tenants into the way more meaningful life. As sophisticat- we live our lives. Rabbi New is an ed and urbane as we aspire to be, we emissary and diplomat relating to all need help in connecting the dots all levels.” By the way, Phil (soon that bring our ancient texts into the to turn 90!) never turns down a hug focus of our everyday, complicated from the ladies. lives in an effort to make Judaism Scott Glazer, musician extraormore relevant. dinaire, thinks that Rabbi New is After 30 years, we keep coming.

His challenge is to relate to all levels of learners, to be cabalistic and intellectual simultaneously. He is not wild about questions concerning U.S. politics or comparing Judaism to

dynamic because he, “cuts to the essence liturgically, and does it with such humor.”

We learn not just about the physical dimensions of the Sukkah, but how it relates to de-compartmental-

izing our lives. He shares how he prioritizes, saying he would take a family member’s phone call even if it was interrupting an important business meeting.

Then his cell phone rings, and he exclaims, “See it’s Bernie and Arthur calling to make a $2 million dollar donation, and I’m not going to answer it because you are my priority in teaching this class!”

We roar, “Take the call!” He laughs heartily, but we get “it.” The New’s Sukkah back home in Melbourne doubled as a ping pong room year round, so we learn more about things that are permanent (did you know that a sukkah’s walls can be brick?) vs the roof which has to be temporary.

“Security is not man made,” he observes.

Bow tied, youthful Steve Barton, a senior VP with CBRE muses, “It amazes me how Rabbi New can take a Torah phrase and weave it into our discussions: sports, the opposite sex, some obscure song or musical group; and in some mystical way, he gives a sense that the topic is what is happening in my life.

“Some of us try to ‘trip up’ Rabbi New with an off-the-wall question, but he is able to answer in a way that leaves me with that sense of ‘aha.’

What do I get out of going? It makes me a better husband, dad, son and commercial real estate broker.”

taught the mystical side of Torah and studied with many spiritual masters, is related to the RAYVID, head of Jewry in Provence in the 12th century, who is considered a key link in the chain of Kabala.

“Traditional Jewish learning involves rigorous debate, not passive listening. I occasionally raise serious questions about what is being presented which you would experience in any Yeshiva. It’s called ‘pilpul’ meaning ‘pepper,’” says Frederick our gadfly-guru. “Belief is lovely, but knowing is superior.”

“Rabbi New is a gifted speaker, offers broad perspective, and has a great sense of humor,” says Frederick who met Rabbi New in 1986 walking down Roswell Rd. in his dark suit and beard.

Come delve into how you can be a better parent, manager, or spouse.

No attendance rules. Come once a week or once in awhile. In addition to the Tuesday Selig Lunch and Learn, Rabbi New comes to the Stern- Edlin law office on Wieuca Rd early Thursday morning; Beth Tefillah on Highpoint Thursday lunch, and conducts a text for more serious learners on Friday. Lunch sessions only ask for a $5-$6 donation. Can’t beat that!

“The most meaningful and exciting Jewish overnight camp in North America.”

Editor’s note: to find out more, contact, (404) 843-2464.

Another long-standing learner, Frederick Ravid, who himself has

Waterskiing, horseback riding, backpacking, ropes courses, swimming, the “Blob," the ”Hurricane" water slide, the “Luge," boating, "Sababa" Israeli cultural programs, theater, crafts, music, dance, radio, movie studio, all field and court sports, scuba and more!

Mon., October 21 7:00 pm MJCCA - Zaban Park, Dunwoody

Tues., October 22 7:00 pm Congregation Dor Tamid, Johns Creek

Wed., October 23 7:00 pm Temple Beth Tikvah, Roswell

2-week and 4-week camper spaces available!

For a 2014 camper or staff application or for additional information, call 770.395.2554 or visit us online at

Steve Levetan

Accredited by the American Camp Association

campbarney.org

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Join us for a fun, musical, first-time camper presentation and dessert!

9

AJT

CHANA’s CORNER

Discount Day at the Thrift Store

IF CLOTHES COULD TALK, WHAT TALES THEY WOULD TELL!

By Chana Shapiro AJT COLUMNIST

A

s luck would have it, I spotted the thrift store while en route to another destination in the area. I pulled into the parking lot and found that it was senior citizen discount day. I had no choice: I had to go in.

The shop was filled with all sorts of alluring items, and after a funfilled hour and a half, I made my way to the check-out counter to pay for two books, a fuzzy scarf and a curtain rod. Near the counter were a couple of racks onto which customers could hang any last minute rejects, without giving up their place in line.

There were several people ahead of me. I was number four, allowing me plenty of time to scrutinize everything hanging on those racks.

What immediately caught my eye was a bright green hoodie. (I love hoodies, and I love green. Many of us consider green to be the new black, and black goes with everything. You can do the math.)

With the senior discount, the price would be less than four dollars, but was it worth it? I slid the zipper up and down a few times and checked for stains, tears and other flaws. It was perfect.

pooch. But that’s probably just your stomach. No, what I think is that my grandma wouldn’t wear a bright green hoodie, especially with that big zipper. She’d say it’s too youthful.”

She moved up to the counter.

Lest I’d lose my place in line, I managed to maintain my spot while contorting my less-than supple body far enough over to check the hoodie’s label. Yep, it was huge, just my size.

The line moved forward: I was now number three. The green hoodie was calling my name. Once again, I had no choice.

The line moved forward. I could feel the eyes and breath of the woman behind me as I struggled out of the hoodie I was currently wearing (brown) and tried on the green one.

Using amazing self-control, I thanked her for her candor (who did she think she was, anyway?) and quickly turned back to the equally unsupportive woman behind me, who’d been on high alert during the last interchange.

The woman directly in line behind me was also assessing the rack of clothing, and I noticed that she, too, was directing her gaze at the hoodie.

In order to make sure that it didn’t make its way into her hands, I reached way over again and pulled it from the rack, hanger and all.

There was no nearby mirror, and I was certainly not going to give up my place in line in order to find one. What else could I do? I put it on and turned to the woman behind me.

She was about my age and size, dressed in a slinky leopard-print outfit.

“What do you think?” I asked. At thrift stores, even if two of us desire the same object, the “winner” typically enlists the honesty of the “loser”.

We’re all in the “no returns, no refunds” boat together, and a counterintuitive sense of camaraderie typically prevails.

“Turn around. Let’s see how it looks in back,” the woman said. “The front kind of pooches.”

I resisted telling her that it was probably my stomach that was pooching. I had faith in the hoodie.

“I’m not crazy about that metal zipper,” she offered. “It’s kind of old fashioned.”

“They don’t use metal zippers anymore?” I asked, hoping she hadn’t spotted the metal zipper on the brown hoodie I’d just taken off.

“Only on couture stuff,” the tigerprint woman explained. “Big metal zippers are like accessories, you know, for looks, not for zipping.”

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

The customer directly in front of me was readying herself for the cashier, but the fact that she was a teenager, a de facto expert of contemporary style, forced me to address her.

10

“Excuse me,” I said to the back of her head. She turned around, with an unmistakable look of annoyance. I pointed to the zipper. “Does this hoodie look out-of-date?”

“You really wanna know what I think?”

“Is it the pooching?” I asked.

“Not really, although I do see that

“That wasn’t nice!” she said, shaking her head. “That girl’s grandmother’s probably older than you, anyway.

Well, at least as old.” She paused for a couple of beats. Then, “So, you gonna buy that hoodie?”

We all moved forward, as the teenager paid for her faux crocodile purse and shiny stiletto boots.

“Why ask teenagers to give their opinion about anything?” I fakelaughed.

But my bonhomie was weakening, along with my ego. Did I have to forego bright green clothing from now on?

“I guess I’ll leave it here,” I answered. The teenager had gotten to me. The color; the zipper; the pooching.

I leapt out of line to rehang the hoodie on the reject rack, then stepped up to the register. I paid for my purchases and headed to the door.

I waved ‘goodbye’ to the hoodie and Ms. Leopard Print, who was at the counter, paying for her purchases. I glanced at the things she was buying, and sure enough, there was the green hoodie. I don’t think she even tried it on first. Why should she? I’d executed the test run.

A footnote: Chana Shapiro hastens to assure her readers that the green hoodie incident did not ruin her day. It turned out fine, after all, because her grandchildren liked one of the two books, the fuzzy scarf didn’t shrink all that much when she washed it, and the curtain rod fit one of her house’s windows, even though it wasn’t the one she bought it for. Furthermore, to underscore the fact that she’d made the right decision, several stylish teenagers and other fashionable acquaintances informed Chana that orange, not green, is the new black.

AJT

community

Diller Tikkun Olam Awards

PROGRAM RECOGNIZES TEENS HELPING TO ‘REPAIR THE WORLD’ SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

T

he Helen Diller Family Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards.

The awards program recognizes up to 10 Jewish teens with $36,000 each for exceptional leadership and visionary actions that are helping to repair the world. Up to five teens from California and five from other communities across the country will be acknowledged for their socially-minded volunteer service.

Visit www.dillerteenawards.org to begin the nomination process. Deadline for nominations is January 5, 2014.

Bay Area Philanthropist Helen Diller began a major commitment in 2007 to support California Jewish teens who exemplify the spirit of tikkun olam – a central Jewish precept meaning to repair the world.

generously empower young Jewish philanthropists across the nation seeking to make a real difference in the world,” said Jerry Silverman, president and CEO of JFNA.

some of the world’s foremost institutions and leaders, including the United Nations Foundation, The White House and former president Bill Clinton.

“Today’s teens are tomorrow’s leaders. It is our hope that this award will recognize some outstanding young people who are already helping to repair the world,” said Helen Diller, president of the sponsoring foundation. “By celebrating Jewish teens committed to social action in innovative ways, we hope to inspire many more young people to follow their example.”

the country continues to collaborate with the Helen Diller Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, to inspire and encourage Jewish teen volunteer service nationwide.

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and their network of 155 Jewish Federations throughout

“We are thrilled to once more collaborate with and support the Helen Diller Family Foundation as they so

Now in its 14th year of giving, the Helen Diller Family Foundation has granted more than $200 million to support education, the arts, medical research and development, leadership training programs for teens, and many other charitable endeavors.

Editor’s Note: To learn more about the Helen Diller Family Foundation and the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, email dillerteenawards@sfjcf.org or call (415) 512-6432.

The prestigious awards program has since expanded nationally, recognizing 40 Jewish teens across the country with nearly $1.5 million to support and further their volunteer service projects and education. Last year’s recipients came from California, Iowa, New York, Rhode Island, Missouri and Massachusetts.

Beyond bolstering national recognition of the teens and their social action projects, the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have nurtured a growing network of young leaders.

Awards alumni, who are already driven to make a difference, have inspired and mobilized a “civic generation” committed to volunteerism. Past recipients have been recognized by

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Past recipients of the Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards have created a wide range of projects supporting various causes, including providing clean drinking water to people living in third world countries, teen-based websites that provide tools and resources for youth to pursue their own community service projects, educational nonprofits that help those living with Autism and Alzheimer’s and many more.

