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Page 24 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN September-October 2012 Holocaust Memorial Museum gives thanks to the Atlanta community By Brian Katzowitz In April 2013, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, in Washington, D.C., will celebrate the twenty-year anniversary of its opening. The museum, which has played host to nearly 30 million visitors, serves as a living tribute to the millions of people that were lost, while educating a whole new generation about the atrocities of genocide and ways to confront hatred. While various gatherings and tributes are planned over the next several months to mark the milestone anniversary, a special event will take place in Atlanta—because, even though Washington, D.C., houses the physical structure of the museum, its roots can be traced back to a group of business leaders in Atlanta. The museum will take the opportunity, on November 13, to host a tribute dinner at The Georgia Aquarium, to thank the Atlanta community for its leadership and support in helping conceive, build, and support the museum. The dinner will largely serve to recognize individuals and businesses for their financial donations to the museum over the years. However, an important component of the event will be to share the story of Atlanta’s connection to the museum, which goes far beyond a dollars and cents contri- bution. Prompted by a memo between members of the Carter Administration in 1978, a commission was developed to explore a permanent memorial to the Holocaust victims. Local Atlantans Isaac Goodfriend and Marilyn Shubin served on the commission and quickly brought Atlanta to the forefront of the initiative. Upon learning about the effort to establish such a museum, Charlie Ackerman, the prominent Atlanta real estate developer, offered to co-chair the museum’s capital campaign, in an effort to inspire the community to rise to the challenge to help support the museum and its formation. It wasn’t long before Ackerman utilized his close connections to other local business leaders, like then-CEO of Coca-Cola Roberto Goizueta, Ira Herbert, and Bernie and Billi Marcus, to rally the city’s business and Jewish community to help bring the museum to fruition. In addition to honoring Charlie Ackerman, the Marcus Foundation, and The Coca-Cola Company, the November event, which will feature Rwandan genocide survivor Clemantine Wamariya as a keynote speaker, will also pay tribute to several other families who played a key role during the capital campaign. The dinner’s honorary co-chairs are the current presidential appointee to the United States United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Holocaust Memorial Council (the governing board of the museum), Dr. Deborah E. Lipstadt, of Emory University, and Michael A. Morris, who served on the council from 2005-2011. Charlie Ackerman By Gene Asher Trying to pick the best Jewish athletes I have ever seen is, for me, an impossible job. But trying to pick some of the best, along with the unheralded, is possible, although it will require more than one column. So for a start, here goes, thanks to much help from Alan (Buddy) Rubinson and Norman Greenberg: Al Loeb, Wilbur Stein, Sandy Koufax, Larry Sherry, Harry Kuniansky, Ron Blomberg, Icky Orenstein, Alfred Berman, The Furchgotts (Charles and Maurice), Marvin Rotblatt, Hank Greenberg, Carl Richard (Chubby) Zwerner, Stanley Stark, Melvin and Morris Froug, Bob Silverman, Larry Lafkowitc, Larry Frank, the Golds Visitors tour the museum Roberto Goizueta Billi and Bernie Marcus Who’s the best? (Cary and Howie), Jerome Green, the Dapranos (Bill and Jeanne), Natalie Cohen, Leman (Buzzy) Rosenberg, Paul Muldawer, Alan Smith, Charlie Spielberg, the Edelsteins (Asher & Ben), the Jacobses (Lenny and Harris), Ivan Friedland, Roy Buckman, the Schwartzes of Macon, the Finkelsteins (Bruce and Milt), Joe Fox, Asher Benator, Max Benator, Sandy Seligman, Richard Alterman, Myron Dwoskin, Ben Shapiro, Clyde Rodbell, Leonard Diamond, Leon and Bobby Tuck, Jake Adel, Henry Moses (Hank) Levinson, Joe Wasser, Al Rosen, David Elsenberg, Julie Silverman, Warren Shulman, and the Wenders (Billy and Donald). More to come.
September-October 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 25 Jewish genetic screenings can identify carriers of genetic diseases In the past, parents had no way of knowing if they were carriers of a genetic disease that could threaten the health and life of their children—until it was too late and a child became sick. For Jewish individuals of Central and Eastern European descent, the potential danger is particularly great, since one in five Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier of at least one of 19 different genetic diseases, many of which strike in childhood. All these diseases are devastating, incurable and can lead to early death. Today, with advances in the field of genetics, scientists have identified the gene mutations that cause these 19 inherited diseases, enabling healthy individuals who are screened before pregnancy to know whether their children may be at risk. Making screening widely available and affordable to potential carriers is the mission of the Victor Centers for Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases. This is accomplished through Jewish community education programs and screening programs for healthy individuals at risk for being carriers of a gene mutation for any one of these diseases. Lois B. Victor, a mother who lost two daughters to a Jewish genetic disease, founded the Victor Centers for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases. In 2002, the National Coordinating Office opened at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, part of Einstein Healthcare Network. Through the generosity of Lois Victor, other funders and Einstein Healthcare Network, the Victor Center at Einstein has screened over 2,000 young adults to date. Given this success and the ultimate goal of eradicating the Jewish Genetic Diseases, the second Victor Program opened in 2005 at floating hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and the third center opened at University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine in 2007. Expansion plans for other Victor Centers across the country are in progress. A simple blood test is all that is necessary to screen for the current Jewish genetic disease panel of 19, and all at-risk individuals, including interfaith couples, should be screened, with the Jewish partner being screened first. Couples should be screened prior to each pregnancy, since with advances in testing, the list of Free to Breathe Atlanta helps fight lung cancer On August 18, local residents laced up their sneakers and joined the national movement to defeat lung cancer, at the third annual Free to Breathe Atlanta 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk, at John Howell Park. Proceeds from the event went to the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s life-changing research, education, and awareness programs. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in Georgia and the United States, claiming the lives of more men and women than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. Free to Breathe Atlanta unites lung cancer survivors, families, friends, and advo- cates to form a community of hope, acting as a local catalyst to create change for everyone affected by the disease. This year alone, more than 40 Free to Breathe events in 26 states are bringing together tens of thousands of people to help increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for programs that help patients. “Free to Breathe events connect people whose lives have been touched by lung cancer,” said event organizer Amy Waggoner, of Decatur. “Together, we’re building a movement of people committed to finding a cure for all types of lung cancer within our lifetime.” In support of Free to Breathe Atlanta 2012, 375 community members, teams, and local businesses helped to raise more than $30,700. Those who were unable to participate in Free to Breathe Atlanta can take part in the National Walk Week, November 3-9. During this week, the Partnership is inviting supporters across the country to organize teams to raise funds and show solidarity by walking around the block, around the neighborhood, or around town. For more information, visit www.freetobreathe.org. known genetic diseases for which screening is available is constantly being expanded. Community-wide screenings will be conducted at Torah Day School on September 9, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Congregation B’nai Torah, October 14, 10 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Temple Sinai, October 28, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; Temple Emanuel, January 27, 2013, 10 a.m.-2:00 p.m.; and Or VeShalom on March 3, 2013, 10 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. Maximum out-of-pocket cost to screen for 19 genetic diseases for individuals with insurance is $25. For further information, contact Nancy at 404-561-7478 or e-mail nancy@victorcenters.org. Participants from the Free to Breathe Atlanta 2012
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