Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCIX NO. 8, April 30, 2023

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Wolpe Survives Fire and Alerts Neighbors to Danger

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

It was anything but a regular 2 a.m. on April 2 at 1140 North Avenue (North High Ridge Apartments) when Kendra Wolpe, dealing with insomnia, heard an alarm, smelled smoke, then gazed out the window. Directly to her left, the neighbor’s attached screened-in porch was completely ablaze, already reaching the roof.  Now, reluctant to be labeled a heroine, Wolpe sprang into action.

“When I saw the fire, I jumped up, grabbed my passport, computer, phone, and ran out without shoes. I banged on the walls screaming for people to exit their units, figuring they’d be asleep and might not take the alarm seriously. I went to the neighboring units and started banging and screaming there. Thankfully, the alarms worked and were loud, so everyone exited safely. I think also because the fire seems to have started on the porches, rather than inside, it allowed people more time to get out.”

There was indeed an alarm system, but no sprinklers. This very same complex, including its 28 units, has experienced two fires in 20 years. With this most recent fire, even the units which were not directly incinerated were demolished before people were given a chance to recover items.

Wolpe’s unit was completely burned. Two cats perished; others scattered. Wolpe continued to describe the unfolding horror, “I was in shock and disbelief…praying that no one was harmed. I couldn’t believe what my eyes

The fire raged as first responders couldn’t get the fire hydrant to work properly.

Kendra Wolpe went from door-to-door banging frantically to rouse others at 2 a.m. to alert them of the building fire.

were telling me. I was thinking ‘it wouldn’t be that bad’ because the firefighters were there so quickly, that they would put it out. The news said the unit was only ‘partially collapsed,’ and I felt relieved. When I went there and saw the reality, I fell to my knees and cried.”

The Red Cross appeared right away and distributed gift cards. Tragically, first responders couldn’t access the fire hydrant which lacked pressure. They were also unable to turn off the main gas line while waiting to contact the city. The fire report stated that they changed their goal from quenching the fire to containment

A community member quickly created a GoFundMe campaign for the apartment complex, and a donation center was set up.

Wolpe said, “It’s been inspiring and heartwarming to see how many people want to help. There has been almost $34,000 raised to split between 50 residents. Very few of the residents had renter’s insurance or any kind of protection. We all need help very badly. We are set for clothes, but as we begin to find new living spaces, we welcome furniture and household items.” To donate household items, email kendrawolpe@gmail.com. To contribute to the GoFundMe campaign, visit gofund. me/5c6443a5.

The landlord intends to rebuild, according to the building manager, who is also a resident, but they have not offered to shelter or provide any relief for victims. Countless attempts have been made to reach the landlord (Carmichael). No cause of the fire has yet been certified.

Wolpe grew up in Philadelphia and moved to Atlanta three years ago. She graduated from George Washington University with a degree in psychology). Her primary employment is academic coach at Creating Positive Futures. She also works for Jewish Kids Groups, a newly launched accelerator program. JKG is a local Jewish afterschool program whose mission is to make Jewish learning fun, and reach families not being served in the Jewish community; it is also designed to include unaffiliated and interfaith families. JKG received a grant to take the program model nationally and help turn unused spaces in synagogues and other Jewish spaces countrywide into vibrant hubs of Jewish life.

Wolpe looks ahead, “My next steps are to rebuild, one day at a time. Thankfully I am able to stay with my parents. The community of previous residents of North High Ridge has come together, and it’s inspiring. I want to continue to help rebuild their lives. We have been unified by this shared trauma. I plan to repurchase everything I own with a more ecological lens, and really consider the weight of my consumer choices.”

Kendra’s father, Dr. Paul Root Wolpe is the noted American sociologist and bioethicist, who chairs Jewish bioethics and is a professor at Emory University. He came in the wee hours to pick up his barefoot frantic daughter.

She stated, “They (including mother, Val) have both taken absolute care of me. I am so blessed and grateful to be their daughter.” ì

This same North Avenue property has had previous incidences of fire.

Victims are in need of furniture and household goods and GoFundMe donations.

Marcus Foundation Awards $10M to Weber School

By Sasha Heller

The Weber School recently announced that it has received a $10 million grant from The Marcus Foundation that

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will fund expansion of the campus and facilities, including a state-of-the-art athletic complex. The grant continues the school’s successful Excellence Fund campaign, which has raised $43 million so far

with $1 million remaining on its goal.

Per recommendation of The Marcus Foundation, the new athletic complex will be named in honor of Eitan Force, a member of The Weber School’s class of 2023, who sadly passed away last year.

“Weber is a vital asset to the Atlanta Jewish community, and these additions will enable Weber to grow as a 21st century, quality Jewish high school and one of the largest in the country," said Bernie Marcus, foundation chairman. “And given the powerful impact he made on so many people at Weber and beyond, I can think of no more meaningful naming of the athletic complex than to honor the life and legacy of Eitan Force.”

According to a news release, the new complex, set to open in fall 2024, will feature:

• Modern, competitive gymnasium including full-size basketball court, two full-size practice gym spaces, three locker rooms, classrooms, faculty offices, and a wellness center focusing on fitness, conditioning, and weightlifting.

• Seating in the gymnasium between 600 and 1,100 depending on the size of the event.

• Six-lane outdoor track;

• Environmentally friendly lighting for baseball, soccer, and flag football fields.

The news release adds that the redesigned athletic complex will afford Weber the opportunity and means to host regional competitions, and outsized school and community events.

“We are incredibly grateful to Mr. Bernie Marcus and The Marcus Founda-

tion for this extraordinary grant to The Weber School, all the more so during this exciting time of growth and opportunity for our school and the Atlanta Jewish community,” Rabbi Ed Harwitz, head of school, said in a statement. “We are particularly moved by Mr. Marcus’s choice to name the new athletic complex for our beloved Eitan Force. The new complex will represent Eitan’s commitment to learning, athletics, and Judaism, and his love for family and friends, all the while making a positive impact on generations of young people for years to come.”

The $10 million grant, which will also help fund construction of new classrooms and improved dining and multipurpose facilities, is part of the school’s Excellence Fund campaign, and parallels a second $10 million gift to the school by founder Joe Weber and his family; and those donations are joined by a $19 million grant from The Zalik Foundation, gifted last year to The Weber School to build a music and performing arts center. In total, the Excellence Fund has raised $43 million of its $44 million targeted goal.

“Along with the ongoing generosity of our founder, Mr. Joe Weber, and that of The Zalik Foundation, the grant from The Marcus Foundation will provide Weber with new assets to offer one-of-a-kind courses, programs, and academies for a growing and increasingly diverse population of Jewish students, while serving as a hub of innovation and partnership with Atlanta’s Jewish communal organizations,” Billy Medof, president of the Weber board of trustees, said in a statement. ì

The Weber School announced it has received a $10 million grant from The Marcus Foundation // Image Courtesy of The Weber School

The Marcus Foundation has awarded The Weber School a $10 million grant to build a new athletic complex and expand the school’s campus // Image Courtesy of The Weber School

AJFF Launches Celebration of Israel’s 75th Anniversary

By Bob Bahr

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival began a weeklong salute to Israel’s 75th anniversary with theatrical screenings of three of the Jewish state’s most notable films. The three films, which were scheduled to be shown at The Springs Cinema and Taphouse in Sandy Springs on Sunday, April 23, are “Sallah,” a comedy from 1964, “The Band’s Visit,” a genial comedy drama done in 2007, and “Waltz With Bashir,” an animated film drama about the 1982 Israel-Lebanon War, which was released in 2008.

The three Sunday screenings then give way to nine additional films that run continuously online for the rest of the week. The program has been coordinated by the Israel’s Consulate office in Atlanta.

According to Kenny Blank, AJFF executive director and artistic director, the ambitious series is another way of looking at Israel’s artistic legacy.

“Through this retrospective, audiences will embark on a journey through Israel’s dynamic and complex history, exploring the remarkable strides made by Israeli film artists over 75 years of cinematic storytelling,” Blank said. “We are thrilled to celebrate Israel’s 75th year of independence with a spectacular curation of films, bringing the community together once again for both theatrical and streaming exhibitions of world-class cinema.”

Israel’s filmmakers have indeed come a long way since the 1960s, when “Sallah,” about Iraqi Jewish immigrants, was a break-out hit for the film industry which was then in its infancy. Not only did it sell more than a million tickets in Israel which, at that time, had only a little over two million persons, but it was a big hit in the United States.

It won best foreign film at the Golden Globe Awards and, for the first time, a film from Israel was nominated for an Oscar for best foreign language film. It played for six months at New York’s Little Carnegie Theater and won best screenplay for the Hungarian-born director, Ephraim Kishon, and best acting awards for its star, Chaim Topol, at the San Francisco Film Festival.

For the next 20 years, it helped to make Topol one of the few actors from Israel to achieve international recognition, particularly after his role of Tevye, the milkman, in Hollywood’s “Fiddler on the Roof.”

“Waltz With Bashir,” which won an armload of awards from both the Israeli and the American and international film community, is a film that represents that

newfound sense of self-confidence. It was a decidedly original take on how war was represented in Israel filmmaking. Its adroit use of film animation to explore the trauma of war on Israeli soldiers made it the first animated film in Academy Award history to be nominated for best foreign language film.

Representing another breakthrough is the third film on the theatrical program, “The Band’s Visit,” about an Egyptian police band that becomes stranded in southern Israel, where it has come to play a concert. The gentle comedy drama not only was a critical and popular success, but it helped to establish Israel’s entertainment industry as a source for innovative and imaginative productions.

A Broadway musical based on the film was a smash hit when it opened in 2017 and won 10 of the 11 Tony Awards for which it was nominated, including best musical. The musical also won a

Grammy in 2019 for best musical theater album.

Much of that artistic growth is also on display in many of the nine films that have been chosen for virtual showings. All except one of them were produced in the last two decades as Israel’s film industry and, particularly its television industry, has become a creative powerhouse. Israel is now said to be just behind Britain as a supplier of original programming for America’s streaming services and broadcasters. Among the most successful is Keshet Studios, which is debuting a new miniseries May 1 about Anne Frank entitled, “A Small Light.” It’s an Israeli co-production with National Geographic and ABC for Disney+ and Hulu.

Among the AJFF Israeli film programs that are being streamed is “Ajami,” a gritty urban crime drama set in an impoverished neighborhood in Jaffa.

“A Matter of Size” won 13 Ophirs,

Israel’s top film award, for this comedy about how a group of friends discover a new sense of community and self-worth when they take up the Japanese sport of Sumo wrestling.

“Aviva My Love,” another multiple award winner from writer director Sherri Zarhin, is a humorous tale about a hotel cook who dreams of becoming a writer.

“Footnote” is about how a father and son cope with the professional rivalry they develop as Talmudic scholars. This 2011 production by the talented Israeli director, Joseph Cedar, was an Academy Award nominee, a winner at the Cannes Film Festival, and was voted best film and received eight other honors at Israel’s Ophir Awards.

There’s a special package price of $75 at the festival website, AJFF.org, for all the streamers or you can buy individual tickets for $18 each. The festival ends April 30. ì

The 2007 Israeli film, “The Band’s Visit,” was also made into a very successful Broadway musical.

“Footnote,” about a father-son rivalry in the world of Talmudic scholarship, is being streamed by the AJFF.

How the subject of war was represented in Israel film was altered by “Waltz With Bashir,” an animated production.

A group of friends learn Sumo wrestling in the Israeli comedy, “A Matter of Size.”

Giffords’ New Documentary Takes Aim at Gun Control

By Bob Bahr

Gabby Giffords, whose career as a rising member of the House of Representatives was cut short by an assassin’s bullet, came to Atlanta on April 19 to push for new federal and state gun control laws.

The one-time Arizona lawmaker, who was the first Jewish representative in Congress from Arizona, was shot in 2011 while meeting voters in front of a Phoenix supermarket. She was in Atlanta for a screening of a recent CNN and Time Magazine Studio documentary, “Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down,” at the Regal Atlantic Station theater. Her visit came after five people were killed a bank In Louisville, Ky., and six were killed in a private school in Nashville in recent weeks. She greeted a modest crowd of gun control activists and Atlanta community leaders with a call to action.

“We are living in challenging times, but we are up for the challenge. My own work has taken years. Many, many people have helped me along the way, and I have learned so much. I learned when people

care for each other and work together, progress is possible. A world is possible.”

The film was directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, the same team that was responsible for “RBG,” about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It tells the dramatic story of Giffords’ recov-

ery after she was shot in the head. Miraculously, she survived to begin a recovery that continues to this day. Included in the documentary is footage of the first weeks of her medical treatment, where she had to wear a plastic helmet to protect her brain. A large portion of her skull had to be surgically removed to relieve pressure on her brain. A plastic prothesis was later fitted to close the opening.

Those first weeks of video were recorded by her husband, Tom Kelly, who was an astronaut and a leader of the Endeavor space mission to resupply the International Space Station.

Coincidentally, the operation to repair the damage to her skull took place on the same day that he docked with the space station. In 2019, Kelly, with Giffords’ enthusiastic support, was elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona. But that is not the only triumph that’s recorded; Giffords' preparation for her bat mitzvah, late in 2021, gets a mention as well.

The documentary is not just about her recovery and the role her husband played in that story. It is also about the work she has done while she has recovered. The shooting, which left three persons dead including a 9-year-old, damaged several areas of her brain. She has lost the use of her right arm; walking is difficult, and she has a cane for support. Speech is sometimes difficult because of the aphasia that affects her memory of words, but she has devoted her life to changing the nation’s gun laws.

During her Atlanta appearance she spoke in short direct sentences about her new life.

“When I was shot, I never gave up hope. I chose to make a new start, to move ahead, to not look back. I’m relearning so

many things…how to walk, how to talk, and I’m fighting to make the country safer. It can be so difficult. Losses hurt, but I tell myself, move ahead.”

Giffords' attacker bought a 9mm Glock handgun with an extended magazine despite a history of mental illness. Gun laws in Arizona are among the least restrictive in the country, and Giffords has herself been a gun owner. Concealed firearms may be carried there without the need for a license. A witness to Giffords’ shooting was carrying a weapon, but he didn’t use it for fear of wounding those who were struggling to subdue the shooter.

Last week, Arizona’s governor, Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who was elected last fall, vetoed three bills that would have further liberalized gun ownership.

Giffords, who is arguably one of the most important figures in the gun control movement, has helped to pass laws over the last 10 years in 19 states and the District of Columbia that are aimed at keeping guns away from those like the man who shot her. The documentary also describes her testimony in Congressional hearings aimed at creating new gun safety legislation. Congress, last year, was able to pass several modest gun control measures, and states have adopted dozens of new laws aimed at controlling guns.

But according to the Gun Violence Archive, as of April 22 there have been 172 people killed so far this year in mass shootings and another 16 in mass murders. Gun violence that includes homicides and suicides where a gun was involved have, so far in 2023, killed over 13,000 people and wounded another 10,200. ì

The Gabby Giffords documentary recalls both her recovery and her new role as a gun control advocate.

Gabby Giffords spoke to supporters of gun control in Georgia at the Regal Atlantic Station theater.

‘Food That Rocks’ Returns to Sandy Springs June 8

By Debbie Diamond

Sandy Springs’ favorite food fest, Food That Rocks, comes back to the City Green for a one-night culinary extravaganza on Thursday, June 8. Attendees will sip, savor and celebrate the community’s vibrant culinary scene as they indulge in unlimited tastes of mouth-watering food from more than 25 of Sandy Springs’ best restaurants. Craft cocktails, wine, beer, and a decadent dessert bar will also be part of the evening’s offerings.

The yearly event is a perennial favorite among residents of Sandy Springs, and well attended by the larger Atlanta community as well. Presented by Taste of Atlanta, Visit Sandy Springs and the City of Sandy Springs, the carefully curated gourmet gathering showcases a variety of menu favorites offered throughout the growing city. Restaurants participating this year include: Chef Rob’s Caribbean Café, Colonial Kitchen & Bar, The General Muir, il Giallo Osteria & Bar, Nowak’s, The Select Restaurant + Bar, Southern Bistro, SabaRaba’s and Under the Cork Tree, among many others.

“I’m incredibly proud of Sandy Springs’ growing restaurant scene. There’s always something new to check out, along with favorite spots to re-visit. If you’re having trouble picking one restaurant over another, Food That Rocks lets you sample from some of the city’s most popular dining destinations all in one night,” said Rusty Paul, mayor of Sandy Springs.

But a Taste of Atlanta event like Food that Rocks would not be complete without an energetic, get-up-and-dance band. This year, event goers will eat their music-loving hearts out with live tunes from popular Atlanta band, The Geek Squad, an energetic, get-up-and-dance band, performing all the best Motown, jazz, funk, hip-hop, and Top 40 Hits. What’s more, the jam-packed evening will also feature a violinist, live cooking demonstrations by some of Sandy Springs’ “rock star chefs,” a tarot card reader, caricature artist, 360 photobooth and much more.

With community connection always in mind, Food That Rocks is a true party with a purpose, providing attendees with a way to contribute to several area nonprofits including Community Assistance Center, The Giving Kitchen, Second Helpings Atlanta, and Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“We are thrilled to bring Food That Rocks back to City Springs for the eighth year. Our mission is to provide a delicious and fun experience for all attendees and

unite the community with the amazing Sandy Springs’ chefs and restaurants. It is a wonderful way for people to try new restaurants and revisit old favorites, all in one location and for one ticket price. We promise that the event will truly be a one-of-a-kind culinary celebration,” says Dale DeSena, founder of Food That Rocks and Taste of Atlanta.

Tickets for Food That Rocks are allinclusive, providing an all-access experience of delicious food bites and beverage tastings for adults 21 and older. General admission and VIP tickets are now available and can be purchased at FoodThatRocks.org. VIP ticket holders get early access to Food That Rocks from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., a special welcome cocktail and VIP goody bag (one per household) and cost $125 per ticket. General admission is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and tickets cost $85 per person. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended as tickets typically sell out prior to the event. Group ticket packages are also available at a special rate and may be purchased by contacting gail@mvomarketing.com to inquire.

Taste of Atlanta will present three other food festivals during 2023. Following Food that Rocks, the Grand Tasting Westside will take place at The Foundry

Foodies look forward to the many live chef demonstrations during Food that Rocks.

at Puritan Mill on Thursday, July 20. The Hotel at Avalon is the venue for Grand Tasting Alpharetta on Thursday, Sept. 7. The final event is the Grand Tasting Midtown at the Epicurean Hotel Atlanta on

Desserts -- and a wide assortment of them -- are in abundance each year.

Thursday, Oct. 19. All events are held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with VIP entry tickets allowing a 6 p.m. admittance. Tickets for these events may be purchased at www. TasteofAtlanta.com. ì

10 Fun Facts You May Not Know About Food that Rocks

1) Food That Rocks was created by Taste of Atlanta founder and Sandy Springs resident, Dale DeSena, to give Sandy Springs residents a local “Party with a Purpose” in their own community.

2) Food That Rocks is the only event created to exclusively showcase restaurants in Sandy Springs.

3) Since the first Food That Rocks in 2016, Sandy Springs has attracted more restaurants than at any other time in its history.

4) Food That Rocks uses all of the City Green space, measuring more than 200’ x 100’.

5) Each restaurant/chef prepares more than 600 tastes for the event.

6) Taste of Atlanta provides more than 25,000 serving dishes, 25,000 napkins, and 15,000 forks and spoons for use by the participating restaurants.

7) During the event, Food That Rocks serves a selection of more than 10 craft cocktails, six beers, and six wines.

8) Nine months of planning goes into the one-day event.

9) More than 50 staff, additional workers and volunteers will work together this year to make Food that Rocks happen.

10) Attendees are asked to bring a food donation for the Sandy Springs community food pantry, and all leftover food is donated to Second Helpings Atlanta to distribute to partner organizations.

There are many craft cocktails offered throughout the space during Food that Rocks.

Food, cocktails, music and fun are always on the menu at the Sandy Springs event.

Atlanta Remembers the Holocaust

By Bob Bahr

The 58th annual service of Holocaust remembrance at Greenwood Cemetery on April 16 was a multi-generational observance. Speakers included Sen. Jon Ossoff, who, at the age of 36, is the youngest senator in Congress, and Ilse Eichenr Reiner, a 93-year-old survivor of the Holocaust.

Ossoff, who is also the first Jewish senator to be elected from the South since 1879, recalled how his great-grandparents came to America to escape persecution in Eastern Europe in 1911 and 1913. They left behind numerous other family members, many of whom were not so fortunate and later perished in the Nazi death camps. He remembered as a child tracing his hand along the numbers on his uncle’s arm as he talked of how he, alone, of his family, had survived.

Speaking before the roughly hewn stones of the Memorial to the Six Million that has been built in the cemetery, Ossoff renewed his commitment to remain alert in these challenging times.

“The rising tide of antisemitism and

hate demonstrates just how far we have to go and how we must be ever vigilant and always prepared,” Ossoff said. “And so, among the members of both parties and in both houses of Congress who lead the Joint Task Force on antisemitism, I will remain vigilant and committed on behalf of Jews in Georgia and across the

country and around the world.”

Speaking directly to the crowd and without notes, Ossoff said he was particularly moved by the voices of young children he had heard that morning. Ossoff, who became a father for the first time just six months ago, mentioned how those voices were particularly moving to him.

“I think you all know why it’s so powerful to hear the sound of a child at an event like this one. Because even though an effort was made on an industrial scale with unfathomable brutality and will to extinguish our people, that effort failed. And we continue to live, and we continue to thrive in the sound of a child.”

Indeed children, particularly the direct descendants of Holocaust survivors, were involved in the service. Eleven children, each carrying a large sunflower, placed the flowers on the outsized concrete slab at the memorial, as a sign of hope for the future. Just above the slab is a weathered bronze plaque that mentions the memorial as the final resting place of the ashes taken from the mass grave of Jews murdered at the concentration camp in Dachau, Germany. The plaque reads, “May their memory be enshrined forever.”

Nearby, another bronze plaque memorializes the uprising by Jews against their Nazi oppressors in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943 and singles out all those who died resisting the crimes of the Holocaust. This year’s service marks the 80th anniversary of that uprising, which eventually saw 56,000 Jewish inmates of the ghetto either murdered or sent to the Auschwitz death camp, which was also in Poland. Israel’s Consul General to the Southeast, Anat Sultan-Dadon, mentioned that the uprising was only one of many acts of heroism by Jews.