11

AJT

community

2nd Annual Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival COMPETITION AND COMERADERIE AT B’NAI TORAH

Photos by Sussman Imaging, www.sussmanimaging.com

S

unday October 6th 2013 was a day to remember at Congregation B’nai Torah, as the 2nd Annual Atlanta Kosher BBQ was a Huge Success!

There were people that arrived from different parts of the United States to compete in the Kosher BBQ competition, and people from all over the Atlanta Community attended to taste samplings of 19 competitors’ BBQ. Entertainment included The Cohen Brothers Band, CBT Preschool Dancers, Davis Academy Rock Band, Nick & the Grooves and the MJCCA Dance Group.

The kids enjoyed a play area that included a Mechanical Bull Ride, Hawks Basketball Fun, A Bounce House, Bungee Bounce and a pickle eating contest.

This year’s Kosher BBQ Winners are: Grand Champions 1st Place – Not Your Bubby’s Brisket 2nd Place – Smokey and the Brisket 3rd Place – HOD Brisketeers

THE BRISKETEERS

Best Brisket 1st Place – Not Your Bubby’s Brisket 2nd Place – Char-Kol Nidre 3rd Place – Meat the Press Best BBQ Ribs 1st Place – Not Your Bubby’s Brisket 2nd Place – Smokey and the Brisket 3rd Place - B.B.Q ENTERPRISE Best BBQ Chicken 1st Place – Not Your Bubby’s Brisket 2nd Place – Two JQ/ Rabbinical Council 3rd Place – HOD Brisketeers Best Beans

NOT YOUR BUBBY’S BRISKET

1st Place – HOD Brisketeers 2nd Place- B.B.Q ENTERPRISE 3rd Place – For All Occassions

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Best Team Name

12

1st Place – Char-Kol Nidre 2nd Place – HOD Brisketeers 3rd Place- Smokey & the Brisket Best Booth 1st Place – HOD Brisketteers 2nd Place- Char-Kol Nidre 3rd Place- Ramafia

KIDS’ PICKLE EATING CONTEST

THE COHEN BROTHERS BAND

THE ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES BOOTH

THE STAR OF THE SHOW

NICK & THE GROOVES

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

DAVIS ACADEMY ROCK BAND

13

AJT

SIMCHAS

2014 Event Trends

COMMENTS FROM THE KOSHER KING child’s taste and can support the theme.

By David S. Covell

special for the AJT

N

ow more than ever, bat & bar mitzvahs are doing their own thing by infusing traditional themes with their personality style to make it their own.

•

Some families are making the Kiddush at the Shul, the actualy party. With a host of great menu ideas and unique decor, a Kiddush is a great way to invite everyone for the celebration. You can take the outof-towner guests out for dinner that night, but many of our clients are having elaborate Kiddush receptions for the main event. One recent client hired A capella style singers to engage her guests since amplified music is not allowed on Shabbat.

•

Invest in decor that is interactive rather than stationary props. We are seeing more green screens, unique video applications and interactive characters. More DJ’s are offering dancers to join in on the fun and teach the kids (and adults) how to burn up the dance floor. This is a worthwhile addition to your entertainment budget. Digital graffiti walls are a new trend as well. Some DJ’s will also offer a live instrumental with one or two musicians.

•

Small plates, small plates and more small plates. This has been a steady trend for the last several years and continues to evolve and grow as we move into 2014. Children’s menus can include family-style, passed hors d’oeuvres placed on unique platters in the children’s area along with or instead of a traditional kids buffet. Other micro station ideas trending are themed ethnic station. Think Asian noodles in to go boxes with chop sticks and a street taco bar. Both with Avenue K are Chef attended and made to order. Adults are offered elaborate adult cocktail foods along with adult beverages. This keeps the party festive and mingling.

With a resurgence of Jewish pride and the availability of outstanding kosher caterers, we are seeing an increased demand for traditional kosher events integrated into a modern day approach.

First, get organized and formulate a budget. Remember, in order to have legitimate services rendered by your selected suppliers, you need to have a legitimate budget. Hire a planner to help you or call the office to get recommendations.

Atlanta has many highly experienced and knowledgeable event planners that are out there to help you through this process. Hire one and then go find a quality and full service caterer. Everything else will fall in thereafter.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Saturday, 10/12 7:30pm

14

$15 for 1 $25 for 2

“Heather Luttrell has a lot of soul for someone so young. Her mix of blues and Americana has been captivating fans since 2002.”

Redglare Records

As I have said before, the best way to keep the budget down is to reduce the guest count. Caterers are paying at, or close, to all time highs for food and labor. They work on thin margins and so do most other vendors. As a loving Jewish dad told me many years ago, when looking to hide his wallet from his wife, he can hide it under the vacuum cleaner as she will never find it there.

We all know that budget is a factor but be realistic as to how much things cost.

Trending 2014 for Mitzvah celebrations: •

Get your child involved in selecting colors and themes. Your child’s bar/bat mitzvah should reflect their personalities and interests. The menus we create often reflect the

4662 AJT ad_4662 AJT ad 8/12/13 1:22 PM Page 1

The Epstein Difference

•

•

Cocktail style seating for the adults and a lounge area for the kids is becoming more popular. Furniture groupings for the kids instead of a long kid’s table is trending in 2014.

Academics | Character | Community |

THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL OPEN HOuSE

Integrate colorful lighting with LED lights and gobo lights for your event. Some clients have decorated our ceiling at The Pavillion of East Cobb Event Facility with gauze fabric and use up lighting to create the effect.

Think about a dessert reception with beautiful and colorful petit fours. Chef attended action desserts and a candy bar. This will keep the budget down and is a unique way to host a celebration. The “Oneg” is alive and well with a unique and fashion forward twist.

•

Mobile food carts are becoming popular as part of food service. Serving signature drinks, sliders and a host of other items make for a fun presentation.

•

Unique candle lighting is back in style. Honoring important family members is a nice touch for life’s special moments.

Integrating unique candles and props for this are trending for next year. Think handmade specialty candles, ice sculptures and other creative objects to light.

We even had a cupcake tower used for the candle lighting.

David S. Covell is the CEO, Saratoga Event Group and President of Avenue K-Glatt Kosher Events. The Saratoga Event Group manages four special event facilities and operates an award winning catering company, Avenue Catering Concepts. “Avenue K” is the certified glatt kosher event division of the Saratoga Event Group. David also has a background as a Certified Public Accountant in New York State and consults to the hospitality industry on matters of food, beverage and facilities.

For 18 months–8th Grade Tuesday, November 5, 2013 from 9:45 am–11:30 am. rsVP required as space is limited.

Contact 404-250-5607 or admissions@epsteinatlanta.org.

335 Colewood Way, nW | sandy springs, Ga 30328

epsteinatlanta.org

BeSt

SHA-WAr-MA in-tOWn COMPLIMENTARY DESSERT WitH YOur cAterinG COUPON EXPIRES 11/8/13

We are available for all of your simcha catering needs.

Buckhead’s new Mediterranean restaurant. Serving Glatt Kosher Meat and Vegitarian fare. Open for lunch and dinner.

Office and event catering.

4630 WieucA rOAd AtLAntA, GA 30342 BucKHeAd | 404 500-4339

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

•

15

AJT

simchas

Camp Barney Hat Trick

PARMET FAMILY CELEBRATES THIRD B’NAI MITZVOT AT beloved camp

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

J

effrey Parmet, the son of Linda and Marc Parmet, became a Bar Mitzvah on Aug. 17th at Camp Barney Medintz. The morning services were held in the Zaban Chapel overlooking Lake Wendy.

Jeffrey followed what has become a family tradition. His brother Andrew celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at camp in 2007 and his sister Jodie celebrated hers on a beautiful August camp day in 2009.

All three have been campers at Barney and Andrew has spent his last three summers as part of Barney’s Nature Staff. Andrew had attended Camp Barney from New Orleans prior to the family moving to Atlanta.

The Parmet family came to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina and decided to stay. The Atlanta Jewish Community welcomed them warmly and helped make the transition less difficult. The Parmet children attended The Epstein School and it was soon time to plan Andrew’s Bar Mitzvah.

After hearing that the camp was a possibility, it was a natural choice.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Together, Camp Barney and The Epstein School embody the same values that are important to the family – the love of the outdoors, Jewish values and traditions, the Hebrew language

16

and Israel. Jeffrey was joined by family and friends and a bus full of his Epstein classmates and camp friends.

Grandparents Dr. Larry and Claire Schulman are from Potsdam, N.Y.; Grandparents Allen and Zara Parmet are from Springfield, N. J. Following a beautiful and musical service the guests enjoyed lunch and then changed for an afternoon of fun.

Barney staff opened camp activity areas for everyone to enjoy and then held an Apache Relay Race through camp. Mazel Tov to Jeffrey!

AJT

simchas

Throwing a Company Holiday Bash, the Right Way SHOULD I LET MY JEWISH LIGHT SHINE?

AJT CONTRIBUTOR

T

he holidays are here and you’ve decided to do something nice for your employees and clients to show your appreciation by throwing a company party. In a recent national survey, 81 percent of business owners indicated that they have planned and will throw some kind of year-end bash.

Sounds Fun, Right? Not so fast… the Key to a successful party is in the planning. To start, here are some important preliminary issues that need to be addressed.

How much am I willing to spend?

When planning an office party, your first consideration is going to be cost. How much do you want to spend on this event? If your first reaction is to go cheap, don’t.

Instead of asking what’s the least you can spend, you should be asking what’s the most you can afford to spend and then do it. If you can’t afford to put on a nice party, skip the party all together until you can do it right.

The average amount spent on holiday parties, according to a recent survey of business owners is about $75-$100 per guest. The one thing to

company and whether or not you have business partners or board members that would object; I say - Absolutely! Let your Jewish light shine. There are many ways to share a small part of your Jewish culture with your employees and clients.

overspend on is food. A holiday party without enough food quickly leads to unhappy guests. It’s better to have a modest party location with too much food than to have a nice party location without enough food. Make sure that you are using a reputable caterer.

Where will the party location be?

You will need to decide where you are going to have your event. It is nice to get your staff out of the office for a party, especially if you are planning to serve a meal.

Some business owners consider to host the office party at your residence.

This may not be a good idea.

Depending on the size and location of your home it could give your employees the wrong idea of your own earnings. A much better idea is to reserve space at a restaurant or venue.

Make sure that you make reservations now. If you wait until the last minute to make reservations, the chances of getting the venue or restaurant of your choice are slim. These places fill up fast during the holidays.

Who will be invited?

It’s tempting to try to keep the cost

of the holiday party down by inviting employees only — no spouses or guests. That’s a mistake.

Holiday parties are already hard enough without creating additional problems. This is when you get to earn the favor of your employee’s spouses and close clients. This will also enhance the social mood of the event and introduce some fresh faces to the gathering.

Theme and décor- Do I let my Jewish Light Shine?

This one’s tricky. A holiday party is a business event, but it’s also a social event. If you’re Jewish, do you add a Jewish tone to your event theme and décor?

Depending on the size of your

This is who you are.

