Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. 100 NO. 24, December 31, 2025

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VOL. 100 NO. 24

DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 11 TEVET 5786

Year In Review

January 2025 Rabbi Alvin Sugarman of The Temple Dies at 86

February 2025 AJLF Celebrates 100 Years of Community

March 2025 Beth Shalom Celebrates a Joyous 50th Anniversary

April 2025 Marcus & Blank Honored for Work with Veterans

May 2025 Anti-Jewish Sentiment Continues to Thrive

June 2025 AJT Donation Model Starting Off Strong

July 2025 Maccabiah Games Postponed Until 2026

August 2025 Bouzyk Fired for Joining Wife’s Antisemitic Tirade

September 2025 Meet the New Consul General to the Southeast

October 2025 Memorials Mark Anniversary of Oct. 7

November 2025 Kosher BBQ Returns with Massive Turnout

December 2025 Benator Retires After 55 Years of JCC Softball

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Cover Photo: From local synagogues celebrating 50 years to memorials for the Oct. 7 attacks, this year brought us many highs and lows.

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 5

NEWS Community Expresses Grief Over Bondi Beach Shooting

By Sasha Heller In the wake of the horrific mass shooting at a Chabad Chanukah event in Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, that killed at least 15 people, Jewish organizations -- both local and national - shared statements of grief and compassion.

Chabad of North Fulton shared, “Today should have been the first night of the Festival of Light. Instead, we woke to heartbreaking news of a terror attack at a Chanukah gathering in Sydney, Australia … Lives are shattered and families are grieving. Our hearts are heavy with pain, shock, and sorrow. And yet, tonight we are meant to gather for our own public menorah lighting in Avalon. Many are asking: How can we celebrate on a day like this? How can we sing, smile, and light candles in the face of such darkness? While I don’t have all the answers, there is one thing I know; this is exactly what Chanukah calls us to do. Chanukah was never about waiting for easy or safe moments. It was born in darkness, and it teaches us to respond to hatred with light, to fear with courage, and to terror with Jewish pride. We do not hide. We do not cancel our light. We stand taller.

"Tonight may be cold outside, but our hearts are warm — with faith, unity, and resilience. Let us stand together. Let us light together. Let us answer darkness with light. With strength and faith.”

Chabad of Georgia issued the following statement, “Chanukah begins tonight, and our Chabad centers across Georgia have been working tirelessly to ensure a meaningful, uplifting, and joyous holiday for communities throughout the state. At the same time, our hearts are heavy, and our global Jewish family is mourning. We are devastated by the terror attack at the Chabad Chanukah event in Sydney, Australia. An attack on the Jewish community in Sydney is an attack on Jewish everywhere.

We are one people. We mourn together, and with G-d’s help, we will once again celebrate together. We pray for the victims and their families, and we honor their memory by performing mitzvahs and acts of goodness in their merit.”

Federation shared, “Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is horrified by the antisemitic terrorist shooting in Australia. This was a deliberate terrorist attack targeting the Jewish community in Sydney as they celebrated the first night of Chanukah and must be loudly and clearly called out as antisemitism. The 6 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

A mass shooting at a Chanukah event in Australia left at least 15 people dead // Photo Credit: Global News

security of the Jewish community is the top priority of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Our community security initiatives are on full alert for the Chanukah celebrations in their communities, working with all our law enforcement partners. We mourn those killed in this horrific shooting, send our comforts to their families, and wish a speedy and full recovery for the injured. Our community will never retreat in the face of hatred and will never refrain from carrying on our Jewish traditions. Rather, we will use every tool at our disposal to make sure our communities are safe and that our lights burn all the brighter.”

The Temple’s Senior Rabbi Peter Berg said, “I shared with our community a famous picture taken in 1932 of a chanukiyyah in the window overlooking a Nazi flag. The picture was taken

by Rabbi Akiva and Rachel Posner of their chanukiyyah placed in the window of their home in Kiel, Germany, directly across the street from Nazi headquarters. On the back of the photo, Rachel Posner wrote: ‘Our light will outlast their flag.’ That is the message I share with our community this year. That we must continue to light our chanukiyyot publicly and proudly, even sometimes in defiance. And that our responsibility is, in these very dark days, to bring even more light into the world."

Rabbi Albert Slomovitz, executive director of the Jewish Christian Discovery

Center, shared, “The hateful people who perpetrated this act represent evil itself as do those who shoot innocent college students. What has been gained by these acts? This senseless violence will not advance any cause except that of evil. We, who oppose such acts, must take a stand for light. The light of shared connections, shared heritages and shared humanity.

Chanukah, Christmas, and Kwanza are all holidays that focus on light. Light represents education, understanding and mutual respect. The heroic Muslim man who battled one of the shooters understood that concept. We all must feel the radiance of the light of mutual respect and dignity. Once that light is extinguished for one group of people, we all end up living in the shadows.”

State Rep. Esther Panitch shared, “The terrorist attack at Bondi Beach that murdered 15 innocent people celebrating the first night of Hanukkah is an unspeakable evil. Among the victims were children, Holocaust survivors, and two beloved rabbis who dedicated their lives to bringing light into the world. This massacre is not isolated. It follows a documented five-fold increase in antisemitic incidents in Australia since Oct. 7, 2023, including Iran-directed arson attacks on synagogues. Australian Jewish leaders warned their government repeatedly that escalating violence was inevitable without decisive action. Their warnings went unheeded, and now families are bury-

ing their loved ones. As a co-chair of the Georgia Israel Caucus and the only legislator from our community in the Georgia General Assembly, I know that what happens to Jews in Sydney matters deeply to Jews across Georgia — from Atlanta to Savannah, from Columbus to Augusta.

The targeting of Jews celebrating a festival of religious freedom is an attack on our shared values and our way of life. To my fellow Jewish Georgians: We see the rising tide of antisemitism here at home and abroad. We grieve with our Australian family. And we refuse to be cowed into hiding our identity or dimming our lights. We all know that a small light can pierce even the deepest darkness.

"May the memories of those murdered be for a blessing, and may their families know no further sorrow.”

Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff posted on X, “Alisha and I are heartbroken by the news from Australia, where innocent Jewish families were attacked celebrating the first night of Hanukkah. This brutal attack has shaken the Jewish community in Georgia and nationwide, but Jews refuse to be intimidated by cowardly antisemitic violence. Our prayers are with the families of those brutally murdered and all impacted by this heinous act. May their memories be a blessing.”

Ted Deutch, CEO of American Jewish Committee, posted on X, “Bondi Beach is one of the most beautiful places in the world. And Jewish kids celebrating the

NEWS

The Fountain of YOU YOU..

Jews around the world are grieving the tragic mass shooting incident at a Chabad event at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia // Photo Credit: ABC News

joyous holiday of Hanukkah with their families is likewise one of the most beautiful images of our people. Both have now been ripped to pieces. Sickened, but not surprised, everywhere across the Jewish world, we are mourning the loss of our family in Australia. We are praying for the families who lost loved ones. We are praying for a full recovery for the injured. And we are sending every bit of strength and resolve that we can to our dear friends in the incredible Australian Jewish community.”

Global Jewry released the following statement, “We are heartbroken by the recent attack in Bondi Beach and the pain it has caused within the Australian Jewish community. Our thoughts are with those directly impacted, their families, and the broader community as they navigate this difficult moment. Global Jewry exists to connect Jewish leaders, organizations, and communities across borders, especially in moments when support, coordination, and communication matter most. While each local community knows its own needs best, we want to be clear that no one is facing this alone. To our members in Australia: please know that there is a strong global network standing with you. If there are ways we can help, whether through introductions, sharing resources, amplifying needs, or simply connecting you with others who can support, we encourage you to reach out.”

From the American Zionist Movement, “As we celebrate Chanukah, a time of light and resilience, we do so with heavy hearts following the horrific attack in Bondi Beach, standing in solidarity with the victims, their families, and

the global Jewish community.”

From the Democratic Majority for Israel, “We are sickened and heartbroken to wake up to news of a massacre targeting Jews celebrating the first night of Chanukah at Australia’s Bondi Beach.

This terrorist attack makes painfully clear that antisemitic violence remains a grave and growing threat. Jews must be able to gather, pray, and celebrate their religion openly and safely. From the Tree of Life to Poway, from Boulder to Washington, D.C., and now Bondi Beach, the rise of violent antisemitism demands urgent and sustained action from our leaders and communities.

"At this moment of darkness, as we prepare to begin Chanukah, we draw strength from the story of the Maccabees, who faced hatred and persecution with courage and resilience. That spirit endures today. Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and all those impacted by this horrific act.”

And Amb. Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, released the following statement, “I am deeply shocked and saddened by the deadly terror attack near Bondi Beach in Sydney, where members of the Jewish community were gathered to mark the first night of Chanukah. My immediate thoughts are with every Jew across Australia and around the world in this painful moment. No community should ever fear​ coming together to celebrate its faith, traditions, or identity … Make no mistake, this will not break us. We will continue to stand proudly, united against all forms of violence and hate, and in unwavering solidarity with Jewish communities everywhere.” ì

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NEWS

FIDF Event Features Grit, Music and Inspiration

By Marcia Caller Jaffe The annual Friends of Israel Defense Forces’ Legends & Heroes Event returned to City Springs with emotional photos and songs on Monday, Dec. 8. The evening showcased local leaders like Ben Levy and Garry Sobel, along with dramatic features like war photographer Oren Gold, singer and guitarist Noam Buskila, and a high level IDF brigadier general, who has to remain unidentified due to his next chapter of imminent reenlistment.

Local attorney Levy fired up the group by recollecting the events of Oct. 7 in the importance of standing by and appreciating the IDF soldiers. He stated, “We cannot take security for granted, and dozens of Atlanta’s Lone Soldiers have served. The IDF is our first line of defense … think of radical groups like Iran building and rebuilding nuclear capabilities.”

He recalled local Lone Soldier Rose Lubin who lost her young life in the line of duty.

Sobel, who has been an FIDF national board member for 12 years, spoke next about the heavy stresses remaining since Oct. 7, and how “Never Again” rings true in victories like Operation Rising Lion, where the IDF maintained total air supremacy over Iran, and the larger mission of “saving the free world.”

He concluded, “After the massacre at Nova, we made a pledge – a simple, defiant promise: “we will dance again.

Because of the courage and sacrifice of our soldiers, our hostages are home; and tonight gives us a moment to fulfill that pledge, to breathe, and yes - to smile again.”

Next up was a spellbinding IDF general with decades of experience in working with both the U.S. and Israel military in various high level attaché positions, in addition to senior commander in the cockpit.

He said, “Post-Oct. 7, we worked shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers. At first, it was total chaos … urgent discussions by the hour … ultimately, now we are left with psychological trauma where the FIDF provides life changing tools. We don’t take pride in fighting … after all, I have sons … and now I’m called back for another mission.”

FIDF supporter Rachel Goldschein told the AJT that she was looking forward to hearing guitarist Noam Buskila, known as the “Ricky Martin of Israel.”

Dimpled and charismatic, he performed an inspirational “Mishibarah,” “Hatik8 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jen Scher is pictured the young Israeli shinshinim working temporarily in Atlanta at various positions, often tied to education and camp,

FIDF supporters Ramie Tritt, Ben Levy, and Mike Wilensky enjoyed the speakers.

vah,” and “Am Yisrael Chai,” where audience members were brought to their feet with emotion.

The final speaker was Oren Cohen, the official war photographer who spent 460 days in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Judea, and Samaria, in terror tunnels, on the sea, and in the air to document real events in an unfiltered way, so no one will forget the faces of the brave soldiers.

He spoke of the Sheba Project where the FIDF supports victims of PTSD. Cohen, who also previously served as a medic in the IDF, showed a photograph of soldiers escorting traumatized children who were visibly not able to trust or hug back.

He said, “Here’s a photo of this sol-

Guitarist Noam Buskila brought emotion and spirit.

War photographer Oren Cohen posed with FIDF leader Garry Sobel // All photos by Jon Marks

dier, Greenberg, who was subsequently killed … just think, the tunnels were 24 feet deep and 50 feet long, going on for three miles, dark with no air … soldiers who could evacuate did not wait for helicopters.”

Cohen shared how he purposefully featured female soldiers on his book’s cover because some feel that women should not be sent to the front line … as Israel did for the first time in this war. Another compelling photo showed canine war heroes laying by the graves of their fallen soldiers alongside roses. Another emotive photo featured a war widow introducing her newborn to its late father on the gravesite. Cohen concluded, “Oct.

7 was the miracle that united us. No one can break us.”

After the event Cohen signed his book, “6:29 October 7th,” in the lobby.

Jen Scher, vice president of the Mid-Atlantic Region FIDF, told the AJT, “The Legends & Heroes event was a truly meaningful opportunity to share our gratitude with our devoted donors. Our incredible speakers inspired us all, while Noam Buskila’s beautiful music elevated the entire evening with joy and emotion.

Oren Cohen’s powerful photographs added another unforgettable dimension, capturing our living history and reminding us why this community’s support matters so deeply.” ì

NEWS

Buckhead Shul Celebrates First Torah Scroll

By Marcia Caller Jaffe On Sunday, Nov. 23, the Buckhead Shul community gathered for the milestone moment in dedicating its first Torah scroll. More than 200 people attended the celebration, which drew families, supporters, and rabbis from across Georgia, as well as visitors from Florida, Myrtle Beach, and South Carolina.

The Torah was dedicated by Amit and Zack Feldberg in honor of their parents, whose generosity made the project possible, along with major contributions from Mendy and Opal Ruder, Jonathan and Louisa Zufi, and the Ahalzadeh family. Rabbi Yisrael New remarked, “The dedication of our first Torah scroll represents not only an important accomplishment, but a turning point. A Torah is the foundation of Jewish communal life as an anchor, guide, and symbol of continuity. Bringing one into the community for the first time signals a new level of stability, identity, and future growth.”

The scroll was written in Israel, commissioned specifically for Buckhead, as a meaningful connection to Jewish tradition. Before the procession, participants helped complete the Torah. The final 43 letters were filled in by members of the community, each reciting a blessing and taking part in the mitzvah. Guided by Rabbi Ariel Asa, these individual moments formed one collective expression of unity and ownership. For many, it was a rare and deeply personal encounter with Jewish tradition.

The celebration continued outdoors with a lively Hachnasat Torah scroll procession through the streets of Buckhead.

Music, singing, and dancing accompanied the scroll as it was carried under a chuppah, winding through familiar neighborhood streets and passing the well-known corner of “Jesus Junction,” the long-standing home of many churches. The scene was joyful, public, and full of Jewish pride. Supporter Zack Feldberg said, “My wife and I are profoundly grateful for the opportunity to donate the Torah to the Chabad Buckhead community in honor of my parents, Robert and Elaine Feldberg, and my in-laws, Gabi and Limor Shitrit. We look forward to seeing Rabbi New and the community grow and wish them all the revealed blessings.”

Among the guests was Rabbi Yossi New, regional director of Chabad of Georgia, who attended both as the state’s representative and as a proud father. Rabbi Yossi New spoke about the remarkable growth he has witnessed in the Buckhead

Robert Feldberg, alongside Rabbi Yisrael New, had a turn in carrying the Torah in the processions.

Amit and Zack Feldberg watch the scribe work meticulously.

Shul and the importance of this moment in its development. He emphasized that a Torah symbolizes the people it unites.

“A Torah is made up of hundreds of thousands of letters, and if even one is missing, the scroll is considered incomplete. The same is true of a community.

Every individual matters. Every person is essential. Together, we create something whole.”

He added that the participation of so many families in writing the final letters was a powerful reflection of the shared identity forming in Buckhead. The community then gathered for a celebratory meal featuring a Moroccan-style menu

Josh Alzedeh takes his turn in the Torah procession.

Rabbi Yisrael New ensured that children participated in the dedication.

prepared by the parents of Amit, Limor, and Gavriel Shitrit.

Rabbi Yisrael New, spiritual leader of the Buckhead Shul, shared further reflections on the milestone. “As our community continues to grow, having a permanent home in the Cora & Stanley Solon Jewish Center of Buckhead, has been a significant milestone. Now with the arrival of our own Torah scroll, that home feels truly complete. A building is a space, but a Torah gives it direction and purpose. This Torah will serve as a steady anchor for our community, guiding and connecting us as we continue to build community together.”

As the Torah was placed in the ark for the first time, the emotion in the room reinforced a statement of who and what this relatively new community is and what it’s becoming.

Jonathan Zufi concluded, “I’m deeply grateful to the Feldberg family for dedicating this … it strengthens our spiritual mission to expand Jewish life in Buckhead and the surrounding areas. Rabbi Yisrael New has been an incredible force in bringing Jews of all ages into our community.

I’m honored to work alongside him and his energetic team of young professionals to continue Chabad’s mission of strengthening and revitalizing Jewish life.” ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 9

NEWS

MaCOM Rings in Tenth Anniversary

By Robert Garber A few miles away from the mikvah they were celebrating, over a hundred volunteers, community members, and other guests gathered at Temple Sinai in celebration of MACoM’s (Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah) first full decade of operation, organized by event chairs Leah Blum and Lisa Greenberg. After some brief hors d’oeuvres, guests filtered into the sanctuary to hear from speakers with deep ties to the mikvah, many since before its founding.

“When MACoM opened its doors 10 years ago, it did so with a bold vision,” said Blum, “to create a sacred space honoring a 2,000-year-old Jewish ritual, made meaningful and accessible for today. A space that is strictly kosher and radically inclusive — a place where anyone Jewish, regardless of identity, background, or affiliation, is welcome.”

After Greenberg highlighted the level and diversity of mikvah use — 1,080 immersions for conversion, 259 pre-wedding immersions, and 1,928 immersions for personal reasons — Blum applauded the mikvah guides.

She shared from her personal experience as a mikvah guide, earlier in the night, discussing a woman who had come from Texas to convert.

“She was older and she asked if she could sing the ‘Shema’ and the sound resonated and reverberated around the walls and the water, it literally brought me to tears,” said Blum.

Another mikvah guide, Darlene Levy, shared the story of a longtime married couple, where the husband was already Jewish, and the wife had come to MACoM to finish her conversion.

Rabbi Joshua Heller, MACoM’s “Chief Plumbing Officer,” giving a d’var torah.

Executive Director Michelle Day (center) with event chairs (from left) Ted and Leah Blum and Lisa and Seth Greenberg.

“When they come out, they always have a glow,” said Levy, “and I said ‘so you’re glowing,’ and he said to her ‘you’re finally Jewish,’ and that was just touching.”

Throughout the evening, moving videos of lives MACoM has touched played in between the speeches, including of a young man who converted and went on to become a mikvah guide and of a woman who went through a fertility segulah, immersing after a woman who was in her ninth month of pregnancy, and then went on during her own pregnancy to help provide that opportunity for someone else. The highlight of these was Gad and Guy, a gay Israeli couple

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who wanted a conversion ritual for their adopted son, who were astounded by the openness and beauty of the mikvah — jokingly comparing it at one point to a spa — and extremely grateful for the opportunity to immerse with their child.

Rabbi Joshua Heller of Congregation B’nai Torah, the unofficial “Chief Plumbing Officer” —who oversees MACoM’s kosher status — gave a d’var torah, and also tributed the late Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, who was instrumental in MACoM’s early days.

Another highlight was Lindy Radow, the first immerse, who after a decade of learning was ready to finalize her conversion process “But there was one problem: there wasn’t an inclusive, accessible mikvah within 400 miles. Not one,” said Radow.

“So, with a group of passionate community members, we set out to change that.

I joined the effort as a founding board member, driven by the hope that people like me, people seeking connection, identity, and a spiritual home — would have a place to complete their Jewish journeys right here in Atlanta. And when MACoM finally opened its doors, I had the extraordinary privilege of becoming the very first person to convert in its waters.”

“I often say we are a ‘fully kosher, meet-you-where-you-are, choose-yourown-adventure mikvah.’ And that truly is the essence of what we do,” said Mi-

Lindy Radow, the first person to convert at MACoM, was the night’s headlining speaker.

chelle Day, executive director at MACoM. “You can have your own experience. If you want a witness, to make sure you have three kosher dunks, as we say, then we provide that. We give you the space.

That’s what I love about MACoM, because it takes the preconceived notions that people have about what a mikvah is, and it really just puts them away, and it becomes a really safe and sacred and beautiful place.”

Day also highlighted the personal story of a girl whose father converted to Judaism.

“A few days later, she asked if she could come back and immerse, not to convert, but simply to express something she was feeling. She spent nearly halfan-hour in the mikvah room, choosing several gratitude rituals and kavanot completely on her own,” said Day, revealing later in her speech that the girl was her daughter. “For me, that moment captured exactly what MACoM is: A place where belonging flows forward to the next generation. A place where rituals are shaped by gratitude, pride, healing, and hope.”