“The scope of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust in all of its forms has created a Jewish legacy for generations. It highlights the power of the human spirit that which the Nazis and their collaborators could not erase.”

One survivor, Ilse Eichner Reiner, was only nine years old when the Germans invaded her native Czechoslovakia in 1938. She is just one of only about 330 Holocaust survivors in the Southeast who are aided by Atlanta’s Jewish Federation. She spent her most formative years living in the shadow of the German occupation and one of the few children to survive imprisonment at Theresienstadt, Auschwitz, and a death march in the final weeks of World War II. She married an American GI after the war, and her two children introduced her to the Greenwood audience, where she recounted her harrowing experiences.

Reiner, who mentioned that she was frequently bewildered as a young person surrounded by such enormous evil, credits her inherent optimism for helping her to survive.

“What helped me to get through all this was hope. And I would say to everyone, ‘you must never, never, ever give up hope. Because without that, you are doomed.’ And I didn’t say, ‘if I survive, I’ll do this or that.’ I would say ‘when I survive. I always thought of happier times in my life.’ In my case, I was uplifted a lot by my Jewish faith and by my Jewish memories.”

The Sunday morning memorial service was sponsored by Eternal Life-Hemshech, an organization composed of Holocaust survivors and their descendants, the Breman Jewish Heritage Museum and its Center for Holocaust Education, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. ì

Ninety-three-year-old Holocaust survivor Ilsa Eichner Reiner survived two concentration camps and a death march in the closing weeks of World War II.

Individual sunflowers, a sign of hope, were left on the Greenwood Cemetery Memorial during the annual remembrance service.

Sen. Jon Ossoff recalls his own family’s experience during the Holocaust

March of the Living Comes Amid Tensions

By Bob Bahr

An estimated 10,000 participants from 25 countries, including 42 survivors of the Holocaust, participated in this year’s March of The Living, which took place at the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland. This year’s march, on April 18, Holocaust Remembrance Day, was the first time since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 that the event was held with such a high level of participation.

The theme of this year’s event was “Honoring Jewish Heroism in the Holocaust.” It was held just one day before the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising in 1943. Shmuel Rosenman, the 76-year-old head of a large insurance company in Israel and the chairman of the March, wrote in a press statement that the time had come to recognize Jewish heroes.

“Jewish bravery during the Holocaust was, for many years, left out of general Holocaust consciousness, and Jews were portrayed only as victims who ‘went like lambs to the slaughter,’” Rosenman commented. “Young people in Israel and around the Jewish world are not sufficiently aware of the many acts of bravery carried out by thousands of Jews during the Holocaust, and as an international educational organization it is our responsibility to emphasize this.”

But that view, according to Polish political leaders, tells only part of the story. In March, an agreement was signed between the governments of Israel and Poland that would include visits to one or more memorials that emphasize the role of Poles in fighting Naziism. But the agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the two governments’ parliaments, was criticized by officials at Yad Vashem, Israel’s important Holocaust museum.

They pointed out that Israeli students who visit Poland to familiarize themselves with the history of the Holocaust should include “complete historical accuracy, including the role of Poles in the persecution, handing in, and murder of Jews during the Holocaust, as well as acts of rescue.”

Among the participants in a Holocaust Remembrance Day program at Emory University was Alicja Podbielska, a visiting assistant professor of Holocaust and antisemitism studies. She pointed out that in her interviews with Poles in her native country, she was shocked to discover that they did not consider those who helped save Jews were heroes.

Podbielska, who is not Jewish, said that Polish antisemitism during the war years has been well documented. She points to the book, “Neighbors,” by Princeton University historian Jan Gross about the massacre of Polish Jews by their nonJewish neighbors in Jedwabne, Poland, in 1941.

“In 1941, over the course of one day, the non-Jewish population of the town murders the Jewish part of the population. This book came as a profound shock to Poles, who only thought about themselves as victims. It really was a shock. And some people just accept it and move, others are just full-on deniers. And so, there’s a lot of backlash. Today, we are still in this backlash phase with a lot of efforts to tell a very positive story of Polish behavior during the Holocaust.”

But Yad Vashem maintains that Pol-

ish antisemitism didn’t end with the war. On its website, the Holocaust museum points out what happened to those Jews who returned to Poland in 1946…“returning Polish Jews encountered an antisemitism that was terrible in its fury and brutality. The most shocking such episode was the Kielce pogrom – a violent attack in July 1946 by Polish residents of Kielce against survivors who had returned, in which 42 Jews were murdered. The Kielce pogrom became a turning point for Holocaust survivors; it was, for them, the ultimate proof that no hope remained for rebuilding Jewish life in Poland.”

By the late 1960s, most Jews, who had once been a part of a community of 2.5 million people, had left Poland. This tension was partially reflected during the official commemoration in Warsaw of the 1943 uprising a day after the March

of the Living in Auschwitz.

The presidents of Poland and Israel joined, for the first time, the president of Germany in commemorating the monthlong uprising.

In his remarks at the anniversary program in Warsaw, Israel’s president Isaac Herzog mentioned, “disagreements and pain” that still exist between the Jewish and Polish people, and he suggested that there is an opportunity to repair the relationship between the two nations.

“The heroism of the resistance and the rebels and the imperative to remember that terrible chapter of history,” Herzog said, “when the Jewish people faced complete annihilation, and destruction rained down upon Poland and many other countries, offer a platform for important dialogue between Poland and Israel.” ì

March of the Living this year on April 18 attracted 10,000 to the Auschwitz death camp.

(Left) Alicja Podbielska, a visiting professor, joined Miriam Udel, director of the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University, for a program on Yom HaShoah in remembrance of the Holocaust. The heroic Warsaw Ghetto Uprising lasted for a month in April and May of 1943.

‘A Small Light’ Burns Bright for Disney+ and Hulu

By Bob Bahr

The new eight-part miniseries, “A Small Light,” that begins streaming May 1 on Hulu and Disney+, relates the iconic

story of Anne Frank from a different perspective. It is a distinct departure from the successful Broadway production and the Hollywood film of the 1950s, which confines the story to the crowded secret

annex where Anne, her family, and the Jewish Van Pels and Pfeffer families hide from the Nazis.

Unlike “The Diary of Anne Frank,” this new miniseries is largely set in the

world outside the annex. Much of the action takes place in wartime Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation. It tells its suspenseful tale not through the innocent eyes of a teenager just coming to

The Jewish residents of the secret annex observe Chanukah in their Amsterdam hiding place // Photo Credit: NatGeo/Disney+

The Frank family, mother, Edith, and daughters, Anne and Margot, were among those who hid out in the Amsterdam attic for 24 months before they were seized by the Nazis //Photo Credit: Dushan Martincek

maturity but through the experienced eyes of Mies Giep, who works for Anne’s father, Otto.

Giep, who was born Hermine Santrouschitz, in Vienna, was adopted by a Dutch family when she was 11. She began working for Otto Frank, when he moved from Germany in 1933 to The Netherlands to escape Nazi persecution. By the time Frank, his wife and two daughters decided to go into hiding in what had been the laboratory for his food products business, Giep was in her early 30s and married to her husband, Jan. He was an active participant in the Dutch resistance.

According to the director of the first three episodes of the eight-part series, Susanna Fogel, the title came from the belief that Giep held that it was her moral duty to save the lives of the Jews.

“It comes from a quotation from Miep herself, who said anyone can turn on a small light in a dark room. So, she really rejected the idea that she was a hero to be mythologized, she thought everyone has the capacity to do something like this. The idea of a small light is really just how each one of us can contribute in some meaningful way by making small choices from a place of empathy and community just the way that she did.”

Giep, who lived to be 100, wrote a book about her experiences in 1987 entitled, “Anne Frank Remembered.” It became the basis for a British documentary of the same name that won an Academy Award in 1996. She went to Los Angeles where she got a standing ovation during the awards. Director Fogel watched a recording of that ceremony where Giep spoke with characteristic modesty.

“Interestingly, she said, I am not a hero. I’m not a special person.” Fogel relates. “But in this production, she is really the central focus. She is a special person. She is a hero.”

For 24 months, as the series so dramatically portrays, Giep, with the help of

her husband, risked everything and miraculously managed to survive, although both had some close calls.

Although the British actress, Bel Powley, who portrays the gentile, 30-something Giep, spent an exhausting six months in front of the camera, with each episode she found herself increasingly impressed by the day-to-day heroism of her character.

“Episode by episode, every time I would get a new script, I was totally astounded and in awe of the bravery that this woman displayed. And she always did it unwaveringly. You get a sense of this also from reading her book where she just did it because she had to. I mean, I’m completely in awe of her. She’s an inspiration, really,”

Ironically, Powley, who plays a nonJewish characters who risks her life saving the Franks, is, herself, Jewish. She and her sister were raised in a Jewish home in West London, and she remembers, with fondness, the Jewish holidays she spent with her grandmother, who passed away during the COVID pandemic. Living with the production during its long shooting schedule on location in Prague and Amsterdam caused her to reflect on the similarities between what is happening in the world today and what was happening 80 years ago in Europe.

“With the rise of antisemitism right now, I think that it’s a very good time for this project to be coming out. I think, sadly, there are a lot of similarities between the project that I was filming and what’s actually happening in the world right now. So, I felt really connected to it.”

The project is an ABC Signature production with Israel’s Keshet Studios, which has a production office in Hollywood. The Israelis have expanded their co-production partnerships in Hollywood and other major international markets over the past two decades. For them, “A Small Light” is an important step forward. ì

Magen David Adom has been saving lives since 1930, some 18 years before Israel became a state. We take immense pride in being Israel’s national emergency medical service and in supplying the blood and medical care for the soldiers who have ensured Israel’s existence. Join us in celebrating Israel’s 75th year of independence on Yom HaAtzma’ut.

Support Magen David Adom by donating today at afmda.org/give. Or for further information about giving opportunities, contact 561-835-0510 or southeast@afmda.org.

afmda.org/give

Israel is celebrating 75 years. Magen David Adom has been there for all of them.

Bel Powley, right, portrays Mies Giep, the non-Jewish employee of Otto Frank, who risks everything to help save them from the Nazis //Photo Credit: Dushan Martincek

Pickleballers Serve for Ian’s Friends Foundation

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Atlanta-based pediatric brain tumor research organization, Ian’s Friends Foundation, held its second annual IFF

Pickleball Open at the Atlanta Pickleball Center on April 16. IFF was founded in 2006 by Phil and Cheryl Yagoda after their son, Ian, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at just two years

old.

They started IFF to fill the void of the lack of pediatric research available for their son and the approximately 28,000 children living with brain tumors – the No. 1 cause of death by disease in children under 20, and which receives less than one percent of funding from the National Institute of Health.

The organization’s unwavering mission is to find a cure for pediatric brain tumors by funding groundbreaking therapies and research and supporting labs across the globe. This research can raise survival rates, improve patient care, and hopefully lead to a cure.

On tournament day, honoree Ian Yagoda, now 18, had just won his first round of pickleball and revealed his optimism about soon entering the University of Michigan.

He stated, “I have been involved in IFF for my whole life. In terms of pickleball, I’m competitive because I like to get into opponents’ minds and rile them up, then they start thinking too much!”

Maternal grandfather, Dr. Arthur Bodner, said, “We are so proud of Ian, and how the kids have put together this whole foundation over the years.”

Dad, Phil Yagoda, added, “We love having this pickleball tournament -anytime we can bring together a great community of people with a passion for doing good while also raising awareness and fun competition, we know it’s a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.”

Ian’s Friends Foundation’s mission, in undertaking and supporting initiatives at research institutions around the world, focuses on developing new therapeutic

methodologies for the treatment of pediatric brain tumors. With only four percent of federal funding allocated to pediatric cancer research and limited federal funding going to pediatric brain tumors, the Atlanta-based organization emphasizes bridging the gap by funding projects that would normally not receive attention.

To date, IFF has funded 37 projects at 27 world-renowned institutions including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, New York University, Cornell, Johns Hopkins University, Emory University, Duke University, and the University of Pittsburgh.

The 100 players had a convivial, upbeat attitude about coming out for tournament play on Sunday. Lori Zwecker stated that she has been playing for more than six years and enjoys the sport because “it’s social, fast and friendly.”

Julie Elster classified herself as a beginner and said, “I like pickleball because it spans generations, and we can find lots of courts around town, like Chastain Park.”

Wendi Aspes, IFF director of marketing and tournament director, ran a tight ship on Sunday. The pickleball tournament was actually her idea, on trend with the fastest growing sport in the U.S. She revealed, “My brother-in-law, Jason, and I are launching a pickleball apparel company soon, so I’ve been playing this fast-growing sport for a while. Jason actually runs ‘The Kitchen,’ the largest national online pickleball platform. I guess you can say ‘we have pickleball running through our veins.’”

Note also that the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, in Dunwoody, just announced its $35 million ex-

Lori Zwecker, Angela Simon, and Alan Sitcoff were motivated to go to

The tournament had 100 players competing in various rounds.

Lee Edelman and Julie Elster enjoy the social aspects of pickleball.

pansion which includes a state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor pickleball facility.

Tournament star participants included actor Jacob Moran (Blumhouse blockbuster, “The Black Phone”); Will Buie, Jr. (Disney Channel’s, “Bunk’d,” Stephen King thriller, “In the Tall Grass”); Celina Smith (“Young Dylan,” “Annie Live!,” “Under His Influence”); Donald Elise Watkins (“Emergency,” “The Underground Railroad,” “Your Honor,” “Black

Box”), and tennis players Ewa Radzikowska and Angela Simon.

Tournament winners were Jason Aspes and Angela Simon in the 4.0+ bracket, and Jonathan Elster and Jeff Edelman in the 3.0+ bracket.

Supporter Jennifer Babbitt Bodner best summed it up, “The tournament today was an innovative way to let the community know about this cause. Fun, plus fundraising, is the ideal combination!” ì

Our focus is on enhancing mental health through strengthening and building resilience in families and youth. We offer a wide range of services including:

Individual and Family Therapy

Psychoeducational Testing | Parent Coaching

Art Therapy | Support Groups | HAMSA

Spectator supporters were Karyn Lipsky, Hollie Zuckerman, and Jennifer Bodner

Phil and Cheryl Yagoda are the passionate base behind the good works of Ian’s Friends Foundation.

Grandparents Rita and Arthur Bodner flank honoree Ian Yagoda

Temple Kol Emeth Begins New Rabbi Search

By Fran M. Putney

After just three years, Temple Kol Emeth will soon form a new search committee to find a successor to Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, who is stepping down from the Reform synagogue pulpit to become the CEO of Hillels of Georgia.

In a video-recorded message to the congregation played on the evening of the announcement on March 28, Sernovitz said, “While this is not something I went to look for, it is one of those amazing opportunities, a chance of a lifetime, to make an impact on the front lines of the Jewish community – to make a difference in so many college students across the state of Georgia who will be the future leaders of the Jewish community.”

Temple Kol Emeth president Jodi Roberts said there’s been a wide range of reaction from the 420-family congregation in Marietta that has been celebrating its 40th anniversary during the last year.

“Certainly, there’s happiness that he has found a wonderful opportunity that he’s looking forward to and [people] are very supportive of that. We’ve had some good times and some really good things happening in our congregation, and having Rabbi Sernovitz has certainly been an advantage for our community. So, in all fairness I would not be totally transparent if I didn’t acknowledge that there is a lot of sadness and disappointment.”

Sernovitz said he is proud of his part in the growth of the Kol Emeth community since he arrived in March 2020.

“We are an incredibly strong and dynamic and engaged congregation, and it’s been truly an honor to serve the community. We’ve grown, we’ve doubled the size of our religious school, and we’ve created incredible impact, both internally and externally, in the greater community. Along with Jodi and our board, the congregation is deeply engaged.”

With Sernovitz finishing on June 30, 2023, the temple now has a lot of work to do. Roberts will be completing her second term as president but will remain on the board as immediate past president and will lead the search for a new senior rabbi in concert with Kol Emeth president-elect Sandi Davis.

Roberts said she expects the search committee to be seated by June and be comprised of a broad and diverse representation of the congregation – from newer members to long-timers, parents with children in the religious school, as well as singles and empty-nesters. “We’ll also be

looking at their experience, not just inside the congregation, but their experience externally and what skill sets they may have to bring to the table,” she said.

While the search group will begin a process to seek input from the entire community, there is already a sense of the type of candidate who will be a good fit for Kol Emeth.

“We have developed a pretty robust vision for the future, what we’re going to look like in the next three years, so we’re wanting to engage someone who is going to build on that and help support that vision,” explained Roberts, adding that Kol Emeth is a congregation that’s involved in social justice and social action and concerned about antisemitism. “These are all areas we would expect that person to engage with, in addition to helping us to maintain connections to the broader community in the Atlanta area.”

A smaller committee is already working on the search for an interim rabbi who is expected to serve for the one-year transitional period. During

this time, the congregation will also be supported by both Sernovitz and Rabbi Emeritus Steven Lebow, who was Kol Emeth’s first full-time rabbi, serving the congregation from 1986 until his retirement in 2020, when Sernovitz was brought on to succeed him.

Lebow told the AJT: “Although I may be taking on a few additional rabbinical responsibilities in the coming months, the congregation at Temple Kol Emeth is an extension of my family and I have remained an active member of the community since my retirement. I am honored to be able to assist the interim rabbi as we transition to a new permanent rabbi over the coming year. Temple Kol Emeth has grown tremendously in the last few years and will continue to be a vibrant Jewish community that is welcoming to all.”

Additionally, Roberts disclosed that the congregation plans to hire a rabbi educator, Rabbi Daniel Alter, who will lead the temple religious school, pending the vote at the annual meeting.

Describing his new job, Sernovitz ex-

plained that the CEO position supervises the state-wide Hillels of Georgia organization that works with the board and campus directors “and support teams to really do everything we can to support the Jewish identity and growth of our students, as well as to help them to build bridges across college communities in a world that’s ever challenging.”

Sernovitz says he cherishes the relationships he’s made at Kol Emeth and, because his family isn’t moving, he hopes to stay as involved in the congregation as much as possible as a temple member.

While Sernovitz’s departure leaves a temporary void, the congregation also finds itself in a moment of opportunity. Roberts cited Kol Emeth’s strength as a community, including lay leadership and “small but mighty staff” who are very supportive and engaged.

“It may be a little sad for us, but the fact is that we’re a fabulous community, and I’m very excited about what our future holds. I know we’re going to move forward in a very positive way.”

Temple Kol Emeth outgoing president Jodi Roberts

Former Temple Kol Emeth Rabbi Larry Sernovitz announced that he is stepping down from his post to serve as CEO of Hillels of Georgia.

Temple Kol Emeth streamed live on Mar. 28 to announce the Rabbi Sernovitz’s resignation to their members.

Chabad Intown Welcomes the Roses

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman recently announced new additions to the Chabad Intown staff, Rabbi Chanan and Chaya Rose.

“Rabbi Chanan and Chaya Rose bring a passion for adult Jewish learning to Atlanta and to the Intown Jewish Academy. Their personal life experiences and backgrounds make them a good fit for the uniqueness of the urban core. We anticipate that their arrival to Atlanta will elevate and usher in a new era in the quality of Jewish learning as well as the reach and impact on the community,” Shusterman said.

Rabbi Rose, a native Californian, was raised with a strong Jewish identity, by his father OBM, an attorney. Rose said, “I feel really blessed to be raised with his passion for learning and studying Judaism. Our collective Jewish tradition is rich with insight and relevance. I endeavor to share that with others and help people find ways to integrate Judaism’s teachings into life.”

In high school, Rose made a documentary about the concept of the messiah and the messianic era, based on what he studied in Talmud class. By interviewing rabbis and lay leaders from across the denominational spectrum, he exposed himself to different communities with which he previously had little engagement, enabling him to take ownership of his own identity. He then studied in Israel, New York, and attended rabbinical school in Pretoria, South Africa.

One of his focuses here is Jewish mysticism which he thinks is misunderstood. “The popular conception about mysticism is that it’s foreign, a fringe practice, or requires or presumes a cer-

tain degree of observance. The beauty of the mystical tradition in the teachings of chassidut, is the harmony that it creates. Learning how to see G-dliness as infinite and indivisible unifies ourselves with those around us, focusing on interpersonal relationships, and allows every experience to ultimately be an opportunity to engage the divine essence.”

Another area of his expertise is addiction and recovery. He first learned about Alcoholics Anonymous and recovery when serving in Dallas in 2013. What struck him was how the 12-step program’s “big book” and the fundamental tenets of AA, as a spiritual program, articulate concepts similar to Chassidic thought.

He elaborated, “For those in recovery, an active spiritual life and genuine

connection to G-d is a matter of life and death, there is a very real sense that their life depends on the spiritual work they do that day. As a rabbi, I was blown away to see that put into practice. A relationship with G-d is important, but we might not always invest every day in growing and developing it -- we can become complacent. In the recovery sphere, it’s paramount.”

Rose runs a group that explores Jewish prayers through the lens of addiction and recovery; the group will connect with Jeff’s Place which is already established at Chabad Intown.

Chaya Rose grew up in a Shluchim environment. Her parents spearheaded Chabad of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and, later, Cleveland Heights, to serve the greater community.

Rabbi Chanan Rose wants to share his knowledge for Jewish mysticism and also help those in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

She recalled, “My parents made a concerted effort to provide a personalized education in Judaism and Jewish mysticism, in addition to regular Jewish schooling, which was a mainstream Orthodox track. I learned, with my father daily, in Yiddish and Hebrew, studying texts in Tanach in depth and particularly chassidus – Jewish mysticism. I later went on to study Jewish law, chassidus and Jewish history in Safed, Israel.”

When asked of her impression of Atlanta, she said, “I had been to a few different areas in the South prior to coming here, and I am really enjoying this particular brand of warmth and hospitality. The overall energy of this city feels really positive and bright.”

Chabad Intown is located at 730 Ponce De Leon Place. ì

Rabbi Chanan and Chaya Rose are the new directors of the Intown Jewish Academy, focusing on adult education and charged to create and develop curricula to further build a community around learning and study. They welcomed the birth of their daughter in 2021.

