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Pro-Gaza Art Project Upsets Jewish Atlanta

By Sasha Heller

Everyone is entitled to their opinion … right?

A recent student art exhibition, featuring artwork by Atlanta International School students, has sent shock waves through Jewish Atlanta 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 soldiers marching into battle.

Beneath the controversial art piece, a description read:

“This piece is speaking out on the current genocide in Palestine. This piece intends to highlight the brutality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine by likening the current president, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the US president, Donald Trump, to Nazis. Most western audiences do not know how Palestinians were killed and forcibly removed from their homes to make way for

the creation of Israel. While the idea of a nation where a historically marginalized community can be safe from harm is amazing on paper, one can’t hope to achieve that by marginalizing another community in the process.”

For the record, Netanyahu is not the “president” of Israel – he is the prime minister. And Palestinians were not forcibly removed from their “homeland.” Judea and Samaria have been home to the Jewish people for thousands of years.

The artwork created a stir among the Atlanta International School parent community, leading AIS principal Kevin Glass to issue a statement:

“As you may recall, last year the AIS Board of Trustees published a new policy designed to strengthen the school’s mission and core values – particularly during moments of global unrest. This

A recent art display by an Atlanta International School student of the war between Israel and Gaza has sparked backlash in the Jewish Atlanta community.

The artwork included a description that furthered false narratives about Israel’s “occupation” of Palestine and other antisemitic themes.

reinforces our commitment to helping students develop their own understanding and perspective about global events, in a manner that is age-appropriate and that respects and deepens their understanding of others.

“I am writing to you because I have been made aware that student artwork which is not in keeping with this policy, or the school’s core values of mutual respect and understanding, was being shown at an off-campus display. I apolo-

gize on behalf of the school for allowing this to happen. The piece has been removed and an investigation, following our internal procedures, is now actively underway.

“It is essential to who we are as a school that we adhere to our policies and uphold our core values at all times. That is why I am treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and writing to update you as valued members of our community.” ì

Happy Pesach

Event Spotlights Mission of US Holocaust Museum

By Fran M. Putney

A program called, “Jewish Refugees: Journeys to America,” on the evening of March 20 was an opportunity to highlight the continuing value of and urgent need to support the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

The program featured a conversation with USHMM curator and historian Edna Friedberg and Atlanta attorney and author Ted Blum, whose book about his family’s journey to safety in the U.S. was published in 2023. Both Friedberg and Blum are children of Holocaust survivors.

The invitation-only event was held at the home of Kevin and Cindy Abel. Kevin Abel is one of 10 individuals appointed by President Joe Biden to serve on the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the governing body that oversees the work of the museum.

According to Blum, a managing shareholder at the Greenberg Traurig law firm, his book is titled, “Calculated

Risks,” because his mother’s father, Martin Mandl, a metallurgist and chemist in Budapest, was a risktaker. When the situ-

ation became dire for Hungarian Jews in the late 1930s, Martin understood that the family needed to leave Europe. De-

spite the near insurmountable difficulties of getting out, he was able to obtain a tourist visa, along with his brother, to

An informal conversation between USHMM curator and historian, Edna Friedberg, and Atlanta attorney and author, Ted Blum, helped the 60 attendees understand the value of supporting the national Holocaust museum.

Ted Blum holds the yellow star his greatgrandfather was forced to wear in Hungary that Blum found among his family’s artifacts.

Rally Against Antisemitism at Cobb School Board

By Debbie Diamond

At a recent Cobb County Board of Education meeting, concerns about antisemitism at two district schools took center stage, with community members and advocates urging stronger accountability measures for classroom instruction and textbooks at all Cobb schools.

During an AP Human Geography class at Wheeler High School, an illustration depicting the IDF and Israel was part of a slide presentation by the teacher. In the illustration, the soldier, identified by an IDF hat, sweeps up bodies with a broom labeled, “Ethnic Cleansing,” across a map of Palestine. Earlier that week in the same class, Samantha Epstein, a ninth grader in the class, shared her experience as three anti-Israel, proPalestinian slides were shared with the class during a discussion of “Stateless Nations.”

“I don’t know if I’m the only Jewish person in the class, but I felt sad and nauseous during these presentations,” she said. “Throughout the years, my two sib-

lings and I have faced issues of antisemitism at our schools. Sometimes it’s dumb comments by other students. Three years ago, when my sister was in eighth grade at East Cobb Middle School, she watched her classmates wear swastika armbands doing the Nazi salute, which they posted all over social media. Last year, after Oct. 7, I saw a teacher at East Cobb Middle School display a pro-Palestinian flag out-

side her classroom. Just a few weeks later, at Campbell High School, my sister sat through an International Parade where students marched through the gym with large Palestinian flags that had been supplied by the school administrators,” she added.

Epstein simply wants to feel safe at school, she stressed, and treated fairly and equally, even if her religious beliefs

are different from others at Wheeler. She was happy to report that the teacher of the AP Human Geography class who had presented the slides had sincerely apologized after the inaccuracies were brought to his attention.

Laura Zhiss, a mother of three children in Cobb schools, is the co-founder of SHIELD, a community of parents, educators and advocates working together to ensure fair, accurate and honest education for all students. As the first parent speaker of the night, Zhiss was adamant about her belief that the same level of scrutiny be applied to classroom content as is applied to books in the Cobb school libraries.

“Jewish parents in this district continue to find classroom materials that misrepresent Jewish history and the state of Israel – materials that distort facts, omit critical context and push narratives that fuel Jew hatred,” she said.

According to Zhiss’ assessment, the problem is systemic and unacceptable. She recounted that in October 2024, she had gone before the school board and

This graphic was shown during an AP Human Geography class at Wheeler High School during a lesson on ethnic cleansing.

Co-founders of SHIELD,

warned them about the biased materials, yet she has not seen any changes made to date. She implored the commissioners to create an infrastructure that ensures an education “based on truth.” She told them, “Otherwise, you are complicit in the misinformation that fuels Jew hatred and endangers Jewish students.”

Mindy Harrison, fellow co-founder of SHIELD, asked the Cobb School Board to have greater oversight on materials introduced in the classroom. She spoke about several historical inaccuracies that have been embedded and uploaded to the Cobb Teaching and Learning System (CTLS), a digital learning platform developed by the Cobb County School District to provide information and learning materials to help support students and teachers.

“To prevent misuse of the classroom, I propose a system where only vetted, district-approved resources are uploaded by the county, tagged on CTLS and available to educators. No individual teacher should be able to upload unvetted material. If a teacher wants to introduce a new resource, the information must go through a county-level vetting process before being approved and made available. These steps will ensure a safe and accurate teaching platform,” said Harrison.

Harrison also recounted a recent incident at Dickerson Middle School where a swastika was written on the wall of the boys’ locker room. While she did not believe middle school administrators initially took the situation seriously enough, the school district has since issued a statement, “Once Administration has identified who is responsible, consequences for this unacceptable, hateful behavior will be as severe as policy and the law allows.”

Rachel Naor leads Cobb Parents

Against Antisemitism, a local group that has grown to 330 parents throughout the county. She has seen progress in the school district and a greater willingness by school board members to engage with Jewish parents about their concerns. At Wheeler High School, for example, she mentioned the resumption of the Jewish Club and a speaking engagement by a Holocaust survivor. She agreed with Zhiss and Harrison about the need to vet learning materials before teachers introduce them into the classrooms.

“There are two issues facing us right now. First, teachers are using unapproved materials in the classroom, like a recent Al Jazeera video, to teach about what is happening in the Middle East. Second, even the approved Social Studies material is often incorrect. Several of the existing textbooks were created with funding from Qatar, which provides a prejudiced perspective,” she explained.

Naor indicated that her group has been working with county officials to help effect positive change in the schools. She stressed that the commissioners and staff have been quick in responding to inquiries.

At the meeting’s end, Chris Ragsdale, Cobb County School District superintendent, on behalf of the board, told those assembled, “While we cannot always discuss actions that have already been taken, rest assured we are taking action.”

He shared the story of his father, a German prisoner-of-war who was tortured during World War II. “He lived with those scars for the rest of his life, and while I may not be Jewish, antisemitism has a resounding negative impact on me,” he said.

MAR 29–MAY 4

By JAKE BRASCH

In his concluding remarks, he told parents, students and others in attendance, “Antisemitism will not be tolerated in any form–period.” ì

Laura Zhiss and Mindy Harrison

Samantha Epstein with her mother, Sherrie, before speaking to the Cobb County Board of Education.

The Concert for the Kibbutzim raised funds to support Kibbutz Nir Oz and Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which were devastated by the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7.

sion to offer students leadership opportunities to utilize their talents, compassion, and dedication to service.

“As part of the Atlanta Jewish community, I see this as an amazing opportunity to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel through the power of music,” adds Noah, 17, another student at Weber and one of the event organizers.

“It is beautiful and heartwarming to know that Jewish students in Atlanta, thousands of miles away, care so deeply about these communities that have suffered so terribly during the past 16 months,” said one of the Kibbutz Nir Oz leaders.

The Concert for the Kibbutzim is one of many initiatives in support of Israeli communities led by students, teachers and administrators at the Jewish high school. For Weber students and board members of The Leven Office, this initiative is a deeply personal expression of their values and connection to Israel. In addition, more than 30 synagogues and Jewish organizations and countless individuals in Atlanta and beyond joined The Weber School as organizational partners and community sponsors for this event.

“Service is a core Jewish value practiced at The Weber School, and this concert is a testament to the power of students taking action on behalf of Israel and important causes,” said Head of School, Rabbi Ed Harwitz. “By designing and managing all aspects of the event, Weber students exemplified how young adults provide the vision and leadership needed to drive tangible results and create meaningful impact,” he added.

The Leven Office of Student Service and Philanthropy serves as a clearinghouse for Weber students to choose meaningful, high-impact community service projects that align with their interests and skills. The music program is part of Weber’s Fine and Performing Arts program and is housed in the new, technologically advanced Tzadik Performing Arts Center. ì

www.atljewishacademy.org

Federation Hosts Community Event for Women

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s “Community Event for Women,” Women’s Philanthropy and Young Leadership Divisions, featured Samantha Ettus at Congregation B’nai Torah on Wednesday, March 26.

Michelle Simon, Women’s Philanthropy vice chair, told the AJT, “What’s so special about tonight is the representation of every generation, the younger to the seasoned, who want to make a difference in the Federation’s giving model locally and overseas to meet the needs of Jews …which otherwise might go unfulfilled.”

The formal program began with Women’s Philanthropy President Carey Guggenheim sharing her own immigration journey 24 years ago from South Africa, and how every stage of this journey encompassed Federation’s support and access. She also noted that, “Jews have to stand tall and be united, especially in the wake of horrors like the recent Bibas funeral in Israel … together, we make a

lasting impact.”

After the “Hatikvah” and national anthem, Federation President and CEO Renee Kutner reminded the audience of

500 that “as a group, philanthropists can be change makers to achieve far more than anyone alone.”  She related Parashat Pekudei, the

Happy Passover

completion of the Mishkan traveling in the desert, to the women’s role in great detail down to the golden threads. She related, “The women led the way … beyond

Featured speaker Samantha Ettus changed course after Oct. 7 to fight antisemitism. She urges women to patronize Jewish owned businesses and designers // Photo by Patti Covert Scenesations Photography

Mitzi Solomon, Pailey Nooromid, Amy Knopf, Lynn Saperstein, and Suzanne Grosswald posed with Samantha Ettus before the program // Photo by Patti Covert Scenesations Photography

Holocaust Survivor Bendit Speaks at Cambridge High

By Ronit Franco-Pinsky

Morris Bendit is one of the youngest Holocaust survivors to date as he was only a year old when the Germans invaded his hometown of Chemosvit, Ukraine.

Bendit served as a guest speaker at Cambridge High School on March 24, as part of a special program for tenth grade students, organized by Korin Pinsky, head English teacher for the sophomore class and founder of the ADL-sponsored club “No Place for Hate.” It was a rare opportunity for students to hear from someone who is an integral part of history.

Bendit was born on Jan. 22, 1941. When he was 2, his father enlisted in the Soviet Army to fight the Nazis. His plane was shot down by the Germans, and he was killed instantly. Soon after, on Oct. 19, 1941, the Germans -- with the help of the Ukrainians -- invaded Chemosvit, which eventually became a Jewish ghetto. At first, 50,000 Jews were forced out of their homes and into the ghetto, and many were shot point blank while in

route.

The area in Ukraine, Transnistria, which means “Behind the River to the Black Sea,” was 16,000 square feet and became a massive “killing field.” Ukrainian farms and houses would shut their doors to the hungry and ill Jews. Bendit described it as a giant cemetery. Although Transnistria was not a typical ghetto with work camps, wire gates, and gas chambers, it was the largest killing field in the Holocaust. Bendit, his mother, and his grandmother would wander and scavenge in the fields for food scraps, which were mostly left over from animals.

Bendit said they would aimlessly walk day and night among the fields, “Nothing to look at, nothing to look for.” At times, the temperature was 40-below zero. The Jews who were taken into Transnistria were forced to dig mass graves in which many were put in, after they were murdered.

Bendit was named the miracle baby, as he had numerous life-threatening diseases, but somehow, he survived despite

being so young with no medicine or medical care. Many of his family members perished due to cold, starvation, and

disease. The weak were left to die from freezing temperatures and malnutrition. His mother held him throughout the

Morris Bendit is one of the youngest Holocaust survivors to date as he was only a year old when the Germans invaded his hometown of Chemosvit, Ukraine.

fields for days; in one instance, she was hit with a rifle on her head, and although still bleeding, she wouldn’t let go of her baby. All three survived against the odds and the horrific conditions. His grandmother even removed her gold teeth and sold them to try and get a scrap of bread.

Bendit developed a boil on his head when he was a young child due to the many diseases he had acquired. The boil had to be cut away. He kept the scar as is -- as a reminder of his past.

After the war, his family ended up in Romania and then, eventually, Israel. A Romanian woman named Anna Parker helped survivors immigrate to Israel, including Bendit’s family. In 1949, they arrived in Israel.

Bendit served as a staff sergeant in the Israeli Navy. After he served in the IDF, for financial reasons, the family immigrated to Canada and later to the U.S., settling in Jacksonville, Fla.

In 1969, Bendit met his beautiful wife, Hanna. He and his wife had three daughters and, later, six grandchildren. One of his daughters, Wendy Bendit-Golden, is the head of the career-based intervention program at Cambridge High for kids with disabilities. His eldest, Rebecca, works with synagogues, teens, and women’s programs to educate and share her father’s story.

Bendit’s revenge, he said, was to survive and raise his family. When asked by a reporter years ago in his hometown of Jacksonville as to why it was so important to tell his story, Bendit replied that history always repeats itself, saying, “We cannot let the deniers win. Hate is so strong that they deny that the Holocaust ever happened. Silence is a lethal weapon.”

“Never again” means ensuring that Israel remains safe. Unfortunately, recent events serve as a grim reminder that it can happen again. Antisemitism has reached unprecedented levels, and now, more than ever, it is crucial to share the stories of survivors. For Morris Bendit, it is essential to share his family’s harrowing experience during one of the darkest times in Jewish history. ì

SEE THE WONDERS OF OUR PLANET UP CLOSE. REAL CLOSE.

Morris Bendit spoke at Cambridge High School on March 24, as part of a special program for tenth grade students, organized by Korin Pinsky, head English teacher for the sophomore class.

Jerry’s Habima Theatre Celebrates Legacy of Inclusion

By Robyn Spizman Gerson

A special reception held on Wednesday, March 12, greeted friends, family and supporters of Jerry’s Habima Theatre, Georgia’s only inclusive theatre company showcasing actors with disabilities. The evening was a pre-theatre gathering followed by Habima’s presentation of “Fiddler on the Roof JR.”

With 32 years of plays and thousands of attending ticket holders, a sold-out crowd filled the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) theatre that night, applauding and cheering for the cast. In attendance as always, was Lois and Jerry’s family members, an array of friends along with dedicated supporters of the exceptionally talented cast and theatre group.

The reception that evening honored the late Lois Blonder and her husband, Jerry, celebrating their legacy and contributions to Jerry’s Habima Theatre. Founded 32 years ago, Jerry’s Habima Theatre has since won prestigious awards for its outstanding mission celebrating

and fostering inclusion and celebrating disabilities with theatrical opportunities for this important community.

Janel Margaretta, chief impact officer, offered welcoming words as she introduced the reception stating, “Celebrat-

ing the incredible legacy of Lois Blonder will always be meaningful. Lois was both a pioneer and a leader in disability inclusion programming and we at the Marcus JCC miss her every day. Her wise counsel and feisty personality will forever be

missed, and we are honored to carry on Jerry and Lois’ legacy.”

The reception clearly was a loving gathering for Habima’s visionaries. In addition to the wealth of opportunities provided to adults with disabilities, the

Lois Blonder, of blessed memory (center), is joined by daughters, Dale Dyer and Leslie Isenberg

Jerry’s Habima Theatre actors perform “Fiddler on the Roof JR.” Pictured are Luke Davis, Jonathan Roytenberg, Philip Flores, and Carmine Vera // Photo Credit: Heidi Morton

MJCCA’s Blonder Family Department for Special Needs offers an inclusion program and strives to provide the necessary accommodation and flexibility for youth who require additional support to access the transformative opportunities available at the MJCCA.

As the reception continued, Lois and Jerry’s daughter, Dale Dyer, gratefully shared, “My parents spent their lives pouring their hearts and resources into others, not the least of which was the special needs community. Having a grandchild of their own with developmental disabilities, they were sparked to give their time, energy and love to ensure that every person, no matter their abilities, felt valued and empowered. Through their work with the Department of Special Needs here at The Center, they have not only changed lives, they have touched hearts, and built a heritage of compassion and acceptance. Their work is a reminder to me that true greatness lies not in what we have, but what we give to others.”

Dyer sensitively added, “I know I can speak for my sister, Leslie, when I say our parents’ unwavering commitment inspires us every single day. They showed us the power of love, the importance of kindness, and the incredible impact one can make. We will strive to continue their legacy. So, we honor our mom tonight, not just for what she did for Habima Theatre and the entire Special Needs Department at the MJCCA, but for who she was. I am forever grateful for her generous heart which had room in it to love each of you, countless others and especially her family. She is forever my hero, and I am beyond proud to be her daughter.”

Susie Davidow, retired director of The Blonder Family Department for Special Needs at the MJCCA, supported the same sentiment and summed it up on a well-deserved note, “Lois dared, cared and shared.” Davidow focused on how

Lois dared to make a difference, cared without limits and shared her resources and heartfelt belief that everyone should have opportunities to express themselves with no barriers.”

The actors did a sensational job and standing ovations ensued with smiles that lit up the theater from the cast and adoring fans alike. With iconic songs like “Tradition,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Sunrise, Sunset,” the love in the room spilled from the stage onto audience members.

Stephanie Alterman, theatre arts director and producer of Jerry’s Habima Theatre, said, “Programs like Jerry’s Habima Theatre are a testament to what the arts can achieve — fostering confidence, inclusivity, and connection. Especially in today’s world, stories of tradition and resilience remind us of the power of community and our shared humanity.”

Cast members and the staff were featured in the program with some having been in plays for most of the 32 years. Habima actress Bess Winebarger, a 20-year veteran, said, “Jerry’s Habima Theatre is like a second home to me. I’ve been part of this program for so many years, and it has transformed my life in ways I never imagined. I’ve grown as a performer, built lifelong friendships, and found a place where I feel seen, supported, and celebrated. Every year, stepping onto this stage makes me feel so proud of myself, our cast, and how much we accomplished together.”

While the reception was a special tribute, it was a fitting preamble to enter the play, knowing that Lois and Jerry were there in spirit, dedicated to having spent over three decades making it possible for actors with disabilities to shine brightly in the spotlight. In true Jerry’s Habima Theatre style, they continue to remind us, the show must go on!

For more information, please visit Atlantajcc.org/habima/ ì

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Habima actors give an inspiring performance of “Fiddler on the Roof JR.” Pictured are Sean Wyatt, Lele Griner, Molly Drumm, Quinn Twiner, Jonathan Roytenberg, Bess Winebarger, Kelly Umstead, Jesse Thomas Durden, and Daniel Bryant // Photo Credit: Heidi Morton

“Parade” tells the story of the trial of Leo Frank in 1913 and his lynching two years later.

by an uncle who was a major investor in the facility.

Many Jews had prospered in Atlanta. Some had become major employers, and they were important participants in the young city’s success. But with his arrest, Frank comes to the realization that all that Jews had accomplished could not save him. That hot Atlanta summer of 1913 was to prove a devilish trap for the young Frank, who was sentenced to die for the young girl’s death.

As her husband remains incarcerated and largely ineffective in defending himself, it falls to his young wife to act to save her husband’s life. As she personally confronts the powerful political figures of the time, she is as much the protagonist in this drama as her accused husband.

For Suskauer, who portrays Frank’s young wife, the role has been deeply inspiring.

“I think that we can all take a note and take learn something from Lucille’s incredible strength and bravery during this time,” Suskauer said. “I hope women especially can look, when they’re feeling powerless, to Lucille’s story and journey and say, you know, actually, I think my voice can make a difference.”

The second half of “Parade” follows Lucille as she confronts Georgia’s governor at the time, John Slaton, and provokes him to reexamine the antisemitism and injustice that was largely responsible for her husband’s conviction.

“Parade” inhabits a world of legal maneuvering and courtroom theatrics with which Suskauer is well acquainted. Both of her Jewish parents practiced criminal law together before her father, Scott, became a Florida State Court Judge in West Palm Beach. Her mother Mi-

chelle, in 2018, became the first public defender to be elected president of the State Bar of Florida.

Suskauer taps into her personal experience as she sings with Leo the dramatic lyrics that defiantly unite them, “This Is Not Over Yet.” As they sing of the hope they have for Leo’s survival, she believes they both find a better future and each other in the midst of the darkness that surrounds them.

“Throughout our performance and our show, Lucille gains her strength and her power and her voice and actually finds Leo as well.” Suskauer says. “So, Leo and Lucille find each other in this really beautiful way, despite this horrific thing that is happening all around them.”

The words that Jason Brown, the composer and lyricist, penned for this prophetic song, have proven to be true. The story of Leo and Lucille Frank still fascinates us more than 110 years after the fact as a cautionary tale of how injustice and virulent antisemitism, egged on by powerful political forces and individuals, can turn to tragedy.

The Jews of Atlanta, like Lucille and Leo’s families, felt secure in their prosperity and equated their commercial success to a kind of acceptance by their neighbors. But the events of that time proved just how illusory their beliefs were. More than any single message, this powerful staging of “Parade” drives that home.

