Happy Chanukah - The Jewish Georgian

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Page 28 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2011 Breman From page 25 With more than a hundred dedicated volunteers already in place, including 45 experienced and committed tour guides, one might ask why The Breman needs so many more. Director of Visitor Services Judi Ayal answers by showing us her fastfilling schedule of group tours. More than 20,000 people visit the galleries each year. They come from public and private schools in many states, churches and synagogues, universities and theological schools, retirement communities, and numerous other institutions. It is not unusual to receive groups of fifty or more, which require several docents, because visitors must be divided into smaller groups in order to view the galleries effectively and hear the explanations. They come primarily to see the Holocaust gallery, which requires crucial background information for most visitors to understand what they are seeing. For this, The Breman provides speakers who are themselves survivors or children of survivors and thus are able to give gripping personal accounts of what happened in the Holocaust—in Spanish, if necessary, as is required for the soldiers from South America. Polish and French speakers are also available, if needed. Special traveling exhibits attract many visitors. Focused largely on young viewers, the current one, “Torn From Home: My Life As a Refugee,” tells the story of refugee children in today’s world and offers intriguing opportunities for interaction. The Breman created a local component for this exhibition, about Jewish children who came to Georgia as refugees during the Holocaust; it includes a wonderful video exploring the experience of Holocaust survivors Benjamin Hirsch, Henry Birnbrey, and others. The exhibit will be on display at the Breman until January 8, 2012. Benjamin Hirsch Experienced docents cherish nuggets of joy that emerge unexpectedly, especially when leading schoolchildren through the galleries. Longtime docent Shirley Brickman tells of one little boy who showed a determined disregard for what he was about to see. Attempting to befriend him, she learned that his mother had disapproved of the class field trip to the museum, and he was there very much against his will. Shirley put her arm around him and told him to stick close to her, assuring him that he would not have to say anything or do anything that he didn’t want to do. Soon, he was deeply absorbed in what the survivor speaker was saying. When the speaker finished, the child ran up to him and, taking off his T-shirt, asked the speaker to sign it. The man and the boy exchanged big hugs, and, when they parted, the boy said this was a day he would never forget. Students tour The Breman I chanced upon a happy encounter of my own, albeit of a very different nature. Arriving early one evening to shadow a tour as part of my docent training, I learned from Judi Ayal that there was already a tour in progress: High school students from Greater Atlanta Christian School, in Norcross, who came to see the Heritage exhibit about Atlanta Jewish history as preparation for their forthcoming production of Alfred Uhry’s play, Last Night of Ballyhoo. When I mentioned that I had attended Ballyhoo, she insisted upon taking me into the gallery to meet the students and give them a firsthand account of what it was like. “Was that really the way parents introduced their daughters to guys they might marry?” someone asked. That stunned me, but when I thought about it, I had to admit it was probably so, although we certainly weren’t aware of it at the time. Busy as the galleries are, they are only one aspect of the museum. Many institutions near and far request that The Breman come to them by sending a speaker to deliver a lecture about the Holocaust. Last year, volunteers willing to travel filled over 50 such assignments, some of which were in town, but others as far away as Alabama. What you don’t see at a good museum is usually far greater than what you see, certainly more than can be displayed at any one time. Breman Archivist Sandra Berman presides over a state-of-the-art preservation facility, housing documents as well as arti- facts detailing the Jewish experience not only in Atlanta, but throughout Georgia and beyond. Spring Asher, who with Joyce Shlesinger co-chairs The Breman board of directors, tells of coming into the archives one day to find a Harvard professor studying there. The visitor told Spring that she had done the research there for her doctoral dissertation about Hebrew orphans’ homes, because The Breman was the best source in America for information on that subject. This is a major aspect of the museum’s function. It deserves an article of its own, so stay tuned for more information about this, as