Celebrating the holidays and sharing a personal piece of your foundation can build a bond with others, especially with those that may only know you as the boss or the owner that just signs the checks.

The best way to let your Jewish light shine is to share some Jewish culinary cuisine your event menu.

Most importantly, it’s the end of the year and it’s time to reflect on all the success and accomplishments and to recognize those that make it all possible.

Kaylene Rudy is the owner of Atlanta’s Impress Express and specializes in events and promotions. To learn more, visit www.atlantasimpressexpress. com or call (404) 563-2227.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

By Kaylene Rudy

17

AJT

simchas

What’s the Message You’re Sending?

THINK ABOUT WHAT’S IMPORTANT WHEN PLANNING LIFE-CYCLE EVENTS

BY RABBI NEIL SANDLER

on YouTube?

A

For those who haven’t seen it, go to youtube.com and take a look. You’ll see a Las Vegas-style dance review, featuring Las Vegas-style showgirls, starring Sam Horowitz, a 13-year-old

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

re you one of the more than 960,000 people – okay, 960,000 hits – that have seen “Sam’s Bar Mitzvah�

IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU. YOUR BAR OR BAT MITZVAH. YOUR PERFECT EXPERIENCE. r 0VS DPPM th GMPPS gQFOUIPVTFu CBMMSPPN DBO CF UVSOFE JOUP ZPVS FYDMVTJWF DMVC TR GU PG GMFYJCMF NFFUJOH BOE FWFOU TQBDF JODMVEJOH B TR GU (SFBU 3PPN r ,PTIFS TUZMF DBUFSJOH r $VTUPNJ[BCMF PQUJPOT JODMVEJOH TUFQ BOE SFQFBU gSFE DBSQFUu TUZMF QIPUPHSBQIZ MJHIUFE EBODF GMPPS BOE BO JMMVNJOBUFE CBS r %JTDPVOUFE SPPN SBUFT GPS PWFSOJHIU HVFTUT r &OKPZ CPOVT 4UBSXPPE 1SFGFSSFE 1MBOOFS QPJOUT ‡ BU DPOUSBDU TJHOJOH BOE BU DPODMVTJPO PG FWFOU

MENTION ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES FOR COMPLIMENTARY UPLIGHTING IN YOUR EVENT SPACE

who became Bar Mitzvah earlier that day in a Dallas congregation.

Sam literally descends to the stage from behind a dazzling circular curtain and proceeds to join the showgirls in a dance routine. Hey, the kid is a pretty good dancer and obviously enjoys what he is doing on stage.

At the end of the routine, amidst the applause of the party-goers, Sam takes a well-deserved, and quite professional, bow.

I wonder if any of those who witnessed this spectacle in person wondered that evening, “Is this really an appropriate way to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah?�

People who saw the video of Sam’s Bar Mitzvah on YouTube certainly had some things to say about that question. The propriety of Sam’s Las Vegas-style dance number was debated quite widely across the internet.

In fairness to Sam and his family, we learned from his rabbi who wrote a response to a particularly stinging criticism of Sam and the Horowitz family that the family is quite active in both congregational and communal Jewish life in Dallas.

The Horowitz family visited Israel prior to Sam’s Bar Mitzvah, and Sam asked his Bar Mitzvah guests to send tzedakah, in lieu of Bar Mitzvah presents, to the Ben Yakir Youth Village in Israel.

He raised $36,000 in support of the youth village! Sam Horowitz is quite an impressive young man and his family is sharing some very positive values with their children.

OCTOBER 11 â–Ş 2013

But the question remains, “Is this really an appropriate way to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah?�

18

W ATLANTA – MIDTOWN th 4USFFU /& "UMBOUB (" $0/5"$5 (BZMFOF .PMEU HBZMFOF NPMEU!XIPUFMT DPN

WATLANTAMIDTOWN.COM

Most of us don’t have the financial resources to have a Las Vegas-style review at the B’nai Mitzvah celebrations of our children. Yet, still, we may spend thousands of dollars on aspects of our celebrations that will be quickly forgotten and, if we are to be honest, will be silently and rightly questioned by some who attend those celebrations.

Celebrations that follow our lifecycle moments in the lives of our children – particularly B’nai Mitzvah and weddings – speak volumes without ever sharing a word. They tell our loved ones, friends and community

what matters most to us beyond the love we have for and the pride we take in our children.

As you plan for the celebrations of your children’s life-cycle moments, especially their B’nai Mitzvah, I urge you and your children to have a discussion that will move beyond ordinary party-planning details like party themes and colors.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah party planning is an opportune time to talk about values you and your child feel should inform the party and be apparent to anyone who attends it. Are you using this celebration as an opportunity to pay back social obligations? Will those present at the party feel it is “over the top?�

Conversely, will those who share in the celebration of your child’s Bar/ Bat Mitzvah walk away with the clear understanding that tzedakah and acting to ensure the well-being of those in need is an integral part of your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience?

Will your guests be invited to honor your child by donating to some worthy cause in his/her name?

There are numerous ways that you can enhance the meaning of your child’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah through the manner in which you choose to celebrate this wonderful life-cycle moment.

Just remember: Your celebration will speak loudly.

Let it proclaim worthy values and priorities that help set an ennobling path for your child as he/she continues a journey toward full Jewish responsibility and participation in our community.

Mazal Tov as you prepare for this special moment in the life of your child and family!

Rabbi Neil Sandler is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Achim in Atlanta. He’s also the president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, a member of the national board of trustees of MERCAZ, and a member of AIPAC’s National Council. Rabbi Sandler is married to Susan Hart Sandler, a social worker with Weinstein Hospice, and they have three children, Ariel, Aliza and Joshua.

AJT

SIMCHAS

Decorating For a Good Cause

JEWISH FAMILY & CAREER SERVICES’ RENTERPIECES

Share your Celebrations with Your Atlanta Jewish Community for Free • • • • •

SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

A

Birth Announcements Weddings Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Celebrations of all types Anniversaries

Send your story, announcements and celebrations with pictures today to Kaylene Rudy, krudy@atljewishtimes.com or call 404-883-2130 x100.

re you looking for a unique and beautiful way to embellish your upcoming event? Consider Renterpieces, decorative centerpieces and large bima-sized decorations you can rent for virtually any occasion.

The best part about using Renterpieces to adorn your event setting is that the funds generated help support the JF&CS Kosher Food Pantry and other programs and services for those in need.

“I worked with Betsy at Renterpieces to order bima decorations for my son’s Bar Mitzvah in 2012,” said Janet Beard of Alpharetta. “It was so easy!

We chose the style and colors, and they delivered two beautiful arrangements to our synagogue. What a great way to brighten the bima for our big day while at the same time supporting Jewish Family & Career Services! And, I just placed another order for my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah in January 2014.

Simple, stress-free and supports a great cause!”

Available in three sizes, Renterpieces are made to order and can be customized to your event’s color scheme or other specifications.

Beautiful Renterpieces, all made by JF&CS volunteers, will be on display at the 2014 Bar/Bat Mitzvah Expo, Sun., Nov. 10 at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North. Come get ideas about what Renterpieces can make for you!

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Editor’s note: for more information on rentals or to volunteer to decorate centerpieces, please email renterpieces@jfcs-atlanta.org or call (770) 677-9337.

19

AJT

simchas

Congregation Or Hadash Celebrates Tenth Anniversary SPECIAL EVENT FOR Rabbis Dr. analia Bortz and Mario Karpuj

Compiled and submitted for the Atlanta Jewish Times by Congregation Or Hadash family, friends, and special guests with gratitude, love, and devotion to a remarkable shul and extraordinary spiritual leadership

O

ctober 6, 2013 marked the 40th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War, a pivotal event in the history of Israel, in which the country recovered from a stunning blow to keep a nation’s vision alive. On that same day, Congregation Or Hadash (COH) honored Rabbis Dr. Analia Bortz and Ma-

rio Karpuj, who led a group 10 years ago in establishing a new spiritual vision for a segment within A t l a n t a ’ s burgeoning Jewish community.

In addition to inspiring COH’s milestone celebration, the number 10 is significant in many ways in Judaism. This afforded an opportunity to link everyday life with a meaningful

religious connection – a hallmark of the beloved rabbis of this congregation.

“The event was a vibrant reflection of the vision of our rabbis and our founding members,” said Sherry Frank, a past president of the congregation and chair of the event. “With our rabbis, we sought to create a community that could feed the soul with spiritualism and music and challenge the mind through education and discussion.”

Rabbis Dr. Analia Bortz and Mario Karpuj and have shared their spiritual, geographic, personal and professional journeys for over 20 years. Born and raised in Argentina, they met as teenagers and married in 1990. In 2000, they moved to Atlanta to serve Congregation Ahavath Achim, and in 2003 became the founding rabbis of Congregation Or Hadash.

Over the past 10 years, the rabbis have helped Or Hadash grow from its initial 50 member families to the current membership of 400 families.

Their benevolence of spirit and firm belief in diversity and inclusion, have permeated their relationships with Jewish and non-Jewish communities locally and internationally.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser, Synagogue Educator, delivered the invocation, expressing gratitude for the past 10 years of COH led and inspired by extraordinary leaders. She implored congregants to, “let not our celebration be a milestone upon which we rest - merely to revel in what we’ve accomplished thus far, rather let this occasion be a spark that kindles an ever increasing desire to do the work of God’s will – bringing healing to one another and to our all too fractured world.”

20

In response to, and appreciation for the accolades, recognition, and love from the congregation they founded, Rabbis Analia and Mario acknowledged the journey of the past and their hopes for the future.

“Like dreamers, we have all built this Kehillah Kedosha (Holy Congregation). Like dreamers we have crafted a family based on the centrality of our love for Israel, joy of music and commitment to Tikkun Olam. Like dreamers we have all established a

Rabbi Bortz, Yossi Klein Halevi and Rabbi Karpuj

Rabbi Mario Karpuj added, “We are grateful and humbled by the blessings surrounding us and the opportunity to ‘be a blessing’ to others.

Our wish is for the continuity of our community - to grow and renew our resolve to be champions for Israel, and for what will better and strengthen our greater Atlanta Community.”

Congregation Or Hadash was fortunate to welcome journalist and author, Yossi Klein Halevi, as guest scholar to provide a glimpse of the complexity of the issues facing Israel.

The child of a Holocaust survivor, Mr. Halevi grew up in Brooklyn N.Y. and moved to Israel with his wife in 1982.

He has served as a key journalistic voice for American audiences in communicating cultural, social, and political happenings in Israel. He has written for the Jerusalem Report, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the New Republic. Since 1995, he has authored three books.

His most recent book, “Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation,” has received accolades for its penetrative look at key figures who have shaped the Jewish nation and who have been shaped by the nation’s critical events and challenges. In a discussion forum with the rabbis, Mr. Halevi shared his perspective on a variety of topics.

Also paying tribute to Rabbis Analia and Mario, were their two daughters, Tamar and Adina Karpuj - who have followed their parents in a love of learning, commitment to giving back, and devotion to f a m i l y .

