FEDERATION NEWS - The Jewish Georgian

Jewish THE 

Georgian 

Volume 24, Number 5 Atlanta, Georgia JULY-AUGUST 2012 FREE 

Professor Ernst Borinski teaching in the Social Science Lab, Tougaloo 

College, Mississippi, circa 1960 (Photo: courtesy of Mississippi Department 

of Archives and History) See Breman exhibition article on page 6. 

WORLD WAR I, PROTECTORS OF DEMOCRACY, 1917. Morris 

Buchsbaum, 4th from left; Irving Pollack, 6th from left; and Morris 

Perlman, 9th from left. See Savannahʼs JEA article on page 7. 

Rebecca Einstein wears a distinctly 

feminine tallit designed by 

her mother February 4, 1984, in 

Fountain Valley, California (Photo 

courtesy of Rabbi Rebecca 

Einstein Schorr) See MJCCA 

News article on page 8. 

What’s Inside 

Riding to Jerusalem 

Israel looks a bit different when 

viewed from a train window. 

By Lynne and Tom Keating 

Page 37 

A Life of Teaching 

Ahavath Achim Synagogue celebrates 

Barbara Kleber and her fifty years 

with the AA Religious School. 

By Celia Gilner 

Page 35 

The Heart of the Matter 

A generous gift from the Marcus 

Foundation will help establish the 

nation’s first heart valve reference 

center at Piedmont Hospital. 

Page 16 

A Family Tradition 

A modest ring has become a treasured 

heirloom for generations of young 

women. 

By Carolyn Gold 

Page 28 

Music to Our Ears 

For their visionary support of 

Columbus State University, Henry 

and Joyce Schwob have received honorary 

doctorates. 

Page 17 

Picture This 

Susan K. Friedland’s photography is 

garnering accolades. 

Page 30

Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN July-August 2012 

The importance of holidays 

Too often today, we see holidays as a 

time when we do not have to work but for 

which, in many cases, we receive compensation. 

We do recognize the events, but 

sadly, with the passage of time and change 

in conditions, the historical symbolism and 

reminders for which they were established 

tend to be blurred and obfuscated. The 

occasion is recognized, when it is really the 

historical happenings, both tangible and 

intangible, associated with the event that is 

being celebrated. 

For those of us who are lucky enough 

to be citizens of the United States, July is 

the month in which we rejoice in the establishment 

of this great nation. It was on July 

4 that the Second Continental Congress 

adopted our Declaration of Independence, 

the result of which has so enriched our lives 

and has had one of the major positive 

impacts on the world in which we live. 

On this day, I always make it a point to 

proudly display my American flag in front 

of my home. It is my spiritual “annual physical” 

by which I am reminded of the vital 

signs of this precious citizenship – a gift I 

received when my parents immigrated to 

this country. 

I never see this flag fluttering in wind 

without remembering how far this country 

THE 

Jewish Georgian 

The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It is 

written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. 

Publisher Marvin Botnick 

Co-Publisher Sam Appel 

Editor Marvin Botnick 

Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume 

Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold 

Consulting Editor Gene Asher 

Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber 

Copy Editor Ray Tapley 

Assistant Copy Editor Arnold Friedman 

Makeup Editor Terri Christian 

Production Coordinator Terri Christian 

Designer David Gaudio 

Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz 

Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz 

Columnist Gene Asher, Jonathan Barach, 

Janice Rothschild Blumberg, 

Marvin Botnick, David Geffen, 

Carolyn Gold, Jonathan Goldstein, 

R.M. Grossblatt, Marice Katz, 

Balfoura Friend Levine, 

Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, 

Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, 

Susan Robinson, Stuart Rockoff, 

Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, 

Rabbi Reuven Stein, Cecile Waronker 

Special Assignments Lyons Joel 

Advertising Anne Bender 

Ruby Grossblatt 

Editorial Advisory Board Members 

Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell 

Jane Axelrod Albert Maslia William Rothschild 

Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin 

Asher Benator Paul Muldawer Doug Teper 

8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 100 

Atlanta, GA 30350 

(404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 

jewishga@bellsouth.net 

www.jewishgeorgian.com 

The Jewish Georgian ©2012 

BY 

Marvin 

Botnick 

has come in truly being “the home of the 

brave and the land of the free.” Each family 

and group has its own history leading up 

to the present, and we Jews are no exception. 