“Tonight, as we celebrate MACoM’s first 10 years, we look ahead with hope and gratitude,” said Radow. “May thousands more find healing, joy, and spiritual renewal in these living waters. May MACoM continue to quench the spiritual thirst of all who enter its doors” ì

NEWS

Chief Uganda Rabbi Visits Atlanta-Area Synagogues

By Robert Garber Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, chief rabbi of Uganda, recently visited several synagogues around Atlanta. The trip, sponsored by Masorti Olami, the global organization for conservative Judaism, had him visiting Congregations B’nai Torah, Ahavath Achim, Shearith Israel, and Etz Chaim, sharing his story, songs, and unique perspective on Torah and Talmud.

At each synagogue, he explained the history of the Abayudaya, the Jewish community in Uganda and Kenya, although the word, meaning “People of Judah,” is also the Ugandan term for anyone Jewish.

He spoke briefly of how a man named Semei Kakungulu founded their community after rejecting Christian missionaries, supposedly taking the New Testament part off of a Christian Bible and handing it back to them, while keeping the rest. Rabbi Sizomu discussed the Biblical-focused form of Judaism the community practiced until they received a visit from some Israelis in the 1960s, who were shocked to see them making the paschal sacrifice during Pesach.

“We didn’t think they were Jewish, they didn’t think we were Jewish,” Rabbi Sizomu joked.

He shared how the community converted to Rabbinical Judaism after this, and how he himself became the first rabbi in his community to receive ordination in the U.S., studying at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles, where he graduated in the same class as Ahavath Achim’s Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal.

“Gershom is incredibly sweet and really quite a scholar of Judaism and Jewish text, and of liturgy, and it was really wonderful to learn from him and with him,” said Rosenthal. “Being in such an unusual situation, he was getting flown all over the country. It was always so interesting getting a phone call from him asking to let the teacher know he wasn’t going to be in class because – and this was a real situation that happened – he said ‘the secret service is here to take me to see the president, so please let professor so-and-so know that I can’t come into class today.’”

That was a meeting with President George W. Bush, who had been meeting with representatives of persecuted Jewish communities. Rabbi Sizomu grew up during the reign of Idi Amin and discussed the difficulties of that time – including

Rabbi Gershom Sizomu (front row, middle), praying in a synagogue in Uganda. // Photo Credit: Masorti Olami

Rabbi Sizomu discussing Talmud at an Ahavath Achim brotherhood meeting at the home of the home of Ellen and Michael Plasker.

Rabbi Sizomu teaching songs and prayers in his community’s tunes after a Havdalah service at Congregation B’nai Torah.

having to practice completely in secret, only in his home, and of a man who got drunk and started singing prayers on the way home and was then killed by a mob.

He recalled the excitement he and his family felt when they heard about Operation Entebbe – the Israeli operation which saved a hundred men and women kidnapped to Uganda on a highjacked flight – and the absolute elation on the night of April 11, 1979, which happened to be the first night of Pesach, when Idi Amin was finally removed from power.

“We drank a lot more than four cups of wine that night,” Rabbi Sizomu said, laughing.

Rabbi Sizomu gave D’var Torah and led discussions at each place he visited. He spoke about Parshat Toldos at B’nai Torah and Shearith Israel, explaining through the story of Jacob and Esau that while we often see having different relationships

with different children as a bad thing, to love them all fully doesn’t mean to love them all the same way. He also shared his favorite Talmudic story at a brotherhood meeting at Ahavath Achim, in which Bruriah, wife of Rabbi Meir, chastises him for cursing misbehaving children, telling him instead to condemn their behaviors, not the children themselves.

Rabbi Sizomu also shared several songs in his “Ugandan nusach,” although some congregants at Shearith Israel were already familiar with them, from an album of music called, “Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda.”

“So, they knew his music, of the Abuyadaya, from the CD, which actually was nominated for a Grammy,” said Rabbi Ari Kaiman, who also went to Ziegler around the same time as Rabbi Sizomu.

“He said ‘what’s a Grammy?’ He had no idea.”

In addition to his religious work, Rabbi Sizomu is involved in Ugandan politics, and holds a seat in Ugandan parliament, working to represent the needs of a diverse region of Jews, Muslims, Christians, and others. He mentioned using the parliamentary stipend intended for buying new personal transport to instead purchase an ambulance for the region, which previously did not have one.

“Gershom is really trying to do incredible work over there,” said Rabbi Rosenthal. “He’s building bridges of peace with the Muslim and Christian communities of Uganda, and it’s an incredible example of how we in the Jewish community could, through our living Jewishly, really make incredible bridges.”

As his visit ended, Rabbi Sizomu shared the hope that, someday, members of the congregations he visited might make a trip out to visit him. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 11

NEWS

J-BAR Chanukah Bash Rocks Bar None

By Marcia Caller Jaffe The third annual Jewish Bar Association (J-BAR) Chanukah party hosted a crowd of 170 at The Distillery of Modern Art (DOMA) in Doraville. Judges and attorneys mingled and networked around open bars and a bounteous meal by EB Catering. Jewish and non-Jewish legal minds and “plus-ones” made for a lively party on Dec. 18.

J-BAR president and attorney Darren Tobin stated that although J-BAR officially started before Oct. 7, “it’s especially important now, given recent events, it’s that even more important to be more vocal.

We have found our footing. We started as a nice social club, now we are aggressive while approaching issues; and just wait until next year.”

He explained that J-BAR is also open to non-Jews who care about rights and equality. Several non-Jewish judges and attorneys networked at DOMA as well.

Tobin introduced various officials in the room and joked, “If I miss mentioning a judge, don’t penalize me.”

Rabbi, attorney, and original J-BAR

Darren Tobin and Stacey Hydrick had tremendous vision when starting J-BAR.

Helen Zalik, an attorney, looked on as David Zalik received the Maccabee Award.

(Rear) Rachel Ruskin and (from left) Jodi Kalson and Bert Levy and Linda Levy were among the legal minds exchanging ideas and well wishes.

member Doug Stein lit the menorah as a segue to J-BAR vice president Stacey Hydrick’s presentation of the 2025 Macca-

bee Ward. Note that the 2024 award went to attorney and Jewish State Rep. Esther Panitch. This year’s surprise recipient was benefactor David Zalik, whom Hydrick compared to a Maccabee. She said, “He founded GreenSky [an inventive customer friendly fintech that employs technology to facilitate the home improvement loan process], which he later sold to Goldman Sachs, and he embodies J-BAR’s mission statement.”

She described how Zalik has been involved in pro-Israel and pro-Jewish policies, like the Georgia Solidarity Network.

She added, “He does what Maccabees did: sees issues, builds, marshals resources, and protects the community.”

A modest Zalik related that since he was not an attorney, he was “eye candy” for wife, Helen, who is a graduate of Duke Law School. He stated, “This is the closest I’ve come to being credentialed. I didn’t graduate college nor high school, for that matter, so my mother would be very proud.”

He also made a point of saying that he did not start/build Greensky alone.

Upon receiving the award, he said, “I’m shocked and amazed! Truth and justice are the American way and the Jewish way.”

Hydrick concluded, “This is a prime audience … with this room full of workers, if called on, could all volunteer for one of Zalik’s projects.”

On Nov. 24, 2024, The Atlanta Jewish Times’ article touted the formation of JBAR as a reaction to Oct. 7 by Tobin and

Judges Jay Roth and Hydrick.

During the cocktail hour, litigator Burt Levy, who specializes in high wealth disputes at Cohan and Levy, told the AJT, “I think it’s important through J-BAR that we support each other, especially in times of increased antisemitism, and also it’s nice to come together tonight.”

Newly elected Sandy Springs District 6 City Councilman and attorney Andrew Chinsky recalled that he was impressed with a previous J-BAR event, a panel discussion at a local synagogue, and said, “I think it’s important to join the local legal community to be able to talk about relevant issues.”

For the second year in a row, J-BAR used the annual Chanukkah party as a vehicle to raise funds for both a local Atlanta and an Israeli charity. This year, recipients were Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and a Jewish National Fund project helping rebuild communities attacked on Oct. 7. Party guests donated using QR codes as J-BAR continues to raise funds for these campaigns. Donations can be made through J-BAR’s charitable 501(c)(3) foundation at https://www.j-bar. org/donate/.

According to J-BAR treasurer Elie Wolfe: “Last year, Darren Tobin suggested using our bar’s Chanukkah party to launch annual fundraising drives. We use gatherings to advance two of the core goals from our mission statement: combining social and networking opportunities for our members with tikkun olam as an organization.” ì

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NEWS

The Spring Celebrates Fifth Night of Chanukah

By Bob Bahr The Spring, an ambitious attempt to develop a comprehensive Jewish community center in Atlanta’s Intown neighborhoods, wrapped up its programs for 2025 with a Chanukah celebration on the fifth night of the holiday.

The program, which took place at the Ponce City Market in Atlanta’s old historic Fourth Ward, attracted a broad cross section of residents from the surrounding intown neighborhoods and a number of important community figures. The Spring’s Executive Director, Samara Minkin, welcomed the large and enthusiastic crowd by emphasizing the support The Spring has generated during its short history.

“The Spring is the future Jewish community center and cultural center in Midtown. It is the brainchild of some of the biggest visionaries in Atlanta. Some of some of them are in this room with us tonight.”

The organization, which was formally launched in March of this year, has the dedicated support of a core group of 30 Atlanta families, which has helped to accelerate the progress that has occurred over the last nine months. Minkin began exploring possible sites for a center building with a group of engineers and architects this month. Although a capital campaign is still in the works, the group is not losing any time moving ahead with its plans.

“We’re looking at multiple sites and we’re doing our due diligence around them. We have a sense of what we want to do, and we are working on the details.

The feasibility work was done on the Federation’s site on Spring Street, which is coming available, and we’re looking at several sites.”

The event attracted the co-chairs of The Spring’s board of directors, Matt Bronfman and A.J. Robinson. Bronfman is the CEO of Jamestown Properties that developed the Ponce City Market concept in the former Sears Roebuck distribution center on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The two-millionsquare-foot center is one of several similarly successful developments in important urban projects around the country.

Robinson has long been active in urban affairs as the president of Central Atlanta Progress and the co-chair of the board of the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Also attending was Israel’s new consul general in the Southeast, Eitan Weiss, and Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt. She has returned to Emory University after serving in Washington, D.C., as the United States special envoy for

Chef Todd Ginsberg of The General Muir restaurant helped develop the menu for the evening.

David Kulp, of Bayet Ba’Beltline, lights the Chanukah menorah on the fifth night of the holiday.

monitoring and combating antisemitism.

A special guest was Merav Oren, who heads up Foodish, the culinary arts project of the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. She is on a tour of several cities to drum up financial support for its programs in Israel. The Spring is developing an informal partnership with the museum and the food for the evening was a series of small plates which played off the relationship between the holiday of Chanukah and Jewish cuisine. The evening’s menu was created by three of Atlanta most talented chefs, Todd Ginsberg of The General Muir restaurant, Tal Baum of the Oliva Restaurant Group, and Liat Tzionov of The Crazy Apron.

The Chanukah observance was cosponsored by The Breman Museum, the American Jewish Committee’s Access program for young professionals, and Bayit Ba’Beltline, a recently organized effort to encourage Jewish religious observance in intown neighborhoods. The relationships that The Spring has developed during the past year are one indication of the important goals Minkin hopes the organization can explore in the year ahead.

“This project is so very important.

We’re doing all this programming in the service of building a Jewish cultural and community center in the city of Atlanta and I think the importance of the Jewish presence and visibility has resonance beyond anything that we can imagine.”

In the first quarter of 2026, The Spring is looking to expand its ties to Van Jones’ Exodus Leadership Forum, which is interested in strengthening ties between the African American and Jewish communities in Atlanta. They have a series of cultural events planned with The Breman Museum, Atlanta Jewish Film, and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.

There is also a celebration being created for Tu B’Shevat, the environmental holiday in February. That is being done with Adamah, which supports Jewish projects related to the natural world.

And there is more to come, says Minkin, in the three areas that they are concentrating on, thought leadership -which means programs on relevant, contemporary issues, cultural events, and

making old practices related to Jewish life new again.

“For a long time, there has been a conversation about this massively growing Jewish community in urban Atlanta,” Minkin observes. “And it’s growing across all demographics. The time feels right for this community to step forward and build a place for ourselves, to build a home for ourselves.” ì

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NEWS

ATL Jewish Film Announces Student Film Winners

By Bob Bahr The first annual ATL Jewish Film student filmmaking showcase played to a sold-out audience at the Tara Theatre. The showcase, which consisted of 10 films produced by more than 100 students from nine public, private, and charter high schools in the Atlanta area, was created around the theme of “Building Bridges.”

The theme, which is aimed at promoting greater understanding among diverse ethnic, cultural, and religious groups, has also been part of the Jury Awards at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which is produced by ATL Jewish Film.

For Kenny Blank, artistic and executive director of ATL Jewish Film, this year’s entries made for an impressive collection.

“This showcase reflects what happens when students are given the space and support to tell stories that matter to them,” Blank said. “The films show tremendous heart and imagination. Most importantly they demonstrate how

storytelling can bridge differences and bring communities together.”

There were three prizes given to the winners at the inaugural event. The Building Bridges Award was won by a 12-member team of ninth through twelfth graders from Georgia Cyber Academy, an online public charter school. The production follows two high school girls as they confront racial, cultural, and social issues while competing in a robotics competition.

The short film, “Opposite Equalities,” explores how racial bias and social barriers can stand in the way of meaningful cooperation. Because Georgia Cyber Academy is a virtual educational experience, about 70 percent of the production and planning for the film took place online.

One of the judges, Amanda Vincent, who works as the business development manager of Tyler Perry Studio in Atlanta, was particularly impressed by the “compelling narrative and examination of complex themes such as elitism, social stratification, and the universal search for belonging.”

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More than 100 students from nine area high schools took part in the Atlanta Jewish Film’s first annual student film competition.

The Peer Award, which was selected by the young filmmakers voting among themselves, went to “Mother’s Song,” put together by a team from The Lovett School. It is about two half-sisters, one who is Black and adopted and the other who is white, who struggle to come to terms with each other after the death of their mother.

The Artistic Excellence Award went to the entry from North Atlanta High School’s, “You Can Trust Me,” which recounts the struggle that a 17-year-old young woman faces as she attempts to reconcile her sense of betrayal in the relationships of those closest to her.

The other schools taking part in the competition were Cumberland Academy of Georgia, The Galloway School, Holy Innocents Episcopal School, Marist School, The Westminster Schools, and Woodward Academy.

The Student Filmmaking Competition is part of a new direction that the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has taken in its 25th year. Not only has the organization added this new program, it has rebranded itself as ATL Jewish Film and raised more than $2 million this year to expand its year around educational programming.

Participants in this year’s competition took part in a production process that carried them through seven different stages. These included concept development, scriptwriting, casting, production planning, photography, editing, and the final presentation.

The organization’s Education and Youth Engagement Initiative is an important part of the Kenny Blank Vision Initiative, which expanded year-round

programming that connects film and education Funding for this year’s Education Initiative also came from the lead underwriters, Sheri and Steve Labovitz, who praised this year’s entries.

“Those young filmmakers showed incredible commitment and collaboration. Supporting their voices is an investment in Atlanta’s future, one that is built on creativity, curiosity, and connection.”

Filmmaking competitions among high school students have expanded dramatically in recent years as the cost of producing video and editing has dropped substantially. Some films can be produced with little more than a cell phone and a laptop computer.

There are at least 19 national contests for high schoolers, with prizes of some reaching $100,000 and more. The Atlanta High School Film Festival is hosted by The Westminster School Studio W production facility. It welcomes films from students in at least 18 states, mostly in the south and southeast.

At least two Jewish film festivals in the southeast, in Nashville, Tenn., and in Columbia, S.C., also sponsor such competitions.

For college students, the opportunities are even more appealing. There are student film competitions at such important festivals as Sundance and Tribeca and success can sometimes lead to an opportunity for filmmakers to make the transition to the commercial film world.

More news about ATL Jewish Film’s student competition for 2026 is expected at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, which runs from Feb. 18 to March 15. ì

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ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME of America, held a briefing for Australian

Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah (14th c.) // Photo Credit: Ardon Bar-Hama

Nat’l Library Showcases 14thCentury Masterwork The Mishneh Torah is among the most important halakhic works ever created, and the National Library of Israel’s

richly ornamented hand-copied volume is unique.

Other never-before-displayed highlights include a Persian poetic manuscript recounting the legend of “the Romeo and Juliet of the East,” a newly discovered 13th-century liturgical poem, the world’s first printed Passover Haggadah from pre-expulsion Spain, and more.

For the first time, the National Library of Israel is presenting, as part of its permanent exhibition, a magnificent and richly illuminated 14th-century manuscript of Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah. Considered the pinnacle of Maimonides’ scholarship, this monumental text encompasses all areas of Jewish law.

Visitors to the permanent exhibition, “A Treasury of Words,” can now view this extraordinary manuscript.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Hadassah’s trauma experts held a briefing with physicians and therapists in Australia following the mass shooting at a Chabad Chanukah event at Bondi Beach, Sydney // Photo Credit: ABC News

Hadassah’s Trauma Experts Brief Physicians, Therapists Within an hour of the Bondi Beach ambush in Sydney, Australia, trauma experts at the Hadassah Medical Organization, the Jerusalem hospital system owned by Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization Jan. 8, 2008: Moshe Levi, the first Mizrahi chief of staff of the IDF from 1983 to 1987, dies of a brain aneurysm at 72.

Known as Moshe VaHetzi (Moshe and a Half) because of his height, he created a security zone in southern Lebanon.

Jan. 9, 1952: The Knesset ends three days of debate by voting 61-50 to accept more than $800 million in Holocaust reparations over 14 years from the West German government. The decision sparks protests and rioting.

Today in Israeli History Dec. 31, 1898: Eliyahu Dobkin, a Declaration of Independence signer who founds the Israel Museum in 1965, is born in Belarus. He immigrates to Palestine in 1932 and works with the Jewish Agency’s immigration department for decades.

The western terminus of the Mosul-Haifa pipeline is seen at Haifa’s harbor in 1938.

The 1837 earthquake badly damaged but did not destroy Safed, as seen in 1943. // By Hans Pinn, National Photo Collection of Israel

Jan. 1, 1837: An earthquake estimated at 6.8 on the Richter scale starts a landslide that kills thousands and causes extensive damage in the Jewish and Arab sections of the Upper Galilee mountain city of Safed (Tzfat).

Jan. 2, 1927: Ahad Ha’am, the pen name of Asher Zvi Hirsch Ginsberg, leader of the movement for cultural Zionism, dies in Palestine at 70. He argued that Zionism should put Jewish renewal ahead of political goals.

Jan. 3, 1919: Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann and Emir Faisal, son of Sharif Husayn of Mecca, pledge mutual respect and cooperation between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East. The mandate system blocks their accord.

16 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jan. 4, 1935: A pipeline spanning 590 miles from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Haifa begins carrying oil from the Mosul fields to the Mediterranean Sea. Crude oil takes about 10 days to travel through the 12-inch-diameter pipe.

Jan. 5, 1930: Two leftist political movements, David Ben-Gurion’s Ahdut Ha’avodah (Labor Unity) and Joseph Sprinzak’s Hapoel Hatzair (Young Worker Party), merge into Mapai, which dominates early Israeli politics.

Jan. 6, 1942: Rabbi Jacob Moshe Toledano, a native of Tiberias who is the chief rabbi of Alexandria, Egypt, returns to the Land of Israel to assume the post of the Sephardi chief rabbi of Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

Jan. 7, 1858: Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, often credited as the father of the modern Hebrew language, is born in Lithuania. In 1881 he and his wife move to Jerusalem, where he undertakes the revival of Hebrew as an everyday language.

Jordan’s King Hussein visits a Jordanian soldier being treated at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital on Jan. 10, 1996. // By Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Jan. 10, 1996: Jordan’s King Hussein makes his first public visit to Israel after signing a peace treaty in 1994. He copilots a helicopter to Sde Dov, then visits two Jordanian soldiers being treated at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital.

Jan. 11, 1961: The Egoz, a ship leased by the Mossad to secretly transport Moroccan Jews to Israel, sinks a few hours after leaving Al Hoceima on its 12th immigration trip. Forty-four would-be immigrants drown.

physicians and mental health professionals.

Among the most important information the Israeli doctors shared were the lessons they had learned when treating more than 1,000 victims of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

For many months, the Hadassah Medical Organization team has been providing training in trauma care to members of the Forum of Jewish Therapists in Australia, a professional network created in response to the country’s rising number of antisemitic incidents. The Israeli physicians have advised the Forum’s members on disaster preparedness, early intervention and developing a community-wide trauma response.