well as about the Spanish-speaking soldiers. With a treasure trove of Jewish culture spreading understanding to such a wide and diverse audience, The Breman should be on the tongues and support agenda of the entire Jewish community. It deserves our thanks and proud acclaim, expressed materially insofar as pos- Sandra Berman sible. Membership is a Horowitz From page 25 and cultural well being of our community. But we have never looked only inward; we have harkened to our teachings and taken to heart the principles of our traditions, one of which is found in Pirkei Avot, “Do not separate yourself from the community.” One such agency is the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, which has been a beacon and resource to the betterment of the needs of the population, both Jewish and non-Jewish. When the Community Chest, the predecessor to the United Way, was organized in Atlanta, The Federation of Jewish Charities, the predecessor to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, was a charter member of that organization. And that relationship between the Jewish community and the total community has grown even greater with so many of our organizations providing needed social and medical services to all of the Atlanta population, regardless of their social, religious, or ethnic background. The impact of any organization is dependent on its members and its leadership. Without an understanding and the constant guidance of dedicated people, no organization will flourish. Atlanta has been fortunate to have attracted such leadership, and, as Jack Halpern, chair of the search committee, said, “Our committee worked hard to ensure that the future of this organization would be in good hands, and we are confident that Michael will be successful in this role.” Horowitz brings the unique marriage of a successful businessman with a person who volunteered his time, knowledge, and efforts to Jewish communal Spring Asher and Joyce Shlesinger place where almost anyone can begin— check out The Breman’s website, www.thebreman.org, for more information. As a start, why not treat yourself and someone you love to an afternoon at the museum? It will be a Hanukkah gift that keeps on giving. services. He is no stranger to the Federation model, having served as board chair of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and member of its Executive Committee. He founded the Israel and Overseas Committee, chaired the Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit/Jewish Community Center Implementation Committee, served on the board of the Michigan Region of the Anti-Defamation League, and was on the Executive Committee of Detroit Friends of Bar-Illan University. As Horowitz said: “My journey to Atlanta was unusual and unforeseen. Spending my entire life in the Detroit, Michigan, area, and being engaged extensively in Jewish philanthropy as a volunteer for most of my adult life, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to convert a passionate avocation into a special and meaningful vocation as a leader of one of the great Jewish communities in America.” Not only do we get an exciting new leader, but, as an added bonus, we get his wife, Barbara, who is currently the Chair of Women’s Philanthropy for the Detroit Federation and will be joining her husband in Atlanta later this fall. They have a familiarity with the Atlanta area, having had two of their children attend Emory University, one of whom currently lives here. Thanks go out to Eliot Arnovitz, a past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, who undertook the job of interim CEO during the search, and who made sure that the JFGA continued its commitment to the community. Thanks also go out to the staff and volunteers who make things happen.
November-December 2011 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 29 Aaron Cohn From page 25 and duty. Their middle child, Aaron, took those lessons and uses them as the road map to guide his actions every day of his life. Judge Cohn is a proud citizen of Columbus, Georgia. As dear to his heart as Columbus is, I would venture to opine that Athens, Georgia, is equally as important. Cohn was a graduate of the University of Georgia in 1936 and received his law degree from Georgia in 1938. He also was a member and captain of the university tennis team. A great athlete and scholar, Cohn was the embodiment of what the University of Georgia continues to symbolize today. Aaron Cohn enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed at Camp Gordon in Augusta, Georgia. The Army was determined, due to his education, to send Aaron into the JAG corps. But Cohn had other ideas and was insistent about being a member of a fighting unit. An accomplished horseman, Cohn became a member of the 3rd Cavalry. He was at the Battle of the Bulge and was instrumental in