Happy Chanukah - The Jewish Georgian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 18 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2011 TDSA’s Boy Scout Troop 613 kicks off By R.M.Grossblatt “‘Be prepared’ is the motto of the Boy Scouts,” said Avraham Warga, Scoutmaster for Torah Day School’s Troop 613, right before a bucket of water was poured over his head. Since it was part of a skit at the bonfire kickoff for the new Boy Scout troop, Warga was prepared. Sitting at a safe distance from the bonfire, the boys laughed and asked for an encore. In some ways, Troop 613 is an encore of Congregation Beth Jacob’s Troop 5753, started by Scoutmaster Jan Siegelman 18 years ago. Siegelman, in full Scoutmaster uniform, was present at the Sunday, August 28, kickoff, held on the campus of Yeshiva Or Yisrael. Also present were fathers and other men in the community, supporting TDSA’s Boy Scouting initiative. Aaron Windham was in charge of s’mores and drinks, sponsored by the Lynn family. Simcha MacGregor and Brad Cook performed a skit around the song “There’s a Hole in the Bucket.” And Rabbi Avraham Kanarek, principal of Or Yisrael, shared a campfire story. Aaron Windham, in charge of sʼmores Tanenbaums endow professorship in Jewish history and culture Babette and Jay Tanenbaum, of Atlanta, have established a new distinguished professorship in Jewish studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, providing an endowment that will support a tenure-track faculty member who specializes in Jewish history and culture. “We are very grateful to Babette and Jay Tanenbaum for their support of Jewish studies at Carolina,” said Jonathan Hess, director of the Carolina Center for Jewish Studies. “Their support of our faculty will not only help us hire, or retain, an outstanding teacher and researcher, it will also have a lasting impact on Carolina’s future students.” Jay Tanenbaum, founder and president of Primus Capital LLC, a structured finance and investment company based in Atlanta, is former chair and current executive committee member of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL). Lawrence Stroll, whose sons received awards that evening, enumerated the benefits of joining the Boy Scouts, particularly the overnight summer camping experience. He listed water skiing, horseback riding, archery, and rafting as some of the offerings possible for next summer in the North Georgia mountains—only two hours from Toco Hill. “There are lots of skills to learn,” said Stroll, “and at camp, boys can earn merit badges.” Scoutmaster Jan Siegelman and Lawrence Stroll Rabbi Michael Alterman, TDSA teacher, presented merit badges to Hanoch Baruch Kayser; Eli, Tuvia, and Kalmen Warga; and Shimon and Zev Stroll. The recipients achieved proficiency in many areas, including canoeing, swimming, leatherwork, and art. “Using the Power of Fire, but Not Getting Burned” was the topic addressed by Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, TDSA head of school. He equated the dangers of fire to the yetzer hara (evil inclination), emphasizing that the yetzer hara can be used for our benefit. “It gives us the possibility of choosing,” said Rabbi Hoff, which he “My work with ISJL has fueled my interest in preserving the legacy and history of Jews in the American South and in developing programs and opportunities for Jewish communities throughout the South,” said Tanenbaum. “Having a strong Jewish studies program at a leading public university that just happens to be in the South further strengthens this effort. It is my hope that our endowed chair helps Carolina continue to build its outstanding academic and community programs in Jewish studies.” Jay Tanenbaum’s great-grandfather immigrated from Sejny, Poland, to Dumas, Arkansas, in the 1890s, and three subsequent generations grew up in the small Southern town. Babette’s family similarly made its way from Alsace to Mandeville, Louisiana. “My family’s story is repeated in countless other families throughout the South. I think it’s important that Jews settled across the country and became an Rabbi Michael Alterman presents a merit badge. explained earns a person a reward when he makes a good choice. Before Michael Toddings, TDSA’s chief financial officer, drenched him with water, Head Scoutmaster Warga explained to the boys the importance of being prepared, using preparation for the evening’s bonfire as an example. First on the list, said Warga, was to set a date, time, and place and then apply for a permit. Also essential was securing a source of water to put out the fire. With Toddings holding up the hose of running water, Warga said, “We want to know that what we’re doing is right.” Doing what’s right is an underlying motto of the Boy Scouts of America. It’s an age-old organization that teaches skills and good values, along with