The girls described their unique ex-

perience of growing up with parents, both of whom were rabbis: “In our home, and within our family dynamic, ‘rabbi’ was always the adjective, and ‘parent’ always the subject,” said Tamar Karpuj. “In addition to meeting the needs of the congregation or the community, family dinners were always a special and sacred time that they preserved just for us.”

“We are extremely grateful to our parents for all that they have provided to us. They have taught us that our ordinary lives are, in fact, extraordinary, and have served as a constant source of guidance, friendship, and unconditional love,” said Adina Karpuj Children occupy a special place both in the hearts of Rabbis Analia and Mario, and in the culture of Congregation Or Hadash. One of COH’s younger members, 13-year-old Lily Schneider, was tasked with the labor of love of creating a photo montage of some of the sweet memories that to reflect “the Jewish people had light, gladness, joy and honor” (The Book of Esther).

Current President, Fred Wachter, summarized: “As we reflect on our growth over the past 10 years, we express our thanks for the many blessings that our two devoted rabbis have generously shared with all of us. They include; the gifts of music, hospitality, humor, intellectual excitement and curiosity, openness, inclusion, and gratitude.”

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

welcoming mishpacha opening our tent to receive those who seek a spiritual home. ‘Lech Lecha,’ Go for Yourself, says our Torah portion, we have started a beautiful journey of seekers and we look forward to keep growing spiritually, emotionally and intellectually in the future,” said Rabbi Dr. Analia Bortz.

21

AJT

SIMCHAS

A Great Tradition BABY HEALTHY, WIFE DOING FINE, FATHER IS THE MOHEL – PERFECT!

BY RABBI ASHER YABLOK SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

I

was not at all prepared for the emotions I experienced when the moment finally arrived.

It’s rare that one has the opportunity to bring his own child into the covenant of Abraham, but that was just the beginning of the uniqueness of the event. Though I have trained extensively and performed the procedure hundreds of times, doing so to my son, flanked by my father and father-in-law, was an entirely different experience.

Allow me to explain.

I always knew that my namesake had been a mohel. Early on in my childhood, my father had taken out the instruments he used to use and told me a little bit about the man I was named after.

I would be lying if didn’t admit

that I dedicated more time to collecting Ken Griffey Jr. cards and listening to Pearl Jam, but the image of my great-grandfather and the person that he was stuck with me.

Carrying his exact name only added to the impact his identity had on my development during my years in yeshiva, and I was reminded of it every time I was called up to the Torah.

At the same time, even as I studied the laws of circumcision for rabbinic ordination, I never pictured myself as a mohel. Ever!

Enter my wife, Shira.

It sounds cliché to say that she completes me, but that is exactly what she does (and in more ways than I could have imagined when we first met).

She thinks I can do anything and when someone suggested I become a mohel, having seen me peel an orange with a knife, she thought it

was a great idea. I thought she was just being nice, and a little bit silly, but the truth is that it reminded her of her grandfather, Rev. Noah Wolff.

Shira’s grandfather has been a mohel in the Midwest for 61 years and, having performed over 20,000 circumcisions, is Chicago’s most prolific mohel. He had performed the circumcisions on two of my sons, not the only ones of his great-grandchildren he has brought into the covenant of Abraham.

She said he peeled oranges the same way. Although I was undeterred from my focus on Jewish Education, I began to imagine what it would be like to be the next link in both of our families’ traditions.

Lunch ● Dinner ● Catering ● Event Space ● BYOB

Johns Creek’s Fine Dining Authentic Persian Cuisine From intimate Shabbat gatherings to banquet style Celebrations Call us today to discuss your special event and desired menu!

$25 OFF

Dinner for Two save $25 on your check of $40 or more not valid in combination with any other office or discount expires november 30, 2013

Fast forward to the morning of July 24th 2013, the eighth day of my newborn son’s life.

I was standing before my son preparing to bring him into the covenant of Abraham Having received the instruments from my wife’s grandfather and trained with renowned mohel Rabbi Michael Rovinsky, I felt totally prepared and completely frozen.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

I had done hundreds of procedures before and studied the requisite laws numerous times, but nothing prepared me for the emotions I felt at that moment. And yet this is exactly the way it was done the first time in Jewish history when Abraham was instructed to circumcise his son Isaac.

22

www.1001nightspersiancuisine.com 10305 Medlock Bridge road, Johns creek, Georgia 30097 678.353.6329

It wasn’t that I doubted my abilities, nor did my family; it was the big picture that overwhelmed me. Here I was presented with the opportunity to personally transmit a tradition, my tradition, which has been transmitted parent to child since the time of our forefather Abraham.

Moreover, it is a tradition that signifies the unique partnership man has with his maker in perfecting the

raw materials with which he is provided in this world. As Rabbi Paysach Krohn writes: Food, clothes, and even our places of habitat are all commodities that we put together from what we are provided with by our generous Creator … man, too, needs to be perfected.

The act of ritual circumcision brings man to that perfection. The Bible itself uses the word ‘perfect’ in recording God’s command to Abraham that he circumcise himself. “Go before Me and become perfect,” (Genesis 17:1) is the way the topic of ritual circumcision is introduced.

My wife and I certainly aspire to perfection, however elusive it may be, and know that we will continue to do whatever it takes to nurture our children towards reaching each of their own versions of perfection.

In my case, performing this great ritual has taught me how big of a role each and every one of us plays in achieving that goal, regardless of the outcome. The bris and the ceremony that followed was a beautiful celebration and took just about every ounce of emotional energy my wife and I had left after the labor and delivery of our son.

In retrospect, I can’t imagine ever considering passing such an awesome opportunity and remain genuinely inspired by the special bonds doing so on my own has created.

It has always been my privilege to represent others in performing a ritual that has bound the Jewish people throughout its history. Doing so for my own child reminded me, all the more so, of the tremendous power, beauty and sanctity of our great tradition.

Rabbi Asher Yablok is the Dean of Judaic Studies at Yeshiva Atlanta.

AJT

simchas

Local Bar Mitzvah Video Becomes Youtube Hit DANIEL BLUEMN’S “SAVE THE DATE” TAKES OFF SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

D tion.

aniel Blumen celebrated his bar mitzvah on May 11, 2013 at The Temple. In anticipation of the event, Blumen wanted to create a unique way to share the happiness and excitement of this simcha with the invitees, and created a special “Save the Date” video invita-

Although the video invitation was sent only to the several hundred invited guests, nearly half a million others have viewed the save-the-date video on-line and have shared his joy and pride in this event vicariously.

The service was officiated by Rabbi Peter Berg and Cantor Deborah Hartman. Daniel attends Pace Academy where he is currently in the eighth grade.

His parents, Rick Blumen and Liz Price, along with grandparents, Lawrence and Ceile Blumen and William and June Price, were in attendance.

Blumen is supporting the Humane Society of Atlanta in his bar mitzvah project and has managed to talk his parents into adopting a puppy for his bar mitzvah, as well.

Fine Art Gallery and Event Space 199 Armour Drive, NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 404.879.1500 | www.masonmurer.com

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Editor’s note: view Blumen’s video online, found at the URL: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=G_sWoZJGCTQT.

23

simchas

Bat Mitzvah

Gabrielle Lewis

G

abrielle Lewis will become a Bat Mitzvah October 19.

Gabrielle is the daughter of Greg and Erica Lewis of Atlanta and sister to Harrison Lewis; granddaughter to Ellen and Dan Katz of Atlanta, Cathy Selig of Atlanta and Roger Lewis of Los Angeles. She is also the great-granddaughter of Lillian Weber of Atlanta. Gabrielle is in the 7th grade at The Epstein School. For her Mitzvah project, Gabrielle made the holidays possible for four local families in need.

She will be called to the Torah at Congregation B’nai Torah.

new Led Staging, new talent and Lighting!

SAMe AMAZinG entertAinMent & SerVice!!

AtLAntA’S BeSt eMceSS, dJ’S, LiVe BAndS, dAncerS & MOre! ► Bar & Bat Mitzvahs ► Weddings ► corporate & Social events ► Live Simulcast ► Great Pricing & Personalized Packages

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

BOOK nOW tO HOLd tOdAY’S PriceS!

24

AtLAnt’S HOtteSt BAr/BAt MitZVAH

entertAinMent cOMPAnY!

Mention this ad for a Special VIBE Discount!

AJT

Education

Kvelling at Gesher L’Torah ALPHARETTA SYNAGOGUE HONORED WITH TWO SPECIAL AWARDS SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

G

esher L’Torah managed to beat out some 200 other synagogues in the U.S. and win two Centennial Schechter Awards for excellence in education.

The Alpharetta synagogue won both the Centennial Schechter Yesode-Foundation Award and a Centennial Schechter Commendation.

at 7th grade students and helps them experience everyday Israeli life, integrating virtual resources with curriculum and instruction.

The Yesode-Foudation Award was for a “Virtual Israel Classroom” (VIC), created by Carla Birnbaum and Josh Needle. The VIC is aimed

Students are immersed in all aspects of Israel. With the aid of the high-tech classroom, they Skype with people who live in Israel; ex-

Furthering Your Education Takes Courage.

Business Administration student Bruce Bochicchio recently received a first place $10,000 National Executive Women International ASIST scholarship.

Be Fearless.

Learn more about advancing your education by attending a GPC open house from October 19-24. See website for campus dates and times. Get a FREE GPC application fee waiver*—a $20 savings!

plore videos and photos of modern Israel daily activities and debate Israel’s responses to its challenges.

The program helps cultivate a special bond between Gesher L’Torah students and Israel by giving students the opportunity to have an authentic Israeli experience.

Students get a real-life glimpse into the country through lively experiential activities that encourage students to examine Israeli life and are encouraged to embrace Israel’s unique strengths and qualities.

The Centennial Schechter Commendation was for Gesher L’Torah’s Pre-school’s Shalom Sing program, created and implemented by Carla Birnbaum. The program helps preschoolers learn prayers and their spiritual meanings.

Every month, youngsters study a specific mitzvah and learn Hebrew words associated with the mitzvah theme. The children are also exposed to big Jewish ideas, such as Shabbat, G-d, and Mitzvot.

Each week, the pre-school creates a positive, upbeat tone, yet one that requires kavod (respect) and kehillah kedosha (holy community) in the sanctuary. Students are selected to lead prayers, and join the Judaic Studies Coordinator on the bima.

The goal of the program is to address the whole Jewish child and pave the way for a positive, warm Jewish identity, while learning Jewish prayer.

openhouse.gpc.edu

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

* Advance sign up and student attendance are required to receive fee waiver. Application fee waivers must be used by December 31, 2013. Limit one fee waiver per household.

25

AJT

education

‘Commitment to Education Award’ ORT TO HONOR LOCAL EDUCATORS FOR SERVICE, IMPACT ON STUDENTS SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

T

hree Atlanta educators, Steve Chervin, Marshal Duke and Moira Frank, will be honored by the Atlanta Region of ORT America with the 2013 Commitment to Education Award.

Chervin is the director of the Jewish Encounter, Duke is an Emory University Psychology professor, and Frank is the former director of Congregation B’nai Torah’s preschool.

