Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCVII NO. 18, September 30, 2021 by Atlanta Jewish Times

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VOL. XCVII NO. 18

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 | 24 TISHREI 5782

ARTS & CULTURE AND HEALTH & WELLNESS The Breman Celebrates

th Anniversary

'Jewish History with Chutzpah'

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FIRST CLASS AMENITIES MEET W O R L D C L A S S E N T E R TA I N M E N T

Bookend Any Performance with a Visit to the Marquee Club S E V E R A L A L L- I N C L U S I V E M E M B E R S H I P P L A N S N OW AVA I L A B L E All-Access Plans Concert Series Plan (40/20/10 Show) Broadway Series Plan

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VOL. XCVII NO. 18

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CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE ARLENE CAPLAN APPELROUTH BOB BAHR CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER JAN JABEN-EILON LOU LADINSKY MARCIA CALLER JAFFE RABBI RUTH ABUSCH-MAGDER RACHEL STEIN ROBYN SPIZMAN GERSON

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THIS WEEK A Dose of Health and Culture Every day our community creates history, and Jewish Atlanta has 25 years of The Breman Museum to celebrate. These pages test your knowledge of Jewish history and I bet there is a lot you didn’t know. We bring you stories of illness and recovery, culture and art, sukkah traditions and the best Jewish films and shows, both new (“Dr. Ruth”) and old (“Seinfeld”). Local artist Daniel Feuer debuts his paintings to great success, while Rachel Shiffman becomes a mermaid and brings a splash to community events. We spoke to dental experts about fear of the dentist and how you can overcome your teeth-related anxieties, interview back specialists about sciatica pain, and explore a new boxing gym that’s taking on Parkinson’s disease. The BRCA genetic disorder, which affects many Jewish women, may get some relief, as an early ovarian cancer test may be coming soon. As we celebrate Sukkot, the Festival of Booths, we also mark the Ethiopian Jewish holiday of Sigd, which teaches us to hope in the face persecution and adversity. Not too far from home, another festival is on the way, as Chattanooga’s Jewish Film Festival begins in a few weeks. If you enjoy mov-

ies, then check out a new film that debuted online in mid-September: “What She Said” is a dark comedy for those with a certain taste. Nothing is darker than the COVID pandemic, which, as Dave Schechter reminds us in his column, has stolen the most precious of all things: our time with the ones we love. And, while some things are getting back to normal, we also wonder if it’s too soon to return to live concerts, for example. In the news, we delve into the antiSemitic graffiti found on the walls at a Pope High School bathroom, and Bob Bahr takes an inside look at COVID in children, which is at an all-time high. On the political front, Schechter investigates why our local district 4 congressman voted “present” on funding Israel’s Iron Dome for another year, as well as why redistricting will be the major political issue in Georgia in the upcoming months. Enjoy all there is in these pages. There’s more to come with our coverage of the Marcus JCC’s book festival preview and more in-depth coverage on education in the next issue, hitting your mailboxes and stands soon! ì

SEPTEMBER 30, 2021 | 24 TISHREI 5782

ARTS & CULTURE AND HEALTH & WELLNESS The Breman Celebrates

25th Anniversary

'Jewish History with Chutzpah'

Cover image: The AJT honors The Breman

September 30 2021.indd 1

9/27/2021 5:01:41 PM

Museum's 25th anniversary featuring, "Bet You Didn’t Know: Test Your Knowledge of Jewish ‘History with Chutzpah’".

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NEWS Anti-Semitic Graffiti in Cobb Schools Alarms Community By Jan Jaben-Eilon Swastikas and “heil Hitler” graffiti — spelled correctly or not — admittedly garner headlines. But while Atlanta Jewish leaders agree about the complexity of the issues involved, they disagree about the seriousness of such incidents, including the most recent ones in Cobb County middle and high schools. In the middle of the High Holy Days, Pope High School reported two incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti, while Lassiter High School and Simpson Middle School each reported one. According to rabbis of congregations whose members attend those schools, the wrongdoers have been identified. “The two kids have been identified in the original drawing and they will go through the court system,” said Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, senior rabbi at Temple Kol Emeth. “I think it should be treated as a hate crime,” he said, referring to the graffiti at Pope. “Maybe it is a crime,” said Rabbi Daniel Dorsch, of Congregation Etz Chaim, “but it’s our obligation to educate. I see misguided kids who need our help. They need our love as well as G-d’s love.” Dorsch added that he sees a “real dan-

6 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

However, in a letter to parents, Lassiter Principal Dr. Chris Richie noted that there were “two bathrooms where anti-Semitic symbols (swastikas) and anti-Semitic language (Heil Hitler) were displayed. In both locations, the deplorable symbols and language were behind stall doors.” Simpson Middle School Principal Dr. Mari LaEla Mitchell also received “high marks” for her reaction, said Rabbi Dorsch. “She wrote a beautiful email and she called it out as anti-Semitism,” he said. Despite the fact that no similar graffiti was found at Walton High School, Dorsch said its principal also stated that the school will not tolerate antiPope High School reported two incidents of anti-Semitic graffiti, one of which included a Semitism. swastika and read “heil Hitler." Separately, Pastor Sarah K. Fisher, the rector of St. Catherine’s ger” in lumping all the incidents together “as services, saying, “My genEpiscopal Church in Marione and the same.” He believes that the latter eration was raised with etta, “issued a statement” incidents — at Lassiter and Simpson — may the words ‘never forget’ that was “incredibly powbe copycats due to the publicity surrounding pressed into our minds. erful” and supportive, said the initial graffiti. “This motivation may be And so when at Pope High Sernovitz. different from the original motivation,” he School in Marietta, Ga., a “The positive school said. swastika and a tribute to responses help kids feel Unquestionably, the graffiti attracted Adolf Hitler are scrawled better when it is called widespread attention. Georgia Sen. Jon Os- on school walls, during out” as anti-Semitism, soff spoke at Temple Emanu-El’s Yom Kippur Yamim Noraim — our said Dorsch. But many in “I’m not more afraid in Cobb Days of Awe — no less, the Jewish community County schools than in Fulton it must inflame in us the County schools,” said Rabbi are clearly unhappy with same passion for the surChaim Neiditch, who works the Cobb County School vival of our people that with Jewish student unions. Board’s reaction. In its reburned in the hearts of the sponse, the board urged generation that emerged “families to talk to their from the Shoah, and built students about the ima future for the Jewish pacts of inappropriate and people here in America, dangerous trends circulataround the world, and in ing on social media,” referthe land of Israel.” ring to the incidents reOne of the more sulting from a call on the unusual guests at a Yom TikTok social media app Kippur service this year for students to vandalize was Cobb Board of Eduschool property and then cation Chairman Randy Congregation Etz Chaim Rabbi brag about it. Scamihorn, who attendDaniel Dorsch sees the incidents Grassroots oras the work of “misguided ed Temple Kol Emeth at ganization Atlanta kids who need our help.” Rabbi Sernovitz’s invitaInitiative Against Antion. After rescheduling a tiSemitism (AIAAS) imregular Thursday board meeting, Scamihorn mediately asked the community to sign a pespent the morning at the synagogue. “He said tition against the school board’s “inadequate he learned a lot about the Jewish community response to the recent acts of anti-Semitism.” and why Yom Kippur is so important,” said In less than a week, more than 3,000 people Sernovitz. had signed the petition. Scamihorn’s Yom Kippur visit was parAIAAS co-founder Lauren Menis told ticularly significant because the Cobb County the AJT that the group’s goal for the petition School District has come under fierce fire for was two-fold. “First, we are asking the Cobb not addressing the anti-Semitic aspect of the County School Board to acknowledge the graffiti, which included swastikas and “Hail incidents at the two schools for what they Hitler” written above urinals in the school’s were — anti-Semitic acts. We do not believe bathrooms. Pope Principal Thomas Flugum these acts of hate should be folded into the didn’t mention the anti-Semitic significance social media trends discussion that have of the graffiti in his school, while the Cobb caused other issues at schools. We want them County school district called it merely “hate to name the hate, to call these acts what they speech.”

NEWS are — anti-Semitic. Naming the hate is im- with the ADL to respond effectively. … The pasportant. It holds people accountable. It makes sage of their resolution banning Critical Race those affected feel heard, and it allows you to Theory could tie their hands in responding address it head-on. If you don’t name it, you to and countering incidents of hate through can’t fix it.” educational initiatives for the school commuMenis also said, “We are asking the nity.” school board to allow anti-hate training back As of press time, a school district spokesinto their schools. Incidents like these two are person had not replied to the AJT’s question as teachable moments if handled correctly. By to why Cobb County’s schools are no longer not naming it and not allowing anti-hate edu- partnering with the ADL. Padilla-Goodman cational programming to address this in their said she thought the community might learn schools, the schools have denied a valuable more at the board meeting scheduled for opportunity to help students and staff learn Sept. 23. Referring to the recent anti-Semitic from these events and help prevent others in graffiti, she added, “How they handle it will be the future.” telling. It’s a real opportunity for Cobb County Menis was referring to the fact that Cobb to respond strongly and show that they care County schools have stopped working with about the students.” the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on its No The reactions of Cobb County students Place for Hate initiative, a free “school climate to the graffiti have been mixed. At least one improvement framework” that “helps create student was afraid to attend school the next a welcoming school community committed day, one rabbi reports. Other students were to stopping all forms of eager to speak out at the hate, bias and bullying.” weekly school board ADL Southern Divimeeting. sion Vice President AlBut Rabbi Chaim Neilison Padilla-Goodman ditch, executive director of said that Cobb County the Jewish Student Union, schools had long been an who has been working ADL partner until June, with Jewish students in when the board passed approximately 20 schools a resolution banning the for 16 years, said antiteaching of Critical Race Semitic graffiti is not the “I think it should be treated as a Theory and The New York hate crime,” said Temple Kol Emeth teenagers’ biggest issue. Senior Rabbi Larry Sernovitz. Times’ 1619 project in disHe noted that in May, durtrict schools. The resoluing the latest Israel-Gaza tion didn’t specify what flare-up, Jewish students CRT was, but the board were verbally attacked dropped the No Place for for Israel’s policies, “as if a Hate initiative. 15-year-old is responsible As Padilla-Goodman for what another country explained, CRT has never does.” Secondly, “Jewish been taught in kindergarkids are afraid to take off ten-through-12th grade from school for the Jewish classes in Georgia schools. holidays. They say teach“It’s an upper-level elective ers don’t understand what ADL Southern Division Vice course in law school proYom Kippur is,” he said. grams,” she said. “None President Allison Padilla-Goodman He suggests that kids are said Cobb County is the only of our programs talked participating less in relischool district in the metro area about critical race theory,” gious services as a result. to withdraw from the ADL’s No Place for Hate program. she emphasized. But “sudBut he doesn’t think denly 20 schools stopped” there’s systemic anti-Semoffering the No Place for itism in any of the high Hate program without explaining why. schools he works in. “I’m not more afraid in All other school districts in the metro Cobb County schools than in Fulton County area continue to participate in the ADL’s ini- schools,” said Rabbi Neiditch. “I don’t see antitiative. Padilla-Goodman has said that “people Semitism in these schools.” are asking whether they want to live in Cobb Several Cobb County rabbis also see a County” as a result. silver lining in the recent incidents of antiIn a statement, she wrote that the Cobb Semitic graffiti. “There’s a lot of hope in this, County resolution is a “direct example of how too,” said Rabbi Dorsch. He pointed out that these shortsighted, politically-driven policies he was wearing his kippa and a Star of David will have a detrimental impact on our chil- mask when shopping in an East Cobb Traddren. … As hate crimes surge in Georgia and er Joe’s days after the incidents. A bag boy across the country, it is unacceptable that named Will said to him: “I’m so sorry you had Cobb County schools are failing to address or a tough week. I’m sorry.” Dorsch recalls being even name anti-Semitic incidents occurring “so touched” by the exchange. in their own schools, and refusing to engage “That’s empathy,” the rabbi said. ì

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NEWS

COVID at Record Levels in Children By Bob Bahr When Rabbi Malka Packer-Monroe’s two-year-old daughter, Luna, first came down with a COVID infection, she found it hard to accept. Last month, after coming home from nursery school, Luna developed a low-grade fever, lost her appetite, and became cranky. At first, Packer-Monroe thought her daughter was teething, but then she tested positive for the virus. “I cried immediately. It was shocking and upsetting and scary. My immediate response was fear,” she said. The rabbi, who works for 18Doors, the Jewish outreach program in Atlanta, felt she had done everything possible to keep her child safe. She had all of her groceries delivered, avoided any indoor gatherings with her daughter, and stopped attending other children’s birthday parties. She even kept Luna away from the synagogue services the child so loved. “She hasn’t been in a synagogue in a year and a half. That’s super heartbreaking. She loved the singing and the music and the people. And she would light up and she would squeal. And it was so delightful to bring her to High Holy Day services two years ago.” Fortunately, her daughter’s symptoms were mild, and she recovered quickly. Luna and six other young children at her school came down with the virus after being infected by a toddler whose parents were not vaccinated. It left the rabbi shaken and angry. “I was angry that there was a family in the school that wasn’t vaccinated and that it affected my child directly. I was angry at people in the state government who haven’t helped with this as far as mandating masks and vaccines. Just angry at this entire pan-

8 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Rabbi Malka Packer-Monroe, left, and husband Mercy were shocked when their two-year-old daughter, Luna, had a COVID infection.

demic as a whole.” According to Georgia public health officials, 60 percent of COVID outbreaks in the state have been in elementary and secondary schools. Georgia’s chief epidemiologist, Cherie Drenzek, estimates that there are seven times more cases than there were during previous surges of the virus. The number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths among school age children here has reached the highest level in recent months. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, COVID infections among children across the country are up “exponentially” since July. Based on data released early in September, the last two months have seen a 240% increase in cases nationally. Dr. Howard Silverman, a pediatrician in Roswell, says his office has been inundated with phone calls from concerned parents. He and his staff are working through lunch and past their usual office hours to reassure and advise parents on what they need to do to protect their children.

The American Pediatric Association says that COVID cases in children have risen rapidly since July.

On Sept. 19, Dr. Antho“Parents want to ny Fauci, the government’s make sure they’re doing top infectious disease exthe right things,” he said. pert, told ABC’s “This Week” “Should I send them to that a COVID vaccine for school if they have a fever childern will “certainly” be and when should they be available this fall. tested? When can I send “Sometime in the next them back? There’s a lot of few weeks, as we get into unknowns out there.” October,” he said, “we’ll be While young children able to see the vaccine for and school-aged students children get enough data to are less likely than adults to Howard Silverman, at be presented for safety and become seriously ill, SilverRoswell Pediatric Center, has worked overtime to answer immunogenicity.” man has seen several seriparents’ COVID concerns. In the meantime, ous cases in his practice. young people who are inOne of his patients, who is only two months old, had an infection fected can spread the disease to more vulnerso threatening that she had to be placed on a able populations. Only about half of Georventilator in a local children’s hospital. He’s gia’s school districts — including those in concerned that the threat to child health is Atlanta, Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties — mandate the wearing of masks. serious. Because state government leaves that “I’m pessimistic right now because we’re in the midst of the worst that we’ve seen from decision up to local authorities, the state unia pediatric point of view. We’re seeing more versity system and over 120 other Georgia kids in the hospital. I noticed a report from school districts do not have a mask mandate. Children’s Hospital of Atlanta that their ICU It worries Dr. Harry Heiman, who runs the was full, that they were delaying some elec- public health program at Georgia State Unitive surgeries because they needed space versity in Atlanta. “There aren’t social distancing or other there. Other children’s hospitals in Atlanta are very full. And we’re seeing that around policies and interventions in place. So, in a time when we’re seeing this resurgence of the country.” Part of the problem is that a vaccine for COVID that raises a lot of concerns among children under 12 has not yet received gov- people like me about whether or not we’re ernment approval. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, setting ourselves up for putting students, facthe director of the Centers for Disease Con- ulty and staff in situations that are not as safe trol and Prevention in Atlanta, said earlier as they should be.” All of this has left Rabbi Packer-Monroe this month that a vaccine for children could more worried than ever about her child’s fube available by the end of the year. On Sept. 20, Pfizer, a major manufac- ture. “I’m so nervous,” she said. “She can turer, announced studies that showed its COVID vaccine to have been safe and effective still get it again. We could still get breakin a group of about 2,300 children from 5 to through cases. So we’re still going to be just 11 years old. Moderna has told investors that as careful and cautious and prayerful and its data will not be available before the end of thoughtful and intentional about what we choose to do.” ì the year.

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NEWS

Re-Mapping Georgia's Political Power By Dave Schechter If you want to be left alone at a party, start a conversation about redistricting. There are few topics less sexy than the process of drawing maps for congressional and state legislature districts, as well as county commissions and school boards. And few are more consequential. Redistricting will be “the major political issue in Georgia this fall,” said Matt Weiss, legislative affairs chair and board member of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta, during a recent JCRC briefing. The Jewish community has a stake in the process. “We’re down to only one Jewish state representative and how the lines are drawn can affect who runs and in what districts, and based on how they’re drawn they may change where the Jewish populations are located,” said Rep. Mike Wilensky, the Dunwoody Democrat who represents state House district 79 and is the only Jewish member of the General Assembly. Two metro Atlanta congressional districts will receive national attention. Both are held by Democrats: Lucy McBath in the 6th and Carolyn Bourdeaux in the 7th. These two seats could impact control of the U.S. House of Representatives. In the current Congress, Democrats hold 220 seats, Republicans 212, and three are vacant. “In particular, the 6th District houses a substantial portion of Georgia’s Jewish community, including areas such as East Cobb, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and North Fulton. I would expect both districts to change substantially under the new maps,” said Weiss, who also serves as deputy general counsel of the Democratic Party of Georgia. In answering the AJT’s questions, Weiss emphasized that he was not speaking on behalf of the JCRC or the party. [The local chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition declined to comment for this story.] Also of interest to the Jewish community will be Georgia State Senate District 6, which includes parts of Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Vinings, and Smyrna. Republican-controlled redistricting in 2011 helped Hunter Hill defeat incumbent Democrat Doug Stoner. Democrat Jan Jordan flipped the seat back in a 2017 special election. Jordan is now running for attorney general. “That seat currently leans Democrat, but could easily be modified to incorporate more Republican voters,” Weiss said. The decennial census is the foundation of the redistricting process. The 2020 count pegged Georgia at slightly more than 10.71 million residents, an increase of 1 million from the 2010 count. There are 435 members of the 10 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

U.S. House, 14 from Georgia. Even with the population increase, Georgia did not gain another seat. The state is also divided into 56 state Senate districts and 180 House districts. Georgia requires that legislature districts be compact, contiguous, and that “communities of interest” be maintained, to the extent possible. Federal law requires that congressional and legislature districts have roughly equal The state of Georgia is represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by elected officials from 14 congressional districts. populations and // Photo by Georgia Legislative and Congressional Office not discriminate based on race or ethnicity. The state has de- on the broader state issues, like transportatermined that congressional districts should tion, education, and infrastructure, instead of have 765,136 residents; state Senate districts, more political party issues,” Wilensky said. 191,284; and state House districts, 59,511. Democratic state Sen. Elena Parent told Republicans control redistricting, thanks the JCRC briefing that there “are areas and to majorities in the state Senate (34 to 22 for counties that are so heavily partisan to one Democrats) and House (103 to 77). Democrats party that a partisan district is unavoidable,” held sway for more than a century, until Reciting as examples Democrats in DeKalb publicans gained the upper hand going into County and Republicans in sections of north the 2010 redistricting cycle. Georgia. “There’s a substantial amount at stake Demographics also play a role. Georgia with redistricting this cycle, as Republicans is now 51.9 percent white, down from 59.7 perattempt to preserve legislative majorities cent in 2010. An increasingly Atlanta-centric that have shrunk in recent years,” Weiss said. population will shift political power toward “Much like the Democrats, who were similarly the metro area and away from middle and positioned 20 years ago, I would expect the Resouth Georgia. Then there are the counties, publican leadership in the General Assembly such as Gwinnett, which have experienced to take steps to attempt to shore up their majorities by packing Democratic voters into dis- sizable growth in their Hispanic and Asian tricts currently held by Democratic legislators, populations. Georgia’s maps no longer require apparticularly in the northern part of Atlanta and its suburbs, where a substantial portion proval by the U.S. Justice Department. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the porof Georgia’s Jewish community resides.” Maps drawn by specially-appointed state tion of the Voting Rights Act that required preHouse and Senate committees will go to the clearance in states with a history of discrimifull House and Senate for approval, and then nation against minorities. Furthermore, the to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp. There is no Supreme Court ruled in June 2019 that federal deadline, but the expectation is that congres- courts have no power to intervene in claims sional and legislative maps will be finished of deliberately partisan redistricting, a practhis fall, with the legislature taking up county tice often referred to as “gerrymandering.” commission and school board maps when it Though bizarrely shaped districts are scrutireconvenes in January 2022. In the end, law- nized, even those with relatively neat boundaries can be the result of gerrymandering. suits over the maps are possible. Other redistricting buzz words include: Georgia has a high percentage of legisCracking, when one party dilutes the lature races that, in effect, are determined by strength of another by spreading its supportone party’s primary. “When we have races that are competitive at the general election lev- ers across multiple districts. el, the people that are elected are focused more Packing, when one party dilutes the

Demographic shifts have created “a very changed landscape” in Georgia, said State Senator Elena Parent.

