JGA July-August 09 - The Jewish Georgian

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Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN July-August 2009 Who are the builders? T his past May, Pope Benedict XVI visited Israel and the West Bank. During the visit, he spoke of the “wall,” a subject that is continuously brought up by many people in discussing the conflict between Israel and its adjacent neighbors in the West Bank. While the pope is not the person who decided to refer to this partition as a wall, it is a term that I, as well as many others, have objected to, since it conjures up a vision of the Berlin Wall and all the negative happenings that accompanied and resulted from its construction. There is no denying that a barrier is being constructed, but since “more than 97% of the planned 720 km. (480 mile) security fence will consist of a chain-link fence system” (see www.palestinefacts.org), it would be more correct to talk about a fence rather than a wall. The mental picture evoked by the word “fence” is that of a partition that would not visually block the landscape, while the mental picture summoned by the word “wall” is that of a concrete structure intended not only to limit access but also to limit any tie to the other side. But what this did for me was to raise THE Jewish Georgian The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It is written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. Publisher Marvin Botnick Co-Publisher Sam Appel Editor Marvin Botnick Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold Consulting Editor Gene Asher Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber Copy Editor Ray Tapley Assistant Copy Editor Arnold Friedman Makeup Editor Terri Christian Production Coordinator Terri Christian Designer David Gaudio Medical Editor Morris E. Brown, M.D. Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Phil Slotin, Phil Shapiro, Jonathan Paz Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz Columnist Gene Asher, Jonathan Barach, Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Marvin Botnick, Shirley Friedman, Carolyn Gold, Jonathan Goldstein, George Jordan, Marice Katz, Balfoura Friend Levine, Marsha Liebowitz, Howard Margol, Bubba Meisa, Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, Bill Sonenshine, Rabbi Reuven Stein, Cecile Waronker, Evie Wolfe Special Assignments Susan Kahn, Lyons Joel Advertising Michael Pelot-VP-OP Bill Sonenshine Marsha C. LaBeaume Editorial Advisory Board Members Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell Jane Axelrod Albert Maslia William Rothschild Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin Asher Benator Paul Muldawer Doug Teper 8495 Dunwoody Place, Building 9, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30350 (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 jewishga@bellsouth.net www.jewishgeorgian.com The Jewish Georgian ©2009 BY Marvin Botnick even a more interesting question. Who are the builders of the fence? Is it the party that contracted for the construction, the State of Israel? Is it the general contractor, which certainly was legally authorized to do business in Israel? Is it the parties who designed the project? Is it the actual workers who physically erected the fence, some of whom, no doubt, were Arabs? Or is it the groups and individuals whose actions resulted in the murder of and injury to innocent, non-combatant Israelis and visitors to Israel, destruction of property in the State of Israel, and unnecessary and unproductive deployment of assets that could have been used for constructive purposes? Consider the following information from Jewish Virtual Library: • “Approximately 75 percent of the suicide bombers who attacked targets inside Israel came from across the border where the first phase of the fence was built.” • “During the 34 months from the beginning of the violence in September 2000 until the construction of the first continuous segment of the security fence at the end of July 2003, Samaria-based terrorists carried out 73 attacks in which 293 Israelis were killed and 1,950 wounded.” • “In the 11 months between the erection of the first segment at the beginning of August 2003 and the end of June 2004, only three attacks were successful, and all three occurred in the first half of 2003.” • “Since construction of the fence began, the number of attacks has declined by more than 90%. The number of Israelis murdered and wounded has decreased by more than 70% and 85%, respectively, after erection of the fence. “Even the Palestinian terrorists have admitted the fence is a deterrent. On November 11, 2006, Islamic Jihad leader Abdallah Ramadan Shalah said on Al- Manar TV that terrorist organizations had every intention of continuing suicidebombing attacks, but that their timing and the possibility of implementing them from Just fix’n to woke up during the night recently in a cold sweat, realizing that they had Istruck again. When would this insidi- ous plot end? I first became aware of this alien incursion into that sacred realm of tradition some years ago. I was visiting cousin Bobby Lee in Westabutchie, and he served grits with “toast” that had been made in the oven and browned on only one side. As if that was not bad enough, the butter had been put on the bread before it was toasted, so that the middle was mushy. In utter disbelief, I asked Bobby Lee why he had strayed from his heritage. Did he not realize that he was becoming a party to creating a two-class society? Not only was he using white bread, but he had lost the art of scraping. All of our lundsmen, especially those of us who