The award ceremony, set for Oct. 24 at Congregation Or VeShalom, will be emceed by CNN Reporter Nadia Bilchik and focus on the theme, “Inspiration is Contagious.”

ORT, one of the largest education organizations in the U.S., has been training students since 1880.

At a glance

1989 Cheshire Bridge Rd. Altanta GA 30324

404-876-1380

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

E S TA B L I S H E D 1 9 7 4

26

alfre d o s a t l a n t a . c o m

IN E IS

IO

Dinner Reservations Suggested

YEARS AL

U

REG

N

A NT

SE R V

Event is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation OVS, 1681 N. Druid Hills Road, Atlanta and will include an hour of networking, cocktails, heavy hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. For additional information or to purchase tickG ATLA IN OVER ets, visit www.ortatlanta.org/EducatorsEvening.php I TA L I A N

C

Marshal Duke

Moira Frank

AJT

Arts & Life

JEWS MAKING NEWS COMPILED BY ELIZABETH FRIEDLY

Ben Stiller Teams Up with Bono for Music Video

Rachel Weisz Debuts on Broadway in ‘Betrayal’

en Stiller recently joined fellow comedians, plus musician Bono, to cameo in the band Arcade Fire’s 22-minute film / concert performance, “Here Comes the Night Time.”

Both Stiller and fellow Jewish actor James Franco make appearances – Bono and Stiller are kicked off stage. The film, meanwhile, debuts tracks off the band’s upcoming album, “Reflecktor.”

It seems Stiller’s made a habit of lending his star power to music videos.

He’s appeared in some truly notorious ’90s hits, such as Smash Mouth’s “All Star” and Limp Bizkit’s “Rollin.” Stiller also starred in Sean Comb’s (P. Diddy) “Bad Boy for Life,” indie group Travis’ “Closer,” as well as directed and starred in “Taylor” by Jack Johnson.

Stiller has also been gearing up for a new release, “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” and was recently filming in New York with Naomi Watts for their new dramedy, “While We’re Young.”

Stiller is the son of Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara. His father comes from a line of Polish-Jewish immigrants and his mother converted to Reform Judaism after marriage. Stiller had a Bar Mitzvah and grew up celebrating Hanukkah alongside Christmas.

His career took off as a young actor after he made a “mockumentary” of one of his co-stars in the play “The House of Blue Leaves.” The parody was entitled, “The Hustler of Money” and was Stiller’s ticket to catching the attention of the bigwigs at Saturday Night Live.

achel Weisz makes her Broadway debut this month in “Betrayal,” a play set in reverse chronological order about a wife (Weisz) and her affair with her husband’s best friend and agent.

The slighted husband is played by none other than Weisz’s real-life husband, Daniel Craig, of James Bond fame. This is Weisz and Craig’s first time appearing on Broadway as a couple. This is Craig’s second time, starring in “A Steady Rain” in 2009.

Weisz, meanwhile, is rumored to be involved in the making of a film adaptation of Jennifer Gilmore’s novel, “The Mothers”. The novel details the author’s semi-autobiographical struggle to become a mother and her ultimate choice to adopt.

The actress has starred in a number of films, most notably “The Mummy” franchise, as well as written and directed the 2003 short film, “The Thief.”

Weisz’s parents, George Weisz and Edith Ruth Teich, fled Austria shortly before World War II and escaped to England. George Weisz was raised Jewish, while Teich, whose maternal grandfather was Jewish, converted from Catholicism.

r ...creAte YOu . ..

WeBSite And

R

...cOnnect tHe dOtS. ez2BSocial develops your Wordpress website or optimize your existing site so customers can find you.

We’ll also setup and optimize, other social sites where your customers are - manage them if you like and help drive customer awareness for your business. other services: video production, photography, graphic design for brochures, custom magazines (print and digital) and other print products.

ez2BSocial 678.358.7858

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

B

27

AJT

one man’s opinion

Social Status in the Shtetl

‘YICHUS’: WHAT YOU OWN, WHO YOU KNOW AND PROTECTING YOUR PLACE IN THE WORLD

BY EUGEN SCHOENFELD SPECIAL FOR THE AJT

N

ext to parnosseh (livelihood) and gesundheit (health), yichus (social honor) was the third most desired attribute sought by members of the shtetl community.

Yichus reflected a person’s quality of life, determined who your friends were and how you’d be treated at Synagogue. It also determined who you associated with and, especially important, how frequently one would be called to the Torah.

But most importantly, one’s yichus determined the shiduchim, who would marry whom.

A young man from a high yichus family could expect to marry into

his social milieu and receive a high dowry. For instance, a young Mr. Kaplan who sat next to my family in the synagogue at the Eastern wall, displayed the two special gifts he received from his new father-in-law on the Shabbat after he wed.

As a person from a high yichus family, he had received a beautiful talit with a beautiful and intricate silver atarah decoration; he also showed off a platinum Schaffhausen pocket watch which, indeed, was a very special gift.

These symbols reflected not only Mr. Kaplan’s wealth but made it clear where he fell in the community’s pecking order.

Mr. Kaplan belonged to a modern orthodox community, he adhered

to the commandments but was also worldly, hence the talit indicating his religiosity and the platinum watch indicating worldliness.

In contrast, when a young highyichus Chassid married the symbols that he displayed were different.

Before marriage, a Chassid wears a traditional black suit and a Beaver Hat. However, after he marries he displays more expensive Chassidic clothes.

Instead of a hat he now wears a shtraymel, a fur hat, and instead of a black suit he wears a bekeshe, a silk caftan. Of course the higher the status the purer and more intricate was the caftan’s silk and more expensive the fur of the shtraymel.

The foundation of one’s yichus was – and still is – the construct of one’s wealth, the family’s achievements, such as the number of noted rabbis in the group or, in the more modern community, the number of professionals like physicians, lawyers, and noted learned men in the family.

In the beginning, the Schoenfeld family was not high on the yichus list. Although my great-grandfather, Rabbi Naftuli Schoenfeld was a scholar, author and publisher of religious books, he was killed early in his life.

My grandfather Layzer Yaakov began his life as a dealer of onions and garlic. But towards the end of the 19th century, times were difficult and he, like so many others, left Munkacs for America to seek his fortune.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Since he didn’t have any special skills he became a cigar roller in New York City. I doubt that a cigar roller earned great sums of money. Still it seems that he made enough because he systematically sent some of it back home.

28

My grandmother became the custodian of the money. It was held in trust and was designated as the means by which she hoped to enable her family to escape from the Yiddische Gass, essentially the ghetto.

Four years later, after his return from the States, it was decided (a

collective decision) that the money would be used to buy a book and stationary store and my grandparents designated my father as the proprietor.

Thus, the firm of Schoenfeld Henryk was established. My father was a hard-working young man, a likable person who already in his 20s achieved some degree of note. At a young age he became politically involved in Munkacs and was elected to the city council.

The book and stationary store, my grandmother hoped, would be the key that unlocked the ghetto gates and lead our family to a higher status and social respectability. The idea not only flourished, but provided enough money to move the family to a more respectable home.

It also enabled my grandfather to send another son, Alexander, to medical school; to open a watch repair facility for his older and handicapped brother and, above all, provide his daughter with a substantial dowry.

Louise, my father’s sister, married a banker and the family was on its way to establish a “yichus”.

Grandmother – there’s no other way to say it – was a social climber.

Having achieved upward mobility, she wanted to make sure that the entire family’s behavior was appropriate and that we accumulated the necessary “status symbols” to maintain our standing in the community.

After my paternal grandmother’s death, her son – my uncle Alexander, the physician – became the guardian of the Schoenfeld family’s status. His task was to be the arbiter of what was appropriate behavior. It was his duty, or so he thought, to make sure that the members of the family behave appropriately and that their behavior didn’t tarnish the family’s name so that our yichus would be maintained.

His concern, like that of his mother, was to insure and enhance the family’s social status. For instance, when his older brother became a widower, Alexander defined whom his brother should marry.

As the arbiter, he lived by the Yiddish phrase: “Wus se past oder wuss es past nisht” – what is or isn’t appropriate.

gia State University. My daughter was marrying the son of a doctor and the groom himself was about to enter medical school.

pleased with my achievement and my social status. He was happy I hadn’t disgraced the family and gave me his stamp of approval.

cious since I enhanced the family’s social status. I had contributed to the family’s yichus.

At the top of the list is whom one should or should not associate, especially whom one is permitted to marry. He and I had our disagreements, most of them revolving around the definition of appropriateness.

My uncle, sitting in the living room of my new, expansive home and meeting my machatunim, was

“Tuli,” he said, “this is truly baalbatish.”

Eugen Schoenfeld is a professor and chair emeritus at Georgia State University and a survivor of the Holocaust

Yes, even after my constant disagreements with him, he was gra-

My disagreement with my uncle really with began when I was a teen, about 16-years-old. One Friday night he made a special trip to our home What was so urgent that it merited the disturbance of our Shabbat peace?

He disapproved to the girl I was dating – especially her family. He felt she was “flawed” because her father was a cobbler and for this reason alone he declared the relationship “se past nisht”, inappropriate.

He felt our family’s social status – our yichus – was endangered!

Indeed, at this time we had achieved such a lofty status – well, truth to tell not all that high, but high enough – that I was always identified as being Chayim Schoenfeld’s son.

The concern with the family’s social position continued even after many of us survived the Holocaust and resettled in the U.S. My uncle’s change.

worldview

didn’t

He continued to view himself as the guardian of the family’s yichus and felt it was his duty to select my future wife, a woman that would fit in and enhance the family’s social position in St. Louis.

I pursued my life to suit me. In 1973, after a long struggle of re-establishing my life, I finally achieved my goal and settled in Atlanta. I invited my Uncle Alexander to my oldest daughter’s wedding. He came.

I was now a full professor and chairman of a department at Geor-

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

I refused his offer and the tension that began in the shtetl between the two of us continued.

29

AJT

in the moment

Weekend of Music and Meat

WHAT DO HIP-HOP AND KOSHER BBQ HAVE IN COMMON?

BY BRAM BESSOFF AJT COLUMNIST

A

ll kinds of smoking were going on this weekend in Atlanta, home to two very special events: The A3C hip-hop festival, the biggest in the country, and the 2nd Annual Kosher BBQ Competition held in the B’Nai Torah parking lot.

Somehow I powered through both and am now feeling the effects of my marathon that began last Wednesday.

I’m making a career shift in the music industry. For the past six months I’ve been training to become a live music producer. Like the recording process, a live show benefits from having someone help the artist “produce” the project.

It’s much more than stage presence. Producers work with artists to

turn their shows into unforgettable moments for the audience; in essence I help artists create life-changing experiences for their fans.

I give talks at music conferences and industry associations on the subject and presented my latest talk at A3C this past Friday. About 50 or so hip-hoppers and me stuffed outselves into a tiny conference room with very little AC – it was hot, sweaty and smelled like a Bob Marley concert.

We hashed out how to win audiences over and sell more “merch” at shows – and they got it! People left thanking me, telling me how much this information could change their career and how badly indie hip-hop needs better live shows. Between this and helping artists chart on Billboard, it’s a satisfying job.