Rep. Mike Wilensky said that he will seek re-election no matter the possible changes to his district.

Redistricting will be “the major political issue in Georgia this fall,” Matt Weiss said.

strength of another by packing a majority of its votes into a single district. Stacking, when low-income, less-educated minority voters are grouped with higherincome, more-educated white voters, who traditionally are more likely to vote. The population of Wilensky’s northwest DeKalb County district has grown beyond the number assigned to balance districts statewide, so District 79 may shrink. “I have no control over the lines. I will be able to give my opinion. No matter where they put me, I believe I strongly represent this area of our state and will pursue re-election no matter where they put me,” he said. ì

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NEWS

Georgia Congressman Explains Iron Dome ‘Present’ Vote By Dave Schechter When the U.S. House overwhelmingly approved $1 billion to resupply Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system on Sept. 23, Democrat Hank Johnson, who represents the 4th District in metro Atlanta, voted “present.” The bill passed by a vote of 409 to 9, with two abstentions: Johnson and New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who initially voted “no” and then changed her vote to “present.” Eight of the nine “no” votes were cast by Democrats: Rashida Tlaib of Michigan; Ilhan Omar of Minnesota; Cori Bush of Missouri; André Carson of Indiana; Jesús García of Illinois; Raúl Grijalva of Arizona; Marie Newman of Illinois; and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts; the other was cast by a Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky. In a statement to the AJT, Johnson, an eight-term congressman from DeKalb County, said: “I supported the $3.8 billion in military assistance to Israel as agreed to by President Obama. An additional $1 billion on top of what U.S. taxpayers have already paid for Israel’s Iron Dome defense constitutes about 60 percent of what the United States has provided for that specific defense allocation over the past decade. I don’t think the additional $1 billion is justified, particularly given the assessment that the former Israeli Prime Minister was the driving force behind the conflict, which gave rise to this exorbitant emergency request.” Johnson did not explain why, given his opposition, he did not vote against the measure, rather than abstaining. The other 13 members of Georgia’s congressional delegation — eight Republicans and five Democrats — voted in favor of the spending. The measure now goes to the Senate. Roll Call, a newspaper and website that cov-

Congressman Hank Johnson of the 4th district of Georgia.

ers Capitol Hill, reported that Senate Appropriations Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vt., “sounded a doubtful note over the urgency of passing the funding” on Wednesday, telling reporters, “The Israelis haven’t even taken the money that we’ve already appropriated.” President Joe Biden is on record as supporting the re-supply of the Iron Dome system. Iron Dome is a mobile, short-range anti-rocket defense system developed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Israel annually receives $3.3 billion from the U.S. in foreign military financing. According to the Congressional Research Service, an additional $500 million is appropriated for joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense cooperation, which includes Iron Dome funding. CRS reports that, through fiscal year 2020, Israel has received more than $1.65 billion to fund Iron Dome batteries, interceptors, co-production costs, and maintenance. The additional $1 billion approved by

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County. Johnson serves on the House Judiciary Committee, Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, and the Committee on Oversight & Reform. He also is a member of the Congressional Caucus on Black-Jewish Relations. He has been a consistent critic of Israel. Johnson drew the ire of supporters How Israel’s Iron Dome works. of Israel in a July 2016 speech in Philadelthe House would be used to replace inter- phia — co-sponsored by the U.S. Campaign ceptors expended during Israel’s war in to End the Israeli Occupation — in which May, when Hamas fired an estimated 4,360 Johnson criticized the pace of Israeli settlerockets toward Israel from Gaza. ment construction in the West Bank. “There The Israel Defense Forces said that has been a steady [stream], almost like terIron Dome units intercepted more than mites can get into a residence and eat before 1,500 of these rockets. Subtracting the num- you know that you’ve been eaten up and ber of rockets that failed to present a threat, you fall in on yourself, there has been settlethe IDF claimed an interception rate of 90 ment activity that has marched forward percent. with impunity and at an ever-increasing The $1 billion for Israel was pulled rate to the point where it has become alarmTuesday from a bill to prevent a U.S. govern- ing,” he said. ment shutdown and suspend the debt limit, Johnson’s statement was reported first after several members of the Democratic by the Washington Free Beacon, under a Party’s progressive wing said headline that read “Congressthat otherwise they would man: Jewish Settlers Are Like vote against that legislation. Termites.” That bill subsequently passed The congressman subsealong party lines, leading to quently apologized on Twitter Thursday’s stand-alone vote for a “Poor choice of words,” on the Iron Dome funding. but also said, “Point is settleDov Wilker, Southeast ment activity continues to regional director of the Amerislowly undermine 2-state soluDov Wilker is the can Jewish Committee, told tion.” Southeast regional the AJT: “It is extremely disap- director of the American In an interview with the pointing that Rep. Johnson did AJT at the time, Johnson said Jewish Committee. not vote in favor of H.R. 5323. that he did not know that Through his travels in the region, I am sure sponsors of the Philadelphia event, which Congressman Johnson understands the also included the Quaker organization peace and security that the Iron Dome pro- American Friends Service Committee, supvides, not just for Israelis of all types, but for ported the BDS [Boycott, Divestment, and Palestinians as well. Congressman Johnson Sanctions] movement against Israel. Johnshould know that the Iron Dome has saved son said that he opposed BDS and was comcountless lives, and if he wants to see peace mitted to a two-state solution “despite how in the region, this is a key initiative to ensur- hopeless it might look.” ing that will happen.” He said his comparison of the growth Johnson was elected to Congress in of West Bank settlements to the work of terNovember 2006, after defeating incumbent mites “was an ignorant remark. And now Democratic congresswoman Cynthia McK- that I know about the history of insects, aniinney — whose own anti-Israel statements mals and things like that to describe Jewish had angered many in the Jewish commu- people, I’m mortified by my use of the term, nity — in a runoff for his party’s nomina- not referring to people, but referring to the tion. The 4th District includes Conyers, Cov- settlement process. … It was inappropriate, ington, Decatur, Lilburn and Lithonia, as ignorant, insensitive, and it offended and well as unincorporated portions of DeKalb hurt a lot [of] people.” ì

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NEWS

Sukkot 2021: Celebrating New and Old Traditions By Arlene Caplan Appelrouth When Yom Kippur ends, the shofar blown, and the twenty-five-hour fast broken, Jews quickly switch gears and begin preparing for the joyous holiday of Sukkot. The Torah-commanded seven-day celebration that begins on the fifteenth day of Tishrei is one of three pilgrimage festivals that requires a temporary structure to be built, specific rituals to be performed in that structure, and special prayers to be said. Sometimes called the Feast of Booths, Sukkot commemorates the 40 years Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land. Originally, Sukkot was an agricultural festival meant to thank God for a successful harvest. Male Jews are commanded to build a sukkah, eat their meals in it, and say specific prayers. While the Torah commands only men celebrate the holiday, it’s a social time when family and friends get together, eat as a group, and have a good time. The AJT was curious to see if this year’s Sukkot celebrations had been impacted

by the pandemic. Beth Tieman Feldstein, a 51-yearold Sandy Springs resident, said Sukkot has always been her favorite Jewish holiday. The Atlanta native has fond memories of friends and family eating in the Northlake home where she grew up, during every night of Sukkot, every year. The same sukkah was built every year, and the decorations were kept and used each year. “We had a lot of decorative fruits that were handsewn. I am still using those decorations,” she said. Sukkot 2020 was affected by the pandemic. “Instead of sitting in our sukkah, everyone sat outside, with their own table so they could be socially distanced. Last year everyone wore masks.” This Sukkot, the masks came off and friends were back in the sukkah. “We’re all vaccinated,” she explained, “and we’re comfortable together.” Feldstein is part of a Jewish WhatsApp group that she thinks of fondly as “The Sandy Springs shtetl.” “There are 27 of us,” she said. “We’re of different ages and go to different synagogues, but we’re supportive and there for one another.”

For Sukkot, Beth Tieman Feldstein required masks and social distancing during neighborhood ladies’ night.

Fifteen women came to the ladiesonly Sukkot party. While the Torah gives specific instructions about the ideal size of a sukkah, there are no guidelines regarding what kinds of tables or chairs to use or how to decorate the walls. Some people have their children draw or paint pictures that they laminate and tape to the walls. It’s common to hang colored

holiday lights in the sukkah. Photographs of famous rabbis are often seen in those built by Orthodox Jews. Feldstein always hangs a childhood photograph in her sukkah. The image, taken in 1980, is of her mother, Jeanette Tieman, her sister Andrea, and Beth herself. “We lost my sister,” Feldstein said. “This is just one of the ways to honor and

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Feldstein always hangs a photograph in her sukkah of her mother, Jeanette Tieman, her late sister Andrea, and herself.

remember her.” Feldstein likes following the tradition she grew up with of having guests every night of the holiday. When she found out that her husband was going to a Sukkot function for men at Or Hadash, where they are members, she decided to make it a “ladies only” sukkah night. “It was casual and easy,” she said. “We had desserts and drinks. What made it special was to be able to see everyone without a mask. We’ve had so few facial interactions as we walk our dogs in the neighborhood. It was a good excuse to have a party.” Sukkah parties have always been part of Wendy Solon’s life. “My Mom always did amazing things for Sukkot,” said the 51-year-old Toco Hills resident. “I have so many memories of building the sukkah, decorating it and eating in it with friends and family. For decades my parents had an open house during Sukkot. My Mom baked her famous desserts. She did it for 25 years.” Solon’s mother, Betty Minsk, passed away a year and a half ago. This year, Solon said Sukkot was impacted more by rain than by COVID. “We made kiddush and hamotzi in the sukkah, went inside to eat because of the rain, and went back outside for dessert.” Solon, who has three daughters, combined her sukkah celebration with her daughter Rebecca’s birthday celebration. Ed and Lynn Koffsky, who moved to Atlanta 39 years ago from Columbus, Ohio, said that this is the second year they didn’t put up a sukkah. They went to New York for the last days of the holiday to be with their sons and their families. “We were invited to one family for lunch during the first days of the holiday,” Koffsky said. “No one wore masks. It rained the whole time so we went into the house. Lynn was uncomfortable no one wore masks.” Her brother, Steven S. Lazarus of Thousand Oaks, California,

On Sept. 26, Ahavath Achim members Stephen and Rhoda Margolis, Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal, Bruce Ribner, and Brooke Rosenthal enjoyed schmoozing in the JCAN-GA and GIPL community sukkah put together at the Wylde Nature Center in Decatur.

died last year after contracting COVID on a cruise. Last but not least, members of Ahavath Achim celebrated the holiday at the Wylde Nature Center in Decatur. As Rabbi Rosenthal explained, “the community sukkah is built with only two walls (and a little bit of the third), which is the halakhic minimum for a sukkah. Therefore, it’s more of an ‘L’ shape so it has a lot of openness allowing for airflow.” To ensure comfort and safety, Rosenthal asked everyone to wear masks. Food and drinks were served from a picnic table outside. The sukkah was put together by JCANGA, Jewish Climate Network and GIPL, Georgia Intertfaith Power and Light. ì Wendy Solon combined her sukkah celebration with her daughter Rebecca’s birthday celebration.

Pope High School Pope Jewish High School students respond to antisemitism with pride! On Sept. 24 the Pope Jewish Club hosted a Sukkot celebration with the Chabad of Cobb Sukkah Mobile in front of the school. “It was very encouraging to see students, teachers and the principal join to show solidarity. I think this sends a clear message that there is no space for antisemitism or any form of bigotry in our schools,” said Rabbi Ephraim Silverman of Chabad of Cobb. “It is important that as a Jewish community we remember that our most powerful response to expressions of Jewish hatred is increased Jewish pride and strength. This is the message that we need our youth to hear — that we fight darkness with light,” said Silverman.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 15

ISRAEL

ISRAEL PRIDE

TODAY IN ISRAELI HISTORY

Sept. 30, 1957 — French Prime Minister Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury backdates to today his signature on a letter of cooperation with Israel on a nuclear reactor. He actually signs the letter Oct. 1, the day he is voted out of office. Oct. 1, 1947 — Biochemist Aaron Ciechanover is born in Haifa. He becomes one of Israel’s first Nobel laureates in 2004 when he shares the chemistry prize with fellow Israeli Avram Hershko and American Irwin Rose. Oct. 2, 1947 — David Ben-Gurion, the chairman of the Executive of the Jewish Agency, formally accepts the two-state partition plan proposed by the U.N. Special Committee on Palestine. Arab leaders have rejected partition. Oct. 3, 2005 — Sarah Levy-Tanai, a choreographer who incorporated Mizrahi and Ashkenazi elements and won the Israel Prize in art, music and dance in 1973, dies at age 94 or 95. She founded the Inbal Dance Theater in 1949. Oct. 4, 1992 — El Al Flight 1862, a 747 flying cargo from New York to Tel Aviv, crashes in Bijlmermeer, Netherlands, 16 minutes after leaving Amsterdam after a crew change. The crash kills four on the plane and 43 on the ground.

orders 1,000 “rich and prosperous” Jewish residents of Safed moved to Famagusta, Cyprus, to spur economic development on the island. The Ottomans move 500 more Jews from Safed to Cyprus a year later.

Louis Brandeis wrote in 1915 that “loyalty to America demands … that each American Jew become a Zionist.”

Oct. 9, 1917 — Sarah Aaronsohn, a leader of the Nili spy network for the British, dies eight days after being captured by Turkish authorities and four days after shooting herself to avoid further torture and interrogation.

Oct. 7, 2009 — Crystallographer Ada Yonath, part of the chemistry faculty at the Weizmann Institute, becomes the first woman in the Middle East to win a science Nobel Prize when she shares the chemistry award. Oct. 8, 1576 — Ottoman Sultan Murad III

Oct. 12, 1999 — Israel refuses to let 26 Irish and Romanian tourists enter through the port of Haifa for being members of an extreme Christian cult. The approach of the year 2000 raises fears in Israel about doomsday cults. Oct. 13, 1969 — Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon, a retired general, reveals his plan for home rule for the 650,000 Arabs living in the West Bank, but his proposal gains no traction.

Oct. 5, 1941 — Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis dies at 84. His embrace of Zionism made its support more acceptable among American Jews, and he helped secure U.S. support for the Balfour Declaration. Oct. 6, 1973 — More than 70,000 Egyptian infantrymen and 1,000 tanks cross the Suez Canal on bridges erected overnight while Syria attacks Israeli positions in the Golan Heights, starting the Yom Kippur War.

Oct. 11, 1938 — Arab leaders meeting in Cairo adopt the Resolutions of the InterParliamentary Congress, rejecting Palestine’s partition, demanding an end to Jewish immigration and offering to let Jews already in Palestine remain.

An 1846 portrait by Gustav Köttgen shows Moshe Hess.

Oct. 10, 1961 — Moshe Hess, interred in Cologne in 1875, is reburied at Kibbutz Kinneret beside other fathers of socialist Zionism. His “Rome and Jerusalem: The Last National Question” may have inspired Theodor Herzl’s “The Jewish State.”

Oct. 14, 1994 — The Norwegian Nobel Committee announces that Israel’s Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres are sharing the Nobel Peace Prize with the PLO’s Yasser Arafat for negotiating and signing the Oslo Accords in 1993. Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details.

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ISRAEL NEWS

PM Bennett Preaches Unity at UN By Jan Jaben-Eilon Instead of focusing on the political infighting in Congress over aid to Israel, Naftali Bennett, in his first U.N. address as prime minister, touted his new government’s inclusiveness. “In a polarized world where algorithms fuel our anger, people on the right and on the left operate in Michigan Rep. Andy Levin introduced the two separate realities, each Two-State Solution Act. in their own social media bubble. They hear only the voices that confirm what they already believe in. People end up hating each other,” Bennett told the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 27. “In Israel, after four elections in two years, with a fifth looming, the people yearned for an antidote: Calm. Stability. An honest attempt for political normalcy.” He lauded his new right-center-left and Arab government, calling it the “most diverse government in our history.” Bennett only briefly thanked the U.S. for its continued friendship and for Congress’ approval of $1 billion to replenish receptors for the Iron Dome defense system that protected Israel against hundreds of missiles launched from Gaza in the latest flare-up in May. His conciliatory speech contrasted with some American Jewish groups, who had lambasted Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the $1 billion in aid was yanked from a bill to prevent a U.S. government shutdown and suspend the debt limit, at the urging of a few progressive members of the Democratic Party. Republican Jewish Coalition National Chairman Sen. Norm Coleman castigated Democrats for “cowardly caving to the Israel-hating wing of their party and blocking vital assistance to support our ally.” Subsequently, the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations credited the “overwhelming bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives for legislation that provides $1 billion to the State of Israel for the restocking of its Iron Dome missile defense system.” The standalone bill passed overwhelmingly with bipartisan support. Former Georgia legislator Mitchell Kaye suggested that the efforts of the small, progressive wing of the Democratic Party “backfired,” noting that the legislation passed by a vote of 420 to nine, with only eight Democrats and one Republican voting against. “What a tremendous statement of overwhelming bipartisan support for Israel,” he said. Leaders of J Street’s Atlanta chapter said its self-identified pro-Israel, pro-peace organization supported the $1 billion replenishment of Iron Dome. However, when asked about passage of the same bill in the U.S. Senate, J Street Atlanta chapter chair Scott Rafshoon and chapter steering committee members Joe Sterling and Cedric Suzman said in a statement, “it seems likely the bill will pass the Senate, but it is important to note that earlier this year every House Republican voted against the package that contained the standard annual aid to Israel. It’s certainly possible that Senate Republicans could derail this aid bill in a similar fashion.” Sterling and Suzman added that they were “dismayed

“The two-state solution has been dead and buried years ago,” argues former state legislator Mitchell Kaye.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told the U.N. General Assembly that “we can debate, without hate.”

that some have unhelpfully framed this as a vote to fund or to defund Iron Dome, when in fact it was a vote for additional funding outside the normal appropriations process. Vitriolic attacks seeking to present those Congress members who did not vote for this supplementary appropriation as antisemitic or sympathetic to terror have been particularly unhelpful. It’s overwhelmingly clear that the Democratic Party supports Israel.” About the same time that the U.S. House of Representatives voted to re-fund the Iron Dome system, Michigan Rep. Andy Levin introduced the Two-State Solution Act, designed

In a statement, J Street Atlanta steering committee member Cedric Suzman stated that “it’s overwhelmingly clear that the Democratic Party supports Israel.”

to “preserve conditions for, and improve the likelihood of, a two-state solution that secures Israel’s future as a democratic state and a national home for the Jewish people.” He had more than a dozen co-sponsors, including several other Jewish members of Congress. Kaye dismissed the proposal, saying “the twostate solution has been dead and buried years ago and [this] is acknowledged by the Israelis, Palestinians and Arab world. No legislation on a piece of paper is going

to change those realities.” However, J Street Atlanta contends that “much of the Republican Party has seemingly abandoned the pursuit of peace and embraced a status quo of permanent occupation that has done nothing but ensure a continuing cycle of violence and injustice for Israelis and Palestinians.” In his U.N. address, Bennett emphasized unity despite disagreements within Israel. “Healthy debate is a basic tenet of the Jewish tradition,” he said. “What we have proven, is that even in the age of social media, we can debate, without hate.” ì

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OPINION COVID-19, Thief

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EQ UA L HOUSING OPPOR T UNI T Y

The temperature at daybreak was 57 degrees. By chance, that was the day a technician came to inspect our furnace. Dave Schechter The calFrom Where I Sit endar said that the autumnal equinox, the point at which the sun crosses the equator from north to south, signaling the beginning of fall, was nearly two weeks away. The early morning cool gave notice that change was coming. I have eyed the sweaters hanging in my closet. We continue to harvest green peppers, banana peppers, and eggplant, but need to plant winter crops in the garden box. The air conditioner kicks on less often, and when we open the windows at night, we can hear the call of barred owls that rest in trees somewhere in the neighborhood. In one of life’s trade-offs, we also hear traffic speeding along the highway less than a mile away. As nightfall creeps earlier, the leaves begin to change color, at first taking on a yellow tint and later turning shades of gold, orange and red. Trees prepare for winter by not producing chlorophyll, the chemical that mixes with sunlight to turn leaves green. I probably learned that in a science class years ago, but now had to look it up. The transition away from summer began in earnest in early September. There were four or five days of glorious weather in between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with cool nights and warm, but not oppressive days. During the Days of Awe, the 10 days of prescribed introspection, I again found myself listening to “Who by Fire,” Leonard Cohen’s take on the High Holy Days prayer “Unetanneh Tokef,” which asks: “Who shall live and who shall die?” One need not be religious to reflect on the change in seasons. (As an aside, where 2020 felt interminably long, 2021 seems to be passing more quickly.) I met a friend for coffee, which before COVID-19 we did from time to time. Our conversations leave me feeling uplifted. I had not seen him in more than 18 months. Such is the life we have led during the pandemic.