Hughes Continues Family’s Jewish Hockey Legacy

Ellen WeinbergHughes’ legacy as one of the all-time most accomplished female Jewish athletes is unquestioned.

A three-sport (ice hockey, soccer, and lacrosse) athlete at the University of New Hampshire in the 1980s, and later an inductee into the school’s Hall of Fame, Weinberg-Hughes went on to represent the United States at the 1992 Women’s Hockey World Championships, during which she was named a tournament all-star in guiding Team USA to a silver medal.

David Ostrowsky

Several decades later, it turns out her young adult sons are rather gifted athletes, too. All three of them, that is.

When her youngest, Luke, a 19-yearold defenseman less than a week removed from his sophomore season at the University of Michigan, which ended with a loss to Quinnipiac University in the NCAA Frozen Four, suited up alongside his brother, Jack, for the New Jersey Devils on April 11 at the Prudential Center in Newark, Ellen became a mother of three NHL players as the oldest, Quinn, 23, holds down the blue line for the Vancouver Canucks.

That Luke was able to join Jack, a 21-year-old center and bona fide star in the league who has enjoyed a career-defining season, in the Devils’ pursuit for a long-awaited Stanley Cup title, made the development even more meaningful for the family, one that paid homage to their mother’s Judaic background, particularly through Passover celebrations during the boys’ childhood and adolescent years.

Not that Luke, the fourth overall pick in the 2021 draft (no American family had ever had three siblings drafted in first round of the NHL draft) and arguably the most naturally skilled of the Hughes brothers, ever felt he was riding Jack’s coattails.

“They definitely didn’t pick me fourth overall because of my brother, so I’m my own man,” Luke said the day before making his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres and goalie Devon Levi, who, like Hughes, had just made the sudden transition from college to the pros. “The guys have been great, [general manager] Tom Fitzgerald has been great, the coaching staff has been great with me.

It’s been very exciting to be in here and I feel I am ready and prepared if they do give me games, or a game, to earn my role.”

Two nights after his NHL debut, the Devils had found themselves down 4-1 to the Washington Capitals before storming back to send the regular-season finale into overtime. Then, in the final seconds of OT, Luke took a pass from Jack, glided into the offensive zone, fired a shot on net, corralled his own rebound, and converted the wraparound goal for his firstever NHL score. With the 5-4 win over the Caps, the Devils secured their franchiserecord 52nd win of the season and a date with Adam Fox and the New York Rangers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. As if that weren’t enough of a momentous occasion, the assist from Jack gave Luke’s older brother 99 points on the season, a new club record.

“Your first goal, you never forget,” Luke said in the visitors’ locker room following his milestone. “It was awesome to be out there and with Jacky assisting it, it was pretty cool.”

While the Stanley Cup playoffs may be all-consuming, for Luke there’s still some lingering bittersweetness over leaving Michigan after his sophomore year. After all, he’s one of the elite prospects in the hockey world—hockey experts rave about the teen’s ability to cut off passing lanes in the defensive zone and defend the rush—and was hoping to catapult Michigan (Quinn also played there last decade) to a national title before flipping to the NHL. But, for the second straight April, Hughes and the Wolverines got ousted in the first round of the Frozen Four, this year to the eventual champion Quinnipiac University Bobcats, and last year to Shui Buium and the eventual champion University of Denver Pioneers.

“It was a really disappointing end to that season; I don’t think we really expected an ending like that, but, at the end of the day, we had such a special group and one game doesn’t define that team,” Luke said, while reflecting on Michigan’s shortcomings and looking ahead to his pro career. “I was super proud of our

guys. We did some pretty special things for the culture at Michigan. Winning two Big Ten championships and getting to two Frozen Fours is a big deal. I was just proud of the guys.”

Ultimately, it was hardly a stunner that Luke bolted from Michigan after his second season wrapped. A recent trend in hockey has been for defensemen picked in the first round to leave after their sophomore years and few blue line prospects are as heavily touted as Luke, whose skating and stickhandling skills have long been considered NHLready.

As Jack acknowledged following his baby brother’s NHL debut, “I think he had a louder ovation than I did when I was introduced as a rookie [Oct. 4, 2019]. I guess you see where I rank but, man, I’m so proud of him. They eased him into the game, but everyone here knows how special of a player he’s going to be when we’re competing for [the Stanley Cup] the next couple of years and Luke’s 21 or 22 years old.

“He’s going to be a horse for us.” ì

Only days after wrapping up his collegiate career at the University of Michigan, Luke Hughes (front and center) celebrates his first NHL goal, a game-winner in the regular-season finale, as older brother Jack Hughes looks on // Photo Courtesy of New Jersey Devils

UCONN Hoops Boasts Lasting Connection to Israel

By David Ostrowsky

It is fairly common knowledge that the University of Connecticut regularly boasts some of the country’s premier men’s and women’s basketball teams. Indeed, Connecticut’s largest state school, whose main campus is nestled in the woodsy village of Storrs, is synonymous with college basketball royalty.

But far lesser known is that on the men’s side, UConn has a strong historical connection to Israeli basketball, having assembled rosters throughout the years that included Doron Sheffer and Nadav Henefeld, both of whom went on to have decorated careers for Maccabi Tel Aviv; Gilad Katz, a backup guard in the early 1990s; and forward, Uri Cohen-Mintz, who played briefly for the school during the 1994-95 season.

And it now appears that the tradition continues as the recently crowned national champion UConn Huskies had yet another Israeli player on their roster, Yarin Hasson, a 6-foot-9 versatile freshman forward who was a high school phenom for Gimnasya Rialit in Rishon Lezion and a member of the U18 Israeli national team, before matriculating at UConn last fall.

While the UConn men’s basketball team understandably had lofty expectations heading into this season, Hasson, a native of Gan Yavne who hadn’t even turned 18 when he became the program’s 12th and final scholarship player last August, most certainly did not. With a lanky 6’9”, 205-pound frame, Hasson was planning on spending an excessive amount of time in the weight room while knowing full well that American college hoops was going to be quite the transition from Israeli high school competition and that playing for one of the country’s premier teams would mean sparse playing time.

By season’s end, Hasson had seen the court for a total of 10 minutes, snagging one offensive rebound and swatting away one shot. He never scored once but did play in the waning seconds of UConn’s first and second round games against Iona and St. Mary’s, respectively.

Had Hasson stayed in Israel for college, he could have continued playing for Maccabi Rishon Lezion, the local club, for whom he surely would have had a more significant role. But he knew Big East basketball would pose a greater challenge and an opportunity to get more wide-reaching exposure, albeit in incremental stages. As such, he has no regrets about his decision last fall to embark on

the next chapter of his basketball career stateside.

“For sure, it’s very different here from the basketball in Israel,” Hasson told The Times of Israel as his team was steamrolling its way through March Madness. “All of the money invested in college basketball is very different than in Israel. That’s the reason I came here — to become a better player, to become a great player. And I feel my decision is helping me already.”

If nothing else, having a courtside seat while cheering along the Huskies as they obliterated the field en route to their fifth national championship—and fourth this century—was worth the 5,000-plus mile journey to a foreign land with an often-inhospitable wintry climate.

“Like I always say to my friends and my family, you can watch it [March Madness] from Israel, on TV or YouTube, but you never understand how huge it is until you come to the U.S. and you see it,” he added. “We watched the tournament

from Israel and saw that it’s huge, but we didn’t understand how huge. It’s millions of fans, all the media, all the best players in one place. I can say it’s even bigger than I expected it to be.”

Having just finished his first year of studies at UConn (he’s majoring in business), Hasson is headed back to Israel for a month to catch up with his parents, Malka and Eitan, and younger brothers, Yahav and Shoham, as well as conversing with Israeli officials about a deferral on his required military service. As is often the case with many top-tier Israeli athletes, such as Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija, who had his military service deferred after being selected in the 2020 NBA Draft, there is a certain expectation that Hasson will have his request met.

But then it’s back to the U.S., where he will be training all summer long in anticipation of having a more substantial role next fall—for a team other than UConn. Alas, on April 17, he made the trendy

decision to enter the transfer portal with the intention of landing at another bigtime college basketball school, perhaps one where he will get more playing time.

Irrespective of where his collegiate career takes him, Hasson has proudly continued the now decades-long tradition of Israel being well-represented at one of the nation’s most storied college basketball schools, and one that happens to have a vibrant Jewish community, of which he was an actively engaged member.

And for good measure, his participation in UConn’s run to a national title also meant that Judaism was further enmeshed in what was a historic time for sports in the state of Connecticut: Less than a week after the Huskies cut down the nets at the Final Four in Houston, the Quinnipiac University Bobcats men’s ice hockey team, one with Jewish skaters Yaniv Perets, Sam Lipkin, Noah Altman, and T.J. Friedmann, prevailed at the Frozen Four in Tampa to capture the program’s first national title. ì

Although he played sparingly as a freshman for the national champion University of Connecticut Huskies men’s basketball team, Israeli forward Yarin Hasson was part of the pipeline of Israeli basketball players headed to UConn. // Photo Credit: UCONN Athletics

Federation Delegation Visits

Sheba Medical Center

A delegation from the Atlanta Federation visited Sheba Medical Center, the largest hospital in Israel and the Middle East, where the deputy director of the hospital, Prof. Arnon Afek, gave a 30-minute presentation to the group.

From there, they were treated to a fascinating display of Sheba’s cutting-edge startups and medical technologies in the MSR/ Medical Simulation Center.

Sheba’s influence across the USA is expanding rapidly with new medtech innovation centers being launched in Jersey City, N.J. and Chicago, Ill.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Today in Israeli History

Israel’s Population Reaches 9.73 Million

Ahead of Israel’s 75th Independence Day, Israel’s population numbers 9.727 million people, according to the Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.

According to the annual CBS population report for Independence Day 2023, the Israeli population comprises 7.145 million Jews (73.5 percent of the population), 2.048 Arabs (21 percent), and 534,000 others (5.5 percent).

May 3, 1898: Israel’s only female prime minister, Golda Meir, is born in Kyiv, Ukraine. She immigrates in 1906 to the United States and in 1921 to Palestine, where she becomes active in labor politics.

Since last Independence Day, Israel’s population has grown by 216,000 people – at a rate of 2.3 percent. Since then, about 183,000 babies have been born, about 79,000 new immigrants have arrived in the country, and some 51,000 people have died.

CBS noted that Israel’s population today is 12 times as big as it was at the founding of the state – just 806,000 people.

Since the founding of the state, more than 3.3 million people have immigrated to Israel. Some 1.5 million (43.7 percent) of these have arrived since 1990.

According to the report, by 2030, Israel

May 7, 1953: The Histadrut, the trade union that was launched in 1920 to represent Jewish workers in Palestine and that covers 75% of Israeli labor by 1953, opens its membership to the state’s 185,000 Arab citizens.

is expected to have a population of 11.1 million people, by 2040 – 13.2 million people, and by Israel’s 100th Independence Day (2048) – 15.2 million people.

The data indicated that by the end of 2021, some 46 percent of the world’s Jewish population lives in Israel. Some 79 percent of Jews in Israel are native-born.

CBS also noted that Israel’s population is relatively young, with children ages 0-14 comprising some 28 percent of the population, and adults ages 65 and over comprising only 12 percent.

Compiled by AJT Staff

Benzion Netanyahu’s Revisionist Zionism is considered a major influence on his son Benjamin, the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history. // By Avi Ohayon, Israeli Government Press Office

April 30, 2012: Historian and Revisionist Zionist leader Benzion Netanyahu, the father of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Entebbe hero Yonatan Netanyahu, dies at home in Jerusalem at age 102.

May 1, 1943: A communiqué issued after a 12-day Allied refugee conference in Bermuda fails to announce any specific steps to help Jews facing extermination by the Nazis. Britain does not open Jewish immigration to Palestine.

May 2, 1860: Theodor Herzl is born in Pest, Hungary. A lawyer and writer, he is so shaken by the French antisemitism around the spy case against Alfred Dreyfus that he writes “The Jewish State” in 1896 and convenes the First Zionist Congress in 1897.

May 4, 1947: The Irgun carries out a complex operation to break 30 of its men and 11 Lehi members out of the British prison at Acre. Six of the 41 are killed; eight are recaptured. In the chaos, 182 Arabs escape.

The Ghetto Fighters’ House at Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot is the world’s first Holocaust museum. // By Dr. Avishai Teicher, PikiWiki Israel

May 5, 1959: Kibbutz Lohamei HaGetaot (the Ghetto Fighters) in the western Galilee welcomes 2,500 people to commemorate the first Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) under a law passed four weeks earlier.

May 6, 1986: Israel and the United States sign an agreement that calls for Israel to participate in research for the U.S. Strategic Defense Initiative, known as “Star Wars.” The effort leads to Israel’s Arrow and Iron Dome anti-missile systems.

Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver argued that the United Nations needed to recognize the ineffectiveness of the British administration of Palestine.

May 8, 1947: Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, who in 1943 founded the American Zionist Emergency Council, testifies to the U.N. Special Committee on Palestine as part of a Jewish Agency delegation led by David BenGurion.

May 9, 1979: Habib Elghanian, a Tehran businessman and leader of Iran’s Jewish community, is executed by the revolutionary Islamic government after his conviction of being a Zionist spy and “corrupter on Earth.”

May 10, 1994: In a secretly recorded, closed-door address at a mosque in Johannesburg, Yasser Arafat declares that the Oslo Accords, signed eight months earlier, are just a step toward Islam’s conquest of Jerusalem.

May 11, 1965: The Israel Museum, the state’s largest, opens in Jerusalem with more than 500,000 items. The museum was built with support from foreign benefactors, including the U.S. government, and the drive of Teddy Kollek.

May 12, 1943: Settlers in tents establish Mitzpe Gevulot, the first of three agricultural outposts in the opening phase of Zionist settlement of the Negev, where the Jewish National Fund has been buying land since the 1930s.

May 13, 1984: Moroccan King Hasan II convenes the two-day Conference on the Jewish Communities of Morocco, where about 20,000 Jews remain. The conference in Rabat draws 38 Israelis, including eight Knesset members.

May 14, 1948: David Ben-Gurion, the chairman of the Provisional State Council, reads Israel’s Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv, tracing Jewish history and making the case for a Jewish state under international law.

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

The state of Israel will celebrate its 75th anniversary this week // Photo Credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90

Thousands Flock to Israel for 75th Anniversary

By Jan Jaben-Eilon

Thousands of Diaspora Jews – including 200 Atlantans attending a mission organized by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta – flocked to Israel to help celebrate the country’s 75th anniversary. Just weeks after the Union for Reform Judaism held its gathering in Israel, organizations such as the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) held its annual General Assembly in Tel Aviv, and the World Zionist Organization (WZO) held its gathering in Jerusalem.

The 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence was the celebratory heart of all the programming. But this anniversary was unlike every other anniversary of Israel. As the largest Diaspora Jewish community in the world, the WZO initially attracted attention within Israel. Israeli press had a field day reporting how several attendees cried out boosha, Hebrew for shame, as delegates attempted to vote on resolutions condemning the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for its attempts to overhaul the country’s judicial system. Videos of the cries flourished and spread on WhatsApp.

The voting had to be delayed a week to an online forum due to the contentious outbursts that also included cries of “democracy” – echoing the calls that have become popular during the weekly protests by hundreds of thousands of Israelis since the first of the year. The WZO resolutions weren’t just focused on the controversial laws about the judicial system proposed by the Netanyahu government, however. They also dealt with concerns that the current government would change laws dealing with non-Orthodox conversions, the Law of Return and LGBTQ rights.

In a statement, Vice Chairman of the WZO Yizhar Hess said, “Despite all the efforts of the right-wing bloc to block the adoption of the decisions intended to protect the liberal and democratic character of Israel, the representatives will have the opportunity to make their voices heard, and they will convey a clear message to the government in Israel: the strength of the relationship between Israel and Jews around the world is conditional on Israel remaining a liberal, Jewish and democratic state.”

The WZO resolution focused on the coalition government’s efforts to enable the Knesset – Israel’s parliament – to override Supreme Court rulings and give the coalition control over the selection of Israel’s judges “have been pursued in haste and without regard for the effect that these

changes will have on the relationship between Israel and Jews around the world.” The resolution urged the Israeli government to obtain “broad public agreement” on any changes in the judicial system. And it warned that the Israel-Diaspora relationship “is at stake if the government pursues its plans to weaken the judiciary.”

Some Diaspora Jewish leaders contend – at least off the record – that the relationship between the two largest Jewish communities, Israel and North America, is already strained.

Prior to the JFNA’s General Assembly, the group was urged to withdraw its invitation to Netanyahu to speak at its opening event, April 23. The request was made by UnXeptable, a worldwide grassroots movement led by Israeli expats in support of a democratic and liberal Israel, which has been organizing weekly protests by Israelis and Jews around the world, including in Atlanta.

One of the Atlanta organizers, Dotan Zebrowitz Harpak, stated that JFNA “should not allow our community’s largest stage to be used for incitement, lies and the promotion of the anti-democratic Netanyahu judicial overhaul.” Harpak noted that the letter to JFNA also asked the group to revoke its invitation to Knesset member Simcha Rothman, one of the architects of the judicial overhaul which has been suspended until after Israel’s Independence Day celebrations.

While lauding the Israeli protests that started in January, JFNA declined to dis-

“The leadership of the GA has an opportunity to present the profound concerns of American Jewry to the prime minister and the government of Israel. I feel sure they will be doing that in a civil way,” said Lois Frank, recipient of the Jewish Federation of Atlanta’s 2023 Lifetime of Achievement Award in May.

invite Israeli leaders to its programming. JFNA chairwoman Julie Platt and CEO Eric Fingerhut responded to the letter, saying, “First and foremost, the opportunity to hear from Israel’s duly elected president and prime minister is a symbol of Israel’s achievement as a modern democratic state.”

The JFNA statement also said, “We have been awed by the powerful statement Israel’s citizens have made exercising their democratic right to protest. Given the immense importance of this debate and its implications for Jews all around the world, we understand that some will choose to exercise their right at the General Assembly.”

Recipient of the Jewish Federation of Atlanta’s 2023 Lifetime of Achievement Award this May, Lois Frank agreed with the JFNA’s decision to allow Netanyahu to speak at the General Assembly. “He is the prime minister and while I find what he is doing despicable, I don’t believe quarantining him from discussions is the best way to address the issues facing us. Protests are fine with me…as long as they are peaceful. I don’t believe hecklers should be allowed to interrupt the speakers.” The former national chair for the Jewish Council for Public Affairs added that “the leadership of the GA has an opportunity to present the profound concerns of American Jewry to the prime minister and the government of Israel. I feel sure they will be doing that in a civil way.”

The letter writing to the JFNA, however, didn’t stop with UnXeptable’s letter

and JFNA’s response. A group calling itself Israelis for Democracy, comprised of more than two dozen organizations from Hebrew Writers Protest to Musicians for Democracy to White Coats (Doctors and Health Professionals for Democracy), wrote a letter citing its “disappointment” in the JFNA’s decision to host Netanyahu and Rothman.

“Our country is in the midst of its most profound civic crisis since its founding. As you know, hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens have taken to the streets in recent months in the most sustained, massive civic mobilization ever in Israeli history shouting ‘De-mo-cra-tia!’ We demanded nothing but a commitment to the democratic principles expressed in our Declaration of Independence, signed this week, 75 years ago.”

As it turned out, at the last minute, Netanyahu canceled his GA appearance – for the first time -- although Rothman appeared on a panel with the president of the Israel Democracy Institute, Yohanan Plesner.

The letter from the Israelis for Democracy group also urged the GA attendees, as they return to the U.S. and Canada after the GA, “to stay in this fight…we ask you not to give up on us. Upon your return, please speak with your communities about what you saw here and support the work of our allies in North America.”

Certainly, the Diaspora attendees of the recent conferences won’t forget this Israeli Independence Day. ì

One of the Atlanta protest organizers, Dotan Zebrowitz Harpak, stated that JFNA “should not allow our community’s largest stage to be used for incitement, lies and the promotion of the anti-democratic Netanyahu judicial overhaul.”

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Sometimes, a Hat is More Than a Hat

It’s just a hat. It’s a thing. I should not get upset over a thing. That’s what I told myself as we prepared to leave after a three-day trip to Chicago, all the while mentally retracing my steps — more than 40,000 of them, according to the app on my phone.

In glorious weather unusual for mid-April, I’d worn the hat as we walked to-and-from Navy Pier, site of EXPO Chicago, a 170,000-square foot exhibition floor filled with contemporary and modern art, displayed by galleries from around the world.

I’d worn the hat on the Chicago Riverwalk that abuts the Chicago River downtown, where we took in the afterdark debut of this year’s “Art on the Mart,” a fantastical digital art projection on the 2.5-acre facade of The Merchandise Mart.

I’d worn the hat the next morning as we toured Chicago’s architecture from aboard a boat. Even having grown up with an awareness of the city’s architectural heritage, there was much to see and learn.

I’d worn the hat walking to Shabbat dinner at my mother’s apartment in the Streeterville neighborhood and to lunch at my favorite among Chicago’s deep dish pizza parlors.

In short, wherever we walked, I’d worn the hat.

And then, late on the Saturday night before our early Sunday morning flight home to Atlanta, as we packed up, the hat was missing.

It’s just a hat, a thing, and I should not get upset over a thing. That’s what I told myself.

Sometimes a hat is just a hat, but this particular hat was of great sentimental value.

On the front, in silver stitching, was emblazoned, “1926.” On one side was the emblem of the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. The Blackhawks were founded and played their first National Hockey League game in 1926.

None of which explains why I was upset.

The hat belonged to my father, who

died in October 2012.

My father, a New York native, lived in Chicago for nearly six decades, first in the city and then for many years in the suburbs. The hat was a present from my Chicago-native brother-in-law, because of that “1926.”

Dad was born in 1926. That is why he wore the hat. He is why I wore the hat on trips to Chicago and Maine.

I have photos of dad wearing the hat at “Camp Schechter,” the name given the cabins in the woods by the lake in Maine that he so enjoyed visiting.

So, as I waited to board our flight home from Chicago, I mentally retraced my steps.