fun. Since the important thread throughout the American tapestry,” added Tanenbaum. “We’re not alumni of Carolina, and we have no strong link to the campus, but when I learned of the Jewish studies program, I thought it was doing vital work in contributing to this ongoing study of the Jewish experience in the American South.” State funds provide basic faculty salaries for Carolina’s distinguished scholars, while permanent-endowed chair funds, created by philanthropic gifts, further support teaching and research. By creating a reliable source of annual support, endowed faculty chairs provide a powerful incentive to come to and stay at Carolina. This gift, in excess of $1 million, qualifies for a matching $500,000 grant from the State of North Carolina’s Distinguished Professors Endowment Trust Fund. Scoutmaster Avraham Warga gets drenched with a bucket of water! kickoff, members have hiked trails and learned the safe handling of firearms. Many more activities are planned throughout the year. For additional information, contact Mr. Warga at 404-806-1446. Jay Tanenbaum
November-December 2011 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 19 Holocaust Learning Trunk Project hosted in Sandy Springs This fall, the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust chose Sandy Springs as a beneficiary of the unique and meaningful Holocaust Learning Trunk Project. The project is jointly sponsored by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, Inc., and the Georgia Department of Education. Thirty-three trunks filled with educational materials on the Holocaust and genocide are now making their way to middle schools across Georgia. Middle school teachers in all of Georgia’s 16 Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA) districts will use these trunks to teach about World War II, the Holocaust, and genocide. Students participating in this project will be able to express their social conscience, sensitivity, and appreciation for diversity; express respect for all people; and inspire teaching and learning for all humanity. The use of art and history unifies students of various backgrounds and beliefs, connecting them through their experiences learning about the Holocaust. Russel Weiskircher, vice chairman, Georgia Commission on the Holocaust; Viki Staley, acting executive director; Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle; Michael Altman, chairman, Georgia Commission on the Holocaust; Steve Sutton, Holocaust Learning Trunk Project chairman; Joe T. Wood, Sr., treasurer, Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, with the trunk decorated by The Weber School On October 19, a viewing featuring a trunk decorated by art students from The Weber School took place at the “Anne Frank in the World” exhibit, at 5920 Roswell Road, Suite 209, in Sandy Springs. Other trunks were on public display at the exhibit throughout October and November. The trunk exteriors have been decorated by Metro Atlanta students to reflect the theme “What are the Lessons of the Holocaust?” Weber School students created a trunk design mimicking the appearance of a cattle car used by Nazis to transport victims to concentration camps. This trunk, along with one decorated by art students at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Upper School, in Sandy Springs, was presented on October 20 at South Hall Middle School, in Gainesville, for use in the RESA Pioneer District. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, Representative Carl Rodgers, and Senator Butch Miller attended the presentation. Students looking through General Weiskircherʼs albums, which contain photos documenting Dachau during its liberation and aftermath The trunk decorated by the Mount Vernon Presbyterian students includes pictures of and quotes by Anne Frank. Students read quotes on the trunk decorated by Mount Vernon Presbyterian students The Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, the Georgia Public Library Service, and the Georgia Department of Education are working in concert to ensure the Holocaust Learning Trunk Project will foster positive character development and students’ understanding of the importance of good citizenship. A complete list of the schools and organizations involved in decorating the trunks, as well as an interactive map showing where trunks have been presented and where they are being used in classrooms, is available at www.holocaust.georgia.gov. Trunks have already been presented in Leesburg, Statesboro, and Vidalia. The remaining trunks will be presented to RESA districts through December of 2011.
Page 1 and 2: Happy Chanukah Jewish THE Georgian
Page 3 and 4: November-December 2011 THE JEWISH G
Page 17: November-December 2011 THE JEWISH G

Happy Chanukah - The Jewish Georgian

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?