When I randomly said “COVID-19 is a thief,” my friend gave me space to try aloud to bring form to that comment. It’s not just that the virus has taken lives and health, I said, or that it has (out of prudence and common sense) circumscribed how we interact with the world outside of our personal spaces, or that it has been exploited to infect already inflamed public discourse. COVID-19 has stolen that most precious of commodities, time, particularly from those who daily give a nod to the passage of time in their lives. Younger folks who complain about COVID-19 preventing them from doing this or that may fail to appreciate their favorable ratio of tomorrows to yesterdays. That perspective unfortunately comes with age. The virus has been crueler to those on the other side of that inflection point. Long planned but now canceled trips to destinations abroad may or may not be possible in the future. Health is never guaranteed, and time spent with elderly friends may or may not be possible in the future. Multi-generational gatherings, a chance for grandchildren to develop more than a passing acquaintance with their grandparents, may or may not be possible in the future. On the other side of lost opportunities has come gratitude for what has been possible. I am among those who have resumed conversations with people I had been out of touch with for too many years. More than one friend has acknowledged enhanced feelings and appreciation for their spouse or partner. Working in the garden, walking around the block, hiking wooded trails, and just watching nature outdoors have taken on added value. I treasure my time at that cabin in the woods next to the lake in Maine, perhaps more so the past couple of years. We hope that our kitchen once again fills with friends for a Chanukah latke party this year, and that our table is expanded for next spring’s Passover seder — rituals that regrettably, but by necessity, have been forgone the past couple of years. We hope that in the coming months, those passports get stamped. We hope that generations will gather for embraces not possible on a video monitor. Yet, while we hope, the thief continues to steal what cannot be regained. ì

OPINION

Letters to the Editor

The AJT welcomes your letters. If you would like your letter to be published, please write 200 words or less, include your name, phone number and email, and send it to editor@atljewishtimes.com.

Letter to the editor, Many thanks to Allen Lipis and Dave Schechter for their respective articles in the Aug. 31 issue of the Atlanta Jewish Times. They diligently and objectively tried to explain the self-centered rationale of the anti-vaccine and antimask folks among us. As Jews, our focus during the recently concluded Days of Awe was about self-examination and creating a better self. Because we don’t live in isolation, we are reminded that we live among others. That obliges us to apply our better selves to G-d’s service and the wellbeing of the communities where we live and work. Consider the advice of our revered sage Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am for myself alone, what am I? If not now, when?” The short takeaway is to get vaccinated now to benefit yourself, your family, and your community. Do it for your kids, and if they have children, do it for your grandchildren who might not be old enough currently to qualify for vaccines. If you are unvaccinated, you may be entitled to your opinion, but this does not relieve you of your commitment to the community. Get the jab and allow shalom bayit (peace in the house) to prevail in your household and the larger community. Rich Lapin, Dunwoody Letter to the editor, The 9/15 issue featured several articles and Op-Ed letters addressing the issue of vaccinations. Nearly all advocate for vaccinations in order to return to a more “normal” life. Some even going so far as to require the un-vaccinated to take the jab by force, for the good of all. What about people like me who have recovered from COVID-19 infection? In an Israeli study it was found that those who suffered from the disease have even greater immunity than those vaccinated! Yet we are ignored and forgotten. Should we who already have more robust immunity be forced to take a vaccine that will provide us no greater immunity simply to allow others to feel good that we’ve taken the jab? Where is the compassion and empathy for those who have physically suffered and have immunity as a result? Why is our recovery and antibody status ignored? Mark Cole, Sandy Springs

Letter to the editor, U S. Representatives are paid a large six-figure salary and many thousands of dollars more in perks to make decisions — Yeah or Nay — not to vote “Present.” (“Georgia Congressman Explains Iron Dome ‘Present’ Vote”). The Iron Done is a purely defensive system designed to save Jewish lives from thousands of rockets fired by Hamas, whose charter in Article 7 mandates the murder of every Jew on earth. Representative Johnson’s failure to vote for Iron Done funding — voting ‘present’ — means he is comfortable with the Jewish deaths that will result from an underfunded Iron Dome system. Richard Sherman, Margate, FL Letter to the editor, I wish that there was something I could do or say that could improve what some people see as the poor relationship overall between women and men in our society. Something that opened my eyes to just how much it has deteriorated is an expression that several female college newspaper editors have told me female college students say to each other: “Not all men are bad.” Geez … thanks a lot. Yet, I believe that what is behind much of this is how sick and tired women are of being sexually harassed and hit on by men. And I cannot fault them at all for feeling this way. Not at all. I am sick and tired of it, too. It is so disrespectful. By way of background, I am a retired college professor of Sociology and Social Work who taught at West Virginia University, Slippery Rock University, and SUNY-Brockport. I also spent five years working as a social worker and provided therapy and counseling in the areas of Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Mental Health/Mental Illness, and Marriage and Family Therapy. Stewart B. Epstein, Rochester, NY Letter to the editor, Protest every act of Jew hatred! We applaud the Atlanta Initiative Against Antisemitism and others for calling people together to say “no” to Jew hatred and to demand a public discussion at the Sept. 23 Cobb County School Board meeting. No anti-Jewish incident can go unanswered, regardless of whether it

comes from the anti-Israel “left” or from ultra-rightists, and we were glad to join the protest. There is an increase in acts of antiJewish hatred as capitalism’s crises deepen, although surveys in recent decades show a marked decline in anti-Jewish attitudes among working people. Unlike any other form of racism or discrimination, anti-Jewish hatred is a unique form of scapegoating that aims to take working people’s eyes off the capitalist system as the source of worsening housing, medical care, education, low wages, joblessness, and the erosion of safety on the job (all exacerbated by COVID-19) and blame the Jews instead. Antisemitism is a mortal threat to the working class. The Socialist Workers Party urges unions and all organizations of workers and the oppressed to join in protests against any and all antisemitic violence and bigotry in the U.S. and elsewhere. We call for the unconditional recognition of Israel as a refuge and a homeland for Jews.

The Socialist Workers Party combats Jew-hatred as we organize to help lead the working class to take political power into our own hands and establish a workers and farmers government. Making a socialist revolution here and worldwide will open the door to fight to end all forms of capitalist exploitation and oppression once and for all. Rachele Fruit for Atlanta mayor, and Sam Manuel for City Council president, Socialist Workers Party candidates

Disclamer to our readers: This section of the newspaper is a forum for our community to share thoughts, concerns and opinions as open letters to the community or directly to the newspaper. As a letter to the editor, we proof for spelling and grammatical errors only. We do not edit nor vet the information the letter contains. The individual signing the letter is accountable for what they share.

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ARTS & CULTURE The Breman Museum Celebrates 25th Anniversary Bet You Didn’t Know: Test Your Knowledge of Jewish ‘History with Chutzpah’ at The Breman Museum together safely.” Gordon added, “There is genuine excitement in the Atlanta Jewish community and beyond for everything we have been doing — especially this 25th anniversary celebration. We surpassed all fundraising goals and most of the tickets are spoken for. We were all looking forward to getting together, reconnecting and celebrating our milestone anniversary and are extremely disappointed that we need to postpone. We are watching reports closely, staying in touch with medical personnel, and seeing how other organizations are responding to COVID before we set a new date. We will present many virtual events surrounding ‘History with Chutzpah’ and will continue producing for virtual and in-person audiences.” Assigned to the task of curating the exhibit, seasoned professionals Sandy Berman and Jane Leavey spent thousands of hours and two years culling through the Breman archives. Leavey said, “‘History with Chutzpah’ is a major exhibition highlighting individuals with chutzpah. It takes chutzpah to leave your country for a new life, to change laws, cultures, for a better world, and these are the unforgettable stories.” In recognition of this outstanding exhibit, the AJT spoke with Leavey to shed light on the luminaries, visionaries, newsmakers and leaders who have oozed chutzpah. See how you fare with our Jewish chutzpah challenge, “Bet You Didn’t Know!”

The Breman Museum is the cultural center in Atlanta dedicated to Jewish history, culture and arts for the last 25 years.

In celebration of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum’s 25th a n n ive r s a r y, the exhibition “History with Chutzpah” Robyn Spizman shines a light Gerson on the most audacious, bodacious, purposeful individuals who have shaped our communities and left an impact on Jewish lives. Leslie Gordon, the museum’s executive director, said, “The decision to create a major exhibition based on the holdings of our archive allows us to display the results of 25+ years of collecting and preserving real stories about real people, and to showcase these holdings in innovative, modern ways. ‘History with Chutzpah’ is an important exhibition that features stories from our very own Cuba Family Archives. The stories represent significant influences Jews have had on the modern South. By telling these 20 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The archives of the Breman Museum play a major role in the 25th-anniversary exhibition.

stories, we give them life. There are 72 stories in the exhibition but thousands more in the archives. We hope visitors will want to learn more, visit the archive and tell their own family stories.” In regard to opening night, which had been in the works for two years, Gordon said, “The Breman Museum’s 25th anniversary celebration scheduled for Sept. 19 was postponed due to the spike in

the current Delta variant in recent weeks. After consulting with five different physicians and healthcare experts and following CDC guidelines, we were advised that holding an indoor event where food and drink would be served was inadvisable. The health of our patrons, friends and employees is our primary concern. We will reschedule this very special celebration as soon as we know we can be

Isidor Straus, owner of Macy’s, died when the Titanic sank. This portrait was painted in 1912. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

What’s Jewish about the Titanic? According to Leavey, “Isidor Straus, a handsome, stately gentlemen, came to

ARTS & CULTURE America as a young man and settled in Talbotton, Georgia in 1854. He and his brother went to New York, opened the china and glass shop at R.H. Macy & Co., and eventually bought Macy’s. He and his wife Ida were on the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912, and for those seeing the movie, there’s a scene in which a couple is on the deck of the ship as the ship is sinking. Ida gets in a lifeboat. Isidor allows a woman and child to go first, and Ida stands up and says, ‘If you’re not coming, I’m not going.’ In the last scene you see that they are in an ornate cabin room, holding hands as the Titanic sank. An oil portrait is on display at the museum, painted the year Isidor died in 1912.”

the late 1940s, the brothers purchased the Peachtree Manor Hotel, and it later became the first integrated hotel in Atlanta.

Eva Judith Weisz Moray was one of the children who traveled alone to escape Nazi Germany. Passport circa 1940. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

I am still small.’ Her mother, Sari Moray, survived WWII in a labor camp in Budapest, Hungary, and immigrated to New York. Because of visa restrictions, Eva was unable to leave with her. Mother and daughter were later reunited in New York.”

Which woman, born in Atlanta in 1917, saved money and paid for her own flying lessons, learned to fly against her parents’ wishes, and ended up in the Women Air Service Pilots? Evelyn Greenblatt Howren is the American aviator from Atlanta who was part of the first class of Women Airforce Service Pilots in World War II, and one of the first air traffic controllers in the U.S. Born in Atlanta in 1917, she took her first flying lesson in college and determined to fly against her parents’ wishes. Managing to pay for her own lessons, Howren secured her private pilot’s license in 1941 and joined the Civil Air Patrol in its first all-women’s squadron. In 1942, she entered the first class of Women Air Service Pilots (WASP), a civilian organization whose members were part of the United States federal civil service. She logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time, freeing male pilots for combat by testing and ferrying aircraft and training other pilots. In 1977, the WASPs

Congressional Gold Medal winner Evelyn Greenblatt Howren (July 28, 1917 – February 9, 1998) was born in Atlanta in 1917, saved money to pay for her own flying lessons, and in 1942 entered the first class of Women Air Service Pilots during World War II. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

were granted veteran status, and in 2009 were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Who was the longest-serving juvenile court judge in the country? Judge Aaron Cohn was born in Columbus, Georgia in 1916. Cohn grew up on a farm, graduated from the University of Georgia Law School in 1938, and volunteered for military service in 1940.

Rabbi Jacob M. Rothchild denounced segregation in a sermon as early as 1947. Photograph circa 1967. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

Which rabbi denounced segregation during a sermon in the Jim Crow South in 1947? Rabbi Jacob M. Rothchild, born in Philadelphia, Penn. in 1911, earned his rabbinical degree at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. As early as 1947, Rabbi Rothschild denounced segregation in a sermon. His morning Yom Kippur sermon on October 7, 1954, titled “The Challenge of a Dream,” recognized that Jews suffered prejudice of their own and asked, “Shall we endanger our own safety by becoming involved in this larger struggle” [of the Civil Rights Movement]? His answer was a resounding “Yes!” Rothschild knew the tightrope he was walking in the Jim Crow South, and understood the danger, but also understood what was at stake if he were to do nothing. Did you know that some children traveled alone thousands of miles in transport to escape Hitler’s Germany? Young Eva Judith Weisz Moray wore a sack around her neck that said ‘My name is Judith Moray. I am traveling to my mother in New York. I ask you ladies and gentlemen to help me as

Sigmund Montag (1865-1948) and his brothers manufactured the ubiquitous — and collectible — Blue Horse brand of stationary in Atlanta. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

What was Jewish about the Blue Horse labels on your notebook paper? Leavey shared, “The Montag Company was Jewish-owned and founded in Atlanta in 1889 by Sigmund Montag and his four brothers. We all used Blue Horse paper and notebooks, and each Blue Horse product had a label with a point value on it. The more expensive the product, the more points the label was worth. You could save Blue Horse labels, and when you got enough points, you could send them in and Blue Horse would send you back a prize. If you saved 25,000 points, you got the grand prize — a bicycle.” Which dentists challenged segregation laws and positively impacted integration? Brothers Marvin and Irving Goldstein were Atlanta natives, successful dentists and real estate investors. Marvin was the first white dentist in Atlanta to integrate his office and care for Black patients on an equal basis. In

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ARTS & CULTURE Nation, in a classaction suit on behalf of 500,000 Native Americans. The suit cited breach of trust and mismanagement of Indian lands and trust funds held by the United States since the 1880s. After more than 15 years of trials and appeals, the case was decided in the plaintiffs’ favor, leading to a $3.4 billion settlement, one of the largest class-action awards paid out by the government in United States history.

Born in Columbus, Georgia in 1916, Aaron Cohn studied law and later enlisted in General George Patton’s 3rd Cavalry Group. When he died in 2011, Cohn was the longest-serving juvenile court judge in the nation. Photograph circa 1942. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

In 1999, lawyer Elliott Harris Levitas was asked to represent Elouise Cobell, a tribal elder and treasurer of the Blackfoot Nation, in a class-action suit. This court rendering, circa 1999, depicts Levitas and Cobell questioning Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt. (Loaned by Elliott Levitas)

A Combat Operations Officer in General George Patton’s 3rd Cavalry Group, he saw action in four major European campaigns, including the Battle of the Bulge. At war’s end, Cohn helped liberate the Ebensee concentration camp in Austria. He was 95 years old when he died in 2011, the longest serving juvenile court judge in the nation at the time.

Name the Atlanta lawyer who won a huge measure of justice for the American Indian population. Elliott Harris Levitas attended Emory University, then its law school, and his career included being a Rhodes scholar and a five-term U.S. congressman from Georgia’s 4th Congressional district. In 1999, he was asked to represent Elouise Cobell, a tribal elder and treasurer of the Blackfoot

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Which family treasure was passed down through six generations and is one of the oldest-known specimens of this type of item to date? “Sam Greenblatt, Evelyn Greenblatt’s father, was 16 when he went to Cuba in 1898 to fight in the Spanish-American War,” Leavey said. “He lied about his age so he could enlist, and when he left, his mother stuffed his knapsack with homemade bagels. When he came home a year later, there was one remaining bagel. The

Sam Greenblatt (first on the left, standing) was 16 when he went to Cuba to fight in the Spanish-American War. His mother packed homemade bagels for him, and there was one still left when he came home. The family has passed the bagel down for six generations. Circa 1898. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

family has passed that bagel down for six generations so far, and the bagel is in the exhibit. This story is one of how families value and keep treasures, repeat stories and hand them down. We are pretty sure it’s the oldest bagel in existence.” Which Jewish philanthropist has a building named in his honor at Grady Hospital? Albert Steiner was born in Bohemia and immigrated to the U.S. in 1866. He moved to Atlanta in 1897, where he became president of the Atlanta Brewing and Ice Company. One of their original beers, the Steinerbru, was named in his honor. Steiner’s wife and son both died of cancer. In 1919, he died of the same disease. Upon his death, he left $500,000 to establish the Steiner Cancer Clinic at Grady Hospital. The clinic became a model for future cancer centers throughout the country. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, in report-

The Steiner Cancer Clinic at Grady Hospital is named in honor of Atlanta Brewing and Ice Company president Albert Steiner (1846-1919), who left $500,000 to establish the clinic. Steiner’s wife and son both died of cancer. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

ing Albert Steiner’s death, wrote that “he made the largest contribution ever left by a citizen of the State to the relief of suffering humanity.”

Walter Rich (1880-1947), of Rich’s Department Store, contributed significantly to Atlanta’s early growth and success. (Courtesy of The Rich Foundation)

Which owner of a department store loaned the Atlanta City Council $654,000, and believed in the motto, “The customer is always right”? “Rich’s was an institution for 138 years and it was the charismatic, friendly Mr. Walter Rich who walked around Rich’s Department Store and welcomed everybody. He was friendly, and Rich’s was the kind of store where you felt at home. The civic-minded Rich family contributed significantly to Atlanta’s early growth and success by becoming a leading commercial and cultural center in the Southeast. In 1914, when cotton prices fell, M. Rich & Brothers Company bought 5,000 unsold bales in exchange for merchandise. In 1930, Walter Rich loaned the city council $654,000 to help meet the teachers’ payroll. In 1945, Richard ‘Dick’ Rich, grandson of the founder, Morris Rich, opened the store’s safe on the Sunday before Labor Day to pay a detachment of troops at Fort McPherson whose funds were time-locked in the fort’s vault.”

ARTS & CULTURE The AHA recently announced the Dr. Nanette K. Wenger Award for Best Scientific Publication on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke in Women to recognize and honor Dr. Wenger’s pioneering career in cardiovascular medicine.

Dr. Nanette Wenger (ca. 1968) is a pioneer in cardiovascular medicine and women’s health. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

Which female physician fought for respect for all nurses and patients of Grady Hospital? Dr. Nanette Wenger is a trailblazing medical leader in cardiovascular research and care in women, most recently honored by the American Heart Association (AHA). Dr. Wenger was the chief of the segregated Grady Hospital Clinic. Determined to change the clinic rules, she successfully persevered, even in the face of administrative push-back.

Which Atlanta Jewish woman is an advocate for women in the workplace, having worked at the White House during Lyndon B. Johnson’s term in office, where she helped to craft the president’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, which dealt with race, gender, ethnicity and an equal work environment? Atlantan Gail Evans worked at the White House and gained academic and legislative knowledge of gender and race issues in the workplace early on. She began working at CNN at its inception in 1980 and was named executive vice president of Domestic News Networks for the CNN Newsgroup in 1994. She was responsible for program and talent development of all domestic networks, overseeing national and international talk shows and the Network Guest Booking Department, which scheduled about 25,000 guests yearly. Evans retired from CNN in 2001 and remains active in many

Atlantan Gail Evans began working at CNN at its inception in 1980 and was named executive vice president of Domestic News Networks in 1994. In 1989, Evans joined Ted Turner and Fidel Castro in Havana, Cuba. (Courtesy of The Breman Museum)

Georgia and national charities and political causes. She is the best-selling author of two books about women in the workplace, “Play Like a Man, Win Like a Woman” and “She Wins, You Win.” As a visiting professor at Georgia Tech’s School of Management, Evans taught courses on gender, race and ethnicity in organizational behavior.

On a final note, Leslie Gordon said, “Chutzpah has several definitions. The one I like is … doing what you know you can do when others say you can’t. Often people say, ‘I can’t believe they did that’ – that means chutzpah has been achieved. Does the Breman have chutzpah? Yes, because 25 years ago Bill Breman thought that there was a need for a Jewish museum in Atlanta, so he started it. The Breman has chutzpah because during a global pandemic, we planned, designed, fundraised for and built a 21st century exhibition. The Breman has continued to collect stories and has added to our permanent collection to strengthen the archive in unprecedented times. That’s chutzpah! The Breman has chutzpah because during the pandemic we increased our audience base, completed the publication of two books, began a photography initiative and streamlined virtual programming. The Breman found the silver linings – and that’s chutzpah!” “History with Chutzpah” will open on Sept. 26. Following safety guidelines, the museum is asking for reservations to be made online in order to limit the number of visitors at any one time. Check TheBreman.org for information and reservations. ì

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ARTS & CULTURE

Chattanooga Opens Jewish Film Series October 6 The 14th Cha t t a no o g a Jewish Film Series opens Oct. 6 with a diverse lineup of a half dozen domestic and foreign films. The annual event Bob Bahr has grown to become one of the centerpieces of Jewish social and cultural life in Atlanta’s neighbor city. Chattanooga’s Jewish Federation is the presenting sponsor of both the weekly live screenings and the virtual showings, which run through the week of Nov. 11. The screenings will take place at the Federation’s Jewish Cultural Center, which has served as the long-time home for the series. Last year, it also hosted a series of critically acclaimed documentaries with Jewish themes. Sanford Winer, a retired CPA, is the founder and chair of the series. He points out that it has become one of the most im-

Chattanooga’s Jewish Film Series runs for six weeks through the week of Nov. 11.

festival after a community relations meeting at the Federation, where we talked about how we could reach out to the community. That was 14 years ago. We saw what Atlanta was doing and we thought we would start our own and we did.” Part of the community-building that the series has helped to facilitate, according to Winer, was evident at an event that was created following the fatal attack at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh three years ago. Winer estimates that as many as 700 people showed up in support of the city’s Jewish community. One of the highlights of the festival

portant events featured on Chattanooga’s small Jewish community calendar each year. There are only about 1,400 Jews in Tennessee’s fourth-largest city, out of a total population of 186,000. For that reason, Winer is grateful for all the non-Jewish support the series has received. “One-third of our audience is not Jewish. Which, for us, is necessary. So, we’ve had a good response there. We started the

“Neighbors,” a Kurdish film from France, is one of the series’ highlights.