On the Saturday, after the architectural boat tour, and after the pizza lunch, and after more hours spent perusing the art at EXPO Chicago, we walked back up Lake Shore Drive and North Michigan Avenue to a Streeterville tavern that we stumbled upon last year and liked enough to revisit.

Along with a childhood friend of my wife, who also flew in for EXPO Chicago (at the invitation of another childhood friend, who is the event’s director), we had such a lovely time at dinner that afterward I did not notice that my head was bare.

Not until we packed did I realize that the hat was missing. I was upset, but with just hours until our departure, I was resigned to having lost a tangible reminder of my father.

On our way to the airport, my wife suggested that, rather than continuing to sulk, I contact the last place we had been, Pippin’s Tavern. Of course, at 7 a.m. on a Sunday, no one answered a call and the phone’s mailbox was full. So, from the airport boarding lounge, I emailed the tavern and posted a note on its Facebook page.

I also texted my sister, who lives a 10-minute walk from my mother, asking if she would go to the tavern and inquire whether a hat had been found. When our plane touched down in Atlanta, I turned on my phone and found a text from my sister: “I have THE (hat emoji). I will send. Please Dave do not take out of Atlanta.”

I emailed the tavern, thanking them profusely. When we return to Chicago in August, for the Parliament of the World’s Religions, we will stop in at Pippin’s and thank them in person.

Dad’s “1926” hat, however, will remain in my office at home in Atlanta. ì

Dave Schechter

Having

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 kaylene@atljewishtimes.com.

Letter to the editor,

I’m very upset to read about the antisemitic graffiti in Lockwood Forest. We lived in Peachtree Corners and now live in N. Virginia, outside of DC.

When antisemitic flyers were distributed in our neighborhood, about three years ago, person after person whose home was defiled with the flyers, residents announced the acts on NextDoor, denouncing the hatred, the flyers, and declaring that it was plainly unacceptable— every single day for quite a while. We live in an educated, open community where we feel safe and comfortable.

Just a few words to show that there still are people who care, who support us, along with diversity, and intelligent thought.

Barbara C. Ross, Virgina

Letter to the editor,

The JCRC Interfaith Hunger Seder on April 10 underscored how we are commanded to “let all who are hungry come and eat” every Passover but also sends a critical message about this moment in America. Hunger and food insecurity have reached crisis levels, affecting tens of millions of Americans in Georgia and nationwide.

Right now, we are at an inflection point in how we choose to respond. In Washington, some in Congress want to cut social safety nets like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) and harshen work requirements for SNAP eligibility. This comes as SNAP pandemic boosts are ending, sending many off a “hunger cliff” and forcing many to turn to food pantries just so their families can eat.

We can find a path forward by studying our Jewish —and American — history. MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger is proud to be a longtime partner of the Atlanta community’s interfaith seder. Through events like this, we can engage our friends and neighbors in conversations about liberation and justice that are essential to truly end hunger in America.

Abby J. Leibman, President and CEO, MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger

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.

Busloads for Birthright

Due to a waitlist of over 20,000 young Jewish adults caused by unprecedented demand and increased costs for Birthright Israel trips, Atlanta’s Lodges of the Hebrew Order of David, in partnership with Birthright Israel Foundation, have teamed up to launch a fundraising campaign to help provide many more young Jewish adults with this life-changing experience.

As a result, HOD’s lodges throughout North America have engaged in the Busloads for Birthright campaign to help fill up buses with young people, ages 18-26, to experience Israel and strengthen their Jewish identities. It takes an investment of $180,000 to cover the cost of 40 young people on each bus, which comes to $4,500 per participant.

The Atlanta lodges are conducting an exciting fundraising campaign with help from a generous matching grant provided by Andrea and Mike Leven and Robyn and Doug Ross.

Mike Leven is legendary in the business and philanthropic worlds and serves as an honorary director of Birthright Israel Foundation. Leven stepped down from the national board about a year ago after many years of exemplary service to the organization. Doug

Ross is Atlanta chair and national vice chair of Birthright Israel Foundation.

“The idea to support the Birthright program came up in a conversation with Jeff Kalwerisky, president of Lodge Carmel in Atlanta,” said David Joss, a past president of the lodge who helped establish HOD in North America and is the incoming deputy grand lodge president for HOD International.

Kalwerisky, Ross, and Joss then started to design and implement the program with the help of Birthright Israel Foundation professionals in New York. The campaign received an immediate and enthusiastic buyin from Atlanta’s three other lodges, Bezalel, Magen David, and Shimshon.

The current president of HOD’s governing lodge North America, Lawrence Barris, of Houston, also jumped on the bus, committing all North American lodges (in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Boca Raton, San Diego, and Toronto) to join in this historic effort. As a result, lodge members throughout the United States and Canada will be reaching out to family and friends in a unique peer-to-peer crowdfunding campaign.

“Birthright Israel has an urgent need for funding,” Joss said. “Birthright Israel has sent

over 800,000 young people from 70 countries to Israel, including over 10,200 from Atlanta since the program’s inception 23 years ago. When participants return home, they often become leaders in their local Jewish communities, feel a strong connection to Israel and are far more likely to be active in Jewish and pro-Israel organizations. In addition, college-age alumni are much better prepared to counter anti-Israel and antisemitic propaganda, such as BDS, that they encounter on college campuses and across social media.”

To underscore the urgent funding needs, Ross added, “We had 32,000 appli-

cants for only 12,000 North American spots for this summer – and trip costs are up 30 percent due to inflation. It’s heartbreaking to leave 20,000 hopeful applicants behind, so we are working around the clock to ask members of the Jewish community to step up and help provide this profoundly impactful gift from one generation to the next.”

Leven expressed his admiration for HOD stating: “It is a fantastic idea for Hebrew Order of David to demonstrate this commitment to Birthright Israel Foundation and to the Jewish people. All of us who support Birthright are excited and deeply appreciative of this tremendous show of support.”

Compiled by AJT Staff

How to Donate

Busloads for Birthright officially runs through mid-May. Donations can be made online at: birthrightisrael. foundation/donate?a=hod or contact Kate Smith, Birthright Israel Foundation’s Atlanta regional director at Kate. Smith@birthrightisrael.org or (404) 558-5358.

(From left) Jeff Kalwerisky, president, Lodge Carmel Atlanta; Doug Ross, vice chairman of Birthright Israel Foundation; David Joss, North American governing lodge executive

Angie Frank Nothdurft - Marietta, GA

I would love to do something outside of the box. With great honor and joy in my heart, I want to nominate my DAUGHTER Angie Frank Nothdurft for this award. Angie is one of those rare mixtures of everything every parent wants in a child. She is an exquisite beauty inside and out and she does it all. I tell her everything she does, she gives 150%. She is a kind and caring daughter who would be there for us (her mom and dad) in a heartbeat. She is the kind of granddaughter who has always and now cherishes her grandparents. But oh what a mommy she is! She walks the walk and talks the talk. She has two amazing daughters who idolize her. They want to be her. She works full time and yet finds the time to be with them, teach them, let them reach for their dreams, and she shows them how to be accepting and nonjudgmental of the world. She is a terrific wife and everyone else in her life can vouch for her. She has friendships that have spanned for years! It would honor us (HER mommy and daddy) to honor her.

Linda Frank

Janet Gaffin - Orlando, FL

Whether it was siblings, friends, sports teams or Girl Scouts, I've always had to share my mom. She treats everyone with respect and kindness, and it's why people love her. She can't go anywhere without someone excitedly running up to say hello.

I didn't always like this when I was younger. Truthfully, sometimes I wished she wasn't nice so everyone would go away. Seriously, at two years old I would tell anyone who came to see her to "go away".

It took a while to understand and appreciate why I had to share her. It's because she is the most kind, generous, and giving person that I and a lot of people know. In addition to being "mom" she is an incredibly creative leader, a master negotiator, and the person everyone, and I mean everyone, comes to for help. Knowing her makes you want to be like her. She wouldn't be the amazing person she is today if my childhood wish had come true.

Sometimes I still wish everyone would go away, but I'm proud to have a mom so many people love. She deserves a day to be taken care of the way she takes care of everyone else.

Katie Gaffin

Toby Gutterman StreetmanMarietta, GA

When I was younger, my mom had a singing sunflower plant on her desk that sang the “you are my sunshine” song. They happen to be my mom’s favorite flower, as well. I’ve always thought sunflowers suited her. Because like a sunflower, my mom is beautiful, always stands tall, and keeps her face towards the sun. On this Mother’s Day and every day, I’m so thankful to have her as such a big source of sunshine in my life. Thank you Mom for all you do for us. I love you!

Anna Streetman

Risa Jennison - Atlanta, GA

My mom deserves the best mother's day ever because she is the best mom ever! She raised my sister and me almost single handedly. She is the hardest worker I know and that work ethic has been passed down to my sister and me. She has been self employed since we were little kids so she could work but still be home with us. She also has a part time job. My mom and I also run a successful e-bay business that we have been working at since 2009.

Lilli Jennison

Robin Klein - Atlanta, GA

I consider my sister and I to be incredibly fortunate to have been raised by such an amazing mother and best friend. Our house was always a happy one with lots of love, laughter and talking - always lots of talking - and, it must be said, the BEST food. We were the house our friends loved to come to and hang out in because it was also such a warm and welcoming place to be. Our mom taught us to always be kind, to stand up and advocate for ourselves, and to fight for what we believed in. She is and always has been a shoulder to cry on. Her love, support and advice are endless. She has shown us how to be wonderful mothers, sisters, wives, and friends. The kind of mother and grandmother she is, and the kind of marriage she and my father have, are what we always strive for. We love you mom! Love, Ilyssa & Nikki

Ilyssa Klein

Jenna Shulman - Atlanta, GA

My mother is really nice, respectful and she loves me so much. She gets me lots of stuff and brings me to fun places. She is the best mother because if I wanted to do something, she will always do it. When we go out to cool places for dinner, she always orders me good things. She deserves the best day because when my room is really, really messy, she helps me clean it and is really nice about it. And she organizes my stuff. That is why she deserves the best day ever.

Brett Shulman

Sarah Sloan - Atlanta, GA

My mother Sarah is one of the strongest women I know. She is the matriarch of my family. She has been a role model to me throughout my life. Before retiring, she was a medical social worker and served as the Spinal Cord Injury Coordinator for Atlanta VA Hospital. She continues to volunteer in her synagogue and community. She is always there for me and is a constant support as I raise my daughter as single parent. She taught me that experiences in life are better than material possessions. She instilled values in me and my sister from a young age that what you put out into the world is what you get in return and to never take anything for granted. She taught me that it's important to surround yourself with people who support you when the chips are down and not just during happy times. My mother is fiercely independent and taught me that being self-reliant is a major component to being successful. My mother is always helping others and deserves to be recognized during Mother's Day for her contribution to our family and her community.

Rebecca LaBanca

Kay Burney - Louisville, KY

My mom’s unwavering support of anything and everything I have ever done, wanted to do, or attempted to do has played a critical role in allowing me to be who I am today. Whether that support was driving me to an eye crossing number of practices and games, or stepping up to play piano for an equally staggering number of choir concerts and lessons, I have never had to doubt that my mom would do everything she could to encourage my passions. This support has helped guide me through thick and thin, and I will never take that for granted. So, if there is anyone that deserves the best Mother’s Day ever, it is the music making, snickerdoodle baking, dog loving woman who never failed to do what she could to support me, my brother, and my family.

Kyle Burney

Mom’s a Gift – Make Her Feel Special!

Mother’s Day is almost here, and finding the right gift for the moms in your life is always meaningful. Consider mom’s favorite things: what does she enjoy, collect or love the most? Besides you, of course.

Robyn Spizman Gerson

Below are some thoughtful ideas for adding your signature style to gift giving. Include words of love to remind your mom, mimi, nana, bubbie, a special aunt, or grandma what she means to you, not only on Mother’s Day, but every day of the year.

Book Loving Moms — Since 1979, Tall Tales Books in Toco Hills Shopping Center has been the perfect place to find a great read for bookworms. Rebekah Hagedorn is ready to make a novel suggestion and check out Jessica Francis Kane’s “Rules for Visiting,” about a woman who feels more at home with plants than people; Nina Totenberg’s “Dinners With Ruth” is a memoir about the power of friendship between the NPR legal affairs correspondent and her 50-year friendship with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Matt Haig’s bestselling “Midnight Library,” Barbara Kingsolver’s critical smash, “Demon Copperhead,” and The National Jewish Book Awards Jewish Book of The Year, “Koshersoul,” by Michael W. Twitty.  404.636.2498. www.talltalesatlanta.com

Jennifer Balcos Gallery — Visit this stunning art gallery filled with paintings, sculptures, and photography for every interior. View Atlanta artist Aleta Aaron’s exquisite bronze, abstract figurative sculptures that are ideal for the art-collecting mom. Atlanta’s premier luxury art gallery, Jennifer Balcos Gallery, showcases contemporary works by current artists making their mark on the American Art scene. Visit their new location in The Buckhead Court at 3872 Roswell Road.  www.jenniferbalcosgallery.com

Moms Love Lucy’s Market —

From beautiful floral arrangements that define pretty to customized baskets and gifts, Lucy’s Market is the ideal destination for welcomed gifts for all things mom. From fresh flowers to spa and bath products, delicious sweets and more, you’ll love Lucy’s Market. This popular market is a creative gift resource for your gift-giving needs. Lucy’s Market is located at 56 E. Andrews in Buckhead. www.lucysmarket.com

For a Jewel of a Mom — Tassels has mom covered! When it comes to beautiful gifts, gems, and jewels, you’ll love stacking on the style at Tassels. Stunning, stackable styles you will never want to take off. Customize your look and build the perfect look for each occasion or every day. Visit their jewel-box of a store in Buckhead or shop the shine online.  Call Tassels at 404-364-9434 or email Tassels@tasselsjewelry.com

Garden Party Floral Wrap

— Embrace mom in the flowing flower power of this kimonoinspired colorful wrap and turn any moment into a relaxing day. Whether she’s working from home, running errands, or relaxing around the house, mom will feel fabulous in this soft, versatile robe that adds a pop of vibrant color to her loungewear line-up. Each wrap can be tied in the front and features vintage floral patterns screen-printed by hand onto green or pink rayon. Handmade in India and a beautiful addition to any wardrobe.  www.uncommongoods.com

Ahhh Spa — Shower mom with the Turkish Cotton Spa Dress, a luxurious towel for leisure before or after bathing. It’s irresistibly comfortable and made from absorbent, fastdrying Turkish cotton, and this cover-up is a shower and bath essential, and lush attire for an indulgent at-home spa day. The generous patch pockets hold mom’s mobile device and a paperback at the pool, beach, or health club. In case mom feels like spending a whole day in this plush number, she’ll have you to thank!

www.uncommongoods.com

Gifts on the Go — Tuxedo Pharmacy & Gifts is a treasure trove for gift giving. From can’t resist gifts to smiley face slippers, adorable, beaded bags, a world of totes for busy moms, beauty products, books, accessories and so much more. From little gifts to big ones, this beloved store has served Atlanta for many decades. 164 W. Wieuca Road NE, Atlanta.  www.tuxedopharmacy.info

A Treasure Trove of Gifts — Veronica’s Attic is a chic boutique filled with gifts for mom. A complimentary gift wrap is ideal for the shopper on the go. Veronica’s Attic is filled with trend-forward jewelry, gifts, clothing, and accessories for moms. Their gift card lets mom select the gift of her choice. www.veronicasattic.com

For the Sweetest Mom — Handcrafted by renowned, James Beard awardwinning pastry chef and master chocolatier, Jacques Torres, you’ll find an assortment of kosher chocolates that make the perfect Mother’s Day gift. With a delectable range of signature flavors such as pralines, fruits, red wine, exotic teas, cappuccino, and espresso, these chocolates are also kosher dairy certified. Jacques Torres uses only the finest real ingredients and never includes any preservatives or artificial flavoring oils mrchocolate.com/products/assorted-kosher-chocolates

Rings And Pretty Things – Fragile, located in Sandy Springs, is the ultimate entertaining store, and has a wonderful assortment of gifts for the mom who loves to entertain as well as perfect accessories, hostess gifts, including jewelry dishes with mom’s initials, fashionable readers, and stunning eyewear frames, serving pieces, must-have decor and so much more.  www.fragilegifts.com

Love Mom to Pieces — A Piece of Cake is a delicious cake that Moms will love, especially if you make brunch or dinner or in her honor. Check out their “build your own cake” and select the exact flavors mom loves the most. Order ahead of time and select from the variety of cakes and icings, from chocolate to red velvet to lemon and beyond. To paraphrase John, Paul, George, and Ringo, “strawberry cake forever.” PSRemind mom she’s the icing on the cake!  www.pieceofcakeinc.com

For the Stylish Mom Range Boutique has a trendsetting, stylish assortment of clothing, accessories, special pieces and more to outfit mom. These spot-on, in-style looks make a fashion statement and will be a welcomed addition to mom’s wardrobe keeping her in-style. Range has a range of fabulous gifts not to be missed for moms.  range-boutique.myshopify.com/

Courtesy of Jacques Torres

B.D. Jeffries — B.D. Jeffries is a beautifully curated store filled with gorgeous décor, accessories for moms, special pieces for entertaining, works of art and stunning coffee table books on interiors, art and design. A complimentary gift bag keeps gifting easy and the store is filled with an outstanding selection of gifts for mom. Located at Powers Ferry Square.  www.bdjeffries.com

Gift Cards for Mom – Not sure what to gift? The standby gift that’s always popular is even available at grocery stores like Publix and beyond. You’ll discover a universe of gift cards for every mom. Or, in case you waited until the last minute, send an egift card to mom’s favorite place to shop. Make mom’s Mother’s Day gift totally in the cards and her choice!

Better than a Bubble Bath — Breadwinner’s delicious chocolate chip bread and a variety of other flavors, including blueberry and peach, are delicious. Breadwinners (and Breadwinners gift cards) is a lovely way to gift mom lunch with her bunch, even for brunch, and schedule a few dates and treat her to the gift of your presence.  www. breadwinnercafe.com

A Perfect Day — And lastly, gift mom a gift she’ll never forget. Give her a perfect day where she chooses and plans the day. Here’s the deal, though. Mom gets to choose whatever she’d like to do…and that includes having you clean out your closet, the garage, basement, and whatever she wants. This is a gift that requires your full cooperation, a steady smile and will be a guaranteed Mother’s Day home run gift!

Spa Offers Japanese Scalp & Hair Treatment

For Atlantans ready to try a different type of spa experience, Mer Aqua Head Spa offers blissful hair and scalp treatment that not only offers real benefits, but also leaves a person walking on a cloud afterwards, feeling rejuvenated and relaxed.

Modeled after the head and hair spas found throughout Tokyo, Mer is located in Salon Doremi in Johns Creek. According to owner, MyThanh Le, who has more than 30 years of experience in the hair business, “For a long time, all of our clients raved about the shampoo and massages we gave them before their haircuts and other services. I felt like we could offer a stand-alone deluxe treatment focused exclusively on scalp rejuvenation and hydration that would deeply cleanse,

nourish, and treat the hair and scalp, all while our clients simply relax and enjoy.”

And indeed, the experience at Mer is

a most soothing treatment and massage, taking the usual hour or so at the hair salon to a new level, and leaving each client with shiny, soft tresses to boot! Treatments are specifically designed for clients with a range of needs and conditions, such as thinning hair, dandruff, dry or itchy scalp, colored hair, overprocessed hair, and oily hair. With many years in the hair salon business, the specialists are uniquely qualified to provide the most appropriate treatments for each client.

Walking into a tranquil, Zen-like communal space, each client is ushered into a private room to trade their top for an oversized wraparound towel that is securely fastened with a Velcro fastener. Once the treatment begins, clients will be glad they changed since the shoulders and top of the back get splashed quite a bit during the treatment. Joining their therapist at a specially designed massage table attached to a deep shampoo basin, clients lie down surrounded by curtains, affording them the privacy to relax or drift off to sleep.

The Mer Ultimate ($125) lasts an hour and a half and includes a thorough facial before and during the hair and scalp treatment. Beginning with a spray of lemongrass essential oil, the facial begins and includes makeup removal, deep cleansing, exfoliation, and a mask. A relaxing forehead, neck and shoulder massage follows and includes the arms and hands.

The hair and scalp treatment starts with an exfoliation using a specially de-

signed brush that essentially feels like a fantastic head scratch. Multiple scalp and hair elixirs follow. The therapist then adds in an incredible scalp massage and uses a micro nano steamer so that the pores are open for maximum saturation of the facial moisturizer and hair conditioning treatment. The hair conditioner, applied next, contains keratin and hyaluronic acid, components known for reconstructing and moisturizing hair, smoothing the cuticle, and protecting the strands from dryness. There are many steps in the entire process, but all the client needs to do is just lie back and relax while the capable therapist works her magic.

Le compares the hair and scalp to flowers in the garden soil, sharing that hair is a reflection of a healthy scalp. She believes the scalp needs to be treated naturally and with care in order to obtain stronger, healthier hair.

“I have also made sure that our massage techniques signal the brain to release feel good chemicals called endorphins, which boost energy and provide a sense of peace and happiness. As a result, the stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline, begin to decrease and the overall effect is one of euphoria and bliss,” added Le.

Mer Aqua Head Spa is open on Tuesdays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments may be made by phone at 770-740-0052 or online by visiting salondoremi.com. ì

Debbie Diamond

Covered with a warm blanket, clients simply relax as their heads are massaged and scalp and hair treated with special serums and conditioners.

The hair and scalp treatment room is set and ready to receive the next guest.

Amazing Mani Pedis with Lee’s Nails & Spa

boxes for a great salon.

The facility is clean, the nail techs are knowledgeable and friendly, and the environment is super relaxing. Lee opened this salon in 2016. She has been in the business for over 25 years. The slogan at Lee’s is, “Your Satisfaction is our business.”

Lee shared, “We always make sure our clients are happy from the time they walk in to the time they walk out of our salon and always want to make a good impression so they come back next time.”

I stumbled upon Lee’s last September when I was doing a search for a Gelx manicure in the area. Lee’s spa had an opening for an appointment that afternoon and had 4.6 stars on Google reviews. So, I went to check it out. Little did I know this would soon become my go-to nail salon.

