Balfoura Friend Levine - The Jewish Georgian

Page 42 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2006
Retirement ceremony a source of pride for many
One of the nicest events I have attended in
many a year was the retirement ceremony of
United States Magistrate Judge Joel M.
Feldman. It had a patriotic flair to it, one that
made me proud to be an American and, as
always, proud to be a retired colonel in the
U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.
I was especially proud of Joel, a retired
captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He wore
his Navy uniform, which made me doubly
proud of him. Joel and I go back a few years,
to when he called my brother a “tootball”
player.
Joel, his late sister, and parents lived, as
we did, in the court apartments at 501
Boulevard N.E.
The ceremony was held at the Richard B.
Russell Federal Building/United States
Her name is Rachel. She is 74 years
old and has dementia and a failing heart.
Rachel’s 76-year-old husband is her primary
caregiver, and he is reluctant to
accept assistance, even from their only
daughter, who lives across town. Because
of his own age and health status, he finds
caregiving very difficult. Weinstein
Hospice is called.
Sam, age 56, has cancer of the pan-
BY
Gene
Asher
Courthouse at 75 Spring Street.
But back to the flair of patriotism: Major
General Larry Taylor, USMCR (Ret), called
for the Colors in a heart-stirring presentation
of the American flag by U.S. Naval Sea
Cadets, LTjg Laura McIntosh commanding.
Admiral William O. (Dusty) Miller,
USNR (Ret), led the Pledge of Allegiance to
the United States flag.
And, of course, there was a Jewish presence
there—not only the retiree, but Cantor
creas and liver. Sam declined a biopsy
after the initial test confirmed the cancer
diagnosis. He also chose to forego all
chemotherapy or radiation, stating that he
would prefer quality of life to whatever
limited extension of life could be attained.
For Sam and his wife, Melinda, the most
important use of their remaining time is to
spend it together. They have three adult
children, all of whom live out of town.
Donna Faye Marcus of Temple Sinai, who led
us in the National Anthem, and Rabbi Phil
Kranz, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Sinai, who
gave the invocation and asked for a minute of
silent devotion in honor of the U.S. military.
Cantor Marcus led us in Irving Berlin’s classic
“God Bless America,” and the benediction
was given by Chief Rabbi Ron Segel of
Temple Sinai.
Chief Judge Jack T. Camp presided.
Speakers included Edward L. Greenblatt,
Paul Kish, and the Honorable Alan J.
Baverman.
The portrait of Judge Feldman that will
hang in the courtroom was presented by
Amanda Feldman, Judge Feldman’s granddaughter,
and Kyle and Abbie Rose Kinsler,
great nephew and niece of Judge Feldman.
Weinstein Hospice is called.
When it became clear that Dad was
not going to get well, the family knew that
they wanted him at home in a loving
atmosphere, with caring medical attention
that focused on keeping him comfortable.
They felt this would give them the time
they wanted to spend with him in his last
days, as well as the comfort of knowing
that he would be handled with dignity and
respect. After sixty-three years of caring
for Dad, Mom was able to hand decisions
over to Weinstein Hospice.
Every hospice story is sacred.
As people approach the end of their
lives during terminal illness, they tend to
return to their cultural and spiritual roots.
Being embraced and acknowledged by a
loving community is fundamental to
Jewish spirituality. Since 1999, the Vi and
Milton Weinstein Hospice has helped
almost 700 patients and families live as
fully as possible and ease the way for a
“good death.” Weinstein Hospice is the
only non-profit Jewish hospice serving
Metro Atlanta.
So often, Weinstein Hospice staff
members hear families say, “I wish I had
known sooner about hospice.” Families
confronting serious illness frequently suffer
too long before accessing supportive
services, in part due to myths about hospice
and palliative care.
THE TRUTH ABOUT HOSPICE
• Hospice is a coordinated holistic concept
of care that addresses body, mind,
and spirit for patients and their loved ones
confronting life-limiting illness.
Hospice’s unit of care is not just the
patient; it includes loved ones and pri-
Among the U. S. district judges in attendance
was the Honorable Marvin H. Shoob,
senior judge.
It was a moving ceremony. I could not
help but think how proud Joel’s late parents,
Rosalie Bach Feldman and Louis Feldman,
would be of their only son.
__________
As predicted, I knew I would omit people
inadvertently from last issue’s all-time Jewish
football team. Certainly on the squad would
be Harry P. (Koon) Kuniansky, an all-state
guard at old Atlanta Boys High School and a
starter and solid performer on the University
of Georgia’s 1942 Rose Bowl team. No doubt,
there are others I cannot think of at this time.
Hospice helps individuals and their families meet end-of-life challenges
Classnotes
From page 41
Championship. Pictured: (back row, l-r)
Coach Schmmit, Ben Binderow, Joey
Galanti, Lee Perlis, Tommy Antonino, Ben
Davis, Zach Beagle, Jake Seltman, Ben
Greenberg, Kyle Schaffer, Ryan Goldstein;
(front row, l-r) Michael Goldman, Forest
Schwartz, Jonathan Stone, Jacob Greifer,
and Richard Quegan
CHAMPIONS. The Davis Academy Girls
A-Softball advanced to the MAAC championship
and won the school’s first softball
championship. Pictured: (back row, l-r)
Coach Cooper, Jamie Gottlieb, Rachel
Hirsch, Sara Kaplan, Coach Moore; (kneeling,
l-r) Allyson Eisenberg, Eva Moss,
Emma Weinstein, Elli Bock, Isabelle
Block, Lindsey Gordon, Ruby Freeman;
(front row, l-r) Juliana Altman and Lindsey
Rosenberg
CROSS COUNTRY PHENOMS. For its
first year, the Davis Academy Cross
Country team has had a phenomenal “run.”
Joseph Neder has led the team since the
beginning of the school year, placing no
less than 7th in meets with over 200 runners,
winning the Faith Lutheran
Invitational. Coached by Matthew Barry,
Middle School social studies teacher, the
team competed and won its first MAAC
championship in Davis history—the first
ever won by a boys team. Pictured: (back
row, l-r) Drew Zucker, Nathan Simon,
Joseph Neder, Logan Berland, Coach
Barry, Adam Schweber, Samuel Lack;
(front row, l-r) Eliot Zerden, Brandon Gold,
Matthew Palay, and Alec Brown
mary caregivers.
• Hospice is not a place. The patient can
stay at home in familiar surroundings
with hospice care.
• Hospice is a personalized service provided
by a compassionate team of healthcare
professionals including registered
nurses, home health aides, social workers,
a rabbi, medical director, and trained volunteers.
• The patient can continue seeing his or
her physician, who manages care in coordination
with the hospice medical director
and nurses. At any time during a life-limiting
illness, it is appropriate for physicians
to discuss all of a patient’s care
options, including hospice.
• Hospice honors nature’s way and does
not hasten or prolong the dying process. If
improvement in the condition occurs and
the disease seems to be in remission, the
patient can be discharged from hospice
and return to aggressive therapy or
resume his or her daily life. In fact, a
recent study by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention found that there
are an estimated 100,000 “hospice survivors”
annually.
• Hospice considers helping family members
an essential part of its mission.
Social workers and volunteers offer
bereavement support for a year following
the death of a loved one.
• Hospice care is covered by Medicare,
Medicaid, and most private health insurance
policies.
Weinstein Hospice endeavors to promote
meaningful dialogue so that people
will become comfortable enough to make
better plans and end-of-life decisions
prior to a crisis.