“When Jason Brown and Alfred Uhry wrote this show back in the '90s, they intended for it to be a piece of history,” Suskauer said. “But, unfortunately, it’s so popular and relevant today, because I think that people don’t have to reach very far to connect it to their lives. The show is ripe with antisemitism and racism.” ì

Cell: 404-403-6561 | Office: 770-394-2131

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Uhry Talks About the Impact of ‘Parade’

By Bob Bahr

Alfred Uhry, who co-authored, “Parade,” the Leo Frank musical, was an honored guest at the April 2 performance of his work at the Fox Theatre.

Sitting six rows back from the stage, with his daughter, Rebecca, by his side, he pronounced the rousing and energized performance that has been on a national tour since mid-January as “right on target.”

It was the second time that his acclaimed work was performed here by a national touring cast. Twenty-five years ago, his musical drama, with music and lyrics by Jason Brown, made a stop at The Fox as part of its first tour. That was largely the result of efforts by Chris Manos, who ran Atlanta’s Theater Of The Stars and raised the million dollars needed to finance the performances in major cities across the country.

Uhry admitted during the show’s intermission that he has been stunned by the rapturous reception his show has received over a quarter century after its

premiere in New York. In its 2023 revival, it was an award winner that played to capacity audiences.

When asked if he had expected his show to still be filling theaters so many years later, he said, “never, never.” As for,

why he thought the work had won a Tony Award for the best revival two years ago, he admitted that “it’s all about the times

1 April 23 3pm

Alfred Uhry (left) and Rabbi Peter Berg discuss “Parade” for audience members after a performance of the musical on April 2.

IGNITES YOUR CREATIVE SPARK?

we’re living in,” an apparent acknowledgment of the resurgence of antisemitism and political extremism in America and the world.

After the performance, he joined Rabbi Peter Berg, senior spiritual leader of The Temple, to reminisce about “Parade.” The conversation was part of the evening’s performance attended by members of The Breman Museum, Temple Kol Emeth, and The Temple. Berg asked Uhry about how he first developed an interest in the story that became “Parade.”

He had first heard Leo Frank’s name mentioned as a young boy in his Druid Hills home. Some family friends were visiting and when Frank’s trial was brought up in the conversation, they walked out of the room. saying they didn’t want to talk about it.

The incident occurred, perhaps, 30 years or more after Frank was convicted of murdering a 13-year-old girl at the pencil factory he managed, but the memory of his trial, then, and his subsequent lynching was still painful for those who remembered it.

It was, after all, a repudiation of the Jewish community by a considerable proportion of Atlanta’s citizenry. In their implicit criticism of Jews and the local political and economic influence they wielded, the trial had not only helped end the life 29-year-old Frank but apparently had a traumatizing effect on the entire community.

When he questioned his mother about her friends’ unwillingness to discuss the case, he was rebuffed. So, the young Uhry pursued his own research in Atlanta’s public library that fired his imagination.

“I loved to write, and the things that

I read said that during the trial, when he was pronounced guilty, the 12 members of the jury had to stand up and each one say, guilty, guilty, guilty. All the church bells in Atlanta happened to be ringing because it was noon and I thought, wow, what great theater.”

It would take another 40 years or so, but the thought of putting that drama on stage stayed with him. In the late 1990s, Hal Prince took an interest in directing the project and found a young talented composer and lyricist, Jason Brown, who had never written a Broadway show, to work with the old pro.

Uhry provided much of the firsthand understanding of what Leo Frank and his young wife, Lucille, must have experienced. Brown produced 30 musical numbers to go with the historical drama that stretched back to the Civil War South and forward to the early years of the 20th century where much of the story takes place.

Uhry admitted in his conversation with Rabbi Berg that the trial and the tragedy of Leo Frank was a “perfect storm that affected everything” in Atlanta.

The murder victim, he pointed out, was a little girl who was put to work in a factory where child labor was commonplace. It was run by Frank, whose physical appearance, Uhry described, was “like a poster child for horrible Jew.” But in his drama, it was not just those two whom he believes were victims.

“Everybody in this show.” Uhry said, “except for Hugh Dorsey, the prosecutor who later is elected governor, and Tom Watson, the Atlanta newspaper publisher who become a senator, are victims. Everybody, it’s like a tsunami.” ì

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Alfred Uhry (left) and his nephew, Alan Abrams, speak with Leslie Gordon, Executive Director of The Breman Museum, at “Parade” at The Fox.

NEWS Weber’s Smith Headlines LLS Society Event

By Monica Maslia

With an audience of more than 500 attendees at the Coca-Cola Roxy, Jillian Smith, a junior at The Weber School, was hand-picked out of hundreds of high school students across the state of Georgia, to be the headliner at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Georgia (LLS) 2025 Student Visionaries of the Year (SVOY) grand finale event.

SVOY is a groundbreaking philanthropic leadership development program for high school students. Every year, courageous young leaders embark on an exciting, seven-week journey with a goal to create a world without blood cancers, striving to earn the Student Visionary of the Year title.

At the start of her speech, Smith said, “When I was preparing for my bat mitzvah to become a Jewish adult, one of my responsibilities was to choose a community project. I chose to participate in a 5K race to raise money for children with cancer. During the race, I could see them from their hospital windows cheering for

me, shouting ‘you can do it!’ Smith continued, “I was so inspired and knew that helping others didn’t have to stop at my

Now as a high school student, Smith aims to encourage her peers in the Jew-

Aish community to leverage what they learned from their mitzvah project and become an even more powerful force to

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mitzvah project.”

Jillian Smith, 16, headliner for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Student Visionaries of the Year Grand Finale.

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represent the Jewish people.

At the start of the fall 2024 school year, Jillian oversaw and mentored a team of 18 peers led by Weber School classmates, junior Daryn Mand and sophomore Jagger Kaye.

“In 2024, the Weber Rams Against Cancer team raised an astonishing $82,000, over-exceeding their goal, and this year, we were determined to raise even more in honor of our middle school Davis Academy teacher, Ms. Kendrick, who was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia,” said Mand.

“Honoring our teacher from The Davis Academy was what inspired us to raise $125,000 for blood cancers, exceeding our original goal of $75,000. We led presentations over Zoom with local businesses, reached out to friends and family and held an event at Cafe I Am to surpass our goal,” said Kaye.

The owner of Cafe I Am, a local cafe in Sandy Springs, is not just a Weber parent of student Rafael Saitowitz, but also a big believer in helping others.

This is the second year our son asked us if he could host an event at the cafe where all proceeds would be donated to LLS,” said cafe owner Vanda Saitowitz. “We were so honored he even thought of us for this opportunity, and loved seeing his classmates talk about the program to the community right here at the cafe.”

At Weber, students are taught not only to strive for academic excellence and show a commitment to Jewish values, the Jewish people and Israel, but also to serve the community and improve the world.

Reid Smith, campaign development manager with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Georgia/South Carolina Region said, “I continue to be amazed how the students from The Weber School evolve into leaders like Romy (Ress), Leah May (Kogon) -- 2023 candidates, Jillian (Smith) Marion (Kogon) -- 2024 candidates, Daryn (Mand) and Jagger (Kaye) -- 2025 candidates. They all support one another through public speaking, team meetings, letter writing and so much more and it’s very impressive. You can really see the passion behind these students and their ‘why’s’ for being involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. As well as the support from the community and how everyone pours into these students that are leading their campaign. It has been a wonderful thing to witness, and I am honored to have worked closely with The Weber School and the families!”

The SVOY program is comprised of 36 teams in Atlanta, and more than 1,100 teams across the country. For the last three years, The Weber School’s dedicated club for the SVOY program has collectively raised nearly $300,000 for the fight against blood cancers. ì

The 2025 Weber Rams Against Cancer Team with the school’s SVOY candidates, Daryn Mand and Jagger Kaye, in the front row. Each team member who raised at least $5,000 received an invitation to the Grand Finale.

Temple Emanu-El’s Interfaith Triangle

By Robert Garber

This past month, Temple Emanu-El took part in an Iftar celebration for Ramadan, taking place at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church. This fascinating confluence is only one small part of the broader interfaith relationships Temple EmanuEl has built up, and which has become more and more relevant recently.

“For years, we’ve had what I call the ‘interfaith triangle,’ these three groups.” said Rabbi Spike Anderson of Temple Emanu-El, who also described some of the relationships he’s seen developed out of these events. “At the last Ramadan breakfast that we went to, one of our congregants was seated with a gentleman from the ICC, the Istanbul Cultural Center. They got along so well that this gentleman and his wife from Temple Emanu-El were invited to their home for their personal Iftar breakfast, which is a really big deal.”

Few seem to remember exactly how the interfaith relationships began, but all sides of the relationship do agree on one thing.

“What I do know is that it has evolved into a deeply meaningful ‘interfaith triangle’ for everyone I’ve spoken to about it,” said Beyza Delen, from the Atlantic Institute – a nonprofit organization that focuses primarily on interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and helped bring Muslim perspectives into the relationship, shortly before the pandemic “This tradition has become a year-round celebration. We begin the year with an Advent celebration at St. Luke’s, followed by a Ramadan Iftar dinner at the Atlantic Institute, and we close the year with a Sukkot dinner at Temple Emanu-El. Each

time we come together for these significant holidays, we’ve not only learned so much about each other’s traditions, but we’ve also gained a rare, intimate understanding of these events that we wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.”

“[The relationship] predates my participation in it. I’ve been at the church now for nine years, but the relationship between the congregations has been going on for at least 25 or 30 years,” said St. Luke’s Pastor David Lower. “Rabbi Spike at Temple Emanu-El and I started our offices at about the same time, and we were, as a result of the preexisting friendship, we were each encouraged to get to know the other by our congregations. That relationship between us, I think,

Members of three congregations pose after the interfaith Advent service at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church.

Happy Passover!

got accelerated for lamentable reasons, after the Tree of Life Synagogue was attacked in Pittsburgh. I, on behalf of the church, reached out to Spike and shared our condolences and our solidarity with our Jewish siblings, and our deep lament over the tragedy.”

More recent tragedies, too, have inspired a sense of solidarity.

“Since Oct. 7, it wasn’t clear that the relationship was going to continue. There was certainly some hesitation, I think, from all sides,” said Rabbi Anderson. “But because there had been a relationship before, we happily continued it, and I’m really glad we did, because I think those relationships are very, very important. It turns out that they are really good friends. Even if things are tense in Israel between Jews and Muslims around, this relationship has held fast. And I think that, because it’s made it through the last 18 months and actually, we’re in better shape than we’ve ever been, in terms of the relationship – I suspect it will continue very strongly.”

“I think it’s been wonderful for a lot of people, because some people don’t leave their own backyards. In this kind of

situation, we kind of took the backyard to them,” said Harriet Zoller, a Temple Emanu-El congregant who has long been involved in interfaith activities. “It’s important, and we could really do a lot of good for the tensions that exist, particularly currently, if we had more opportunities to interact as we have done at Temple Emanu-El.”

“I think the idea of this interfaith triangle was really born at Temple EmanuEl,” said Paster Lower, who also noted in particular the first Sukkot event, and how the inviting of neighbors of different backgrounds and beliefs inspired others to do the same. “I think, for reasons that have become more clear since, it has grown and blossomed into something that we participate in reciprocally, all three of our congregations.”

“No matter what challenges we face, faith serves as the foundation that helps us persevere. I’ve seen this in everyone I’ve encountered through interfaith dialogue,” said Delen. “And I truly believe that the dialogue we get to create is helping us do just that and I pray that more people around the world will adopt this approach as well.” ì

Jews, Christians, and Muslims gather for the Iftar breakfast at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church.

Three faith leaders speak to a mixed congregation at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church.

Torah Day School Launches ‘Panorama Podcast’

Parenting in today’s complex world is a challenging task; one that all parents strive to do well. Most parents, though, are left wondering if their efforts are enough.

How do we reach our children? We shower them with love and affection, but how do we make sure they absorb our values? Learn what is important? Grow resilient? Kind? Confident? How do we know what is important to focus on to help our children be the best they can be? The task of parenting often feels overwhelming and good parenting sometimes feels impossible and unattainable. What is a thinking, 21st century parent to do?

One way to weather the stresses of parenting is for parents to rely on a village of helpers. Most often this “village” is composed of family, close friends and neighbors, but your child’s school is another critical piece of the village. The teachers and administrators at Torah Day School of Atlanta are familiar with these struggles both as educators and as parents themselves. Together, the head of school, Rabbi Meir Cohen and the school’s Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Tzvi Oratz, developed an idea to deepen the parent-school partnership and provide parents with a little extra support. And so, this year, TDSA launched a podcast.

“The Panorama Podcast” is hosted by Rabbi Tzvi Oratz. The process of creating a podcast begins with Rabbi Oratz reaching out to educators, parents, and mental health professionals about ideas and perspectives they would like to share with parents. He seeks out topics that are helpful to parents and inspire and enhance their approach to raising their children.

Once a topic has been determined for a “Panorama” episode, he further refines his ideas by scouting sources (both

Torah and secular) and coming up with practical applications. Then comes the fun part: recording. Rabbi Oratz admits, “My favorite part of the process is coming up with a way to express the concepts that are edible and Torah-based. It’s an enjoyable challenge to have to think of how someone else will receive and be excited by an idea that’s exciting to me.”

Astonishingly, Rabbi Oratz usually records each episode as a single, 10-minute take. It gives the podcast a seamless flow and makes it feel like you’re getting a quick shot of advice from a trusted friend.

So far, “The Panorama Podcast” has delved into some critical parenting topics, with each episode building on the previous one. Some of the themes have included reframing how parents feel about and interact with their children and reflecting on the way parents speak to their children and how their speech can

positively impact their child’s mindset. In another episode, Rabbi Oratz explored strategies for parents to cut through the noise of how their children are acting to get to the roots of their behavior.

All of these topics have resonated deeply with “Panorama” listeners. One listener, who has several students at TDSA, expressed that she appreciates the bite-sized concepts and the practical applications Rabbi Oratz shares. Another parent called the podcast, “The right words at the right time.” Still more feedback has referred to the podcast as, “Gold! Great concepts! (I love what) he (Rabbi Oratz) shared about being real with our kids and letting them see how we navigate life’s challenges. Rabbi Oratz’s examples are so helpful. Really, really enjoying it!”

Rabbi Cohen is proud of the podcast and what it is able to provide TDSA’s parents. According to Rabbi Cohen, “The

key message is that raising a child is a partnership between the school and the home. One way in which we (the school) can be helpful is through parental education on how to approach situations through a Torah and educational lens.”

That’s Rabbi Oratz’s take on things as well. When asked what he would like people to know about parenting he says, “Even though raising children is super complex and difficult, there are so many practical and beneficial ideas out there that can make it a fulfilling and rewarding process. Sometimes, all it takes is to pause for a couple of minutes to hear a thought you might have not contemplated before, let it percolate, and try it out!”

If you have a chance, “The Panorama Podcast” is worth checking out! Parenting can be a pleasure with a little more support! ì

Compiled by AJT Staff

TDSA Rabbi Tzvi Oratz discusses “The Panorama Podcast” with head of school Rabbi Meir Cohen // Photo Credit: Esti Kantor

Torah Day School Rabbi Tzvi Oratz records an episode of his new podcast about parenting, “The Panorama Podcast” // Photo Credit: Esti Kantor

Ben-Neriah Wins Israel Prize for Cancer Research

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem proudly extends its heartfelt congratulations to Prof. Yinon Ben-Neriah of the faculty of medicine on being awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for his ground-

Today in Israeli History

April 15, 1945: The British 11th Armored Division liberates the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where the Nazis killed an estimated 50,000 Jews and others, including Anne Frank, in the final two years of World War II.

Aharon Appelfeld, shown in the 1980s, was one of the organizers of the first international Jewish writers conference in Jerusalem. // By Bernard Gotfryd, U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

April 16, 2007: Organized by Aharon Appelfeld and Natan Sharansky, the first Kisufim conference for Jewish writers around the world opens in Jerusalem. Sessions are held in 10 languages, including Russian and Serbian.

April 17, 1954: Gamal Abdel Nasser, a leader of the military uprising in 1952, is appointed Egypt’s prime minister. Nasser becomes president under a new constitution in 1956 and fights wars against Israel in 1956 and 1967.

April 18, 1996: An Israeli artillery barrage mistakenly kills 106 civilians taking shelter in a U.N. compound in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon during an antiHezbollah offensive, Operation Grapes of Wrath.

ISRAEL PRIDE

NEWS FROM OUR JEWISH HOME

breaking contributions to cancer research.

Prof. Ben-Neriah is a distinguished physician, immunologist, and leading cancer researcher. His pioneering work has significantly advanced our understanding of the biological mechanisms linking chronic inflammation and cancer. Notably, his research identified key processes by which inflammation facilitates cancer development, leading to the creation of novel therapeutic strategies.

The prize committee highlighted that “Prof. Ben-Neriah is a groundbreaking researcher in the field of cancer research who discovered mechanisms for cancer development that led and still lead to the creation of drugs to treat the disease. Ben-Neriah’s research has been published in scientific forums and in the best and highest quality professional journals in the world.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

Secretary of State Cyrus Vance

and National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski discuss Middle East policy in 1977.

April 19, 1977: President Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy team agrees on five major points for the Middle East, including a regional peace conference by the end of the year, but fails to consider that Likud might win May’s election.

April 20, 1799: While laying siege to Turkish-held Acre, Napoleon issues a proclamation offering to give Palestine to the Jewish nation if France captures it. The proclamation fails to win the support of Palestine’s Jews.

April 21, 2013: U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announces that the United States will provide $10 billion in military aid to Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates because of fears about Iran’s nuclear program.

April 22, 1948: The Haganah executes a three-prong attack to secure control of all of Haifa except for the port, which the British hold, amid the violence ahead of the Israeli Declaration of Independence three weeks later.

An El Al flight takes off from Ben Gurion International Airport, outside of Tel Aviv, Aug. 25, 2024 // Photo Credit: Yossi Aloni/Flash90/Times of Israel

El Al Posts Record-High $545M Profit in 2024

El Al’s annual net profit grew nearly fivefold to a record high of about $545

April 23, 2014: Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, controlled by the Fatah-led PLO, announce an end to their seven-year rift. The reconciliation does not last but does stop U.S.-facilitated Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

April 24, 1903: Meeting with Theodor Herzl, British official Joseph Chamberlain proposes a Jewish homeland in British-controlled East Africa. Herzl sees the Uganda Plan as an interim step toward the return to Israel.

April 25, 1920: Herbert Samuel is asked to serve as Britain’s first high commissioner for Palestine the same day the San Remo Conference accepts the Balfour Declaration as part of the plan for the former Ottoman Empire.

Yossi Harel meets with David BenGurion. // By Sir Ronald Cohen, collection of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

April 26, 2008: Yossi Harel, who led four Aliyah Bet (illegal immigration) missions in 1946 and 1947, dies at 90. Harel commanded the Exodus 1947 with 4,530 Holocaust survivors, whose capture by the British gained international attention.

million in 2024, with foreign carriers having suspended their Israel routes amid fighting with Iran and its terror proxies in Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen, according to figures released by the flagship airline.

The airline’s previous record high of some $116 million was in 2023, driven by a fourth quarter that saw competition melt away after the Hamas onslaught of Oct. 7. In the fourth quarter of 2024, El Al made a net profit of $130 million, compared with $40 million in the fourth quarter of 2023.

El Al’s revenue in 2024 was $3.4 billion, up some 37 percent from $2.5 billion in 2023, the company’s previous all-time high. The airline’s gains enabled it to reduce its net financial debt — total liabilities minus cash and liquid assets — from $1.6 billion at the end of 2023 to $75 million at the end of 2024.

Compiled by AJT Staff

April 27, 2009: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, responding to a demand from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, refuses to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and thus creates an obstacle to peace talks.

April 28, 1982: Two of Israel’s bestknown poets, Yehuda Amichai and Amir Gilboa, are awarded the Israel Prize at a ceremony that also honors an archaeologist, an architect, a chemist, an economist, two educators and a politician.

April 29, 1956: Ro’i Rothberg, the security officer at Kibbutz Nahal Oz, is killed in an ambush. His body is dragged into Gaza and mutilated, then returned. IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Dayan delivers a memorable eulogy the next day.

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

The Hebrew University takes great pride in Prof. Yinon Ben-Neriah’s recognition and looks forward to celebrating his continued contributions to science and medicine // Photo Credit: Bruno Charbit

(left)

President Barack Obama brings Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Mahmoud Abbas together in New York during the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 22, 2009. // By Avi Ohayon, Israeli Government Press Office, CC BY-SA 3.0

Future of the Middle East Remains in Question

By Bob Bahr

How power has shifted in the last yearand-a-half and the role that Iran and Israel will play in the future of the Middle East were discussed recently in a joint presentation online by the World Affairs Councils in Atlanta and Miami.

The two organizations hosted Nimrod Goren, president and founder of Midview, the Israel Institute for Regional Foreign Policies and a former senior fellow for Israel affairs at the Middle East Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank in Washington, D.C.

He discussed the future of the Middle East with Alex Vatanka who founded the Middle East Institute Iran program and is a specialist in Iranian domestic and regional policies.

As a result of Israel’s successes in neutralizing Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, along with the fall of the Assad government in Syria has, according to Vatanka, created a new regional power equation in the Middle East.

‘The last few decades have been one of promoting the idea that proxies that Iran has recruited among Arab populations, places like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, to some extent in Yemen, that these proxies can do the fighting for Iran, that Iran can sit back and enjoy the show. What the Israelis have done with the support of partners like the United States, is to sort of say, well, that’s not going to happen anymore.”

Israel’s strategic success, which has reshaped the military balance of power in the Middle, could lead over the longer term to new diplomatic opportunities.

While Israel has the upper hand in the region, there are still challenges that Israel faces in the future with the decline in diplomatic relations with Europe and the legal issues that have been raised, according to Nimrod Goren, in the charges made against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“In parallel to all those improvements to the security on the political, national, and state level issues, when you go deeper, and you look at Israel’s relations in Europe, particularly on unofficial levels, we see a decline. You see relations between Israel and the public and civil society, academia, culture, business in Europe decline. All of that impacts the power, not necessarily the military power, but the soft power, the positioning of Israel. So that’s an issue.”

On the plus side, what began in 2018 with the signing of the Abraham Accords between the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Israel has the potential for further diplomatic engagement with Arab states. The big question mark is the future of Palestine.

Palestinians take part in an antiHamas protest, calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip on March 26, 2025 // Photo Credit: AFP/Times of Israel

“The other issue is whether Israel could leverage all of its achievement on the battlefield to diplomatic gains in trying to improve its regional relations,” Goren said. “So, all of those are still up in the air.”

But Goren is optimistic about the relation Israel has with its former enemies, Egypt and Jordan, with whom it has peace. Relations between Israel and those two countries remained relatively stable, despite the tension over the treatment of Palestinians.