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“Tiger Within” features one of Ed Asner’s final film appearances.

ARTS & CULTURE

Sanford Winer, shown with wife Elaine, founded and has chaired the Chattanooga Jewish Film Series for 14 years.

The critically acclaimed Israeli film “Here We Are” is another highlight of the series.

is “Neighbors,” a film produced in France by the Swiss-Kurdish filmmaker Mano Khalil. It tells the story of life in a small village on the Turkish-Syrian border through the eyes of a six-year-old Kurdish child, Sero, during his first year of school in the early 1980s. The young boy is caught up in the town’s radical transformation by the sudden arrival of a new teacher from Damascus whose abrasive diatribes against

“Zionism” and “imperialism” clash with the peaceful atmosphere of religious and ethnic co-existence. The moving drama, in Kurdish with English subtitles, was a prize winner in Europe and walked off with the Film Critics Award at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, the largest such event in the country. One San Francisco critic advised festival goers to bring a good supply of

tissues to deal with the film’s more emotional moments. The Chattanooga event is also showing one of Ed Asner’s last films, “Tiger Within,” which was produced shortly before the famed actor’s passing in August at the age of 91. The film is about the friendship that develops on the streets of Los Angeles between a homeless teen and a Holocaust survivor, played by Asner. One Jewish critic praised Asner’s performance

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and called it “a redemptive story about the power of forgiveness and unconditional love to transform lives and overcome ignorance, fear and hate.” Opening night features “Kiss Me Kosher,” which also opened this year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. It’s an amusing romantic comedy that centers around what happens when two families — one Israeli, one German — come together to plan a same-sex wedding. The film is in German and Hebrew, with English subtitles. Also on the schedule are three other films that were a part of the AJFF this year. Two are about Jews living in Italy, “Thou Shalt Not Hate,” and “Starry Sky Above the Roman Ghetto.” The other is the critically acclaimed Israeli film “Here We Are,” about a father and his adult autistic son, which was nominated for nine Ophir Awards — Israel’s top film honor — last year. It also claimed the Narrative Film Jury prize at the 2021 AJFF. Each film will be available virtually on the series’ website for 72 hours, beginning Tuesday Oct. 6. For more information go to www.jewishchattanooga.com/programs/chattanooga-jewish-film-series-2021/.ì

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ARTS & CULTURE

COVID and Concerts: Too Much Too Soon? “Well, I heard Mister Young sing about…” According to the Centers for Disease Control, the current statistics show that about 53.2 Lou Ladinsky percent of Georgia’s eligible population has been vaccinated, while just over 64.7 percent of the eligible population of the United States has been vaccinated. Dr. John Cowan, a neurosurgeon from Rome, Georgia, told the AJT, “This is becoming a disease of the unvaccinated at this point. And I have only seen regrets from those who have not gotten the vaccine.” Are the current statistics promising enough to start dropping our guard, especially considering the growing variants of COVID-19 and the spike again in active cases? Chris Stapleton recently performed at the Cellairis Amphitheatre in Atlanta. I received tickets as a gift and was excited about going. The Amphitheatre holds 19,000

An unmasked crowd at a Chris Stapleton concert on Aug. 28 at the Verizon Amphitheater in Alpharetta, Georgia. (Credit: Robb Cohen for the AJC)

people and if the CDC’s statistics don’t lie, this equates to about 10,108 people being vaccinated at the sold-out show, hardly a majority. It also means 8,892 non-vaccinated individuals were packed into this amphitheater. As the show started, people crammed in all around us, and none of them were wearing masks. We were masked up and decided to bravely ask the people sitting around us if they were vaccinated. Lo and behold, they were not. Pretty scary. Was our health and life worth this risk? No!

The financial toll COVID-19 has taken on performers and their crews has been astronomical. The venues and promoters have suffered as well. So, the big question remains: is it now safe to attend live events with large gatherings of people? Vaccines are now readily available for everyone thirteen or older. Yes, there remains a large part of the population that does not believe the vaccine is necessary or relevant and continues to protest it. These people question how it got to market so quickly. Since the days of SARS back in

2002–4, scientists and researchers have been working on an mRNA vaccine to combat these types of acute respiratory viruses. The Foo Fighters played a show back in June at Madison Square Garden that required proof of full vaccination or a negative test within the last 72 hours of the show for those aged 16 and under. Did non-vaccinated people have the right to protest being denied entry? Sure, they had that right. But do they have the right to endanger hundreds of people around them? I say kudos to the Foo Fighters for doing the right thing and keeping their audience somewhat safer. Despite being fully vaccinated, people are still getting COVID, although their cases are not as severe or life-threatening as those who are unvaccinated. Just recently, the rock band Kiss had to postpone several shows due to band members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons testing positive for COVID-19, despite being fully vaccinated. Green Day recently played a show at Oracle Park in San Francisco to a crowd of over 50,000 people. To enter, concertgoers had to prove that they were either vaccinated or had tested negative for COVID-19. Concertgoers who didn’t get tested or vaccinated

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Festival-goers attend day three of Lollapalooza at Grant Park on July 30 in Chicago, Illinois. // (Photo by Scott Legato/Getty Images)

were required to wear a ID-19 test to attend shows. mask for the entire conThe rule will be enforced cert. This was somewhat starting Oct. 4. I wish this of a compromise, but is had been in effect for the it still enough protection Chris Stapleton show. I for everyone? Can venues have tickets to see the Rolleffectively enforce “soing Stones on Nov. 11 at the cial distancing and mask Mercedes Benz Stadium wearing” at heavily atin Atlanta. Thankfully, tended gatherings like the AEG announced that it Neil Young poses for a portrait Chris Stapleton concert I will require proof of vaccion September 9, 2019, at Lost ran out of on Aug. 29? All nation for entry effective Planet Editorial in Santa the seating was side-byOct. 1. Unlike Live Nation, Monica, CA. // (Photo by side, and no one within AEG won’t accept negative Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP) view was wearing a mask. COVID tests as an alternaNow back to Neil Young. I look forward tive for entry. I, for one, will proudly display to watching the Farm Aid concert every year, my vaccination card. While not a guarantee as I support the cause and get to see Young, of complete safety, I feel good about doing my who has performed at every Farm Aid event part to safeguard myself and those around since 1985 to raise awareness about the loss me. The question remains: is this enough of family farms and gather funds to keep protection? families on their land. Young has taken a stance this year and will not be performing CDC Event Safety Recommendations — in the festival’s concert on Sept. 25, citing his Updated Sept. 24 Key Prevention Strategies for Staff and concern over concerts being superspreader Attendees: events. Young rails against the influence of ■ Ensure staff and attendees wear “money and business,” and says that while masks correctly and consistently. musicians like himself should take a stand, ■ Encourage physical distancing. “it will take the big promoters, managers and ■ Encourage staff and attendees to agents to make the difference. If it’s all about cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands. money, I think they should protect the people ■ Encourage staff and attendees to who are their livelihood.” stay home if they are sick or have any sympHe further named Live Nation and AEG toms of COVID-19, and to get tested for COEntertainment, saying that “they control VID-19. much of the entertainment business. They ■ Tell staff and attendees who are hold the power to stop shows where thounot fully vaccinated and have been in close sands congregate and spread. It’s money contact with someone with a confirmed case that keeps it going. Money that motivates the of COVID-19 to quarantine and get tested for spreading. The big promoters are responsible COVID-19. for super spreaders,” he told a Rolling Stone Event planners might choose to verify reporter. “These giants of entertainment just COVID-19 vaccination status at the time of renovated a lot of old venues and spent a lot ticket sales or entry to an event. Organizers of cash to do that. Now they can’t stop sellmust obey all applicable local, state, tribal, ing tickets to pay for it. Money and business. and territorial laws, regulations, and rules as That doesn’t make this OK. … Folks see conthey consider whether to confirm COVID-19 certs advertised and think it must be OK to vaccination status. If organizers choose to rego and mingle. It’s not,” he concluded. quire COVID-19 vaccination for participation Finally, Live Nation, the world’s biggest concert company, said earlier in Aug. that all in an event, they should do so in a manner of its fully owned and operated venues and that is respectful to staff and attendees and festivals will require all artists and fans to pro- consistent with applicable privacy laws and vide proof of vaccination or a negative COV- standards.ì

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ARTS & CULTURE

New Film Brings Dark Humor to Violence By Bob Bahr “What She Said,” a new film that debuted online in mid-September, is a dark comedy about a subject that usually doesn’t get that kind of treatment: sexual violence. In the new film, Sam is a young, smart, sensitive Jewish woman in her late 20s who has spent the last year coming to terms with a sexual assault that occurred in a dorm room at a local university. As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, she is joined at her family’s mountain vacation home by eight of her friends and a boyfriend she hasn’t seen recently. They have come to support her just as the trial resulting from her assault is about to begin. Yet, the film doesn’t serve up a holiday weekend of high drama and relentless anxiety over the impending courtroom confrontation. Instead, it treats the several days Sam spends with her friends as an opportunity to examine her situation with wry humor and a certain sense of detachment. It is something that Julie Lester, who starred in the film and wrote the screenplay, described as part of her Jewish inheri-

Julie Lester plays Sam, a young Jewish woman who has been sexually assaulted.

tance. She can trace her family roots back to Poland and Romania and the thriving Jewish theater life that her great-grandparents once enjoyed. Black comedy then and now, she believes, helped Jews get through tough times. In the film Lester has created, it helps her character to avoid thinking like a victim. “This character is someone who is very witty and very quick and very funny and enjoys humor and laughing. Humor is how Jews learned to deal with trauma and the things that they’ve gone through. I didn’t

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28 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

“What She Said” is set during a Thanksgiving weekend at a remote vacation home in the Virginia backwoods.

The new film blends black comedy with a serious discussion of how sexual violence affects not just the target of the attack but also their friends and family.

feel I could take that away from this person. It just didn’t seem right.” The film uses humor to distance Sam from those whose attempts at support often appear to her like pressure and manipulation. At one point, she even considers dropping the charges against her attacker to somehow leave all that behind and get on with her life. But she finally comes to the realization that what she has experienced has also left an imprint on all those to whom she’s connected. And she feels that, if anything, she owes it to them to see the charges through as much as she owes it to herself. The message, according to the film’s director, Amy Northup, is that the victims of sexual violence are often not the only ones impacted. “We really wanted every character to have their own struggles and their own ripple effects of this assault, because that’s accurate. You know, when a family member or a loved one is assaulted, it changes your life as well.” Over the years, Northup has worked as a volunteer in organizations that help women who have suffered from sexual violence. She is herself a survivor of sexual assault, and she brought her real-life experience to the project to make it as authentic a drama as possible. During the five-year genesis of the film, Northup worked closely with the production to bring a ring of truth to the screen. “It was really important for me that

this movie didn’t feel like a lecture,” she said. “It doesn’t feel like I was yelling at someone. We really wanted it to be accessible so that people could say, ‘I know that person.’ I think humor keeps the characters accessible and human as opposed to being a movie that looks like an after-school special.” While “What She Said” lacks the star power and production values of a big Hollywood feature film, this intimate production, shot on a limited budget in the backwoods of Virginia, is still able to maintain its dramatic intensity. Lester credits much of that to the dramatic legacy she inherited from her family, whose theatrical roots go back to the Yiddish theater. Her grandfather was the well-known film and television actor Mark Richman, who died earlier this year at the age of 94. And her father is an actor who’s currently touring nationally in “The Band’s Visit,” a Broadway musical based on an Israeli film from 2007. For the young Lester, who at 28 has produced, written, starred in and helped edit her first major film project, it’s one way to maintain what she sees as her obligation to an ancient tradition. “I’ve always really connected to my Jewish identity, and the tradition we have of telling stories. So, performing and storytelling is in my blood. It’s so important to me to maintain that link. Jewish storytelling is basically my sort of birthright, I suppose.” ì

ARTS & CULTURE

Seinfeld Is Back and Streaming Endlessly By Bob Bahr Starting Oct. 1, fans of the popular sitcom “Seinfeld,” which ran for nine seasons on NBC, will have all 180 episodes at their fingertips. Netflix is putting the show’s entire catalog on its streaming platform, which is available in 4K in almost any country in the world. The only exceptions are Crimea, North Korea, Syria and China. Although the sale price for the fiveyear global streaming rights has never been disclosed, it is generally believed that the deal cost Netflix well above the $400$500 million paid recently for similarly successful series like “Friends” and “The Office.” The high price is just one indication of how heated the race for prime media properties has become, as competitors like Disney, Apple, Amazon, WarnerMedia and Viacom have gone after new subscribers. This year, Viacom came away with a consolation prize: for $100 million they signed an exclusive five-year domestic syndication contract for the show. The company intends to regularly broadcast the programs on its cable channel, Comedy Central, beginning Monday, Oct. 11. A special showing of what the channel calls a selection of viewers’ favorite episodes will run on Saturday, Oct. 9. Although Netflix, Hulu and Amazon have spent lavishly to create new programming, it is the familiar faces on hits like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Friends” and “NCIS” that have been most popular. During the 1990s, when “Seinfeld” was at the top of the primetime ratings heap, the series was said to have contributed $200 million dollars a year to NBC’s bottom line. The network reportedly was so eager to sign creator Jerry Seinfeld to a 10th season that they offered him $1 million an episode, but the comedian decided to leave before the quality of the show declined. Today, his ownership stake in the repeated sales of the series has contributed to a net worth estimated at $950 million. The half-hour program, which was created by the star, Jerry Seinfeld, and producer and writer Larry David, almost didn’t get off the ground. It began as a 90-minute special, purporting to depict how a comedian puts together his routine based on material he gathers as he goes about his day. At the end of the show, there would be an on-stage performance of the routine. But it was soon apparent that 90 minutes was too long for the show, and a shorter, 30-minute sitcom couldn’t accommodate a stand-up routine.

In the “Yada-Yada” episode, Jerry Seinfeld suspects his dentist, played by Bryan Cranston, has converted to Judaism just to tell Jewish jokes.

“Shiks-appeal” is what Jason Alexander’s character tells Julia Louis Dreyfus’s character she has as a gentile woman that attracts Jewish men to her.

In the “Bris” episode, Jerry rescues a newborn from an incompetent mohel.

Jerry Seinfeld’s net worth is said to have climbed to over $950 million after multiple sales of the show.

What remained became the basis for the new series set on the Upper West Side of New York. Each half hour would be made up of emotionally honest, humorous observations transformed into stories about everyday modern life, pared down to their essence, like stand-up comedy. Essentially it would be about four self-absorbed, neurotic New York Jews, several of whom were lightly disguised with other ethnicities by the show’s creators. That move didn’t really seem to fool knowledgeable viewers. Eventually there would be an episode about what the show called “shiksappeal,” which attempted to explain why Jewish men pursue gentile women, and one about a gentile dentist who Jerry suspects converted just so he could tell Jewish jokes. Then there was the episode about an incompetent mohel who almost botches a bris. NBC’s president at the time, Brandon Tartikoff — who is both Jewish and from New York — thought the comedy was “too New York and too Jewish.” Still, “The Seinfeld Chronicles,” as it was initially called, made its debut as a mid-season replace-

ment during the 1989-1990 season. Much of the brilliance of the show revolves around Jerry’s comments about everyday life. Questions like which babka is better, cinnamon or chocolate, or what is the proper amount of time to linger over a glimpse of a woman’s cleavage.

Yet Seinfeld is also about the importance of small annoyances and how the protagonist seems to bounce along through life without very many deep commitments other than to the sharp eyes with which he observes the world. The tales of love and life in the big city that revolve around the weekly adventures of Seinfeld, the comedian, and his three single, quirky and uniquely individual friends gradually came to captivate a nation. Interestingly, 23 years after the series flickered out, it still seems to have lost little of its appeal for its devoted audiences. They never seem to fall out of love with the images that flow from such phrases as the mimbo, the soup Nazi, and “Serenity Now.” The only question today is whether new streaming audiences in Burkina Faso, Moldova, Myanmar, and Bangladesh will fall in love with the infamous “show about nothing.” ì

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ARTS & CULTURE

Atlanta Artist Daniel Feuer Debuts Paintings By Robyn Spizman Gerson Daniel Feuer is a young man of many talents. A rising star, his mixed media paintings have attracted quite a following. While creating art seems effortless, Daniel’s personal journey is filled with many hardships he has had to overcome. Like the emergence of his vibrant paintings, he has triumphed in an inspiring way. At Feuer's Atlanta debut at the home of Kirk and Lori Halpern, the artist’s colorful, abstract paintings were as captivating as his genuine openness about his personal challenges. Feuer greeted the AJT, saying, “I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to share my art. Influenced mostly by my own life, I constantly try to tell my stories through metaphor and symbolism. Whenever I pick up a spray can or a paint brush or an oil stick, I want to figure out what is happening with me at that moment in time, express it and learn from it so that I can grow. I often look at and read about renaissance painters, Greek mythology, and love the aesthetics of the '80s graffiti movement, along with people like Basquiat, Keith Haring and even Andy Warhol, who had the courage and audacity to engage in the counterculture in order to best define themselves. I look for inspiring new ways to tell my own story and the courage to tell it truthfully.” Feuer added, “If it weren’t for my family and the Halperns (Kirk and Lori), I never would have had the courage to show my art to the world. That was why I called the show ‘A Look Inside,’ because it was the first time that I had the strength to show people who I truly am. Having the community come and support me has been such an incredible and wonderful feeling. It is the support I needed to feel confident in myself.” A graduate of Greenfield Hebrew Academy and The Weber School, Feuer created a nonprofit called “Smoothie Kidz” as a teen, turning it into a 501c3 that matched over 80 active volunteers with 1,200 chemo patients going through treatment. His father, Dr. Gerald Feuer, a gynecological surgeon, made it possible for Feuer to do this in his office, and the idea was such a huge success that Feuer was recognized by 11 Alive with the “Kids Who Care Award.” Feuer was also honored by Columbia University, which awards an annual book prize to a junior who exhibits intellectual curiosity, achievement, community activism and leadership. Feuer attended Vanderbilt on a full ride thanks to the Ingram Scholars Program. His mentor, Bob Isherwood, recommended that he next attend the Miami Ad school in New York, where Feuer started to learn about advertising and building a campaign. After 30 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Feuer’s painting “Medusa” asks, “What would it look like to stare into Medusa’s eyes as you turned to stone?”

In “Touched by God,” a mother and daughter stare into the eternal unknown, awaiting what comes next.

Daniel Feuer, Dr. Gerald Feuer, Lori and Kirk Halpern stand in front of “Romeo and Juliet” at Daniel’s art show, “A look Inside.”

graduating, he briefly worked at Deutch. Unenthusiastic about the work culture, he moved to ad agency VMLY&R, where he began to work as an art director for clients like the U.S. Navy. “I have been fortunate to live a very blessed life,” he said. “I have a family that loves me, and I have always had opportunities to choose and follow my own path. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t had my own difficulties. I grew up with dyslexia and other learning disorders, and had to learn from a young age that hard work, intense effort and uncompromising perseverance is the key to success.”

Another of Feuer’s challenges has been an eating disorder. “I was diagnosed with a binge eating disorder and what is described as bulimic exercise tendencies,” he said. “Essentially, I would hide myself away from the world when I could no longer understand or deal with my emotions and eat until I felt nothing at all. Then, in a fit of guilt, I would go to the gym for hours and hours at a time trying to burn off the tens of thousands of calories I had ingested. It took me over 5 years between diagnosis and intensive inpatient treatment to get a handle on my disease. But now I am stronger for it. I can handle the waves that crash upon me and rise.”