Amichai Ben Ari, MD, a Hadassah Medical Organization rehabilitation psychologist specializing in acute trauma, led the session, focusing on crisis intervention for victims and their families, support for first responders and medical professionals, and strategies to address the broader community impact.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Knesset members Hamad Abu-Rabia and Moshe Dayan sit side by side during the Knesset debate over an interim disengagement agreement with Egypt in September 1975. // By Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Jan. 12, 1981: Hamad Abu-Rabia, the Knesset’s first Bedouin member, is shot dead by the sons of a Druze political rival outside the hotel where he stays during parliamentary meetings. It is the first assassination of a Knesset member.

Jan. 13, 1898: L’Aurore publishes a 4,500-word front-page letter from acclaimed writer Emile Zola under the headline “J’Accuse” (“I Accuse”), charging the French government with antisemitism against Capt. Alfred Dreyfus.

Jan. 14, 1925: Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, an influential composer posthumously accused of abuse, is born in Berlin. He founds the House of Love and Prayer in San Francisco in the 1960s and starts a moshav in Israel in 1977.

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

ISRAEL Israel Responds to Climate Change in Middle East

By Gil Zohar Storm Byron pulverized the eastern Mediterranean for three days in December. The most severe weather system since meteorological records began being kept more than a century-and-a -half ago turned low-lying areas into lakes, wadis into fastflowing torrents, and dry Judean Desert waterfalls into raging mini-Niagaras. Mount Hermon was crowned with snow.

Two Israelis died of hypothermia in Jerusalem and Netanya. At least 16 displaced people in the Gaza Strip froze to death – according to unreliable Palestinian sources – as refugee encampments in al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Yunis were inundated by a fetid ocean of mud and misery.

The icy water compounded the suffering of the coastal enclave’s residents, nearly all of whom were displaced in the war that followed Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre ironically named the al-Aqsa Flood.

Flash flooding along highways and roads in central Israel trapped dozens of drivers in their vehicles, the Fire and Rescue Authority reported. The municipality of Yavne declared a state of emergency. Israel Railways temporarily halted train service between Lod and Beersheba after signaling equipment failed.

With Israelis’ typical black humor, Jerusalem Report editor Ruth Eglash posted a meme of blasé backgammon players rolling the dice as a missile alert siren wailed but then cowering under an umbrella from the deluge.

Embodying the aphorism that all news is local, this writer and wife, Randi, spread an array of pots and pails across the kitchen floor to catch the water seeping through the leaky roof.

But just in time for Chanukah – the Festival of Light – the storm front passed and the Levant’s beautiful blue winter skies returned.

How then is one to understand this historic flood of cats and dogs? Many people misunderstand global climate change as causing warmer temperatures. That’s simplistic. Climate change is Mother Nature’s revenge. Fueled by man’s disregard for the environment, global weather is becoming ever more extreme – alternating droughts and floods, and record heat waves and freezing temperatures, with endless muddy thaws in between.

The weather in Israel in recent years exactly fits this paradigm. The country’s major source of fresh water, Lake Kinneret, also known as the Sea of Galilee, currently stands at -213.4 cm below sea level – 40 cm below the lower red line and approaching the historic

minimum of -213.8 below which the priceless water source will be irreparably damaged.

Yet, in the spring of 2024, after a winter of particularly heavy rains of blessing, the Deganya Dam at the south end of the storied lake was almost opened to release excess water and prevent flooding of the city of Tiberias.

Water levels came within 20 cm of the upper red line. Since then, the country has been gripped by a two-year drought. Normal precipitation of some 100 cm of rain annually can no longer be relied upon.

With the Jewish State’s population surging past 10 million and a further five million in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, water from the lake and the mountain and coastal aquifers has proven inadequate for the needs of human consumption, agriculture and industry.

The solution has two parts. The first was the construction from 1958 to 1964 of the visionary National Water Carrier (NWC) – a 1.7 billion-liter network including 87 km of steel and concrete pipelines, 13 km tunnels carved through the mountains of the Galilee, and eight km of open canals and reservoirs allowing the pumping of drinking water from Lake Kinneret south to the Coastal Plain and the Negev Desert.

Technically bold and crucial for the nation’s prosperity, the NWC allowed the greening of the desert. But it ultimately proved inadequate for the growing country’s burgeoning needs.

Thus, beginning in the early 2000s, Israel embarked on a national program for large-scale seawater desalination plants making the salty water of the Mediterranean Sea potable.

Today, five huge desalination plants are currently operating along the Mediterranean coast: in Ashkelon, Sorek, Hadera, Palmachim, and Ashdod. These reverse osmosis (RO) facilities supply an aggregate of 585 million cubic meters of water a year, amounting to 70 percent of the country’s total water consumption. New major plants are planned in Eilat on the Red Sea and in the Western Galilee, as well as a second facility at Sorek south of Tel Aviv.

In the land of milk and honey, water has always been in short supply. Visible to the south of Caesarea with its monumental ancient aqueducts is the Hadera Power Station and Desalinization Plant. It’s simple to boil seawater and distill salt from it. The tricky part is scaling up the chemistry and reducing the cost. Israeli scientists have excelled at that: innovative firms developed the more efficient reverse osmosis process using a filtration-like technology. Since the 1970s, the cost of removing salt from seawater has plunged from about $2.50 per cubic

Flash flooding along highways and roads in central Israel trapped dozens of drivers in their vehicles.

meter to 40 cents. The cost is coming down further thanks to the vast offshore natural gas fields Israel began tapping in 2013 to generate electricity.

Few Israelis have been to the Tamar gas field’s giant, high-security, mid-sea production platform in the Mediterranean, 25 km off the coast of Ashkelon. But all are benefiting from its economic impact. Not just a newly-minted energy exporter, for the first time in its history, arid Israel is experiencing a water surplus. The country has pioneered its way to become the global market leader in desalinization and water technology. Today, Israel treats and recycles more than 80 percent of household wastewater. By contrast, Spain, which has the second-highest reclamation rate, recycles about 30 percent.

Israel’s first major desalination plant opened in Ashkelon in 2005. Since then, four more large-scale seawater desalination plants have come online, with additional capacity in the pipeline.

Israelis today drink from the sea nearly 600 million cubic meters of desalinated water. Under the terms of the 1994 IsraelJordan peace treaty, Israel committed to supplying the Hashemite kingdom with at least 50-55 million cubic meters (MCM) of water annually from the Jordan/Yarmouk rivers. Given Jordan’s chronic water scarcity, this crucial water treaty was subsequently expanded to up to 100+ MCM total.

Desalination has revolutionized Israel, says Shlomo Wald, chief scientist at the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.

“Now, Israel isn’t always dependent on the mercy of G-d to give us rain.”

While the surfeit of desalinated water has the potential to bring peace in the parched region, with the current drought there simply isn’t enough water for the needs of Israel and Jordan.

Today, Israel’s entire strategy of water management has been turned on its head.

Instead of further depleting Lake Kinneret by pumping water south, the NWC is being used to convey desalinated seawater into the freshwater lake. Launched in phases, with initial operations in late 2022 and expanded flows in 2025, this “Reverse Water Carrier” project is the first time a natural lake is refilled this way. With the water level rising by one cm monthly independent of winter rain and summer evaporation, hydrologists hope to avoid a disastrous ecological collapse.

The alternative? In Iran, where the country’s bounty of natural resources and fresh water has been squandered, a severe drought has depleted the reservoirs that provide the capital, Teheran, with drinking water.

The apocalypse may come not with a bang but a whimper when the taps run dry, and the toilets can’t be flushed. ì

ISRA a ELI HOSTAGE TRA a CKER The following is an index of Israeli hostages with the most current information available as of press deadline.

Atlanta Jewish Times will update this hostage tracker with current news of the next round of hostage transfers. Bring Them Home.

Israeli hostages remaining:

Ran Gvili, 24 (murdered in captivity)

one hostage is either believed to be dead or his death has been confirmed: ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 17

SPORTS Curhan & Carolina Seek Postseason Run The NFL has never been a more powerful, lucrative, and popular institution, delivering nonstop entertainment to tens of millions of viewers and David Ostrowsky spectators. However, what often gets overlooked amidst the skyrocketing TV ratings and eyepopping revenue numbers is that many of those who make everything possible toil in anonymity, don’t necessarily make extravagant salaries, and punch in to work every day knowing they are one injury away from never seeing another NFL paycheck.

It’s a predicament that offensive linemen, in particular, know all too well.

And earlier this month, Jake Curhan, a Jewish tackle/guard for the Carolina Panthers, his fourth NFL team in five years, took some time to share with the AJT what goes on behind the scenes of an NFL organization.

Curhan came over to the Panthers from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad in early October after playing for the Chicago Bears in 2024. Thus far, he’s been impressed with the organization, from the principal owner, Jewish hedge fund manager David Tepper, who regularly walks through the locker room to greet newly acquired players, to the coaching staff, spearheaded by head coach Dave Canales. The players are respected, treated like the adults that they are — a dynamic that isn’t always present in other NFL organizations.

“There’s a lot of buildings in this league where you’re clocked in and clocked out, and every hour you’re in the building, it’s like life or death, the most serious thing,” explained Curhan. “One thing that Dave [Canales] does a good job of is making sure that we’re competing and having fun at the same time, too, because at the end of the day, it is a game and it is something that’s supposed to be fun and celebrated. I think that sort of leadership style lends itself towards guys wanting to play harder.”

Since Curhan came aboard a couple months ago, the Panthers have entered the NFC playoff picture and are currently in a dogfight with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for NFC South supremacy. In gunning for their first postseason appearance since January 2018, the Panthers

18 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Veteran offensive lineman Jake Curhan (left) of the Carolina Panthers is one of several Jewish NFL players whose teams are jockeying for position in a crowded NFC playoff race // Photo Credit: Carolina Panthers

have pulled off a couple stunning upsets over the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. While fans may be surprised when heavyweights go down, generally speaking, NFL players are aware that the league’s robust parity is on full display every time the ball is snapped.

“I feel like you don’t realize until you’re in an actual NFL building how good every single opponent you play is, despite their record and how good the players are on the other side. It’s not like college where there are some games when you know a team’s winning — it’s just a matter of how much. In the NFL, every time the ball’s kicked off, it can really go either way, depending on who’s playing well that day,” said Curhan, a native Californian who played his college football for the Cal Golden Bears last decade, during which time he acquired the nickname, “Bear Jew.” There’s an unspoken tenet in NFL circles that the National Football League’s acronym stands for “Not for Long,” given how teams sign and release backup players and special teamers every week. Most careers don’t span more than a halfdecade, simply because of the game’s inherent physical dangers that take a considerable toll on its practitioners. In this sense, Curhan’s a bit of an outlier, having

broken in with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021, for whom he played three seasons, and now still gainfully employed as a five-year veteran.

“You’ve got to carve out a role for yourself if you want this to be a job that you do for more than a couple years,” said Curhan, 27, who’s a right tackle by trade, but has been versatile enough to also play both guard spots in the interior of the Panthers’ offensive line. “I’ve been able to do that over the five years I’ve been playing.

The more you can do is definitely an asset in terms of your longevity.

However, Curhan’s 2025 season is like that of many NFL players in that he’s had to adjust to a new workplace — one that happens to be on the other side of the country — midway through the grind of the regular season.

“It’s always difficult to learn a new playbook,” admitted Curhan, who already in his short time in Carolina has drawn heaping praise from starting quarterback Bryce Young. “Luckily, I have familiarity with a lot of the offensive coaches from my first couple years in Seattle. That part made that a little bit easier.

“On the offensive line, it’s all about communication and being on the same page. Some of the unspoken things that I think these guys have gotten to build up

through the offseason and the first couple weeks of the season — that took me a little bit of time to catch up on.”

Though not a frequent participant in primetime games, the Panthers played in front of the entire country when they battled the San Francisco 49ers on ESPN’s, “Monday Night Football,” in late November. During the broadcast, Hall of Fame quarterback-turned-celebrity broadcaster Troy Aikman actually mentioned Curhan during one sequence — a relatively rare occurrence for offensive linemen who go to work in the trenches.

But interestingly, even when they get national exposure, many NFL players don’t pay much — or any — attention to what some of the game’s most esteemed experts are saying.

“I don’t really watch the TV copies, so I don’t know if they’re saying something good or something bad about me,” shared Curhan. “I feel like the more years I’ve done this, the less I want to hear either the good or bad things people are saying about me.”

Aikman, like the rest of the NFL, of course only had good things to say about Curhan, who’s emerged as an offensive line mainstay for the upstart Panthers while beautifully representing the Jewish community. ì

SPORTS

Hall of Famer Koufax Celebrates 90th Birthday

By David Ostrowsky It has been nearly 60 years since Sandy Koufax last pitched in the big leagues, but in many ways the Jewish Hall of Famer, as he approaches his 90th birthday on Dec. 30, remains the face of a Los Angeles Dodgers franchise that’s undoubtedly the team of the 2020s.

On its own merits, the Cooperstownworthy resume, which includes three NL Cy Young Awards, an NL MVP (extremely rare for a pitcher), and four nohitters, one of which was a perfect game, makes Koufax a certified living legend.

But Koufax, who endeared himself to Jewish baseball fans worldwide when he famously refused to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it coincided with Yom Kippur, also remains such a revered figure in the Dodgers organization — and truthfully, all of baseball — because of his decadeslong engagement in team and league affairs.

“The fact that he [Koufax] is turning 90 years old is kind of hard to fathom,” acknowledged Josh Rawitch, president of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, when speaking to the AJT last week. “We obviously enjoy every interaction that we have with him. It’s hard to get to 90 years old. He doesn’t look it; he doesn’t act it. I’m sure he probably doesn’t feel it, but every once in a while, he’ll comment on what it’s like to be that age and you recognize just what a treasure he is."

As the Dodgers captured their second consecutive World Series title this past October, millions of baseball fans caught a fleeting glimpse of Koufax during Game 4 when he was spotted sitting one row behind Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Dodger Stadium. Unbeknownst to many, however, was that Koufax had not only stayed all 18 innings of the prior evening’s marathon Game 3, but also hung around after the nearly seven-hour affair to shake the hand of Dodgers winning pitcher Will Klein in the home clubhouse.

Koufax’s dedication to the game transcends Dodger Stadium appearances. Whereas many Hall of Famers of his generation aren’t inclined to attend the annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend in Cooperstown, N.Y., Koufax makes it a point to try to show up every July, even if it means just coming for the ceremony itself. Though Cooperstown, the tiny hamlet in New York’s Mohawk Valley, is a scenic gem in the summertime, it is not

Sandy Koufax on the field at Dodger Stadium before Game 3 of the 2025 World Series // Photo Credit: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

easily accessible and gets quite congested during Induction Weekend, making visits there a challenging logistical situation for many.

“From every conversation I’ve ever had with him [Koufax], he always wants to pay respect to the people who are being inducted that year,” added Rawitch, who is the second consecutive president of the Hall of Fame to represent the Jewish community. “I think in a lot of ways, as somebody who’s been a Hall of Famer longer than any other person’s been a Hall of Famer, he knows how much it means to those that are standing at the podium to have all those legends sitting behind them.”

This past July, Koufax was indeed one of those legends sitting on stage as the 2025 class, which featured one-time Yankee great C.C. Sabathia, was honored.

In the dinner reception that followed, Koufax spent time with his new Hall of Fame teammate Sabathia as well as Randy Johnson — three gentlemen considered to be among the greatest left-handed

pitchers to ever take the mound.

“He’s one of the guys that all the other Hall of Famers look up to,” said Rawitch. “Even guys like Randy [Johnson] and C.C. [Sabathia] look at Sandy as a hero of theirs. It just tells you in a lot of ways how much he [Koufax] means to the greatest names in the sport, but also just how much he means to the sport in general.”

The past decade has been a sobering one for the Hall as quite a few members have passed away, some even tragically.

That the Hall of Fame is now able to celebrate Koufax becoming only the third current member to reach his nineties — former shortstop Luis Aparicio and executive Bud Selig, who happens to be Jewish, are both 91 — is all the more remarkable given how active Koufax is in the game today.

“We don’t have a whole lot of Hall of Famers who are in their nineties,” acknowledged Rawitch. “It’s a wonderful thing to have not only someone like him reach that milestone but also do so in

good health.”

The Hall of Fame honors great ballplayers, but not necessarily ones who could be considered great human beings.

There are some who have run afoul of the law, faced allegations of cheating in various capacities, and even championed racial segregation in the sport’s earlier years. Koufax, however, has consistently maintained a reputation above reproach, serving as a model citizen of both the baseball and Jewish communities in his now 90 years on the planet.

“As someone who grew up both a Dodger fan and Jewish, there are very few people on the planet who command that much respect and who just really represent all that you would want the greatest people in the game to represent,” said Rawitch. “He’s an incredibly classy gentleman. He doesn’t think he’s anything special — that’s one of the things that I’ve always loved about him. While I think he recognizes what he did on the field, in his mind, he’s just a person like anybody else.” ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 19

BUSINESS The Jewish Education Project Lotus Blossom Hospice Earns NIJH Accreditation Hosts Talk with Polins

(From left) David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project, in conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin.

On Monday, Dec. 8, David Bryfman, CEO of The Jewish Education Project, moderated a conversation with Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, in which they explored hope as a driving force behind Jewish education and communal transformation. The event followed the Jewish Futures Conference, which The Jewish Education Project hosted earlier in the day. The conference was designed to spark new visions of a Jewish future rooted in optimism and resilience.

Rachel and Jon are the parents of Hersh z”l, Leebie, and Orly. Hersh Goldberg-Polin was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival and held hostage in Gaza for nearly 11 months. In late August 2024, he was murdered by Hamas, and his body was recovered from a tunnel in Rafah two days later.

“When we think about hope, we must remember it’s mandatory. True courage to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, requires strength and action,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin. “We’re in a real Chanukah moment, because today, like in the story of Chanukah, asking ourselves who we are, who we want to be, what we want to project to the world, and our why, are the most important questions. The real message of Chanukah is when you have

darkness, just know that light exists, and each day that light intensifies. It’s up to us to add to the miracle.”

“For the Jewish educators who are in the trenches every day, I hope we can zoom out and remember that we are part of a 3,500-year chain of history. The core piece is education, giving people the tools to understand what they are a part of and what they can be proud of,” said Jon Polin.

The community-wide event was hosted by The Jewish Education Project in collaboration with The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center, UJA-Federation of New York, and RootOne. “Rachel and Jon have exemplified strength, thoughtfulness, and fortitude in the face of unspeakable tragedy,” said Bryfman. “If they remain hopeful about the world, then certainly we all can. It was a privilege to learn from them and to hear their unique insights on how education can lead to a better world for generations to come. We’re committed to using education as a vehicle for hope and inspiration, and to helping every Jewish educator and person who cares deeply about the Jewish future to do the same.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

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Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care has earned full accreditation from The National Institute for Jewish Hospice.

Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care looks forward to deepening its connection to the Atlanta Jewish community through education, partnerships with rabbis and synagogues, and providing support to families facing life’s most sacred transition.

Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care proudly announces its full accreditation by The National Institute for Jewish Hospice (NIJH) and its participation in the NIJH Annual Conference 2025. NIJH accreditation is a designation available for hospices committed to providing culturally fluent, halachically sensitive, and ethically aligned care for Jewish patients and families.

“We are honored to join the network of hospices trained in Jewish end-of-life values,” said Nolan Teter, certified hospice and palliative care nurse. “Every Jewish patient deserves care that reflects compassion, dignity, and tradition.”

At the conference, the Lotus Blossom

Hospice and Palliative Care team attended advanced training sessions in Jewish ethics, medical decision-making, grief traditions, and spiritual care — guided by respected leaders.

Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care hopes its NIJH training will become a bridge to Atlanta’s Jewish community — offering support not only to patients, but to caregivers, synagogues, and families seeking reassurance during a vulnerable time.

When asked what this accreditation means to the Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care team, they answered simply: “It means we see you, we honor your traditions, and we are here to walk with you.”

The Lotus Blossom Hospice and Palliative Care team can be reached at 404-975-3125. Visit their website at www. lotusblossomhospice.com Compiled by AJT Staff

BUSINESS

Hadassah Addresses Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Issues The UN’s annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is observed every year; this year, from Nov. 25, 2025, to Dec. 10, 2025. This period begins on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and concludes on International Human Rights day.

On the first day, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, led 29 groups in urging UN leaders to help deter future acts of conflict-related sexual violence by advancing justice and accountability.