“So, that was kind of an important calculation,” Goren said, “in the regional outlook, because it showed the new reality in which Israel is much more accepted in the Middle East than in decades of isolation. That wasn’t temporary, that wasn’t by chance, That’s a strategic decision by those countries, Egypt and Jordan. And that’s, I think, a very important point that Israelis are taking note of.”

The big strategic loser is Iran, which invested heavily in proxies in Lebanon and Gaza that were quickly demolished by Israel, with the aid and encouragement of the United States.

Iran faces a critical decision, according to Vatanka, the Iranian expert, on whether to focus on its proxies far from Iran or focus on its own problems at home.

“Do they give it up and go back and look at what they need to do at home to lessen the distance between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people?” Vatanka asked. “Because here’s another simple reality, what the regime of the Islamic Republic is doing in the region has very little support among the Iranian people. The Iranian people don’t want to be sanctioned. They want to have the basic things that everybody wants to have on a human level.”

There is continuing unrest in Iran as a result of the sanctions that the U.S. and other nations have imposed. Despite tough talk from Washington in the first months of the Trump administration, there are some signs that Iran may be open to renewing diplomatic talks. But with over 45 years of ill will and the role that Iran has assumed in the region, such talks may be difficult to resume. ì

IS ELI HOSTAGE T CKER

Israeli hostages set to be released in phase two:

Fifty-nine more hostages are held in Gaza by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists and are supposed to be released as part of a successful negotiation of the phase two portion of the deal. The hostages are:

Nattapong Pinta, 36

Rom Braslavski, 21

Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 24

Nimrod Cohen, 20

Matan Angrest, 22

Ziv Berman, 27

Gali Berman, 27

Maxim Herkin, 36

Segev Kalfon, 27

Bipin Joshi, 24

Elkana Bohbut, 35

Alon Ohel, 24

Ariel Cunio, 27

Bar Kupershtien, 23

Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 23

Eitan Horn, 38

Tamir Nimrodi, 20

Matan Zangauker, 25

Avinatan Or, 31

Omri Miran, 47

Eitan Mor, 24

Edan Alexander, 21

David Cunio, 34

Eyvatar David, 24

The following hostages have reportedly been murdered and are expected to be returned in phase two:

Amiram Cooper, 84 (murdered in captivity)

Inbar Hayman, 27 (murdered in captivity)

Asaf Hamami, 41 (murdered in captivity)

Eliyahu Margalit, 75 (murdered in captivity)

Uriel Baruch, 35 (murdered in captivity)

Tal Haimi, 41 (murdered in captivity)

Oz Daniel, 19 (murdered in captivity)

Tamir Adar, 38 (murdered in captivity)

Eitan Levy, 52 (murdered in captivity)

Ran Gvili, 24 (murdered in captivity)

Yonatan Samerano, 21 (murdered in captivity)

Yair Yaakov, 59 (murdered in captivity)

Ronen Engel, 54  (murdered in captivity)

Sahar Baruch, 35  (murdered in captivity)

Itay Chen, 19 (murdered in captivity)

Aviv Atzili, 49 (murdered in captivity)

Dror Or, 48 (murdered in captivity)

Muhammad Al-Atrash, 39  (murdered in captivity)

Gad Haggai, 72 (murdered in captivity)

Joshua Loitu Mollel, 21  (murdered in captivity)

Idan Shitvi, 28 (murdered in captivity)

Yossi Sharabi, 53 (murdered in captivity)

Arie Zalmanovich, 85  (murdered in captivity)

Daniel Peretz, 22  (murdered in captivity)

Guy Illouz, 26 (murdered in captivity)

Ofra Keidar, 70 (murdered in captivity)

Lior Rudaeff, 61 (murdered in captivity)

Judi Weinstein-Haggai, 70  (murdered in captivity)

Meny Godard, 73 (murdered in captivity)

Shay Levinson, 19 (murdered in captivity)

Ilan Weiss, 56 (murdered in captivity)

Hadar Goldin, 23 (murdered in 2014)

Omer Neutra, 21 (murdered in captivity)

Sonthaya Oakkharasri  (murdered in captivity)

Sudthisak Rinthalak (murdered in captivity)

Life in a ‘Narrow Place’

Dave Schechter

From Where I Sit

In a threehour period on a recent Sunday afternoon, we had reason to celebrate and mourn.

The original plan called for us to fly on the Saturday to Miami, where my wife would attend a Sunday “ladies lunch” for her soon-to-be 80-year-old aunt, while I hung out with her uncle, one of my favorite members of the family.

But on Friday afternoon, we received a call from the son of long-time friends, informing us that his mother had succumbed to pancreatic cancer.

This is a family we have known for 35 years, back to when they lived in Marietta. At one time, my wife and I worked at CNN with the husband, while his wife handled on-screen graphics for various sporting events. Their son and our daughter were born a month apart. We have photos of

them as infants and toddlers.

So, on Saturday, after canceling my plane ticket, I dropped my wife at the airport and she flew to Miami, while I continued on, driving to Orlando, to be present at the Sunday afternoon funeral and evening shiva.

At about the same time as the Sunday birthday gathering and the graveside funeral, in the Texas Hill County west of Austin, a niece announced her engagement by texting a picture of a ring on her finger.

Then, on Monday, my wife cut short her stay in Miami and took a train to Orlando in time for that evening’s shiva.

Before driving back to Atlanta on Tuesday, we made another visit to the bereaved husband and the couple’s son and daughter. I told them that I would remember his wife and their mother as she was the last time we saw her, at the son’s wedding in January a year ago, when she maintained high spirits and good humor even as her body was wracked by the disease.

Her husband thanked us more than once for rearranging our plans so that we could be present for the funeral and shi-

vas. Each time I replied that we could not imagine not making an effort to be there.

On the drive home to Atlanta, as my wife and I compared notes, the precious nature of life and the contrast in the weekend’s simchas and sorrow, was not lost on either of us.

A few days after this column is published, our three children (and our now son-in-law), as well as assorted friends, will gather for a Passover Seder at our house. Even as I write this, the guest list, the menu, and the Haggadah remain in edit.

A week after that will be the second anniversary of my surviving a “widow maker” heart attack. The date is not hard to remember. It is the day after our wedding anniversary.

I still sometimes wonder why (beyond the speed at which my wife drove me to the Emory University Hospital emergency room and the skill of the cardiologists and nurses), I am still here, when I know of others who did not survive such attacks.

If cancer four years earlier failed to sufficiently impress upon me a lesson about the fragility of life, the heart attack certainly did.

Two years after the heart attack, I still am trying to find the cardiac intensive care unit nurse from Emory Midtown Hospital, where I had a robotic bypass several weeks after the heart attack, who visited me twice and, in both conversations, said, “Try to find some grace in your life.”

I think often of those words. I want to thank this nurse. I have her name. But she was a travel nurse and no contact I’ve employed thus far has been able to locate her.

When our friend talked about how much there was to do in the aftermath of his wife’s death, I told him the story of the nurse’s visits and the advice she gave me.

This is the season of Passover, a holiday built on the story of how divine intervention freed the Israelites from captivity and oppression in a “narrow place” (in Hebrew, mitzrayim, which also is the word for Egypt).

In emotional terms, grief can be a form of “narrow space.” Another can be attitudes that hold us back from engaging fully in our own lives and with those around us. When I feel myself trapped in that way, “Give yourself some grace” can be a starting point to find the way out. 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.

Gottlieb’s Trojans Lose to Huskies in Elite Eight

David Ostrowsky

As Lindsay Gottlieb prepared to deliver her opening remarks in the press conference following her team’s 78-64 Elite Eight loss to the UConn Huskies on the evening of March 31, the USC Trojans women’s head basketball coach tried her best to fight back tears. Minutes earlier, Gottlieb had managed to stay dry-eyed while addressing her scrappy, shorthanded team that fell to the eventual national champion Huskies in the fourth round of March Madness for the second consecutive year but couldn’t promise the room full of reporters that she would remain stoic throughout her postgame presser.

Gottlieb, a member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame of Northern California and one-time head coach of the Cal Golden Bears and associate coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, was naturally chock-full of raw emotion. After all, her team, just 48 hours earlier had prevailed over Kansas State, 67-61, in the Sweet 16, a gutsy win largely fueled by the contributions of her star-studded freshman class, and on this evening had battled back from a 14-point halftime deficit to make things interesting in the second half, all without the services of arguably the nation’s best player, sophomore guard JuJu Watkins, who had been felled by a season-ending ACL tear in the first quarter of USC’s second-round blowout win over Mississippi State.

“I was just very proud of the way that we competed tonight,” said Gottlieb, while sitting next to two of her players, graduate student guard Talia Von Oelhoffen and senior forward Rayah Marshall. “I think you saw the heart and character of our team on display. I’m disappointed for them that we don’t get to go to Tampa [site of the Final Four] and get two more games, but I’m not sad with the way this group represented themselves.”

Going into this year’s March Madness, Gottlieb’s Trojans, anchored by Watkins, the eventual recipient of the 2025 Wooden Award given to the most outstanding player in women’s college basketball, were given a fighting chance to avenge last year’s Elite Eight loss by knocking off the mighty Huskies when they crossed paths. But, ultimately, USC,

Though she was without the services of her superstar sophomore JuJu Watkins starting in the second round after the eventual National Player of the Year suffered a torn ACL, USC women’s basketball head coach Lindsay Gottlieb (left) still managed to get the Trojans within striking distance of the Final Four // Photo Credit: USC Trojans social media

behind its fourth-year head coach who was tabbed a finalist for the 2024 Werner Ladder National Coach of the Year award a year ago, couldn’t compensate for the gaping hole left by Watkins’ absence when going up against the overwhelming juggernaut that is UConn women’s hoops.

“Even though we’ve lost at the same point and stage, I think our team 100 percent delivered on raising that bar and raising that standard,” added Gottlieb, whose squad had actually edged the Huskies, 7270, during a December tilt. “It took a lot for us internally to get to the point where we were legitimately a national championship contender, a real top five team all year long.”

As she grew up in Scarsdale, N.Y., and later played basketball at Brown University, Gottlieb was never more than a two-hour drive from Storrs, Conn., where the Huskies were emerging into one of college basketball’s most storied

dynasties under the tutelage of Geno Auriemma by the mid-90s. During her emotional season-ending press conference, Gottlieb made a point to acknowledge a UConn team, headlined by point guard Paige Bueckers, that would be the last to cut down the nets in April. “As much as this hurts for our kids, how do you not have respect and root for a team that had to figure some things out, too, along the way and has battled injuries?” offered Gottlieb.

Meanwhile for USC, looking forward, the fortunes of the ascending program largely hinge on how quickly Watkins can recover from the devastating ACL tear. There’s no telling if their marquee player will sit out for the entirety of next season or try to return at some point. But, as Gottlieb shared with ESPN the morning after her team bowed out of March Madness, “I have no doubt that her [Watkins] comeback’s going to be legendary, and I have no doubt that the

strength of the program is not in doubt, and I think we proved that.”

With two straight Elite Eight appearances coming on the heels of a sparkling career at Cal, during which she guided the Golden Bear women to seven NCAA appearances, including a trip to its first and only Final Four in 2013, and a nice run as an assistant for the Cavs (at the time she was hired by Cavs general manager Koby Altman, who also happens to be Jewish, becoming the first women’s collegiate head coach to join an NBA staff), Gottlieb stands to preside over a USC team that will be a perennial national title contender. As for this basketball season, from the perspective of the Jewish community, it was only fitting that a women’s team that went deep into March Madness had strong representation in light of there being three Jewish head coaches (Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, Duke’s Jon Scheyer, Florida’s Todd Golden) partaking in the Men’s Final Four. ì

Beldick Pushes Himself with Ultraman Marathons

By David Ostrowsky

Even Jacob Beldick can’t help but laugh about the irony of his running career.

It was merely two years ago, as a senior at Riverwood High, that he admittedly “got very disaffected with the sport” and called it quits after a threeyear career in track & field and crosscountry. Quite simply, he grew tired of running competitively, even though the races were never particularly grueling as they maxed out at five kilometers, and he was perfectly content doing one or two weekly runs spanning several miles on his own time.

But now, in spring 2025, as a sophomore at Georgia Tech studying biomedical engineering, Beldick, who played basketball and ran track for The Epstein School last decade, isn’t just running marathons — make that double marathons — but doing so as part of three-day triathlons, such as the Ultraman Florida he completed last month to become the youngest participant (19) in the history of this particular 320-mile event. Over three sultry days in central Florida, Beldick swam 6.2 miles; biked over 260 miles; and finished things off with a 52.4-mile run.

“I feel like for most people [participating in triathlons], they have this deep love of the sport,” shared Beldick, who estimates that over the past year he has put in 20-30 hours of training every week in order to get in tip top shape for this marquee triathlon held outside of Orlando. “I do enjoy the competition, and I think triathlons are a great way to stay in shape. But I actually didn’t have this super burning love of triathlons. For me, it was far more about just curiosity in seeing the person I would become as a result of doing the race and getting involved.

“Being in an environment where people are willing to push themselves that much, for me that was a big thing, too.”

For Beldick, he had to push himself through a series of unanticipated obstacles in his first-ever Ultraman (back in September he completed an Ironman, which is a long-distance triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run, in order to qualify and polished off a 50K ultramarathon in November 2023). During the Day 1 swim, which preceded a 90-mile bike ride, high winds made for exceptionally choppy waters; subsequently, every time the Georgia Tech undergrad came up to

gasp for air, he got slammed in the face with an unforgiving wave of lake water. Meanwhile, communication issues with his kayaker guide, with whom he had never trained, only exacerbated the weather-related issues, tacking on nearly two miles, or 1.5 hours, of swimming to the itinerary. As if that logistical nightmare wasn’t taxing enough, as the first day neared its end, on Mile 85 of his bike trek — one that was not cleared of motorists, unlike in some races — Beldick got a flat tire while his seat also became virtually unusable. Battling agonizing lower back pain while unsure if he could even compete the next day due to the mechanical issues, Beldick persevered to reach the Day 1 finish line.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” acknowledged Beldick about withstanding the extreme mental and physical exhaustion to stay composed, bounce back for the Day 2, 171-mile bike ride (on a repaired bicycle), and finish the trifecta of events with the Day 3 no-break double marathon, a portion of which was run on the rather inhospitable terrain of clay roads.

Though there were unexpected roadblocks, Beldick’s unflagging yearlong commitment to pushing his body through the rigors of Ultraman training made for adequate preparation.

“Even though it was very difficult training, a lot of it was me learning how to build mental toughness in the face of extreme physical and mental exhaus-

tion,” explained Beldick, who never trained with music streaming through his AirPods, because participants are barred from using audio equipment on race day.

“When there’s no music, you can’t really distract yourself from the physical and mental pain. It’s more just figuring out how to push through. While I was going through a really hard workout, some of the extra suffering would just be because I was upset that I was suffering. Accepting the fact that it was going to be difficult – that alleviates a lot of the suffering.”

Being able to tolerate the excruciatingly painful cardio workouts was only half the proverbial battle; the other primary obstacle was developing the optimal nutritional plan for months on end, and more specifically, being ever mindful of maintaining proper glucose, blood sugar, and electrolyte levels. By the time Ultraman Florida rolled around, Beldick estimates that he had gone through a dozen different nutrition plans. As for the competition itself — when one is burning over 10,000 calories a day — it’s vital, not just for finishing, but for surviving, to consume a very particular selection of substances (namely, sports nutrition energy gels, high protein foods).

Despite the solitary nature of a triathlon, Beldick believes his accompanying crew, which consisted of his parents, Robert and Allison Beldick, as well as Ultraman veterans Mike and Sandy Mor-

rissey, was a true difference-maker as they — and in particular Mike, who has a 500-mile bike race to his name — made all the right calls for his caloric intake throughout the three-day whirlwind of races.

“Mike was very good at helping me manage my nutrition and overall status, because he’s been there,” credited Beldick, who, as part of his entry in Ultraman Florida, raised funds in support of Save A Child’s Heart, a noble Israelbased humanitarian organization that provides cardiac healthcare to children worldwide and one to which his family has long contributed.

As he wraps up his sophomore year completing a rigorous course load at Georgia Tech while engaged in an active campus life, Beldick is looking ahead to his next extreme physical challenge. In fact, The Epstein School alum has already qualified for the Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii, to be held at the end of November. Though the rigors of the Hawaii course would be the same as those of Ultraman Florida, Beldick is unsure if he has the bandwidth over the next seven months to prepare for a competition that requires the mastery of multiple sports. That’s OK, because he has found a new challenge on this year’s slate of amateur running competitions to check off the list: his first-ever 100mile race that would take somewhere between 20-36 hours — with not a single break, that is. ì

Georgia Tech sophomore Jacob Beldick may not compete for any of the school’s varsity teams, but he’s clearly one of the university’s elite athletes, as evidenced by his recent completion of Ultraman Florida // Photo Credit: Jacob Beldick

Community Gathers for 14th Annual Daffodil Dash

Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony set for April 24

David Kirkland, of Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, speaks during the “Unto Every Person There is a Name” program in 2023 at the Georgia State Capitol.

B’nai B’rith International (Atlanta) and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta are proud to present the “Unto Every Person There is a Name” 2025 Remembrance Ceremony this year, the 36th anniversary of this global Shoah Memorial Initiative.

By Robert Garber

The air was swarming with pollen on Sunday morning, March 30, but still hundreds turned out to the 14th annual Daffodil Dash at Brook Run Park.

“We were absolutely in awe that we had over 800 people signed up for the race,” said organizer, and president of Am Yisrael Chai and the Daffodil Project, Andrea Videlfsky. “We’re just so grateful for the amazing support from the community. It’s really an important time, with rising antisemitism and hatred, for us to make sure that people always remember, but also stand up for any injustice occurring in the world today.”

In addition to the more than 800 runners, there were also close to a hundred teenage volunteers, helping check people in, and handing out T-shirts and water. Several local officials, including

State Rep. Long Tran, were also present.

Runners flew past the thousands of daffodils planted around the park in memory of the 1.5 million children who died in the Holocaust. Some were still sprouting, others, like the patch planted at one of the park entrances, bloomed in a sea of yellow.

The race concluded around 10:30 a.m. with an award ceremony, and a series of speakers, shortly before it began to rain. One of the speakers was Hershel Greenblat, a local Holocaust survivor, who has spoken at several Daffodil Project events.

“It’s just an unbelievable honor to be here and represent the one-and-a-half million children that perished and hoping that it never happens again. My hopes and prayers are with all the children in the state of Israel – may we get a lasting peace soon.”

This public recitation of names of Holocaust victims will be held around the world on Yom HaShoah, the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes Remembrance Day observed this year from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, April 24. We will gather in person in Atlanta and on Zoom on April 24 for an especially moving Holocaust memorial observance. The in-person program will be held at Feldman Hall in the Selig Center (the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, 1440 Spring St., Atlanta 30309).

Help us to restore the memory of those murdered during the Holocaust by bringing “Unto Every Person There is a Name” to Atlanta through an in-person gathering at Feldman Hall or a Zoom virtual webinar from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Thursday, April 24, live and virtual at Feldman Hall and from 11 am to 3 p.m. via Zoom. We invite readers and attendees to

register in advance: Registration form – https://forms.gle/fzVjDfiryfvPEaC29 Participants read the names of Holocaust victims, along with their own loved ones’ names, where they were murdered, and their age at the time of death. Individuals who wish to participate as readers of the names should indicate this on the online registration form, or contact Harry Lutz, program chair at harry.lutz.45@gmail. com or 678-485- 8179. We will provide lists of names, and you may also read the names of the family members you have lost.

The “Unto Every Person There is a Name” ceremony provides the opportunity to remember the victims of the Holocaust, six million Jews, among them one and a half million children. As the names of victims are read aloud, they are remembered. The annual recitation of the names of victims is one way of posthumously restoring the victims’ names, of commemorating them as individuals. We seek in this manner to honor the memory of the victims, to grapple with the enormity of the murder, and to combat Holocaust denial and distortion.

Compiled by AJT Staff

The annual Daffodil Dash held at Brook Run Park is in honor of the 1.5 million children who were killed in the Holocaust.

Potpourri Closing After 50-Year Run

Potpourri specialized in sportswear, dresses, and accessories including handbags and jewelry // Photo Credit: Bobb Pepalis

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Julie Routenberg opened Potpourri in November 1976 on historic Roswell Square. The store experienced three different locations and eventually moved to Sandy Springs in 1985. In 1989, they opened a second location in Buckhead. Their merchandise featured sportswear, dresses, all accessories including handbags and jewelry. The target customer was 40 years and up.

Routenberg decided to close the store after almost 50 years on Feb. 28, as “it just seemed it was time.” Several opportunities to sell did not materialize. Routenberg said, “I loved the energy and creativity of the buying process and providing a place for customers to shop with a great mix of European and American designer apparel.”

Potpourri was known for modern style and indulgent personal service from Routenberg, Vicki Grosswald, and Phyllis Cohen. They were voted “Best of Atlanta” four times and honored with Hall of Fame status. They also won a DIVA Award for Specialty Retailer of the Year.

When asked if e-commerce contributed to the decision to close, Routenberg said, “There hasn’t been a big impact for Potpourri from Internet shopping. Pot-

Huntcliff Purim Players Present Purim Spiel

pourri customers wanted to see, touch, feel and try on pieces and want the input from the staff.”

To stock the store, Routenberg went to buying markets in New York, showrooms and four to five different apparel and accessory shows two to four times per year. She also attended the Atlanta Apparel shows and the Atlanta Gift shows every season. Some of the most memorable trends were “shoulder pads in everything, statement belts and power suits.”

Remembering Potpourri, Marsha Londe stated, “Thank you for a light, bright store filled with gorgeous clothing and the talent … in finding the perfect piece. I’m incredibly grateful to have had a place to shop where I feel good when I walk in and even better when I leave.”

Routenberg summarized, “The biggest reward of all came from loyal customers who became so much more -- they have become friends. Potpourri was not just any store selling clothes, but a happy place where customers and staff have gathered to love, laugh, cry and support each other!”

Post-retirement, Routenberg commented, “I will definitely not be eating M&Ms and watching Netflix! Hobbies to be determined!”

By Bob Bahr

The Purim Players of Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit, all of them residents of the senior living community in Sandy Springs, presented a Purim Spiel after their weekly Shabbat service on March 14. Featured as Queen Esther in the play was 92-year-old Bunny Maron, and King Ahasuerus was 88-year-old Erwin Barrington. Maron’s late husband once helped to introduce American audiences to the “Godzilla” series of motion pictures from Japan. Barrington is a retired den-

tist.