Now, Feuer is about to move to Dallas for a career promotion in advertising. He says he is “excited, nervous and looking forward to a new adventure. I would love to have the opportunity to continue showing my work and expanding on it. At the end of the day, art is meant to help people feel, and all I want is to share my self-expressions so that the audience can feel a part of me, share a connection and feel something powerful.” “If I had advice for myself or any other teen,” he concluded, “it would be if you are afraid of life, if your only concern is the future, you will miss the path you walk on. And that path is everything.” ì

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ARTS & CULTURE

Mermaid Makes Parties Splash Atlanta native and trained dancer Rachel Shiffman lives most of her life on land, but the sea is her occupation. Marcia Mermaid Rae Caller Jaffe (her “Mersona”) appears at birthdays, bachelorette parties, corporate events, and whichever memorable occasion wants to employ her sparkle, charm, and wiggling tail. “My biggest joy is definitely working with the kids and creating that magical world where mermaids exist,” Shiffman says. “I also do ‘land’ appearances, as a pool is not always a viable option. With land appearances, I read a book and also share facts about the ocean and ways to protect our ocean’s ecosystem. I got into ‘mersiding’ by being in the water. I grew up swimming and dancing; and this was a way I could do both while using the

32 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Rachel Shiffman performs at parties and corporate events as a graceful mermaid.

platform to educate others about our oceans.” Folklore, operas, paintings, and animation abound with mermaid tales. Think about Disney’s “Little Mermaid,” with perky red-headed Ariel or Daryl Hannah’s mermaid portrayal in the film “Splash” (1984), where her character and

Shiffman’s tail is light, becoming “part of her body” during a performance.

the character played by Tom Hanks fall in love. Or go way back to sightings of mythical water spirits by Christopher Columbus. Commonly portrayed as halfhuman maiden, half-fish, the mermaid is typically depicted as a beauty with long flowing hair. They were also rumored to be seals or manatees mistaken by lovelorn sailors for human sirens. Consider the plotlines of stories in which mermaids bestow favors or fall in love with humans and then have to decide where to live. Shiffman grew up in Marietta, attending Congregation Bet Haverim. She worked intermittently throughout the Atlanta Jewish community after graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree in Judaic Studies and a certification in Middle Eastern Studies with a concentration in Holocaust Studies. She told the AJT, “I found my Jewish identity as a young adult on my college campus. I was very involved with my Hillel, Chabad and Birthright. Birthright inspired me to travel back post-college. Upon my second visit to Israel, I studied dance with the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company in Ga’aton. I have since worked at the MJCC and have been dancing professionally.” During the pandemic, Shiffman had to rethink her mermaid performance according to COVID safety guidelines, starting with a contract to ensure her safety and the safety of those attending the event, especially when working with children and water. She provides inclusive games for swimmers of every level and answers questions. She offers one-on-one private swims so that if a parent is uncomfortable with a large group,

their child can still have an inclusive experience. Shiffman is protective of the secrets and magic of how her appearance works. She often has a handler carry her to the pool or gets ready before the children arrive. For costuming, it depends on the mermaid. Shiffman leans toward bright colors. She has tails in magenta and blue; another tail is more sparkling emerald green and lemon yellow. “I do not use a full silicone tail,” she explained, “so my tails tend to be a lot lighter, whereas the full silicone tails are much more expensive and heavier. I would say my tail becomes a part of me in the water. It is like a swimmer when we practice, or better yet, a freediver who wears a monofin; it propels me through the water like a fin on a dolphin. All tails weigh differently as they are made up of different materials. Also, the monofin that goes inside the tail usually weighs the most.” Shiffman has never been to Weeki Wachee Springs in Hernando County, Florida, where mermaids perform for tourists, or did, pre-COVID. She did watch “The Thirteenth Year,” a 1999 film about a young man who develops fins and communicates with sea life. The story made her fall in love with the idea of mermaids. “There are mermaids in Israel, there are mermaids all over the world,” Shiffman said. “There are even pageant competitions and ‘pods’ where groups of mermaids from different areas get together to swim and connect.” The mermaid life may not last forever. Rachel is working toward a full-time position in the Jewish world. For now, you can follow her on Instagram @atlmermaid_rae.ì

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HEALTH & WELLNESS Early Ovarian Cancer Test In the Works By Bob Bahr Valerie Ehrlich’s diagnosis for ovarian cancer started with a pain in her lower back that didn’t go away. A physician in the emergency room she visited did a high-tech CT scan and noticed right away the growth on what doctors call the omentum, a flap of tissue where cancer cells from the ovaries often grow. A follow-up visit to an oncologist and a biopsy confirmed the bad news. This 59-year-old professional educator, a wife and the mother of three adult children, was told she had stage 3C ovarian cancer, just short of the terminal diagnosis of stage 4. With the few symptoms that she had, she felt totally unprepared for what her doctor told her. “When you go in to see the oncologist the first time after you have the results of the biopsy and he tells you what stage it is, it’s terrible. It’s absolutely devastating,” she said. Ehrlich’s experience, as heartbreaking as it is, is not that unusual. Many women may, at first, experience relatively minor symptoms. They may have some minor abdominal pain, bloating, or will feel full quickly after eating. They may also, initially, experience nothing. For a diagnosis like Ehrlich’s, the future is not very promising. sixty-one percent of women with stage 3C ovarian cancer don’t survive. For those with stage 4, that number increases to 83 percent. Unlike other forms of cancer that threaten women’s lives, there is nothing like a mammogram to provide an early warning sign of disease. According to years of research, Jewish women with Ashkenazi heritage,

Dr. Benedict Benigno calls a reliable test for ovarian cancer one of the most elusive goals of oncology.

like Ehrlich, may have a predisposition to develop ovarian cancer, particularly if they carry a mutated version of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. If they have the BRCA mutation and have previously had breast cancer, their chance of developing ovarian cancer could be as high as 70 percent. With the BRCA genetic disorder, Jewish women have a 1 in 40 chance of developing the disease. In the general population, where the gene is normal, the odds drop to 1 in 300. Dr. Benedict Benigno, a distinguished gynecologic oncologist in Atlanta and the CEO of the Ovarian Cancer Institute, believes that an easy test for ovarian cancer could save many lives. “I look at a test like that as, potentially, the pap smear of ovarian cancer. Because of the pap smear test nobody has to die of cervical cancer anymore. Just get a pap smear every two years. But there is no such thing for ovarian cancer.” Benigno has been on the Ovarian

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Researchers at Georgia Tech, led by Dr. John McDonald, are using machine learning to test for ovarian cancer.

Cancer Steering Committo see if those predictions tee of the National Incan get as close to 100 perstitutes of Health and cent as possible. director of gynecologic As hopeful as that is, oncology at Northside the test still has a number Hospital. For decades, of hurdles to navigate. It he’s been searching for a must first be approved by way to provide this early the Food and Drug Adminwarning. istration, which might orNow Benigno and der lengthy clinical trials his research partners at before the test is commerGeorgia Tech feel that cially available. such a test may soon In the meantime, be ready. The program, each year more than Sharsheret is a national according to Benigno, 22,000 women are given organization that provides depends on newly dean ovarian cancer diagJewish women with veloped artificial intellinosis. Many confront a support and information about ovarian cancer. gence tools. daunting series of tests These tools, which and treatments that are scientists call machine more often than not unlearning, use computers to search for successful. Roughly 14,000 women die the presence of a series of substances of the disease every year. called metabolites that develop at the Organizations like Benigno’s Ovarcellular level and can be analyzed. ian Cancer Institute in Atlanta and Over the years, researchers have Sharsheret, a national support network developed a profile of these substances primarily for Jewish women who sufthat are found in the blood of ovar- fer from breast and ovarian cancers, ian cancer patients. Dr. John McDon- provide guidance and information. Sepald, who directs the Integrated Cancer tember is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Research Center at Georgia Tech, has Month. worked with Dr. Benigno’s Ovarian CanValerie Ehrlich is one of the lucky cer Institute for over a decade to develop ones. In the three years since receiving the program. her diagnosis, she has lived to welcome “We asked the computer to look at a new granddaughter into the family. all of those metabolites and tell us which She also has hope that, one day, before correlate with people with cancer and the child is grown, the search for a betwhich ones do not. The computer can ter way to discover ovarian cancer will look through 100,000 features. What it’s finally be found. doing is looking for those correlations “When I tell people about myself, I that it can use as a prediction of cancer.” tell them not to say I’m sorry. I tell them So far the computers have suc- hineni, like Abraham said: ‘here I am’.” cessfully predicted cancer in about 95 ì percent of tissue samples. In the next For more information, visit the Ovarsix months, McDonald’s and Benigno’s ian Cancer Institute, www.ovariancanresearch teams will be looking at 800 cerinstitute.org and Sharsheret, www. tissue samples from all over the world sharsheret.org

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Talented Koteles 'Becomes' Dr. Ruth By Marcia Caller Jaffe Local actress Eileen Koteles, 67, has achieved “triple threat” status, defined in artistic circles as someone skilled in dancing, singing, and acting. A Tampa native, she earned her theatrical arts degree from the University of Florida and has gone on to play characters in productions of “Grease,” “The Sisters Rosensweig,” “Paint Your Wagon,” “Dames at Sea,” “Barefoot in the Park,” and dozens of other plays, and has even choreographed some as well. Most recently, despite the limits brought on by COVID, Koteles has starred in a one-woman, 90-minute show, “Becoming Dr. Ruth,” at the Stage Door Theatre in Dunwoody. Her portrayal of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the grandmotherly, Germanaccented sex therapist and author who has appeared at the Atlanta Jewish Book Festival, was highly touted. In “Arts Atlanta,” (Aug. 26) Jim Farmer wrote, “The show is literally all Koteles. Luckily, she is well-equipped to take on the iconic character, having played the role before at the Artistic Civic Theatre in Dalton. Comfort and confidence mark her performance. From a physical standpoint, there is little resemblance between the actress and the real Westheimer, yet Koteles captures Dr. Ruth’s feistiness, warmth and ability to put others at ease. She’s a talented storyteller with sharp comic timing.” To prepare for the role, Koteles chatted by phone with Dr. Ruth and her daughter Miriam. Koteles said, “I had to

Eileen Koteles recreated “Becoming Dr. Ruth” in Dunwoody this August, after a popular run in Dalton.

concentrate on her accent. I still hear her voice in my head.” Two Atlanta fans who saw the performance raved, “Clearly, Eileen Koteles took the role as Dr. Ruth by truly BECOMING her in every way. From her sadness and madness when detailing her family’s Holocaust experience to her smile and giggles when recalling her three marriages, she embraced her role. Although we know Dr. Ruth as a fun-loving sex therapist, Eileen showed me that there is much more to this little lady; and her 90+ years have been a whirlwind that I will never forget.” Koteles originally performed the role in Dalton, Ga. She said, “Considering the commute, I was able to memorize lines and zoom rehearsals from here during the week, and just go up there on weekends. While training, I spoke to Westheimer

Koteles spent years performing live shows in Tampa to warn children against drugs and violence.

and found her to be very personable, giving and excited about me doing the role.” Other unusual roles Eileen recalls are “The Savannah Sipping Society,” a comedy in which she was one of four women who were whimsical, poignant, and did a lot of drinking. A major highlight for her was winning a Best Actress award in 1980 for her starring role in “Veronica’s Room.” Life and acting has taken Koteles from New York City to Miami and back to Tampa, before coming to Atlanta in 2012. She said, “I wasn’t emotionally cut out for New York. There I was at 5’2”, standing at the Radio City Rockette’s ‘try out’ sign, which required a 5’4” minimum height.” Raising a family of three boys, now grown, Koteles was involved in her hometown Tampa community by writing shows for 16 years at a children’s theater,

Koteles rehearsed virtually in preparation for her Dalton role on weekends.

where she directed and produced shows with a four-person cast on the prevention of drugs and violence, doing up to four shows a day, 2,000 shows a semester. The Tampa Jewish Federation bought the rights to “Becoming Dr. Ruth,” with parts performed by Eileen at a fundraiser. What’s next? Eileen is enthusiastic about the future. “I still love theater,” she says, “but I am told that I have a quirky voice and will pursue voice acting jobs locally, and hopefully in film. Also, I just did a ‘table read’ on Zoom for a production of ‘Wellington’ out of Austin, Texas, with Bill Karmovsky, about a Jewish couple who adopts an Indian daughter. I’m also on YouTube with short sketches. Another of my favorite roles is ‘Grandma Leenie’ with my five grandchildren!” ì

Celebrate Arts & Culture month at Stage Door Theatre! Get your tickets by going to stagedoortheatrega.org or call the box office at 770-396-1726 X1

November 6-7

October 1-24 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 35

HEALTH & WELLNESS

The ‘Kvetch’ of an Aching Lower Back By Marcia Caller Jaffe “Oh, my aching back!” The CDC stated in May 2020 that 25 percent of U.S. adults report having experienced lower back pain in the past 90 days. It’s the most common pain reported. Descriptions range from burning sensations to stabbing pains and cost American patients billions in healthcare, lost wages, and decreased productivity. Reuben Sloan, M.D., of Resurgens Orthopaedics, specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, non-operative spine care, interventional spinal injections and electrodiagnostic medicine. He told the AJT, “Over the past decade, I have seen an increase in the number of patients presenting with low back pain. The population as a whole is aging, at least in my practice, and I’m seeing an increase in deconditioning, which is directly correlated to an increase in low back pain. This was particularly evident in the past 18 months due to the pandemic.” Sloan noted that he has not seen an increase in sciatica, which has become the “catch-all phrase for generalized lower back pain, but erroneously so. By definition, sciatica means a nerve irritation involving the

Dr. Reuben Sloan hails from California. Now based at St Joseph’s Hospital complex, he advises consistency and frequency in core strengthening and muscle flexibility.

lower lumbar roots (L5 and/or S1), resulting in pain in the lower limbs, typically ending in the outer part of the foot or great toe area. Sciatica is just one of many low back ailments. These nerve root(s) can get irritated by a herniated disc or a tight nerve canal (spinal stenosis). Herniated disks tend to be more prevalent in the younger population (under 40 years old), stenosis more prevalent in the older population (65+). As core strength is an

essential preventative tool in limiting or eliminating the likelihood of sciatica, it’s far more prevalent in inactive individuals.” He added, “There is no question that the incidence of low back pain is directly correlated to aging due to natural degeneration of the intervertebral discs and the joints of the low back (facet joints). Low back pain is what I call ‘an equal opportunity offender’ as it tends to affect men as commonly as women, in all races.”

How does one know when to just lay low versus seeking medical treatment? Sloan: Typically, mild low back pain due to a simple strain or other mild, self-limited cause, will resolve after one or two days of relative rest and over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, such as Tylenol, or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aleve or Advil, and don’t require medical attention. If pain lingers, it should be assessed medically. If more concerning symptoms appear, like pain radiating down the leg that’s intensified by lying down or wakes the patient in the middle of the night, get medical attention as soon as possible. What are the steps to self-care for lower back pain? Sloan: The best self-care is prevention, and the best prevention is keeping your core fit. By “core” I am referring to the deep abdominal, pelvic and lower back muscles that are typically trained by specific exercises (taught by a physical therapist) or via exercises, and yoga and/or Pilates.

36 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

When is surgery the best option? Sloan: Only when all reasonable conservative measures, including injections (plural) have clearly failed. There are, however, rare situations where surgery is necessary earlier, but that’s another topic. Spine surgery should only be used as a last resort. Do you find that chiropractic or acupuncture treatments lead to improvement? Sloan: Improvement? Long-term, no; short-term, yes. Chiropractic treatments are aimed at short-term symptom minimization. If we consider low back pain a “flat tire,” chiropractic treatments put “air in your tire, they don’t fix your flat.” In orthopedics, we put air in your tire with medications and/or injections as we, with the help of our colleagues in the physical therapy world, try to fix your flat with therapeutic exercise instruction. There’s conflicting data on acupuncture, so no one really knows. What are some new treatments on the horizon? Sloan: Regenerative medicine (PRP and stem cells) seemed incredibly promising, but unfortunately have yet to be proven effective in clinical trials for the treatment and management of spine conditions, especially low back pain. Hopefully with more time and better designed clinical studies, we’ll have better news. The best bit of advice for good back health is … Sloan: Strengthen your core, keep your hamstring muscles flexible. Frequency and consistency are the key. It’s better to stretch twenty times for one minute than one time for twenty minutes! ì

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Punching Back Against Parkinson’s Disease By Marcia Caller Jaffe After his own diagnosis made it potentially too difficult to maintain quality care in his practice, otolaryngologist Scott Karlin, M.D., made the decision to retire in 2018. He joined the nonprofit Livramento Delgado Boxing Foundation (LDBF). Recognizing an opportunity to assist this local organization in its fight against a formidable “enemy” in Parkinson’s disease, he went all in and accepted a position to head their fundraising efforts. The program, which began in 2013, is based on medical research findings that exercise — especially boxing — can improve Parkinson’s symptoms and delay their progress. Additionally, the program’s mission is to enhance safety, prolong independence, encourage socialization and promote physical, emotional and cognitive well-being. Karlin says, “There are 1 million people in the USA with Parkinson’s disease, increasing by 60,000 a year. There are 30,000 cases in Georgia and 20 percent of those with Parkinson’s disease develop dementia. Our boxing program

sionals, including physical therapists and movement disorder specialists.” The center is open six days a week and is fully equipped with a boxing ring, speed bags and heavy bags. Gym-goers practice “non-contact boxing” using the bags for impact. Individual classes are $15, but monthly rates are available. Caregivers are also encouraged to participate. Educational workshops are underwritten by pharmaceutical and medical equipment companies and are free to members, caregivers, families and the community. Strict COVID precautions are enforced. Parkinson’s classes are available on-site and virtually, including Boxing/Aerobic Conditioning/Circuit Training, Yoga and Meditation, Physical Optimization, and Speech Therapy. Karlin, who was born in Brooklyn, spends much of his time traveling with his wife Jodi, collecting antique glass, and trying to live “as anyone would expect from normal retirement.” ì For more information on the Strauss Center visit www.boxingforparkinsons.org or call (404) 747-3032.

Dr. Scott Karlin (far right) and wife Jodi (flowered shirt) with Sandra Spielberger (center), Michelle Schwartz (far left), and family and friends.

Patients benefit from no-contact punches.

Exercise lifts the body and mind at the studio.

The boxing facility in Sandy Springs offers a variety of programs. Caregivers are encouraged to participate.

offers a combination of mind and body training in our workouts which can help maintain brain function. Our boxing program provides mobility and quality of life optimization. I myself box 4-5 times a week.” LDBF boxing for Parkinson’s started in 2013, but after Karlin came on board, he helped take the program to a new level by promoting it on social media and contacting family and friends for sponsorship opportunities. Sandra Spielberger and Michelle Schwartz, daughters of Estelle and Walter Strauss, were some of the generous donors. Walter, who fled Nazi Germany in his youth and later operated Walter’s Clothing Store in downtown Atlanta, passed away at 94. Many illustrious Atlantans, including former mayor Kasim Reed, mourned the death of the man he “considered a friend.” After learning about the program,

Sandra and Michelle wished that their late father had such a valuable tool in his fight against Parkinson’s disease. They dedicated much-needed funds to expand programs and services in the new state-of-the-art facility at 6667 Vernon Woods Drive in Sandy Springs, now named The Walter and Estelle Strauss Wellness Center in honor of their parents. Karlin has been invigorated by the program’s expansion to include other populations with movement challenges, including Multiple Sclerosis, Young Onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD), and combat veterans. Provided services include a social worker, nutritionist, and massage therapist. Karlin said, “Here we have the common goal of maintaining self sufficiency under the umbrella of movement challenges. LDBF is managed by a nine-member volunteer board of directors and an advisory board that includes top healthcare profes-

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Odontophobia: Do You Fear the Dentist? By Marcia Caller Jaffe Fear of public speaking, flying, and dental procedures continue to plague some of us. Does the whirl of the drill, the smell of chemicals, and the anticipation of an injection create angst? Scary experiences and vivid on-screen portrayals probably don’t help. Think of the dentist scene in “Little Shop of Horrors” or Dustin Hoffman being tortured in “Marathon Man.” Endodontist (root canal specialist) Dr. Ken Goldstein and therapist Scott Taylor, friends since their brotherhood in AEPi at UGA, recently presented “Root Canal Therapy: Behind the Fear” to the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity. Goldstein said, “Fear of the dentist is still huge. Many patients would rather deal with the pain than come see a dentist, let alone an endodontist; and in the last year, many blame COVID for that. Dental anxiety doesn’t affect a particular population. It’s worldwide. Statistics show 2.5 to 20 percent of the patient population is fearful of the dentist. Studies indicate females are more fearful, most likely stemming unfortunately from a past bad experience. We cannot

change the past, but with the advancement of modern dentistry, we hope the days of bad experiences should be at a minimum. The problem is convincing the fearful patient of this.” Taylor agreed that childhood experiences can affect a person’s expectations of a dental visit later in life. “A child’s fear of the unknown will be a major component of the dental visit. The memories and fears often carry over into adulthood. Children are also impacted by the reactions of others, including peers and adults. Nonverbal communication, such as a facial expression, alters how we perceive things. This type of nonverbal communication is very powerful. The established fear or concern is now compounded due to the negative influence of others.” Why all the jokes about root canals? Goldstein says, “Root canal therapy has a bad reputation on social media due to the misinformation that prospective patients can take to heart. As an endodontist, I know the benefits of what a root canal can do for a patient. It’s part of my job to make sure the patient understands this. However, just like

Dr. Ken Goldstein says that modern tools, procedures, and communication with the dentist can help alleviate fear and anxiety.

all aspects of dentistry, we are in a tug of war with a patient’s mixed emotions and fears, such as the fear of not being numb enough. With today’s technology in anesthetics and techniques, we hope this fear will become a thing of the past, along with the fear of the actual injection. Another common fear is of the handpiece or drill. The good news on this front is today’s handpieces are a lot quieter, and patients do not hear that piercing sound old drills used to make. I have been in private practice for 24 years and seen a lot of

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advances in technology that can make a patient’s dental appointment more tolerable, and dare I say ‘enjoyable?’” Taylor’s experience has been that counseling can help patients cope with their fears and anxieties regarding a dental appointment. Learning about the patient allows the therapist to assist in identifying coping mechanisms, such as relaxation techniques that include imagery work, deep breathing, making a list of concerns, and even setting up a tour of the dental office. Goldstein delves further into that fear. What about the appointment brings on the anxiety? “Patients have stated that the smell of the office, the color of the walls, the PPE the staff is wearing, and the actual ‘vibe’ of the office can elicit anxiety or fear. With this information, the dentist could possibly make sure that these triggers are nonexistent at the next appointment, which may decrease that particular fear or anxiety.” You might also want to consult with your doctor about oral anti-anxiety medications like Xanax, Valium, or even nitrous oxide gas to relax you. ì

SuperWomen POW is a strategic support group for stressed moms and caregivers trying to do it all. Led by Julie Zeff, LCSW, of JF&CS, we will help you create a more manageable life, and provide strategies for daily success within a supportive and spiritual group setting.