In a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten, and UN Women Executive Director Sima Sami Bahous, the groups express their deep-seated concern that conflict-related sexual violence had reached record levels for the second consecutive year, as reported in the 2024 Report of the Secretary-General on Conflict-Related Violence. The UN took a critical first step by blacklisting Hamas as a party credibly suspected of committing or being responsible for committing sexual violence, but additional action is needed.

Phyllis M. Cohen, past president and advisor to Hadassah Greater Atlanta, explains, “We at Hadassah, and our partners, call on the UN to ensure that justice and accountability are not optional.”

“The rise of conflict-related sexual violence is a crisis of global proportions,” said Carol Ann Schwartz, national president, Hadassah. “Leaders around the world must take urgent action to ensure

Local Hadassah leaders, Robin Hyman (left) director geographic area engagement, Hadassah Super South, and Phyllis M. Cohen, past president and advisor to Hadassah Greater Atlanta, ask that the United Nations take action against conflict-related sexual violence.

that terrorists and bad actors like Hamas are no longer emboldened to weaponize rape.”

Hadassah brings women together to effect change on such critical issues as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism, and promoting women’s health care. The letter to UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres also calls on the UN to advance the adoption of an international protocol, modeled on survivor-centered frameworks, to guide countries in how to prevent, investigate and respond to conflict-related sexual violence. For more information please visit www.hadassah.org.

Compiled by AJT Staff

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 21

OPINION When this Column Gets Personal I appreciate hearing from readers when one of my columns resonates with them. The following excerpts are from my 2025 favorites.

Jan. 21: “He was as kind a man as I have known.” I wrote that about Rabbi Alvin Sugarman, rabbi emeritus at The Temple, who died on Jan. Dave Schechter 17 at age 86.

From Where I Sit My introduction to Sugarman came in the late 1980s, at a suburban Chicago synagogue. “Several years ago, I told him: ‘Rabbi, you co-officiated at Roberta’s wedding.

I confess that until that occasion, I had never heard Hebrew spoken with a Southern accent. So, if you recall anyone snickering, it was me, and I apologize,’” drawing a laugh from the Atlanta native.

Feb. 26: The column headline read, “I’m Happy & Relieved for My Extended Family.”

Before Oct. 7, 2023, I knew relatively little about the Israeli side of my family tree. After three family members were murdered and seven kidnapped, my daily routine included checking for posts and messages from the Israeli cousins.

Many of my columns since Oct. 7 were motivated

by this personal connection. The last of the seven kidnapped was released on Feb. 22, after 505 days in captivity, returning to his wife and two children, who themselves had suffered 50 days as hostages.

May 28: The news was the demise of my garden nemesis, the “kiwi plant from hell.”

Planted 25-plus years ago by a young horticulturist, “The kiwi plant went forth and multiplied. I say without exaggeration that had it never been trimmed, the kiwi vines would have reached across the roof of our house,” I wrote.

The kiwi shaded the raspberries and blueberries — and wrapped itself around a basketball hoop, ever so slowly tilting its base.

On May 15, “I found the formerly vertical basketball hoop lying horizontal on the ground. The force of its fall had dragged most of the massive plant to the ground, even tearing away some of the thicker vines extending from the roots . . . [the kiwi] fell victim to its own appetite, taken down by the basketball hoop that it tried to swallow.”

July 16: In October 1991, when I was CNN’s national weekend editor, Chabad Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin, arranged for the Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Schneerson to speak with our reporter.

I stayed in touch with Shmotkin, the director of chabad.org and Chabad’s director of public relations. At

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the 2004 American Jewish Press Association meeting in Atlanta, I declined his invitation to wrap tefillin.

This summer, Shmotkin called, urging me to meet his son, Rabbi Levi Shmotkin, who was in Atlanta to promote, “Letters for Life: Guidance for Emotional Wellness from the Lubavitcher Rebbe,” a book drawn from Schneerson’s letters to people seeking his counsel.

Levi and I sent his father a photo of me wrapping tefillin. “My attitude had mellowed, and I was willing to do with the son what I might have regretted not doing two decades earlier with the father,” I wrote.

July 30: “Bru was lying on a towel on the floor of an examining room at the veterinary clinic, clearly exhausted by physical infirmities that increasingly had plagued him for months, a sad look in those big brown eyes. That we knew this day would come made it no easier, perhaps even more difficult. The vet explained that an aging dog wants to please its humans and will hang on as best it can. At 15-plus years old, Bru surely had tried,” I wrote.

“Bru was my confidant for conversation (albeit onesided), snarky comments, and rants . . . I miss talking to him. He was a good dog and a good friend, and I loved him.”’

Aug. 13: “This is the story of two men and how the grandson of one returned a keepsake to the grandson of the other,” I wrote.

During a visit to “Camp Schechter,” the cabins in the woods by a lake in Maine, I met up with Michael Socolow, the grandson of Melvin Krulewitch, a close friend of my grandfather, Frank Isaac Schechter. Socolow, a professor at the University of Maine, gave me a wooden humidor bearing the initials, “FIS.” Frank’s friendship with Krulewitch probably began in the 1910s in New York. Both graduated from Columbia University, survived World War I combat in France, and had noteworthy legal careers.

Frank died when my father was 11 years old, from respiratory problems exacerbated by poison gas inhaled during the war. The humidor that my grandmother gave Krulewitch as a remembrance is now displayed in my home office.

Oct. 1: “I have been rummaging through the corner of our basement storage room that I refer to as my genizah,” I wrote.

“As I handle decades-old documents, photographs, and newspapers, in a room with adequate light and a dehumidifier, I think of my great-grandfather, who spent months sifting through — and breathing the dust of — the centuries-old contents of the genizah of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in the Fustat section of Old Cairo.”

I kept a notice from my high school journalism teacher, informing me that I was failing her class; something about not turning in assignments. I eventually passed.

I disposed of rejection letters from newspapers where I sought work after a layoff, the incident that precipitated my spending three decades in television news.

“In the end, the journalism thing worked out OK, I think.” ì

Cheers to 100 Years In recognition of the Atlanta Jewish Times celebrating its 100th year from its first edition in 1925, the AJT will re-publish articles from the Southern Israelite from editions dating as far back as 1929, the earliest edition available through the Digital Library of Georgia. All of the Southern Israelite editions, from 1929-1986, can be viewed at gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn78003973/ Please enjoy this retrospective of Jewish journalism in Atlanta and across Georgia, and thank you for supporting the Atlanta Jewish Times for the last 100 years.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 23

Rabbi Roundtable Rabbi Lauren Henderson, Conservative Rabbi Lauren Henderson is spiritual leader of Congregation Or Hadash. Ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 2016, she is rooted in tradition and guided by a visionary spirit. During services, Rabbi Lauren regularly facilitates discussions, embraces diverse perspectives, and empowers members to connect Judaism’s ancient wisdom with the realities of their own lives. Lauren and her husband, Joel Dworkin, have two sons, Rafi and Amit. A southerner who originally hails from Spartanburg, S.C., she enjoys running even when it’s completely humid out, discussing her and your favorite books and podcasts, and baking (and eating) all the chocolate.

Rabbi Ayal Robkin, Orthodox Rabbi Ayal Robkin is the incoming director of Hadar Atlanta. A native Atlantan and graduate of Atlanta Jewish Academy and The Weber School, Ayal has taught Talmud, Bible, Jewish thought, and mindfulness meditation at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School in New York, N.Y., for the past 20 years. Ayal is a graduate of the Pardes Educators Program and holds rabbinic ordination from Yashrut. He is excited to move back to Atlanta this summer with his wife, Maddy Bloch, and children Neima and Menashe.

In partnership with the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, the AJT's monthly Rabbi Roundtable brings together rabbis from across Atlanta representing each denomination.

Rabbi Chase Foster, Reform Rabbi Charles “Chase” W. Foster is honored to serve as the senior rabbi of Temple Kol Emeth, where he strives to cultivate a joyful, caring, and empowered Jewish community. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rabbi Foster is the proud product of an interfaith family. His love for Judaism was shaped by summers at the URJ’s Goldman Union Camp Institute and active involvement in youth groups. He earned his B.A. from Purdue University and later received his master’s in Hebrew literature and rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College in New York City. Before joining Temple Kol Emeth, Rabbi Foster spent five years as the rabbi for engagement and learning at jHUB in Cleveland, Ohio, supporting interfaith families and young adults on their Jewish journeys.

Rabbi Chaim Markovits, Chabad Chaim Markovits founded Chabad Rural Georgia with his wife, Chayala, in 2020. Their organization is the only effort to enhance the Jewish experience of small-town rural Jews in Georgia. Growing up in Sydney, Australia, and Bel Air, Calif., respectively, they have dedicated their lives to the eternal service of the Jewish community.

24 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

For this month’s discussion, each rabbi was asked the following question:

If the Maccabees were alive today, would we even like them? What would their zealotry look like in our contemporary Jewish landscape?

Rabbi Ayal Robkin

Even the Rabbinic tradition offers no single judgment on the Maccabees. It was long assumed that the Sages held deep animosity toward the Hasmoneans. However, scholar Vered Noam (thank you Hadar faculty Jeremy Tabick for pointing this out) demonstrates that there is no evidence for this. In reality, the harsh critiques are found primarily in the Babylonian Talmud, relying on narratives from Josephus. Conversely, sources from the Land of Israel generally view the Hasmoneans favorably, celebrating them as the guardians of the last instance of Jewish sovereignty for two millennia.

So, how to judge the Maccabees! The answer may reveal more about the judge than the subject.

Ask a toddler why they dislike something, they will find a reason. Toddler: “I don’t like these pants.” “Why? They are soft and stretchy. You wore them last week.” Toddler: “They make my legs feel dizzy.” “Your legs can’t feel dizzy from pants; I think you just want to stay in your pajamas.” Toddler: “No, the dizziness is hiding inside the pockets.” As adults, we do the same thing; we’re just better at hiding it. We confabulate intellectual reasons to justify emotional instincts.

Rav Yisroel Salanter, the 19th century founder of the Mussar movement, insightfully notes that we rarely perceive the truth of our judgments because we are blinded by “inclination towards love and hate.” He describes the human mind tying “rope to rope, hair strand to hair strand,” weaving intellectual justifications for emotionally based conclusions, us rarely recognizing the true “first cause” of our beliefs.

Judging the Maccabees isn’t right or wrong. It’s just that the challenge, in the judgment, is intellectual humility. Can we work to transcend the instinctive, subconscious thought of ‘this-vibes with-MY-position-so-I’ll-stop-thinking-critically-about-it?’ Can we withhold judgment before we more or less understand them on their own terms?

Rabbi Chase Foster

Judah Maccabee, his family, and their followers fought those who sought to prevent our religious expression. This is an honorable endeavor, and one that I know many Jews appreciate and idolize. Especially given the evils of Jew-hatred and religious extremism that we encounter today, we should all work to ensure that Jews everywhere have the freedom of religious expression, regardless of denomination and adherence.

However, the extremism of Judah and family is something we must reject. We can be strong for our people without sacrificing our own humanity. We can be fierce advocates for ourselves without appeasing the evil inclination within us. We must not allow the bigotry of others to allow us to become callous.

Would we even like them? As humans and members of our community, possibly.

As leaders we would want to elevate and emulate? No, thank you.

Atlanta Rabbinical Association

Rabbi Lauren Henderson

It’s quite easy and tempting to map the Maccabees of the 2nd century BCE onto today’s far-right or far-left Jewish extremists. They were zealots who were willing to take dramatic and sometimes violent action to work for the preservation of the Jewish religion and people, as they understood it, and they saw their zealotry as justified in the moment just as Pinchas’ zealotry in the book of Numbers was justified.

The problem is, they’re the heroes of the story of Hanukkah - so they can’t be both the heroes we revere and the extremists we reject! So, what are we to do?

I understand the Maccabees as a profoundly countercultural force in their time.

In the Hellenistic period, the dominant culture was one of blending, mixing, and assimilation. The Maccabees were the ones who refused to bend to the dominant cultural pressures of assimilation, emphasizing their distinctive practice and way of life and willing to fight for Judaism in its particularity and uniqueness to endure.

Today’s dominant culture is one of hyper polarization - where extreme viewpoints on the poles have a powerful influence, and where the center is drowned out and stripped of its power. So, in our contemporary Jewish landscape, I want to (perhaps radically) suggest that the Maccabees would be fighting against the climate of polarization, offering instead a passionate moderate voice that argues for pluralism and humility. I hope today’s vibrant Jewish center can be inspired by the legacy of the Maccabees and lean into our counter-cultural leadership - our world certainly needs it.

Rabbi Chaim Markovits

The Maccabees forfeited everything they had, including their own lives, to enhance their Jewish identity.

Every person that joined a public menorah lighting this Chanukah season, behaved like a Maccabee.

Knowing full well that lives were lost at another lighting yet choosing to come out for this one is a Maccabean statement.

To say, “the only thing important to me, above everything, even my life, is to serve G-d with pride, confidence and conviction.”

The Maccabee will look at any given situation, and not stall or delay, rather immediately make the G-d focused choice.

If she isn’t sure what’s the right direction, she doesn’t check Instagram or Snapchat for popular opinion; she calls her rabbi or Torah teacher and discusses options until she’s confident she’s on the right path.

Some think they’ll transfer their child (or grandchild) to Jewish school when they’re older: the Maccabee doesn’t wait for later. She immediately takes action to ensure Jewish continuity.

Some think they’ll eat kosher at home, but at the restaurant they’ll suffice with the ‘vegan’ option. The Maccabee insists that everything he eats, no matter where or when is kosher.

It’s not popular to take the high road. Nor is it always safe or guaranteed. But it’s always the high road, it’s always the path of dedication and moral integrity.

You, my friend, are a Maccabee, guided by the Torah, inspired by its teachings.

That’s why you’re reading a Jewish newspaper, that’s why you attend classes and prayer services. Are you too zealous for your circle? ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 25

YEAR IN REVIEW

MDA Ambulance Dedicated in Lubin’s Memory

Rabbi Alvin Sugarman of The Temple Dies at 86

The Lubin family, Howard Zavell, Richard Zelin, Royi Ende, and others cut the ribbon for the Magen David Adom ambulance dedicated to Rose Lubin.

A large crowd of friends, relatives, and community leaders gathered in the sanctuary at Congregation Ariel on Sunday, Jan. 5, to dedicate an ambulance for Magen David Adom (MDA) in the memory of Rose Lubin.

Howard Zavell had heard about Rose – who died while guarding the Shalem police station in Jerusalem during an attack on Nov. 6, 2023 – and, despite living in Chicago, decided hers was a story that had to be celebrated in Dunwoody, at a place that meant so much to Rose. He had already helped donate several ambulances, but something about this was special.

“Her story touched me differently than anything else since Oct. 7,” Zavell 26 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

said, speaking at the event. “My wife, Anne, right away, upon us talking about her, said to me, ‘You’re going to donate an ambulance to her, I can tell.’”

Rabbi Binyomin Friedman commented that it was both a sad and celebratory moment.

“We’re happy that she’s being remembered in this way, and that her name will be perpetuated through all the good deeds that will be performed by this ambulance, all the lives that will be saved, and all the generations that will have come from it,” he said. “We’re just sorry it had to bear her name at this time in her life.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Rabbi Alvin Marx Sugarman of The Temple died on Jan. 17, 2025.

By Dave Schechter Rabbi Alvin Marx Sugarman, a beloved spiritual leader at The Temple, died Jan. 17, at age 86.

The Atlanta native, who grew up at The Temple, began his rabbinic career there in 1971, as assistant rabbi. Rabbi Jacob Rothschild died on Dec. 31, 1973, and in April 1974, Sugarman was named senior rabbi. After taking emeritus status in 2004, he served congregations in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Florence, S.C. “I put on my pants one leg at a time.

I’m just one guy, trying to make sense of this chaos we call life,” the self-effacing Sugarman said in a 2015 interview with Atlanta’s AIB Network.

When Sugarman was born on June 3, 1938, Atlanta’s Jewish population was 12,000, less than 10 percent of its estimated size today. Seven years earlier, The Temple, the city’s oldest Jewish congregation (founded in 1867 as the Hebrew Benevolent Society), had relocated from the intersection of South Pryor and Richardson streets to its current Peachtree Street home.

He was ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, the Reform movement seminary in Cincinnati and years later earned a Ph.D. in theological studies from Emory.

Much like his predecessor, Sugarman promoted civil rights, including his participation in a January 1987 march in Forsyth County.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Jewish Atlanta Divided Over Trump After One Month

AJLF Celebrates 100 Years of Community

Jewish Atlantans held varying opinions of President Donald Trump’s first 30 days in office.

By Dave Schechter One month into his second term as president of the United States, Donald Trump had disrupted — to the delight of supporters and the distress of opponents in Jewish Atlanta — how the U.S. government functioned, at home and abroad.

Within the torrent of executive orders that Trump signed beginning almost immediately after taking office Jan. 20, and the policies executed at his direction were issues of intense interest to various segments of Atlanta’s Jewish community.

Trump’s backers lauded his expressions of support for Israel and his approach to confronting antisemitism in the United States, while his detractors feared that he would tear apart the social safety net and denounced as indiscriminate the layoffs and budget cuts at federal agencies engineered by billionaire Elon Musk through a newly-created Department of Government Efficiency. All of this left both individuals and organizations nervous.

Depending by their party affiliation, political partisans had differing views of the world.

“I feel the divisiveness has decreased,” said Renee Evans, a representative of the

World Jewish Congress, who has served on the boards of Jewish and Israeli support organizations. “The president’s logical approach is working and getting things better. I also think we as Georgians and Americans are seeing where our tax dollars are going, and for what. We are saying, ‘No, not acceptable.’ This is especially true with the U.S. money going toward terrorism. I think we are swinging more to the middle, thanks to President Trump.”

A distinctly different view of Trump’s performance was offered by Michael Rosenzweig, a Jewish community activist and board member of Democratic Majority For Israel.

“Trump’s first month in office has been an unmitigated disaster for our country and, frankly, the entire world ...,” Rosenzweig said. Trump “campaigned as champion of the working class but has focused on pleasing his billionaire friends by reducing their taxes and regulations of their businesses while doing nothing for the working class. And his appointments of utterly incompetent, unqualified and downright dangerous people like RFK, Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, Kash Patel, and Pete Hegseth, based solely on their blind loyalty to him, threaten the fundamental well-being of our country.”

AJT owner and publisher Michael Morris present a raffle prize with the help of a festival attendee while AJT senior account manager Michal Bonell looks on // Photo by Sasha Heller

By Sasha Heller The sixth annual Atlanta Jewish Life Festival, held Feb. 23, came roaring into the Georgia Aquarium and turned back the clock to the 1920s in honor of the Atlanta Jewish Times’ 100th year of publication, having been founded as The Southern Israelite in 1925.

Several thousand community members gathered, with many guests showing up in full “Great Gatsby”-style outfits as this year’s festival featured a costume contest. Guests also reveled in casino games like blackjack and poker while being treated to the melodic, big band sounds of the Peachtree Jazz Edition, with some attendees venturing out onto the dance floor. To further set the ambiance, a pair of “cigar girls” roamed the Ocean Ballroom circulating candy cigars

and outfitted with chic “Gatsby” regalia.

The festival also featured a raffle with lucky winners taking home parting gifts from festival partners the Atlanta Braves, Zoo Atlanta, and the Georgia Aquarium. Other highlights included an artist market, kosher eats, and a kids zone featuring face painting, henna tattoos, caricature artist, representatives from Camp Judaea, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Ramah Doram, Israeli Scouts, 6 Points Camps, and Camp Coleman, and, of course, Ruby the Clown.

And as always, attendees were able to meet with dozens of community partners representing all facets of Jewish Atlanta life, from summer camps to health and wellness organizations and more.

Cheers to 100 years of Jewish journalism and community in Atlanta … and to 100 more!

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 27

YEAR IN REVIEW

Beth Shalom Celebrates a Joyous 50th Anniversary

The Burger that Conquered Dunwoody Looks North

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman spoke of the sentiments of the past 50 years and looks forward to a bright future.

After a year of planning, Congregation Beth Shalom hosted 212 celebrants in their Dunwoody social hall on Saturday night, March 1. Havdalah began before a buffet dinner and silent auction followed by a one hour set by comedian Kenn Kington, whose resume includes two Netflix specials and appearances on Comedy Central. Rabbi Mark Zimmerman and congregation president Fred Rich gave rousing talks about their loyal kehilah formed over the decades. Rich also had everyone in the room standing concurrently based on their synagogue participation over the decades.

As background, Rich introduced Rita Kessler who had a meeting in her den in 1975 with some friends and a representative from the Federation. Rich recalled, “The discussion was ‘how do we start a synagogue.?’ That is where it all began. We recognized other first-year members: the Dandys, the Richters, Guy Rappaport, and the Druckers.”