The first recorded Jew in Colonial 

America was a Bohemian named David 

Gans, a metallurgist, who was recruited for 

his skills by Sir Walter Raleigh to be part of 

a 1564 expedition to the Virginia Territory. 

It is somewhat ironic that Raleigh selected 

him, since the Jews had been expelled from 

England in 1290 and were not allowed to 

return until 1656. 

The first recorded group of Jewish settlers 

to come to America consisted of 23 

people fleeing from their homes in Recife, 

Brazil. That land had been controlled by the 

Dutch, but in 1654 it had been reconquered 

by the Portuguese. The Jewish residents 

knew that the Portuguese were active participants 

in the Inquisition, a Roman 

Catholic tribunal for discovery and punishment 

of those who did not adhere to the 

teachings and beliefs of its religion. They 

also knew of the severe punishment meted 

out by this procedure including torture and 

death. Understandably, the Jewish population 

fled to avoid such treatment, and one 

such group that sailed away ended up in 

New Amsterdam, now known as New York, 

which also was a Dutch colony. 

While torture and death did not await 

them in New Amsterdam, Peter Stuyvesant, 

the colony’s governor, wanted to expel 

them. Since the colony was founded and 

controlled by the Dutch West India 

Company, a publically owned Dutch company, 

he wrote seeking permission to expel 

them. In his letter dated September 22, 

1654, he stated, “The Jews who have 

arrived would nearly all like to remain 

here, but learning that they (with their customary 

usury and deceitful trading with 

Christians) were very repugnant to the inferior 

magistrates [sheriff, mayors, and 

aldermen who made up the Inferior Court 

of Justification] . . . that the deceitful race – 

such hateful enemies and blasphemers of 

the name of Christ – be not allowed to further 

infect and trouble this new colony to 

the detraction of your worships and the dissatisfaction 

of your worships’ most affectionate 

subjects.” 

While permission was not granted to 

expel them, this was the reception that the 

first group of Jewish settlers received in this 

country. This bigotry against the Jews was 

widespread throughout Europe, and history 

recounts story after story of the expulsion 

from many countries. In our own state of 

Georgia, in 1732 a charter was granted by 

England’s King George establishing the 

colony and empowering a Board of 

Trustees to govern the territory. The following 

year, the trustees voted to ban Jews 

from the settlement, but James Oglethorpe, 

the founder of the colony, a trustee, and the 

governing authority, did not enforce the ruling. 

But by the early to middle 1700s, the 

ugliness of this bigotry began a metamorphic 

transformation into a more open and 

understanding society. The sense of the 

greatness of this country as it pertains to 

acceptance of diverse membership is 

reflected in the following excerpt from a 

letter written in May 1789, by George 

Washington in response to a letter he had 

received from the Hebrew Congregation of 

Savannah, Georgia: 

“I rejoice that a spirit of liberality and 

philanthropy is much more prevalent than it 

formerly was among the enlightened 

nations of the earth, and that your brethren 

will benefit thereby in proportion as it shall 

become still more extensive; happily the 

people of the United States have in many 

instances exhibited examples worthy of imitation, 

the salutary influence of which will 

doubtless extend much farther if gratefully 

enjoying those blessings of peace which 

(under the favor of heaven) have been 

attained by fortitude in war, they shall conduct 

themselves with reverence to the Deity 

and charity toward their fellow- creatures.” 

The change did not happen overnight, 

but the seed was planted and, over the 

years, it has bloomed and given off the 

sweet aroma of justice, freedom, and opportunity. 

It has germinated into the beautiful 

flower, and, as it has flourished, so have we. 

In this fertile soil of the United States, our 

Jewish population, just as the total population, 

has been offered opportunities never 

before available. 

In Janice Rothschild Blumberg’s 

recently released book Prophet in a Time of 

Priests, she includes the following report 

carried in the (London) Jewish Times of 

June 17, 1898, written by Rabbi Isaac .M. 