I have tried SNS and acrylic in the past. They are both very nice options for nail enhancements. My favorite, however, is Gel-x. I find that Gel-x is thinner and more natural looking than acrylic or SNS. It also takes less time for application. After prepping my nails and the nail extensions, Lucy, my favorite nail tech, will brush on a gel, cure it, and then apply another coat to bond the extensions to my natural nails. The Gel-x extensions come in many shapes, sizes, and lengths. I tend to pick medium almond shape extensions. The process is quick and painfree.

After the extensions are cured and secure, the design is ready to be done. The color I chose is applied to my nails using a couple coats of gel polish. I show Lucy the design I picked out using Pinterest, her Instagram, or Google image search and she executes it perfectly every time.

It amazes me to watch her do the designs, it is so peaceful to watch her effortlessly paint beautiful designs on each nail. My favorite design, which I have gotten done twice now, uses the color, “Let’s be Friends” by OPI. Small, rose gold stickers are carefully applied to each nail to create a geometric line shape. I also got Halloween and Chanukah nails in the past that were glittery and so fun! The

designs last around two to three weeks, depending on the rate your nails grow.  Although not required, I like to schedule my manicures separate from my pedicures. I do this because I’ve noticed it is easier on the nail techs this way. When you schedule separately, there isn’t as much juggling and you don’t have to pay attention to two things at once. I can spend a couple hours completely focusing on my nails and then go and spend a couple hours focusing on my pedicure and the amazing foot and leg massage that comes with it.

According to Lee, “It totally depends

on the clients’ time availability. If clients need to have them done at the same time, then, of course, it is time saving for our clients. We always have two technicians working at the same time for those services.”

I got the Ultra Deluxe Natural Pedicure last time and it was heavenly. This package is 75 minutes and includes the normal nail soaking, trimming, and shaping, cuticle grooming, and conditioning. It also includes exfoliating, hot towel wrapping, moisturizing, a paraffin treatment, and an extended hot stone massage, ending with a regular or gel

polish. I went with regular this time and got the same color as my nails, “Let’s be Friends” by OPI.

“Besides manicures and pedicures, we have eyelash extensions and any kind of nail services. We also have waxing services,” explains Lee.

Lee’s Nails & Spa is located at 6038 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. Appointments can be made by calling 404-303-0838 or going online to www.leesnailsspaatlanta.com. Their hours are Tuesday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday,

Located on Sandy Springs Circle, Lee’s Nails & Spa is the perfect salon in Sandy Springs. Lee’s Nails & Spa checks all the

Lilli Jennison

12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ì

Geometric stickers were placed on top of the gel polish called, "Let's be Friends" by OPI.

Lee's Nails & Spa is located on Sandy Springs Circle in Sandy Springs.

Blue and gold nails that sparkled through Chanukah.

Detailed purple Halloween nails painted by Lucy.

Elegant rose gold nails with black feather details.

Beautiful pink and chrome gold nails, perfect for Valentine's Day.

Lee's Nails & Spa has a large variety of color options for you to choose from.

Lee's Nails & Spa also offers waxing services and eyelash extentions in a private room.

Atlanta Ranked Fourth for Destination Vacations

They don’t call it Hot-lanta just because of the humidity.

Having evolved into a tourism hotspot, Atlanta was recently ranked No. 4 for Spring Break destination vacations by Sixt, a Germanybased mobility services provider, according to Urbanize Atlanta. The Georgia Aquarium was the biggest draw cited in the Sixt study, and the aquarium’s appeal helped push Atlanta’s overall ranking into the top five.

Sasha Heller

The cultural capital of the Southeast has garnered praise from travel publications over the years due to the city’s multitude of diverse tourist attractions located throughout the metro area and beyond. And while that’s great for tourists, it’s even better for local Atlantans looking for a quick getaway without having to leave town.

Over the next dozen or so pages, you’ll find a diverse selection of hotspots that are

ideal for a relatively inexpensive staycation.

The first stop on the staycation tour is the Distillery of Modern Art, located in

deavor which combines in-house distilled spirits and Atlanta-area art. Watson and his team of spirit producers offer a selection

nity space and regularly hosts social gatherings, private parties, shows and festivals. The Distillery of Modern Art truly is a feast for the eyes and the spirit, so make your way over there if you’re looking for a lovely way to spend an afternoon in the suburbs.

Seth Watson, owner of the Distillery of Modern Art, has created something special in his new venture, combining in-house distilled spirits with Atlanta-area artists.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons, is an engineering marvel and offers specialty tours that focus on the facility’s art, technology, architecture, and sustainability programs.

STAYCATION

AND COMPANY

The SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film features an array of exhibits dedicated to some of the industry’s most impactful fashion designers.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium isn’t just the home of the Atlanta Falcons. It’s an engineering marvel filled with nearly 200 pieces of gorgeous artwork, including statues and original works from local artists. The stadium also boasts the highest level of environmental sustainability, having been awarded LEED Platinum status and TRUE certification. The stadium also features an urban garden that is often utilized by area schools and community groups.

Mercedes-Benz Stadium offers specialty tours, covering the facility’s art, technology, architecture, and sustainability programs, that would make for an entertaining and educational day.

For the history buffs in the family, there may not be a better way to spend a staycation afternoon than riding the civil rights tour with Tom Houck. Guests can learn about Atlanta’s rich history of civil rights activism, including a Jewish connection with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The tours, which seat 30 guests at a time, begin in front of the King Center and follows several important locations throughout Dr. King’s lifetime, including Ebenezer Baptist Church and Southview Cemetery. So, if you’re looking for something to do, and history is your thing, the civil rights tour may just be your ticket to a fun, educational day.

The Booth Museum is a fantastic option for community members looking for an artistic afternoon on their staycation. The world-class Western art museum currently features, among others, the work of local artist Eric Strauss, who created out-

sized pieces of steel art, particularly horses.

Strauss has also created a moving tribute to Ukraine using metal and incorporating sunflowers, a symbolic nod to the war-torn country. The exhibition, “Many Metals, Many Fires: Strauss, Ivy, Rogers,” is at the Booth Western Art Museum through Aug. 27.

If you simply can’t get enough art in your life, make your way over to the Michael C. Carlos Museum on the Emory University campus. This little-known gem of a museum offers the largest assemblage of ancient art and artifacts in the Southeast, including sculptures, friezes, statues, currencies, and jewelry from Africa, ancient Egypt, Nubia, the Near East, ancient Greece and Rome, the Americas, and South Asia.

The Carlos Museum is ideal for families with children with special needs as the Carlos is a sensory-inclusive museum, with a quiet area, headphone zones, and sensory bags. Museum tours are available and offer Smarty Packs, which can enhance the learning experience of visiting each exhibit.

For the fashion-forward folks in the family, check out SCAD FASH, a 100,000-square-foot, premier showroom for locally created fashion styles. The museum, located in Midtown, is part of the Savannah College of Art and Design and features an assortment of exhibits dedicated to worldrenowned designers, like Oscar de la Renta, Madame Gris, and so much more.

If you’re a fashionista or just looking for a colorful way to stay-cay your way through the city, check out SCAD FASH. Maybe you’ll find your next new look! ì

Other Top Atlanta Staycation Destinations

Georgia Aquarium

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Zoo Atlanta

High Museum of Art

Center for Puppetry Arts

Piedmont Park

Stone Mountain Park

Tour the evolving BeltLine

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Atlanta

REFRESH & RENEW

Create your personal style at Kudzu & Company! You’ll nd inspiration in their beautiful selection of thoughtful gifts, ne furnishings, custom upholstery, lighting, decor, and artwork. The vast showroom also features a curated selection of European antiques and accessories. Don’t miss the boutique to spruce up your style! A favorite of designers and homeowners alike, Kudzu & Company provides professional expertise friendly, reliable service. The inventory changes daily, so you’ll want to make this dynamic Sandy Springs showroom a regular stop. Their sister store, Kudzu Antiques+Modern in Decatur, has been one of Atlanta’s favorite antiques and home furnishings stores since 1979. Drop in to discover what’s new at Kudzu!

Tabletop Collection: Montes Doggett Pottery $35, $199;

Additional Items from $9 Spring Fashions: Dress $79, Mother of Pearl Necklace $110, Purse $84, Basket with Florals priced from $16

4. Floral Book and Accessory Collection: priced from $18

5. Antique Mahogany English Chest ca. 1820 $1595, Lamp $802, Additional Accessories from $28

(404) 255-2548 kudzuandcompany.com

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STAYCATION

Tour the Mercedes-Benz Stadium

MercedesBenz Stadium opened in August 2017 as a replacement for the Georgia Dome. It is the home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United of Major League Soccer; however, a guided tour of the phenomenal $1.5 billion stadium leads visitors to experience, learn and appreciate that the building is a technological masterpiece.

Chana Shapiro

It is the brainchild of Atlanta philanthropist and visionary Arthur Blank and the combined talents of skilled workers, designers, and engineers. Millions of fans have visited the stadium to enjoy games and blockbuster events; yet a guided tour showcases the rest of Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s unique features.

Guided tours take visitors into the Falcons’ and Atlanta United’s locker rooms, and bring them onto the playing

field (the stadium has fewer, but larger, seats than the Georgia Dome had; the stadium holds 71,000 seats and can add

more, up to 80,000 seats, if necessary). Visitors marvel at the Window to the City and lofty Skybridges, which offer panoramic interior stadium and exterior city views, and which provide natural sunlight, thus decreasing reliance on artificial light. Tourists will enjoy large concourses and plentiful amenities, adding to the welcoming ambience of the stadium.

Another striking feature of MBS is its 190-piece art collection, displayed throughout the public areas and in the private suites. MBS coordinated with SCAD to put together the collection, which includes unusual pieces, sports-related art, and a large mural, “Life is Beautiful,” displaying a history of Atlanta and its outstanding leaders. The giant metal falcon sculpture at the MBS entrance is the largest bird sculpture in the United States.

The art collection underscores Arthur Blank’s desire to make MBS more than a great sports venue; it is a powerful environmental model, an example of sustaining and enhancing our downtown community, and a cultural experience.

An important structure within the city, the stadium is a physical and societal enhancement of downtown. Construction began in 2014 and MBS officially opened in 2017; it was awarded LEED Platinum status (LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, the world’s most widely used measure of green architecture and design. Platinum is the highest rating).

In only five years, the stadium achieved TRUE (Total Resource Use Efficiency) certification, for its zero-waste policy. It is already the busiest stadium in North America, with three million visitors annually who attend games and special events; and to fulfill its ecological commitment, in order to deal definitively with all the waste resulting from such heavy use, workers in an on-site 6,000-square-foot resource recovery room gather and sort stadium garbage. Bins are located liberally throughout the stadium which promote separation of plastic bottles and cans from other waste, and all stadium vendors are required to use only compostable disposable ware; however, in the resource recovery room, trash is carefully checked to ensure proper separation and enduse.

Behind the scenes at MBS is a world of high tech. The retractable oculus roof is composed of eight panels which each weigh 500 tons (yes, 500 tons, each!) Amazingly, the process of opening or closing the panels takes only eight minutes. Another tech phenomenon is the composition of Skybridge windows, which are made of thick, weather-resistant ETFE plastic. These windows are able to withstand the most extreme weather.

There is also a water retention system, which collects rainwater and uses it for MBS’s sustainable urban vegetable garden (a hands-on teaching venue popular with local schools and community groups. The plants are pollinated by bees

A tour group from Ahavath Achim Synagogue is pictured on the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The partially-open roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium

from three garden beehives.) MercedesBenz Stadium has magnanimously created a zero-waste plan other venues around the world can follow and offers to consult with them in order to achieve their environmental goals.

Guided tours, which average 90 minutes, are $28 for adults and $20 for seniors and children ages 3-12. Tours are offered Monday to Friday at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m., except when the

stadium is reserved for special events. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Specialized tours, including art tours, tech tours, architecture tours, sustainability tours, and group tours, may be arranged.

Tours meet at the stadium entrance at 1414 Andrew Young International Blvd. Park on the Silver level; tour parking tickets will be validated. For information, call 407-341-5000. ì

An overhead view of the facility

The urban garden is a popular teaching tool for local schools and community groups.

Spirits Soar at Distillery of Modern Art

Marcia Caller Jaffe

Entrepreneur Seth Watson has a motto about his concept, Distillery of Modern Art…“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

Located in Chamblee, DOMA is a beautifully curated art gallery space, offering exposure to local artists, and featuring Watson’s magical process of distilling water, yeast and grain, resulting in unique alcoholic beverages.

He said, “At DOMA, that artistry will be on full display, as guests tour the production floor and meet the creators of our whiskeys, bourbons, gins and vodkas.”

On the alcohol front, DOMA spirits start with the high quality, and artfully layered, choice house-milled grains. The productions range from gins to ryes, bourbons, and imaginatively flavored vodkas—like pomegranate, rose hips and fresh lime.

“Every batch is hand-crafted to delight, and occasionally surprise. With diverse ingredients, proofings, and barrel finishes, DOMA spirits are fresh, spirited, and affordable,” Watson said. “Master mixologists use DOMA-crafted spirits as a canvas to create ever-changing menus of seasonal, local- inspired cocktails enhanced by herbs and botanicals cultivated onsite.”

They also serve au courant “zeroproof cocktails.” Added Watson, “We believe people should be able to enjoy the experience at the distillery just as much as those drinking full proof cocktails.”

DOMA does not purport to be a restaurant. They offer light “elevated” bar snacks like charcuterie, cheeses, olives, and local crackers. They host chef popups and plan new ways to enjoy upscale food trucks with table service. For example, the facility will host an Indian street cooking demonstration/tasting at 6 p.m., May 10. Other unique events are (straight) speed dating, Sound Journey with Yuki Anun, Top Shelf stand-up comedy, yoga, burlesque basics, introduction to calligraphy…ticket prices vary accordingly.

Balancing the art flank, members of Atlanta’s creative community are com-

missioned to produce unique pieces inspired by the spirits themselves. Guests can move throughout the space, from the gallery to a tasting tour and to the bar for a signature cocktail.

DOMA supports local arts and community organizations, hosting and sponsoring concerts, shows and festivals throughout the year. The gallery shows two complementary artists at a time, rotating every two months. Watson doesn’t take a commission on art sales.

DOMA encourages private parties. Some Jewish-related parties include bar/ bat mitzvahs, singles events, Havdalah services, summer camp reunions, and JF&CS, Weber School, and synagogue brotherhood events.

With so much activity developing in Midtown, Watson purposefully set his market/land site on two-plus acres in Chamblee, which he described as “a friendly Atlanta suburb with a diverse, international vibe, an up-and-coming

part of Metro Atlanta.”

Watson saw the growth potential there and wanted to get in early. To open a distillery, he had to jump through multiple hoops, obtaining a Distilled Spirits Plant permit from the Federal government.

He explained, “I had to own the equipment with a substantial cash outlay before even applying for the permit.”

To open a distillery, property must be properly zoned for manufacturing distilled spirits. The building may need

Husband, and father of two, Seth Watson, successfully navigated multiple zoning and legal challenges en route to opening the unique Distillery of Modern Art. Watson picked Chamblee as a “friendly and up and coming” neighborhood to locate DOMA.

Watson rotates local artists for gallery display and does not take a commission on their sales.

With diverse ingredients, proofings and barrel finishes, DOMA spirits are fresh, spirited and affordable.

The Distillery of Modern Art is more than an art gallery and drinking space. The facility also hosts various community groups, social gatherings and events.

to be rezoned and repurposed to be used for spirit production, then brought up to code, depending on the city/state.

Next, Watson created a brand using a lawyer to file a trademark, which must have sold a product under that trade name, not just filed.

Watson continued, “Fast forward to having obtained all licenses and permits to open in 16–22 months. Now, build the facility taking eight to 20 months. These two things can happen simultaneously. Assume at least two years to execute from conception to completion, excluding a global pandemic.”

Watson was born and raised in New York by a single mother and four siblings. He recalled, “Immediately after college,

at the University of Florida, I moved to Atlanta to begin working. I was not a beer fan when I first started drinking and fell in love with whiskey.”

Watson is married, raising two children, ages six and nine. The family likes climbing, camping, live music and fine dining.

Last word, per Watson, “DOMA is an experiential, sustainable craft distillery, art gallery, bar, event space and community gathering spot. DOMA is honored to join Atlanta’s vibrant hyper-local food and beverage movement. Our growth has been wonderful. Once we get people in the door, they always come back. In five to ten years, we see ourselves in all 52 states and Europe.”

Let the world be his canvas. ì

The real estate market in Atlanta remains STRONG. Strategic positioning and experience wins time after time.

ON THE MARKET • 723 Glenairy Court • Aberdeen Forest 5 Bedrooms • 5 Bathrooms • 2 Half Bathrooms • Offered for $2,150,000

Distillery of Modern Art cocktails are prepared by professional mixologists and menus rotate.

Located in Chamblee, the Distillery of Modern Art is a beautifully curated art gallery space, offering exposure to local artists, and featuring Seth Watson’s special brand of unique alcoholic beverages.

Take a Vacation with History in Atlanta

For those who choose a staycation around the subject of contemporary Atlanta history, there is no better place to start than Tom Houck’s civil rights bus tour. The 76-year-old Houck is one of the relatively small handful of living civil rights workers who had personal, day-to-day contact with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the height of the civil rights struggles of the mid-1960s. The Boston native is part of an even smaller group of white civil rights veterans who worked directly with King during the period.

Bob Bahr

political contacts he’s made over more than half a century have helped him to reinvent himself as a tour guide.

After going to work for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, first as King’s driver and later as a civil rights organizer in the deep South, Houck became a radio talk show host in Atlanta and a political pundit on WAGA-TV, Fox 5’s The Georgia Gang. For the last eight years, the

From the front of a 30-seat bus that begins in front of The King Center in downtown Atlanta, Houck talks his way through his years making Atlanta history. His tour takes participants through King’s life from his birthplace, a few blocks from the Ebenezer Baptist Church, through his final resting place, Southview Cemetery. The body was later moved to the plaza in front of the King Center.

Houck estimates that as many as 40 percent of those taking the tour are Jewish, and he’s done programs for synagogues and national Jewish groups that have come to Atlanta for meetings. He has done a couple of tours for staffers at the Arthur Blank Family Foundation and, earlier this month, for the Carter Center, whose director, Elaine Alexander, is Jewish.

“I talk about Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner, two of whom were Jewish who were murdered during the voter registration drive in Mississippi, and I

talk about the fact that well over half of the students that participated in that Freedom Summer of 1964 and 65 were Jewish,” Houck explains. “And of course, when I was arrested for protesting and I was arrested nearly 20 times, they put me in cells with the rednecks and the Klan and they would call me a white n-word and a kike, thinking I was Jewish.”

If you want to pick up the story of the Jewish role in the civil rights movement you can also tour The Temple on Peachtree Street in Midtown. The building, which is on the National Registry of

Tom Houck, center with beard, with a tour group in front of the John Lewis wall painting.

"History with Chutzpah" at the Breman Museum takes visitors through nearly 300 years of Jewish history in the South.

Historic Places, was built in 1931 to replace earlier impressive structures dating back to 1878, including a building with Moorish-inspired onion domes on its towers. The tours are free, with advance reservations, handled by Kelli Harran, The Temple’s director of communications and engagement.

“The Temple is an important historical site, in part, because it is the city’s oldest synagogue. It was designed by Philip Shutze, also the architect of the Swan House, another prominent Atlanta institution.” Harran says. “We have prospective members and new members that ask for tours of the building, but we also have external groups, and we offer the tours, with trained docents, Monday through Thursday during 9 to 5 hours.”

Starting in 1946, when Rabbi Jacob Rothschild became the senior rabbi, The Temple was a center for progressive ideas, in both Jewish and American political life. Rothschild promoted support for Israel as a homeland for Jews and involved the congregation in the civil rights movement.

The author of “Driving Miss Daisy,” Alfred Uhry, who was a member, made The Temple’s bombing in 1958 by white racists an important part of his Broadway play and the successful motion picture. The Temple, which has had an extensive facelift in recent years, made history, according to Harran, an important part of its new look.

“There is now the exhibit hallway, or as it’s called, the history wall. It is a permanent exhibition on the temple’s history. The area also contains a Torah scroll rescued from the Holocaust that we have. It’s on the Holocaust Memorial Wall.”

No visit to Atlanta Jewish history would be complete without a trip to The Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, which is less than a five-minute drive on Spring Street, south of The Temple. Their current major exhibit, “History With Chutzpah,” was two years in the making before it opened in 2021. It brings together historical artifacts and the personal stories of important figures in the 300year history of Jews in Georgia and the South. This writer’s review of the exhibit, along with one by Robyn Spizman Gerson, can be found in the Atlanta Jewish Times online archives. ì

Rabbi Jacob Rothschild, right, with Atlanta Mayor William Hartsfield, after the bombing of The Temple in 1958.

Eric Strauss, Man of Steel

Eric Strauss, who grew up in Atlanta, creates sculptures in his studio in Ellijay, Ga., using reclaimed, forged and fabricated steel.

After an apprenticeship with Carolyn Montague, a wellknown sculptor, Strauss bought all her stainless steel. Montague was Fay Gold’s leading local artist, and Strauss had his first sold out exhibition at the Fay Gold Gallery in Atlanta.

Karlick

“It was at the family horse farm that I merged contemporary fine art sculpture with the traditional blacksmith techniques and tooling,” Strauss said.

Working with this curved and kind of corkscrew pieces of metal, Strauss began to create stainless horses, organic with curved lines. A large horse, Lightning, is in the Booth Museum’s permanent collection.

Strauss became an assemblage sculp-

tor, using a loose concept and all the parts.

Working with stainless steel, bronze and copper, Strauss opened his shop in Ellijay in the late 1980s, creating metal horses.

“After building four monumentalsized horses, Elton John bought my first horse in 1993,” he said. “My new botanical works are an accumulation of almost 40 years of creating metal sculptures and

working with blast furnaces, forges, and kilns. I also have used wood heat in my studio and house for the past 30 years. Looks like I’m still playing with fire. I just replaced the army men and furnaces with forges, power hammers and presses.”

Strauss continued about some of his more inspiring works of art.

