Balfoura Friend Levine - The Jewish Georgian
Balfoura Friend Levine - The Jewish Georgian
Balfoura Friend Levine - The Jewish Georgian
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Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2006<br />
THE<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Georgian</strong><br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Georgian</strong> is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It<br />
is written for Atlantans and <strong>Georgian</strong>s by Atlantans and<br />
<strong>Georgian</strong>s.<br />
Publisher Marvin Botnick<br />
Co-Publisher Sam Appel<br />
Editor Marvin Botnick<br />
Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume<br />
Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold<br />
Consulting Editor Gene Asher<br />
Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber<br />
Copy Editor Ray Tapley<br />
Assistant Copy Editor Arnold Friedman<br />
Makeup Editor Terri Christian<br />
Production Coordinator Terri Christian<br />
Medical Editor Morris E. Brown, M.D.<br />
Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Phil Slotin, Phil Shapiro<br />
Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz<br />
Columnist Andi Arnovitz (Israel),Gene Asher,<br />
Jonathan Barach,<br />
Janice Rothschild Blumberg (Washington),<br />
Marvin Botnick,<br />
Shirley Friedman, Carolyn Gold,<br />
Jonathan Goldstein, George Jordan,<br />
Marice Katz, <strong>Balfoura</strong> <strong>Friend</strong> <strong>Levine</strong>,<br />
Marsha Liebowitz, Howard Margol,<br />
Bubba Meisa, Erin O’Shinsky,<br />
Ben Rabinowitz (Israel),<br />
Lew Regenstein, Roberta Scher,<br />
Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol,<br />
Rabbi Reuven Stein, Nancy Taffel,<br />
Hannah Vahaba, Cecile Waronker, Evie Wolfe<br />
Special Assignments Susan Kahn, Lyons Joel,<br />
Advertising Marsha C. LaBeaume<br />
Editorial Advisory Board Members<br />
Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell<br />
Jane Axelrod Albert Maslia William Rothschild<br />
Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin<br />
Asher Benator Paul Muldawer Doug Teper<br />
290 Carpenter Drive, Suite 100<br />
Atlanta, GA 30328<br />
(404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913<br />
jewishga@bellsouth.net<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Jewish</strong> <strong>Georgian</strong> ©2006<br />
Hank Aaron BMW 23<br />
Achva Adult Day Club 5<br />
Allure Diamonds 4<br />
Balloons by Bernadette 7<br />
Bennie's Shoes 31<br />
B'nai B'rith International 18<br />
Blimpie at Toco Hills 10<br />
<strong>The</strong> Brickery 11<br />
Buckhead Garage 27<br />
<strong>The</strong> Cohen Home 36<br />
<strong>The</strong> Davis Academy 23<br />
Dressler's <strong>Jewish</strong> Funeral Care 4<br />
Dunwoody Opticians 7<br />
EdenBrook of Dunwoody 6<br />
<strong>The</strong> Epstein School 2<br />
Fancy Schmancy Cakes 14<br />
Gaucher Disease 17<br />
Georgia Banking Company 35<br />
Grand Hyatt Buckhead 26<br />
Greenfield Hebrew Academy 7<br />
Habif Arogeti & Wynne 20<br />
Silence is not always golden<br />
How often have we either said or heard<br />
the expression, “Silence is Golden”? I think<br />
that most of us let this phrase float off our<br />
tongue as sage advice, but how many times<br />
have we really considered the full import of<br />
this statement?<br />
During a sermon by Rabbi Jeffrey<br />
Salkin this past Yom Kippur, he referred to<br />
the sin of silence. I know that I had read<br />
these words before, but somehow the significance<br />
of this phrase never really registered<br />
with me. For some reason, when I<br />
heard these words this time, all of a sudden<br />
a whole different concept crept into my<br />
thoughts. Probably like most of you, I have<br />
always taken this reflective time to think<br />
about those actions of mine that did or may<br />
have fallen into the category of wrongdoings.<br />
Now, all of a sudden, here was a statement<br />
that tripped a different thought<br />
process. What about the lack of action that<br />
may have resulted in hurt or harm to others?<br />
Silence in the face of evil, hateful or<br />
hurtful action, or injustice certainly does<br />
fall into the fold of wronging others. Yet<br />
how many times have we failed to make our<br />
voices heard in speaking out in condemnation<br />
of such actions? After all, I am only<br />
one small voice, and what can I do? Surely,<br />
those directly involved and those in positions<br />
of leadership and power will take care<br />
of the situation. That is what we tell our-<br />
Halpern Enterprises 39<br />
Israel Bonds 10<br />
Israel Real Estate Exhibition 12-13<br />
Istanbul Café 20<br />
It's My Party 15<br />
<strong>Jewish</strong> National Fund 28<br />
JF&CS - Cobb County & North Metro 15<br />
JF&CS - Kids struggling? 18<br />
JF&CS - Loss? 30<br />
JF&CS - Want to make a difference? 32<br />
Kroger 44<br />
La Strada 33<br />
North Point Volvo 43<br />
Omni National Bank 24<br />
Presstine Cleaners 5<br />
Sensible Networks 14<br />
<strong>The</strong> Temple 16<br />
<strong>The</strong> Waldof Group 8<br />
<strong>The</strong> Weber School 21<br />
BY<br />
Marvin<br />
Botnick<br />
selves.<br />
Even if we can use this logic to assuage<br />
our conscience in matters of national or<br />
international concern, how do we explain<br />
away our silence when we see wrongdoings<br />
in our office, in our school, or in our neighborhood?<br />
I realize that concern for your and<br />
your family’s well being makes it difficult<br />
to speak up rather than keep silent.<br />
Somehow, the “code of silence” within a<br />
group of people has a ring of honor, while<br />
the “stool pigeon” is a derisive term.<br />
But think about it. Modifications to correct<br />
actions wronging others is important<br />
and necessary, but if you can help to positively<br />
influence the actions of society<br />
through advocacy, the benefit of not practicing<br />
the sin of silence can have a major<br />
impact. In truth, most of us are in the “silent<br />
majority.”<br />
It is hard for us to understand how so<br />
many stand by and do not speak out against<br />
vitriolic statements when these affect us,<br />
but what do we do when such statements<br />
are against other groups? How active are we<br />
<strong>The</strong> Westin Buckhead 22<br />
Wilson & Sons Ltd. 34 THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL<br />
in protesting against the inhuman carnage<br />
taking place in Sudan? If those who perpetrate<br />
these immoral, offensive, and often<br />
illegal actions are committing a sin, are we<br />
not also guilty of committing a sin by our<br />
silence and lack of protesting?<br />
Today, our co-religionists are once<br />
again being subjugated to threats and condemnation<br />
around the world, and this hazing<br />
at its mildest form and safety threat at<br />
its escalated state is growing. Europe,<br />
which knows first hand what resulted from<br />
such actions in the ‘30s and ‘40s, has silently<br />
sat back and let this hatred fester.<br />
Unfortunately for them, this sin of silence<br />
has resulted in an escalation of actions, and<br />
now this tumor is no longer benign. Instead,<br />
it is a cancer that is spreading all over and is<br />
affecting all of the citizens, not just Jews.<br />
“ Silence empowers tyrants to act without<br />
the threat of retaliation or retribution.” I<br />
cannot remember where I read these words<br />
recently, but they best sum up what I mean<br />
in the title of this piece: Silence Is Not<br />
Always Golden.<br />
Happy Hanukkah<br />
from our families to yours<br />
Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta<br />
www.epsteinatlanta.org