Wise, the well-known figure in the Jewish 

community of the U.S.: 

“We . . . can appreciate the privilege 

which the citizenship of the country of our 

adoption confers upon us more than any 

other class of citizens. Coming as we do 

from a land where the holiest rights of 

mankind . . . are trampled upon, we feel 

most keenly the liberty which we enjoy 

under the glorious stars and stripes.” 

As we have benefited, so have we striven 

to participate and contribute to the well 

being of our country and fellow citizens. 

Citizenship has not always been ours, and 

we rejoice in and have worked to justify the 

privileges that this status has bestowed on 

us. Much has changed since Peter 

Stuyvesant’s letter. Profit in a Time of 

Priests also includes the following excerpt 

from the report that appeared in the Atlanta 

Daily News in 1875 on the laying of the cornerstone 

for The Temple in Atlanta, a little 

over two hundred years after Stuyvesant’s 

letter: 

“…nothing is so indicative of a city’s 

prosperity as to see an influx of Jews who 

come with the intention of living with you, 

and especially as they buy property and 

build among you, because they are a thrifty 

and progressive people who never fail to 

build up a town they settle in; and again 

because they make good citizens, pay their 

obligations promptly, never refuse to pay 

their taxes and are law-abiding.” 

As Jews, we have never asked for more 

– nor have we been satisfied to receive less 

– than others. For centuries, that was denied 

to us, but the birth of the United States 

changed that. Happy birthday to us, and 

THANK YOU.

July-August 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 

What’s 

HAPPENING 

CAMP SUNSHINE. One of the causes 

closest to the heart of our late dear friend 

Steve Weinstein was Camp Sunshine, for 

which he worked his heart out for some 30 

years. 

It is a summer camp for children with 

cancer that gives them the chance to participate 

in the everyday experiences of growing 

up, such as swimming, horseback riding, 

pottery, and making friends. 

Stevie’s two lovely daughters, Julie and 

Alyson, are also big supporters of Camp 

Sunshine. And as it celebrated its 30th 

Anniversary this summer, Julie participated 

in the Keencheefoonee Road Race, named 

after the road 

where the 

camp is located. 

Julie and 

the camp’s 

staff raised 

s o m e 

$106,000, 

enough to send 

over 200 kids 

to the camp’s 

next session. 

Julie Weinstein Cohen 

Y o u 

too can donate 

to the Camp at 

www.mycampsunshine.kintera.org/roadrace2012, 

or send a check to Camp 

Sunshine, 1850 Clairmont Road, Decatur, 

Georgia 30033-3405. Call 404-325-7979. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELINOR AND 

ADELINE. Elinor Breman celebrated her 

90th with her loving family at the home of 

her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and 

Dulcy Rosenberg. As Elinor describes it, “It 

was a glorious night. Tables were set around 

the terrace and pool with candles, flowers, 

delicious food, speeches, and a glow of 

love—a night to be remembered by all.” 

Then she celebrated again at the 

Board Meeting of The William Breman 

Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, 

which she and her late husband have 

worked hard to make one of our nation’s 

foremost historical institutions. 

But Elinor is a spring chicken, 

compared to her neighbor at Park Place, 

Adeline Gilson, who marked her 95th with 

dozens of friends and her granddaughter 

Marni, at her favorite nightclub, Scenario 

Restaurant and Lounge, at 4279 Roswell 

Road, in the old Chopstix space. We love 

the club’s piano bar, the food, and especially 

the free limousine service Friday and 

Saturday nights. 

Both of these beloved grande 

dames still look decades younger than they 

really are, and they are wonderful role models 

for all of us. 

BY 

Reg 

Regenstein 

Elinor Breman and Jerry Rosenberg 

Adeline Gilson and granddaughter 

Marni 

JOSH HARRIS’ COMEDY CLASS 

GRADUATION. Comic Josh Harris’ eightweek 

stand-up comedy course just held 

another graduation ceremony, with a performance 

at Jerry Farber’s Side Door, and 

this time there was a special student in the 

Josh Harris with his dad, Art 

mix—Josh’s dad, Art, the renowned Atlanta 

Journal-Constitution/ Washington 

Post/CNN journalist, who, it turns out, is as 

good at being funny as he is at reporting. 