“The Sunflowers were inspired by a combination of my favorite plant to grow every year. Sunflowers are also a symbolic representation of Ukraine. It had been 29 years since I almost blew myself up building Bosnian Garden, and when I heard the Russians were taking mobile crematoriums into battle, the memories etched in my brain of the Holocaust, came to mind. I knew I had to build a Ukrainian Garden.”

Strauss’s son and his friend shot the tailgate of his old truck six years earlier and Strauss remarked at the time that he was going to make a work of art with it one day.

“I never imagined it would be depicting the current war in Ukraine and be in an exhibit in a world class Western art mu-

seum. The tailgate represents what you see in the news: the horrors and destruction of war. Contrasting it with giant sunflowers, I wanted the viewer to see the first-hand reality of war.”

The sculpture was created from reclaimed, forged, and fabricated metal, without patterns and detailed drawings. Instead, Strauss used his “hands, heart, soul and the fury of fire and pieces of metal at hand.”

“As an artist, I was presented with a great platform to express my opinions and beliefs and try to engage people into thinking about negotiations and peace, not war and conflict. Peace is a powerful thing, and perhaps world leaders need to camp out in a city blown to dust, and experience the death, smell, and destruction of cities, countries, and continents. I do not want my next sculptures to be China Garden, American Garden, or any other place on Earth.”

The exhibition, “Many Metals, Many Fires: Strauss, Ivy, Rogers,” is at the Booth Western Art Museum through Aug. 27. ì

Susanne Katz

Artist Eric Strauss, hard at work in his studio.

Artist Eric Strauss works on “Bomby Bomby Night: A Ukrainian Garden.”

Eric Strauss sculpted this piece for the current Booth Western Art exhibit.

Carlos Museum of Art and Artifacts, Great for All Ages

By Chana Shapiro

For those who are intrigued by art, crafts and artifacts of antiquity, plan to spend an hour or two at the Michael C. Carlos Museum on the Emory University campus. This museum has the largest assemblage of ancient art and artifacts in the Southeast, including every day and ritual items, sculptures, friezes, statues, currencies, and jewelry from Africa, ancient Egypt, Nubia, the Near East, ancient Greece and Rome, the Americas, and South Asia. In another area of the museum, there is an interesting display of American and European works on paper.

The main draw of the Carlos Museum, however, may be in the second floor galleries, the only place in Atlanta where one can view Egyptian mummies, and where one can experience a plethora of interesting objects from the Egypt of the pharaohs, especially those objects that illuminate rituals of the dead: the presentation of mummies is excellent, allowing the visitor to get very close to see small details clearly through glass cases.

A graphic of the Nile River, which uniquely flows south to north, is painted on the floor of the connecting passage between rooms, guiding the visitor through the geographic areas represented in the permanent collection. Objects in this comprehensive collection are clearly explained on easy-to-understand wall plaques.

To enhance the experience of young visitors, the museum offers a free family guide that uses child-friendly text, which encourages children to look closely at specific objects, and free Smarty Packs, which are filled with hands-on activities related to the exhibits. These include collectible die-cut images of Egyptian coffins, Greek vases, sculptures, and Hindu gods and goddesses. The guides (also helpful to adults) and Smarty Packs can be picked up at the ticket desk on the first floor.

Currently, the Carlos Museum is hosting an extensive touring exhibition of ancient Egyptian culture, “Life and Afterlife,” that expands and complements its permanent collection. This third-floor, multi- room exhibit focuses on the preoccupation with the afterlife in ancient Egypt. It will be on display through Aug. 6, 2023.

Parents can comfortably bring children with sensory issues because the Carlos is a sensory-inclusive museum, with a quiet area, headphone zones, and sensory bags for special needs kids. Visit

the admissions desk on Level One for complete information or click on www. kulturecity.org/sensory-inclusive.

You may tour the museum galleries on your own or meet on Sundays at 2 p.m. at the admission desk on Level One to join a docent-led drop-in tour, excluding holidays. The tours are free with admission. Museum Moments tours are offered on Mondays at 2 p.m. when the museum is closed to the public. Contact Katie Ericson at kericso@emory.edu to arrange a group tour for five or more adults.

While you’re at the museum, you may want to check out the impressive book shop or take a break at Ebrik Coffee Room. The bookshop, which has one of

the largest selections of books on ancient Egypt of any bookstore in the country, is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Because of staffing shortages, visitors are advised to make sure the shop is open by contacting manager Mark Burell at mburell@@emory. edu in advance). Ebrik Coffee Room is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday;10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday; closed on Sunday.

The Carlos Museum is located on Emory University’s main campus at 571 South Kilgo Circle, Atlanta, GA 30322. Park in the nearby public parking garage and be sure to have your parking pass validated at the reception desk on the

first floor in order to get free parking. The Carlos offers a “green” incentive by giving a 10 percent discount off admission to visitors who walk or bike to the museum.

Museum hours are Tuesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for adults are $8; seniors and children, ages 6-17, are $6; children, 5 and younger are free. Those with a valid public library card should ask a librarian for a family pass, which will admit six persons to the Carlos Museum for free. Find out if your local library is in the family pass network.

For general information about the Carlos Museum, call 404-727-4292. ì

Maquette of boat and crew from visiting exhibit Life and Afterlife

Head of ancient Egyptian noble at Life and Afterlife exhibit

Items from permanent African exhibit  Mummy from visiting exhibit "Life and Afterlife" at Carlos Museum

Entry hall of Roman statues in Carlos Museum permanent exhibit

Stronger than ever. But only together.

We are JewishATL

STAYCATION SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion and Film

By Chana Shapiro

The closest many of us will ever get to the world of couture may be SCAD FASH, in which 100,000 square feet of space is devoted to mannequins posing in exceptional garments, many of which are shown “in the round,” meaning that a viewer can appreciate a garment in full, from all sides. The mannequins are not behind glass; therefore, a viewer is able to get close to them and see the garments in detail.

This gem of a museum, located in Midtown Atlanta, at 1600 Peachtree St., is part of the expansive Savannah College of Art and Design network, originating in Savannah.

SCAD FASH is a venue in which students studying fashion on the creative, design side, as well as the production and marketing side, can see and study, firsthand, the output of luminaries in the fashion world.

Each exhibit, which is in place for several months, is devoted to the collection of a specific couture designer, and the hundreds of dresses, skirts, blouses, jackets, gowns, and casual wear are surprising and stunning, occasionally overthe-top, with hand-sewn details and sumptuous, exotic fabrics.

Some exhibits, notably of garments created for TV shows and films, include clothes worn by men. Occasionally film clips accompany these popular exhibits showing vignettes in which a specific piece of clothing in the exhibit appears in the film or TV show. Clothing meticulously created for historical films is also among the variety of exhibits.

Every exhibit is re-configured and custom-organized, and, on occasion, the featured designer comes to SCAD to personally oversee the installation. Even the most famous and well-established designers, like Oscar de la Renta or Madame Gris, offer surprises to the visitor, because the object of the museum is to show the breadth of a designer’s oeuvre, thus, a visitor can view a chronologic survey of pieces spanning an entire career, and much of the clothing comes from the closets of well-known personalities who wore memorable creations from specific designers.

The design teams who mount the shows often juxtapose particular clothes from a collection to make a point, like highlighting intricate hand beading, inlay of gems, elaborate draping and clever cutting, embroidery, fringing, and smocking.

The museum offers the viewer an opportunity to see clothing affordable to only the rich or famous, but it’s a special treat to the avid home sewer who learns what makes couture, well, couture. Visitors who are fashion-savvy, the readers of Vogue magazine, and all fans of bespoke dress will love this museum.

Interestingly, teens are among this museum’s many repeat visitors. This niche museum, although a showplace of beautiful, often iconic, clothes, is not stuffy. An international cadre of well-

trained docents, who are all SCAD students, are friendly fountains of information, and details about every garment on display can be accessed on a free program through one’s smartphone.

There are two co-existing exhibition spaces at SCAD FASH, the main area featuring only clothing, the other showcasing accessories, collections of remarkable objects, like shoes or hats, and fashion-related photos, posters, and ad prototypes by famous photographers. An adjunct area is devoted to streaming

short films featuring the work of students, SCAD grads, and cutting-edge designers at work today. Jewelry, scarves, and other bibelots and hand-made accessories are for sale in this area.

SCAD FASH is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Sundays; it is closed on Mondays. There is free parking behind the main building. Follow signs to SCAD FASH. General admission is $10, with discounts for seniors. Children under 14 are admitted free. Call (404) 2533132 for information about exhibits. ì

Oscar de la Renta ballgowns

Daniel Lismore’s show of costumes for film

Photo in Horst B. Horst photography exhibit at SCAD

A stunning image of ballgowns

ARTS & CULTURE Parade’s Composer Revisits His Broadway Hit

By Bob Bahr

The 1998 musical, “Parade,” was revived last fall for a short run at New York City Center Theater to a glowing review in the New York Times. Theater critic Juan Ramirez described it as delving “further in America’s history of violence and delivers the best sung musical in many a New York season.” It soon moved to Broadway where it still plays to sold out houses.

When it premiered, the story, about the trial and conviction of Leo Frank in 1913 and his subsequent lynching in 1915, was panned by Times’ critic Vincent Canby. He called the staging by acclaimed director Harold Prince at Lincoln Center...“without life. It plays as if it were still a collection of notes for a show that has yet to be discovered.”

Some might ask whether the two reviewers saw two different shows, but the composer of the musical, Jason Robert Brown, had his own thoughts when he came to Atlanta on April 11 to discuss his work. The program at the Alliance Theater was sponsored by Neranenah, the Atlanta Jewish music festival and culture series.

Brown told Neranenah’s executive director, Joe Alterman, and the Alliance Theater’s producer and casting director, Jody Feldman, that the critical turnabout might have had a lot to do with the political tenor of the times. The year 1998, he remembers as a time of optimism for liberal America.

"In 1998, we were at the end of the Clinton terms. And so, for us, it was good to be liberals. Everything was sort of moving upwards. You know, we were on the upswing. Everything was going OK. And we had made advances and we were all in a very good country. We were doing things well. And of course, there were a vast swath of the country that did not think that at the time, but we were not among them.”

But over two decades later, Brown says all that changed and, as he was quick to state, not for the better.

“Parade” recalls the virulent antisemitism that surrounded the Frank trial in the summer of 1913, in the days before room air conditioning.

Crowds jammed the streets outside the courtroom, listening to the trial and making their presence known to the judge and jury.

When Brown, who grew up Jewish in New York City, wrote the music to the

show, he was a 28-year-old newcomer to Broadway, who had become a protege of the director, Prince. He relied largely on several lengthy conversations with Alfred Urey, the Atlanta native, who remembered the impact of memory of the trial and Frank’s lynching on Atlanta Jewish community, particularly those community leaders who were members of The Temple, one of the city’s most influential Jewish institutions.

The New York Times reviewer last fall took note of Urey and Brown’s attempt to recreate some of the tensions that existed everywhere at the time and how they are reflected in our own… “subtlety need not be the name of the game these days.” Ramirez wrote.

“This country’s ongoing procession

of racism, antisemitism and law-andorder politicians comes awfully close to the hate-filled climate of the work’s setting, shedding any pretense of respectability.”

Brown brought his own ideas to “Parade,” and, as he relayed them in his conversation at the Alliance, he saw the Frank case as part of a more complex political setting.

“I try to be very careful in talking about the politics of ‘Parade,’” Brown said. “I always mention that the Jews of Atlanta do not get a pass from me in terms of their complicity in very serious anti-Black racism that went on at the time. There’s no question that a lot of the stuff that was said by his own lawyers at the trial, vile, horrible, hor -

is

change

rible stuff. So, I don’t ever want to be on the side of people who are like, oh, Leo Frank was you know, he was such a great guy.”

Brown admits that he wrote the music and lyrics to Urey’s libretto without the benefit of Steve Oney’s impressive retelling of the Frank trial in his book, “And the Dead Shall Rise,” that came out five years after “Parade” was first staged. The book, by the former reporter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, was based on what he claimed were 17 years of research and a considerable amount of original reporting, including how the conspiracy to murder Frank was planned by some of the leading citizens of Marietta. ì

Brown believes the critical response to “Parade”

the result of a

in politics.

“Parade” has gained new critical respect during its current staging on Broadway.

Jason Robert Brown discussed “Parada,” his Broadway musical with Neranenah’s Joe Alterman and the Alliance Theater’s, Jody Feldman.

‘Imagining The Indian’ Film Premieres

By Bob Bahr

Aviva Kempner, the Washingtonbased documentary filmmaker who has specialized in biographies of contemporary Jewish heroes, has stepped out of that role to take on a new one. In her latest documentary, “Imagining the Indian,” she takes up the fight against native American mascotting.

The film had its Atlanta premiere on April 13-14 at the Martin Luther King Center for Social Change and the Landmark's Midtown Art Cinema. It details the long battle by native American Indians to change what they see as the demeaning images inherent in what have been the cherished mascots of professional sports.

It’s a quest that has enlisted not just tribal leaders and prominent Indians but a cadre of Jewish lawyers, sports commentators, and philanthropists, like Jessica and Steve Sarowitz, who joined Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and San Manuel Band of Mission Indians as executive producers of this ambitious film. Kempner sees the civil rights alliance of Indians and Jews as a common heritage.

“We know what it means to have genocide in our history as the Indians have had an intergenerational-generational trauma that has resulted from the Holocaust. These are issues that some of the mascots of professional sports really hit on. We know about antisemitism, which I think is a form of racism just as mascotting has been a way of creating negative images of Indians.”

Kempner’s past films have played to critical and popular acclaim in several editions of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. She has profiled baseball Jewish pioneer, Hank Greenberg, Sears Roebucks philanthropic mogul, Jules Rosenwald, baseball player and World War II American spy, Moe Berg, and early TV star, Gertrude Berg.

Now, she has made contemporary

Indian activists, who have long labored to change racial stereotypes, as the focus of her latest production. The documentary makes the point of reminding its audience that the Indians of America’s past have suffered their own Holocaust. Indians once numbered an estimated 40 million when European settlers first arrived here, but by the mid-19th century, that number had been decimated by 90 percent due to wars, disease, and the westward movement.

As one Indian leader points out in the commentary, the destruction of the Indians was premised on the notion that native people are simply “the other.”

“And what did they mean by ‘the other'?" he asks. "You mean that they are uncivilized, they are unsophisticated, they are savage,” he answers, “somebody else. And the somebody else they are is not to be respected or valued.”

As a reminder of the powerful influences of Hollywood in forming our attitudes about the past, Kempner and her co-producers have opened their film with a half-hour montage of iconic Western films, from the silent “Last of the Mohicans” in 1920 to “Stagecoach” and “Union Pacific” in the late 1930s to television’s “Lone Ranger” in the 1950s, and the professional team mascots of today.

As Shawn Harjo, a leading Indian activist who was presented a Medal of Freedom in 2016, put it: it’s all part of the way Indians have been portrayed.

“Imagining Indians from the very beginning of the American Revolution up to the present day are white fantasies, and they bear almost no resemblance to the real lives of Native people, either historically or in the present.”

But recently, after years of legal battles in the courts and demonstrations on the streets and around professional stadiums, change has begun to occur. In 2020, baseball’s Cleveland Indians agreed to drop their Native American mascot, Chief Wahoo, and become the Cleveland Guard-

ians. The Washington Redskins have become the Washington Commanders and, in recent weeks, has changed team ownership.

But the Kansas City Chiefs remain, although with less emphasis on its Indian mascot, and the Atlanta Braves still cling to its Tomahawk Chop, which was a marketing innovation by former team owner Ted Turner decades ago.

Kempner’s documentary is meant to keep up the pressure and, after its debut at an indigenous peoples’ film festival last year, it has had high profile screening in a

number of major cities.

“I think owners traditionally, team owners, don’t like to change things. Usually, it’s people that push them to do it, like in Cleveland. People oftentimes, though, identify with the history of the team and the name is part of that, like in Atlanta. And it just takes people to realize what was happening here, because of our history with Native Americans. But unless you learn that, you don’t feel it. People come out of the screenings of this documentary and say, ‘oh my gosh, we just had no idea.’” ì

Our heartfelt thanks to all mothers for their love and sacrifices. We wish you a Mother’s Day filled with joy, love and appreciation.

“Imagining The Indian” producer, Aviva Kempner, right, explores the stereotypes of American Indians with tribal leaders like Marshall McKay. Native Americans have stepped up the pressure to change the names of professional sports teams and their mascots.

Shai and Karen Lavi Open Third Space

By Debbie Diamond

Imagine entering the kitchen of a chic, inviting inn in Provence, filled with the owner’s most treasured and interesting antiques and belongings. Add old friends and new to the dinner table and savor the most delectable cuisine prepared with the freshest ingredients sourced from an organic, local farm.

Only then do you begin to envision the one-of-a-kind dining experience that is Third Space, artfully created by Shai and Karen Lavi.

Located in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, Third Space features an open kitchen, beautiful antique tables and front row counter seats to watch the gastronomic magic happen. At the long Miele gourmet kitchen, Chef Shai Lavi and his assistants skillfully prepared several gourmet courses for a full dining room of guests on a recent Saturday night. The art-filled space was buzzing with conversation and laughter. At one table, a birthday party was in full swing, and, at the counter, guests were busy introducing themselves to each other.

The word “experience” is key to what the Lavis hope to achieve with the opening of Third Space.

“We want to introduce Atlanta to a different type of dining – one where our guests feel like they have come into our home and we are able to offer them the freshest, most interesting food in a relaxed environment,” said Shai Lavi. In fact, although the vibe in the room feels decidedly casual, the fine dining experience is sure to captivate even the most discerning of foodies. Offered to only 26 guests each night from Thursday to Sunday, seating begins at 6 p.m. and continues until the dining room closes – or as the Lavis say, “when all our guests have left.”

There is no menu, and Shai typically decides only 20 minutes in advance of opening which gourmet fare he will prepare for guests. His decision is based on the availability of the freshest meat, fish and produce, all of which are delivered to Third Space daily. According to Karen Lavi, they are happy to accommodate those with allergies and dietary restrictions if guests let them know in advance when making a reservation.

The plate is Shai's palette, and he approaches each dish as an artist would his canvas, ensuring just the right herbs are added, the exact temperatures reached and that his guests relish the natural taste of food in its freshest state. He and his as-

sistants are in perpetual motion behind the counter, in the kitchen, as they stir pots, grill meats, and present beautiful plates of food to guests. Karen and the wait staff are just as busy at the front of the house greeting guests, making sure wine glasses are refilled, taking away plates and mingling among those lucky enough to score a reservation for the night.

“We hope to introduce people to the most delicious food – nurtured from the land to the hand, so to speak,” said Shai.

“I suppose you could say our food is from farm and sea directly to the table,” he added, though he clearly prefers to avoid labels or overuse “foodie” terminology. “We use a minimum of spices because we want people to experience food as it should be –with the natural flavor coming through.”

And fresh and natural it is. Fish served at Third Space is sourced directly from hand-picked fisherman in Florida who phone in their catch from their boats each morning. Most of the vegetables are grown with seeds Shai personally brought to Atlanta from gardens in Israel, and any others are grown from heirloom seeds at Atlanta Harvest, a local farm in which the Lavis are partners. Meat is also procured there from humanely raised animals. Shai is actively involved in the farming process and works two seasons ahead each year to create growing plans.

On this particular night, dinner began with a bread course featuring homemade Z’atar bread and parmesan crusted pizettas, served with homemade truffle butter. At each course, a different wine is offered that pairs best with the food being served. Several mouth-watering slices of bread later, appetizers followed and included a savory cured whitefish morsel with green onions; tasty, smooth and sublime homemade hummus; and tahini topped with foul mudammas, a Middle Eastern dish made with hearty, creamy fava beans and loaded with flavor from ground cumin and fresh herbs. The foul mudammas at Third Space is enough to turn anyone who thought they disliked fava beans into its biggest fan!

The salad course featured a crisp, delicious, and beautifully presented chef’s salad with fresh butter lettuce, cucumbers, and tomatoes with a light vinaigrette. Since Third Space serves its courses hot and directly from the kitchen, they are presented as they are ready. A flavorful and hearty root vegetable and chickpea stew, along with a linguini and braised beef dish, topped with homemade Labne cheese, followed. The linguini is homemade in the kitchen at Third Space and was perfectly al dente, definitely savored by all partaking in the experience that night.

Next up, the entrée was a whole, yellow-eyed snapper roasted over lemons served with carrots and saffron rice. The snapper was fragrant and light with a slight taste of the lemons and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. The meal concluded with the presentation of malabi, an Israeli milk and rosewater pudding. Though most guests were unfamiliar with the dessert, its delicate texture and flavor proved to be a perfect ending to a delightful night filled with incredible food.

In addition to the dining experience offered on Thursday through Sunday nights, Third Space also hosts parties during the week and on some weekends. Recent events have included corporate gatherings, family celebrations, rehearsal dinners, high tea, brunches, and family celebrations. Karen, an event planner for many years before opening Third Space, manages all the events and works with clients to ensure their events are memorable, flavorful and joyful. The room can hold up to 40 guests, and according to Karen, “our guests can be involved in menu planning, or we can surprise them if they prefer.”

Karen and Alan Stein, guests that particular Saturday night, are longtime friends of the Lavis.

“Shai and Karen are the type of people you want to support. They are selfless and

Shai Lavi, owner-chef of Third Space.

Third Space before opening for the night.

incredibly giving, especially to non-profits like CARE and Giving Kitchen. They have a way of making people feel like they’re part of the family,” she emphasized.

When asked about what is most important to share about this most recent

endeavor, Karen Lavi said, “We want to spread love through great fresh food. It’s really that simple. People should know there is always food at our table and room for them.”

For Atlantans tired of the usual night

out, Third Space offers an enchanting experience with fresh, inventive food and a selection of fine wines from around the world, all served in a sophisticated, wellappointed, yet unpretentious environment.

Third Space is located at 659 Auburn Ave. Reservations may be made by contacting Third Space at (470) 789-1901 or at thirdspaceatlana@gmail.com. Parking is available on nearby streets or at the parking lot at back of the development. ì

Karen and Alan Stein on a recent evening at Third Space.

Dan Reingold and Jeremy Salzman at the counter on a Saturday night.