The producer and director of the Purim Spiel was Art Schultz, who is 89. He credits an artificial intelligence computer program for coming up with the final script he used for the production.

“Of all the Purim Spiels I looked at, the one done by artificial intelligence was the best,” Schultz said.

It was a new spin of the classic story of Purim as told in the Book of Esther, which some Biblical historians claim to be set during the later years of the fifth century B.C.E.

The Purim Players of Sunrise at Huntcliff Summit presented a Purim Spiel for the residents of the senior living community.

Hadassah Supports Women’s Health & Reproductive Freedom Goldbergs Group Adds Pasta Miami to Portfolio

Hadassah members across the country stand up to ensure that people have complete access to reproductive health care.

Right now, members of Congress are introducing bills that threaten reproductive freedom and restrict women’s ability to access reproductive healthcare services, putting their lives at unnecessary risk. This legislation includes an outright national ban on abortion, a national ban on medication abortion, prohibiting insurance plans from covering important reproductive care, withdrawing federal funds from colleges and universities that provide abortion services and much more.

Rosalie Agrow, president of Hadassah Greater Atlanta’s Ketura Group, explains, “Hadassah has and always will stand for reproductive choice, which is essential for women’s health. Our work to protect reproductive rights both at the federal level and in states across the country is more important than ever.”

Hadassah is proud to say that very recently Georgia Bill HB 428 moved forward in the Georgia House of Representatives to protect access to IVF treatment with the help of State Rep. Esther Panitch, a Hadassah life member.

Simone Wilker, advocacy chair for Hadassah’s Southeastern region, states, “Over the past few years, we have witnessed bans and restrictions that led to poor health outcomes, denial of emergency services and suffering for women, including serious injury and death. States with bans or restrictions on abortion have fewer maternity care providers and from 2018 to 2020, the maternal death

rate increased twice as fast in states with abortion restrictions compared to those with access.”

Recently, the Red Tent Fund held several presentations in Atlanta. Hadassah members Alli Korman, founder and executive director of the Red Tent Fund, and Danielle Kroo, Red Tent Fund board chair, told their audience, “We are a new national nonprofit abortion fund, rooted in the Jewish values and teachings that affirm the right to abortion, which funds lawful abortions across the United States.”

Through the Red Tent Fund, abortion seekers get help paying for their abortions through block grants given to specific clinics. A caller warm line is being set up. Detailed information can be found on www.theredtentfund.org.

In 2024, Hadassah members’ tireless advocacy led to success for reproductive rights across the country on Election Day. Hadassah grassroots volunteers and leaders helped pass ballot initiatives in seven states (Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New York) to protect reproductive freedom. Despite these wins, there is much more to do.

For more information to support Hadassah’s fight for women’s health and reproductive freedom, please visit www. Hadassah.org.

Compiled

by

AJT Staff

Goldbergs Group has added Pasta Miami to its ever-expanding portfolio.

Goldbergs Group, the premier food solution provider consisting of restaurants, manufacturing plants, commercial kitchens and airline catering services, is excited to announce the recent addition of Pasta Mami to its portfolio. The Atlanta-based pasta manufacturers are long-time partners of Goldbergs Group, having supplied artisanal pastas for the company’s award-winning airline catering services. The strategic partnership underscores Goldbergs Group’s commitment to providing exceptional food solutions across its restaurants, manufacturing plants, and catering services, particularly within its award-winning airline catering sector.

“For years, we’ve been proud collaborators with Pasta Mami, leveraging their exceptional products to elevate our offerings. Their dedication to quality has made them a trusted partner to restaurants, caterers, grocers, and hotels across the region,” said Bradley Saxe, co-chief executive officer for Goldbergs Group. “We are excited to share this major milestone for our partnership and to embark on a future filled with creativity, collaboration, and extraordinary pasta!”

Pasta Mami was founded in 1987 by

Mark and Hilda Portwood. The womanowned and family-run company has become synonymous with fresh, all-natural pasta crafted daily without preservatives or artificial coloring. Their from-scratch recipes have delighted fans across Georgia from wholesale offerings to various grocers.

“Pasta Mami has always been about honoring tradition, craftsmanship, and the love of great pasta,” said Angela Cook, co-founder/owner of Pasta Mami. “Joining the Goldbergs Group allows us to continue that mission on a larger scale while staying true to our roots. We’re excited for this next chapter and can’t wait to share even more of what we love with our customers.”

“We look forward to continuing to support Pasta Mami’s legacy while taking it to new heights through this partnership,” added Saxe. “Together, we plan on building on a shared commitment to innovation, craftsmanship, and culinary excellence to open new doors for exciting growth opportunities locally and beyond.”

For more information, please visit www.goldbergsgroup.com.

Compiled by AJT Staff

EL AL wishes you a holiday filled with renewal, hope, and freedom.

PASSOVER

wound that continues to bleed.”

Yet, despite the troubling news from the Middle East, there was an air of optimism among those who worked so tirelessly at both the AJC and Temple EmanuEl to create a meaningful ritual followed by an elegant dinner in the temple’s expansive social hall.

For Rabbi Spike Anderson, the seder was the culmination of at least 18 months of interfaith work that members of the temple have created with more than a dozen other religious groups.

“Getting these various groups together, you know, for a celebratory event raises awareness and showcases some of the best of what Judaism is,” Anderson said. “The hope is, and I think this was realized, that this would also act as a catalyst for the various interfaith relationships that we have and to reinvigorate us for whatever the next steps are.”

The concern that is driving the work of Temple Emanu-El is the rising tide of antisemitism, not just in the United States, but globally. According to an important study released in January by the Anti-Defamation League, nearly half of the world population “holds elevated levels of antisemitic attitudes.”

The survey of 58,000 adults in 103 countries reported 46 percent of them held “deeply entrenched antisemitic attitudes, more than double compared to ADL’s first worldwide survey a decade ago.”

Temple Emanu-El has developed a program to increase interfaith understanding among Jews and non-Jews by bringing people together in small groups of 20 to 30 people several times a year. About 145 people from the temple’s community of 850 member families have participated in the program. The latest

of these was scheduled this week with St Luke’s Presbyterian Church in Dunwoody.

Anderson believes that all the time and effort that has been put into the program is paying off. He’s encouraged by the success he’s seen so far.

“The rumor always is there’s lots of non-Jews who like and respect Jews and Judaism. And want to have us be a part of their vision of America. The results of the last 18 months show that definitely seems to be the case.”

At the conclusion of the Unity Seder, Rabbi Anderson asked the 30 of the clergy members who attended to offer a few words of wisdom from their traditions. Those attending heard from a diverse number of spiritual representatives, including Hindus, Baha’i, Muslims, and the many denominations of Christianity.

Typical of the remarks were those made by the Rev. David Charney, chaplain of the Westminster Schools, whose final blessing was of hope.

“May the G-d of hope fill you with all joy and peace,” Rev. Charney said, “so that you may abound in hope as you seek the welfare of your neighbor and the world.”

It was left to the AJC Southeastern Regional Director Dov Wilker, though, to remind the crowd in attendance that peace and the safe return of the remaining hostages in Gaza at the moment is among the greatest hopes we have.

“Those hostages are waiting each and every day to see the light of day,” Wilker said. “My final words tonight are a call to action for all of us. The advocacy of hundreds of voices has an even larger impact, and as you share it, beyond your amplification, it can reach thousands and even millions.” ì

Temple Emanu-El Rabbi Spike Anderson (center) served as principal host for the Unity Seder.

Light it Up! Preteen Launches Judaica Company

By Sasha Heller

Most 12-year-olds spend their days scrolling endlessly on TikTok, playing Minecraft or watching someone else play Minecraft on Twitch, or are living out their Major League dreams on the Little League ballfield or basketball court.

Not Teddy Hamilton.

The San Francisco native preteen has launched his own company – Eight Zero – with the support of financial backer and mentor, Dr. Jerry Richman, producing electric menorahs using a 3D printer and various Judaica, including flameless Shabbat candles and holiday wine dipping dishes. And he’s also published three books of poetry.

He hasn’t even been bar mitzvahed yet!

Hamilton, CEO of Eight Zero, said he got the idea to start his company during a FaceTime session with his grandfather in Chicago while lighting the Chanukah candles.

“Because he would work late during the festival, he often wouldn’t have a menorah to celebrate with since his office didn’t allow flame-emitting devices,” said Hamilton. “This led me to come up with Eight Zero’s pilot product, our Eight Zero Modern Menorah. After partnering with Dr. Jerry Richman, we expanded into Shabbat candles and a Passover Ten Plagues dipping dish.”

Hamilton chose the name, Eight Zero, for the company for a specific reason: “It symbolizes our keystone product, the Modern Menorah, by showing ‘Eight’ as the eight nights of Chanukah, and ‘Zero’ as the zero flames emitted by our products.”

Richman met Hamilton at the Temple Sinai Chanukah Arts Fair and was impressed right away.

“My friends told me I must meet

this exceptional young man and see his modern electric menorah,” Richman said. “His shpiel was mature and engaging. After buying his product … he promised delivery in a week. Like Amazon, he kept me posted on the production and delivery date.”

Richman recognized the potential that Hamilton possessed and felt like he could provide Teddy with some direction for his burgeoning operation.

“I thought he needed mentoring in goal setting, inventory and cash control, marketing, and ethics of business,” Richman said.

Richman, who had retired from a successful career in dentistry, jumped at the opportunity to mentor Hamilton and provide guidance, wisdom and experience.

“As a recent retiree, the prospect of mentoring a young Jewish man had appeal to me,” Richman said. “Teddy is becoming a bar mitzvah in January, so I hope to add some wisdom to that life cycle, if he asks for it.”

He explained that Hamilton needed financial support and business mentoring, including learning about values like working together, patience, honoring commitments, orderliness, humility, and taking care of employees – including Teddy himself.

Two weeks after their initial meeting at Temple Sinai, Hamilton emailed Richman with an offer to be a partner and chief operational officer for the infant company. Richman noted that he met with Hamilton and his parents before starting the business to hash out the operating agreement.

“I quickly responded with a positive yes!” exclaimed Richman. “We quickly became partners and Teddy set up an LLC … Eight Zero Innovations LLC. We have an operating agreement including rules where a parent must be present

Eight Zero’s Product Line

Eight Zero Modern Shabbat Candles

when we meet.”

All products designed by Hamilton are available for sale in The Breman Museum and online at www.Eightzero. us. Future plans include an electric Yahrzeit candle.

Hamilton, the budding entrepreneur, said he has no plans to lead his company in the future. Instead, he would like to develop the brand with the

$30 -- Celebrate Shabbat with flameless Modern Shabbat Candles, easy to use and safe for all ages. Flameless tee light candles included.

Eight Zero Modern Menorah

$40 -- Celebrate Chanukkah with the flameless Modern Menorah, easy to use and safe for all ages. Flameless tee light candles included.

Eight Zero Modern Passover Dipping Dish

$6 per dish; $5 per dish when you buy 10 or more -- Celebrate Passover with a unique state-of-the-art wine dipping dish for the 10 plagues at your seder. Save your expensive tablecloth and use this small dish instead! Also usable as a coaster.

intention of selling it and then enter the field of education as a professor.

“I do not want to pursue Eight Zero far into college or as a career,” Hamilton said. “My plan is to sell Eight Zero to another electric menorah company for a good sum and become a professor of quantum physics at a university.”

He’s 12 years old, plans to sell his company in the future and teach quantum physics.

When he’s not leading his Judaica company, Hamilton enjoys playing the trombone, reading about quantum physics, traveling, cooking, and spending time with family and friends.

For Richman, he’s not “in it to win it.” This investment is in Teddy and his potential to be great.

“My reimbursement is nachas and enjoyment to interact with and mentor such a special kid,” he said.

Nachas indeed, Teddy. All the nachas. And he hasn’t even been bar mitzvahed yet. ì

Dr. Jerry Richman partnered with Teddy Hamilton, 12, after meeting the burgeoning entrepreneur at Temple Sinai.

Eight Zero produces flameless Shabbat candles, electric menorahs, holiday dipping dishes and more.

Expert Shares Tips on Passover Wines

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Elina Brager knows how to inhale a bouquet … of vino. As the chief wine connoisseur of Cellar Filler, she ditched a corporate career to become a sommelier to taste, serve and sell wine to clients who are building collections.

She said, “I’ve had a successful corporate career as an expert in shopper insights and marketing analytics. This is a tremendous skill that I use to make sure I appeal to my customers in the right way and bring in the wines that suit their preferences.”

With all the cups, finger dipping, and filling for Elijah, there’s no better time than Passover to refresh trends and current notions for oenophiles and “wannabes.”

Brager started out with a service evaluating peoples’ cellars which evolved into events and tastings. She decided to open a shop and a tasting room. She has invested significantly in wine education, earning a Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 3 (Advanced) certificate and becoming a Certified Specialist of Wine. Her primary income derives from wine sales. Her business is unique in that she offers a concierge model: she “understands what her customers like and prefer, curates their selections, often finding hidden gems that they would have never

found on their own.”

During COVID, she recalled that folks opted for less expensive wines. She reflected, “In general, now when people host a gathering, they look for more upscale wines. Events are back with a vengeance -- people value gatherings a great deal more. They love traveling to the wine regions and discovering new things, and this translates into being open to a lot of new varieties.”

Brager hedges when asked, “What’s good that’s kosher” vs.  just “What’s good?” which she categorizes as a loaded question, varying with levels of kashrut. She stated, “If you are Chabad/ Orthodox, you will likely look for mevushal wines, where you may be limited to only a couple of good selections. I like Vera Wang Party Prosecco (surprisingly beautiful, dry) and Rothchild Bordeaux for a red that will be a good match to your brisket/meat situations. Barkan Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon will also be excellent.” (Check for a “P” to be sure)

Then for Conservative Jews, Brager would relax a bit with non-mevushal wines like Galil Blanc de Noirs (white) and Gilgal Cabernet Sauvignon (red) -both are Israeli. Some Conservative synagogues allow all domestic wine as kosher, because as a rule, they don’t use nonkosher ingredients in U.S. winemaking. She suggests, “Grab a bottle of an Oregon chardonnay and a Washington state cab, and you’re good to go.”

She also recommends Oregon as a wine region for both chardonnays, pinot blancs, and pinot noirs. Washington State is for big reds, because of climate change, and they haven’t yet been “priced

up” like Napa or Sonoma.

She added, “There are some very beautiful rosés that will always be appropriate in the spring and summer.” She cautions not to get swayed by marketing gimmicks. “Most wines are fermented fully dry; sulfites are a byproduct of fermentation and if someone tells you their wine is sulfite-free, they’re lying. Drink what you like, explore new things, and enjoy wines responsibly.

In terms of cost, Brager thinks it’s tricky to find a good wine under $25. Generally, if less than $15, there’s a risk of overloaded additives, mass production, and headaching. She explained, “I do my homework and will only sell wines that meet a high level of scrutiny. Some wines could be around $18 to $20 and up.”

For champagne, she likes Vadin Plateau which is made by a mother-anddaughter team. “It’s delicious and over delivers for its $52 tag. If champagnes are too pricy – there are options of sparkling wines made in the same method, but outside of the Champagne region. They’ll cost $20 to $25 but will be super tasty and easy on the wallet.”

For gadgets, she recommends a Coravin that pierces the cork, dispenses wine, and adds inert argon gas into the bottle which otherwise would be filled with oxygen to extend the bottle’s lifespan.

Brager immigrated to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union in the 1980s. Her family attends Chabad of Sandy Springs. Her son attends Georgia Tech and her daughter is at Riverwood. For more information, please email ebrager@cellarfiller.com. ì

Elina Brager, pictured here opening a wine bottle, thinks the best parts about collecting wines are learning the differences between selections and finding what you love.

Wine expert Elina Brager is having fun with her client, Sean O’Keefe, from SOE // Photo Credit: Kimberly Evans

Unlocking the Door for Elijah

By Rabbi Lydia Medwin

Passover has many names: Pesach, the Festival of Matzah, the Festival of Freedom, and the Festival of Spring. This year, however, I noticed that Torah also calls the night of Passover, “Leil Shimmurim,” the Night of Watching.

As a symbol of our hope for the Messianic Age, tradition calls us to unlock our doors and “watch” for Elijah, who Jewish scholars say represents a zealous, unrelenting compassion for the poor, the widow, the stranger, and all who stand at the margins of society. Given the tumultuous times we are living in, perhaps this Passover, the “Night of Watching” applies to us, to our capacity to watch over one another?

It is a question I’ve been reflecting on lately since my visit to the Dominican Republic as part of American Jewish World Service’s Global Justice Fellowship a few weeks ago. Together, with other clergy, I met grassroots activists fighting for equality and human rights. We heard from young leaders taking on racist government policies, including mass deportations of Dominicans of Haitian descent, violence against the LGBTQIA+ community and women, as well as extreme and hateful nationalism. We visited with a dozen different grantee partners and were inspired by their resilience and bravery; and now I can’t help but think that any one of them, with their “zealous, unrelenting compassion,” could have been Elijah.

We met Estefany, a Dominican of Haitian decent, whose Dominican birth

certificate was invalidated by the government and is now considered stateless. This means she is unable to legally attend university, find a job, even open a bank account. Under this constant threat of deportation, even a simple trip to the grocery store could destroy her life and that of her family. Estefany is among more than 200,000 Dominicans enduring this same injustice. Yet, fueled by hope and determination, she and other activists are working daily to find solutions to reclaim their citizenship.

We met with people like Carlos, an intersex man, who is facing violence due to extreme homophobia. Yet he is bravely pushing back by crafting policy that would protect him and others and by providing safe spaces for the community to gather and just be.

We also met Annabelle, who like many teen girls was forced by poverty and sexism to get married and have children at a very young age and never got a real chance to advance her life. Through a Black doll making business, however, Annabelle and her peers are learning about their power as self-advocates and entrepreneurs. They are starting small businesses and finding their voices.

Each activist we met was driven by a determination to chart a new life trajectory. Their confidence and joy could fuel an entire world. More profoundly, they understood that a redeemed world, a world in which they are safe, is directly connected to their willingness to fight for it.

This Passover, as I reflect on the many similar challenges we face here in

the United States, I am taking inspiration from these incredible human rights defenders. The tradition of unlocking our doors teaches us that we must be prepared for our redemption, and that redemption relies in large part on our attention to the most vulnerable among us. An open door for Elijah also reminds us that our desire to see a world perfected

depends entirely on our willingness to rush out to perfect the world. And so, my hope is that we each find a door that we can open; that the “Night of Watching” allows us to also see our challenges and their solutions more clearly. And may we bravely run out to welcome Elijah through our acts of “zealous compassion.” ì

Rabbi Lydia Medwin is seeking acts of “zealous compassion” during Pesach.

What do you feel are important topics and circumstances that we have allowed to pass us over and that we should revisit?

Happy Passover

From Our Family to Yours

Don’t Let Opportunity Pass You Over Kaylene Ladinsky

As we celebrate Passover, many Jewish community members may take the opportunity to reflect on the many ways the world still needs redemption. It can be a despairing exercise, but if we let our emotions take over, it becomes difficult to build the better world we envision. This means Passover is also an important time for us to think about hope.

October 7 has left us in trauma. We want to try to live the life of October 6. But we are in mourning. A world different than that of October 8 is now hard to imagine. In the redemptive spirit of Passover, hope envisions an open future. We shouldn’t let our vision of the future be too constrained by conventional thought and modern norms.

Hope requires perseverance. In struggling to fulfill our hopes, we inevitably face setbacks; the key is to try new strategies and not to give up. In 2024, Atlanta experienced several events and situations that could be considered “opportunities that got passed over,” including a potential missed opportunity in a decline in some sectors, and ongoing challenges related to affordability and homelessness.

While our economy is comparably stronger than many other cities, real estate and tourism faced challenges in 2024, potentially leading to opportunities for growth and development getting passed over.

The story of Passover reminds us of the ancestors’ journey from slavery to freedom, but it also serves as a reminder of the struggles for freedom and liberation that many still face today. The fight for human rights and justice is ongoing and we must continue to work toward a world where all people can live in safety and dignity.

Let us come together as we approach this holiday and support those in need. Remember the values that unite our community, and let us inspire each other as peace, justice, and dignity are the birthright of all people.

This is an opportunity to express your gratitude to your community, friends, family, partners and whoever helps us fulfill this mission. Generosity and dedication have made it possible for us to share our knowledge.

Don’t let this opportunity pass over because we can continue to make a difference in the lives of countless individuals within our community and even further.

Kaylene Ladinsky is the President, Editor and Managing Publisher of Atlanta Jewish Times.

Lilli Jennison

What We Shouldn’t Pass Over

As we gather to celebrate Passover, I’ve been thinking about what this holiday truly means. It’s a time to remember our history — how our ancestors struggled, survived, and found freedom. But beyond the story of the Exodus, this season reminds me of how important it is to notice the things we shouldn’t “pass over” in our own lives — the people we love, the moments we often take for granted, and the blessings that surround us every day.

This year has been a reminder of how fleeting life can be, and how precious the people in it truly are. In January, our family said goodbye to my great aunt, Shirley, who passed away at the age of 96. She lived a full and beautiful life, filled with love, wisdom, and strength. Her absence is deeply felt, and she will be missed every day. But her legacy — her kindness, her stories, and her spirit — will never be forgotten. She taught me that time is a gift, and we should spend it meaningfully, with the people we love and doing the things that bring us peace and purpose.

In the spirit of not passing over the beauty in everyday life, I’ve found deep comfort in the simple joys of my own routines — reading a book that keeps me up too late, getting lost in a new crochet pattern, and spending real, quality time with family and friends. These quiet moments have become my refuge. They remind me that even when the world feels overwhelming, there’s still so much good in it — so much to be grateful for.

This year, I’ll be celebrating the first night of Passover with a small, cozy Seder alongside my immediate family. There’s something incredibly special about those quieter gatherings — sharing stories, blessings, and laughter around the table with the people I see most often, but don’t always take the time to slow down with. Then, on the second night, we’ll come together for a big extended family Seder. I’m so thankful to have such a large and loving family.

But we can’t ignore the difficult truths either. Antisemitism is terrifyingly present in today’s world. The rising hatred, the ignorance, the violence — it’s hard to process. It’s hard to believe we still have to defend our right to exist, to gather, to celebrate. And it’s deeply personal for me, because my grandfather is a Holocaust survivor. His story is a reminder of how fragile freedom really is, and how fiercely we must protect it. He was incredibly brave — surviving unimaginable loss and pain and still choosing to live a life filled with love and family. His courage and resilience run through our veins. And every Passover, I think of him. I think of how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go.

So, this year, let’s not pass over the opportunity to see one another. To call our loved ones. To hold our grandparents’ hands a little longer. To savor the laughter of a shared meal. Let’s not pass over the chance to speak up, to be kind, to show up for each other in big and small ways. Let’s tell our stories. Let’s make space for joy and grief, for memory and hope.