When? 10:30 am - 12:30 pm | October 17th, October 24th, November 7th + monthly meetings to follow | $36 Annual Fee WhERE? MACoM: 700-A Mt. Vernon Hwy NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 MACoM will follow CDC guidelines and may change the classes to zoom For more information or to register, visit Proud Grantee Partners of Jewish Women's Fund of Atlanta 38 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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DINING Bettin’ on Betty By Marcia Caller Jaffe Not stuffy, not flashy, but somehow still classy, The Betty, an eatery inside the new Kimpton Sylvan Hotel on East Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead, has found its sweet spot. Billed as Old Hollywood glamor, it’s a hybrid of Ray’s on the River (minus the river) and the long-defunct Coach & Six restaurant, without the crudités. Why Betty? I wondered. “It’s a wink at the 1950s: elegant yet contemporary, not stuffy,” said our server. Maybe Betty Grable? (Not to be confused with Lazy Betty on the BeltLine, which this column previously reviewed.) The interior works with the toney bar by the entrance and the dining area visible below. Expect textured charcoal wall treatments, a black and white tile floor, marble trim, and paintings only on one wall. The leather banquettes lining the periphery lend a bird’s eye view facing center. Ambiance aside, Chef Brandon Chavannes loves his craft and puts his heart and mind into what’s being served. Part of his secret is constantly fine-tuning the menu and top-flight ingredients. At The Betty, he says, “French butter, French vinegar, local produce, Ligurian olive oil, and lots of fermented components help achieve a depth of flavor.” As a starter, every table gets a tempting basket of gougères — cheesy French puffs that Chavannes kvells over: “I think bread is an essential part of the meal, but since COVID, bakers have had a difficult time navigating the new dining landscape. Rather than sacrificing quality, we thought about what was feasible to execute with the space and equipment limitations here. We have no proofing room, nor enough space to roll out loaves or boules every day, nor do we have storage or appropriate ovens for large scale baking … so we needed something we could make, store, and bake within 24 hours, but that was also fun and true to the concept. Having worked in Italian restaurants, I know cacio e pepe (cheese and pepper) is always a hit.” Here’s what we sampled: Wedge Salad: Point Reyes blue cheese, black sesame seeds, tomatoes. ($15) Raw Celery Ceviche: Serrano, pecorino, mushrooms. Don’t think only fish counts as ceviche. ($11) Grilled swordfish: Tomatoes, capers, olives, okra. ($33) Lasagna Rotolo: Mushrooms, aged balsamic, pecorino fondue. ($18) Side: Cauliflower, parmesan aioli, chili, pine nuts. ($11) 40 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

The bar by the entrance overlooks the main dining area.

Chef Brandon Chavannes has an outstanding culinary resume and is of Jamaican and Norwegian heritage.

From left: cauliflower with chili and pine nuts, lasagna rotolo, and swordfish made for a complex satisfying dinner.

Top: celery ceviche seasoned with serrano and pecorino. Bottom: wedge salad with Point Reyes blue cheese and black sesame seeds.

Dessert: the coconut roll was clever in combining miso and cinnamon.

Dessert: Coconut roll — kaya jam, cinnamon, miso. ($9) The lasagna was delicious, but don’t expect a red sauce. “Tomato sauce actually isn’t as traditional with lasagna as some think,” Chef Chavannes says. “In traditional Italian food, it’s about micro-regional and seasonal cooking. While many families bottle their own pasta sauce to use offseason, it’s just as common to see iterations that have no tomato in sight, but rather winter squash, or foraged mushrooms, even just egg and ricotta. Just as you can have spaghetti with different condiments, so you can have lasagna. When people hear lasagna, they assume it will be a lasagna Bolognese, but we wanted to highlight beautiful, locally grown mushrooms.” For next time, try the Whole Salt Crusted Fish — see Grand Plates on the menu, perfect for sharing — which comes wrapped around its skeleton and blanched in collard greens. The salt is packed on top before baking at 400 degrees for 26 minutes. The sauce is a delightful barigoule of artichokes, leeks, and fennel mounted with

butter, finished with fines herbs tableside. Chavannes says, “Making a good pasta is repetition and bonding with the process. Understand it all the way through; not just the quality of the eggs, the flour, or how to make the dough, but how it absorbs the condiment, how the thickness determines the need for acidity, how long it wants to be in the pan. It takes practice and a zealous appetite.” When it comes to cheese, the chef says, “There are many types of pecorino. Pecorino Romano Fulvi is probably the most common, though there are many other dry, salty, delicious sheep’s milk cheeses that use the pecorino designation. I like the intense salt that Romano Fulvi has as it cuts through and adds a unique intensity of flavor.” Cheese and pasta, pasta and cheese. Delish anyway you phrase it. Now where’s Betty? The Betty is located inside the Kimpton Sylvan Hotel at 374 East Paces Ferry Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. (877) 984-6548. ì

Jeffrey Diamond relaxes in the living room with pups Otto and Morty. “No. 32 Duration; Line No.3," a collaged painting depicting Ganesh by Kojo Griffin, is in the background.

Photos by Howard Mendel //

Chai Style Art

Linda Mitchell painted “Entropy: Wildcat” on fabric.

Deep Dimensions Define the Mitchell-Diamonds L i n d a Mitchell, artist, and husband Jeffrey Diamond, musician, are both Buckhead natives and creative Marcia spirits who Caller Jaffe are at home in their Loring Heights mid-century house, which Linda describes as “warm, comfortable, and inviting. Our decor is eclectic and artistic, with relaxed livable furnishings and art that speaks to our souls.” Soul is an oft-used concept as it relates to Linda and the inspiration she takes from animals. “Nature, diverse materials, and sincere emotion comprise my work, which explores the contemplation of human life through soulful animal spirits,” she says. “I hope to foster spiritual connection to oneself and to

the natural world. My animals are often stand-ins for humans and their emotional lives. In addition to depicting characters in my narratives, they are powerful emissaries, reminding us to preserve and care for our precious planet.” The Mitchell-Diamond house abounds with Linda’s canvases, some as large as 7’ x 10’. Her fantastical interpretations of elephants, bunnies, wild cats, beagles, pigs, cookies, hidden messages, a blobbing lava lamp, and two rambunctious, spoiled dogs, Otto and Morty. Linda has crafted everything from window treatments and shadow boxes to driftwood, fabric-based life-sized animals, cement, spirit balloons, and metal animals in the expansive back yard. Hear the roar in a tour of Linda’s menagerie. Decide for yourself what’s real. Jaffe: How did you arrive at this artistic point in your life? Mitchell: As a child, my nickname was “Miss Art” because I was always experimenting with paints, sewing, or mak-

ing animal figures. Early on, I found that I needed a creative outlet to stay mentally and emotionally healthy, and structured my life around that. I earned a BFA in painting from UGA, and later two MFAs from GSU — in painting and in sculpture. I enjoyed making large, welded animal pieces, though crafting steel is physically taxing, so I’ve returned to painting and mixed media. Many of my sculptures now adorn our garden, and our home includes a decorative railing I fabricated. Jaffe: What’s your artistic process? Mitchell: I work at my nearby studio. The process is intense, and hours pass unnoticed when I am “in the zone.” I work in 3-hour spurts, which are cathartic. Since there’s always more than one piece going concurrently, there is often a need for pause, contemplation, drying time, or finding solutions. This also allows for cross-pollination of ideas and makes for more interesting explorations.

Jaffe: How would you describe your style? Mitchell: An incorporation of materials and processes with realistic and imaginary animal figures. I layer materials to create dreamy surreal paintings. Lately, I’ve been repurposing mixed media elements, including beads, bits of jewelry, yarn and fabric. Different colors evoke different emotions, so my palette changes with state of mind. During the quarantine, I created a series of “white-out” paintings to reflect all that had been erased from our lives. The minimal, muted color palette was a natural choice in that time of restriction and loss. I also have a new project in the works. I am beginning a series of commissioned pieces in which I work directly with a subject to find their own spirit animal. The bespoke paintings incorporate personal memorabilia from the client, such as bits of jewelry, fabric, and paper items. The unique power of the chosen animal provides support, strength and wisdom to its collector. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 41

CHAI STYLE

The music room features a landscape photograph by David Armstrong, “Study of a Violinist” by Lori Gene, “Garden Party” by Andrew Catanese, and “Low Country Boil” by Karen Tunnell.

Linda’s painting of a winged antelope, “Fierce Angel,” on black fabric.

Jaffe: What’s on the horizon? Mitchell: I am creating a series from my repurposed billboard. I was lucky to be selected for the ArtPop Street Gallery project last year, and my work was featured on billboards throughout the Atlanta area for a year. I have the printed vinyl billboard — 14’ x 48’— which I am dividing up to create large paintings from fragments. My work is also available directly from my website, www.lindamitchellartist.com, and through private studio visits. I am represented by Thomas Deans Fine Art Gallery and frequently exhibit with Mason Fine Art. I am thrilled to have had over 20 solo exhibitions in national museums. Prices range from several hundred to $20,000. Jaffe: Which works by other artists do you have in your home? Mitchell: Jeffrey and I love art and have a wonderful collection of mostly lo-

cal artists. One notable piece is a Kojo Griffin painting that was selected for the Whitney Biennial in 2000. I also have many photographs by my sister, who uses historical photographic techniques like wet plate collodion and silver gelatin. Jeffrey enjoys a wonderful collection of photographs, paintings and sculptures in his music room. We have acquired most pieces in Atlanta, but occasionally add to our collection during our travels. Jaffe: Jeffrey, in 2017 you retired from your family’s commercial and industrial painting company, started by your grandfather Harry Goodman. How would you describe your “second act”? Diamond: I have always played music semi-professionally, and now I have the time and energy to get really immersed. I started playing piano at age 6, played in the Pacific University Jazz Band, and attended Berklee (a preeminent mu-

Linda created “Better in Dreams,” featuring flowers, penguin, and seal imagery.

Left, a giraffe painted by Linda’s friend John Seawright. The elephant sculpture made of wood and mixed media is called “Treasure.” The tall piece is “Totem.” 42 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHAI STYLE sic school) in Boston for a short time, but have been improving since I learned boogie-woogie music at age 10. Now I perform as Moondy (on most streaming sites), write music, and produce my own albums. Living with Linda has always been a creative experience. She brings art to a place of approachability and gives me visuals to contemplate while having my morning coffee. I continually see new elements in her work and am inspired by how she has recreated her art in so many different directions while retaining a narrative component using her signature animal imagery. After all, Linda is an artist who dreams about Play-Doh, named one of her collages “Beautiful Detritus,” moved from the art coop at the Goat Farm, and has a patch of turquoise hair. ì

Jeffrey strums his guitar in front of Linda’s painting “Beauty.”

Linda in the couple’s expansive backyard, surrounded by a collection of metal sculptures. Linda’s 2001 mixed media sculpture “Delicates” assembles an antelope out of welded steel, plaster, paper, and wood. In the dining room, Linda’s collage “What Will I Be” incorporates Barbie clothes and beach imagery.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 43

CALENDAR

OCTOBER 1 – OCTOBER 15 (community) and what programming is available from the CEC Pride Alliance celebrating our LGBTQ+ community. Visit https://bit.ly/2Xfrfhc to learn more.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1 Cub Club: Li’l Shabbat from the Garden (virtual) – 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. Celebrating Shabbat has never been so much fun! Join Rabbi Micah and the Davis Academy for a special sing-along as we get ready to welcome Shabbat. Young children and their families will be introduced to interactive songs and dances to bring in the ruach (spirit) of Shabbat. Visit https://bit.ly/3eMHwAd to RSVP. SOJOURN’s Drawing from the Well – 12 to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to experience the magic of inclusive community during Drawing from the Well. Drawing from the Well is SOJOURN’s inclusive weekly meetup for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Participants gather in community to discuss and connect around resources from Torah Queeries, Mussar teachings, holidays and happenings in the world. Visit https:// bit.ly/34YpvJS to get the Zoom Link.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2 Story Time with Rabbi Jordan – 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Join Rabbi Jordan from Congregation Dor Tamid for Story Time on Facebook. Visit https://bit.ly/3xfpywO to get the link. Pride Shabbat – 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Learn about Congregation Etz Chaim’s commitment to our inclusive kehillah

Kabbalah & Coffee – 9:30 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore, and journey through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This class from Intown Jewish Academy probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. Remember: The best part of waking up is coffee in your cup and Kabbalah in your “kop” (head in Yiddish)! Find more information at https://bit. ly/3kN0vMO.

Bagels and Basketball with Hillel at Georgia Tech – 10 to 11:30 a.m. Join Hillel at Georgia Tech for a Bagel Brunch with special guest Josh Pastner, Coach of the Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball team. A delicious Kosher brunch will be served. The event will take place in the Griffin Ballroom of the Alumni House at Georgia Tech. Paid parking is available in the Visitor 1 Lot next to the Alumni House. Masks are mandatory at Bagels and Basketball unless you are actively eating or drinking. Register at https://bit.ly/3EyYiy1.

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

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. In order to be considered for the print edition, please submit events three to four weeks in advance. Contact community relations director Diana Cole for more information at Diana@atljewishtimes.com. 44 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Building Blocks – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Come Grow with Us is our new monthly Sunday School program at Congregation Or VeShalom for children ages 3–7 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Visit https:// bit.ly/3k2JcIV to register. Simchat Torah Rewind – For PreschoolAge Children – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. For Preschool-Age Children. There will be singing, snacks, dancing, and crafts at Congregation Beth Shalom. Visit https://bit.ly/3nw6old to learn more. Mitzvah Day – 1 to 4 p.m. Join the Young Professionals of JF&CS for a day of giving back throughout the Atlanta community. All service projects are open to young professionals and families with children ages five and above. Masks will be required at every site project. Visit https://bit.ly/3ukNleL. Uncovering Banksy: Turning the World’s Most Famous Street Artist Pro-Israel – 2 to 3:15 p.m. Americans United with Israel (AUWI) and the Atlanta Israel Coalition (AIC) are pleased to host “Uncovering Banksy” with our guest speaker Craig Dershowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Artists 4 Israel and President of the Healing Arts Kits and Healing Ink. Mr. Dershowitz has worked with over 2,000 artists representing more than 32 different countries on 4 continents using art as a tool for social change and creating a new paradigm in Israeli advocacy. Visit https://bit.ly/3k4HMxG to register.

Atlanta Jewish Bowling League – 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. All Adults are Welcome! We meet every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. and bowl 3 games per night. Visit https:// bit.ly/3yYlEZU to get more information. David Rubenstein, Author of The American Experiment – 8 p.m. Join the MJCCA Book Fest. American icons and historians explore the grand American experiment in democracy, culture, in-

novation, and ideas, featuring essays by Ken Burns on war, Madeleine Albright on the American immigrant, Paul Simon on music, Billie Jean King on sports, Walter Isaacson on innovation, and many more—the capstone book in a trilogy from David Rubenstein, New York Times bestselling author of How to Lead and The American Story. Visit https://bit.ly/3C4t9AD to purchase tickets.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 5 Gifts Galore and More – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. as well from 5 to 8 p.m. The 11th year show features 15 artist/vendors in the eclectic East Cobb home of textile designer Lynn Reiter Weinberg. The event includes hourly raffle prizes, sample food tastings and a display of unique gift and handcrafted items. It also features an artful garden with a display of garden sculptures, and this year there will be plein air landscape artists demonstrating their craft in the garden. It’s a wonderful opportunity to shop for distinctive gifts and handmade items. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3tB5xR7. Joe Posnanski, Author of The Baseball 100 – 8 p.m. MJCCA Book Fest In Your Living Room Presents: A magnum opus from acclaimed baseball writer Joe Posnanski, “The Baseball 100” is an audacious, singular, and masterly book that took a lifetime to write. Posnanski dives into the biographies of iconic Hall of Famers, stars of the Negro Leagues, forgotten heroes, talents of today, and more. Engrossing, surprising, and heartfelt, “The Baseball 100” is a magisterial tribute to the game of

baseball and the stars who played it. Learn more at https://bit.ly/2XdPNYD.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Torah Reading Bereishit FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021, light candles at time 7:03 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021, light candles at time 7:57 p.m. Torah Reading Noach

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6 American Red Cross Blood Drive – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The American Red Cross and Blood Banks throughout the country have seen blood supplies significantly dwindle. Every 2 seconds someone needs blood, and your donation can make sure that happens. Help support our community and assist in restocking our blood supply. Your donation of a single pint of blood can save up to 3 lives. Donate blood at Congregation B’nai Torah. Register at https://bit. ly/2SYONoO. Gifts Galore and More – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The 11th year show features 15 artist/vendors in the eclectic East Cobb home of textile designer Lynn Reiter Weinberg. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3tB5xR7.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 #EndJewishHatred – 6 p.m. Join Cheryl Dorchinsky, Elliot Friedland, and Alicia Post on Clubhouse to discuss advocacy, anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and more. This is a place to learn strategies and more. Visit https://bit.ly/3fmEpyw to get link.

Tracy Walder, Author of “The Unexpected Spy” – 7:30 p.m. MJCCA Book Fest In Your Living Room Presents: Tracy Walder, “The Unexpected Spy: From the CIA to the FBI, My Secret Life Taking Down Some of the World’s Most Notorious Terrorists.” When Tracy Walder enrolled at the University of Southern California, she never thought that one day she would offer her pink beanbag chair in the Delta Gamma house to a CIA recruiter, or

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2021, light candles at time 6:54 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2021, light candles at time 7:48 p.m. Torah Reading Lech Lecha FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2021, light candles at time 6:45 p.m. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2021, light candles at time 7:39 p.m.

that she’d fly to the Middle East under an alias. Purchase tickets at https://bit. ly/3zceJMS.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 Tot Shabbat – 5 to 6:30 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for Tot Shabbat Friday night. Learn more at https://bit. ly/396ku42.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 Story Time with Rabbi Jordan – 9:15 to 9:45 a.m. Join Rabbi Jordan from Congregation Dor Tamid for Story Time with Rabbi Jordan on Facebook. Visit https://bit.ly/3xfpywO to get the link.

from Intown Jewish Academy probes the esoteric through a unique program of English text-based study. No prior Kabbalistic experience required. Find more information at https://bit. ly/3kN0vMO. Blessing of the Pets – 2 to 3 p.m. MJCCA’s Blessing of the Pets is for people and pets of all faiths and backgrounds. The event will feature private and public pet blessings with local rabbis and pastors, local vendors, pet adoptions, lowcost vaccinations, micro-chipping, and more! Stay and enjoy the afternoon with your pet at the beautiful Brook Run Dog Park. All leashed and/or caged pets and their two-legged friends are welcome! Bring your family and pets to an afternoon of pet-friendly fun! Learn more at https://bit.ly/3Eb3tEd.

Shabbat Learners’ Service – 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. Tap into the spirit of Shabbat at Intown Jewish Academy’s monthly interactive service. You’ll enjoy engaging discussions, inspirational stories, moving prayer and intelligent commentary, all in a warm and friendly setting. Learn more at https://bit.ly/394LpNO. BEST STROKES Hadassah Bares All for A.R.T. – 8 to 9 p.m. Supporting Breast and Ovarian Cancer (Awareness, Research & Treatment) Virtual Edition, 2021. Personal reflections from Joanne Birnbrey, Jodi Halpert, Suzanne Reiman, & Amy Rubin. To register, visit https://bit.ly/3A7RMMg.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 Kabbalah & Coffee – 9:30 to 11 a.m. Discuss, explore, and journey through the world of Jewish mystical teaching and learn how to apply these profound teachings to your daily life. This class

Atlanta Jewish Bowling League – 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. All Adults are Welcome! We meet every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. and bowl 3 games per night. Visit https:// bit.ly/3yYlEZU to get more information. MJCCA Book Festival features “2020 Hindsight” – 7 to 8 p.m. MJCCA Book Festival welcomes a panel of women and girls whose stories were featured in JWFA’s new anthology, “2020 Hindsight: A pivotal moment in history, through the eyes of Atlanta’s Jewish women and girls.” Learn more at https://bit.ly/3k7rUKX.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12 Understanding and Responding to Anti-Semitism – 7 to 8:30 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for an important discussion with the ADL. Over the past four years, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has recorded the highest number of anti-Semitic incidents in decades of monitoring this hate in America, and has seen it transform and continue to find its way into our communities even in the middle of a global pandemic. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3nQJa9j.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13

Fall 2021 Gardening Lecture Series – Fun Garden Projects to do with your Kids – 2 to 3:15 p.m. North Fulton Master Gardener Donna Whitesel uses her many years of working with children to guide you through several fun and horticulturally-based projects to do with kids. Tap into your child’s natural curiosity with these hands-on and age-appropriate activities that are sure to make a plant lover out of your little sprout! Register at https://bit. ly/3hu7olQ.