Then, Rich, who was on the search committee in 1985, segued to the process of hiring Rabbi Zimmerman when Marcia Bergman was president. He said, “We 28 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

shared how we got Rabbi Zimmerman, and he is now been here for 37 years as the DNA of our congregation.”

Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch read a proclamation making March 1, “Beth Shalom Day,” in Dunwoody.

Rabbi Zimmerman, clad in a gold brocade vest, spoke of the sacred moments of celebrating and learning together, performing mitzvot together, and “feeling G-d’s presence together.” He praised the vision of the founders and the priceless efforts of the volunteers.

He explained that he became a rabbi because of his concern/obsession for the Jewish people, survival and commitment to living Jewish lives.

He relayed, “It’s a concern and love that has not diminished since I was ordained in 1988. And seeing how we have blossomed over the decades has been an incredible inspiration. Linda has been there by my side, really as the glue that kept everything humming during good and challenging times. They don’t make rebbetzins like her anymore.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

NFA’s award-winning burger consists of two crisp smashed patties on a soft potato bun.

When Billy Kramer first opened his compact burger restaurant in Dunwoody five years ago, he sold only three orders. But by the end of the week the word was out. He sold a hundred. He was off and running.

His NFA operation, run out of one half of a small Chevron station just north of Mt. Vernon Road, was a quick success. In his 100-square-foot kitchen, he crafted a smash burger that conquered Dunwoody. His classic, made with two sizzling Angus beef patties, Mt. Olive pickles, French’s mustard, melted American cheese slices and what he calls his Sassy Sauce on a Martin’s potato bun has topped at least a half-dozen best burger lists. Now, he’s getting ready to take a bigger bite out of North Atlanta.

He has since expanded his operation and opened an NFA in Avalon, a busy outdoor suburban mall, spread across 86 acres off Georgia 400 in Milton. But he’s not tampering with success. Although the new operation is a 3,000-square-foot

space, the menu is largely the same. Success, he believes, is built on basics and keeping his customers happy.

“We’re going to try a few new things,” Kramer says. “If it works, we’re going to keep it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll pivot and move forward. The No. 1 goal, though, is to always provide the most excellent burger we can and the best service that we can. Those things should always be the same from day one.”

Kramer is enjoying new opportunities. The three letters in his logo, NFA, stand for, “Not Fooling Around.” He’s not fooling when he says he’s looking forward to life beyond the gas station.

“I’m not some kind of restaurant wizard, but everything I do, I do with intention. When I started NFA, I didn’t think much more than, how am I going to pay my home mortgage that month?

Now, I have more of a long-term strategy.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

YEAR IN REVIEW

Pro-Gaza Art Project Upsets Jewish Atlanta A student art exhibition, featuring artwork by Atlanta International School students, sent shock waves through Jewish Atlanta in April as one of the pieces featured pro-Gaza “occupational” themes and Nazi imagery, The art in question, displayed in an off-campus exhibition, depicted a montage of war scenes featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump performing a Nazi salute, overseeing exploding bombs, Palestinian civilians fleeing in terror, and An art display by an Atlanta International School student of the war between Israel and Gaza sparked soldiers marching into battle. backlash in the Jewish Atlanta community.

Beneath the controversial art piece, a description read: “This piece is speaking out on the cur- reinforces our commitment to helping rent genocide in Palestine. This piece in- students develop their own understandtends to highlight the brutality of the Israeli ing and perspective about global events, occupation of Palestine by likening the cur- in a manner that is age-appropriate and rent president, Benjamin Netanyahu, and that respects and deepens their underthe US president, Donald Trump, to Nazis. standing of others.

Most western audiences do not know how “I am writing to you because I have Palestinians were killed and forcibly re- been made aware that student artwork moved from their homes to make way for which is not in keeping with this policy, or the creation of Israel. While the idea of a na- the school’s core values of mutual respect tion where a historically marginalized com- and understanding, was being shown at munity can be safe from harm is amazing an off-campus display. I apologize on beon paper, one can’t hope to achieve that by half of the school for allowing this to hapmarginalizing another community in the pen. The piece has been removed and an process.” investigation, following our internal proThe artwork created a stir among cedures, is now actively underway. It is esthe Atlanta International School parent sential to who we are as a school that we community, leading AIS principal Kevin adhere to our policies and uphold our core Glass to issue a statement: values at all times. That is why I am treat“As you may recall, last year the AIS ing the matter with the utmost seriousBoard of Trustees published a new policy ness and writing to update you as valued designed to strengthen the school’s mis- members of our community.” sion and core values – particularly during moments of global unrest. This policy Compiled by AJT Staff

Marcus & Blank Honored for Work with Veterans

Bernie Marcus (left) and Arthur Blank launched their support of the Avalon Action Alliance with individual gifts of $20 million each.

Nearly 600 people crowded into the Oceans Ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium for the inaugural gala dinner in support of the Avalon Action Alliance. The Alliance, which was founded six years ago, seeks to provide personal care and support services to America’s veterans and first responders. It was an important philanthropic initiative of Bernie Marcus, who co-founded The Home Depot.

He contributed more than $250 million in support of programs to aid veterans. Those who filled the many tables in the 23,000-square-foot ballroom he built at the aquarium came as much to honor the Marcus legacy as they did to support this program, which was one of his main concerns in the final years of his long life.

Marcus died early in November 2024 at the age of 95.

Marcus’ words were among the first that the attendees to the event saw when they opened their program that evening.

“I want better lives for those who have sacrificed themselves for us in our nation’s great military. There can’t be too many places or too much care for those heroes to find better mental and physical care.”

In attendance at the Alliance gala

were members of his family, personal friends, leaders of the Marcus Foundation, veterans who have benefitted from the program, and the president and CEO and chairman of the board of The Home Depot, which has grown into an organization of 475,000 employees.

But it was left to the co-founder of company, Arthur Blank, to pay the deepest words of tribute to a man he described as a brother and an inspiration for the philanthropy of his own family foundation, which now tops $1.3 billion in gifts. His foundation was one of the evening’s main sponsors and he was presented with the organization’s Legacy of Service Award.

“I know Bernie is proud of this work,” Blank said, in accepting the award, “and while he is not physically here with me or with us tonight, he is forever with me, in my heart, and carried in my spirit. His presence is reflected in my commitment to serving others, and I am humbled to stand here tonight on his behalf and to continue to carry on this brotherhood further.”

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 29

YEAR IN REVIEW

Anti-Jewish Sentiment Continues to Thrive

Jewish Atlanta Split on Trump at 100 Days

Anti-Israel protesters demonstrate near a memorial for the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror onslaught, on Oct. 7, 2024, in New York City.

With every passing week, it seems the rising tide of antisemitism in America crests at new heights. Whether it’s a Georgian doctor spreading anti-Jewish messages on social media or Kanye West releasing an album laced with Nazi propaganda, American Jews face an uphill battle every day and can only expect continuing waves of Jewish hate until the narrative and rhetoric are forced to change.

In May, a bottle server at a Barstool Sports pub in Philadelphia toted a sign around the bar that read “F*** the Jews” while patrons cheered and laughed. The video was then shared online which caught the attention of Dave Portnoy, owner and president of Barstool Sports, who also happens to be Jewish. Portnoy initially offered to send the server and the person who uploaded the video to Auschwitz as a learning experience.

However, once the person who posted the video online, a young man by the name of Mo Khan, denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was merely serving as a “citizen journalist,” Portnoy rescinded his offer. Khan went on to appear on conservative talk shows proclaiming his innocence and portraying himself as a 30 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

victim of Portnoy’s retaliation.

Anti-Israel demonstrations continued to occur on U.S. college campuses and last year reached unprecedented levels as documented by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in its annual report on antisemitism. The ADL reported 9,354 cases of harassment, vandalism, and assault – the highest total since the ADL started recording incidents in 1979.

“This horrifying level of antisemitism should never be accepted, and yet, as our data shows, it has become a persistent and grim reality for American Jewish communities, said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “Jewish Americans continue to be harassed, assaulted, and targeted for who they are on a daily basis and everywhere they go. But let’s be clear: we will remain proud of our Jewish culture, religion, and identities, and we will not be intimidated by bigots.”

Anti-Jewish sentiment continues to thrive as evidenced by the recent tragic mass shooting at a Chabad Chanukah event at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, where at least 15 people were killed.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Jewish Atlanta’s opinions on President Donald Trump after 100 days were — and still are — divided.

By Dave Schechter Opinions in Jewish Atlanta about the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term as president — a milestone marked on April 30 — mirrored those the AJT reported at the 30-day mark.

The torrent of executive orders and policy changes had eased, but just as in mid-February, the daily headlines either delighted or disgusted, the reaction depending on one’s political persuasion.

“I give President Trump credit for having the courage to tackle critical issues that have been ignored for years by both Republicans and Democrats. People are upset with the ‘chaos’ he has caused, but you have to break some eggs to build an omelet,” said Chuck Berk, co-chair of the Atlanta chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Michael Rosenzweig, a Jewish community activist and board member of Democratic Majority For Israel, offered a diametrically opposed viewpoint, contending that Trump’s first 100 days “have

more than confirmed our worst fears about him . . . He has displayed breathtaking lawlessness, demonstrating that constitutional and legal constraints and traditional norms are meaningless to him.”

Court challenges and debates on Capitol Hill slowed progress on some of the administration’s domestic objectives.

Meanwhile, the weave of programs that form the social safety net remained at risk of being pulled apart.

“We’ve never had an administration, an entire administration, that feeds itself on chaos and when you feed yourself on chaos you can’t plan for anything, and they know that. So that when anything comes down, you’re just happy that there’s a resolution,” said Abbie Fuksman, a board member of Georgians for a Healthy Future and of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

A close eye was being kept on Congress and a proposed reduction in Medicaid of $900 billion over 10 years, to help pay for multi-trillion-dollar tax cuts sought by the White House.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Congregation Ariel Taps Rabbi Fink to Lead

AJT Donation Model Starting Off Strong

The average individual donation is approximately $85.

Congregation Ariel’s congregants and the search committee felt that Rabbi Pinchas and Naomi Fink were the practical and soulful choice.

It’s been an exciting spring for Dunwoody’s Congregation Ariel, which celebrated in May its three-plus decade anniversary and the renaming of the Beis Midrash in honor of Rabbi Binyomin and Morah Dena Freidman.

Concurrently after a global, 18-month search, the congregation hired Rabbi Pinchas Fink to succeed founding Rabbi Friedman, who retired at the end of July after more than 30 years of service.

Synagogue President Josh Bakhshi, stated, “Rabbi Fink was chosen from over 20 applicants. He got high marks and enthusiasm from across our culturally and religiously diverse community, which includes Torah scholars, those who are newly observant and those who have always been so, Russian speaking, South African, Israeli and other Sephardic Jews.

That we achieved 85 percent consensus among these groups is a blessing we did not expect. That is a tribute to Rabbi Fink.”

“Rabbi Fink checked all our boxes. We are confident that he will take our

established community to the next level,” said Elaine Brasch.

Both Rabbi and Rebbetzin Naomi Fink grew up in Highland Park, N.J., where their families are long-time friends. Rabbi Fink studied in Yeshivas in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and ultimately, in the Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva, spending 10 years learning in the Beis Medrash and Kollel and ultimately received his Semicha (rabbinic ordination). He began his rabbinic career while in Chofetz Chaim serving as a rabbinic intern at the Jewish Heritage Center, and then as interim rabbi at Kesser Torah, both in Queens, N.Y. Rabbi Fink said, “We are privileged to follow in the visionary footsteps of the Friedmans, whose leadership and dedication shaped Ariel into the vibrant community it is today. As we look ahead, we are excited to lead Ariel into its next chapter. Ariel is a shul and a community that we feel truly blessed to be part of, and we are confident that it will continue to grow, thrive, and inspire.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Since October of last year, Atlanta Jewish Times has been operating on a new model: making subscriptions for home delivery completely free and asking instead that subscribers donate as much or as little as they want.

AJT owner and publisher Michael Morris described the impetus for that change in an article written that month.

“The newspaper industry, like all printed media, is changing. Online news is commanding a larger share of viewer experience, the cost of paper, printing and distribution is rising significantly, and advertising dollars cannot quite cover the cost of creating a physical newspaper,” he said. “The bottom line, in order to produce the quality product the community currently enjoys, the AJT needs to raise additional funds to cover the gap between advertising sales and total expenses. The most effective way to entice new donors is to make the donation tax-deductible. Thus far, since I have owned the paper, I have funded this gap personally.”

There have been some significant updates since the switch to the new model. Perhaps most impressive, the average donation has been around $85, significantly higher than the $65 subscription cost of the prior model. There has also been an average of more than 50 dona-

tions a month.

“Whether or not someone chooses home delivery or picks the paper up at our distribution locations, any donation ensures the distribution to the entire community,” Morris said.

All donations will be made to the Atlanta Jewish Life Foundation, a 501c(3) nonprofit entity that supports a large portion of the AJT’s annual budget. Readers will receive an annual email notification that encourages donating to help support distribution costs.

Morris continued, “The Atlanta Jewish Times is celebrating 100 years of continuous publication. In my opinion, it is still a valuable asset to the community providing unique content, written by local community members, about local community members, organizations and events, for every demographic of the local Jewish community. I trust you see the benefits the paper has given the community over the past century and are willing to meet with me to support the paper for the next generation.”

If you’d like to get free home delivery, or are already getting free home delivery but feel inspired to make a donation, please visit https://atlantajewishlifefoundation.com/ Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 31

YEAR IN REVIEW

Maccabiah Games Postponed Until 2026

Athletes slated to compete in the 2025 Maccabiah Games will have to wait until next July to partake in the event’s grand opening festivities // Photo Credit: 2025 World Maccabiah Games social media

Thousands of Jewish athletes from dozens of nations had been expected to stream into Israel for the 22nd Maccabiah Games, the largest and most extravagant edition of the “Jewish Olympics.”

The opening ceremony, slated for July 10 at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium and hosted by popular television personalities, Anna Aronov and Assi Azar, had a star-studded lineup featuring Israeli musicians Itay Levy, Eden Golan, and Idan Raichel.

Paralympic gold medalist Asaf Yasur and Olympic silver medalist Raz Hershko were all set to light the ceremonial torch.

Unfortunately, no such grand athletic events and festivities actually happened — at least not this summer.

Back in June, the Maccabi World Union, the Maccabiah Organizing Committee, and Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister, Miki Zohar, officially postponed The Maccabiah Games to July 2026 amidst heightened tensions triggered by the Israel-Iran conflict. The organizers felt compelled to push back this year’s games after a state of national 32 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

emergency was declared — and later extended through at least June 30 — and travel to and from Israel was severely restricted. It was a heartbreaking decision, but ultimately one that was undeniably necessary.

“Despite our strong desire to hold the Maccabiah [Games] in the summer of 2025 as a symbol of hope, we are forced to postpone it due to the complex security situation created by the attack on Iran, the instructions of the Home Front Command, the continued suspension of flights to Israel, and the necessary security measures required of all of us,” Maccabiah’s chair, Assaf Goren, said in a statement. “Together with the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and after considering several alternatives, we realized that although we are almost at the starting line, the most prudent step from a security, safety, and logistical perspective is to postpone the event by a year to a quieter and safer time.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Marcus Legacy Honored with New Torah Scroll

Bernie’s son, Michael Morris, pictured here wearing a blue kippah, values the sentiment in creating a communal legacy for his father.

Bernie Marcus has long been associated with sea life, home repair, and philanthropy. Now Chabad Intown, one of his beneficiaries, has moved forward with a new way to honor his legacy.

Chabad Intown Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman explained, “As a lasting expression of our gratitude, we sought a way to honor Bernie’s memory that would reflect both his values and ours.

We arrived at something deeply meaningful: the commissioning of a brandnew Torah scroll. At the heart of Jewish life — our values, our acts of kindness, our connection to Israel, and our moral clarity — lies the Torah. Bernie often spoke of how his deep sense of giving and commitment to tzedakah came from his Jewish mother, who had inherited that same tradition from generations before her. Tradition!”

On Nov. 4, 2024, Atlanta and the world lost this great leader in Marcus at the age of 95. Known to many simply as “Bernie,” he was a visionary who helped shape Atlanta’s broader landscape and played a transformative role in the Jewish community, both locally and across the

globe. Together with wife, Billi, Bernie’s philanthropy spanned a range of causes from medical research and autism care to veterans’ services, the promotion of free enterprise, and the overall vitality of the city of Atlanta. His generosity extended deep into the Jewish world and the land of Israel, reflecting a commitment to the future of the Jewish people.

Rabbi Schusterman continued, “Chabad Intown was privileged to be among the many beneficiaries of Bernie’s support. True to his entrepreneurial spirit, Bernie gave with the mindset of an investor — expecting growth, impact, and meaningful results. The strength and presence Chabad Intown enjoys today as a vibrant center for Jewish life in the heart of Atlanta is, in no small part, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Marcus family. Bernie’s legacy — his sense of responsibility, generosity, and Jewish pride — is rooted in that same tradition. What better way to honor his life than through a Torah scroll, the very soul of Jewish continuity?”

Compiled by AJT Staff

YEAR IN REVIEW

Shigley Loses Second Race for the Legislature

Bouzyk Fired for Joining Wife’s Antisemitic Tirade

Debra Shigley lost in the primary election for state Senate District 21 to Republican Jason Dickerson.

By Dave Schechter Georgia Democrats were optimistic when Debra Shigley received the most votes in the Aug. 26 open primary in state Senate District 21, which takes in a large portion of Cherokee County and part of northern Fulton County.

Shigley won 39.5 percent of the primary vote, finishing well ahead of six Republicans, but not enough to win the seat outright, putting her in a runoff against Republican Jason Dickerson.

Democratic hopes of flipping the seat were dashed in the Sept. 23 runoff, as Dickerson captured 61.5 percent to Shigley’s 38.5 percent.

Voter turnout was 21 percent for the runoff, with nearly 31,000 votes cast.

Turnout for the primary was 14 percent.

Even in defeat, though, Democrats saw a silver lining in Shigley’s performance in a district that President Donald Trump won by 34 percentage points in 2024.

Shigley’s loss left Democratic state Rep. Esther Panitch as the lone Jewish member of the Georgia General Assembly, which reconvenes Jan. 12, 2026.

The runoff was held on Rosh Hashanah, scheduling that drew the ire of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, but that met the state election law that a runoff be held four weeks after the primary.

In the runoff, Dickerson won 71.6 percent of the Cherokee County vote, creating a margin large enough to withstand Shigley taking 54.7 percent of the vote in Fulton County.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Dickerson spent approximately $750,000 of his own money in the primary and runoff races, while Shigley raised about $252,000.

In a post-runoff statement Shigley said: “I am incredibly proud of the campaign our team ran and thankful for every single person who volunteered their time fighting for a better Georgia. In May, we got off the sidelines and stood up, offering a vision for a better future for our children and our families. Despite the results, I am both proud and grateful for our efforts and will continue the work required to make the 21st District a better place for everyone to work and live in.”

Anna and Mark Bouzyk have gone viral after Anna was recorded shouting antisemitic slurs at David Lubin, father of fallen Lone Soldier Sgt. Rose Ida Lubin.

A Dunwoody couple faced consequences after being accused of yelling antisemitic slurs at the father of an Israeli Border Police officer who was killed in 2023.

Mark Bouzyk was fired after he and his wife were taped lobbing insults at David Lubin, the father of Sgt. Rose Ida Lubin. A Lone Soldier who served in Israel’s Border Police, Lubin was stabbed to death by a 16-year-old Palestinian boy in Jerusalem on Nov. 6, 2023.

Lubin told Atlanta News First that the incident began as he was distributing stickers honoring his daughter’s memory.

“When I heard her say, your daughter deserved to die and called me a kike, that’s when I walked across the street,” he said.

In a video of the confrontation posted on X by the watchdog group Stop An-

tisemitism, Anna Bouzyk can be heard telling Lubin that his daughter went to Israel “to kill.”

“You are calling yourself a kike, you know what you are. You know what you are better than me,” Bouzyk can be heard saying alongside her husband, Mark, who periodically joined in the altercation. “You are a corrupt politician with a daughter in the IDF that went there to kill, and she was killed maybe by friendly fire because the Israeli soldiers they kill each other all the time, and you know very well,” continued Bouzyk.

Bouzyk later confirmed to Atlanta News First that she had called Lubin the derogatory term prior to the filmed confrontation, telling the outlet, “I don’t regret what I said, and I’ll it say a million times again.”