Some highlights from A3C outside

Book Your Holiday Party at Sufi’s and add a little spice to your next event.

Sufi’s offers full-service catering for on and off site events.

From corporate meetings to Weddings and family gaterings we have you covered!

Contact one of our event specialists at 404.888.9699.

Lunch ✶ Dinner ✶ Catering

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

20%

30

OFF % OFF

20

FOR ANY LARGE PARTY OF 10 OR MORE FOR ANY CATERING ORDER FOR 10 OR MORE

1814 Peachtree Street Atlanta, Georgia 30309 404. 888. 9699 | www.sufisatlanta.com Hours: Sunday - thursday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Friday - Saturday 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

of the spotlight included two smaller artists that played an early showcase opening night at Space2 (connected to Soundtable) in the Old 4th Ward.

Check out Dynasty the “Dream Pusher” and Wordsmith at reverbnation.com. Both know how to put on a great live show.

Fourth Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra , Y-love, Drake, Mac Miller Kosha dillz, Kosherbeets, Darshan.

A bright light goes off, and since A3C founder Brian Knott and I go way back to working on Atlantis Music Conference together, this is my “in” to make that connection between the black and Jewish cultures of Atlanta.

I sure hadn’t until the AJT invited me to help out with their team this year. Why doesn’t the whole town know about this event?

Many of you may not know it, but Atlanta and the AJMF are home to some great Jewish hip-hop artists.

Here’s some of our favs:

So called www.socalledmusic.com

Music to Meat Has everyone heard about the Annual Kosher BBQ?

I had no idea what I was getting into when I agreed to bring my family down Saturday night and pull an all-nighter smoking kosher brisket, chicken and beef ribs.

We pulled into the B’Nai Torah parking lot and it looked like a full on festival was in the works with party tents, inflatables, a stage and about

20 competitors setting up their BBQ pits.

All meats had to be smoked on a Weber classic grill, but you could use any charcoal you wanted and choose from a vast array of ingredients to prep your meats. The entire social hall was the prep room and the pantry accessible to the competitors was like something out of Master Chef.

A refrigerator truck was brought onsite to hold the hundreds of pounds of kosher meat, two palettes of Kingsford charcoal and three diesel generators. We quickly set up camp and got down to the hard work of drinking and socializing.

We literally stayed up all night bouncing from tent to tent, meeting professional and amateur BBQers from as far as Connecticut and St. Louis; drinking, schmoozing and smoking (mostly meats).

The kids slept wonderfully in the tent. I passed out around sunrise on a cot under the trees and my wife finally napped in the back of the car around 10 a.m. G-d must have wanted this event to be a success because we had a starry night and a beautiful day.

lessly competitive, we made good friends with several of them and I did my best to trade taste tests with as many as I could. In the end we took honorable mentions for team name, beans and a third place trophy for our Brisket.

Live entertainment was provided by the Cohen Brothers and AJMF veterans Nick Edelstein and the Groove. Next year I plan to get the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival more involved and create even more synergy between the music and the meat.

I’ve got plenty of pics from both events on my facebook @bramrocks and twitter @ bram_rocks pages; check them out and send me some comments and thoughts.

Meanwhile, mark down the 3rd Annual Kosher BBQ Competition for fall of 2014. This year’s was one of my more favorite cultural events of the year so far.

It got crazy fast; somehow I wound up in a tent, only to be woken to urgently break down camp and get grilling. The next moment I’m wearing fire gloves and grabbing racks of meat right off the grill.

We dubbed the AJT “Meat the Press” . Our team included me and my family: Anne, Lola, Riley and our designer-dog Lucy. Also the AJT owner & publisher, Cliff Weiss, and his son Gabriel; Jay and Jake Bischoff, the night shift; and the morning crew led by last year’s grand prize winner Charles Goldberg as our pit master; Al Shams, Kaylene & Bradley Rudy, and Caleb Heller.

It was just like one of Gordon Ramsay’s cooking competition shows but with beer.

Although many teams were ruth-

Sandy Springs Sandy Springs $1,250,000 $1,199,000

$495,000

• This One of a Kind Estate Will Take Your Breath Away!

• Open Floor Plan that Flows Beautifully • 5 Bedrooms/ 5 Full Baths / 1 Half Bath • Vaulted Beamed Great Room Opens to King-Size Dining • Open Floor Plan with Flexibility for Large or Small Scale Entertaining Room • Totally Renovated Custom Designed Kitchen Has All the Bells and • 5 Bedrooms/ 3 Full Baths Whistles and Overlooks Vaulted Great Room • Owner’s Retreat on Main with Sitting room and Peaceful Screen Porch • Paneled Room on Main with Fireplace is Perfect • Upstairs Office Plus 3 Bedrooms, Each with a Private Bath for Office or Bedroom w/ Full Bath • Terrace Level Has a Bedroom, Full Bath & Artist Studio That Would Be • Huge Bonus Room Upstairs a Perfect Playroom/Game Room, Media Room, Gym and More!

• Tiled Screen Porch Overlooks Level Play Area • Main Level Walkout to the Pool, Waterfall, Outdoor Kitchen, Tranquility • Full Unfinished Basement Just Waiting for Garden and Play Area Your Personal Touches • You Will Be Amazed at How Much Love and Care the Owner’s Have Put into this Home • Top Schools- Heards Ferry / Ridgeview/ Riverwood • Fantastic Private Location, Yet Close to Hospitals, Shops, Schools and Restaurants

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

The competition included four stages -- beans, chicken, ribs and brisket. We began with the beans and finished with the brisket.

Wonderful Home in PRICE REDUCED- Your Own Private ResortGreat Swim/Tennis Neighborhood!

5 Minutes to Pill Hill!

©2012 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned And Operated By NRT LLC.

31

AJT

SPORTS

Amazing, Yet True!

FIRST PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER, LIPMAN PIKE, WAS JEWISH

BY BRUCE WEINSTEIN Special for ajt

B

aseball has always been my passion. I can’t recall not being involved with the game in some fashion.

As a kid, I played Little League and Babe Ruth ball and I continued playing in high school. At the University of Alabama, I played on my fraternity’s team – ZBT – and when I moved to Atlanta I played in the JCC leagues.

I coached in the BBYO leagues at the old JCC downtown and when I had kids (Harris, Brooke and Michael), I coached all three of them from ‘T’ ball until the eighth grade on teams at both the JCC and Morgan Falls. I then coached their BBYO teams.

One of my greatest thrills was to share the experience of taking my two boys to Cooperstown and visiting the Hall of Fame. Years later, my good friend Ron Blomberg, who played for the New York Yankees, took me to a Hall of Fame induction where I was able to meet some of the legends of the game.

In the early 1990s, I went with my friend Jay Kulkin to the New York Yankees Fantasy Baseball Camp for a week and had the time of my life.

I have a complete collection of Topps baseball cards from the late 1950s and early 1960s that I saved as a kid and that my mother didn’t throw away – thanks, Mom!

Ron, as many people know, was a major part of baseball history when on April 6, 1973, he became the first ever designated hitter.

I also have over 100 autographed baseballs, many of the players now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. In addition, I share Braves season tickets and go to as many games as I can. Did I mention that my wife, Germaine, is a saint?

Even today, I still coach ‘T’ ball every year at the MJCCA with my close friends, Steve Friedberg and Howie Hyman. We are now coaching the kids of kids that we originally coached years ago. Our contemporaries are the grandparents of our players. It turns out that time really does fly by.

I think all of this – the playing, coaching and collecting – qualifies me as a baseball fanatic. And over the last several years I have become interested in the history of baseball; in particular, the history of Jews in the game.

I recently mentioned to some friends that the first professional baseball player ever was Jewish.

They were as amazed as I was when I first learned this bit of baseball history. They made me promise to share this story with others, perhaps by writing an article.

THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA INVITES YOU TO A

SPECIAL RECEPTION 7)4(

0 2 % 3 ) $ % . 4 2/ " % 24 % 7 ) 4 4

OCTOBER 11 â–Ş 2013

OCTOBER 11, 2010

32

4 ( % - ! 2# 5 3 * %7 ) 3 ( # / - - 5 . ) 4 9 # % . 4 % 2 / & !4 , ! . 4!

4 ) , ,9 - ) , , 2/! $ $ 5 . 7/ / $9 ' !

7:00 P.M. !4 4()3 2%#%04)/. ).&/2-!4)/. 7),, "% 02/6)$%$ !"/54 !$-)33)/.3

3#(/,!23()0 /00/245.)4)%3 !.$ *%7)3( ,)&% /. #!-053

PLEASE RESPOND BY OCTOBER 4.

TO RSVP OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL (205)348-2914

I’m hoping that those of you now reading this story enjoy it and that, in some small way, it adds to your sense of pride in our heritage.

Lipman Pike was born in 1845.

His parents were from Holland and moved to Brooklyn where “Lip� was born.

He was a tremendous athlete even as a youngster, and was known for his superb speed. There were many competitive baseball teams at the time, but the players were amateurs and unpaid. Because of his athletic ability, he was recruited by many of the area teams.

He actually played for his first team in 1858, one week after his Bar Mitzvah. In 1866, he was playing for the Brooklyn Atlantics. The Philadelphia Athletics badly wanted him to play for them.

To entice him, they decided to do something never done before: they offered him $20 a week, which in 1866 was a large sum of money. He ac-

cepted, thus becoming the first-ever professional baseball player. It’s also worth nothing that the first full-time professional baseball club was started three years later in Cincinnati.

Lip became an instant star for the Athletics, even though he only played for them one year. He hit six home runs in one game, when most players didn’t have that many in a season.

He moved around from team to team, becoming a star player / manager wherever he went.

In the era of the dead ball, Lipman always was a star hitter. When he retired in 1881, he had a career batting average in the National League of .304.

One of the most athletic attributes of Lipman Pike was his amazing speed.

Besides playing baseball, he ran competitively. In 1873, he won the Maryland 100 yard championship for a $100 prize. He ran it in 10 seconds flat, which broke all the existing records. Another time, he actually raced against a horse and won, receiving a $250 prize.

So, in addition to all his baseball accomplishments, he was also the first Jewish track champion in the U.S. Unfortunately, his life was cut short. Pike died of a heart attack in 1893. He was only 42.

Bruce Weinstein is an active member of the Atlanta Jewish community and serves on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, the Marcus Jewish Community Center, Hillels of Georgia, and the Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity National Endowment board. He is a Principal with Your Wealth Partners, and specializes in insurance, retirement, estate and financial planning.

AJT

MATZAH BALL SOUP FOR THE SOUL

An Argument for the Obstacles of Adulthood EASY DOESN’T ALWAYS EQUAL BETTER

AJT Columnist

T

otal belief and devotion to G-d and to Judaism is probably one of the only concepts that’s easier for a child than for an adult. When we’re young, it’s simple. The logic is so cut and dry.