May this Passover be a time of renewal and connection. May we remember those we’ve lost, cherish those we hold close, and may we never pass over what matters most.

Sasha Heller

Don’t ‘Pass Over’ the Little Things

A recent tragic dating experience reminded me of the fragility of life and the importance of not taking anything for granted.

A mutual friend set me up with her niece, a young lady in her mid-30s, and we began texting nightly for several weeks. She said she wanted to take it slow, so we continued texting and learning about each other’s interests. It was nice to, at the very least, make a new friend – which isn’t always easy when you’re in your mid-40s.

But we never met.

Unfortunately, she had a seizure in the middle of the night and sadly passed away. When her aunt called to tell me the news, I was in shock. I had just texted the young lady a few nights before and now, she was dead … at 37.

Life is fleeting, and her death reminded me of how precious our time is. We should enjoy as much as we can each day and not pass over the little things. Indulge in that second scoop of ice cream, pile on a little extra lox on that bagel, and relish waking up each morning … as it could be our last.

RIP, Ariel.

Sasha Heller is the Managing Editor of Atlanta Jewish Times.

Lilli Jennison is the Creative Director of Atlanta Jewish Times.

Michal Bonell

In life, it’s all too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily routines, responsibilities, and the pursuit of future goals. However, in doing so, we sometimes overlook the very things that matter most — the relationships, the fleeting moments, and the small joys that make life meaningful. It’s essential to not pass over these important aspects, as they are often the source of true fulfillment.

One of the most significant things we tend to pass over is our relationships with the people around us. We can become so focused on career success or personal achievements that we forget the importance of family, friends, and community. The love and connection we share with others are irreplaceable. At the end of the day, no amount of money or material possessions will provide the same sense of fulfillment as the bonds we create with those we care about. It’s crucial to invest time in nurturing these relationships, offering support, listening with empathy, and spending quality time together. Sometimes, a simple conversation or a gesture of kindness can have a profound impact on someone’s life, and in turn, yours.

Another often overlooked aspect of life is the present moment. In our fast-paced world, we tend to focus on the future, always striving for the next milestone. While ambition and forward-thinking are important, we must also learn to appreciate where we are now. The present is the only moment we truly have control over, and it holds the potential for growth, joy, and reflection. Whether it’s savoring a quiet morning cup of coffee, enjoying the beauty of nature, or simply spending time in solitude, these moments of mindfulness are what create a sense of contentment. Passing over the present in pursuit of some distant future can lead to feelings of emptiness, as we overlook the richness of the here and now.

Additionally, our own well-being is something that is often neglected in the pursuit of other goals. We may push ourselves too hard, ignoring the signals our bodies and minds send us. Overworking, not getting enough rest, or neglecting mental health can take a serious toll. Self-care isn’t selfish — it’s necessary for us to function at our best in all aspects of life. Taking time for self-reflection, rest, exercise, and mental health care allows us to show up as our best selves for others. It’s crucial to find a balance between our responsibilities and our personal needs.

Lastly, we must not pass over the opportunities to learn and grow. Life is full of chances for growth, whether through education, new experiences, or self-discovery. When we become too fixated on the end result, we may miss the lessons that come with the journey. Every challenge or setback offers a lesson that can enhance our personal growth and resilience. Embracing these moments rather than dismissing them will allow us to develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

In conclusion, life is not just about the goals we strive for but about appreciating the people, moments, and lessons along the way. By not passing over the important things — the relationships, the present moment, our well-being, and the opportunities for growth — we can live a richer, more fulfilling life. It’s a reminder to slow down, take a step back, and prioritize the things that truly matter.

Michal Bonell is Senior Account Manager and Team Supervisor for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Ilyssa Klein

Family is my favorite part of all holidays and is the heart of Passover. For me, it’s important to not just celebrate the holiday together but to also cherish the everyday moments. It’s easy to think that the “big” events—vacations, holidays, milestones—are the important moments in family life, but the truth is, it’s the small, everyday moments that often matter most. The conversations at the dinner table, the laughs shared on car rides, and helping my children to navigate life. These small, seemingly insignificant moments are the ones I will remember most when the years have passed.

Passover teaches us to take time to reflect on our journey, to remember what has been, and the importance of being fully present in the moment. As I reflect on my family, I’m constantly reminded of how quickly time seems to pass. My teenage son, now in high school, and my daughter, in middle school, are growing up so fast. One moment, I was helping them with their first steps, and the next, I’m watching them navigate school, friendships, and their own journey toward independence. It feels like the years are slipping through my fingers, and the speed at which they’re growing can be overwhelming. This realization has become especially poignant around Passover, a time of reflection on freedom, family, and the passage of time.

Passover’s theme of slowing down to reflect on the past, present, and future is a reminder not to let time slip by unnoticed. The Seder itself is a ritual that encourages mindfulness, as we stop to dip the parsley, eat the bitter herbs, and recount the story of the Exodus. Each part of the meal is meant to be savored, much like how I should savor my time with my kids, my parents, and extended family. It’s a reminder that there is value in every moment, no matter how small it may seem at the time.

One of the most important lessons I want to impart to my children as they grow older is the value of time—not just to be mindful of how they spend it, but to appreciate the moments they have now. As they become more independent, I want them to understand that time with family is precious, that relationships are what truly matter, and that life is not just about moving from one milestone to the next but about cherishing the journey along the way.

This lesson is as important for me as it is for all of us. Passover teaches us to look back at the past with gratitude, but it also encourages us to look forward with hope and intention. My wish for myself, for my family, and for all of us is to approach the coming years with mindfulness, making the most of the time you have with your loved ones. Take the time to talk to your parents, make an effort to see them often, spend quality moments with your spouse and celebrate your children’s growth, be present for their challenges, and enjoy the fleeting moments you have with them before they move on to the next phase of their lives. From my family to yours, Happy Passover!

Ilyssa Klein is an Account Manager for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Ronit Franco-Pinsky

April 12, 2025

Passover, the holiday of freedom, has always had a special place in my heart. This year, more than ever, the meaning of freedom feels particularly jarring. Fifty-nine of our brothers and sisters are in captivity in Gaza and will be away from home, separated from their families for the second Passover in a row. Their families won’t be participating in the traditional Seder but rather will sit at the table in the hostages’ square with empty seats for their loved ones — a reality we still can’t fully fathom.

My childhood memories take me back to large Seder tables filled with my entire family, along with many of my cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. The food was always delicious, and it wasn’t the typical Passover food I have experienced elsewhere. We didn’t serve gefilte fish; instead, we had fish meatballs. The chopped liver was vegetarian and amazing. As Sephardic Jews, we also eat “Kitniyot,” and one of our favorites is wet matzah with chocolate spread called “Shahar.” Only those from Israel can truly understand how mouth-watering it is. It reminded me so much of home.

This year, we are celebrating the first night at the home of our fabulous friend, Elaine, who is a chef/caterer at Silver Spoon Catering. I can’t wait to see how delicious the food will be. We are going to experience top-notch Passover food, and I’m so excited! For the second night, my daughter and I will host the Seder at my house. As a tradition, we always invite non-Jewish guests and friends to experience the holiday with us. We let them read from the Haggadah and ask questions. They love to sing the songs, especially “Dayenu.” Surprisingly, my children’s non-Jewish friends are very interested in the Jewish holidays. The Seder is an experience they never forget.

My last wish is for all the hostages to return home safe and alive, to be reunited with their families so they never have to celebrate another holiday alone. I also pray that those who have fallen may be buried with honor, at home, among their loved ones.

Lou Ladinsky

Another week of “delicious” matzah to eat, a sacrifice I am more than willing to make.  We should never take our freedom for granted. History has shown that freedom often comes with cost, suffering, and sacrifice, however, it is certainly something that is worth fighting for.

As we think about our personal freedom, Passover, the Jewish holiday commemorating the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in ancient Egypt, it is especially important in meaning this year.  While we can presently celebrate the liberation of about 25 hostages held by Hamas, we still pray for the remaining hostages whose families will have empty seats around the Passover Seder this year.  Let’s keep them in our thoughts and prayers as we celebrate with our own families and friends around the Seder table. With my family spread all over the country from Delray Beach, Fla., to Brooklyn, N.Y., to Seattle, Wash., I am grateful this year to be spending the first night of Passover with close friends who have kindly opened their doors for us, and hopefully, Elijah too.  I look forward to reading from the Haggadah, especially the part with the 10 plagues as everyone around the table is assigned a specific plague. What fun it is to throw all the plagues around the table at each other.  Again, it reminds us of what we must be most grateful for – Our Freedom, which we must never take for granted.

Lou Ladinsky is the Circulation Coordinator for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Ronit Franco-Pinsky is the Executive Assistant for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Robert Garber

We were a stiff-necked people.

I’m reminded of that every year, as we read the Haggadah, and in the weeks and months before, as we remember the escape from Egypt, in our weekly parashot. We kvetched the entire way. Every time Moses thought he had sated us, we had a brand new thing to complain about. The child in the backseat of the car crying “are we there yet?” for the hundredth time could only aspire to the level of obstinacy of the ancient Israelites. Whether we were right, or, as was more often the case, rock-strikingly wrong, we were completely intractable – but also unabashedly unafraid to share what was on our minds.

This is something that has been lingering in my mind lately. I returned to writing for the AJT early last year, to a job where I got to hear from and share the perspectives of others – something I’ve always loved to do – but have been, at best, hesitant to share my own. This is a difficult thing for a writer, especially one whose focus in the year or so previous had been personal essays with the occasional smattering of poetry. But in the realm of article-writing, silencing yourself for the sake of someone else’s story becomes something of a necessity.

Again, it’s not that I don’t enjoy it – it is a rare opportunity that gives you the ability and responsibility to organize the words of others into a collage that simultaneously preserves the meanings of the speakers and builds to a larger picture. It’s just that I wonder if there’s a place between a self-portrait and a landscape from which the artist is excluded.

When we tell the Pesach story, we engage in a tradition of several hundred generations speaking of a thing that they themselves did not witness, but finding within it something that relates to them. We’re just as much telling our own story – both as a people, and as individuals – as we are telling each of theirs, generation after generation, all the way down the line.

I think there are discussions this year, as there have been perhaps every year, that we do not want to have. But they are conversations, also, which we would feel lesser for not having – allowing our voices to be excluded from a several thousandyear-old story. My hope for this year, both sitting around the Pesach table, and in my writing, and in my life, is to not forget the legacy of the Israelites – a people with a stiff neck, yes, but unafraid, right or wrong, to speak their mind.

Fran Putney

Passover 2025

With Passover just days away from this writing, it is all too easy to be consumed by the logistical parts of hosting a seder: Will my new table arrive in time? Will the house be clean? What is my menu and when will I shop? Will my vegetarian guests have enough to eat?

Those things must be addressed, but the most important part of Passover for me has always been the community and participation of the gathering. This holiday has wonderful childhood memories for me – usually large seders with cousins and friends. As an adult, I also embrace the opportunities Passover provides to get some meaningful discussions rolling.

Our participants this year will include a college student, young adults in an assortment of professions, working parents and retired parents, so we will have many perspectives represented. As we pass the matzah and enjoy the meal, I hope to get them talking. What are the Passover themes that are resonating with everyone this year? What freedoms are we celebrating? What are the obstacles that still “enslave” each of us?

Each year, I think how meaningful it would be to create a family Haggadah that everyone would contribute to. I admire families who have done this – to personalize their holiday in this way by telling the Passover story with creativity and emphasizing themes that feel close to each of us. If your family has done this, I would love to hear from you! fran@atljewishtimes.com

Fran Putney is the Proofreader and Staff Writer for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Robert Garber is the Online Content Coordinator for Atlanta Jewish Times.

For our Passover holiday issue, we invited members of our community to share their responses.

Joe Alterman

As a jazz musician, I’ve long been drawn to the idea of freedom. Improvisation, after all, is a kind of musical exodus—moment by moment, note by note. It’s about letting go of control, stepping into the unknown, and trusting that what comes out will be true. For me, that’s what jazz is all about: being fully, unapologetically yourself.

But I haven’t always felt free to be myself.

For many years, I lived with obsessive-compulsive disorder. It wasn’t always obvious from the outside, but internally, it could be incredibly limiting. OCD thrives on fear and doubt—on the idea that if you just think a little harder, try a little harder, control a little more, maybe then you’ll feel safe. Maybe then you’ll get it “right.” But that mindset is the opposite of freedom. It’s a kind of internal Egypt—a narrow, confining space that tells you you’re only allowed out once you’ve earned it.

Passover teaches us that liberation isn’t just something that happened once, long ago. In every generation, we’re invited to see ourselves as if we came out of Egypt. That means freedom is an ongoing journey, not a fixed destination. It’s something we step into again and again, sometimes slowly, sometimes through struggle, sometimes—if we’re lucky—with the help of music.

Looking back, I realize that jazz offered me a path out long before I even knew I needed one. When I played, I could breathe. I didn’t have to overthink or explain. I could just be. Jazz didn’t ask for perfection—it asked for presence. And over time, it taught me to trust myself in a way OCD never allowed.

Some of my greatest teachers—Ramsey Lewis, Les McCann, Ahmad Jamal—modeled that kind of trust. Their music wasn’t about showing off or proving anything. It was about telling the truth. They played with humility, joy, and conviction. Being around them reminded me that the goal wasn’t to become anyone else—it was to become more deeply myself.

Passover is filled with reminders that the journey from slavery to freedom is a personal one. At a seder some years ago, someone asked, “What’s your own Egypt?” And I remember thinking back to the years when I felt trapped inside my own mind. That was my Egypt. And while I’m grateful to have moved through that chapter, I carry the lessons from it with me.

Because here’s what I’ve learned: real freedom isn’t about being fearless. It’s about knowing who you are beneath the fear. It’s not about always feeling at peace—it’s about having a place, like music, that brings you back to yourself. Jazz gave me that. And in many ways, so did the tradition I grew up in—the stories, the rituals, the melodies at the seder table that connected me to something bigger, older, and wiser than my own anxious mind.

This year, as I sit at the seder table with new memories behind me and new ones ahead, I’ll be thinking about how far I’ve come. And how the journey continues. I’ll be thinking about the power of story, of music, and of sacred imperfection. And I’ll be grateful—for the Egypt I once knew, for the freedom I now feel, and for the chance, year after year, to tell the story again.

Because in the end, that’s what both jazz and Judaism have taught me: that our stories, even the difficult ones, don’t hold us back—they’re what set us free.

Joe Alterman is a pianist, journalist, and the Executive Director of Neranenah who has been praised by legends like Ahmad Jamal as “a very special artist,” Ramsey Lewis as “an inspiration” whose playing is “a joy to behold,” Les McCann as a “bad MF” and Dick Cavett as a “first class entertainer.”

Arlene Caplan Appelrouth

Remaining positive during the current political plagues coupled with inflation and fears generated by the financial uncertainty of these times is challenging. Personal situations and events affecting members of my family have forced me to seek a way to remain  focused on the good when circumstances over which I have no control make me want to escape.

In November, my phone rang at one in the morning with news no mother wants to hear.

My baby, a 46- year-old, was in the ICU after a near fatal heart attack.

Paramedics with the Jewish organization Hatzalah had shocked his heart back into normal sinus rhythm.

Thank God David is recovering and has added cardiac rehab to his schedule. He has prioritized health care over everything else. As a married father of six who is a rabbi, educator and psychotherapist, he leads a busy, productive life.

Health issues, especially as we age, hijack center stage in our lives. A diagnosis of macular degeneration shocked me when diminishing night vision began affecting my ability to drive. How would I be able to remain independent in Atlanta if I couldn’t; drive?

My entrepreneurial son Jed suggested I get an electric car, designed with a self-driving autopilot feature allowing the car to drive itself. Adjusting to the electric vehicle was like learning to drive an Iphone on wheels. I am a computer user but waste a lot of time in a state of confusion while differentiating wifi, the cloud, and which apps to use.

I never thought I’d long for the days when I wrote with my favorite fast writing pen on yellow legal paper, but the older I get, the more the good old days from a simpler past become appealing.

I take pride in keeping up with the times and sounding youthful by using today’s vernacular, but I secretly wish there were a way to be a luddite.

The vagaries of aging bring challenges of all types.

My three children are now middle aged. Like most mothers, even though I have little say about the choices my adult children make, I’m grateful they are happy with themselves and the lives they have created, I am affected by what’s going on in their lives and the lives of my grandchildren.

The Appelrouth family, like many Jewish families in our increasingly secular culture, has been faced with the changing values in these unpredictable times. I have always valued authenticity and emotional transparency. As a mother I encouraged my children to follow their hearts and think for themselves.

Two of my three children are committed to Torah observant orthodox lifestyles, and one is intermarried. My daughter Michelle who works as an attorney for the Federal government in Washington, DC, is facing job insecurity after a stable government career which she chose to be able to be there for her children as they were growing up. In addition, she recently became a divorced single mother, learning to navigate shared child custody. Michelle and her two teenage children are reorienting how they celebrate Jewish holidays and alternate which parent they are with for Passover, Jewish festivals, and family vacations.

Life has never been simple, easy or fair.

Learning to make the best of things, by focusing on what’s meaningful is essential for inner peace and personal happiness. Choosing to live with intentions aligned with your core values is what I believe create a life worth living, especially during these turbulent times filled with violence, man’s inhumanity to man, and worldwide political and economic instability.

Coping with the death of my beloved husband, a respected, successful physician who loved me and being Jewish and participating in Atlanta’s thriving Jewish community, has been challenging. Anyone who has to deal with the loss of a partner, by death or divorce, knows how difficult it is. Dan passed away nine years ago. For me, figuring out where and how I want to live has not been easy. After selling my large home where Dan and I lived in Toco Hills, I became a wandering Jew. I have had seven addresses in nine years and was beginning to despair I would never know where I belonged or feel “at home” again. I realized being with Dan provided my emotional security. Without his unconditional love and acceptance, I was a prisoner of my mind which kept prompting me to move in search of greener grass and inner peace with different living conditions.

After selling my home I moved to Lake Lanier during covid. The isolation caused by the pandemic created loneliness, anxiety and depression. I moved back to Toco Hills, to a small apartment. That didn’t suit me and a social worker from Jewish Family and Children’s Services suggested I move to an over 55 community in Chamblee for the socialization. The walls were thin and I kept being chastised for playing music too loud after 10 pm because I was disturbing my neighbors. I wasn’t happy with the rules or restrictions of apartment living and thought I’d be happier with the amenities of high ceilings and crown moulding. I purchased a condo in a gated community in Sandy Springs, on the Chattahoochee River where I knew many residents who were all delighted with their living conditions and lifestyles.

It didn’t work for me.

My mentor, guide and coach, Dr. Rabbi Analia Bortz, suggested I rent a shabbos apartment in Toco Hills. I maintain memberships in Congregation Beth Jacob and Ohr Hatorah as well as support Congregation Beth Israel, the Chabad synagogue in Forsyth County not far from my lake house. I consider myself a flexidox Jew, who appreciates the customs and beliefs of the many ways there are to follow Jewish traditions and live as a committed Jew.

When I was dealing with health issues, and learning to accept my son’s heart attack and the changes and challenges created by my daughter’s divorce, my Iphone was stolen and a tree crashed into my lake house. I felt like the Biblical Job and had a conversation with my friend, Rabbi Michoel Lippschutz about all the tsuris (Yiddish for trouble) in my life. Responding like the Torah observant, outreach Kollel rabbi he is, Rabbi Lippschutz took a deep breath and with a smile, asked if I had checked my mezuzahs. In the world of Torah observant Jews, when life isn’t going smoothly, there is the belief that the Hebrew words on the mezuzah scrolls may be smeared or damaged and that is bringing bad luck.

I tend to think of that as superstitious, but with one catastrophe after another, I was willing to check anything to change the course of what was happening in my life. I gave Rabbi Lippschutz permission to check my mezuzahs. When he told me that three of them had to be replaced, I asked him to order new ones.

A few weeks later, my realtor, Tommy Sands, called with the news a house on Reindeer Drive in Toco Hills was recently listed. He thought it was just what I was looking for. My friends the Brickmans lived on that street and I made an appointment to take a look. Tommy was right. After downsizing, and moving from a house to an apartment and then a condo, I made an offer to upsize and bought the house which also has a separate apartment with its own entrance on the ground floor which will be perfect if I become one of those seniors who needs a live-in caregiver.

I moved in February and have spent the last two months making it the home of my dreams. Did all this happen because of my mezuzahs? My psychiatrist calls it magical thinking, and dismisses the notion the power of the sacred and holy words in my mezuzahs have changed the direction of my fate. Why things have changed doesn’t matter, I’m grateful to God to have escaped from the prison created by my mind that turned me into a wandering Jew trying to find where I belonged in order to have an attitude of gratitude.

As I get ready to celebrate Passover, I appreciate my freedom from the slavery of moving - again and again and again.

I want to extend the warmest wishes to all of you, for a meaningful Passover. And if you’re troubled by anything, I suggest you have your mezuzahs checked. What do you have to lose?

Arlene Appelrouth is a writer, with an evolving Jewish identity. She is a widow who is proud of her three middle-aged children who adores each of her ten grandchildren. She considers herself an outrageous older woman, a warrior of psychotherapy and considers herself a “flexidox Jew."

PASSOVER

Rabbi Michael Bernstein

During the Passover Seder many have the tradition to rise from the table and open the door for the prophet Elijah to come, perhaps even to join us and drink a little wine from the cup with his name on it. In some houses the cup sits still, in others it is filled by the participants, and in others there might even be a little misdirection so that suddenly some wine disappears from the cup! Still, even though this moment has become one of the most recognized parts of the Passover celebration, it is a ritual that has actually been transformed over the centuries.

This year’s celebration, we do not take for granted the blessing of being able to open our door in hope and not fear. The question of our safety has come to the fore as we find ourselves with whiplash responding to barrages of antisemitism coming from every direction. At the same time, we realize how much it means to us to feel supported and seen by our neighbors. We hold fast to our traditions and our identity and we know that a core message of our faith is to remember we were once strangers in Egypt.

When we open the door for Elijah at our Seder we encounter the echoes across multiple Jewish existences. We hearken to the blood on the first doorpost as well as the blood spilled in our darkest times. We celebrate life in America side by side with our neighbors. And we look past our doorway with anticipation that we might catch a glimpse of Elijah the Prophet, the one that will usher in an age of true peace and freedom throughout the world.

May this season be full of joy and meaning and bring with it the blessings of an open door.

Cheryl Dorchinsky

For years, I’ve tried to educate others as antisemitism quietly festered beneath the surface in our city—ignored, downplayed, and often dismissed as a fringe concern. Now, as we confront rising hatred once again, it’s clear that history can repeat itself.