Freshly made linguini with beurre blanc caviar sauce and trout row.

Nowak’s Opens to Success with Sophisticated Appeal

By Marcia Caller Jaffe

Sandy Springs has a new dining destination which is “the place to be and be seen.”

Restaurateur Blaiss Nowak has grown his portfolio spawning from Nowak’s at 1397 North Highland in Morningside, which became a neighborhood favorite, constructed in a historic brick walled building. Now, the new Nowak’s is on Abernathy Road in the same center as LA Fitness, just west of Roswell Road.

When asked about the new concept, Nowak said, “Our vibe is sexy and sophisticated! Hip modern steakhouse feel with classic steakhouse dishes.”

No brick walls here, only the paintings add color to the almost art deco-ish white, black, and gray motif. Cuisine could be categorized as “American comfort food with a splash of French Creole.”

Nowak has earned “his chops” in the food biz. At 12, he moved to Atlanta from New Orleans and attended Greenfield Hebrew Academy for his bar mitzvah year. Onto Riverwood High School, then a degree in hospitality management at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. After college, he worked for two years for his father, at the long enduring and eponymous, Hal’s Steakhouse, also off Roswell Road in Buckhead.

The new Nowak’s seats 160 guests and features a private room that can hold up to 50, and a bar that seats 27.

Nowak said, “Our most popular dishes are our steaks. We have several cuts and special steaks, such as a 36-ounce tomahawk ribeye. Our seafood towers have been a huge hit as well for appetizers. We also have an oyster bar with several fresh oysters from various regions daily.”

Contrasted to Morningside, the Sandy Springs location offers eight steaks daily instead of three, and also seafood towers and caviar service in Sandy Springs.

Nowak added, “Otherwise, all of our big hits are on both menus, such as the Nowak’s shrimp appetizer served hot in a Creole sauce with French bread for dipping. Our Nowak’s chicken, pan-seared chicken breast with fresh herbs and vegetables in a light white wine sauce, and the branzino, pan-seared over mashed potatoes with a Beurre blanc sauce.”

The staff is friendly and accommodating even on a busy Saturday night with every seat filled. Nowak himself is handson, running the kitchen in a physically and mentally demanding, adrenalinecharged way. His mother, Lynda Mahana,

who is known for making most of the desserts on the menu, said, “Blaiss is, and has been always, very hard working.”

This writer veers from the meat menu to the pesca/vegetarian stream. We started with the classic wedge salad (adding anchovies) $12, and lightly fried artichoke hearts with garlic aoli ($17). Our entrees were grilled salmon ($32) over asparagus with a side of grilled mushrooms and pan-seared branzino over mashed potatoes over Buerre blanc sauce ($37). Many items are indicated as gluten-free.

Part of the fun at Nowak’s is the multi-generational, and very Jewish,

crowd. Young families came in early and were out by 7 p.m., when the couples came in. Drinks start at 4 p.m., dinner at 5 p.m. The line of booths connected, and, if one was so inclined, one could chat with the next table. We had great convo with the adjacent Raidberg’s, who were out for an adult dinner.

Another table hosted the Chaiken’s (Fred) and Levine’s (Steve). Bruce and JacLynn Morris chatted with Harvey P. Mays, who said, “We haven’t tried the food yet, but if you need a minyan, this is the place to be.”

The background had some lively

buzz and was brightly lit until the lights dimmed at 8:15 p.m. The kitchen closes at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night, the bar at 10 p.m., and slightly earlier during the week.

Sandy Springs continues to build on its burgeoning reputation of “stay close to home for fine and varied dining” with Nowak’s addition. Note that in last year’s Food That Rocks festival, even prior to its opening, Nowak’s won the Best Food award.

Special points for easy walk-up, free parking out front. Walk-ins welcome or call 404-980-3638 for reservations. Closed Sunday. 6690 Roswell Road.

ì

Nowak’s bar offers a sophisticated vibe and opens at 4 p.m.

Blaiss Nowak, owner of Nowak’s, opened in late March in Sandy Springs as he works tirelessly to oversee the busy kitchen.

Our appetizers/salad were crispy artichoke hearts and classic wedge salad.

The branzino was pure white and fleshy with skin on // Photo Courtesy of Nowak’s

Salmon entrée was char-grilled over thick asparagus // Photo Courtesy of Nowak’s

JacLynn and Bruce Morris, and Harvey P. Mays enjoyed the ambiance and crowd.

Chai Style Home

Urban and Artsy, Historic BeltLine Loft

Marcia Caller Jaffe

Jamin Gluck and Dr. Quinn Katler share their obsession with local art nestled in a historic BeltLine building with a modern urban vibe. From their condo in the Studioplex Lofts, they curated the original, quirky, hands-on interior where there are no rules (except enjoying the good life) with small details that make it upbeat and keep the spirit of the place true to itself.

For eight years as a senior business development manager for Amazon, Gluck works to support nonprofits globally with the various resources available from Amazon.

He said, “I basically form relationships with organizations that could benefit from Amazon’s support, and then help them access that support from resources across the business. I help nonprofits understand how they can work with Amazon.”

Quinn is a physician with Shady

Grove Fertility.

For two years, the couple has nailed every dangling mobile, strand of ivy, eclectic collage, and palm frond wallpaper with their own hands to get the 1,100-squarefoot, 2-bedroom space to bring the gray industrial space alive. And “done up.”

Gluck said, “I don’t shy away from making statements and shaking things up with an artistic license for exuberance and playfully flouting convention. I’ve literally carried most of what you see on my back to get it up here…nothing you see here is fancy; but I hope guests find it cheerful and well put together.”

Take a walk on the funky side that is never static.

Marcia: Why did you choose Auburn Avenue?

Quinn: This building is actually a National Historic Preservation site that was built in 1905. It’s a two-level authentic loft complex with live-work space. Also, we like the walkability to the BeltLine, Inman Park, and Krog Street Market. We can even walk to Chabad Intown for Shabbat dinner. There’s a “community feel” vibe with friendly neighbors and businesses, including an architect, bicycle shop, beauty salon, tattoo parlor…businesses all right

here on the ground floor. There’s a beautiful shady atrium. The value of these types of spaces is increasing, as we “snuck in in 2020.”

Gluck: Our unit, being on the top floor, has skylights and a lovely patio. Also, the original cement pillars, imprinted ceiling and flooring enhance our look, meaning the art has such a unique, almost stark backdrop. The abundance of red brick and concrete is the feel of a historic building. Our dogs, Miriam and Madison, like to hang out on the patio, too.

Marcia: You have the “travel bug”?

Gluck: On the guest bedroom wall, in black and white, are the places I have lived from Hong Kong to Jerusalem to Madison, Wisc. I moved to Atlanta from Manhattan when the pandemic hit, since I have most of my family here.

Marcia: How would you describe the décor?

Gluck: Well, we splurged on the living room charcoal sofa, then scouted out most everything else from local arts festivals. I got the “plasticky” modern lemonyellow chairs locally on Facebook marketplace.

Quinn: I call it mid-century modern

combined with Etsy. The closets are hidden by subtle, but appealing, curtains. The only real construction we did was renovating the bathroom with sliding panel doors and two showerheads.

Marcia: Jamin, you are quite the artist yourself.

Gluck: Yes, I did many of the pieces you see in here. Some, like the giant kitchen geometric wall mural, I designed and hired an artist to execute. My triptych over the couch was quite a project, a culmination of meaningful things. I had it framed, but I literally created every element, including the bouquet of dried roses from our first date and sentiments from my grandparents. For one birthday, Quinn commissioned the yellow neon script, “Spread Your Light,” as a surprise. We see it every time we walk in. I relate and hung meaningful sayings like, “Great minds discuss ideas,” and “You are enough.”

Quinn: I’m the methodical scientist. He’s largely the creative one. I stand back and let Jamin have the liberty to create and execute his designs. Like, he didn’t just paint the aluminum heart that says, “This Must Be the Place.” He actually found the sheet metal and sawed it into shape.

The mirrored console was “up cycled”

Jamin Gluck and Dr. Quinn Katler worked as a team to design their Auburn Avenue loft.

The loft’s interior maintains its sense of place with original walls, ceiling and flooring all leading to a “wow” factor // All photos by Howard Mendel

by Jamin with new knobs and trim. Who could think of doing that?

Marcia: And art by others?

Quinn: The stained glass in the primary bedroom is a commissioned piece by a local artist discovered on Instagram. We love the oil painting over the mirrored console by local artist, Taylor Saltzman. The scarlet triptych is from Portugal and the South African elephant came by way of Charleston, S.C. The glass sculpture is from Janke Studio here in Studioplex. The painting by the huge fiddler fig plant is from the Piedmont Arts Festival titled, “Standing on the Sun,” by Luke Love.

Marcia: Can we understand more about your medical practice? Why do

Above: Primary bedroom has palm frond wallpaper and glass art by Janko that blends with the original exposed brick walls.

Left: The guest bedroom displays Jamin’s black and white travel log.

Below: The loft’s kitchen is enveloped in Jamin’s mural wall design

Right: The dinette area showcases the painting, “Standing on the Sun,” by Luke Love.

CHAI STYLE

we hear so much about fertility issues today?

Quinn: I’m board-certified in OB/ GYN and recently completed a three-year fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Emory University. I joined Shady Grove Fertility due to its mission of increasing access to fertility care. My work entails evaluating and treating conditions causing infertility, as well as uterine surgery and laparoscopic procedures. The rising incidence of infertility is, in part, due to couples delaying marriage and childbearing. The incidence of infertility is around one in eight. Interestingly, it’s about one out of six within the Jewish population.

Last word:

Quinn: I am super happy as a transplant here in Atlanta.

Gluck: Growing up in Atlanta, the BeltLine was a railroad track. Now, it’s a happening scene where Quinn and I are charting our own funky place.

Above: Auburn Avenue’s Studioplex Lofts have “live, work ,play zoning.”

Photo inlay: 1905 is noted on the building's Historic Preservation sign

Below: A full view of living room and focus on the tryptic Jamin created.

Upcycled mirrored console with an oil painting by local artist Taylor Saltzman.

MONDAY, MAY 1

TBT Golf Event – 8:30 a.m. Temple Beth Tikvah is hosting our golf tournament to support our community. We invite you to join us. Learn more at http://bit. ly/3mfyDGA.

TUESDAY, MAY 2

Jacobson Leadership Institute – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Jacobson Leadership Institute (JLI) has been a think tank and training ground for adaptive leadership and good governance within Atlanta’s synagogues, Jewish day schools, and Jewish agencies. In 2023, JLI will again bring in local and national experts to help facilitate discussions and training about Jewish community leadership. Register with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta at https://bit.ly/3fp2ZD7.

THURSDAY, MAY 4

Challah Bakes - 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Connect with old traditions and create your own new memories monthly at GLT challah bakes! Learn how or teach others!! RSVP at https://bit.ly/3i6RMIy.

Acoustic Shabbat at Crema Espresso Gourmet (Dunwoody) – 5 to 6 p.m. Join Rabbi Glusman from MJCCA and local musicians for an evening of soulful music and Shabbat tunes. People of all faiths and backgrounds will enjoy this engaging live acoustic evening of blessings and song in celebration of Shabbat. Celebration includes Mi Sh’bayrach (prayers for healing) and Mourner’s Kaddish. Food available for purchase. Arrive early to reserve your table! Learn more at http://bit. ly/3AgZg1z.

2023 FIDF Atlanta Annual Celebration

– 6 to 9 p.m. Friends of the IDF - Southeast Region’s premiere celebration in support of the men and women of the Israel Defense Forces. Purchase tickets at http://bit.ly/3nScezi.

HADASSAH KETURA TOUR OF MACoM – 1 to 3 p.m. Take a guided tour of our community Mikvah; view the pool of living waters and connect to Jewish Tradition. Meet Atlanta artist, Barbara Flexner. View her works of art in the MACoM Gallery, the beauty that enhances this Jewish Ritual resonates with your senses and touches the soul. Participate in a Watercolor Art Project (no experience necessary). RSVP at http://bit.ly/3o4lOPA.

The Tasting – 7:30 to 10 p.m. The Tasting is an extraordinary JFCS event featuring delicious offerings from some of Atlanta’s favorite restaurants and caterers as well as spirits and wine from an impressive collection of vineyards showcased to 400+ Atlanta foodies. Get more information at http://bit. ly/3ZZyXXs.

FRIDAY, MAY 5

Tot Shabbat – 5:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat is led by Rabbi Jordan from CDT. Enjoy crafts, songs, fun activities, and more. Tot Shabbat is for kids under 4 years old with their parents/guardians. RSVP by visiting https://bit.ly/3LLJakS.

SATURDAY, MAY 6

Tot Shabbat and Kiddush Lunch - 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Join Congregation Beth Shalom for an interactive Tot Shabbat where we sing, play, and engage in fun activities, followed by a wonderful Shabbat Kiddush lunch together. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3PMct7u.

SUNDAY, MAY 7

Mazal Tots: Baby and Me - 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Mazal Tots at Temple Emanu-El is a unique and joyful “baby and me” class that combines the power of song, movement, sensory stimulation, and play to create meaningful bonding experiences between parents and their little ones. With engaging music and movement, parents will have a blast as they connect with their babies through touch, sight, sound, and fun. The sensory play activities in each class help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and other important developmental milestones. Whether you’re a first-time parent or seasoned pro, Mazal Tots is the perfect opportunity to make memories, have fun, and watch your child grow and thrive. Register at http://bit. ly/3KOUPkg.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Torah Reading: Emor

Friday, May 5 Iyar 14, 5783 Light Candles at 8: 06 PM

Saturday, May 6 Iyar 15, 5783 Shabbat Ends 9:05 PM

Torah Reading: Behar-Bechukotai

Friday, May 12 Iyar 21, 5783 Light Candles at 8:11 PM

Saturday, May 13 Iyar 22, 5783 Shabbat Ends 9:11 PM

TUESDAY, MAY 9

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Dorsch - 12 to 1 p.m. Join Congregation Etz Chaim for a monthly class on Tuesdays with the rabbi on a variety of topics and enjoy some pizza. Learn how to register at https://bit.ly/3FU00g6.

Connecting Teens to Israel @ 75 - 12 to 2 p.m. CIE’s next Teen Israel Leadership Institute provides the opportunity to explore the ideals of Israel’s founders, engage with Israeli civil society and delve into what remains unfinished for Israel as it turns 75. This free webinar connects teens with Israelis and their experiences and insights and is open to 10th- through 12th-graders everywhere. Register at https://bit. ly/3LkDT5l.

Hadassah Greater Atlanta 2023 Chesed Student Awards – 2 to 4 p.m. Join Hadassah Greater Atlanta and Jumpspark to honor outstanding students nominated by Jewish day schools, religious schools, and volunteer organizations at the annual Hadassah Greater Atlanta Chesed (Loving kindness) Student Awards Ceremony. To register visit http://bit.ly/3zOll6W.

CTEEN Intown Atlanta 2023 – 5 p.m. Chabad Intown CTeen Atlanta is back and better than ever for the new year! Join fellow Intown ATL teens for these upcoming events filled with fun, friendship, food, Jewish pride and engaging Torah learning! RSVP at https://bit.ly/3jN3nwO.

Lag B’omer Celebration - 5 to 7 p.m. Cookout, Bonfire, Bar & Dessert with Chabad Intown. Fun Inflatables for all ages! Learn more at https://bit. ly/3NoteYX.

THURSDAY, MAY 11

JNF-USA, Women for Israel Spring Annual Luncheon - 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jewish National Fund-USA Invites You to Our Annual Women for Israel Spring Luncheon! Women for Israel has redefined female philanthropy and channeled the power of women to make a difference for the land and people of Israel. RSVP at http://bit.ly/3mh4Xc5.

Pickleball Round Robin – 4 to 7 p.m. The Hebrew Order of David is hosting a round robin Pickleball tournament. This benefits Birthright Israel Foundation and the American Tinnitus Association. The event is open to all levels of players in the Pickleball community. Register at https://bit.ly/41D5LaI.

Atlanta Jewish Bowling League Winter Session – 6:30 to 9 p.m. Atlanta Jewish Bowling League is a co-ed fun group who love to bowl and have a good time, a very social league! Dues are $18 per week. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3V9TZjV.

Jewish Atlanta’s 40 Under 40 Luncheon – 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Come honor AJT’s 40 under 40. There is an opportunity to network and connect with fellow business leaders in the community before and after the program. RSVP at http://bit.ly/3zL0LV9.

Avocado Sushi Balls

An easy weeknight appetizer for sushi lovers. The avocado is wrapped in sushi rice, and the best part? No bamboo mat is needed!

Ingredients

Avocado Sushi Balls

1 cup jasmine rice (I prefer jasmine but you can substitute regular or sushi rice)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 avocado

Heaven & Earth Lemon Juice, for sprinkling

4 tablespoons white and black sesame seeds

Directions

Prepare the Avocado Sushi Balls

Cook rice according to package instructions. While rice is still warm, add salt, rice vinegar, and sugar.

Peel and cut avocado into small cubes. Sprinkle with lemon juice. With damp hands, cover avocado with rice and shape into balls. Place sesame seeds in a flat plate. Roll the top of each sushi ball in sesame seeds. Serve with your favorite sushi toppings like soy sauce, spicy mayo, and wasabi.

Source: www.kosher.com

Recipe by: Leah Leora

Styling by: Atara Schechter

Photography by: Ruby Studios

The Umbrella

Issy and Jacob are walking down the street when it starts to rain, and in no time at all, it’s raining quite hard. Luckily, Issy is carrying an umbrella.

“Nu,” says Jacob. “So when are you going to open the umbrella?”

“It won’t do us any good,” says Issy. “It’s full of holes.”

“So why then did you bring it?” asks Jacob.

“Because,” Issy says with a shrug, “I didn’t think it would rain.”

YIDDISH WORD

Faceboopkes

n. Facebook posts of trivial and/or boring content.

“All he writes about on Facebook is what he had for breakfast – total faceboopkes.”

Faceboopkes is derived from the Yiddish word boopkes or bupkes, meaning trivial, a ridiculously small amount, or absolutely nothing at all; as in, “So I hired this fancy new tax accountant, but what did he save me? Bupkes!”

Bupkes came into Yiddish from Polish, in which it means goat or horse droppings, though goat droppings actually are worth something if you are in the fertilizer business.

Jewish Wine

By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com

Difficulty Level: Medium

ACROSS

1. Baron Cohen of film

6. Indiana Jones prop

10. PFC’s superiors

14. Word repeated towards the end of many sedarim

15. + and - particles

16. Work in a restaurant, perhaps

17. Wine for Shmuel’s mom?

19. Possible nickname for a notable Persian queen

20. Tefillin locale

21. “Citizen Kane” studio

22. Where to learn Hebrew

23. Camera parts or flowers

25. Wine for the father of Chophni and Pinchas?

28. Hit-boosting tool, in webspeak

29. Miss Piggy, to herself

31. Jewish group that went viral on TikTok in 2022, for short

32. Dessert-cart choice

33. Sukkot need?

35. “Bracketology” org.

37. Lightly char

38. Wine for writer Shai?

41. Kind of hall

44. Achi, in Adelaide

45. Yutzes

49. Filmmaker Horowitz who got more hate waving an Israeli flag than an Isis flag (at Berkeley)

50. Indignant

51. Premium cable channel, briefly

53. Solid wood

54. Wine for writer Stephens?

57. Gives a drasha

59. Mounds

60. Boo or yoo follower

62. Valentine misspelling

63. He directed James in “East of Eden”

64. Wines for a notable rasha?

68. Hebrew abode, 3000 years ago

69. Solo

70. Reads Torah (Var.)

71. “And Israel smote him with the ___ of the sword” (Num 21:24)

72. What “eer” means in poetry

73. Seder, e.g.

DOWN

1. It’s a bit of a bit?

2. Mot preceder

3. Circus Maximus vehicle

4. Impairs

5. What to do with this: +

6. Suggest you’re not telling the truth

7. Stand for the elderly, e.g.

8. Words with pickle or jam

9. “Gangnam Style” singer

10. Nifty

11. Utility conduit

12. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” queen

13. Scene after a movie’s credits

18. Approximator’s words

22. Campus near LAX

23. Verizon Fios or Xfinity, for short

24. Notable Stone

26. .jpg and .gif files

27. Israeli Abba

30. Enter by force

34. Former intelligence org.

36. Helper at a camp: Abbr.

37. “Cone” or “Cat” intro

39. Rebbe Nachman locale

40. Nostril wrinkler

41. Bush-whacking knife

42. Contacted paperlessly

43. Judah to Joseph

46. Cartoon pig named for a flower

47. High Monopoly rolls

48. MSG that might contain LOL or OMG

50. ___ Butterworth’s syrup

52. Knicks’ need

55. Brighten the spirits of 56. “Macbeth” title

58. Aquarium gunk

61. It’s currently counted, with “the”

64. Cavs, on the board

65. Car-pool abbr.

66. ‘80s prime-time alien

67. Onetime sonic boom maker, for short

OBITUARIES Susan Block Abrams

91, Atlanta

Susan Block Abrams, 91, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Jan. 19, 2023. She was born and raised in South Bend, Ind. She completed high school at Ferry Hall School (Lake Forest, Ill.) and studied at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Wheaton College (Norton, Mass.), and Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts (Pasadena, Calif.). She married Bernard William Abrams from 1955 to 1992.

Sue was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, and friend, a leader in her Chastain Park community, and an energetic advocate for those in need. She lifted people up with great warmth and wit, and she loved both exploring and protecting nature. Always an adventurer, Sue studied acting and worked in television (Desilu Productions) in her 20s, enjoying colorful experiences in California and New York. Upon her marriage in 1955, she moved south to Atlanta, where she and Bernie established their family. Sue encouraged their three children to excel in their studies, enjoy life, and apply their unique talents in service to others. Sue and Bernie chaired the parents’ council of The Westminster Schools.