Mindy Weisel In Conversation w Stuart Eizenstat – 8 to 9:30 p.m. MJCCA Book Fest In Your Living Room Presents Mindy Weisel, “After: The Obligation of Beauty.” Weisel, an internationally acclaimed artist, author and cousin to famed author and Holocaust survivor Elie Weisel, traces her search for beauty in her life, which began as a child born in the Bergen-Belsen Displaced Person’s Camp to parents who had survived Auschwitz. The process of creating art not only became an antidote to the pain and suffering she witnessed and felt, but it also became an “obligation” for finding joy and love in the face of pain. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3CcjiJ9. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 45

JF&CS – Telehealth Counseling Services – Now offering telehealth options via phone or videoconference for current and new clients to help our community during this crisis. For more information about our therapy services or to make a telehealth appointment, email us at therapy@jfcsatl.org or call 770-6779474.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14 #EndJewishHatred – 6 p.m. Join Cheryl Dorchinsky, Elliot Friedland, and Alicia Post on Clubhouse to discuss advocacy, anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, and more. This is a place to learn strategies and more. Visit https://bit.ly/3fmEpyw to get the link. PrimeTimers Coffee with Rabbi Jordan – 10 a.m. Grab a beverage and head over to Zoom to spend time with Rabbi Jordan and your PrimeTimer Friends from Congregation Dor Tamid. Visit https://bit.ly/3Cg2QZ6 to get the Zoom link.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15 Cub Club: Li’l Shabbat from the Garden (virtual) – 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. Celebrating Shabbat has never been so much fun! Join Rabbi Micah and the Davis Academy for a special sing-along as we get ready to welcome Shabbat. Young children and their families will be introduced to interactive songs and dances to bring in the ruach (spirit) of Shabbat. Visit https://bit.ly/3eMHwAd to RSVP. SOJOURN’s Drawing from the Well – 12 to 1 p.m. Everyone is welcome to experience the magic of inclusive community during Drawing from the Well. Drawing from the Well is SOJOURN’s inclusive weekly meetup for LGBTQ+ Jews and allies. Participants gather in community to discuss and connect around resources from Torah Queeries, Mussar teachings, holidays and happenings in the world. Visit https:// bit.ly/34YpvJS to get the Zoom Link.

Tot Shabbat – 5:30 p.m. Come join Congregation Dor Tamid for Tot Shabbat. RSVP required to Stacey Jahanfar at https://bit.ly/3AaHRFt. 31st Annual Torch Gala – 7 p.m. The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is the largest non-profit voluntary health agency dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and to improving the quality of life of those affected. The Torch Gala is the largest fundraiser of the year. Purchase tickets at https://bit.ly/3CcYam1.

46 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

JF&CS - Telehealth Older Adult Services – Aviv Older Adult staff are there to help provide resources, care plans and support for you and your family. Call AgeWell at 1-866-AGEWELL (1-866-243-9355) to find out how they can help. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

Community Services: Anti-Defamation League – The Coronavirus Surfaces Fear, Stereotypes and Scapegoating: A blog post from ADL to help provide accurate information, explore emotions and, most importantly, play a role in reducing stereotyping and scapegoating. To read more, www.bit.ly/3dp5a3t. Atlanta Community Food Bank Text for Help SMS Function – The ACFB’s mission to provide nutritious food to the people who need it has reached a major milestone toward access to food for all. The Text for Help is ‘findfood’ (no space). Responses will include a list of three different nearby pantries and their contact information. For more information, www.acfb.org. Israeli American Council – IAC@ Home brings you the most innovative content online while helping build a national community with Israel at heart. With activities for kids, teens, young professionals and adults, you can stay connected to Hebrew, Israeli and Jewish heritage, online activism and to one another. IAC@Home lets you enjoy a coastto-coast community right from your own home. For more information, www.israeliamerican.org/home. JF&CS – Emergency Financial Assistance – JF&CS is here to provide emergency aid for individuals and families. Please call 770-677-9389 to get assistance. For more information, www.bit.ly/2wo5qzj.

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta COVID-19 Resources – The unsettling, fast-moving and unpredictable world of life with COVID-19 is upon us. As we’re all discovering, a worldwide pandemic disrupts everyone on an unprecedented scale. For updates and more information, www.bit.ly/3ahrNVM. Please send Community Service Opportunities to diana@atljewishtimes.com.

Congregation Etz Chaim – Erev Shabbat Musical, Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Shabbat morning services at 9:30 a.m. Join in for weekly livestream Shabbat services. To join, visit www.bit.ly/3gWL02s. Congregation Or Hadash – Shabbat services Friday at 6:30 p.m. Saturday morning services at 9:15 a.m. Minyan Sunday and Tuesday mornings. To participate and get Zoom link, www. or-hadash.org. Congregation Shearith Israel – Daily and Shabbat services will continue at regular times through Zoom. They are counting participants in these Zoom services as part of a minyan, allowing members to recite full prayer services including Mourner’s Kaddish. To participate via phone, dial 929-205-6099 and then enter the meeting code 404 873 1743. To be a part of services, visit the Zoom link, www.bit.ly/2wnFWlD. Temple Beth David — Kabbalat Shabbat services every Friday at 7:30 p.m. Shabbat morning service and Torah Study every Saturday at 11 a.m. on our YouTube channel, (www. youtube.com/channel/UC2GcbAI_ HdLRSG5hhpi_8Cw). Temple Beth Tikvah Livestreaming Services – Fridays at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays at 10 a.m. To join on Facebook, www. facebook.com/TempleBethTikvah/ or www.bit.ly/2ZlCvrr.

Synagogue Livestreaming Services: Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Shabbat evening services at 6:00 p.m. Shabbat morning services at 9:30 a.m. To watch and for more information, www.bit. ly/38dS4Ed. Congregation Beth Shalom’s Virtual Services – Erev Shabbat, Fridays at 6:30 p.m., Shabbat service, Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. Zoom minyan Sunday at 9:30 a.m. For more information, www. bethshalom.net. Congregation Dor Tamid - Shabbat evening services at 7:30 p.m. For more information, www.dortamid.org.

Temple Kol Emeth Services – Shabbat services on Fridays at 8 p.m. View our services on www.kolemeth.net or www.facebook.com/Temple Kol Emeth-Marietta, GA. Temple Sinai Livestream Services – Temple Sinai has live Shabbat services on Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. For more information and to view services, www.bit.ly/2BXRfTF. The Temple Livestreaming Services – Find live streaming services here, www.the-temple.org. Please send Synagogue and Temple Streaming Services to diana@atljewishtimes.com. Check the Atlanta Jewish Connector for updates: www.atlantajewishconnector.com. ì

CONNECTOR CHATTER Directory Spotlight www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Israeli American Council (IAC) Atlanta

Cub Scout Pack 1818

In conversation with Cubmaster Adam Throne.

In conversation with Shaked Angel, regional director.

How long has your organization been in Atlanta? The Pack has been active since the fall of 2002. It started in the Roswell home of one of our founding members and grew from there when it became chartered through the Marcus Jewish Community Center. The Pack is soon coming up on its platinum anniversary! How do you cater to the younger members of the community? Pack 1818 is a Cub Scout Pack with a Jewish twist. The pack offers both boys and girls in grades K-5 a fun way to bond with their parents while developing important life skills and building life-long friendships together. The Pack conducts all of the “regular” fun events of Scouting, combining the core character traits practiced in Scouting with the heritage and traditions of Judaism. Our scouts have launched home-made water rockets, hiked nature trails, built fires, whittled with knives, slept in tents, watched basketball games and movies, gone putt-putting, learned first aid, cooked over an open fire, celebrated Shavuot on a mountain, created and raced model cars, visited police and fire stations, met K9 dogs, and collected food for our neighbors. We will continue to use technology to enhance members’ experiences and involvement at our live events as the community opens up again. This year’s events will allow Cubs and their parents to build robots and race model boats together; help seniors by decorating a sukkah; create their own comics, games, and movies together; travel and explore state parks and a nearby city — and much more.

How long has your organization been in Atlanta? The IAC has been active in Atlanta since January 2018.

How does your organization help the community? Pack 1818 serves to remind families of the values of both Scouting and Judaism, of respect and reverence for others, and of the value of spending quality time together. When we camp, we celebrate Shabbat and Havdalah. Cub Scout philosophies like respecting nature and service projects mesh beautifully with our Jewish teachings of tzedakah and tikkun olam. We are kosher-style at our functions. Our charter organization is the MJCCA and we are part of the Northern Ridge District of the Atlanta Area Council of Scouting, so we tend to draw from Reform and Conservative Jewish families near and north of the perimeter. Like all Scout Packs, we conduct service projects throughout the year, with a particular eye on helping the Jewish community, such as “Scouting for Food” for the JF&CS Food Pantry, decorating the sukkah at the Cohen home, and sponsoring an annual Chanukah carnival and Scout Shabbat & Oneg with an annual rotation at area synagogues. Volunteer to help bring something to the table to help the kids grow and the pack to thrive!

How does your organization help the community? We have many programs that help the community be more engaged in Israel and Judaism, but I would like to highlight two programs: our Activism program, which helps train students to be better educated about Israel and fight anti-Semitism by reinforcing Jewish identity and pride. The second program is our Care program, in which IAC volunteers and lay leaders help the community both through donations and actions.

How do you cater to the younger members of the community? The IAC has programing with multiple touchpoints. We serve all ages with a variety of programming from young kids (Keshet, ages 4-7) through Eitanim (Middle School and High School), Gvanim (adult leadership), and outreach programs such as IAC Care, our social responsibility program — and much more.

Neranenah Concert and Culture Series (formerly the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival) In conversation with Raychel Robbins, managing director.

How long has your organization been in Atlanta? We were founded in 2009, and our first “festival” in 2010 was a one-day event with four bands. In September 2020, we rebranded as Neranenah and have expanded to year-round programming and two Showcase weekends each year.

How does your organization help the community? Neranenah, which comes from the Jewish song of celebration, Hava Nagila, means “let’s come together and sing” in Hebrew. Jewish music and cultural traditions are meant to be shared and celebrated. We take seriously the responsibility of passing along traditions and knowledge to the next generation and encourage creative evoHow do you cater to the younger members of the community? lution so those traditions may stay alive for years to come. There is freedom at NerFrom our family-friendly concerts to teen showcases where Atlanta’s most talented anenah. Freedom to express, believe and explore what feels right to your personal teen musicians get to flex their performance muscles on stage, our young profes- creative and spiritual journey. sionals’ events like Friday night Shabbat concerts, and our signature event, The Egg Drop, held on Christmas Eve, there’s something for everyone. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 47

COMMUNITY Did Early Experiences Affect Your Creativity?

By Chana Shapiro

Elena Oliker Growing up in Leningrad, I was surrounded by amazing architecture and firstclass art museums. There is no museum like the Hermitage! Amid our very hard way of life, a walk in the city was aesthetically stimulating and nourishing. In my neighborhood, older adults “adopted me” while my parents were working, and they enabled me to take advantage of the beautiful city. I was a math major and eventually taught in American universities and had my own business. At the same time, I have always been a writer and enjoy illustrating and exploring other art forms. When I get an idea, I figure out how to create it. Because I’m a mathematician, I can formulate how something can be made or can be taught to others. When you like doing something your “creative spirit” becomes contagious. When my mother came to the United

Stan Harris Harris, a retired dentist and community volunteer, is a man of many talents. He is an accomplished musician who plays the flute (but never took a lesson), and who has joined with American and Israeli friends in countless area Kumzits groups, which typically last all night. His collection of Israeli songbooks

Elena Oliker stands in front of her impressionistic hand-painted street scene. 48 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

All boys used to have knives, and I was always using mine. I was born with the urge to do and make things myself. If I needed something, I figured out how to create it. That included building things and constructing my own toys. As a young kid, I remember making a footstool Leah Steiner handmade these quilts, then from found wood, embroidered and appliqued them. a cushion, and for me. When an opportunity to create from tacks. We had relatives in Baltimore, and wood presents itself, I eagerly respond!” on one trip my uncle Shlaymie took me to a hobby store and bought me some balsa Leah Steiner wood. That light wood, very different from My natural passions were encouraged, what I was used to, sparked creativity. ever since childhood. They have included I’ve built furniture and a full-wall unit ballet, loom weaving, drawing, quilting, and watercolor painting. Like so many little girls, I went to ballet class weekly. Unlike so many others, I kept going until I earned a bachelor’s degree in music, with a major in dance. Professionally, dancing in the ballet company at Radio City Music Hall was an exciting experience. But four shows a day, seven days a week became too much. I went on to teach. As a young mother, I learned to weave; first on a small frame loom, and then a floor loom. Experiencing the beautiful colors of yarn, the variety of textures and weaving techniques, I was hooked! After much practice, I was employed to weave tallitot in Sharon Norry’s iconic studio in Rochester, New Stan Harris uses tools of all shapes and sizes in his large workspace. York. In Atlanta, I was able to study drawing, is vast. He spent for books and memorabilia. Over more than including colored pencil drawing. I love the the summers from 40 years, I’ve been acquiring more and betcalming effect of having a pencil (and eras1980 to 1990 on ter tools, and sometimes I make my own. I er) in my hand, and my mind focused only Kibbutz Sa’ad in try to produce things I need and want, and on the image I’m drawing. the western Galilee over the years, I’ve obtained the right tools. A museum exhibit of handmade quilts as a volunteer den- The first big tool I bought was a radial arm sparked my next endeavor. A widow, plantist. And, perhaps saw in 1970. I now own many saws, hunning to dress only in black, made the quilt most notably, he dreds of different knives, several polishers, using all of her colorful dresses, which gave is a master wood- sanders, grinders, sharpeners, and a great me pause. I realized that there could be procarver. Here, he deal of wood of all kinds and sizes, includfound meaning in reusing meaningful maing exotics. speaks for himself: terial to make something new. As a dentist, a patient was unable to “I am from And most recently, as a member of the Ocilla, a small town pay a large sum of money he owed me. InCentral DeKalb Senior Center, I attended in southern Geor- stead, he gave me my first lathe (I now have watercolor classes, where I enjoyed the give gia. As a kid, I was a 3). When I find a discarded piece of furniand take of my peers and the wise advice of boy scout, earning ture on the street, I often bring it home and our teacher. all the badges and turn it into something even better. WhatPandemically, my art is often my therachieving the rank ever presents itself that probably wouldn’t apy, and I see my past experiences as one of Eagle Scout. present possibilities to others, is compelling continuous line of enjoying my blessings. ì

States, she retired and was able to enjoy painting. She was a good artist, and when she passed away in 2007, I wanted to honor her by extending her affection for young people and her artistic influence. In Atlanta, I started Frimma’s Circle, a no-fee drawing program I developed, in which elementaryaged children met in a workroom at my home for an hour each week. For seven years, I helped groups of children “learn to see.” Kids are often convinced that they can’t draw, and I enabled them to use their abilities in the best way possible. In Israel, where we live part-time, I continue to volunteer and teach. In an Englishspeaking club in Netanya, I am the computer person; I train others and bring tech into their lives. I also enjoy working in various art mediums with teenagers in the area. Most recently, in Atlanta, I was clearing an area of our backyard and ended up exposing a swath of wooden fence. I had a vision and “saw” that I had to paint a European street scene on it!

COMMUNITY SIMCHA SPOTLIGHT

Michal and Michael Bonell

Birthday

Anniversary

Michal Bonell, senior account manager and team supervisor for the Atlanta Jewish Times, celebrated her 50th birthday this September. The birthdaybash was in Alpharetta with all of her closest friends and featured her son’s band, The Asymptomatics.

Michal and Michael Bonell also marked their 25th wedding anniversary this September. They were married in Cambridge, MA in 1996, and have two wonderful children, Ilana and Nicholas Bonell. They decided to stay close and traveled to Lake Oconee for some rest and relaxation to honor this milestone.

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OY VEY OY VEY! HAVE I GOT A PROBLEM...

JEWISH JOKE

und, Dear Rachel, High Holidays roll aro ain. Every year, as the nt to wa I m! the It’s that time of year ag mean to keep resolutions and I really blem. pro the e’s I make my New Year’s her ential. But I want to achieve my pot identithe d an r, yea t change, I want to grow, same place as las the in ck ba ht rig I’m e blem. Once again, I feel lik cific, I have an anger pro surface. To be more spe friend, or r, rke wo cal issue is rising to the member, come, whether it’s a family will He d an , G-d When someone annoys ll stand before voice. Once again, I wi I ask can w Ho ? say I often snap or raise my . What can I w my year will play out l? goa judge me and decide ho my len short of en I have once again fal Him for a good year wh ciated.

are deeply appre Any recommendations , Thank you for listening Betty Dear Betty,

You are brave and courageous for confronting this issue head-on. How beautiful that you want to change, that you don’t want to settle for status-quo in spite of your feeling that you haven’t moved forward. Internal change is incredibly difficult. And since it is so challenging, I suggest taking baby steps. Allow me to share some tips I learned while training to be a life coach. Understand that people will do things that make you feel upset. Take a moment to play out different scenarios that make your blood boil. How do any of these situations make you feel inside- is your jaw tightening, your heart hammering, your stomach clenching? Now address the area of tension and instruct that part of your body to relax. Tell yourself, “This is not an emergency I can take care of it later.” Picture yourself leaving the scene without saying a word. Go take a walk, have a soothing drink, call a friend- do whatever you need to help you calm down and leave the anger behind. And last, when your breathing has slowed and you are on “safe turf”, picture how you would like to handle the situation. For example, your husband assured you he would pick up milk, and he forgot. The next morning, your child has a meltdown because he didn’t have milk for his cereal. In your patient persona, can you extend kindness and compassion to Hubby? “Honey, I guess you forgot to pick up milk. Next time, would it be helpful for me to text you a reminder?” Anger wears down the fabric of relationships. Even when there is love, if too much anger is intertwined, it pushes people away. And the last thing you want is to push away the people you love. Can you have an honest conversation with those who may have borne the brunt of your anger? You may have a child who is extremely difficult. Sometimes you may even dislike the child, though you always love him. Can you sit your child down and say, “Sweetie, I know sometimes I get angry, and then I say hurtful comments, I’m working on this because I never want to cause you pain. Please know how much I love you, and that I’m trying my best.” We’re all human. We all have failings that need correction. We can’t erase the past. But we can learn from it and step towards a better future. Picture G-d as your loving Father holding His arms out to you. Can you hear His words? “I’m so proud of you for trying!” He says with a loving smile. “I have faith in you, and I know you can do this. I’m rooting for you. And I love you forever, my precious daughter, no matter what mistakes you make- because a parent always loves His child.” Betty, you have taken a huge step forward in confronting the problem you want to change. May G-d give you the strength to move forward in your sublime quest for selfimprovement and repairing relationships. Wishing you and all our readers a healthy, happy New Year, Rachel

Atlanta Jewish Times Advice Column Got a problem? Email Rachel Stein, a certified life coach, at oyvey@ atljewishtimes.com describing your problem in 250 words or less. We want to hear from you and get helpful suggestions for your situation at the same time! 50 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

A Yiddishe Mameh A woman runs into a theater in Israel calling out, “Is there a doctor in the house, doctor, doctor?” The play stops, the lights go on, and three men get up, each saying “I am a doctor, how can I help?” “Oy,” answers the woman, ... “have I got a girl for you!” Source: Chabad Naples Jewish Community Center

YIDDISH WORD OF THE MONTH Faynshmeker n. gourmand, or a person of refined tastes (sarcastic) “My boyfriend is such a faynshmeker, he won’t go to Chipotle with me.” From the German Feinschmecker — fein (fine) + Schmecker (taster) — often translated as gourmand or connoisseur. In Yiddish, the purely descriptive noun takes on a mocking tone, implying the person in question has overly refined tastes.

BRAIN FOOD

“TV Idols?”