were first generation, knew that the proper way to make toast was to brown it sufficiently so that the presentation was finished off by scraping the burnt portion immediately preceding the serving of the dish. The whole secret was in the wrist. It was only through using this method that the proper crunching noise could be made while consuming the delicacy. As you can guess, it was not long before this dastardly conspiracy had BY Bubba Meisa spread to rye bread. They had tried to hide this by printing “Jewish” rye on the wrapper, but one bite quickly told you that it was another Madison Avenue (that’s in New York, not Westabutchie) trick. Where was that hard crust that helped develop the jaw muscle? Where was that body that allowed a slice to stand tall, rather than slump over like a limp washrag? As you can see, partaking of the staff of life for the Jew is a total experience. We all know that suffering adds a special ingredient to life for the Jew. Eating bread is no different. Do we not eat matzoh at Passover to remind us of the suffering we endured as slaves in Egypt? I ask you then, how can any self-respecting Jew enjoy eating these modern transgressions against what we know to be right? How can we truly enjoy bread that can be consumed with no effort? And now we are confronted with the latest invasion into our proprietary realm of breads—the commercial bagel. the West Bank depended on other factors. ‘For example,’ he said, ‘there is the separation fence, which is an obstacle to the resistance, and if it were not there, the situation would be entirely different.’” So, who really are the builders? Unlike the Berlin Wall and the walls built around the Jewish ghettos, this fence was not constructed to keep people in, but rather it is being put in place solely for the purpose of keeping terrorists out and preserving life. Just as jails are built by criminals, the fence is being built by the terrorists. The present population of Israel is approximately 75% Jewish, 20% Arab, and 5% other. It is not a Jewish state, but a state for the Jews, and non-Jewish citizens have the same legal rights as the Jews—unlike the status of dhimmis for Jews and Christians under Muslim law. It is not a theocracy, as are some of its neighbors, any more than England is a Christian country, even though the monarch is the supreme governor of the Church of England and, as such, is the titular leader over the Church of England. Israel not only has the right, but it has the duty to protect its citizens, regardless of ethnicity or religion, and the fence has proven its validity as a tool towards this responsibility. The defensive measures, including the fence, would not be present if the terrorists had not built them. While the bagel does not go back to the days of the Temple, it has been with us for a long time. As we know it, the bagel is not suppose to have the consistency of a croissant, nor was it ever meant to have the same continental flare or pronunciation. It is more blue-collar in both taste and name. Those of us who are fans can eat a bagel right off the shelf, just as we would consume a pastry, or we can eat it toasted. In either case, eating a true bagel would be the ultimate Poligrip commercial. Until this point, I have sat by and said nothing about these changes, but I can no longer keep silent. Enough is enough; wake up before it is too late! The round roll with a hole in the middle that is being foisted on you from the frozen foods case is a conspiracy to weaken your jaw muscles so that you will not be able to open your mouth in protest. This donut-shape creation is an attempt to produce a whitebread generation. The uniformity of the impostor is an attempt to subvert individualism. You let them redefine toast and said nothing. You let them perpetrate the “Jewish” rye hoax and said nothing. Don’t let this bagel bamboozle spread without a loud protest. Join with me in speaking out against them while we still have developed jaw muscles to use.
July-August 2009 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 What’s HAPPENING HE ST. REGIS ATLANTA. St. Regis Atlanta developer Paul Freeman has T hit a home run with his stunning new resort-like complex in Buckhead. Located on West Paces Ferry at Peachtree, the magnificent hotel has condo residences, restaurants, and bars that are attracting crowds of Atlantans. The Wall Street Journal calls the Starwood Hotels-managed St. Regis “by far the prettiest hotel in town, a modern take on traditional Southern grandeur, with spectacular public spaces and spacious rooms and baths decorated in soothing cream and aqua shades.” Reporter Laura Landro says she was also impressed by “the lobby’s 750pound chandelier and two marble staircases sweeping up to a second-story lounge area... The vast outdoor piazza with cascading waterfall...19th-century Venetian mirrors, antiqued-glass vases filled with tall pussy willows, silver plated objets d’ art, and paintings by Atlanta artists, many commissioned for the hotel. My favorite ‘green’ feature: a toilet with one flush button for ‘half’ and one for ‘full.’” The St. Regis has it all: The Paces 88 American Bistro; the St. Regis Bar, designed after the legendary King Cole Bar and Lounge at the St. Regis New York; afternoon tea in the lobby; a wine-tasting room; the Poolside Cafe and Bar, with fireplace; the Grotto Bar and Cafe, tucked into the Grand Terrace—and each space with its own special cuisine, atmosphere, culture, and style. Overlooking the pool are the five-star Remede Spa, a billiards and card room, a well equipped gym and health center, plus a lovely ballroom, all giving the St. Regis