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 33

YEAR IN REVIEW

Meet the New Consul General to the Southeast

New Biography Examines Life of Lucille Selig Frank

Eitan Weiss (second from right), new Consul General to the Southeast, poses with hosts, Delilah and Steven Cohen, and Alexa Crista, director of Jewish Community Affairs.

Eighty Jewish Atlanta community leaders, many of whom were rabbis, convened at the home of Steven and Delilah Cohen on Aug. 27 to welcome the new Israeli Consul General to the Southeast, Eitan Weiss, who has held four posts in the past 18 years. Weiss began by commending Anat Sultan Dadon’s “six years in an amazing role here” as his predecessor and explaining that “diplomacy is not one man’s act.”

Earlier in the year, Israel’s Cabinet announced Weiss’ appointment as part of a group of new diplomats. The Atlanta consulate serves seven states: Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Mississippi.

Weiss was recently director of export control in Jerusalem and previously head of the Israel Metaverse project. He later served as a deputy chief (Los Angeles Consulate) and held roles at embassies in Ottawa and Moscow (which Weiss described as “freezing and full of fun”).

Before entering the foreign ministry, he worked as a customer service manager at Orange in Rosh Ha’Ayin, Birmingham’s 34 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

sister city in Israel. Weiss has a degree in international relations and political science from Hebrew University, and a master’s in conflict resolution from Tel Aviv University. He served in Army Intelligence in the Israel Defense Forces.

Owner and publisher of Atlanta Jewish Times, Michael Morris, asked Weiss what he needed to accomplish his goals. Weiss replied, “Not money. Be our eyes and ears with friends and families here and there where we come from a place of logic and pause before issuing a verdict.”

Weiss spoke of Israel still “licking its wounds” post-COVID and Oct. 7, with tourism and GDP indicators.

“Tourism got a big hit, and the government helped it float,” he said. He told of his outreach to college campuses where he has encountered stone throwing and shouting over letting him speak.

He pledged to build bridges the local Black, Muslim, and Latino communities with “real dialogue.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Ann Hite, author of “I Am A Georgia Girl,” seated at Lucille Selig Frank’s writing desk.

By Dave Schechter The 110th anniversary of the lynching of Leo Frank coincided with publication of, “I Am A Georgia Girl,” a biography of his wife and widow, Lucille Selig Frank.

“My goal with writing this book is to tell Lucille’s truth that no one really seemed to care about when she was alive,” author Ann Hite told the AJT. “Pretty much most wanted all that happened to Leo … 110 years ago, to go away, fade into the background, and be forgotten. I couldn’t let that happen.”

Hite’s fascination with the story began more than 50 years earlier, as a 9-year-old, hearing her grandmother describe seeing Leo Frank’s body hanging from the tree in the Marietta woods where he was lynched at sunrise on Aug. 17, 1915. Hite’s grandmother, then just 6 years old, was brought by her father from their home in Forsyth County, as some 3,000 people came to the site, many in a festive mood. Frank’s body was left hang-

ing for hours before it was removed.

The book, published in September

by Mercer University Press, was a change of pace for Hite, the author of more than a dozen works of fiction, most set in and around Black Mountain, N.C., and involving ghosts or spirits.

“The newspapers painted Lucille as a weak hysteric, like they did most women at the time,” Hite said. “Yet, she wrote two letters to the newspapers at the time Leo was going to trial for Mary Phagan’s murder. The first letter addressed Hugh Dorsey, the prosecutor of Leo’s case, for his handling or mistreatment of Minola McKnight, the Seligs’ cook, while getting her statement. When Dorsey answered her back in the same papers, he played her concerns down, marginalizing her views. Lucille promptly wrote a second letter, firing back her thoughts. At the time, ladies were not to have opinions.

Lucille did and voiced them. She went on to fight tirelessly to save her husband’s life and prove his innocence.”

YEAR IN REVIEW

Memorials Mark Anniversary of Oct. 7 Attacks

All 20 Remaining Living Hostages Return to Israel

The national memorial ceremony at the Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv marking two years since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, onslaught.

On Oct. 5, two days before the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamasled terror attacks in the “Gaza envelope” section of Israel, several hundred people gathered at Ahavath Achim Synagogue to remember the 1,200 murdered and 250 kidnapped that day.

Resilience in the face of the unimaginable was a theme of the program. There were prayers for Israel, prayers for the hostages, and prayers for the IDF. Memorial candles were lighted by relatives of Israelis killed on Oct. 7.

Rabbi Adam Starr, senior rabbi at Congregation Ohr HaTorah, delivered the Misheberach, a prayer for healing. His 19-year-old nephew was one of three soldiers wounded when Hamas fighters attacked their unit’s position in Gaza. They were airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Be’er Sheva.

The recently concluded High Holy Days “felt like the first time I could breathe in two years,” Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal of Ahavath Achim said.

“We might be able to breathe a little bit,” Rosenthal said, acknowledging that the shaky nature of the negotiations requires patience.

Eitan Weiss, Israel’s Consul General to the Southeastern United States, said, “We all are hostages to the whims and

brutality of those vile terrorists who play and taunt with our emotions.”

As he spoke in the Ahavath Achim sanctuary, Harris held a picture of Omer Neutra, his cousin, who was born in New York one month after 9/11 and died on Oct. 7, 2023, a week before his 22nd birthday.

Neutra, an American Israeli who enlisted in the IDF as a Lone Soldier (without family), was serving as a tank platoon commander when he was killed battling Hamas terrorists who had invaded Kibbutz Nir Oz. Approximately 30,000 people filled Yarkon Park in an emotional memorial coordinated by Kumu (“Rise Up”), an organization founded by survivors and families of the victims and hostages of the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.

“Oct. 7 is not only a day of remembrance for those we lost,” said Kumu founder Yonatan Shamriz, brother of hostage Alon Shamriz. “It is a day of remembrance for negligence, for failed leadership, and for the abandonment of responsibility. On that day, a new commitment was born … to lead the State of Israel to a better reality — a far better one.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

This handout picture released by the Israeli army shows released Israeli hostage Eitan Mor (center) being embraced by his family after being handed over in a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Israel on Oct. 13, 2025.

Israel joined the families in celebration as Hamas released the 20 remaining living hostages under the Gaza ceasefire deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, who came to Israel to mark the event.

The first seven living hostages — Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Guy Gilboa-Dallal and twin brothers, Gali and Ziv Berman — were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City, in the Strip’s north, at about 8 a.m. and transferred to Israeli forces inside Gaza about an hour later.

The next 13 — Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein and brothers, David and Ariel Cunio — were handed over to the Red Cross in Khan Younis, in the Strip’s south, shortly before 11 a.m. and transferred to Israeli forces inside Gaza about an hour later.

All 20 returned pale and frail, but smiling and standing on their legs, with most of them held in horrific conditions

in tunnels deep under Gaza, where many faced abuse, starvation and received limited medical treatment. They underwent initial medical checks at Re’im to determine if any of them needed immediate, urgent treatment.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Hostages Square to celebrate the release, waving Israeli flags and singing and dancing. Thousands more lined the streets as the hostages were transported to the Re’im base, while others gathered at the three hospitals where the freed hostages were brought.

In exchange for the 20 hostages, Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 terror convicts serving life sentences, as stipulated

by Trump’s ceasefire proposal, an IDF spokesperson told The Times of Israel.

The bodies of all but one slain hostage have since been returned to Israel.

Ran Gvili, 24, who was murdered in captivity, is the final body yet to be returned.

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 35

YEAR IN REVIEW

Kosher BBQ Festival Returns with Massive Turnout

Bradley Rudy is pictured in front of Atlanta Jewish Times’ booth, which was themed, “Boot Scoot & BBQ.”

What a difference a year makes.

It may have been the fact that there was no Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival last year, but whatever the reason, an estimated 4,500 community members gathered on Nov. 9 at Brook Run Park – marking the largest number of attendees in recent memory.

In fact, there were so many attendees that the cooking teams ran out of samples by 2:30 p.m., much to the dismay of several tasters. However, at that point, there were still plenty of vendors and food trucks offering delicious dishes, and guests had a bevy of entertainment options to choose from including live music featuring a Klezmer band, and an Israeli DJ, and the Kids Zone offered a half-dozen blow-up, bounce house-type amusements.

While enjoying the live entertainment and community atmosphere and reveling in the serenity of being proudly Jewish in public, surrounded by thousands of fellow Jews and barbeque enthusiasts, guests were invited to interact with local organizations, like the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Stand36 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

WithUs, and many more. The recent surge of antisemitism that has plagued American Jews the past few years was momentarily deafened by the laughter and camaraderie of Jewish Atlanta gathering in Dunwoody on a windy Sunday afternoon to enjoy good food, good times, and an everlasting link to Jewish history and culture.

And, of course, there was the cookoff.

Eighteen teams competed in the categories of chili, brisket, chicken, and beef ribs, as well as best team name and best decorated booth. The official winners for the 12th annual Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival are as follows: Chili – Masterful Menches of Meat; Brisket – Noah’s Bark; Chicken – CMCA Flames; Beef Ribs – Masterful Menches of Meat. With the top overall score, the Masterful Menches of Meat were awarded Grand Champion, presented by the Hebrew Order of David. Shofar So Good won first place for Best Team Name and the Atlanta Jewish Times took home top prize for Best Decorated Booth with their theme, Boot Scoot & BBQ. Compiled by AJT Staff

It was All Smiles at Massell Clinic Benefit

More than 250 guests supported this year’s Bright Smiles, Brighter Futures event.

This year’s Jewish Family & Career Services’ Bright Smiles, Brighter Futures fundraiser benefitting the Ben Massell Dental Clinic (BMDC) was another smashing success, garnering donations to support the free dental clinic’s operations.

The more than 250 philanthropic guests filled out the artfully decorated event hall at 42West. An atmosphere of community spread throughout as guests schmoozed with volunteer dentists and oral hygienists, generous donors, and longtime clinic supporters, and sampled delectable dishes by Zest Catering and enjoyed a curated selection of spirits provided by The Wine Shop at Parkaire.

The annual Bright Smiles, Brighter Futures fundraiser helps raise awareness about the importance of expanding BMDC’s network of volunteer dentists as the clinic relies on these oral health experts to volunteer once per month, providing fillings, extractions, crowns, prosthetic services, and cleanings.

Several volunteers and community members were recognized for their service and dedication to the clinic, in-

cluding Dr. Jack Bickford (Volunteer of the Year); Dr. Jonathan Dubin (Ben Massell Legacy Award); Dr. Mollie Winston (Champion of Philanthropy); and BMDC Director Barbara Jones, who was honored for her 50 years of working with the clinic. State Rep. Deborah Silcox was also recognized for her community advocacy and support of BMDC’s mission.

One of the highlights of the evening was the live auction, hosted by Rocktioneer Seth Weiner. Auction items included exclusive vacation packages at Cape San Blas, Fla., and golfing at TPC Scottsdale, premier dining and sporting experiences, and luxury gifts.

The Ben Massell Dental Clinic serves community members who earn an income within 125 percent of the federal poverty line, have no dental insurance, and reside within Metro Atlanta. The clinic is just one of several communityoriented programs offered through Jewish Family & Career Services. For more information about the clinic, please visit http://benmasselldentalclinic.org/ Compiled by AJT Staff

YEAR IN REVIEW

Paul Defeats Carter in Sandy Springs Mayoral Runoff

Benator Retires After 55 Years of JCC Softball

After 55 years and 100 seasons in the MJCCA Modified Fast Pitch Softball League, Gene Benator (center) has finally decided to leave the diamond — as a player.

Incumbent Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul received 69.27 percent of the votes while Dontaye Carter garnered 30.73 percent.

Incumbent Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul handedly defeated challenger Dontaye Carter in a runoff election on Dec. 2.

Paul received 69.27 percent of the votes (10,298) with Carter garnering 30.73 percent (4,568) with 14,866 total votes cast.

“I’m very gratified by the clear bipartisan nature of my victory,” Paul said.

“It shows that we can transcend the partisan divide that afflicts so much of our political discourse and focus on uniting our community in a shared vision for our future.”

Paul then gave special recognition to the Sandy Springs Jewish community for their support in getting him reelected.

“I’m extremely gratified by my very strong support within our Jewish community. Our Jewish community knows I’ve strongly and clearly stood with them both in good and bad times,” he said.

Paul added that he left his victory party to attend the Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism in New Orleans, which was sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement where Paul serves on the Mayors Advisory Committee.

None of the four candidates received a majority of the vote in the Nov. 4 election, which led to the top two vote-getters, Paul and Carter, to face off in a runoff.

Compiled by AJT Staff

When Gene Benator began playing in the Harris Jacobs MJCCA Modified Fast Pitch Softball League, Richard Nixon was in the Oval Office, Hank Aaron was enjoying his last monster season, and “The French Connection” was all the rage at cinemas nationwide.

From his 1971 rookie season, which preceded his senior year at University of Georgia, to last month’s official retirement as a player, Benator’s 55-year/100-season career included over 1,200 games and 8,500 innings pitched, 54 All-Star Game appearances, and 709 wins. A left fielder-turned pitcher, Benator had 74 different catchers as batterymates and played under 15 league commissioners. He competed against a handful of grandfather-father-son trios. He took the field with his primary care physician. And later his chiropractor.

A preposterously long career that culminated with an emotionally charged ceremony prior to the Fall 2025 All-Star Game on Nov. 23 at the Marcus JCC in Dunwoody was even more remarkable given that the 76-year-old Benator kept his over half-century streak alive while battling cancer three times and undergo-

ing open heart surgery.

Benator’s decadeslong dedication to the Harris Jacobs MJCCA Modified Fast Pitch Softball League is nothing short of historic. In addition to tossing five onehitters, Benator had a no-no in 2005. In 1981, he carried his team to a 23-1 start before becoming the first pitcher in league history to fire a shutout in a regular season championship game. In the 1983 AllStar Game, he struck out the side swinging (fast-pitch softball, indeed). A string of rainouts forced his 1992 squad to play — and ultimately sweep — five postseason tournament games in 36 hours, all of which he served as the starting pitcher.

If softball players had baseball cards, the back of Benator’s would require the smallest font size imaginable.

“While all the stats are great, the friendships and acquaintances and memories and fun times are the treasures that I will always value the most, especially the opportunity to play a couple of seasons with my son, Brian, catching me, which was surreal!,” shared Benator.

Compiled by AJT Staff ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 37

ARTS & CULTURE Pisik Creates Treasures for Private, Corporate Collections

By Robyn Spizman Gerson Artist Doug Pisik’s interest in woodworking began as a young boy growing up in Deerfield, Ill., a suburb of Chicago.

His father, a corporate executive, enjoyed making simple furniture and fixing things around the house, including creating toys for Doug like rubber band guns. At an early age, Doug learned how to use a saw, hammer, drill, sander, and other tools. He loved creating something out of nothing, even props to enhance his entries at science fair competitions.

Graduating from Georgia Tech in 1985 with an electrical engineering degree, he landed a job at General Electric developing flight simulators in Florida for five years before moving to Atlanta in 1991 working in IT. Moving into his first apartment, Doug bought a few tools and, over time, began what would become a lifelong career designing treasured works in wood. While Pisik was mechanically inclined, it was pre-Internet and he taught himself the artform, subscribed to woodworking magazines, and developed many of his own techniques.

As Doug created one piece at a time, a turning point came when he entered his works into his first museum show in 2007 and was then classified as a “Master Woodworker” by the Woodworker’s Guild of Georgia in 2008. His passionate interest in the artistic potential of wood launched what would become a worldclass lifelong career.

In 2017, Pisik’s first gallery show did so well, the following year he left the corporate world to become a full-time wood artist. His works were recognized and Lois Reitzes interviewed Doug in 2019 about his artform, and several times thereafter. Individuals whose work often inspires Doug include Frank Lloyd Wright, Mondrian, Brancusi, and Rietveld. His inspiration also comes from taking random pics of things around him that have shapes and forms that catch his attention. Sticking to original ideas, often the final works look nothing like the inspiring imagery he sees and it’s more like a catalyst that triggers new designs for his creations.

For decades, alongside a variety of artworks, Doug’s specialties include being known for his exquisitely detailed art boxes with unique geometric patterns formed from solid wood construction instead of veneers. The patterns repeat inside the boxes and possess an intricate “wow” factor when you look inside. He also creates sculptural works including 38 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Temple Kol Emeth’s 40th Anniversary Bench built by Pisik with dozens of cubbies filled with prayers and blessings.

Doug Pisik in his workshop surrounded by his tools and creations // All photos by Doug Pisik

Pisik’s original b’nai mitzvah star with 13 removable sections that replaces the 13-candle ceremony.

Among Pisik’s public art, the interactive Morph Tower at the Kennesaw Smith Gilbert Gardens.

3D wall art and free-standing sculptures, many with moving pieces that encourage the viewer to reposition and enjoy its possibilities Judaica works made of wood are also amongst his many accomplished public pieces integrated at synagogues with purpose and beauty. Some of his most exciting projects include Temple Kol Emeth where he installed a 16-foot artistic bench he created commemorating their 40th anniversary. The distinctive back is an array of 86 inscribed acryliccovered cubbies that contain scrolls with prayers from the congregation.

Doug commented, “I also created an 11-foot-tall dynamic tower that was loaned to the Kennesaw Smith Gilbert Gardens. It had cubes with different designs and colors that the garden visitors could rotate to change patterns. My latest design is an abstract dancer sculpture made of geometric forms that rotate though each other so the dancer can be ‘posed’ many ways.”

Regarding the Judaica works, Doug said, “I designed and created Stars of David art as gifts for my nieces and nephews b’nai mitzvahs. They replaced the 13-candle holder often used. Instead of 13 people lighting 13 candles, each person

inserted a numbered wooden component into the frame to create the Star of David final artwork. The pieces are then screwed into place from the back so the art can be displayed in the family home … ready to be taken down and used when the next generation has their b’nai mitzvahs!”

Pisik’s impressive corporate collections include Ritz Carlton, Home Depot and Carnival Corporation, and his art is also in the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art and the Smith Gilbert Gardens permanent collections. Many of his pieces in private collections belong to Tony and Emmy Award winners, Grammy and Pulitzer nominees, and CEOs of several of the largest corporations in Atlanta and beyond. An active member and participant of the Jewish Woodworkers Group of Atlanta, an amazing group of woodworkers and artists, Pisik is honored to share his passion with dozens of other talented woodworkers.

Most of Doug’s sales come from private commissions where he works with clients to design and create unique and personal art. Several of his works will be on display during the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art “Georgia Wood Art” juried exhibition, Jan. 10 to March 22, where he

has served as one of the jurors.

Doug added, “Dozens of talented artists will be showcasing the numerous ways wood is used. I’m truly impressed with the variety and quality of art that literally ‘crawled out of the woodwork’ for this exhibition. The museum is located at 30 Atlanta St. in Marietta.”

While Pisik spends hundreds of hours in his studio, building a good life for others is equally important. Doug was an Olympic torch bearer for the Olympics in 1996, 2002, and 2004, an honor given to him for his volunteerism that ranged from his work with Habitat for Humanity, where he recruited thousands of volunteers who built dozens of houses, to leading a Partnership in Education program that provided an inner city school with in-classroom tutoring and afterschool programs.

With shows being scheduled over the next few years, Doug Pisik’s work can be seen at RobertKent Galleries (145 Church St., Marietta), High Country Art (715 E. Main St., Blue Ridge, Ga.) and Piece Art Gallery (122 E. Meadow Dr., Vail, Colo.) Visit www.dougpisik.com and @ DougPisik on Instagram, or sign up at www.dougpisik.com/signup to learn more about his upcoming exhibitions. ì

ARTS & CULTURE

‘Marty Supreme’ is A Fast-Paced Dramatic Delight

By Bob Bahr There is something slightly subversive about the production company A24’s release of “Marty Supreme,” on Dec. 25.

This is certainly not another “Ben Hur” or “The Robe” or “King of Kings,” something American movie audiences might find particularly appealing as entertainment in late December.

No, “Marty Supreme” is about a Jewish hustler, whose approach to dealing with the world might best be described as chutzpah on steroids. The Marty Supreme in this case is a 23- year-old salesman who emerges from the hard scrabble world of the Lower East Side of New York in the early 1950s determined to become an international table-tennis tournament champion overnight.

As portrayed by Timothée Chalamet, who was born to a Jewish mother, and directed by Josh Safdie, whose father was a Sephardic Syrian and his mother a Russian Ashkenazic, this is a character a few of us may have known as we’ve grown to adulthood or perhaps would have liked to have known.

There are plenty of other co-religionists in the film. Fran Drescher is Marty’s mother, and she is joined by Sandra Bernhard, the designer Isaac Mizrahi, and Odessa A’zion in other featured roles. It seemed only natural to Safdie that he populated his film with so many Hebrews. “It’s a story about Jewish people so I needed Jewish actors,” he told a press conference.