The Atlanta Jewish community, for all its vibrancy and strength, has at times chosen comfort over confrontation. We’ve gathered for holidays, fundraisers, and cultural celebrations, but too often we’ve done so without acknowledging the growing threats around us. We underestimated the danger of silence, and as a result, our community has not been prepared for the surge in antisemitic rhetoric, violence, and open hostility we’ve seen, especially since October 7.

There is no longer room for denial. From hate-filled protests to antisemitic incidents in our schools, workplaces, and even houses of worship, the warning signs are flashing in bold red letters. Yet, the response from many within the community has been tepid at best. The danger of inaction is now impossible to ignore.

This isn’t just about reacting to a crisis. It’s about building a proactive, united front that educates, advocates, and speaks out consistently—not just when it’s convenient or headline-worthy. For too long, many leaders and institutions have treated antisemitism as someone else’s problem. But history has shown us what happens when good people stay quiet. Our texts remind us of the Jews who did not want to leave Egypt. I think of those Jews when I see “not in our name” individuals siding with those who harbor hate for our community. Nothing good happened to the Jews who did not leave Egypt. We need to seek freedom and no longer wait for others to lead. This is our time.

Now is the time to shift our priorities—to support those already doing the work, to engage younger generations, to build bridges with allies, and to no longer shy away from calling out antisemitism wherever it shows up. We must invest in real education, in programs that build Jewish pride and resilience, and in standing visibly with Israel and our people.

Let Atlanta be the community that learns from the past, not one that repeats it. We still have the power to change the course of our future—but only if we’re finally ready to face the uncomfortable truth and take meaningful action.

L’shana haba’ah b’Yerushalayim.

Cheryl Dorchinsky is Founding Executive Director of Atlanta Israel Coalition.

Terri Bonoff

I have come to cherish spending Tuesday mornings at Peace Love and Parsha – a JWC gathering. During this one hour class I study Torah with 20 or so other women led by our amazing and gifted spiritual leaders, and I am soothed by this meaningful time of reflection, introspection and mutual exchange of ideas and experiences. There is something powerful about engaging with the ancient texts and grasping the relevance of their teachings on everyday life. I often leave the Parsha class with new understanding and insight, committed to acting in ways that are healing and uplifting.

Participating in the Passover Seder also affords us this opportunity. As we retell the story of Passover and delve deep into its meaning we have an opportunity. Imagine Jews all over the world uniting on some common truths and commitments arising from our shared heritage.

During the Seder, as we tell the Passover story, and drip wine on our plates to symbolize the plagues, we must also reflect on the plagues of the current day that continue to be obstacles in our midst and reminders of the history that repeats itself-- so rather than dwelling only on the old story, let us also call out the plagues that are afflicting us today—the evil that Hamas represents that descended on us in Israel and continues to hold loved ones hostage, the rise in antisemitism everywhere, the divisiveness that tears us apart and plays out with friends, neighbors, work colleagues and even in our own families, and then there’s intolerance, deceit, mistrust and hate. As we shout out these modern-day plagues, let us stand firm in our resolve and bring forth words of gratitude, love, respect, prayers for global peace and the SWIFT AND IMMEDIATE RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES. If Jews around the world use their Seders as an occasion to shout out the current persisting plagues and affirming what we know to be good, just and true, we open the door for miracles.

I recently lost my Mom at 91. My mother was always a glass 9/10 full kind of person. She would say things like, “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”, or “Don’t come out of your room until you can put a smile on your face”. I am sorry to say I judged her harshly for those remarks as I was growing up and sometimes labeled them as shallow and her as superficial. Yet in retrospect, I think she was teaching me something important. Life is tough and there are many things happening all around us that are wrong, unfair and scary. Yet we are blessed with so much—wallowing in despair, fear or hopelessness gives our power away and does not offer the depth of respect to G-d for the multitude of blessings in this world. It is up to each of us to right wrongs when we see them, to fight injustice in our midst, but also to spread kindness and generosity of spirit. We can include our understanding of all that is wrong and unjust, mean and stingy without wearing this as a yoke around our neck. Rather we can carry the lightness of our spirit and the fullness of our hearts to meet the challenges we face. May we spread that positivity in the coming days ahead as we gather with those we love to celebrate this important Passover.

Terri Bonoff is the CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services.

Rabbi Michael Bernstein is the Rabbi of Congregation Gesher L’ Torah.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch

We can’t let Passover itself “pass us over” this year. As I walk around the aisles of the local East Cobb supermarkets, I am dumbfounded by the amount of Passover food. It grows every year. I hear stories from my congregants of how forty or even twenty years ago, Jews had only a few options across the city to buy kosher amenities. Today, a Jew no longer has to leave East Cobb to do Pesach shopping.

Jewish Atlanta has grown dramatically. We’ve doubled in size as Jewish communities in the northwest suburbs are not only in East Cobb, but Woodstock and Canton. The number of synagogues has blossomed. We have not one or two, but many supermarkets across the city competing for our business come Passover time.

Unfortunately, as we grow in numbers so does the risk of our own complacency when it comes to observing holidays like Passover. I get it: it’s a hard and expensive holiday. I was raised in New Jersey, and when I moved back after ordination, I lived in a wonderful Jewish bubble in which it was easy for folks to take their Judaism for granted. With the ambience of Passover in the air, some told me that each year watching Charleton Heston with family on the couch was enough. The local grocers were full of kosher for Passover food. But others did not feel it was all that necessary to be involved.

It would be easy to let Passover pass us by without so much as a Dayeinu. Alas, we live in a different world post-October 7. We now understand that Passover in the year 2025 will not happen by osmosis. The story will not be passed from one generation to the next by watching the Prince of Egypt.

Instead, we must make a Seder. We ought to sit at the table with family and friends and tell the story of the Exodus. It’s a story that still has much to tell us.

Passover is never without its challenges. But given the state of the world, the fragility of our freedom, and the need to instill our children with a pride in Judaism, I do not believe that it’s one where we can afford to take shortcuts this year.

Rabbi Dan Dorsch is the senior rabbi at Congregation Etz Chaim in East Cobb. He is also the outgoing president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

Robyn Spizman Gerson

The Story of Our Lives

As Passover arrives, I think of my beloved mother and father preparing for the holiday. It was the time of year that was a huge ordeal, changing all the dishes and making sure everything was kosher and properly prepared for Passover. Growing up and celebrating Passover at my grandparents' who lived across from the Ahavath Achim Synagogue, as a child I remember staring at the wine cup reserved for Elijah. My grandfather, Morris, would open the front door at the seder, welcome Elijah and we’d carefully watch to see if the wine moved even a drop. As a little girl, I was certain it did and enjoyed Elijah’s presence.

While these beautiful memories are still vibrant in my mind and heart, one thing has stayed constant. Our love of family continues to grow and our loved ones live forever in our hearts. Passover is the story of freedom and a journey of epic proportion and more relevant than ever. As we tell and retell the story, it remains the woven fabric of our lives.

A seder favorite, I will cherish the taste of the Charoset and remember it is meant to remind us of the mortar used to make the bricks which the Israelites used when they were enslaved in Ancient Egypt. I think of the mortar as a symbol that holds a family together. The bond of love that keeps us all united. For me family is my everything. I will remember the blessings of each family member who built our family and kept us glued together.

From generation to generation, we will embrace our children and grandchildren with endless love. And while the Passover meal might be catered, I will try to be a “wise daughter” and keep the traditions going.

Robyn Spizman Gerson is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author and writer for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Rabbi Josh Hearshen

Pesach/Passover is known by four different names: Chag HaPesach, Chag HaHerut, Chag HaMatzot, and Chag HaAviv. It’s appropriate for such a giant of a holiday to have four different ways to be understood.

Chag HaPesach refers to the verb of Pesach in that God passed over the houses of the Israelites during the 10th and final plague. It’s also a reference to the lamb our ancestors slaughtered to be protected from said plague. That sacrifice became the Passover/ Pesach sacrifice that was first observed in Egypt and then subsequently in the desert and then in the Temples. Chag HaHerut refers to the nature of the holiday and the celebration of our freedom. It’s during Passover each year that we gather and rejoice over the gift that is freedom. The next name, Chag HaMatzot, celebrates the penultimate food of the holiday. Now that we no longer have the Paschal Lamb, the food this holiday is most connected to is the Matzah we eat while celebrating. While we’re only commanded to eat it on the first night (in Israel), or the first two nights (in the Diaspora), there’s no doubting the centrality of Matzah to the entire holiday. The final name is Chag HaAviv, and that means the spring holiday. Passover is the time of the year where the earth comes back to life. The grass awakens from its dormant phase. The animals return to being active outside. There’s so much excitement every spring as the days get longer and the nights shorter. It’s a time of new birth, or rather rebirth.

This year, I encourage you to look for a way to connect to each name for Pesach which will bring additional meaning as we celebrate this beautiful holiday. Pesach connects us to the miracle of Jewish existence. We are the improbable survivors. As the world tried to eliminate us time and again, we refuse to stop going forward. The most important part of this is Pesach of Chag HaPesach which refers back to our slaughtering a lamb and placing its blood on our doorposts. This means our ancestors were actively involved in their own survival and we need to be active today as well. We all need to harness the power of Chag HaPesach and to see our essential and important part in Jewish continuity.

Chag HaHerut reminds us of the gift of freedom. We struggle to appreciate freedom because very few of us actually know what it means not to be free. Today, there are 59 of our brethren in captivity against their will in Gaza. We believe 24 of them to be alive and in desperate need of their freedom. The 35 we believe are dead have families who are also being held captive by Hamas. They simply can’t move forward without the closure of being reunited with their loved ones, even if they’re dead.

Chag HaHerut this year forces us to recognize freedom truly is a gift because we know it’s precious and something that can be taken from us. It’s a treasure and something those in my family lack experience in. We must celebrate Chag HaHerut this year on behalf of the remaining hostages to help to give them a Chag HaHerut as soon as possible so they can join us in celebrating next year.

Chag HaMatzot is the food we baked in a hurry to get out of Egypt. What’s incredible about Matzah is that it can only be made from five different grains: Wheat, Spelt, Barley, Oats or Rye. Those five grains are the only sources of matzah and they’re also the five sources of Chametz, the stuff we are not permitted to own, eat, derive benefit from or even see, during Pesach each year. Look at the paradox that is Matzah and Chametz. It takes 18 minutes to make Matzah, and if it takes one moment more, it’s Chametz instead of Matzah. We don’t have a Mitzvah we have a forbidden food.

We have an obligation to see the world as filled with opportunities to make things sacred. We need to see that we constantly live in these moments of tension where something can be this or that, and thus we need to do all we can to make things meaningful and life changing rather than destructive and meaningless.

Lastly, Chag HaAviv is the new birth of spring. Ask yourself how you’re going to find a new you to grow from this holiday? Pesach is our chance to be reinvigorated and filled with new found energy. This is the time for all of us to find a new gear in which to put our lives and to find a new direction in which to go.

Chag Kasher v’Sameach to all of you.

Rabbi Josh Hearshen is the Rabbi at Congregation Or VeShalom in Brookhaven, GA.

PASSOVER

Meliss Jakubovic

**Revisiting What Has Passed Us Over: A Passover Reflection

Passover is a time to reflect, renew, and reconnect. For many of us, it’s a chance to think about the themes of liberation, but also about what we’ve allowed to pass us by in our own lives. Whether it’s personal growth, relationships, or dreams we’ve set aside, this holiday presents an opportunity to revisit those things with fresh eyes and renewed purpose.

**Reconnecting with Our Personal Growth

In the rush of daily life, it’s easy to let our own growth fall by the wayside. We focus on our work, our obligations, and our to-do lists, while the quieter, more introspective goals get left behind. We may have set personal goals at the start of the year, only to see them fade as life’s challenges take precedence.

This Passover, I encourage you to think about the things you’ve let pass you over in the pursuit of progress. Maybe you’ve wanted to read more, focus on your health, or build new skills, but life simply got in the way. Growth doesn’t always happen in grand gestures. Sometimes, it’s the small, steady actions we take each day that lead to the most lasting change.

Revisit those goals, not with the pressure to achieve everything at once, but with a gentle reminder that growth is a journey. You have the ability to start again, no matter how many times you’ve let something slip.

**Rebuilding Relationships and Connections

Another area many of us let “pass over” in our lives is our relationships. With the pace of life speeding up every day, it’s easy to let friendships or family connections fade. We tell ourselves we’ll reach out soon, but sometimes “soon” becomes “never,” and those important connections are left in the background.

Passover provides an opportunity to reflect on the relationships that matter most. This is a time to reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to reconnect with, to forgive old wounds, or to deepen the bonds that sustain you. Sometimes, the simple act of picking up the phone, sending a text, or inviting someone for coffee can reignite a bond that had quietly passed over in the busyness of life.

By investing in the people who matter most, we create a web of support and understanding that can carry us through difficult times. Let this Passover be a reminder to lean in, to reconnect, and to build community not just in times of celebration, but in the quiet, everyday moments as well.

**Rediscovering Gratitude

Gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful practices that we often let slip away. We become so accustomed to the comforts we have that we sometimes forget to appreciate them. The simple things such as our health, the love of family, and the beauty of everyday moments often go unnoticed.

This Passover, I invite you to revisit gratitude. Take a moment to reflect on all that you have and all that you often overlook. The act of revisiting gratitude has the power to shift our perspective, helping us see the abundance that surrounds us. Gratitude isn’t just about acknowledging what we have; it’s about recognizing how deeply connected we are to the world around us, even in the most ordinary moments.

**Small Acts of Kindness: Reigniting the Power of Connection

In a world that sometimes feels divided, kindness is more important than ever. With so many challenges and so much uncertainty, it can be tempting to pull away, to retreat into our own lives and ignore the struggles of others. But small acts of kindness can make a profound difference.

Think about the moments when someone’s kindness touched you deeply, perhaps when you least expected it. These small acts of kindness are the threads that weave us together, even in times of difficulty.

Let’s not let kindness pass us over. Whether it’s a gesture toward a friend or a stranger, kindness creates ripples that spread far beyond our immediate circle. Passover reminds us that we are all connected, and that by showing compassion and love, we contribute to the healing and growth of our communities.

**The Power of Small Steps: A Call to Revisit

As we gather for this Passover, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we’ve let pass us over. Whatever it may be, we have the power to revisit these aspects of our lives with a fresh perspective.

Don’t wait for the “perfect moment” or for things to be easier. Take one small step today to reignite what you’ve let fall to the wayside. Each small action is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to revisit what matters most.

This Passover, let us not only reflect on our past but also commit to revisiting the things that matter most. Together, we can build a brighter future, one small step at a time.

Meliss Jakubovic is an online marketing strategist and Atlanta’s Israeli folk dance instructor.

Rabbi Ari Kaiman

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it might have felt like on the night of the Death of the First Born. If I were to have heard the cry of mothers who lost their sons, of every single home in Egypt that experienced death, I would feel… awe. The kind of awe inspired by horror and fear. I would recognize my powerlessness in the presence of the force of Destruction, so close at hand.

I would feel gratitude, that I listened to the instruction, offered the Passover lamb, and painted our door with its blood. I’d be grateful that my house, our people, were spared.

Mixed with the gratitude would be guilt. No matter how oppressive the Egyptians were, (and how bad could they have been considering the generation that left kept wanting to return) I wouldn’t wish this destruction on anyone.

Perhaps some among us felt no guilt or sorrow. Perhaps they accepted God’s judgment and plan as a matter of necessity. They oppressed us, God intervened, and every Egyptian receives the measure of God’s justice that they deserve.

Perhaps some were simply glad to still be alive.

In our Haggadot, we remove a drop of wine as we recite each plague. At my Seder tables, we always told the famous Midrash about God asking us not to sing as God’s children drowned in the Sea of Reeds. I was taught that even our worst enemies are made in the image of God.

A few years ago, I learned that the origin of that custom might have been related to the paragraph Shfoch Chamatcha - Pour out Your wrath on your enemies. As each plague causes further destruction to Egypt, we celebrate that we will be victorious and they will suffer on the way to redemption.

Another possibility is that we poured out the wine as a folk custom to add protection for ourselves. We don’t identify positively with our enemies, and we don’t celebrate their suffering, we simply want to survive the horror.

All of these interpretations are possible, that is part of the beauty of our interpretive religion. Perhaps one resonates more with you than another.

These layers of emotion — relief, horror, guilt, vindication, faith — aren’t just ancient. They are alive in us today.

We see them rising again as we react to our own use of power in response to the horrors that Hamas perpetrated upon us on October 7th.

I don’t know how horrific it must become before hardened hearts begin to break. I only know how powerless I feel in the face of history unfolding.

I wonder: are these challenging and conflicting feelings causing us to let a truth pass us by—because the conversation feels too risky, too uncomfortable, or too complex?

Are we still able to see one another—those of us who put Mezuzot on our doorways and proudly identify as inheritors of the Passover story, lovers of the people Israel, defenders of the State of Israel—even when we disagree about the correct interpretation of our ritual?

Because if we can’t, we risk letting not just a truth, but each other, pass us by.

Ari Kaiman is the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Shearith Israel.

Rabbi Stephen Chaim Listfield

The essence of the Seder is “In every generation a person must see him/herself as though he/ she personally left Egypt.” At Seder I try to imagine what it must have been like to have been an Israelite slave in Egypt. Moreover, I try to apply the Jewish insistence on personal freedom to the political and psychological challenges of today. Only if I do that, in conversation with the other participants, have I fulfilled the mitzvah of the Seder.

in Huntsville, Ala. He lives in Atlanta.

Rabbi Hillel Norry

It is commonplace in American culture to wish someone a “safe trip.” I don’t wish people a safe trip. There is no such thing. Every journey, whether short or long, local or global, physical or spiritual involves, by definition, risk and insecurity. When we leave where we are and go to a new destination, we accept a measure of uncertainty and danger. Every journey is dangerous. That is what makes it a journey. If it were safe, it would not take you anywhere.

Passover celebrates a precarious and dangerous journey from slavery and servitude to freedom and service. In Egypt, the Israelites were slaves, but they were ‘safe’, guarded by Pharaoh who, though cruel, saw them as commodities to be protected. Leaving Egypt meant going into the desert, a land of danger, responsibility, and war. For 400 years, the indentured Israelites never fought a battle. In the desert they faced many dangers and enemies.

Journeys - the very essence of freedom - are dangerous, not safe.

So, I do not wish you a “safe journey.” Instead, I wish you a successful journey. And I do not say, “be safe,” for it is not possible to both journey AND be safe. Instead, I say: “Be careful.” This acknowledges the danger inherent in the journey, and reminds the traveler to keep their eyes open, and be prepared for what might lie ahead on the road.

Rabbi Hillel Norry is the interim rabbi for Beth Shalom Synagogue in Columbia, S.C.

Rabbi Stephen Chaim Listfield is rabbi (part-time) of Etz Chayim Synagogue

David Ostrowsky

In the spirit of revisiting our past in light of Passover, I would like to just reflect on some of the privileges I’ve had in chronicling the stories of Jewish sports figures from such a wide range of backgrounds over the past several months. From writing about Jordan Harris of the Columbus Blue Jackets to Zevi Samet of the Yeshiva men’s basketball team, it has been so rewarding to share stories of Jewish athletes who bring such unique perspectives to the playing fields. Accordingly, I hope that our readership has enjoyed learning about their diverse life experiences.

On another note, I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy Passover with their loved ones. I hope it is the most wonderful of holidays for you.

David Ostrowsky is the sportswriter for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Tiffany Parks

Happy Passover Everybody! To me, the Passover is all about freedom. Freedom comes in many forms, and one of those forms is diversity. Our God celebrates diversity in all parts of his creation, from the stars in the sky, the creatures in the sea, the food, and of course, all the different races and religions. Where there’s diversity, there’s strength, creativity, efficiency, and boldness, all of the traits that are so embedded in the Jewish community.

Tiffany Parks is an educator and freelance writer for Atlanta Jewish Times.

Mazel Tov to the Recipients of the 2025 Hadassah Chesed Student Awards

JTeen

Come Celebrate these Super Stars! Join the FREE Community Celebration

Sunday, May 4, 2025 1:30PM – 3:30PM

Abby Shefrin

Gabrielle Bland Jake Isenberg

Adam Blum

Adrianna Castiglione

Jake Malever Katie

Binah Leinwand

Daniel Barchichat

Leah Silver Maccabee Anderson

Dylan Stewart Matthew Steinberg

Elia Nessman

Ellie Rosen

Emily Deich

Samantha Weiner Stella Bernath

Stella Galanti

Maya Shatil Oliver Mason

Ray Alyssa Rothman

Passover, a holiday steeped in the themes of liberation and freedom, resonates profoundly with the current plight of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas and the displacement, injury, and death suffered by innocent Gazans. The stories of these hostages, their families, and the broader implications of their captivity remind us of the fragility of freedom and the deep pain that accompanies loss and separation.

The lessons of Passover also compel us to reflect on the dual narratives present in this conflict. Just as the Israelites were once enslaved and sought liberation, we must acknowledge the plight of the displaced population in the Gaza Strip. It is encouraging that last week antiHamas protests erupted in Gaza where thousands, at great personal peril, expressed their desire to break free from the terrorist group. We can only hope and pray for the return of the hostages and the cessation of Hamas’ iron-clad grip over the inhabitants of Gaza as a prelude to better things to come.

In the Seder, we recite, “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” This call to action extends beyond physical nourishment; it encompasses the need for dignity, respect, and safety for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances. The Passover narrative serves as a critical reminder that the struggle for freedom is ongoing. The lessons of Passover encourage us to engage in conversations about social justice, equality, and the fight against systemic injustices that persist in our society.

The story of the Exodus is not just a historical account; but a call to action for all people to recognize their shared humanity and stand in solidarity with those who are suffering. As we gather around the Seder table, we are reminded that the fight for freedom is not confined to the past but is an ongoing struggle that requires our active participation. We must not turn a blind eye to injustice, whether it is perpetrated against us, as in the case of rising tide of antisemitism, or against the wave of xenophobia afflicting our nation that stokes fear and hatred of immigrants or of anything that is strange or foreign.

The themes of Passover also encourage us to reflect on our own privileges and the ways in which we can leverage them for the greater good. As we recount the hardships faced by our ancestors, we must acknowledge the disparities that exist today. Passover teaches us that true freedom is not merely the absence of oppression but also the presence of justice and equity.

In conclusion, Passover is much more than a ritualistic celebration; it is a profound reminder of our collective responsibility to advocate for freedom and justice in our communities. The values embodied in this holiday inspire us to reflect on our roles as allies and advocates for those who are in need. As we gather with family and friends to celebrate Passover, let us commit to carrying these values beyond the Seder table and into our everyday lives, creating a more just and equitable world for all.