the eventual liberation of one of the most diabolical Nazi concentration camps, in Ebensee, Austria. Cohn reached the rank of colonel and, upon returning to the practice of law in Columbus, continued to serve in the Reserves. He was a practicing attorney in Columbus until 1965, when he began his service as a juvenile and family court judge. Realizing that he could not give his optimum attention to the justice system and the Army, Cohn chose to focus his efforts on those he felt needed his assistance most—children. For almost 50 years, Cohn exercised his sense of justice, discipline, The judge and his court—his children: (front) Judge Cohn and Leslie Cohn; (back) Gail Cohn and Jane Kulbersh and compassion. In addition to discipline, he sought to instill pride and self-respect in those who had drifted off course. With all of the awards and accolades bestowed upon Aaron Cohn, one might be surprised by what he finds to be his greatest reward. “I love going out to lunch or to dinner and having someone approach me that I do not necessarily recognize,” he says with a smile. “Then they will say, ‘Hey Judge Cohn, you remember me? I came before you in court, and you told me I needed to straighten up and do right, or you’d have to send me out to the ranch. I can’t thank you enough for pointing me in the right direction.’” Judge Aaron Cohn, surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues, stepped down after 46 years of service to the juvenile justice system and retired as the oldest and longest-presiding juvenile court judge in the United States. A retirement ceremony was held for Judge Cohn on September 27, Edelstein was a lifelong leader BY Gene Asher Asher Leon Edelstein, one of the greatest basketball players old Atlanta Boys’ High School ever had and one of the first Jewish boys to receive a basketball grant-in-aid to attend Georgia Tech, is the subject of The Book of Asher, by Sonia Usatch-Kuhn of Fuguay-Varina, outside Raleigh, North Carolina. Although he grew up in Atlanta, Asher lived most of his life in Raleigh, where he was a star salesman for DeWitt Chemical Company and Zep Manufacturing Company. But Usatch-Kuhn writes that he was more than an athlete and star sales rep— he was the pillar of the Jewish community, a role model for all human beings, and an avid amateur golfer. She writes, “He was the most fun-loving, outrageously funny, over-indulgent grandparent any kid could hope for.” Asher was a vital part of Beth Meyer Synagogue, where he was involved in many facets of congregational life, including serving as president and, for more than twenty years, a tutor at the religious school. Usatch-Kuhn writes, “Asher was a mentor as well as a mensch.” In her book, 67 people share their stories, telling of the influence Asher had on their lives and how much they loved and appreciated him. Asher died in May of 2010. Although he was the first “Dead Eye” Edelstein, Asher had a brother, Ben, also known as “Dead Eye.” On the basketball courts, both Edelsteins would look in one direction and shoot in another direction. They seldom missed. I had the pleasure of seeing both Edelsteins play high school basketball— Asher in the late ‘30s and Ben in the ‘40s. I haven’t seen a more accurate shooter since. The judge and his jury—his grandchildren: (front) Seth Cohn, Judge Cohn, and Leslie Lipson; (back) Al Cohn, David Rosenberg, Howie Rosenberg, and Eliot Rosenberg 2011, at the Columbus Convention Center. Not one for much fanfare, Cohn thanked the crowd for their participation and kind words. When it was over, he quietly announced he had to get back to work. Judge Aaron Cohn can still be found at the Government Center or speaking to young military troops at Fort Benning or addressing police and sheriff’s officers or spending time at the National Infantry Museum. At 95 years young, Cohn still considers his 69-year marriage to Janet Ann Cohn to be one of his greatest accomplishments. He freely admits that nothing he has done over the last 70+ years would have been possible without the love and support of his family. The Honorable Judge Julia Lumpkin, president of the Columbus Bar Association, and Judge Cohn confer on a major legal matter: How does he stay so active? So, as Judge Cohn sits back in his recliner, wearing his grey shirt with the word “ARMY” across the chest, watching his beloved Bulldogs for another football season, I can only sit and watch him in awe. In awe of the man he is, in awe of the sacrifices he’s made, in awe of all his good deeds, in awe of his greatness, in awe of his humility, and in awe of the fact that I am blessed to call him my grandfather. “A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank…but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.”— Forest Witcraft (on the desk of Judge Aaron Cohn)
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