As children, we know G-d exists because: 1). People have been believing in G-d for a very long time and 2). Our world had to be created by something, and since nothing could have existed before creation in order to do the creating, it must have been G-d, finally 3). We have a big book filled with stories about G-d and his miraculous events, and obviously G-d is the only being that can perform miracles.

But then we go though life, developing in all sorts of ways – socially, academically, philosophically and professionally. It starts slow. We hear about this thing called evolution, and get briefed on the theory of the Big Bang.

We learn words like “realistic” and “rational,” and start to use them in our conversations about the Torah.

We read books about the Holocaust and start thinking about how many prayers were left unanswered.

And it seems that the older we get, the more difficult it becomes to say with unwavering confidence, “Yes, I believe in G-d and in the teachings of Judaism.”

That beautifully simple logic we used as a child no longer applies, because so many variables have been

added to the equation: what about science, what about other religions, and what about Jewish laws in modern times?

Connection to Our Reading By the time we’re introduced to Abram in the Torah, he’s already lived a full life. The Talmud recounts his early days: Abram was born in Mesopotamia. He was the son of Terach, an idolater, and he and his family lived in a kingdom ruled by King Nimrod.

Abram was a philosopher, an astrologer, and an outspoken opponent to the worship of idols. He married Sarai and moved to Haran. It is not, however, until the age of75, that he makes an appearance in the Torah.

He, therefore, has obviously outgrown his naïve and simplistic views of the world and is well into his years of complex thought.

This week’s Torah portion, Lech Lecha, begins with that exact appearance: “And the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name and you shall be a blessing’ … And Abram went, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him, and Abram was seventy five years old when

he left Haran” (Genesis 12:1-4).

This was the command that started it all—lech lecha, go forth.

Abram went, physically removing himself from Haran in order to travel to the land of Canaan where G-d appeared to him and promised the land to Abram’s descendants. There, the covenant was made between Abram and G-d. It was there, in the land of Canaan, that Abram built an altar to G-d.

But what made the move so significant? The answer is just a few words: eretz, moladtecha, and beit avicha. These are the places from which Abram was told to leave—his land, birthplace, and father’s house.

While, yes, Abram did lech, did physically “go” to another land, there was also a metaphorical journey going on.

Starting with the words themselves, if not taken for their literal definition, eretz, moladtecha, and beit avicha each carry a second possible meaning. Eretz, or land, could be understood to represent one of two things: one’s possessions wealth, or, based on its Hebrew root, it could be taken to mean ratzon or “will” and “desire.” (Choosing between the two seems a rather unnecessary task at the moment, but it’s important to recognize both options.)

Additionally, moladtecha, “birthplace,” refers to one’s home and society. And finally, beit avicha, “father’s house,” refers to one’s intellect and rational mind.

From there, we’re lead to consider what might happen to our thoughts

and beliefs if we lech lecha away from our physical possessions, our homes, and our rational minds? Would we, too, feel compelled to build an altar to G-d—rather, compelled to fully devote ourselves to the Lord, our G-d?

Most likely, the answer is yes.

Without the distractions and complications of adolescent and adult life, dedicating yourself to Judaism would most likely be a fairly simple task.

But it would also be an insincere one.

To believe in something only when it’s convenient is not to believe in it. This is why I think there may be just one more underlying metaphor at play here. We don’t lech lecha, “go forth”; we separate, or compartmentalize. My belief in G-d doesn’t always mesh with the other variables in my life, but there’s something about the innate feeling of connection to G-d that makes me feel like I can have both at once.

Even if the realities of the adult world don’t agree with my lifelong belief in G-d, it’s my beliefs that can lech lecha—that can continue progressing, aside from my possessions, my desires, my society, and my rational mind.

Rachel LaVictoire (rlavictoire@wustl.edu) is a graduate of the Davis Academy and Westminster High School, recipient of the prestigious Nemerov Writing and Thomas H. Elliott Merit scholarships at Washington University of St. Louis and an active member of Temple Emanu-El and the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. She was recently named to the board of St. Louis Hillel.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

BY RACHEL LAVICTOIRE

33

AJT

D’Var Torah

Following a Path to Peace

ABRAHAM’S BELIEF IN COMPROMISE REMAINS IMPORTANT LESSON FOR ALL OF US You don’t have to pay full price for your prescription drugs. Fill your prescriptions with a licensed Canadian pharmacy... IT’S EASY GET A FREE PRICE QUOTE TODAY.

SAMPLE SAVINGS

Aclphex Diovan Effexor XR Plavix Flomax Crestor

Strength 20 320mg 150 mg 75mg 0.4 mg 20mg

Size 100 tabs 30 tabs 100 caps 28 tabs 30 caps 30 tabs

US $585 $145 $411 $142 $109 $156

Canada $152 $ 42 $ 216 $ 85.93 $ 26.94 $ 62

Generic $ 27 $ 18 $ 39 $ 25 $8 $ 12

Save 84% 87% 74% 83% 85% 92%

BY RABBI JUDITH BEINER FOR THE AJT

I

n Parashat Lech Lecha, Abraham receives a call from G-d, and his journey begins.

A lot of ground, literally and figuratively is covered in these chapters. Abraham and Sarah travel from their home, collecting both people and property along the way. G-d solidifies a covenant with Abraham and the future Israelites, and Hagar gives birth to Ishmael.

Abraham and his nephew Lot fare well as they both grow wealthy, acquiring large flocks of animals. Quarrels among the herds and handlers ensue, as it becomes clear that sharing land and close proximity of the two households is no longer tenable.

No one prepares a child for school like Kenan The preschool years are a crucial developmental time for children. For 40 years the Kenan Preschool has given children the strongest possible foundation for learning. Kenan’s researchbased academic curriculum, focused on language and literacy, unleashes each child’s critical thinking and passion for knowledge. Children leave Kenan exceptionally prepared for school and for life.

See how the latest in early childhood education research is put into practice at an Open House

Oct. 23

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

Visit atlantaspeechschool.org/kenan or call 404.233.5332 ext. 3003 to register.

34

“Abram said to Lot, ‘Let there be no strife between you and me, between my herdsmen and yours, for we are kinsmen.’” (Genesis 13:8)

Rabbi Ismar Schorch teaches: “Abraham, the source of Lot’s good fortune, chooses not to pull rank.

He suggests instead separating their families and magnanimously grants Lot first choice as to where he would like to settle: ‘If you go north, I will go south; and if you go south, I will go north.’ When Lot grabs the most fertile land, Abraham still does not demur. At no point in this narrative does he assert authority to impose his will on his disrespectful and greedy nephew. For whatever reason, be it a desire to avoid conflict or because he is blinded by love, he refuses to resolve the dispute by force… what strikes me is the extraordinary display of restraint.”

Abraham acts with restraint, for the sake of peace. Whether or not he was aware of it, Abraham was in the stronger position, and could have dictated the outcome.

atlantaspeechschool.org

Rather than exercising his power and potentially inflaming the situation, Abraham chose not to take advantage. He allowed Lot to choose and in so doing, followed the path to peace.

Think about how frequently we witness the opposite: The power grab,

an immediate reaction with yelling, anger and impatience.

How much more appealing is a response characterized by restraint, taking a deep breath, counting to 10, a moment of regrouping to think.

When a reasoned response takes place, discussion, compromise and good will can result.

Nobody is left angry or ashamed or feeling shortchanged.

While pursuing peace is a lesson for the ages, it feels particularly relevant today in the midst of a government shutdown, with intransigence, mudslinging, and vitriolic reactions the norm in the public sphere. When everyone yells and nobody compromises, there are no winners, only losers.

Peace can never be the outcome.

Paul Schenk, a local clinical psychologist has written “Great ways to Sabotage a Good Conversation”. It is a short readable book in which he illustrates how common words and phrases and various language traps ultimately and consistently block dialogue between co-workers, parents and children, partners and friends.

Schenk notes that when you can’t have a dialogue, both sides cannot be heard or understood, and conflict and enmity result. Schenk’s book is required reading in my household.

And while our conversations are not always perfect, they are much, much more peaceful.

While we may not be able to change our public official’s behavior until the next election, we can work on our own in the meantime. Abraham stands as a model of one who ‘used his words’ thoughtfully and carefully. We are taught in the book of Proverbs: Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths peaceful (3:17) May we learn to use our words in the pursuit of peace.

Rabbi Judith Beiner, a board member of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, is the community chaplain for JF&CS.

Sun., Oct. 13

“Behind the Doors of Beth Din: Jewish Financial Law and Modern Times,” a class that gives an in depth taste of the real-life Halachik issues confronting Judaism today and how they are resolved in the Beth Din. First of a six part course with instructor Rabbi Michael Broyde. Sun., Oct. 13, 9:45 a.m., Atlanta Dayanut Institute.

Blessing of the Pets, conducted by Rabbi Glusman along with memorial prayers and prayers for healing. Individual blessings will follow. Adoptions available by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue. Sun., Oct. 13, 12:30 p.m.

Free. Brook Run Dog Park, Liane Levetan park at Brook Run.

Mon., Oct. 14

“Celebrating Interfaith Together,” to honor World Pilgrim Participants and others. Dinner program hosted

by Brenda Woods of WXIA, 11 Alive News. Presented by Interfaith Community Initiatives. Mon., Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m. Temple Sinai. Advance reservations at eventrsvp.weebly.com.

“Isaiah’s Unforgettable Monologue to G-d,” part of a six part course with instructor Avi Shlomo, covering Jewish civil Law, Choshen Mishpat.

Mon., Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Dayanut Institute.

Tues., Oct. 15

“Famous Women Zionists,” presented by Greater Atlanta Hadassah with speaker Gabriella Licsko, Israeli lecturer, historian, and radio host. Tues., Oct. 15, 10 a.m. Free.

Hadassah Chapter office Perimeter Center. RSVP, embarr1@bellsouth. net or jserkin@hadassah.org.

“The Secret Ingredient in Jewish Perseverance,” with instructor Rabbi Avi Shlomo.Tues., Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Dayanut Institute.

“Talmudic Thinking,” Appreciating the depth of Talmudic logic (Talmud Bava Kama) with instructor Rabbi Sender Lustig. Tues., Oct. 15, 7:30 p.m. Atlanta Dayanut Institute.

Wed., Oct. 16

“What is Bothering Rashi?” with instructor Rabbi Yossi New. Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, Franc) is the pre-eminent commentator to both the Torah and the Talmud. This three part course will study some of Rashi’s underlying principles and show how he combines beautiful simplicity with immense depth. Wed., Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Tefillah.

Fri., Oct. 18

Shabbat on the Rocks: Wine Tasting & Shabbat Networking, all adults (ages 40+) are invited to enjoy beautiful views, a wine bar, gourmet challah and vegetarian hors d’oeuvres.

Shabbat prayers by Rabbi Glusman.

Fri., Oct. 18, 6 p.m. $15/person. City Club of Buckhead.

Sun., Oct. 20

Cohen Home Open House, visit The Cohen Home for a delicious brunch and open house. Learn about the activities, volunteer opportunities and personalized care services. Sun., Oct.

20, 10 a.m. The Cohen Home. RSVP, info@cohenhome.org or (770) 4758787.