Ray Alyssa Rothman is a commercial real estate broker who also places debt and equity for investors.  Her 501(c)(3) charity, Kibbitz & Konnect, is the premier in-person social network for Atlanta’s singles community. www.kibbitzkonnect.org

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman

As we celebrate the festival of Passover and sit at our seder tables this year, there is one line in the Haggadah that jumps out at us and may seem more relevant today than perhaps it was just a few years ago. We will read in our haggadah: “b’chol dor va’dor omdim alenu l’chalotenu”; “In every generation they have risen against us to put an end to us”. And as much as we would like to “pass over” that sentiment, our history has had a way of continually reminding us that this has often been an inevitable part of the Jewish experience.

But this spring we will also celebrate Israel’s 77th year since her founding in 1948. The two commemorations — one rooted in ancient history, the other in our people’s more recent journey—are deeply connected to one another by the themes of continuity, resilience, and the power of our shared experience.

Perhaps the most perplexing element of our history is why are there still Jews around at all? How have we survived such a history? What is the secret of our immortality?

Time and again the Jewish people have faced moments where our future was in grave peril. We only managed to survive as a people because we adapted to confront those challenges. We remained resilient, and also survived because of one other indispensable Jewish characteristic, namely, hope.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z’l points out, “People often confuse optimism and hope. They sound similar. But in fact, they’re very different. Optimism is the belief that things will get better. Hope is the belief that, together, we can make things better.”

On Passover we recount the story of our ancestors’ journey from slavery to freedom, a journey that was not only about physical liberation but also about forging our collective identity as a people. Just as the Israelites carried their traditions through the wilderness, we too have carried our heritage forward, strengthening the bonds that tie us to our past while embracing the opportunities of a brighter future.

At the heart of our Passover Seder is the mitzvah of passing our traditions over to the next generation: V’higadeta l’vincha, “You shall tell your child.” That very act has kept the Jewish people alive throughout our generations. For thousands of years we have been telling our story—through prayer, through acts of kindness, and through the vibrant Jewish life we have cultivated until this very day.

As we gather around our Seder tables this year, may we reflect on the profound blessings of freedom and community. May we celebrate not only the journey of our ancestors but also the incredible journey of our community—a journey that, with God’s help and our collective commitment, will continue for many more generations to come.

Ga.

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman is the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom, an egalitarian, Conservative synagogue in Dunwoody,

Eden Sayag

Age: 9

Parents: Maya and Isaac Sayag

Title: Matisse-inspired Seder Plate

Madison Sheppard Age: 22

Title: Exodus

Age: 13

Age: 9

Parent:

Title:

Nili

Age: 6

Parents: Aliza & Levi

Title:

Age: 7

Parent: Natalie

Title:

Tziona Casper

Parent: Deanna Casper

Title: Passover Now and Then

Harper Cosgrove

Jennifer Pearlman

Matisse-inspired Seder Plate

Afrah

Afrah

A Pesach Family

Ella Chetboun

Chetboun

Pharaoh and the Israelites in Egypt

Ayala Afrah

Age: 11

Parents: Aliza & Levi Afrah

Title: The Pesach Squad

Sheri Rosenblum

Age: 69

Title: Dayenu

HAPPY PASSOVER

From slavery to freedom, from darkness to light—may your Pesach be full of hope, renewal, and joy!

Sara Unell Age: 7

Parent: Hilary Unell

Title: Passover

Nathan Dinesman Age: 8

Parent: Inon Dinesman

Title: The way to Israel

Ryan Rindsberg Age: 9

Parents: Jamie and Michael Rindsberg

Title: Matisse-inspired Seder Plate

SAMEACH! CHAG

Kitah Bet Intown Jewish Preschool

Class of 14 students at age 3

Teacher: Adi Feen

Title: Crossing the Sea

Cal Borenstein

Age: 10

Parents: Lindsay & Evan Borenstein

Title: Symbols of Freedom

Natan Friedman

Age: 10

Parent: Nachman Friedman

Title: The splitting of the Sea Matzah

John Karp

Age: 87

Title: Passover 2025

Joey Metzger

Age: 8

Parent: Gavriel Metzger

Title: Finding the Light

Henley Sachs

Age: 5

Parent: Emily Sachs

Title: Pictures from the past

Matza Lasagna

By Ariela Rosenthal

Ariela Rosenthal, a sophomore in high school, is known for her baking and healthy food preparation, and serves as the caterer for the Ahavath Achim Saturday kiddish.

Times:

Assembling - 10-15 minutes

Cook - 1 hour

Total time 1 hour 10 minutes

It may seem like a long time, but the oven is doing most of the work!

Ingredients:

4-5 pieces of matza

3 cups of tomato sauce

3 cups of ricotta cheese

3 cups mozzarella cheese

3-6 tablespoons of basil (or whichever Italian seasoning you want)

Equipment:

Pan (any size is fine, you may just adjust ingredient quantities); Spatula; Measuring cups; Tinfoil or pan cover

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

Assembling:

This is very similar to a traditional lasagna, just the noodles are replaced with matza.

1. Put 1 cup of tomato sauce on the bottom of the pan and spread with your spatula to coat evenly.

2. Place about 2 sheets of matza on top of the tomato sauce. Feel free to break up the pieces of matza to fit and cover the bottom of the pan.

3. Spread 1 cup of ricotta on top evenly with your spatula. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of basil (or whichever Italian seasoning you choose), evenly over the ricotta.

4. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top.

5. Next, spread 1 cup of tomato sauce over the cheese, repeating the process 2-3 more times, ending with the cheese on top.

6. The order should be: sauce, matza, ricotta cheese, herbs, mozzarella cheese, repeat.

7. Make sure the pieces of matza are touching the sauce! This is what cooks the matza. Otherwise, your lasagna will be dry.

8. Once done, put a cover or tinfoil tightly over your pan and bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour.

Pro tips:

1. You may need to adjust the amount of ingredients used based on the size of your pan. Just be generous!

2. You can add vegetables like zucchini or eggplant in your layers if you would like, just make sure to cook them beforehand. I would add them after the mozzarella cheese. Then put the sauce over the veggies. Just don’t put the veggies in the bottom of the pan.

3. Experiment with different cheeses, which will switch up the flavor.

4. You can assemble the lasagna a few hours or even a day or two before you want to cook it. This allows the flavors to saturate together and will make it taste even better!

5. About 3-5 minutes at the end of the bake time, you can set your oven to broil to get the top to be a little extra cooked and crispy.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs for Chol HaMoed (Passover Interim Days)

By Debbie Diamond

Because after two large seders, let’s be real -- many chefs are ready for a simpler, easy to prepare dish! This rendition of sweet and sour meatballs is delicious, loved by kids of all ages and good for families of all sizes. Makes about 12 large meatballs.

Ingredients for Sauce:

2 28-ounce cans of Italian crushed tomatoes

1 small can of tomato sauce

1 17-ounce box of Manischewitz beef broth

½ cup of finely diced onions

½ cup of brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

3 large garlic cloves (minced) or 2 full teaspoons of refrigerated minced garlic in jar

1 ½ tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice

¼ cup of apple cider vinegar

Preparation of Sauce:

Add all ingredients to Dutch oven and stir together. Bring to boil on stovetop, partially cover and reduce heat to simmer.

Ingredients for Meatballs:

2 pounds of lean ground beef

1 cup of matzo meal

1 cup of finely diced onions

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground pepper

2 large garlic cloves (minced) or 1 ½ teaspoons of refrigerated minced garlic in jar

½ teaspoon allspice if desired

2 large eggs, beaten

Preparation of Meatballs:

1. Combine beef, matzo meal, spices, onions, garlic and eggs and form into 1 ½-inch balls.

2. Gently drop meatballs into simmering sauce. Partially cover and simmer over very low heat for about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Stir a few times during cooking, being careful not to break meatballs.

3. Meatballs should be cooked through and tender before serving. Remove any fat from top of Dutch oven.

4. Serve with rice, mashed potatoes or orzo pasta. A simple side salad of arugula and tomatoes can be served with the following salad dressing.

Recipe for Salad Dressing:

Three parts oil to one part favorite vinegar (balsamic, apple cider, etc.)

Add favorite spices (basil, oregano, salt and pepper or a few shakes of Montreal Steak spice seasoning)

Shake together in a jar and pour sparingly over salad. Mix and enjoy!

Family Tradition: A Recipe for Hearty Italian

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Not a newcomer on the piazza, Carbonara Trattoria has been in the heart of Dunwoody for their 13th bar mitzvah year. Father-son duo, owner Rafik Cressaty and general manager son, Patrick, are onsite and on the “oro” when it comes to hands on presence with standard fare and an ever-changing menu.

But wait, “Cressaty” isn’t an Italian name. Raifik explained, “I was actually born in Cairo. We left in 1956 (at age 15) to get away from Nassar. I was passionate about being in the food business; but years ago, no one wanted Mediterranean or Greek food here; and French is so limited.”

He also noted that their Mexican head chef was the original who started in 2011. Son, Patrick, demurred, “Dad’s being modest because prior to this, he was President of Coke for North and West Africa.”

Regardless of who knows what, Jews have a vibe for good food, and on this Saturday night, tables were pretty much populated by Members of the Tribe. Stepping into Carbonara is like a stroll into a nice alley in Roma. The art, the walls, the ambiance, waft of promises to come in large portions. The tables are set up nicely with the option of an estate table for 12. Booths align the sides.

Patrick, who served as bartender for the first seven years, still takes pride in the speed and service at the bar. He said, “On a Saturday night like this, I still work the bar to maintain solid service and deserve the awards we get on our cocktails.”

That night we had the Lemon Drop Martini (sugar on the rim), Pink Prosecco, and a sweet, lightly sparkling and fruity tasting Moscato.

What we sampled:

Insalate: Caesar, romaine, parmesan and house made croutons. Be sure to request anchovies ($12)

Wedge: Iceberg, bleu cheese crumble, red onions and cherry tomatoes ($13)

Other options for next time:

Beet: red beets, orange slices, Belgian endives, red onion and goat cheese

Watermelon: Feta, arugula, red onion ($14)

Tricolore: Belgian endives, arugula, candied walnuts, and radicchio. Gorgonzola walnut dressing.

Primi: Gluten-free pasta with a side of Brussel sprouts, spaghetti with pomodoro sauce

Other options for next time:

Penne Al Arrabiatta red pepper flakes, black olives, mozzarella, spicy pomodoro sauce

Pappardelle Al Salmone: Salmon, peas and fresh tomatoes in saffron cream sauce.

Secondi: Marvelous fish from which to choose … we had the Chef’s Special: Striped Bass and Flounder ($48) with fennel and tomatoes over risotto and white wine broth. This was the table favorite highlighted by the firm celery-like strips of fennel. We couldn’t distinguish which was the bass vs. flounder. Lots of leftovers.

Flounder Francese ($43): Lemon and artichoke risotto was fleshy and firm and served sizzling hot.

Other tempters: Grilled trout ($34), asparagus and roasted potatoes.

For dessert, we opted for Key Lime Pie and Tiramisu. Note that desserts are not made on site.

As the main dining room hummed with conviviality, Sue and Bob Levy, along with Linda and Frank Nathan, were focused on hearty picatta entrees. On the patio, former tow truck titan Ronnie Mayer with wife, Debbie, enjoyed the more sedate ambiance on the patio. Mayer said he was feasting on veal with capers in a white wine sauce, lemon and artichoke risotto. Local celeb Tom Sullivan (credited for discovering Ryan Seacrest) was making rounds chatting at tables. QT media update - watch for a

movie starring Jason Bateman which is being filmed shortly at Carbonara. The interior of Carbonara can accommodate 75 with a total of 115, including the patio. For those who like to put a fine point on things, “carbonara” is a dish stemming from the Lasio region in Tuscany, and traditionally cooked with egg, pecorino cheese, and some sort of “porky” meat. Kosher versions are more delish made with mushrooms and veggies. A “trattorio” in Italy is less fancy than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria. Hours start at 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. Reservations on weekends are recommended.

Free parking out front. 5499 Chamblee Dunwoody Road. 678-587-9100 ì

The Flounder Francese was served over lemon artichoke risotto.

Ronnie and Debbie Mayer chose patio dining and veal picatta.

Bob and Sue Levy dined with Frank and Linda Nathan

Hearty Italian dishes please for 13 years at Carbonara. Striped Bass and Flounder (middle) with fennel and tomatoes.

Insalate course with Caesar and wedge salads.

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This Atlantan Creates on Multiple Looms

By Chana Shapiro

Some crafted creations are so carefully planned and display such expertise in their execution that they achieve the status of excellence.

Kim Berendt is a highly skilled weaver whose work easily fits into the excellence category. She has three looms, which allow her to work on multiple projects at the same time. Her floor looms are much larger and more complex than the table looms familiar to many of us, and as she sits at her bench, ready to continue weaving a sizeable work-in-progress, her comfort and well-earned confidence are immediately evident.

Berendt studied anthropology in college. “I majored in cultural anthropology. I didn’t think that I would be an anthropologist. I just thought I had four years to do what I loved.” She became an IT professional who now works remotely for a hospital in Charleston, where she and her family lived before moving to Atlanta. They moved to Atlanta in 2012 when their oldest child was going into sixth

grade because they wanted their children to attend Jewish secondary schools. She works with the electronic medical record the hospital uses, designing tools that the clinicians access in ambulatory clinics.

Berendt elucidates, “I’m now the manager of my department. My job involves a lot of troubleshooting and math and so does weaving, so they’re compatible!”

Weaving would not be recommended for anyone who is restless or impatient. It is a labor-intensive, sustained endeavor that finally results in a one-ofa-kind woven textile. Each of Berendt’s textiles is woven following the design plan she maps out first. The project starts with attaching the warp yarn tautly to the loom. The warp is the yarn running lengthwise on the loom. Then the weft yarn is woven crosswise over and under the warp yarn to create the fabric’s structure and texture, ultimately resulting in the intended design. An experienced weaver like Berendt is skilled enough to create complex woven patterns, as well as plaids and striped designs.

In addition to weaving, Berendt excels at a variety of other hand crafts. As a child, she learned these skills from her mother and grandmother who expertly made most of her clothes and taught her needlepoint, embroidery, knitting, and crocheting.

“I learned to sew by hand and by machine. I was sewing by the time I was seven,” she notes. Although she didn’t spend much time on those skills during her high school and college years, her desire to make things with her own hands endured. When Berendt’s first child was born, she bought a sewing machine. She also bought some yarn and “relearned” knitting to create bespoke items that included her son’s favorite blanket. Berendt knits daily and loves making baby gifts. She regularly presents neighbors’ children with handmade blankets, sweaters and stuffed animals, and she’s pleased when she’s asked to repair a blanket a child has “loved to death.”

Berendt shares this anecdote, “I made a small, knitted chicken for my daughter, before she went to seminary. Her classmates loved it so much they all wanted their own. I knitted 20 chickens while my daughter was home over win-

ter break.”

Possessing quality knitting yarn inspired Berendt to try weaving. Using her first moderately-sized loom convinced her that she loved that craft, and she bought a very large floor loom from a weaver on Craig’s List in 2018. It was 60 inches wide! The loom took up too much space in her weaving area, and she sold it last year. She then purchased smaller looms that are more flexible to use. Multiple looms enable Berendt to weave several pieces at the same time. She sometimes spins her own yarn on her own spinning wheel.

Berendt’s work area contains yarn of every color and texture, scores of intriguing tools, and includes dozens of weaving-related books. The room encourages a feeling of energy and creativity. Berendt says, “My husband and family are very supportive and have graciously given me the space I need for everything, I have my yarn sorted by thread size and fiber type, mostly cotton or silk, and I also can weave with my stash of knitting yarn, so there are a lot of possibilities.“

Concerning future projects, she answers, “I love learning new things and acquiring new skills. I’ve almost never met a craft I didn’t want to try.”

For Berendt, weaving is meditative, relaxing, and also challenging. She considers it a hobby and adds, “I’d love to explore some other types of looms: there are so many ways to weave, so many kinds of looms, yarn, types of weaving structures. The possibilities are endless.”

She belongs to Facebook weaving groups and says other weavers inspire her. She does not sell her work; however, she has held weaving demonstrations for interested groups. Watching the weaving process in person was surely instructive, fascinating, and definitely a novel experience. ì

Berendt’s home studio is filled with looms, yarn, and various supplies.

Kim Berendt is a highly skilled weaver who works on multiple looms at the same time.

The Lowdown

I Bet You Didn’t Know …

Renée Kutner

Atlanta is chock full of interesting “movers and shakers” - some bent on creativity, empire building, activism, the sciences, and/or just plain having fun and living the good life. Lean in to hear some of the “off the cuff” remarks as to what makes our spotlight, Renée Safra Kutner, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, tick. Kutner was a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Mandel Executive Leadership Program for the development of rising Federation and JCC leaders. Before joining the Federation, Renée ran Peace by Piece Organizing for six years. In this professional organizing business, she helped bring order to chaos and peace to her clients’ otherwise hectic lives. Previously, Renée spent almost 10 years in advertising and marketing, taking a short break to receive her MBA from UCLA. She received her B.A. in economics from the University of Michigan. Renée is also very active in multiple community organizations, including Congregation Ohr HaTorah, and most notably has co-chaired the merger committee that led to the development of Atlanta Jewish Academy. She is married to Davi Kutner and is a mom to three. Two of her children attend Atlanta Jewish Academy, and her eldest has recently moved to Israel to join the IDF.

Read on to see what hoop Kutner spins to avoid yoga.

The most difficult thing about being a CEO is …

Wanting to do it all but knowing that’s ultimately not best for the organization or the community.

I’m streaming and reading …

I usually love digging into a good novel, especially historical or psychological fiction, but right now I have a tall stack of non-fiction that I am dying to get through. I’m currently fascinated by “The AI Driven Leader” by Geoff Woods.

If they made a movie of my life … would portray me.

I’m admittedly not a real movie buff, but my colleagues tell me Gal Gadot, Rachel Weisz or Natalie Portman. That’s quite a list, and I’m sensing a theme!

My kids would say I’m too …

Organized! They never seem to mind it when everything is planned, the food is stocked, and I can find anything they are looking for … but they don’t really like being asked to clean their rooms!

You will not find me …

In a yoga class, or at any gym for that matter, but I do enjoy running and working out at home.

One fun thing people don’t know about me is … I’m excellent at hula hooping!

I would look back and tell a 21-year-old Renee … Be open to wherever life may take you. It might be very different than what you’re planning.

Most exotic vacation?

I haven’t taken it yet! We’re hoping to go on a safari for my husband’s 50th. I’ve been to Iceland and Croatia, but there’s nowhere I like traveling more than Israel.

Best advice you received?

My mother had two: “Your lack of planning does not constitute my emergency,” and a sign in my house – “A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

My last fashion disaster was …

It probably involved showing up with dog hair on my clothes thanks to our Brittany spaniel, Champ.

The thing you liked most about growing up in Atlanta?

I really love the suburban lifestyle. To be honest, though, I liked raising my kids in Atlanta more than I liked growing up in Atlanta because the city has a lot more to offer now than it did when I was a kid. ì

Reported by Marcia Caller Jaffe

CALENDAR

Tuesday, April 15

PJ Library Passover Playground Popup – 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join us for a fun-filled morning celebrating Passover! Enjoy a special musical performance by Rabbi Rachael Miller from Temple Emanu-El, featuring Passover songs, followed by matzah and schmears for snacking and playtime on the playground. This is a great chance to sing, play, and connect with other families. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/35ffwtez.

Wednesday, April 16

CDT Canasta Club – 1 to 2 p.m. Come to Congregation Dor Tamid for canasta lessons and play! If you know how to play, bring your cards. Find out more at https:// tinyurl.com/44usydna.

Thursday, April 17

Weekly Mah Jongg Night – 6 to 9 p.m. Join Beth Shalom weekly for a night of Mah Jongg. Learn more at https://tinyurl. com/3s9ez9px.

Friday, April 18

Pop Up Tot Shabbat at Etz Chaim Preschool - 5 to 6 p.m. Enjoy a Passover story and some songs and Etz Chaim will end with Shabbat prayers and a little Pesach snack. Find out more at https://tinyurl. com/ahszadx3.

Somerby Soiree - 8 to 10 p.m. Nominated for three Grammy Awards, clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader Anat Cohen is known for her acclaimed Latin jazz and world music recordings as well as her large jazz ensemble album, “Triple Helix.” The Israeli native-turned-New Yorker will be joined by GSU’s Jazz Band for a lively night of memorable music. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/ysy87f49.

Sunday, April 20

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

Monday, April 21

Let’s Talk about Sex with Dr. Mitchell Tepper – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join Kibbitz & Konnect for an evening with noted sexologist and author Dr. Mitchell Tepper. Dr. Tepper holds a master’s in public health from Yale and a PhD in human sexuality education from the University of Pennsylvania. He has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, GQ, Glamour, as well as on CNN, PBS, and Discovery Channel. Appetizers and cash bar. We’ll be joined by Rabbi Brian Glusman in partnership with MJCCA. Rabbi Glusman has an advanced degree and post-graduate training in couples, family, and sex therapy from the Penn Council for Relationships, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, and has lectured extensively about Judaism and sexuality. RSVP at https:// tinyurl.com/mrhdu3jv.

Tuesday, April 22

Music Jam @ The JCC - 6 to 8 p.m. Calling all musicians and music lovers for a music jam at the JCC! Bring your instrument(s), friends and jam with fellow musicians. No auditions, no restrictions — just pure musical fun and collaboration. Free and open to people of all ages! Learn more at https:// tinyurl.com/2d5rfewc.

Empowering Parents: Navigating the Transition from Middle to High School – 7 to 9 p.m. The transition from middle school to high school is a pivotal time filled with opportunities and challenges — for both students and parents. Join us for an engaging and practical evening designed to empower you with the tools, knowledge, and insights you need to support your Jewish teen as they take this important next step. Register at https://tinyurl.com/m4sx3zrb.

Wednesday, April 23

Torah Class – 8 to 9 p.m. A weekly Torah class from the Mitzvah House for men and women. Snacks for the body and soul. Learn more at https://tinyurl. com/2vjzkw2h.

Thursday, April 24

‘Unto Every Person There Is A Name” 2024 Remembrance Ceremony – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. B’nai B’rith International (Atlanta) and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta are proud to present the “Unto Every Person There is a Name” 2025 Remembrance Ceremony of this global Shoah Memorial Initiative. This public recitation of names of Holocaust victims will be held around the world on Yom HaShoah. This public recitation of names of Holocaust victims will be observed this year in Atlanta at the offices of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and virtually. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/yb7jmv4e.