In the course of this film, we follow this fearlessly exuberant hero for an eight-month fling at fame that takes him from his humble origins in the lower depths of Manhattan to the rich and elegant world of The Ritz in London. There he meets up with a glamorous former movie star played by Gwyneth Paltrow and her rich husband played by the “Shark Tank” judge Kevin O’Leary and a variety of other characters.

They are all pressed into service in Marty’s quest for international fame and ping pong immortality. There’s the former champ who survived Auschwitz, a cabdriver named Wally, played by the famous rapper, Tyler the Creator, and a Japanese table tennis ace played by Koro Kawaguchi. In real life, he’s a certified champ who knows his way about this competitive and fast-paced world of table tennis.

Marty’s life and his plan comes at us all in a rush as the director and his cameraman, Darius Khondji, would have it.

The wheeling and dealing, the blistering blustering, of this world-class con man is

“Marty Supreme” is a favorite of critics as we enter the film awards season.

in sharp contrast to the soothing melodies of peace on earth, goodwill to men that has been oozing out of the speakers recently along crowded shopping malls.

In that way, it is more like the successful film six years ago that Josh Safdie made with his brother, Benny, “Uncut Gems,” set in New York City’s Midtown diamond district.

The film is loosely based on a reallife character, the champion table tennis hustler, Marty Reisman, who, like the hero of this film, traveled to Europe in the early 1950s in search of fame and fortune. The two Martys resemble each other in their frenetic pursuit of world renown along with the occasional missteps that land them in hot water.

The real-life Reisman was once escorted out of a tournament in America after he unknowingly offered $500 to someone he assumed was a bookie. The cash was a bet he made on himself to win the game he was playing. Unfortunately, the presumed bookie was the president of the United States Table Tennis Association.

Still, he was an international star, winning five world championships from 1948 to 1952. Around the same time, he was also the opening act for the Harlem Globetrotters, whose trick shots and comedy routines were mirrored by Reisman and his partner, Doug Cartland.

Among their antics was a game played by hitting little white ball across the net with the sole of their shoes.

“Marty Supreme,” which opened earlier this month, prior to its national release in New York and Los Angeles, has been short listed for the upcoming Academy Awards. It’s a multiple nomi-

Timothée Chalamet dominates the title role in this entertaining film.

nee for the 2026 Golden Globes and critics around the country who pick their favorites this time of the year have made it a consistent favorite. It won a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay recently.

But all the applause is well earned.

Chalamet is a wonder in the title role, the comedy is relentless and engaging, and it’s great entertainment. which makes it a perfect film to end one year and begin another. ì

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ARTS & CULTURE

Temple Sinai Art Fair Showcases Local Talent

By Marcia Caller Jaffe Temple Sinai’s social hall served as the canvas for 45 artists on hand to show their work for two days beginning the evening of Dec 6, and extending to Sunday until 3 p.m.

Artist Judie Jacobs, who sits on Sinai’s Fine Arts Committee, related, “Our committee at Temple Sinai sponsors this annual art show. It takes a large number of volunteers to bring the event to life. Our goal is to bring quality fine art and craft work to Temple Sinai and the surrounding community each year by offering unique shopping for family and friends. Many of the artisans are members of Temple Sinai. The art included paintings, ceramics, jewelry, glass, wood, and fiber arts.”

Formally named “Spotlight on Talent,” the show had hundreds of guests perusing through the rows and circular layout of two large temple rooms, beginning Saturday evening with a wine and cheese reception that encouraged socializing while browsing the artists’ offerings.

Jacobs, who also had her own booth alongside her 8-year-old granddaughter, offered a range of gift items like note cards, small paintings, ceramics, jewelry and larger paintings for the home. There was no charge to attend the event. Artists donated 30 to 40 percent of their sales to Temple Sinai of which a portion was earmarked for the Sandy Springs Community Action Center. Also unique to this year, a consignment gallery offered a group display station for those artists not manning a booth.

Third-time participant Susan Wasserman Chase was quickly selling her mahjong menorahs. She said, “I was blown away by how many of my pieces found new homes. I absolutely love being part of this community and showcasing my artwork alongside so many of my congregants. It is especially meaningful knowing that a portion of the proceeds support the synagogue.”

Chase works primarily in high-fire stoneware clay. She creates pieces that vary in size and complexity and explores different designs. She has a full home studio where she does most of the design and firing. Her work has been shown in the Chastain Art Gallery and the Spruill Gallery, and most recently, her Zebra Menorah was at Fragile. Why mah jong menorahs? She further explained, “I love the game, especially playing with my daughter, friends, and now my granddaughters.

Bringing the mah jong tiles into a meno-

40 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Susan Chase Wasserman’s most popular piece was the mah jong menorah.

Cheryl Henos specializes in hand-painted black and white photography.

Sharon Feldstein creates large-scale abstract mosaic paintings and some Jewish art.

Debra Cohen made menorahs out of coastal wood pieces as well as from rivers, lakes, and hiking trails.

rah design was incredibly fun and timely; and the pieces came together beautifully with so many creative possibilities.”

Renee Karchmer, also a third-time participant, commented, “This is a wonderful show, very well put together. I was pleased with the number of pieces that I sold.”

Karchmer’s process involves fusing and slumping glass which results in mostly abstract pieces with prices range from $10 to $100. The pieces are mostly utilitarian with some for display. She related, “The varied colors of glass speak to me and inspire my designs.”

Debra Cohen, second-time partici-

pant, brought 42 wood menorahs and sold 12. She said, “The tricky part of creating these is finding woods that will sit stably so we can add fruit, candles and the like. And the wood’s natural flaws add to the uniqueness.”

Emerging artist Cheryl Henos is a self-taught photographer and painter who combines hand-painting with black and white photography. She shared, “The most incredible part of the fair was the valuable advice I received from other talented artists. My favorites were Fran Scher’s paintings and Jane Leavey’s silver jewelry. Shoppers liked my llamas.”

Her photos are under oils, acrylics, pastels, and watercolors. Henos paints a portion of the photograph, inviting viewers to use their imaginations. Her paintings range from $150 to $2,000 or more. Her work is featured in the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery. Her first solo exhibition at the Abernathy Arts Center this past summer scored as one of their best in attendance, engagement, and sales for the City of Sandy Springs. She was also asked to create a photo shoot and paintings for the new Sandy Springs Police Headquarters. She laughed, “I believe they like them as I wasn’t arrested!” ì

Chai Style Home

Liz Rosenzweig relaxes with dog, Bohdi, in her study which transitions into a guest bedroom // All photos by Howard Mendel

Layered, Lived In, and a Little Moody

Marcia Caller Jaffe

As owner and principal designer of Grant Drive Design, Liz Rosenzweig’s sweet spot is working with families who want their homes to feel beautiful, but also completely

usable.

Here, she opens her Brookhaven family home in a style that transcends time periods.

She explained, “I like mixing antiques and patina with more modern pieces, so rooms feel like they’ve evolved naturally over time.”

From her residential design studio, Rosenzweig creates homes for others that feel layered, lived-in, and deeply personal with spaces that balance comfort with character. In terms of her own home, she described, “Our home feels warm, layered, and a little moody. I wanted it to have that sense of history found in older homes — lots of texture, books, and art that feels collected. The palette is neutral with areas that lean earthy: olive greens, rust colors, ochres, and deep blues, with warm woods and brass. It feels cozy and inviting, but not too precious.”

Jaffe: How did you decide to go into

designing?

Rosenzweig: After college, I wanted a more creative path. At the New England School of Art and Design (Suffolk University), I earned a master’s in interior architecture. My husband and I met in Chicago and settled here where our kids attend The Epstein School. Between family life, design projects, and dog, Bodhi, our days are full, but happy.

Jaffe: Describe your furnishings.

Rosenzweig: A mix — a light gray Chesterfield sofa, a large sectional for the family to pile onto together, and a few vintage pieces from markets, like an antique drop-leaf table in the kitchen and my daughter’s wrought iron bed refinished by my mom. We also have a marble dining table and a mix of modern and traditional silhouettes. I love anything with interesting lines or craftsmanship, like our canopy bed and a stone-topped coffee table that feels sculptural.

Jaffe: How did you select lighting?

Rosenzweig: I’m drawn to warm brass and antique-inspired lighting, paired with linen shades with classic shapes mixed with antique pieces, like the barley twist chandelier in our living room. Lighting has a big impact on how a space feels. It’s also a great way to show

personality.

Jaffe: How do flooring and cabinetry come together?

Rosenzweig: We recently redid all floors with a wide oak plank in a dark stain that feels timeless. It grounds the house and keeps everything cohesive.

Most of our cabinetry is painted with classic door profiles, nothing too fussy, with aged brass or unlacquered hardware that gains character over time.

Jaffe: How do you approach collecting art?

Rosenzweig: Slowly. Some special pieces from my grandmother combined with other vintage finds collected over time, pieces from local artists, and some from travels. I love when art tells a story.

Even displaying kids’ pieces on the corkboard in the mudroom makes me smile.

Jaffe: You describe your palette as “moody.”

Rosenzweig: I used Benjamin Moore’s White Dove — my favorite white, Sherwin-Williams Thunderous and Silvermist, plus Tricorn Black in the powder room. I like color that feels cozy and livable.

Jaffe: The Lenox china is on the wall

vs. table setting?

Rosenzweig: We use our dining room often for family dinners and hosting, but it’s not overly formal. For Shabbat, I test new recipes from a fun cookbook or something found online, but my “go-to” is roasted chicken, challah, and seasonal sides — simple but comforting.

We light candles, everyone gathers, and it feels like a reset from the week.

Jaffe: Speaking of the kitchen …

Rosenzweig: I chose deep drawers for pots and pans, a gigantic refrigerator, and a pull-out spice rack. Aesthetically, I keep a mix of vintage wood boards, ceramics, and a set of unlacquered brass salt and pepper grinders on the counters conveying warmth and function.

Jaffe: What are some whimsical elements?

Rosenzweig: An organic-shaped mirror in the mudroom, an ochre-colored fabric with leopards on it on the mudroom bench, the vintage French chandelier in the powder room, as well as the vintage German sconces, are fun.

The pink Cowtan & Tout throw pillows in my office add personality and something unexpected. I mix in quirky objects from travel or thrift shops that make the space feel less staged. The hallway is charming ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 41

CHAI STYLE because of the artwork and my grandmother’s alabaster table lamps.

It feels light and airy, not just a pass-through. I like when even the transitional spaces have personality.

Jaffe: Your office doubles as a mah jongg room and guest bedroom.

Rosenzweig: It has a light wood desk and dresser, a brass chandelier, and a gray sofa-pullout. I had it painted a dark green and added built-ins to display collections. I added sconces to flank Toraja panels. It’s definitely my cozy, creative zone.

Jaffe: What are some cool points in your kids’ rooms?

Rosenzweig: Sydney’s room has a pink desk painted by a millworker. She also has an antique wrought iron bed refinished in white with space for her dollhouse and books. For flexibility in Adrian’s room, we have open floor space for building and puzzles. His shelves hold his favorite car and book collections. Both rooms feel cheerful and personal without being overly themed.

Jaffe: The guest powder room is dramatic.

Rosenzweig: I used a black wallpaper with vines, flowers, and butterflies to pair with a curved vanity, custom marble top, backsplash, and brass fixtures. Powder rooms are my favorite spot to take a design risk.

Above: The kitchen has a pullout spice rack, a gigantic refrigerator, and vintage wood boards to make it fun and functional.

Bottom Right:Liz’s circa-1910 chinoiserie egrets are backed in gold within their original water-gilded frame.

Bottom Left: The Rosenzweig great room is done in tonal neutrals.

42 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Jaffe: What are some of the trends you’re seeing?

Rosenzweig: I’ve noticed a shift toward warmer, more personal spaces — fewer all-white kitchens, more color, texture and character. People want their homes to feel more collected and grounded.

Smaller, cozier rooms are making a comeback with natural materials like plaster, stone, and wood.

Marcia: Last word.

Rosenzweig: Homes are less about perfection and more about creating spaces that feel lived-in and real. ì

Top Left: Rosenzweig’s home has a sense of history, and warmth with layering.

Top Right: The kids’ playroom is centered by a poster from Jaffa, Israel, with a view to the outdoors. Liz recommends dark rugs for play areas.

Below: The dining room ceiling is done in barn wood. Rosenzweig used Lenox china to envelope the walls around the table. The chandelier is Visual Comfort.

Left: Liz advises that a powder room is a smart place to take a risk. This vintage look is rooted in ship lap.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 43

CALENDAR

JANUARY 1-14 Thursday, January 8 Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival Spark! Featuring Local Jewish Storytellers – 7 p.m. Join The Breman for Spark!

Thursday, January 1

Monday, January 5

Winter Break Family Camp – Experience

Beyond the Headlines: Israel’s History, Society, and Politics with Dr. Eli Sperling - 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. “Beyond the Head-

the magic of camp with the whole family and ring in the New Year surrounded by friends. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/mtsncayx.

Friday, January 2 Kabbalat Panim Shabbat Service - 5:45 to 8 p.m. Once a month at Congregation Dor Tamid, we’ll gather for a Kabbalat Panim, an Oneg Shabbat before services at 5:45 p.m. We will then move to the sanctuary to welcome in Shabbat together at 6:15 p.m. Find out more at https://tinyurl. com/47rs4bt3.

lines: Israel’s History, Society, and Politics,” is a five-part series that invites participants to explore Israel’s political and social journey from the birth of modern Zionism in the 19th century through the establishment of the state and into the complexities of the present day. The session situates major events and debates within their historical, regional, and global contexts, giving participants the tools to understand and analyze Israel’s evolving domestic politics, institutions, society, and foreign relations.

This week’s session is Zionism, Hebrew national culture, and the building of a Jewish state in pre-1948 Palestine. Register at https://tinyurl.com/my7cd5uc.

Sunday, January 4 Hadar Atlanta Jewish Professionals Lunch N’ Learns @The Dupree – 12 to 1 p.m. This series is for professionals in the Jewish non-profit world seeking to deepen their foundation in core Jewish values.

Each session focuses on a specific value – like human dignity, resilience, or compassion – using classical Jewish texts and your voices to deepen our understanding of these crucial concepts. All this to further infuse the important work you already do with depth and reflection. We will explore these values not just intellectually, but as essential character traits, or dispositions, that define effective, ethical, Jewish-oriented leadership. As the series progresses, we will work together to identify and then learn about the values that are most central to the work you do. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/bddvmanx.

44 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Wednesday, January 7 January 2026 JBaby Dunwoody Neighborhood Small Group – 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A five week small group series for local families to bond over music, education, support, and playtime. Designed for babies ages 0–12 months and their parent(s). In this warm, welcoming space, neighborhood families come together for playful learning and meaningful support. You’ll connect with other parents, learn from developmental experts, and share new experiences with your little one — building friendships and a deeper connection to your community along the way.

Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/4umk72rd.

an evening with local storytellers who share personal stories inspired by Jewish or Jewish-related music. Whether it’s a prayer melody, a Broadway hit, a summer camp tune or even a Christmas song by Irving Berlin, music can spark a story. Buy tickets at https://tinyurl.com/52eae92f.

Saturday, January 10 Hannah Zale at Tot Shabbat – 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join Beth Shalom and the fabulous Hannah Zale for a Tot Shabbat. Joyful Judaism through song, movement, and storytelling! Find out more at https://tinyurl. com/yc2ftmej.

Friday, January 9 January 2026 JBaby Intown Small Group- 11:30 a.m. A five‑week small group series for local families to bond over music, education, support, and playtime. Designed for babies ages 0–12 months and their parent(s). In this warm, welcoming space, neighborhood families come together for playful learning and meaningful support. You’ll connect with other parents, learn from developmental experts, and share new experiences with your little one — building friendships and a deeper connection to your community along the way. Each session is about 45 to 60 minutes, with plenty of time to socialize after.

Register at https://tinyurl.com/yc7y45vx.

Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival Rejoice! Regardless – Featured Storyteller Laura Simms – 7 to 9 p.m. There is always possibility and joy. “Rejoice! Regardless,” is a monumental weave of personal stories throughout a Kurdish Jewish fairytale collected in the 1940s in Jerusalem called, “What a Beautiful Road.” Laura tells stories of her childhood in Brooklyn, working in a displaced persons camp in Haiti, with Gypsy women in Romania, and hearing the violin music of a survivor who lived in her attic in Boro Park. Buy tickets at https://tinyurl.com/yc8j3dun.

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

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. In order to be considered for the print edition, please submit events three to four weeks in advance. Contact Diana Cole for more information at Diana@atljewishtimes.com.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Torah Reading: Vayechi Friday, January 2: Light Shabbat Candles: 5:22 PM Saturday, January 3: Shabbat Ends: 6:22 PM Torah Reading: Shemot Friday, January 9: Light Shabbat Candles: 5:28 PM Saturday, January 10: Shabbat Ends: 6:27 PM

Cafe Chabad: Nat Seelen – 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Saturday Night Café Chabad with clarinetist and composer, Nat Seelen! Join Chabad Intown for an evening of music, joy, and community! We’re thrilled to welcome Nat Seelen, artistic director of the Boston Festival of New Jewish Music and clarinetist of Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band, for a one-of-a-kind solo recital. The program features “Seelen’s Suite No. 1,” a six-movement homage to Bach’s “Cello Suites,” refracted through the joyful lens of klezmer, plus selections from his newest work, “56 New Klezmer Tunes for Dancing.” And the night won’t just be about listening — you’ll help write a brand-new klezmer dance tune with Nat and he will perform it at the end of the evening. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/nhjzu9f2.

January 2026 JBaby Brookhaven Neighborhood Small Group - 3:30 p.m.

Play Tamid - 9:15 to 11 a.m. Play Tamid is led

by Rabbi Jordan and is open to the public (members and non-members of Congregation Dor Tamid). Enjoy crafts, songs, fun activities, and more for children under 4 (parent/ guardian must attend). RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/3farjzrc.

Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival – Children’s Storytime! – Grandma Ida’s Diamond Earrings with Laura Simms – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join Laura Simms at The Breman for a children’s book about her grandmother, Ida. This is a story about their childhood, and the gift of dreams and imagination. Buy tickets at https://tinyurl.com/4t47zwdp.

A five‑week small group series for local families to bond over music, education, support, and playtime. Designed for babies ages 0–12 months and their parent(s).

In this warm, welcoming space, neighborhood families come together for playful learning and meaningful support. You’ll connect with other parents, learn from developmental experts, and share new experiences with your little one — building friendships and a deeper connection to your community along the way. Each session is about 45 to 60 minutes, with plenty of time to socialize after. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/2ubvbr64.

Roots, Fruits & Goo – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Get Casino Night – 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Join Congregation Or VeShalom for Casino Night featuring: live music by Joe Alterman, appetizers, drinks and desserts (two drink tickets and cash bar), and blackjack, craps, poker and roulette. RSVP at https://tinyurl. com/9dmmbz6u.

ready to dig in, squish, and explore! PJ Library invites you to Roots, Fruits & Goo, a Tu BiShvat–themed Here We Grow Ooey Gooey Play Party designed especially for curious little ones. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/4hh6943k.

Rack ‘Em Up for Sharsheret – 1 to 5 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of mah jongg and meaningful conversation as we raise awareness and share life-saving cancer education. RSVP at https://tinyurl. com/3b8bhw73.

Sunday, January 11 ReTreat Yourself: Ramah Darom Edition - Fully subsidized retreat for Jewish communal professionals with Adamah and Ramah Darom. Nourish your mind, body, heart, and soul in the beauty of the North Georgia mountains. Connect with colleagues through the themes of kehillah (community) and music, featuring musician-in-residence, Eliana Light. Register at https://tinyurl.com/356jt68u.

Growing Good Habits: Yoga Class and Executive Functioning Skills – 4 to

Voices of Torah Fund - Atlanta Area inPerson Celebration Featuring Rabbi Lauren Henderson - 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. A Southern Region WLCJ in-person event featuring Rabbi Lauren Henderson, spiritual leader of Congregation Or Hadash, Sandy Springs, Ga. From isolation to community: How do we create a culture of belonging? Register at https://tinyurl. com/2uwcrdtr.

Atlanta Jewish Storytelling Festival – 1 to 5:30 p.m. Join The Breman for an afternoon of building community through storytelling, workshops, and tales from the pulpit. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl. com/2ka3mvcr.