a resort feel. Paul says that he has spent the last five years of his life focused on the project, “...build- St. Regis Developer Paul Freeman ing an Intown resort, a landmark facility with time- less architecture that will benefit Atlanta, serve its guests, and provide a wonderful place for people to live and visit.” POWER DINERS. Spotted power-dining at Hal Novak’s popular eatery, Hal’s on Old Ivy: Native Atlantans Richard Alterman, Jerry Gordon, and Paul Ehrlich, haggling over the bill and debating whether to leave a 5% or 10% tip. Here’s “What’s BY Reg Regenstein Happening” with these legendary Native Atlantans: • Paul’s father-in-law, Stedman Shropshire, a World War II Marine veteran of Iwo Jima, just turned 90. He is an active architect who still draws by hand. Paul’s wife, Gray, is his only living child. Congratulations to Mr. Shropshire, thanks for serving our country, and Semper fi. • Jerry’s son Brandon is getting married to the lovely and delightful Leila Mansouri. Both are students working on their Ph.D.s at the University of California-Irvine. • Richard just took a trip to New York City with his wife, Marty, and his 91-year-old mother, Sara. They went to see his prodigy son, Joseph, perform on the piano at the world-renowned Blue Note Jazz Club with Grammy-winning saxophonist Ralph Lalama. After the performance, Bubbie Sara (whom Richard describes as “the spryest one of the lot”) jumped up on stage to have her picture taken, saying, “Now I feel fulfilled, having seen Joseph play at the Blue Note.” Ralph Lalama, Joseph Alterman, and Sara Alterman, at the Blue Note DON OBERDORFER HONORED. We ran into our friend, insurance magnate Gene Oberdorfer, who is always gracious, charming, and sporting a big smile. Gene tells us that his distinguished brother, Native Atlantan Don, has just been awarded the prestigious James A. Van Fleet Award by the Korea Society, the first journalist ever chosen for this prize. In his four decades in journalism, Don has established a reputation as one of the world’s foremost experts on North Korea, and his articles on his visits there are classic accounts of life in a country that, in many ways, is like a medieval monarchy. Don has served successively as The Washington Post’s White House, Northeast Asia, and diplomatic correspondent. His books The Two Koreas and Tet are considered among the best ever written about the conflicts in Korea and Vietnam. GRADY HIGH’S CLASS OF ‘59. Grady High School’s renowned class of 1959, which has contributed some of our city’s most colorful figures, just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Martha Jo Katz, who is much too young to have graduated way back then, but her husband, Jerry, did, told us all about the reunion. Coming in from out of town were such notables as Michael and Eleanor Blass from Waleska, Georgia; Charles and Gail Herman, from Birmingham, Alabama; and Marsha Siegel Belson and Harvey Belson from Columbia, South Carolina. Also in attendance were Alan Alterman; Larry Cooper; Gail Feldser Natter; Larry Fine; Daniel Hirsh, his twin Martha Jo Katz and Marcia Siegel Belson Jerry Katz, Ronnie Goings, and Jan Jackson Jerry Katz; Mr. Overton, chemistry teacher; and Gary Goldstein bro, Marvin, and Marvin’s wife, Rita; Cary and Sherry Adelman King; Nancy Mitzner Markle; Charles and Ann Marie Rosenfeld; Charles and Bunny Rothberg Rosenberg; Alice Isenberg Sanders; Eleanor Leff Schwartz; Marilyn Makover Shapiro; and Dick Sokol. The Varsity truck catered the Friday night event at Garden Hills Park, so the food was great. And when one guest thought he might be having a heart attack, guess who came up with a much-needed aspirin? Jerry! He was the only one at the party who was prepared for a medical emergency. But what would you expect from someone smart and lucky enough to marry Martha Jo? Those were great days, back then, which we did not appreciate at the time, but we’ll always have those wonderful memories. STAN LEWIS, P.I. We love to write about Atlanta’s colorful characters and interesting, offbeat people. And we knew we’d found one when we recently met Stan Lewis at an anti-dogfighting event hosted by The Humane Society of the United States. First of all, Stan does the best Rodney Dangerfield imitation we’ve ever heard. We asked him how he was doing, and he replied, in perfect Rodneyese, “I’m OK now, but last night was rough.” But his main gig is as a private investigator, and as head of ICU Investigations, he has worked to locate missing and runaway children, serve summonses to hard-to-find defendants, and check up on cheating spouses. Stan was featured a while back in an article in the Atlanta Journal- Constitution, saying that when men cheat, it’s usually with someone they’ve met through work. “But they are horrible at covering their tracks. I had a husband going to Private investigator Stan Lewis his girlfriend’s house five days a week at the same time every day. Monday through Friday, quarter to six, he was there. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.” Stan’s son Adam works with him. “Adam once served papers to a gentleman in Midtown Atlanta, who came to the door wearing nothing but his socks and shoes,” Stan recalls. “Adam was shocked, and after he told me about it, I said, ‘I have the same outfit.’” BASEBALL CHAMP JOSH FARBER. Josh’s team, the Mountain Park Marlins, just won their 3rd-grade league championship in Lilburn in the Mountain Park league, with Josh playing outfield and scoring lots of runs. Josh rocks, and thank goodness he takes after Mom Roberta “Rocky” See HAPPENING, page 4
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