Balser Celebration – 5 to 7:30 p.m. The Balser Symposium and Celebration were started to honor Jack Balser, who, for 13 years, served as Endowment Director of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Through Jack’s efforts, the number of planned gifts in the community grew dramatically and more donors and professional advisors were educated about the importance of planned giving in philanthropy. Jack’s efforts decades ago popularizing this type of strategic giving continue to bear fruit today. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/2ds64ju8.

Hillels of Georgia Gala Celebration: Stand with Hillel – 5 to 11 p.m. Stand with Hillel 2025 is Hillels of Georgia’s annual gala celebration. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/4czbkzpv.

Why the Jews – 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. From Ancient Prejudices to Modern Challenges. An insightful lecture, by Brendan Murphy, that delves into the deep-rooted and sorrowful history of Christian antisemitism, tracing its origins from the first century to the Nostra Aetate declaration of 1965. Of all the questions surrounding the many crimes against the Jews throughout the ages, we often ask, why the Jews?

Join Chabad Intown and RSVP at https:// tinyurl.com/yc457b8d.

An Evening with Anne Applebaum –7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Autocracy, Inc. is a look into what we may think we know what an autocratic state looks like: There is an allpowerful leader at the top. He controls the police. The police threaten the people with violence. There are evil collaborators, and maybe some brave dissidents. But in the 21st century, that bears little resemblance to reality. Nowadays, autocracies are underpinned not by one dictator, but by sophisticated networks composed of kleptocratic financial structures, surveillance technologies, and professional propagandists, all of which operate across multiple regimes, from China to Russia to Iran. The members of Autocracy, Inc, aren’t linked by a unifying ideology, like communism, but rather a common desire for power, wealth, and impunity. In this urgent treatise, which evokes George Kennan’s essay calling for “containment” of the Soviet Union, Applebaum calls for the democracies to fundamentally reorient their policies to fight a new kind of threat. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/5xcvw3t7.

Friday, April 25

Women Who Dare: Celebrating Our Sheroes Luncheon 2025 – 12 to 1:30 p.m. Join us for NCJW Atlanta’s annual celebration honoring some of our community’s women making a difference in the lives of others. Find out more at https:// tinyurl.com/53zyymzd.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Friday, April 18 Light Holiday Candles after 7:53 PM

Saturday, April 19 Light Holiday Candles after 8:51 PM from a pre-existing flame

Sunday, April 20 Holiday Ends at 8:51 p.m.

Torah Reading: Shemini Friday, April 25 Light Shabbat Candles at 7:48 PM

Saturday, April 26 Shabbat Ends 8:57PM

Saturday, April 26

Zochrim Umesaprim – 7:30 to 10 p.m.

An evening of sharing memories. Learn more with the IAC at https://tinyurl. com/3kvbdzap.

Sunday, April 27

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

A Conversation with Author Rob Kutner – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Join Congregation Or Hadash for conversation and a schmear with Rob Kutner, an Emmy-winning comedy writer and author of, “The Jews: 5,000 Years and Counting,” a newly published comical survey of Jewish history, from Adam and Eve to Zabars. We hear this is the most outrageous and unreliable account of our wanderings since … The Torah! RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/2yxy4jd5.

PJ Library Grandparents and Tots Teatime – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. PJ Library grandparents are invited to join us for a very special tea party with their grandchildren! We will play, enjoy high tea and read stories together. This event is perfect for children ages 0-5. Location details will be shared closer to the event date. We can’t wait to celebrate with you! RSVP at https:// tinyurl.com/4vxubaj8.

60th Community-Wide Yom Hashoah Service of Remembrance – 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 60th Annual Community Yom Hashoah Service of Remembrance at the Memorial to the Six Million in Greenwood Cemetery. Join us as we honor our Holocaust survivors and remember the 6 million murdered in the Holocaust. Find out more at https://tinyurl.com/5hunp42z.

Financial Literacy for Smart Adulting – 2 to 5 p.m. Take control of your financial future! Join us for “Money Matters: Financial Literacy for Smart Adulting,” a program designed to help you gain practical money skills, make informed financial decisions, and set yourself up for long-term success. You’ll have the opportunity to choose two breakout sessions that match your interests, covering topics like budgeting, investing, home buying, and more. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up your financial knowledge, this program is for you! Young adults (ages 22-40) who want to build confidence in managing their personal finances. Register at https://tinyurl.com/bd9fr7yf now to secure your spot.

Post-Passover Babies & Brews – 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. What better way to celebrate the end of Passover than with beer? Mingle with other parents, enjoy a beer, and snack on delicious eats from SabaRaba’s while your babies play! Perfect for babies 0-2, older siblings welcome. Register at https:// tinyurl.com/aht3rhj2.

Congregation Etz Chaim Golden Anniversary Celebration – 5:30 p.m. Come help Congregation Etz Chaim celebrate 50 years of creating meaningful Jewish experiences! Open bar, live band and dancing! RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/y35yjzhb.

The Mamalehs Concert – 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join Congregation Bet Haverim and Or Hadash as they welcome The Mamalehs to the stage for an evening of Jewish and American songs about home. The program ranges from beloved Hebrew prayers to nearly lost Yiddish and Hungarian folk songs to a sprinkle of American roots music … and, of course, a drinking song or two. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience The Mamalehs’ bold arrangements, tight harmonies, and honest reflections on the daily work of being human. Purchase tickets at https://tinyurl.com/mvm8ka3h.

Tuesday, April 29

Fermenting Change: It’s Not So Hard! – 7 p.m. It’s not so hard to do a little more Jewish, and a little more sustainable — one pickle at a time! Join Chabad Intown for a hands-on pickling workshop and thoughtprovoking evening with Joanna Kobylivker from Adamah, alongside Dena Schusterman, as they explore the theme: “It’s Not So Hard”— because taking small steps toward a more Jewish life and a more sustainable world is easier than you think! Come for the learning, stay for the pickling, and leave with a fresh perspective on how small changes can make a big impact. It’s not so hard — so why not start now? Register at https://tinyurl.com/2s84cyea.

Wednesday, April 30

Adult Education – 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join Rabbi Hearshen from Or Ve Shalom on Wednesday evenings. Get more information at https://tinyurl.com/yc2xvpsn.

BRAIN FOOD

It Could Be Chametz

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

Difficulty

Level: Medium

ACROSS

1. It’s a laugh 5. “Like this”, to Liat 10. Cot, for one 13. Citation abbreviation 14. Start of a Seder song 15. Plus 16. Portion for Ruth/It can be Israeli

18. Stroud and Uzomah of the NFL 19. Completely crazy 20. “Paulo” start 21. Egyptian woe, once 23. Sounded out P-A-S-S-O-V-E-R like a brit?/It can be Jewish

26. The greatest actress, possibly 28. Less lively, as a party

29. Ship letters

30. Have some matzah, e.g. 33. Crosswords have them

34. Half of 16-Across enjoyed by some on Passover

37. Apportioned, as cards

40. Tishby of note

41. Victrola company

44. Open with a key

46. An athlete’s might be exercised 49. Pareve milk/Part of a biblical dream

52. Ms. Morgenstern of TV

53. Many yrs.

54. His poetry inspired “Cats”

56. 8 1/2 x 11, for short

57. Like the answers to 16, 23, and 49-Across

60. “Ain’t that interesting!”

61. “You’re ___ breed!”

62. They might run a shabbaton

63. Do basic math

64. Bernie Madoff, e.g.

65. It has antlers

DOWN

1. ___cal.com (Jewish dating site?)

2. Baruch follower

3. Ship stopovers

4. Make some strong statements, in a way

5. Ctrl, Alt and Del

6. Country squares?

7. Aviary sound

8. Broke into, in a way

9. Citrus cooler ending

10. Alternative to Captain Morgan

11. Delighted in 12. “Open wide” letters

17. It means “Irish” in Irish

20. Onset

21. Home of the Seminoles, for

short

22. Linemen, for short 24. You can build the Beit Hamikdash with it...in your living room

25. Sets for med. dramas

27. Creature of comfort

31. Cape in Massachusetts

32. Spanish relative

34. Herschel Shmoikel Pinchas

Yerucham Krustofsky is one

35. Allergic reaction, maybe

36. Giant Ming

37. Shimon and Levi, in a sense

38. Put into law

39. Made some changes

41. Reprimander’s “reading”

42. Cape in Massachusetts

43. You may get it for effort

45. Mother of Midian

47. Arrogant, superior sort

48. Prickly items

50. Liam Neeson voices him in the “Narnia” films

51. “Four” before a word

55. Schreiber of “Defiance”

56. Big Apple airport code

57. Issue on a stand, informally

58. Rose-rose link

59. MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards

Looking Back at AJT Stories Throughout the Years

This week, 99 years ago April 1926

- The Temple announces plans to build a new religious school and congregational center building on its rear lot.

This week, 75 years ago April 7-14, 1950

- Hazel Berman Karp, one of eight seniors at Agnes Scott College, is elected to Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

- B’nai B’rith women perform an all-woman play, “Deep Desire.”

- Leon Blum, France’s first Jewish Premier, dies shortly before 78th birthday.

- Sealed letters of Theodor Herzl, marked “do not open for forty or fifty years,” are discovered.

Stamp issued in 2000 commemorating Hay Salomon.

This week, 50 years ago April 4, 1975

- USPS issues a stamp commemorating Haym Salomon, Jewish Revolutionary War financier.

- BBYO collects food/clothing for those who lost possessions in the 1975 “Governor’s Tornado”

This week, 25 years ago April 7, 2000

- The Dead Sea Scrolls go on display at Chicago’s Field Museum.

- The Knesset passes a law granting equal rights to women in every sphere of Israeli life – after the bill’s sponsor gives up her committee seat to a male colleague.

Issues of the AJT (then Southern Israelite) from 1929-1986 can be found for free online at gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/ sn78003973/

OBITUARIES

Phyllis Gershon Arnold 90,

Atlanta

Phyllis Gershon Arnold, a beloved wife, sister, aunt, mother and grandmother passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on March 31, 2025. She was born on Oct. 27, 1934, in Carrollton, Ga., the youngest child of Sam and Jeanette Gershon. She spent much of her childhood in Carrollton until the family eventually relocated to Atlanta, where they were lifelong members of Ahavath Achim Synagogue. Judaism was always an important part of her identity.

In 1962, Phyllis married the love of her life, Joseph Allan Arnold, and together they built a family filled with love, laughter and stories. Raising five children, she dedicated herself not only to their care but to passing down the wisdom and memories of earlier generations. She had a gift for storytelling -- collecting the experiences of others, devouring books and sharing the stories of her own life with children and grandchildren, ensuring that no history was lost.

In her 70s, Phyllis faced ovarian cancer with resilience, grace and dignity, miraculously beating it with the same quiet strength that guided her through life. Even as dementia took pieces of her memory, she remained the heart and soul of our family, leading us with love long after the words became harder to find. She was the glue and established bonds that will survive even though she is gone.

She leaves behind a family who cherishes her memory, her stories and the lessons she taught us. Her love endures in every tale we tell and in every moment we share, keeping her spirit vibrant in the lives she touched. She is predeceased by her parents, Sam and Jeanette Gershon, and her siblings, Elinor Gershon Smith (Al Smith), Herbert Gershon (Evelyn) and David Beeber. She is survived by her sister, Elaine Beeber. Survivors also include her beloved husband, Dr. Joseph Arnold, her children, Leslie Hammond (Richard); Kim Massell (Joanna Stamatiades); Beth Arnold Helmey; Mark Arnold (Julie) and Dan Arnold (Debbie). She is cherished by her grandchildren: Dustin Hammond, Jacob Hammond, Maya Baumeister, Sam Helmey, Hannah Helmey, Jack Arnold, Eva Arnold, Emily Arnold and Lila Arnold.

We express our sincere gratitude to her caregivers, Comar, Eda and Laree. They treated her with dignity, compassion and loving kindness.

Her story does not end here -- it lives on in all of us.

Funeral services were held at Ahavath Achim Synagogue (600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, NW) on Thursday, April 3, at 1 p.m., followed by burial at Greenwood Cemetery (1173 Cascade Circle, SW). Donations in Phyllis’ memory may be made to an organization that does meaningful work to make the world a better place and to ensure that a culture of art, music, literature, and theatre are alive and vibrant for generations to come.

Dr. Robert Merril Fine 95, Atlanta

Dr. Robert (Bob) Merril Fine, 95, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Sunday evening, March 30, 2025, surrounded by his loving family and devoted caregivers.

Bob, originally of Little Rock, Ark., is survived by beloved wife of 66 years, Patricia (Rudman) Fine, daughter, Jacqueline Fine (Mark Feinberg) of Philadelphia, daughter, Cheryl Braitberg, (David Braitberg), and granddaughter, Hannah Braitberg of Atlanta, son, David Fine (Andrea Fine), grandson, Marshall Fine, also of Atlanta, and granddaughter, Allison Fine (Josh Palgon), currently of St. Simon Island. He is predeceased by his parents, Rose Baum Fine and Jack Fine, as well as his brother, Stanley Fine.

He received his undergraduate education at the University of Illinois and Vanderbilt University and received his medical degree from the Tulane University School of Medicine, followed by internship and residency at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. His residency was interrupted with two years of service in the U.S. Navy, retiring as LCdr in 1959. It was during this time that he met and fell in love with his lifelong partner, Pat.

Bob had a private practice in dermatology in Decatur, Ga., for over 40 years, and concurrently pursued academic excellence via faculty positions at Emory University School of Medicine, culminating in professor of dermatology. He authored/ co-authored over 132 scientific publications, and, along with Pat, was an ardent supporter of continued medical education for both seasoned and upcoming researchers and practitioners.

He was a lifelong scholar, passionate teacher and practitioner, putting his heart and soul into treating his most difficult patients and had a special relationship with them. He leaves behind many lifelong and newfound friends and beloved family, who all will sorely miss his bright, engaging mind and spirited debates.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 2, at 2 p.m. at Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave, NW, followed by internment at Arlington Memorial Park. Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to Department of Dermatology, Emory University School of Medicine, Robert and Patricia Fine Lectureship; Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Patricia and Robert Fine Charitable Fund; Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation (Heads Up Conference) or a charity of your choice. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

Ingried Katz Nodvin

80, Atlanta

Ingried passed away on Feb. 27, 2025. Her funeral was held on Feb. 28, and she was buried in the Orthodox section of Arlington Memorial Park. She was born in Birmingham, Ala., on July 25, 1945, to Sadie Koplon Katz and David Katz, founding members of Beth Jacob Synagogue. At the time of her passing, Ingried was the longest living lifetime member of the synagogue.

In Atlanta, Ingried attended Morningside Elementary and Grady High School. As a teenager, she was elected Sweetheart of AZA Chapter 518. She studied for a Bachelor of Fine Arts at University of Miami in Coral Gables, Fla.

Ingried excelled creatively throughout her life in many areas. She was a professional wedding cake decorator for years and later, and at age 53, began studying antiques. Within two years of delving into this new passion, she started her own business where she employed more than 20 antique and collectibles dealers.

Above all, she curated and perfected the role of “Single Mom” years before the concept even existed.

She was best known for her kind and generous spirit, her authentic Jewish Southern accent and her contagious and unyielding soulful laughter. She lived every day as a Jewish righteous woman, recognizing even the smallest events with deep appreciation and as an opportunity to be joyful. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Dr. Michael Press 73, Atlanta

Dr. Michael Press, 73, passed away peacefully in his home on April 1, 2025. Graveside services were held Friday, April 4, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, with Rabbi Scott Colbert officiating. A reception followed the service.

Michael was born on Jan. 13, 1952, in Hampton, Va., to Margaret (née Goldstein) and Murray Press. He attended Hampton High School where he was a proud member of the state champion basketball team in 1969. After graduation, Michael moved to Georgia and attended Emory University, ultimately graduating from Emory’s School of Dentistry as a doctor of dental surgery. He practiced dentistry in Dunwoody for over four decades before semi-retiring.

Throughout his life and career, Michael dedicated himself to friends, family, patients, and pets. He craved knowledge and was a voracious reader. A devoted fan of the Atlanta Braves and Virginia Cavaliers, he also had a delightful smile that makes this writer cry as he remembers it.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Murray Press; his sister, Linda Press; and his lifelong friends, Phil Einstein and Jack Aronson. Among the many who cherish his memory are: his sons, Joshua and Steven Press; his daughters-in-law, Miriam Muscarella Press and Chelsea Press; his grandson, Asher Press; and his granddaughters, Mathilda and Penelope Muscarella Press. Each of these relatives knows how many lives their “Poppa” touched.

Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care has charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ben Massell Dental Clinic: https://benmasselldentalclinic.org/#impact

OBITUARIES

Shirley Romm Wender 93,

Atlanta

Shirley Romm Wender, 93, of Atlanta passed away peacefully at home on April 6, 2025. Shirley was born in Jackson, Miss., the daughter of Fannie and Harry Herman, and was the oldest of three sisters. Shirley was married for almost 50 years to Milton Romm, who passed away in 1999. She later married Donald Wender of Atlanta, until his passing in 2010. Through life’s challenges, Shirley will be remembered for always continuing to radiate her amazing spirit, beauty, and high energy. She was also an early pioneer of women-owned businesses, innovating the sophisticated management of estate sales for prominent Atlantans as Home Furnishings Brokerage. Additionally, as a lover of cooking and entertaining, she and her daughter, Judy, created a nationwide chocolate sensation, Can’t Budge Fudge, marketed and sold through major retailers.

She is survived by her son, Stuart Romm, daughter and son-in-law, Sally and John Berry, and son-in-law, Barry Frankel; grandchildren: Harris (Keri) Frankel, Rebecca (Daniel) Novick, Rachel (Jon) Slone, Hadley Berry, Seth (Shelby) Berry; greatgrandchildren: Miles and Julia Novick, Brooklyn and Mia Slone, Bridget Berry, and Jonah Frankel. She is also survived by Donald Wender’s children, Brad and Debra, and many nieces and nephews. Shirley is preceded in death by Milton Romm and Donald Wender; parents, Fannie and Harry Herman; sisters, Harriette “Hank” Oxman and Nancy Sue Horowitz; and daughter Judy Romm Frankel, of blessed memory. Special thanks given to caregivers Louise, Mavis, Mabel, and Joyce, and the wonderful care and support provided by Weinstein Hospice.

Contributions in Shirley’s memory may be made to The Temple, Weinstein Hospice, or the APDA (American Parkinson Disease Association), Georgia chapter. A private burial was followed by a memorial service and reception held at The Temple on Wednesday, April 9, at 12 p.m. The Temple is located at 1589 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA 30309. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

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.

Happy Passover

Remembering promises made. Celebrating promises fulfilled.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

A Potent Horseradish & Disputed Afikomen Bag

Chana Shapiro

My Passover prep started this year with a review of the Pesach groceries I mindlessly bought on sale a few days after Pesach last year. It seemed prudent to stock up on half-price cans of macaroons, Passover muesli, and chewing gum, even though no one in our family likes any of it. Nor have we developed a yen for the discounted dried prunes and pears I grabbed in a frenzy of mindless acquisition, but just in case, I’ve got plenty. Once I assessed my stash of Passover comestibles from last year, it became clear that I had bought nothing we would voluntarily use this Passover, except a box of discounted tea bags.

Of course, the most onerous task of all is purging the refrigerator. Being

devoutly anti-waste, right after Purim I began to include left-over olives (the expensive kind) and pickles (the sour kind) in every meal. I went deeper and found a jar with a few pieces of herring left over from last Shavuot hidden behind a jar of applesauce left over from Chanukah. It was tough, but I forced myself to discard those two, along with a shriveled orange that was lurking in a corner. Once the frig was empty and scrubbed, it was time to go shopping for new food that cost twice as much.

Shopping for Pesach always necessitates purchasing a large, fresh horseradish, (my most unfavorite root vegetable.) Last year, I first tried a local supermarket, but when I asked the fruit and vegetable guy where I might find a fresh horseradish, he directed me to a very big parsnip. I wonder if other Pesach shoppers believed him.

While I am perfectly content to stick with red ch’rayn that comes in a bottle, my husband, daughters, grandchildren, and two of our annual guests

only want the unadulterated root. It’s about the crying.

My husband, Zvi, says that if eating the bitter herb doesn’t make his tear ducts work overtime — a visceral act referencing the bitter lives the Hebrews endured in Egypt — he simply eats more until his eyeglasses fog over. I magnanimously (heroically, I might add) peel the bitter root, but I don’t grate it. At the seder table, Zvi cuts it into slices, and his loyal followers join in a solemn chew-and-cry session. They poo-poo the ameliorating effect of the beet juice that makes my red horseradish tolerable, but I don’t care. I don’t really like to cry in public, anyway. I’ve heard that it’s easy to grow your own horseradish by planting a left-over, still-viable portion of the root, and it’s claimed to keep predators out of your garden; I’m not surprised.

But it’s not only the lachrymose session that creates memories of seders past, present, and hopefully future; our seder regulars also anticipate the yearly afikomen bag dispute.

When our daughters were in early elementary grades, one of them made a hand-decorated afikomen bag that we saved. For years, we joined out-oftown family for seders, but as our kids got older, we started to host our own, and the afikomen bag was put to use. Early in the seder, the middle matzoh of a stack of three is broken in half, and one half becomes the afikomen, which Zvi slides into the afikomen bag. Everyone eats a piece of the afikomen at the seder’s end (afikomen literally means “dessert”).

The bag’s entry into our family lore developed when each of our daughters claimed to be its creator. When the middle matzah half is put into the bag, we know that a dispute will begin. For better or worse, Zvi and I don’t remember who made the relic, so we can’t referee, and because our grandchildren and guests find the pseudo-feud amusing, it encourages the sibling theatrics. By now, the afikomen bag controversy is an anticipated part of our seders, and our daughters haven’t yet wearied of their claims.

That afikomen bag has achieved such familial significance, it was the subject of our granddaughter’s very first college essay (“Write About a Unique Family Object.”) It seems that, inadvertently, one of our daughters created a permanently stained, well-worn future heirloom.

During the festive meal, bonhomie between sisters resumes. That’s when Zvi steals away to hide the bagged afikomen. The person who finds it has tremendous bargaining power: we enjoy watching my husband deal to get it back because, even after we’ve read the entire Haggadah and have sung the songs, we can’t finish the seder properly without each eating a piece of the afikomen.

Here at Chez Shapiro, we’re ready with tissues for the horseradish cadre, and we’re wondering who will present the best afikomen bag argument. We’ll cry a little, laugh a little, and sing, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” May it be a joyful year in which we need tissue only because of eating horseradish. ì

Get ready to prepare the feast and share in the seder. And don’t forget the matzo ball soup! Start planning your Passover meal with recipes for traditional favorites.

Get inspired at publix.com/passover