Atlanta Radio Theater Company, the MJCCA is pleased to welcome the ARTC for two shows, featuring, “War of the Worlds: The Untold Story” by H.G. Wells. Audience members can watchhow the technicians craft sound effects live. Sun., Oct. 20, 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. $10-$15/person. Morris and Rae Frank Theater. www.atlantajcc. org/boxofficce

Tues., Oct. 22

Atlanta Aliyah Planning Workshop, a dynamic, informational program giving you the opportunity to learn more about living in Israel, immigrant rights, employment, education and more. Hosted by Marc Rosenberg, from Nefesh B’Nefesh. Tues., Oct. 22, 7 p.m. Doubletree Hotel Atlanta, North Druid Hills. Register, nbn.org. il/jnbncal/main/2/5376.

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

AJT

what’s happening

35

AJT

may their memories be a blessing

Felicia Weber

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

66, Atlanta

36

Felicia Penzell Weber, co-founder of the Doris and Alex Weber Jewish Community High School, passed away peacefully early Monday morning surrounded by her family and friends. The cause was multiple infections following a serious car crash. She will be remembered as a lifelong community activist, with great personal warmth and charm. Felicia was born on January 13, 1947 in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Joseph and Helen Penzell. She studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and received a Masters in Education from Northeastern University, after graduating from Wheaton College with a major in English Literature. Moving to Atlanta in 1976 with her husband and 2 year-old daughter, she co-founded the organization, Mothers to Mothers - a support network for first-time mothers living far away from family. In the early ‘90s, along with others, Felicia responded to the need for an interdenominational Jewish high school in Atlanta and worked tirelessly to help launch the Weber School. She remained committed to the success of the school and its growing body of students and graduates. Felicia is survived by her husband, Joe Weber; her children and their spouses: Molly Rubin (Zach), Jacob Weber (Amy), and Rachel Weber (Ephraim Pelcovits); and five grandchildren: Yael, Akiva, Rosa, Alexander and Lev. An online guestbook is available at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Weber School, 6751 Roswell Rd., Atlanta, GA 30328, www.weberschool.org. Services were held 11 a.m. Wed., Oct. 9 at The Weber School with Rabbi Ephraim Pelcovits officiating. Burial followed at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, (770) 451-4999.

Dr. Sanford Shmerling

Marvin Brown

Dr. Sanford Shmerling, 85, of Atlanta died Friday, October 4, 2013. He was born in Augusta, Georgia. He is preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Lena Shmerling, his first wife, Martha Copeloff Shmerling, and his second wife, Beverly Bernstein Shmerling, all of blessed memory. He was a member of the AA Synagogue and the American Medical Association. He is survived by his sons, Gary Shmerling and Richard Shmerling; daughterin-law Karen Schatten Shmerling and daughter Catherine Copeloff Shmerling; sister and brother-in-law, Sylvia and Lou Pygan, Ca., sister and brother-in-law, Arlene and Joe Berman of Atlanta. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Didi Conn and Ben, Andrew and Richard Bernstein, and 12 grandchildren.

Sanford was known for his great sense of humor and his commitment to the care of his patients and the less fortunate. He graduated from Boys High of Atlanta, Emory University and The Medical College of Georgia. He was an Emory Fellow and a teacher and mentor for medical students and young doctors for many years, as well as the Medical Director of the William Bremen Jewish Home for 34 years. Sanford was an avid reader.

He loved learning and watching and participating in sports.

He also loved music, dance, theater, opera, comedy and movies.

He was an animal lover, a gardener and a long time member of the AA Men’s Choir. Dr. Shmerling served as a captain in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict. He loved America and the principles for which it stands. Sanford Shmerling will be remembered by all of those he touched for his compassion, his medical expertise, his commitments to justice and service and his ability to seek and find joy and humor in life, no matter what the circumstance. Services were held at Greenwood Cemetery, Sun., Oct. 6, 2013 at 1 p.m., with Rabbi Neal Sandler officiating. Please sign our online guest book at www. edressler.com. Donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association or the AA Synagogue. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta, Georgia, (770) 451-4999.

Marvin Brown, 87, of Decatur, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 7, 2013. He was born to Sadye and Abram Brown, of blessed memory, in Saratoga, N.Y. Marvin graduated from Skidmore College and served in the Air Force during WWII, before enjoying a successful career selling insurance for Mutual of Omaha. He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Harriet; his daughters, Robyn Ripps and her husband Scott, and Jodie Brown; his grandchildren, Emma and Jacob Ripps; and his sister and brother-in-law, Doris and Bob Pletman. An online guestbook is available at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shearith Israel Morning Minyan Fund or The Temple Bremen Religious School Fund. Graveside service were held at 3:30 p.m. on Wed., Oct. 9 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Loren Lapidus officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, (770) 451-4999

87, Decatur

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

85, Atlanta

37

JEWISH PUZZLER

by David Benkof

Across 1. Locust, e.g.

5. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Richard Blumenthal (DConn.)

9. Egyptian resort where Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams met 13. Theory of Relativity, e.g.

14. Bible’s first grandkid 15. Celestial body with a tail 16. “Cosmos” creator 18. Capital of Russia?

19. Talmudic tractate about the census 20. Hospital signs 21. Rabbi Dov ___ of Mezeritch 22. Strove for 23. “Pajama Game” composer 28. Computer programmer Swartz 29. Photographer Goldin and others 30. A son of Noah 33. Be aware of 34. Bava ___ (Talmudic tractate) 36. “From a long ___ of rabbis” 37. Uri Geller talent, supposedly 38. Lerner and Loewe’s 1958 hit musical 39. ___ and lox 40. It was annexed in 1981 43. Bais Yaakov and Solomon Schechter

46. Give an uzi to 47. Borneo beasts 48. Game plan 53. Tier at Teddy Kollek stadium 54. Behrman House competitor 55. Swoon over 56. “You go not till ___ you up a glass”: Hamlet 57. B’nei ___ (Heavily Orthodox city) 58. Fabulous flyers 59. Kinley, e.g.

60. Szechwan sauces

15. Woody Allen’s “___ and Misdemeanors” 17. Forbes 400 member Haim ___ 20. Home of a famous Gaon 22. Month before Nisan 23. Garden implement 24. Kinsler and Ziering 25. Kibbutz output, often 26. First word of “Blowin’ in the Wind”

27. Memoirist immigrant Mary 30. Rosh Hashana is this kind of holiday 31. Janis Ian album “Working Without ___” 32. Brooks and Blanc 34. Graham and Maher 35. “It’s___!” (wow!)

36. ___ Ba’Omer 38. Sergey Brin’s company 39. Synagogue platform

40. Hopeless causes 41. The ADL fights it 42. Second-edition section 43. Kind of year that isn’t lunar 44. The “Ani Maamin” (I believe), e.g.

45. Total chaos 48. Shrug-eliciting, maybe 49. Word processor settings 50. Shekel alternative 51. Ashen 52. Won’t be quiet 54. Opposite of ‘tain’t

Last week’s answers

Down 1. What Spielberg makes, for short 2. ___ HaChareidis 3. Like the Negev 4. ___ radio (Dennis Prager’s medium) 5. Undercoat of paint 6. Surround 7. Author/linguist Chomsky 8. US IRS ID 9. Promoter 10. “I’m mean and green, and I ___” (“Little Shop of Horrors” lyric) 11. “Lost in Yonkers” character 12. “This is only ___!” (radio message)

HOME IMPROVEMENT

The Stress-Free Way To Restore Order In Your Home or Office CALL OUR CLIENT LOYALTY CENTER FOR ALL YOUR HAULING & MOVING NEEDS

404-907-2441 www.CollegeHunks.com

OCTOBER 11 ▪ 2013

You won't lift a finger; We'll do ALL the work.

Single item removals or total cleanouts.

Up-front, all-inclusive rates.

TOP QUALITY FLOORS. ROCK BOTTOM PRICES. flooranddecor.com

38

“College Hunks are professional, courteous and punctual. I would highly recommend them to all. - Rod R.

Over 70% of everything we haul is donated or recycled!

7 days/week, year-round service.

Furniture, appliances, debris & more!

Full-service, stress-free local moving and packing services.

In-home labor/muscle services available.

THE MARKETPLACE REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE

404-883-2130

ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS

COMPUTER

TRAVEL

CRUISES INC. Your Vacation Specialists

Exclusive Promotions

Discounted Rates

ent Repres all Cruises

All-Inclusive Service

COMPUTER

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Rachelle Simon independent vacation specialist

424-CRU-ISES | 424-278-4737 rsimon@cruisesinc.com

www.cruisingcruises.com PERSONAL SHOPPER

Styling for any occasion Personal or corporate gift-gifting Closet purging and learning how to style with what you have!

Call Nicole Borsuk, Personal Shopper www.nicoleborsuk.com | 404-964-1648 | nicole@nicoleborsuk.com

Reading this? Your ad can be seen too!

CNA Available- 7 yrs experience, will provide VIP care for your loved ones. References available: Call Clarissa 404-914-3824 Home Health Aid/CNA looking for position. Days/ Nights, 10+ yrs experience, Appt. and errand companion. Name: Dawnel Sibblis 678-4716527 dawnelsibblis@gmail.com PLOT FOR SALE 1 Cemetery space in the Garden of David Section, Lot 10A at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mount Vernon Road N.W., Atlanta. Price is $3,500/negotiable.

Serious inquiries contact Allen at 561-685-6091

generator sales & service, inc. www.perkinselectric.com

770-251-9765

24/7 Power Protection Hands Free Operation | Professional Installation

GENERATORS 24/7 POWER PROTECTION

OCTOBER 11 â–Ş 2013

homecare

39

WellStar Medical Group Proudly serving East Cobb

ALLERGY & ASTHMA Grace Chiang, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30062 770-333-2027

CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE Mindy Gentry, M.D. Michael Hardee, M.D. Harvey Sacks, M.D. 1010 Johnson Ferry Road Marietta, GA 30068 770-321-3490

ENDOCRINOLOGY Sona Patel, M.D. Reshma Shah, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road Suite 110 Marietta, GA 30062 678-403-4300

FAMILY MEDICINE & GERIATRIC MEDICINE Whitney Denton, M.D. Shravantika Reddy, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 240 Marietta, GA 30062 678-403-4660

FAMILY MEDICINE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE — PEDIATRICS Mitzi Rubin, M.D., FAAFP Megan Bowles, M.D Travis Bowles, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30062 770-973-2272

PEDIATRICS

Amy Cooper, M.D., MPH, MS Eva Montgomery-McGuire, M.D., FAAP 3939 Roswell Road Marietta GA 30062 770-578-2868

PEDIATRICS

Susan Staviss, M.D., FAAP 1523 Johnson Ferry Road | Suite 150 Marietta GA 30062 770-509-1234

PULMONARY MEDICINE Morohunfolu Akinnusi, M.D. Mark Schlosberg, M.D. 3939 Roswell Road | Suite 110 Marietta, GA 30062 770-422-1372

All practices accepting new patients and most insurance plans.

770-956-STAR

wellstar.org