Sue is survived by her children, David Louis Abrams, of Atlanta (Jan Anne Dubin), Janet Beth Abrams, of Washington, D.C., and Judith Frances O’Neill, of Boulder, Colo. (Michael), and by her siblings, David Samuel Block, of Atlanta (Sandra) and Linda Ann Block, of Menlo Park, Calif. Private burial at Arlington Memorial Park. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Janice Kohl Baylinson

91, Atlanta

Janice Kohl Baylinson, 91, beloved wife of Rabbi David A. Baylinson, passed away on April 23, 2023. The only child of Emily and Sidney Kohl, Janice was born in 1931 in Philadelphia, Penn. Earning her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and her master’s in education from Auburn University in Montgomery, Janice had a passion for teaching children. Choosing to work with children in underserved communities, her creativity, enthusiasm, and determination taught them how to read and gave them confidence to pursue their dreams.

Always by her husband’s side, she took the role of the Rabbi’s wife to heart and was his partner in all lifecycle events for their congregations. With a quiet strength, she nurtured her family, built many deep friendships, and created a life of meaning. She loved reading, traveling, and exploring new cultures, and serving as a gracious hostess for family and friends. Her warm smile and sparkling eyes brought joy and comfort to all who knew her.

Janice was predeceased in death by her parents, Emily and Sidney Kohl. She is survived by her husband, Rabbi David A. Baylinson, children, Ilene Baylinson, Peter Baylinson, Linda Levy (Bert), Evan Baylinson (Dara) and four grandchildren, Max Levy, Sam Levy, Gordy Baylinson and Zoe Baylinson. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Temple, 1589 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309 or to Temple Beth Or, 2246 Narrow Lane Rd, Montgomery, AL 36106. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

Bobbie Jean Fink 82, Atlanta

Bobbie Jean Fink (née Spivey), 88, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on April 4, 2023, following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Bobbie was born on Nov. 4, 1940, to James and Annie Spivey (née Blondell) in Macon, Ga. In 1963, she married attorney David H. Fink, having three children.

Bobbie made a career as a Tai Chi instructor for many years and was a talented singer, artist, and devoted mother. She is survived by her ex-spouse, David, her son, Jacob Fink, her daughter, Anna Fink-Kujawa, her son, Micah Fink, her grandchildren, Aria Kujawa and Asher Fink, as well as her siblings, Jimmy Spivey, Debbie Spivey, and Tammy Spivey-Hudson.

A private family memorial service to spread her ashes will be held at Helton Creek Falls. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Mildred Rotter Kinbar

102, Sandy Springs

Mildred Rotter Kinbar “Millie” died peacefully in Sandy Springs Ga., on April 13, 2023, at the age of 102. Millie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Milton, who died in 2001, and by her dear friend, Cecil Swinson. She is survived by her children Philip Kinbar of Winterpark, Fla., Andrea (Harvey) Kramer of Deland Fla., Larry Kinbar, and Suzan (Gary) Saidman of Sandy Springs Ga.; by her grandsons, Erik (Carolyn) Kramer, Ari (Kelly) Kramer, Benjamin (Nicole) Saidman, and David (Natasha) Saidman, and by her great-grandchildren, Caleb, Charlize, Isaac, Leo, Sarah, and Aviva. She is also survived by nieces, Carrie Weledniger, Maddy Orenstein, Lorraine Rosen and Estelle Wiener and nephew, Carl Kinbar.

Millie was born on Feb. 24, 1921, in Zurawne, Poland, to Leon and Sarah (Lauer) Rotter. She had one older sister, Gerty, who was 20 at the time of Millie’s birth. At age 1 ½, the family immigrated to the U.S. Even at that young age, family lore has toddler Millie passing out crackers to fellow passengers on the ship who were seasick. Millie grew up living in poverty in Brooklyn, with the challenge of having parents who were not only two generations older than her, but who also only spoke Yiddish. She worked tirelessly to try to assimilate and to shift into the fabric of American life. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and married her beloved, Milton, at the age of 18, in June 1939. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen that same year.

Millie and Milt spent a lifetime together traveling, initially for his work assignments with the U.S. Army, and subsequently as a civilian with the U.S. Air Force, as well as traveling the globe for pleasure. They left NY for Green Cove Springs, Fla., then back to NY, then a few years later to Monroe Mich., then Springfield, Ohio, then Perry, Ga., for work at Robins AFB. They were transferred to Clark AFB in The Philippines in 1956 with four children in tow, where they lived for three years, then to Tachibana AFB in Japan for one year, back to Macon, Ga., then back to Clark AFB, until finally returning to the states in 1969, the day before the moon walk. Their final assignment was at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, after which they retired to Daytona Beach in the mid-1970s. During Millie’s time at Clark AFB in the ‘60s, she worked as secretary for Gen. Chuck Yeager, Commander of the 405th Fighter Wing, and as secretary for Gen. Edward McNeff, base commander.

Millie was caring, smart, soulful, spiritual, fiercely independent and a force to be reckoned with. After retiring, she received an AA degree in humanities from Daytona Beach Community College, was actively involved in leadership roles in her synagogue, Temple Israel, became a certified graph analyst (hired by a cruise line to conduct handwriting analysis sessions on board cruises in her 90’s), worked as an art critic for the Daytona Beach Art League in her 80’s, was a prolific writer of short stories and essays and poetry, played duplicate bridge. The list goes on. Millie moved to Hammond Glen retirement community in Atlanta at the age of 95, continuing to write and to lead the poetry group for many years.

Millie’s funeral was held on April 17 at Mt. Sinai Cemetery in Daytona Beach, Fla. A shiva service was held at Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs, Ga., on April 20 at 7:00 p.m. and at Hammond Glen Senior Retirement Community in Sandy Springs at the end of April (date TBD).

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Weinstein Hospice, One Good Deed, Temple Sinai/Kesher, or to the charity of your choosing. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Merrill A. Levy 94, Savannah

Merrill A. Levy, 94, passed away on April 15, 2023. The youngest of Esau and Birdye Levy’s six children, Merrill was born in 1929, in Beaufort, S.C. He became the first in his family to graduate college when he graduated from Clemson University in 1950 on an ROTC scholarship. His architectural career, which spanned over 65 years, began in Charleston. Merrill then joined the Corps of Engineers in Savannah, Ga., before going into private practice. He and his late wife, Barbara, “Bobbie,” raised three sons on the Isle of Hope in a house he designed to wrap around a large oak tree.

Merrill embraced the low country life. When he was not on the water, he was recounting his childhood days in Beaufort, repeating family legends, or telling mostly true stories of the fish that got away while enjoying his wife’s famous deviled crab and Savannah red rice. Merrill was also passionate about preserving family ties, not only between his siblings, but also between their children, so that the next generations would stay close and remember their heritage.

Merrill was predeceased by his parents, siblings, his wife, Bobbie Levy, and a daughter-in-law, Dena Levy. He is survived by his sons, Alan (Tracey), Robert (Annie), Bert (Linda), grandchildren, Matthew, Tessa, Katie Rice (Daniel), Michael Levy (Melissa), Max Levy, Sam Levy, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will take place later at Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Congregation Mickve Israel, 20 East Gordon St., Savannah, Ga. 31401. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

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

OBITUARIES

Helen Moses Regenstein

104, Atlanta

Helen Moses Regenstein, a unique combination of gracious Southern Belle and endlessly loving, doting Jewish mother, best known for constantly overwhelming her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family, and friends with her famous but not so healthy yet irresistible, delicious goodies, like brownies, cheese crackers, and jelly cookies, plus industrial grade medicinal and nutritional chicken soup for those who were ailing, and, when she was younger and stronger, South Carolina, low country, hot pepper jelly, passed away peacefully at her home on 20 April, at the age of 104. She was the epitome of an elegant, beautiful, Southern Lady of impeccable taste, devoted to Culture and the arts, especially theater, symphony, and museums.

She grew up in Sumter, S.C., with her loving siblings, Licia and Graham, to whom she remained very close for all of their lives, along with their beloved spouses, Mitch and Rita. She graduated from Agnes Scott College and was happily married for 55 years to attorney Louis Regenstein, Jr., a senior partner in the renowned Old Atlanta law firm Kilpatrick, Cody, Rogers, McClatchey & Regenstein, now known as Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.

A third generation native Atlantan, he was the valedictorian of his 1929 class of Boy’s High School and graduated with honors from Harvard College and Harvard Law. He served as chairman of the board of Regenstein’s department store, a big part of her life, started in 1872, which was the first retail company in the South to hire a female salesperson, a Civil War widow much in need of employment.

Together, Helen and Reg built successful careers and happy lives, raised their family, travelled the world, collected art, enjoyed the best food (none better than what she herself cooked), entertained exquisitely, hosted Elizabeth Arden at the “Gone with the Wind” Premiere Ball in 1939, supported numerous civic and charitable groups and enjoyed the company of a wide variety of friends and colleagues. They truly enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. And always, they put their children and family first and foremost. They were totally devoted to each other, and after her husband passed away in 1985, not a day went by when she did not think, miss, or talk of him.

For years, she served as parliamentarian of the Atlanta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which honored her three years ago at Park Place for over 80 years of membership and support. She was a member of The Temple, a retired board member of The Alliance Theater, a Life Member of the High Museum, faithfully attended meetings of her Agnes Scott alumnae book club, and, until last year, would drive herself to and from exercise class every day at Jeanne’s Body Tech, miraculously travelling safely through the congested heart of Buckhead during rush hour, seemingly under the protection of a loving Divine Providence. There is no other explanation for her decades of safety and good fortune as her eyesight, hearing, and reflexes continued to decline.

When she attained the grand old age of 101, her health minded dear ones finally stopped nagging her to give up meat and other artery-clogging foods. If there was a secret to her longevity, she took it with her. But being tough and tenacious must have had something to do with it. After 14 months of loving care from the Weinstein Hospice, at home, refusing to die, Medicare kicked her out of hospice, but on she went, mostly blind, deaf, and unsteady, but not letting that stop her, though it did slow her down a bit. Still, with the help of her friend Shelly, she kept churning out her addictive treats.

She had a wide variety of friends, acquaintances, and associates, of many different backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. They included many distinguished and now deceased “Old Atlantans” who helped build the city’s business, cultural, and political foundations. She often spoke of her husband’s successfully defending Martin Luther King, Jr., when Nixon’s IRS brought a tax case against him. Once, she organized a dinner in honor of the Supreme Court of the Ivory Coast, in Atlanta on a State Department sponsored goodwill trip, at a time when State was having trouble finding a family in Atlanta who would host them. She also took great pride in her family’s two and a half centuries of loyal service to the country and their beloved homeland, the South.

Being very modest, she rarely talked about but was very proud of her Southern Jewish family’s many patriots going back over 246 years. Three of her South Carolina ancestors supported and served in the American Revolution, and Rachel Moses -- the daughter of our family’s “Founding father,” Myer Moses -- is the only Jewish female known to have been killed under attack by the British during the War, being fatally wounded during the siege of Charleston, along with her nurse, by a cannonball that destroyed their home in May 1780.

Helen’s great-great-grandfather was the renowned Charleston journalist, editor, and playwright Isaac Harby, the leading founder of Reform Judaism in America. Other historic members of the extended family include Maj. Raphael Jacob Moses, of Columbus, the pioneer father of the peach industry in the South, being the first grower to figure out how to ship peaches out of state without damage.

She is the granddaughter of Andrew Jackson Moses, one of the five Moses brothers from Sumter who fought for the South from the beginning to the end of what she invariably called “the War Between the States,” along with some two dozen other members of the extended family who defended their homeland. The brothers’ uncle, Major Moses, attended the Last Meeting and carried out The Last Order of the Confederate government, which was to ensure that the remaining gold and silver bullion in the treasury be used to help his fellow soldiers from both sides, recovering in hospitals and straggling home after the surrender, often sick, wounded, exhausted and shoeless. Other distinguished ancestors are too numerous to be included here.

She is survived by her two children, Kent (Lynn) and Lewis Graham (“Reg”); four grandchildren -- Paige (Michael) Schwartz, Jonathan (Beatrice) Regenstein, Anna (Kevin) Glaser and Daniel Regenstein, and seven great-grandchildren, Logan, Jackson, Lucy, Olivia, Roxanne, Eloisa and Abigail; numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws, including her home-cooked gourmet food providers, Harry Goode and Richard Smith. Survivors also include Phil Moise (Caroline). We are all grateful for the invaluable help and loyalty of Shelly Boline and Helen’s many caring and loving friends and neighbors. The family would also like to thank The Weinstein Hospice, especially Chikita Pickett, Julie Hamilton, Rosie Kamman, and Melissa Adamson for their loving care over the last year.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to one of the organizations which meant so much to her: The Weinstein Hospice, 3150 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, GA, 30327; The Atlanta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 4437 Central Drive, Stone Mountain, GA 30083-2446; Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA 30030; The Temple, 1589 Peachtree Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30309. Any arrangements for a memorial service will be announced. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

OBITUARIES

Allan Irwin Scher 80, Atlanta

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Allan Irwin Scher — Eliyahu ben Avraham Wolf, 80, who left this world surrounded by his family. Allan was born in Richmond, Va., to William (z”l) and Mary Feldman Scher (z”l). He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology and was a member of Phi Epsilon Pi fraternity and the Georgia Tech Marching Band. During that time, he met Roberta, his wife of 56 years. He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1965 with honors and a degree in electrical engineering. He was immediately recruited by IBM and remained there for 35 years, progressing in roles from systems engineer to nationally recognized and awarded senior systems engineer, project manager and training lecturer until his retirement.

After retirement, Allan found a way to combine his love of technology and travel as a guest computer lecturer on Crystal Cruises, where he and his wife enjoyed traveling the world together for over 10 years.

Allan lived in Toco Hills, where he kept busy with his family, shul, Torah learning, and numerous volunteer projects. He helped local elementary school teachers and students with website development and tech support. He served as President of Beth Jacob Synagogue, Board Member and Treasurer of the New Brittany Homeowners Association, Board Member of Torah Day School of Atlanta, Beth Jacob Legacy Committee member, and Certified Emergency Team Responder. Allan received the President’s Points of Light award for his volunteer services.

Allan was gifted with technical knowledge and expertise that he used to help anyone and everyone when they had computer or other technology issues.

Allan will be remembered by his quiet kindness, sense of humor, devotion to his friends and family, leadership, loyalty, humility, and dependability. We are grateful for the love, strength, stability, and wisdom he imparted to us all.

Allan is survived by his beloved wife, Roberta, children Marcy (Neil) Kalnitz of Atlanta, Andrea (Eric) Proser of Sandy Springs, and Rabbi Yitzchak Mitchell Scher (Aliza) of Silver Spring, Md. Zaydie is also survived and loved by 13 grandchildren: Samuel, Shira (Sam Wachtel) and Noah Kalnitz; Ian and Alexa Proser; Shaya, Sara, Rivka, Bracha, Tehilla, Levi, Malka, and Rina Scher; and great-granddaughter, Emunah Wachtel. He is remembered with love by his twin brother, Barry (Olga) Scher and brother-in-law, Helmut Petersiel, and by numerous nieces, nephews, dear family, and friends. He was preceded in death by his sister, Iris Petersiel (z”l).

Graveside services were held on Tuesday, April 4 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Ilan Feldman officiating. Donations in Allan’s memory can be made to Beth Jacob Atlanta, Torah Day School of Atlanta, Atlanta Scholars Kollel, and Yeshiva of Greater Washington. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

Richard D. Shapiro 71, Dunwoody

Richard D. (Rick) Shapiro, age 71, of Dunwoody, passed away on April 3, 2023, after a valiant effort fighting pancreatic cancer.

Rick was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and grew up in Phoenix. Upon graduation from Arizona State, he spent 18 years in the air freight forwarding industry in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, before being transferred to Atlanta in 1980.

Tiring of corporate life in 1992, Rick opened a one-man energy consulting company, Benchmark Audit Services, which he operated until 2023.

Rick married his soulmate, Nancy (Bronfeld) in 1979, in Los Angeles. They spent their newlywed year in New York City before being transferred to Atlanta.

Rick and Nancy immediately became involved in community life in Atlanta. They joined Temple Emanu-El and immersed themselves in synagogue life. Rick served as president of the Board of Trustees, Brotherhood president, Board of Trustee member and co-founder and co-chair of the Life and Legacy program.

Rick served the community as commissioner of the Atlanta Synagogue softball league and commissioner of the Golden Boys basketball league at the Atlanta Jewish Community Center. Rick was also active in the Second Helpings as well as the North Atlanta Mens Club.

Rick and Nancy were fortunate to travel extensively in recent years, visiting over 30 countries on four continents. Favorite places included the Galapagos Islands, Machu Picchu, Patagonia, Morocco, Kenya, Tanzania, and Barcelona.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Selma. He is survived by his loving wife, Nancy, and his children, Lori (Ryan) and Jeff (Hannah).

Rick’s passions included Mexican food, the Rolling Stones, San Francisco Giants baseball and Arizona State football.

The family requests that donations be made to Temple Emanu-El, to either Rabbi Anderson’s Discretionary Fund, the Legacy Development Fund, the Social Justice Fund, or the Caring Committee Fund. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-4514999.

Robert Neal Zweig 70, Cumming

It is with great sorrow to announce that Robert Neal Zweig, age 70, of Cumming, Ga., passed away unexpectedly on April 6, 2023. His family is deeply saddened by his sudden death. Robert Zweig was born on July 3, 1952, to Charles and Beverly Zweig in Chicago, Ill. He was primarily raised in Birmingham, Ala., and attended The University of Alabama.

In 2005, Robert met Kim Denise Zweig in Atlanta, Ga., and they went on to marry in 2009. They lived a fun-filled life on the lake with their seven cats. Robert is survived by his loving wife, Kim Zweig. He will be forever remembered by his stepchildren, David Blake (Michele) Sanders and Leslie Anna Bradley. He was a cherished step-grandfather to Makenna Bradley, Kimber Bradley, Olivia Bradley, McKenzie Sanders, Braylee Sanders, and Carter Sanders. He is also loved and remembered by brothers, Rick (Heather) Zweig and Dennis (Selah) Zweig. He was an adored uncle to Jenah (Nick) Myroniuk, Bree Lorenzo, Ivan (Heather) Zweig and Aaron (Megan) Zweig.

Robert had the biggest heart, was a kind and thoughtful soul and will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched. He was very witty and incredibly compassionate. He loved the beach, boating, hiking, traveling, cooking, gardening, and animals. He had a successful sales career, first in the clothing industry, then later as a BMW consultant. He received numerous awards during his career. Upon his retirement, Robert volunteered his time for the Feral Cat Program of Georgia. He was extremely passionate about this cause.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation, in memory of Robert, to the Feral Cat Program of Georgia. Family and friends attended a celebration of life held on April 22, 2023, at Dressler’s Funeral Care and Chapel, 3734 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, GA 30341. Arrangements by Dressler’s, 770-451-4999.

THOUGHTS

Mom Inspires by Musing

While sitting shiva for my father, I reminisced with my mother, brother, and sister. We were acutely aware of the preciousness of mom, our only living parent, and we were all ears as she mused about her own legacy. My mother never boasted or looked for recognition, so we didn’t know what to expect.

Mom began with this anecdote, “I made sure there is a monument for Uncle Louie’s grave.”

After Louie’s closest relative died (his sister—my maternal grandmother), my mother tried to stay in touch with him, but no one knew where he lived, and he had no phone. Mom belatedly learned from social services of his death. Louie had been buried as an indigent with a small grave marker. The fact that her Uncle Louie was laid to rest with no headstone troubled my mother. She was determined to honor and memorialize Louie by etching in granite the fact of his corporeality.

“I wanted people to know that Louie existed.” Mom explained.

Mom continued, recollecting a second achievement, a miracle. “I saved my little brother’s life.”

Her other brother, Bernard, was drafted in World War II, and he entrusted his car to his father, my paternal grandfather, who was instructed to drive only inside his home city, St. Louis, not the 117 miles to Effingham, Ill., where my parents lived.

But, in 1944, when I was one year old, my determined grandfather drove toward Effingham with my grandmother, their son, Joel, my grandfather’s sister, Cecile, and her husband, Dave, as passengers.

Halfway there, they were hit by a large truck, and Bernard’s car was wrecked. Everyone in the car was critically injured, and all were taken to a small Catholic hospital in nearby Pocahontas, Ill. My grandfather had a crushed pelvis and a concussion, my grandmother, whose back was broken, was told she would never walk again. Cecile and Harry had broken bones and internal injuries.

Seven-year-old Joel was not expected to live. Upon receiving the call from the Pocahontas hospital, my parents immediately

drove there, where they learned that Joel needed blood, but the tiny hospital, unlike hospitals in St. Louis, had no equipment for a transfusion. My mother, who boldly assumed that she and Joel had compatible blood, somehow convinced the doctors to rig up a person-to-person simultaneous transfusion. With my mother on a cot abutting Joel’s hospital bed, she replenished Joel’s lost blood with her own. For hours, as the story goes, my father paced and prayed, while I played with a couple of nun/nurses.

Here’s the miraculous part: My father’s simple, sincere prayers were answered. My grandfather, although severely scarred, eventually recovered, and my grandmother regained her ability to walk. (She and my grandfather danced at my wedding 20 years later.) Cecile and Dave recovered, too. Joel was left with facial scars and brain-injury-induced seizures, but, because of my mother’s incredible tenacity and daring, and G-d’s will, he is still alive (he’s now 85 years old.)

Mom continued, “I reunited the Pasternaks.”

Four Pasternak siblings, all in their eighties, lived across the street from my parents who had moved from Illinois to St. Louis.

The Pasternaks told my mother about escaping Germany at the beginning of the Third Reich.

On an Atlanta visit, my parents joined us at a friend’s party, where my mother met an elderly couple, whose surname was Pasternak. She guided the conversation by telling the couple about her St. Louis Pasternak neighbors, and an emotional session of Jewish geography ensued. The Atlanta Pasternaks were from the same German town from which mom’s neighbors had escaped. Mr. Pasternak cried, “Your neighbors must be my cousins. I thought everyone had died in the camps!” Of course, the Atlanta Pasternaks soon visited and reunited with their family in St. Louis. My parents picked them up at the airport.

Mom was grateful for the opportunities to do something important no one else could or would do. She challenged the assumptions of Louie’s insignificance, of her brother’s expected fate, of Mr. Pasternak’s sorrowful family assumption. My mother’s reflection on these events was illuminating to my siblings and me. We saw our haimishe, modest mother as a woman of action, a brave “do-er,” and inspiring role model. ì

Chana Shapiro