ACROSS

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

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21 24

16 19 22

26 29

40 42

50 57

1. Not take the high road 6. Odor 11. Bed on wheels, perhaps 14. Advil alternative 15. "Esa ___" 16. "Ledodi" preceder 17. Rocker born Chaim Witz 19. Vigor 20. Jewish song 21. "School ___" (1992 film about a Jewish quarterback) 22. Three, to Henri 24. Build 26. With vigor 27. Rav Schneerson of note 31. Ipso ___ 32. McKellen and McEwan 33. Actor Gross with a lion name 34. Awards that could be another title for this puzzle 36. One from Edinburgh 40. With 6-Down, Matt Damon plays one in 21-Across 41. Legend Epstein of the Israeli Airforce 42. Voice of Melman the Giraffe in "Madagascar" 47. They might be used for some games 48. This ___ (package direction)

49. Alternative to a Skor 50. Bad Biblical king with a woeful wife 52. A 36-Across might call a girl this 55. ___ Chaim 56. "The New Colossus" poet 59. View 60. Like the Leaning Tower of Pisa 61. Had a Shabbos meal at home 62. Roush in the Baseball Hall of Fame 63. "Star Wars" title 64. Nudniks

23. Kind of herring 25. "Green": Prefix 26. Burns and Jennings 27. Music teacher's deg., often 28. A music teacher often has a good one 29. Ape 30. Lag Ba'Omer month 34. Finishes 35. Ararat and Everest, briefly 36. Pretend 37. Examines side by side 38. Catan resource 39. Pothole-patching stuff 40. Laffy Taffy alternative 41. ___ HaNasheh 42. Followed Atkins, e.g. 43. Awed 44. One who fought on Yom Kippur in 1973, for short 45. It's more important than money 46. League Adam Silver's league keeps alive 47. "We hold ___ truths to be self- evident..." 50. Sefardic "Srugim" character 51. Word before "Who goes there?" 53. Spades or clubs 54. "Last four" ID verifiers 57. Letters on N.Y.C. trains 58. Blast, sci-fi style

DOWN

1. Some shticks 2. New Israeli 3. Mercy, from a judge 4. Judge too highly 5. Director Anderson 6. See 40-Across 7. The silent type? 8. Son of Seth 9. "Dancing With the Stars" judge Goodman 10. Enjoys "Unorthodox" or "Israel Story", say 11. Bad Al 12. "Long Day's Journey Into Night" writer 13. Like some at the end of Seder 18. Target for nails?

“Slicin’ and Dicin’” SOLUTION 1

32 34 36 42 45 48 54 56

47 53

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 51

OBITUARIES Gerald Edward Berger

Howard Leslie Bleich

Gerald ("Gerry") Edward Berger, 92, formerly of Mobile, Alabama, died Sept. 7 with his wife and children by his side. Gerry attended the University of Alabama, where he earned his undergraduate and DDS degrees. Graduating in 1954, he was inducted into the Air Force and assigned to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. In the summer of 1954, he met Joan Robinson from Lufkin, Texas while she was visiting Mobile for the first time. They married in 1955 and settled in Mobile, where he practiced dentistry for almost 60 years and the couple raised their four children. In 2015, Gerry retired with his wife to Atlanta. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Gerry was known for his love of family, quick and clever humor, his incredible memory, his drawings, carvings and other artistic talents, his fascination with nature, his various collections and a fondness for the boats in Biloxi. He is survived by his wife, Joan Robinson Berger, and their four children, Laurie Galanti (Don Peirce), Bari Engel (Andy), Sharla Kahn (Brian) and Joel Berger (Nikki). He is also survived by his grandchildren Sarah Shoemaker (Joe), Melanie Galanti, Ilana Bloch (Ryan), Taylor Engel, Blake Engel, Ethan Engel, Brooke Pastroff (Jeremy), Hayley Kahn (Adam Levinson), Erica Kahn, Courtney Kahn, Justin Berger and Evan Berger, as well as his three great-grandchildren, Lenna, Carson, and Leo. In addition, he is survived by his sister, Linda Brener (Josh), sisters-in-law Carol Braun Moss (Gary) and Rachiel Berger. He is predeceased by his brother, Hugh Berger, and brother-in-law Paul Braun. A private graveside burial was held on Sept. 9. Donations in honor of Gerry may be sent to Ahavas Chesed, 705 Regents Way, Mobile, Alabama 36609. Please reference Gerald Berger and Rabbi Silberman’s discretionary fund. Arrangements in Atlanta by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

March 23, 1934 — Sept. 2. Howard graduated from George Washington University in 1955 and Emory University Medical School. He became a professor of nephrology at Harvard Medical School. He and his partner, Warner Slack, were head of The Center for Clinical Computing at Beth Israel Hospital. Howard did extensive research and it resulted in numerous publications. He was also an associate editor of the New England Journal of Medicine. Howard married Bernice Rubin. They were blessed with 3 children Joel (Gila), Anita, and Elaine (Yaacov). After a divorce, Howard married Susan Gardos, who has been the love of his life for more than 30 years. He was blessed with 8 grandchildren, Chana (Yoel), Yael, Amichai, Mordechai (Adi), Racheli (Nitai), Yehuda, Avraham, and Yair, and four great-grandchildren: Sivan, Daniel, Eitan, and Maor. They all live in Israel. Howard was very active in his synagogue and passionate about Israel. He was a board member of CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America) and generously supported organizations that supported Israel. Howard loved classical music and playing the clarinet. He performed with the Newton Senior Center band. He was a ham radio operator. He enjoyed playing tennis regularly until the past two years. Howard was humble. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. We miss him very much. The funeral was at Crest Lawn Cemetery on Sept. 3, officiated by Rabbi Ilan Feldman. Funeral arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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

OBITUARIES

Alan Burnham 88, Atlanta

Alan Burnham, 88, was preceded in death by his parents Gertrude S. and Leonard Burnham, brother Howard Burnham, and his wife Adele S. Burnham. He is survived by his daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Brian Aftergut, grandsons Ethan and Matthew Aftergut; daughter Laurie Burnham; son Jeremy Burnham and daughter-in-law Danielle Dever, and grandson Mack Burnham; as well as a niece and nephew in El Paso. Alan was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 24, 1933. The family moved to Atlanta in August 1942. He graduated from S.M. Inman Elementary, and Henry Grady High School in 1951, attended the University of North Carolina and graduated from Emory University’s Business School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Army in Orleans, France. When he returned, he went to work for CPA firms. He started his own accounting practice in Sept 1971. He was a Registered Public Accountant (RPA) from 1962 until 2005, an Enrolled Agent, which entitled him to practice before the IRS in 1972. He was the first RPA appointed to the Georgia State Board of Accountancy by Governor George Busbee, serving two gubernatorial appointments, as well as chairman of the Enforcement Committee, vice chairman of the Board, and performed the first CPE audit. In July 2005, he became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) when the Georgia Legislature grandfathered in all RPAs as CPAs. He was a member of the National Society of Accountants (when it was the National Society of Public Accountants), and served two elected terms as the Georgia State Director, receiving two Outstanding State Directors Awards, as well as serving as Chairman of the Public Relations, Membership, Nominating and Teller Committees. He served on the Long-Range Planning Committee, Public Accountants Committee, and State Board of Accountants Committee. He was also a Member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity, the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, National Society of Accountants, and Congregation Bnai Torah. Contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors and the American Heart Association. Arrangements by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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Gail Greenberg 73, Atlanta

Gail Greenberg died on Sept. 25. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira Greenberg. She is survived by her children, Yehuda Greenberg (Fagie), Stephanie Mayfield (Harold), Michelle Greenberg (Joseph Vahaba), Sharon Frank (Jerry), and ten grandchildren. Graveside services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Sept. 27, at Crest Lawn Memorial Park and via Zoom link on the Dressler’s website. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to East Africa Children’s Healthcare Foundation, www.EachChild.org. Arrangements by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Barry Kahanow 78, Atlanta

It is with sadness and sorrow that another one of our longtime friends has recently passed away. Barry Kahanow, 78, was well known in the Atlanta Jewish community. He was predeceased by his sister and both parents. Barry was born in Atlanta and graduated from Grady High School in 1960. After his divorce, he lived on Buford Highway, where many of his generation lived. Barry found a niche with computers and owned a computer consulting service before retiring. He really enjoyed playing bridge with friends. Recently, he lived in the Alpharetta area. Barry died from complications following a fall.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES SEPTEMBER 30, 2021| 53

OBITUARIES

Catherine Collat Mendel 61, Atlanta

Catherine (“Caki”) Collat Mendel, 61, passed away Sept. 22 at Emory Hospital, surrounded by her husband and children, after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. She lived every day to the fullest and never let the disease take away her energy or enjoyment of life. Caki was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, and her heart always had a warm spot for Birmingham and the community, but she moved to Atlanta after college and met her loving husband, who survives her along with their three children, Bradley, Stacey, and Jason (Madison). She is also survived by her father Charles (Joanna) Collat, mother-in-law Joanne Mendel, sisters Nancy Goedecke and Susie (John) Collat, brother Charlie (Cheryl) Collat, brothers-in-law, Richard (Muriel) Mendel and Howard Mendel, sister-in-law Karen (Michael) Saul, and a great number of loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her mother, Patsy Collat, and her father-in-law, Jerry Mendel. Her genuine, thoughtful, and generous nature brought happiness to everyone she encountered. Family was the most important thing to her, whether related by blood or not. She would drop anything to help anyone or bring fresh baked cookies to let you know she was thinking about you. She had a remarkable love affair with her husband, Larry, for over 37 years. They were the true definition of soul mates, and she was his ultimate partner in creating a wonderful family to share life’s exciting experiences together. Caki worked at Mayer, a family business, and was director of community outreach. One of her proudest accomplishments was starting and developing the “Mayer Cares” program to give back to local communities. She always wanted to help others and this position helped to fuel her fire. You could see and feel her energy and happiness as successful events grew within the organization. Her faith grounded her, and The Temple, where she served as president of the Sisterhood, played an integral role in her life. She also enjoyed working with many other philanthropic organizations in her community. Caki’s pride and joy were her children. She was always part of the PTA, a Room Parent, Sports Team Mom, and our #1 cheerleader. She traveled to every soccer game, baseball game, and golf match –— no matter the distance! She loved to cook for her family and friends, and wanting to keep with tradition, would focus on meals which were passed down from generation to generation. If you just happened to drop in, she always had enough prepared. A home-cooked meal was always waiting. Her hobbies included needlepoint and knitting, with which she spoiled her children and family. She made a special tallit for all her children, nieces, and nephews for their bar and bat mitzvahs and beautiful blankets for her family. She brought smiles and warmth to all who were lucky enough to be recipients. These labors of love she graciously leaves behind will be cherished forever. She also enjoyed tennis with her friends at The Standard Club, followed by lunch and laughter. She was an avid sports enthusiast — playing golf with her boys, tennis with the family, and gathering around to watch football on Saturdays and Sundays. Together is where she wanted to be. Her adventurous spirit took her around the world with her family and friends. She loved skiing in the mountains, a beachfront view, and finding new places to explore. But one of her favorite places to go was her family home on Lake Martin, where she especially enjoyed a sunset cocktail cruise. Wherever she went, she wanted the people she loved by her side. All she touched she left in better shape. Her love will live on through those who were fortunate enough to know her. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to JF&CS Atlanta, Collat Jewish Family Services Birmingham, The Temple, or Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (netrf.org). Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

54 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2021ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Andrea Starkand Stark 73, Cumming

After a purposeful, joyful, life well-lived, Andrea Starkand Stark passed away on July 21 with loved ones at her side. Andrea was born in New Jersey on November 8, 1947, to Esther and Sidney Polkowitz. Her childhood years were filled with special memories of time with her sister, Phyllis, and brother, Robert. She fondly recalled ice-skating, trips to Radio City Music Hall, visiting the Jersey shore, working in Central Park and attending numerous holiday gatherings. The family later moved to Arizona, where Andrea finished college and earned a master’s degree in Special Education. Andrea dedicated her lifelong career to teaching children with developmental disabilities. She helped countless students “go to their strengths.” Over the years, many stayed in touch to share news of their continued progress. Andrea spent most of her teaching life in Los Angeles, where she raised her daughter, Shana. She enjoyed mentoring other teachers and continuing her passion for challenging students until her retirement in 2002. Most important to Andrea were her family, home and hearth. Time with her daughter, Shana, and her dear grandchildren, Leo and Jack, were of the utmost joy. Andrea took great pride in being a parent and she embraced the role of grandparent with even more affection, wisdom and generosity. Theater, travel and seeing the world mostly by sea were great passions for Andrea. She visited numerous countries and loved to speak fluent Spanish whenever the opportunity presented itself. In addition to travel, she was a proud hospital volunteer, led civic groups and researched her family’s Eastern European heritage with the Jewish Genealogy Society of Los Angeles. Andrea made every moment count. Andrea and her husband, Ron, cherished their time together and moved to Cumming, Georgia in 2019. Together, they continued their Jewish learning and were active, founding members of Congregation Beth Israel of Forsyth. Andrea was a bright light that touched many. Her gift for connection, her warmth, humor, pragmatism, organization, and her commitment to seeing things through were unmatched. She encouraged everyone to have an “Attitude of Gratitude,” and to simply “Be Well.” She will be deeply missed by all who knew her and remembered often. Her family asks that all donations in her honor be made to Congregation Beth Israel at www.jewishforsyth.org. Arrangements by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-4514999.

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OBITUARIES

Palmer Douglas Wexler 96, Sandy Springs

Palmer Douglas Wexler, engineer and artist, first-generation American and World War II veteran, loving family patriarch and friend, passed away peacefully on Aug. 23. He died the day after his late wife’s birthday, with family at his bedside, at his home in Sandy Springs. He was 96. In all endeavors, Doug was happiest in motion — building, drawing, repairing, traveling, dancing — and everyone knew he never slowed down. He had a sharp mind, a steadfast resolve, and an oldfashioned reverence for putting in the work. Doug was born on September 23, 1924, in Carteret, New Jersey, to Sophie and Samuel Wexler, Jewish immigrants from Russia. By the time Doug and his three brothers — Meyer, Richard, and Ralph — were growing up, their father was in the ice business, and they helped haul blocks of ice to customers before school. Doug graduated from Carteret High School at 16, going on to spend a year at art school in New York City. During World War II, Doug joined the Army’s 303rd Signal Operations Battalion, arriving in Europe on his 19th birthday. He served in France, Belgium, and Germany, earning Ardennes and Rhineland campaign stars. In the summer of 1945, Doug’s unit boarded a ship bound for Okinawa; somewhere between Bermuda and Cuba, the captain came on the loudspeaker: “Watch the shadows on the ship change as it turns to … New York.” The war had ended. Doug recalled in a personal diary, “It was the greatest thrill I’ve ever experienced.” On August 18, Doug’s ship docked in New York Harbor, the first diverted troop carrier to return to the United States. Ten days after his discharge, Doug began his freshman year at the University of Virginia. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering in 1949. He spent 16 years at General Electric before joining companies such as Bunker Ramo, General Instruments, Bendix, and Talley Industries (Westclox). Throughout his career, Doug worked in a variety of manufacturing, general management, and international positions, conducting business across six continents. In 1952, Doug met Delores Seskin over a game of ping pong, which she won. Six weeks later, they were engaged. Six months later, they were married. They raised three children, and Doug’s career kept the family on the move; he’d find a job, and she’d find a house. He’d cut out scale models of their furniture, and she’d arrange them in scale models of every room. When she got sick, two years before her death in 1996, Doug doted on her; he took such good care of her, she would say, it was like being on a second honeymoon. After a short, boring retirement, Doug joined Amrep, Inc. in 1989, working as vice president of manufacturing. In 1991, he became Amrep’s sales representative for Asia, as well as the product coordinator with Timeplex. He made his last overseas business trip at 87, taking the red-eye home. Doug was forever fine-tuning and tinkering. In his hands, abandoned railroad ties became a retaining wall; plywood and paint became a ping-pong table. One indelible memory is seeing him on his garage roof — Doug atop a chair, chair atop plywood, plywood secured perpendicular to the roof’s peak — so he could paint the second-floor siding. “It’s perfectly fine,” he said, waving off expressions of concern, “it’s all in the planning.” Into his 90s, Doug climbed ladders, trimmed bushes, and lowered himself onto the floor to play with his great-grandchildren. He was a lifelong baseball fan, golfer, and stamp collector; he was also a volunteer driver, delivering Meals on Wheels for Jewish Family & Career Services and Senior Connections, and an aerobics instructor for his senior living community during the Coronavirus lockdowns. In recent years, with his longtime companion and best friend Jane Greenberger, he enjoyed traveling the world and playing daily games of Rummikub. He is survived by his partner, Jane Greenberger; children Barbara Cooper, Robert Wexler (Anne Scott), and Lynn Crane-Wexler (Liz Crane-Wexler); grandchildren Aaron Cooper (Sylvia Cooper), Andrew Cooper (Rachel Cooper), Adriane Schneider (Evan Schneider), Ellen Wexler, and Dan Wexler; great-grandchildren Jillian, Jacob, and Avi; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, a great-great-niece, great-great-nephews; and Jane’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Doug was interred in the Wexler family plot at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey next to his wife and family. Donations on his behalf may be made to Friends of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., or to Jewish Family & Career Services in Atlanta. Arrangements by Dressler’s Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS Ancient Ethiopian Jewish Holiday Teaches Hope According to former National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman, hope is a sign of bravery. By this measure, Ethiopian Rabbi Ruth Jews are some of the best models for courage, and the upcoming holiday of Sigd reminds us to embrace hope wholeheartedly. Jews arrived in Ethiopia long ago, in biblical times. According to some, they are the descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, possibly the Tribe of Dan. According to others, they are descended from the pairing of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Largely rural, the Jewish community in Ethiopia survived by farming the land. Over time, Ethiopian Jews grew nearly entirely disconnected from Jews in other countries, but always held fast to their commitment to Juda-

ism. Like every Jewish community, they developed their own customs and language while adapting to many of the elements of local culture as well. Among the unique elements of Ethiopian Jewish life, Sigd stands out. Historically, the holiday existed only on the Ethiopian Jewish calendar. Fifty days after Yom Kippur, on the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, Jews would come from all over to gather near the base of Mount Ambover in Gondar. In the morning, the community dressed in white, would climb the mountain with their religious leaders — the Kesim — and others carrying umbrellas to shade them from the sun. Many Ethiopian Jews speak Amharic. Sigd comes from the Amharic word for worship or “to bow down.” Arriving at the top of the mountain, worshippers would prostrate themselves in prayer and read passages from the Orit, the first eight books of the Torah translated into Ge’ez. Fasting throughout, they would pray for forgiveness. When

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the prayers were done, the community would descend the mountain and gather for a feast, coming together in joy and fellowship. Like many other Jewish communities, over many generations, Ethiopian Jews did experience periods of peace, though more often than not they faced persecution and attempts at conversion. Cut off from Jews in other lands, they did not default to the common Jewish path of migration in times of trouble. Despite their isolation, despite antisemitism, they did not lose hope. One of the key themes of their prayers was a return to Jerusalem. These were Jews who did not know of the destruction of the First Temple, of the building and destruction of the Second Temple, or of the early days of the Zionist movement. Yet they continued to pray for return. Centuries passed and their hope did not waver. It was this hope that spurred the courage of the Jews as they began their exodus from Ethiopia in the 1980s, trav-

eling on foot through Sudan with the hope of finally reaching Jerusalem. They had to be brave to travel unlit desert paths at night, to confront bandits, to face down border patrols. They were fueled by hope. Today, Sigd, which in 2021 will fall on Nov. 3 and 4, has joined other Jewish holidays on the Israeli national calendar. Ethiopian Jews have faced numerous challenges in their resettlement in Israel, but they have never stopped celebrating Sigd or campaigning for its broader acceptance. This, too, is a sign of hope — a vision of Jewish life in which the traditions and blessings of Ethiopian Jews can and should be included in the calendar all Jews share. The Jewish month of Cheshvan has often been called mar, or bitter, because it lacked the holiday celebrations enjoyed during other months. Instead of dreading Marcheshvan, the bitter month, let all Jews join with our Ethiopian brothers and sisters to celebrate Sigd with courage and hope. ì

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Plumbing Electrical Sheetrock • Floors Tile • Framing • Kitchens Painting • Roofwork Concrete • Stained Glass Antique Door Restoration

as well as many other issues...

John Salvesen • 404-453-3438

thehandymancanatlanta@gmail.com COLLECTIBLES

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STANLEY PAVING

THE DUSTY COIN

“Shekels For Your Collectibles”

Asphalt Paving, Patching & Seal Coating

Specializing in driveways & small parking lots Family Owned & Operated since 1969

CALL NOW FOR 10% OFF SPECIAL 770.962.7125 770.480.1698 cell AUTO

Closets, pantries, garages, offices and more!

404-255-0589

Atlanta Custom Closets Rick Moore www.closetpro.net

BEST OF JEWISH ATLANTA

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• Coins • Gold • Jewelry • Sterling •

404-263-2967 Strict Confidentiality • References Upon Request Member: ANA, NGC, PCGS & PMG

LEGAL SERVICES

Everyone Knows Someone Who Loves Their SUBARU

A Jim Ellis Family Dealership Where you can always expect the best!

Winner of Salesman of the Year Award for 4 out of the last 5 years!

Intellectual Property Counsel, Company Counsel, and Business Strategist

Ralph Kurland Sales Representative 905 Ernest Barrett Pkwy, NW Kennesaw, GA 30144

cell: 678-665-1024 dealership: 770-419-9800 ext. 312 rkurland@subaruofkennesaw.com www.subaruofkennesaw.com

Call me to test drive any of our new or used cars!

Big Firm Legal Work at Small Firm Rates

Brian C. Spaner

Audi Brand Specialist Mobile: 404-606-0286 Direct: 770-243-5611 bspaner@jimellis.com 5805 Peachtree Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30341 www.audiatlanta.com

Mr. Weinstein is a seasoned attorney with over 20 years of experience providing counsel to companies of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 100 companies in the US and internationally.

(404) 735-3941 weinsteiniplaw.com

dweinstein@weinsteiniplaw.com

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