5:30 p.m. Start the new year with intention, joy, and connection! Bring the whole family for an inspiring afternoon designed to spark wellness, strengthen routines, and set meaningful goals — together. This interactive program is perfect for families with children in kindergarten through fourth grade. Sign up at https://tinyurl. com/4e8vc9nv.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 45

35+ Cooking Class – 4 to 6:30 p.m. 35+ age singles, join Kibbitz and Konnect at The Cook’s Warehouse for a cooking class experience! The class will begin with beverage service and mingling, then we’ll divide into teams and whip up the selected menu to enjoy together at the end of the class.

Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/38udxp5s.

New Moon Monday: Sound Bath and Meditation – 7:30 to 9 p.m. Join your Beyond the Headlines: Israel’s History, Society, and Politics with Dr. Eli Sperling - 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. “Beyond the Head-

Congregation Beth Shalom Talent Show - 4 to 7 p.m. Join us for a fun af-

lines: Israel’s History, Society, and Politics,” is a five-part series that invites participants to explore Israel’s political and social journey from the birth of modern Zionism in the 19th century through the establishment of the state and into the complexities of the present day. The session situates major events and debates within their historical, regional, and global contexts, giving participants the tools to understand and analyze Israel’s evolving domestic politics, institutions, society, and foreign relations. This week’s session is Israeli independence, Jews from Muslim lands, Arab Israelis, labor politics, and the events of May to June 1967. Register at https://tinyurl.com/58cmbzn7.

ternoon and evening viewing the exceptional talent Beth Shalom has to offer, plus lots more happening throughout the event. Find out more at https://tinyurl. com/4afzww9n.

Monday, January 12 ReTreat Yourself: Ramah Darom Edition - Fully subsidized retreat for Jewish communal professionals with Adamah and Ramah Darom. Nourish your mind, body, heart, and soul in the beauty of the North Georgia mountains. Connect with colleagues through the themes of kehillah (community) and music, featuring musician-in-residence, Eliana Light. Register at https://tinyurl.com/356jt68u.

46 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Atlanta Jewish Film Festival – 2026 Insider Preview – 6:30 to 8 p.m. As a thank you to our AJFF community, join us for an exclusive look at the 26th annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. It’s the return of our Insider Preview event with two special community events. Join AJFF leadership and the Community Engagement Committee for conversation, noshes, and world-class cinema. Bring your friends, colleagues, and family! Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/4jntsubu.

friends at New Moon Monday - a Rosh Chodesh Society event. Start the new year with intention and renewal at our January New Moon gathering with Stephanie Bernstein. This session features a sound bath and meditation designed to help you align your mind, body, and spirit, release what no longer serves you, and set powerful intentions for the year ahead.

Let the soothing sounds guide you into clarity, balance, and fresh beginnings as you welcome the new lunar cycle and the year ahead. Learn more at https://tinyurl. com/4xysat6u.

Hidden Light, Hidden Life: Finding Strength, Purpose, and Agency in Times of Uncertainty – 7:30 p.m. Join Helen Zalik, JWC Atlanta co-founder for a journey of Jewish learning and deep conversation designed to help women rediscover their inner light and bring it forward with purpose and courage. Through Jewish text, psychology, and honest dialogue, each woman is invited to feel seen and heard — emerging with renewed clarity, resilience, and the confidence to speak her truth in the world. RSVP at https://tinyurl. com/4d5r2z7z.

Tuesday, January 13

Wednesday, January 14

ReTreat Yourself: Ramah Darom Edition - Fully subsidized retreat for Jewish

Ben Gurion Society Signature Event – Inside the News with Mo – 6:30 to 8:30

communal professionals with Adamah and Ramah Darom. Nourish your mind, body, heart, and soul in the beauty of the North Georgia mountains. Connect with colleagues through the themes of kehillah (community) and music, featuring musician-in-residence, Eliana Light. Register at https://tinyurl.com/356jt68u.

More Than Just a Mom - 7 to 9 p.m. Motherhood is a beautiful journey — but it can also be overwhelming. This gathering is dedicated to you. Come learn simple, meaningful ways to prioritize your own well-being while caring for your baby. Connect with other moms, recharge, and leave with tools that help you feel more grounded, confident, and supported. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/msmrn9wm.

p.m. Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta for a powerful and intimate evening as we kick off the re-launch of the Ben Gurion Society (BGS) — Federation’s giving society for young adults (ages 22– 40) who contribute $1,000+ annually as an individual or household. We invite BGS donors to hear from special guest and speaker, Mosheh Oinounou, Emmy Award-winning journalist and founder of Mo News, in our intimate fireside conversation. This special evening will be hosted in the home of dedicated community leaders, who will also share reflections on their own path of leadership and philanthropy. Join us for cocktails, networking, and kosher bites by A Kosher Touch! RSVP at https://tinyurl. com/mwhc68rp.

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JAN 6 – 11 • FOX THEATRE • BroadwayInAtlanta.com ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 47

KEEPING IT KOSHER

JEWISH JOKE

The Car Joseph had just passed his driving test, so he asked his father, who was a rabbi, if they could discuss the use of the car.

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites Ingredients Cauliflower 3 cups chopped cauliflower 1/4 cup Gefen Cornstarch 1 teaspoon Gefen Minced Onion 1 teaspoon paprika 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 clove crushed garlic or 1 cube Gefen Frozen Garlic 1/4 cup water Buffalo Sauce 1/2 cup melted vegan butter, like Earth Balance 2 teaspoons garlic powder 1 cup Glicks Hot Sauce 2 teaspoons Gefen Honey Directions 1. Cut cauliflower into small florets.

2. Whisk together the cornstarch, water, and spices.

3. Add the cauliflower and stir to coat all the florets in the mixture.

4. Place cauliflower in an air fryer basket in a single layer or rack fitted on top of baking sheet in oven set to air fry mode.

5. Cook at 400 Fahrenheit for five minutes, shake the basket or tray, and cook for another five minutes.

6. Meanwhile, combine all ingredients for the buffalo sauce.

7. Pour the buffalo sauce over the cauliflower and return the cauliflower to the air fryer/oven and cook for an additional five to 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is crispy!

8. Serve immediately with homemade or store bought ranch dipping sauce.

Recipe by Marla Rottenstreich kosher.com

48 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Joseph’s father took Joseph to his study and said, “I’ll make a deal with you. You bring your school grades up, study your Talmud, get your hair cut, and we’ll talk about it.”

After a month, Joseph came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father’s study where his father said, “Joseph, I’ve been real proud of you. You have raised your school grades, studied your Talmud diligently, but you didn’t get your hair cut.”

Joseph waited a moment and replied, “You know, Dad, I’ve been thinking about that. Samson had long hair. Abraham had long hair. Noah had long hair, and even Moses had long hair.”

To which his father replied, “Yes, and they walked everywhere they went.”

YIDDISH WORD Ganifocrat n. A politician who is a thief or conman.

“The personal library of the chair of the library trustees has expanded incredibly. She may be a ganifocrat.”

From the Yiddish “ganif,” meaning “a thief or crook.”

BRAIN FOOD

Organizational Confusion

ACROSS

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

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

17

21 25

24 30

26

43

44

40

37 41

46 52

53

47

49

68

69

58 61

60 66

48

54

57

56

59

33 36

45 51

22

32

39

13

28

35 38

55

27

31

34

12

19

18

29

50

11 16

20

42

10

15

14

23

9

62

64

65

70

71

72

73

74

75

63

67

1. Religious beliefs 7. Bounce off the wall, as sound 11. Network celebrating early Hollywood 14. Words from the podium 15. He played (Sonny) Corleone 16. “Psychic” Geller 17. An organization for zionist 007 fans?

19. U.N. location 20. “The Fault in Our Stars” star Elgort 21. A “Star Trek” club for yidden? (with 29-Across) 23. Night bird 25. “Jerry Maguire” actor Jay 28. What some buds do 29. See 21-Across 33. Coin of Iran 34. Photoshop producer 35. “Livin’ La Vida ___” (1999 hit) 37. Brewery specialty, perhaps 38. A group for the sons of screenwriter Goldsman or Schaffer?

42. No longer serving: Abbr.

45. Actor Hayun of “Beauty and the Baker” 46. Intro to cart or gram 50. “Bro” 52. A support group for geometry fans? (with 59-Across) 55. Denim alternative 57. Short story writer H.H. Munro’s pen name

58. Audible pauses 59. See 52-Across 61. Bluesy James and jazzy Jones 64. Indulges too much, briefly 65. A fan club for a “viral” Stephen King hit?

70. Canadian prov.

71. With “more,” it’s again 72. ___ valve (engine part) 73. Dissenter’s vote 74. Capital city sluggers, for short 75. “Full House” last name

DOWN

1. Portable Nintendo 2. Word with photo or black 3. Reporter Rivera 4. Not so nice 5. Ideal serves 6. “Refuah ___” (var.)

7. Sustainability prefix 8. Soup container, perhaps 9. Islamic pilgrimage 10. Inception 11. North African country whose Jews live in Djerba 12. High-quality glass 13. “Glee” star Lea ___ 18. Ink stain, e.g.

22. Simple card game 23. “Diary ___ Wimpy Kid”

24. Leave bachelorhood behind 26. Baldwin born in Boston, not Spain 27. Chess piece 30. Go back, like the tide 31. Clinton attorney general Janet 32. “___S: Los Angeles” (CBS spin-off) 36. Ardent, as some readers 39. Very bad grade 40. Cash and cloth finishers 41. “Jeopardy!” monitor display: Abbr.

42. American animal that might encounter a porcupine 43. Australian animal that looks like a porcupine 44. Needing hydration 47. Purim locale 48. Cook of Apple 49. Tests for college credit, for short 51. Company title letters, sometimes 53. Barely made, with “out” 54. Yutz 56. Twins whose fictional last name was once 75-Across 60. Italian volcano 62. Fey of “Mean Girls” 63. Letter-routing letters 66. Perform on stage 67. Original Nintendo, for short 68. Hawaiian instrument, briefly 69. Knight’s title, to George R. R. Martin

Chanukah Movies Solution 1

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FOLLOW

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Remember When...

This week, 100 years ago A new bill in Germany proposes making all schools religious schools, in which instruction in the religion of “the majority of the pupils” would be taught.

This week, 75 years ago

Actress Lee Meridith Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kirsch of Atlanta announce the bar with a special citation mitzvah of their son, Andrew Scott Kirsch, at Temple for her role in, “The Sinai.

Sunshine Boys,” at the Dec. 21 benefit, alongside Mr. and Mrs. Gene Kornblum announce the adoption event hosts, Josh Shubin of a daughter, Page Kornblum. and Fred Yondorf.

This week, 25 years ago

This week, 50 years ago Rabbi Paul Liner, leader of Knoxville’s Temple Beth El, The Jewish community mourns the passing of William becomes Jewish chaplain for the armed forces.

Beirut Synagogue seriously damaged by fire after Breman, namesake of The Breman Museum.

Human skin introduced as evidence during trial of fighting breaks up nearby.

Mark Erlich, son of Saul Erlich and Ellen Green, celNazi war criminal.

Actress Lee Meridith, in town to promote her movie, ebrates his bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth Shalom.

One-third of all restitution claims in U.S. Zone of Ger- “The Sunshine Boys,” joins B’nai B’rith benefit luncheon in Atlanta.

David Paymer plays a Jewish movie producer in, “State many are paid out. and Main,” a drama-comedy critiquing the film indusWorld-renowned pianists, Vitya Vronsky and Victor Pope Paul VI appoints Israeli Michael Sela, president try. of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, to the Babin, play at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. body of the Pontifical Academy of Science in Rome.

Issues of the AJT (then Southern Israelite) from 1929-1986 can be found for free online at https://gahistoricnewspapers.

The London Jewish Times, the only Yiddish-language galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn78003973/ daily newspaper in Britain, suspends its publication Miss Toby Kaminsky, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Kaminsky, and Mr. Stanley Friedman, son of Mr. after 37 years of continuous operation. and Mrs. Hyman Friedman, are married at Agudath Atlanta hosts 1950 Southern Regional AZA Convention. Achim.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 49

OBITUARIES Howard Eugene Frushtick

Rosalie Baranovitz Hirschberg

Howard Eugene Frushtick, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Dec. 15, 2025. He was born in Jersey City, N.J., to Herman and Molly Frushtick.

Howard enjoyed a successful career in the ladies’ apparel business, later working at the Atlanta Apparel Mart where he built many lasting friendships. He was a proud alumnus of George Washington University, where he played basketball, and carried his love of the game throughout his life.

Howard was larger than life, always moving, working out, and doing whatever he could to stay healthy. He could often be seen riding his scooter in the bike lane to the JCC, where he lifted weights and stayed active with his trademark determination.

He is survived by his partner of 15 years, Patricia; his sons, David and Jay; his daughter-in-law, Julie; and his grandchildren, Sofia, Chloe, Max, and Noah.

Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, at 12 p.m. at Crest Lawn Cemetery in Atlanta.

Rosalie Baranovitz Hirschberg passed away Dec. 13, 2025. Rosalie was born April 16, 1933, in Atlanta, Ga. She was predeceased in death by her parents, Hyman and Ida Baranovitz, her brother, Jack, her loving husband of 68 years, Walter, and her son, David. She is survived by her son, Mark. She was a devoted loving wife and mother. Her Judaism was important to her, lighting candles every Friday night, observing all the Jewish holidays, relishing Passover, when all family and friends would gather for Passover seder. Her passion for young children and education led her to being a part-time teaching assistant at The Epstein School. She partnered in the family real estate business, a major advisor and contributor to the building and remodeling of properties. She was proficient in Yiddish, volunteering in the 1970s for translation to newly transplanted Russian Jews to Atlanta. A lover of nature, plants, and animals, she never missed a televised Georgia football game or Atlanta Braves baseball game. A good friend and listener to all. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Atlanta

92, Atlanta

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

Brook Bolton Owner 770.757.0330 office 770.289.0982 cell brook@rmemorials.com www.rmemorials.com 50 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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OBITUARIES

Howard David Simmons

Herbert Edward Wollner

Howard David Simmons, beloved father, partner, and friend, passed away on Dec. 14, 2025, after a sudden illness. He was predeceased by his wife, Harel Doris Weiner, of Memphis, Tenn., and is survived by his daughter, Elisa Simmons, son, Ryan Simmons, granddaughter, Hayven, partner-in-life, Marci Draluck, and countless friends and family who will miss him dearly.

Born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1940, he was the only child of Sanders and Eula Morris Simmons, of blessed memory. During his teenage years, the family moved to Athens, Ga., where he attended Athens High and became a lifelong Bulldogs fan. Despite the move, he remained connected to his Atlanta roots, commuting to prepare for his bar mitzvah at Congregation Shearith Israel and participate in AZA activities. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a proud member of ZBT fraternity, and University of Georgia School of Law. Howard and Harel married in 1967 in Memphis and reared Ryan and Elisa in Sandy Springs. The family enjoyed travel, time with relatives, and summers at the Progressive Club pool. Howard was a favorite kibbitzer at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, where he ushered for the High Holy days. The couple’s gourmet dinner club created cherished memories that live on today. After Harel’s untimely passing in 1980, Howard was resilient as a loving dad to Elisa and Ryan in a time that witnessed few single fathers.

A dedicated attorney, Howard practiced law in downtown Atlanta for decades. His expertise spanned workers’ compensation to medical malpractice and everything in between. Proudly independent, he joked about being a “dinosaur” in an era of specialization but took pride in the attorneys he trained that did go on to become renowned experts. He never truly retired, in recent years contributing to fee arbitration for the Atlanta Bar and finding joy working with the Fulton County Board of Equalization, where his humor and generosity — often accompanied by donuts — brightened the days of colleagues.

Eighteen years ago, Howard met Marci Draluck. Together, they built a beautiful life filled with travel, wine, and friendship. Their adventures took them to Machu Picchu, Vietnam, Italy, and beyond, each trip meticulously planned by Howard, including stops to meet friends of friends who were acclaimed chefs or vintners. But their greatest joy was gathering their families to enjoy Shabbat and holiday dinners together.

Howard loved life above all. He had a big heart and an extraordinary passion for good wine and great friends. Music and theater were constant companions. He brought a group to every restaurant worth eating at. His dinner table was a fixture at Chastain Park concerts. He stayed loyal to his wine groups, foodies, poker buddies, relatives, and everyone else in the warm circles he cultivated. His generosity and laughter touched everyone he met, pouring and sharing tastings with love that will endure.

Donations may be made to American Birthright Israel, Colorectal Cancer Society, or the charity of your choice. Funeral details at Dressler’s.

Herbert Edward Wollner, a loving husband and father, proud grandfather, and dedicated community member, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, at the age of 77.

Born on Sept. 29, 1948, in Atlanta, Ga., Herb was the son of Rueven and Elise Wollner. He spent his entire life in Georgia, though he took every opportunity to explore the world, including all seven continents and over 70 countries, traveling with family and friends. He always kept himself busy pursuing his many hobbies and interests, including bird watching, nature photography and gardening.

Herb was educated in Atlanta, attending Druid Hills and Grady High School. He received his BA degree from the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia, where he was an active and proud member of the Tau Epsilon Phi (TEP) fraternity.

Following his graduation, Herb returned to Atlanta and soon met Leora Ruth Bowman in 1972 when they were set up by two different people on the very same day. They married on Dec. 30, 1973 - exactly one year, one month, and one day after they first met. Together, Leora and Herb settled in Marietta, Ga., where they raised their two sons, Matthew and Robert.

Herb dedicated his career to service, both to his community and to the Jewish people. In 1978, he joined the Development Corporation for Israel selling Israel Bonds, where he worked for 30 years. In this role, he passionately supported the State of Israel and provided crucial support to Jewish communities across the Southeast. After retiring, Herb continued his commitment to service, by working for an additional 15 years with the Cobb County Magistrate Court, where he helped others find common ground and resolution.

He was a dedicated leader in the community, serving as the Worshipful Master for Fulton Masonic Lodge 216, as a Shriner, and as B’nai B’rith president.

Family was Herb’s cornerstone, and he was happiest when surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Leora Bowman Wollner; his sons, Matthew (Barbra) and Robert (Jill); and his five cherished grandchildren: Hudson and Tessa (children of Matthew and Barbra); and Eloise, Oliver, and Finley (children of Robert and Jill).

He is also survived by his loving sister, Barbara Funk; brother-in-law, Allan Bowman; sister-in-law, Deborah Bowman; and dear nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 10 a.m. at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be directed to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or Camp Judaea.

Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999, give.michaeljfox.org, campjudaea.org/support/giving-opportunities/

85, Atlanta

77, Atlanta

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES DECEMBER 31, 2025 | 51

CLOSING THOUGHTS A Bronx Christmas

Shaindle Schmuckler

Shaindle’s Shpiel

Growing up in my neighborhood in The Bronx, I don’t recall ever experiencing antisemitism.

I do recall always being aware we were Jewish. I felt a certain pride in being of a Jewish family,

feeling a bit different.

Our Bronx neighborhood functioned like a small town. Neighbors knew each other. Neighbors looked out for one another. My family was particularly fortunate because a number of our neighbors were our aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. Our neighborhood mimicked New York in its diversity and respect for the beliefs of our neighbors.

Mrs. Goldberg, yes, believe it or not this was her real name, lived in the corner apartment on the third floor facing Fair-

52 | DECEMBER 31, 2025 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

mont Place and Prospect Avenue. She was the ultimate busy body. How she came to hold all the gossip in one memory vault baffles me to this very day. We kids were very careful not to get into any mischief anywhere near the corner of Fairmont Place and Prospect Avenue, and heaven forbid never under her windows. If we should be so daring or oblivious to our surroundings, Mrs. Goldberg could sense where we were and would report these missteps directly to our parents.

Many of the stores we frequented on a regular basis, usually once a week, knew our families. Every Friday, without fail and after my mom finished washing the kitchen floor, mom went to the beauty parlor across the street from our apartment building. Mom somehow found a way to get the best sleep and still manage to keep herself coiffed until the following week’s appointment.

Living in The Bronx exposed us to many holidays and customs we did not celebrate. Our neighbors knew when we celebrated the Jewish holidays. Chanukah was celebrated with Chanukah gelt.

We did not give gifts and certainly not for eight nights.

Our apartment building’s superintendent, otherwise known as “the super,” lived downstairs in a lovely, large basement apartment. Every year, after Thanksgiving, our super would take out boxes filled with Christmas decorations. Each year, when his tree was ready to be dressed in all its finest, he would let my mom know to bring me and my sisters down to his apartment for the

distinct honor of decorating the tree and setting up the little town surrounding the tree, which included a huge train track, trains, and little houses with little people.

My friend, Angela’s, family always invited me to go into Manhattan to see the Macy’s Christmas window displays.

Each year, our high school choral group performed a recital of both Chanukah and Christmas songs.

I love this time of the year, celebrating miracles, celebrating each other. ì

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