As Art notes on his website, 

ArtHarris.com, he “…has gone from 

Nasirya to Neverland…from 13 years with 

CNN as a two-time Emmy Award-winning 

investigative correspondent and an embedded 

reporter in Iraq, to covering Hollywood 

scoops, scandals, and politics for 

Entertainment Tonight....” Now he’ll have 

to add, “...to killing at stand-up comedy 

clubs.” 

Josh’s class gets bigger and better 

every time. As 

Jerry says of 

Josh’s class: 

“If comedy 

classes were 

football teams, 

Josh’s graduates 

would be 

Superbowl 

champions.” 

To register 

for what 

Josh calls 

“Funny U— 

Atlanta’s best 

stand-up comedy school,” go to youract.tv, 

or call 404-499-9996. 

SALLY KELLERMAN TO PERFORM AT 

JERRY’S CLUB. Coming to Atlanta is legendary 

actress, singer, and M*A*S*H star 

Sally Kellerman, who was nominated for an 

Oscar for her 

performance 

as Major 

Margaret 

“Hot Lips” 

Houllihan. 

Ah, we 

remember it 

well. 

S h e 

will perform 

her acclaimed 

M*A*S*Hʼs 

Sally Kellerman 

cabaret show 

for the first 

time in 

Atlanta, July 

27-29, at Jerry Farber’s Side Door, 3652 

Roswell Road, in Buckhead, adjacent to the 

Landmark Diner. 

Each performance will benefit a different 

local non-profit: Fix Georgia Pets, 

Friday, July 27, 8:30 p.m.; Kids’ Chance of 

Georgia and TurningPoint Women’s 

Healthcare, Saturday, July 28, 8:00 p.m. 

and 10:30 p.m., respectively; and Atlanta 

Community Food Bank, Sunday, July 29, 

7:30 p.m. 

Also on July 29, at 10:15 a.m., 

Kellerman will be at Atlanta’s Landmark 

Midtown Art Theater, for a special screening 

of M*A*S*H*, followed by a discussion 

and then a VIP brunch at Apres Diem 

restaurant, just around the corner. Some of 

the proceeds from the screening and brunch 

will benefit Friends of Film, in the 

Department of Film and Media Studies at 

Emory University. 

Tickets for the events can be obtained 

at www.xorbia.com or by calling 770-738- 

3000. Only 100 tickets are available per 

show. A once-in-a lifetime chance to see in 

person one of our country’s most iconic performers. 

ALEX FRANKEL HEADING TO THE 

BIG APPLE. We are really impressed with 

Alex Frankel’s integrity. We were driving 

along Tuxedo Road, saw his garage sale 

sign, went in, and bought one of his old 

shirts and offered him a buck for a wallet, 

which he accepted. But when his beautiful 

blonde yet observant mom, Marlene, pointed 

out it was Gucci, Alex insisted a deal is 

a deal. We’ll see how well that strong ethical 

standard works in tough NYC, where 

Alex is heading to work for Merrill Lynch. 

Trying to think if we know a nice 

Jewish girl in NYC, we asked Alex for his 

card, but he did not have one on him. But 

when we went out to our mailbox a couple 

of hours later, there was an envelope from 

him with his card and a nice note. With that 

kind of diligence, we know Alex is destined 

for great things. 

The son of Marlene and Sam Frankel, 

Alex recently completed a Birthright trip to 

Israel. He graduated from the Lovett school 

in 2008, after 14 great years there, winning 

two state golf championships and one individual 

golf state title, and being a member 

of the Lovett golf team that won the first 

state golf title in the history of the school. 

Then it was on to University of 

Michigan on a golf scholarship, playing on 

the varsity team his freshman and sophomore 

years. He graduated from the Ross 

School of Business, at Michigan, in 2012, 

with a concentration in finance, landing a 

job offer on the equity derivatives desk at 

Merrill Lynch, in New York, where he has 

worked the last two summers. (We think 

“derivatives” must have something to do 

with the stock market but were too embarrassed 

to ask.) 

Now we know whom to call for advice 

about where to invest the money when we 

get our long anticipated raise from the JG. 

Alex Frankel and his mom, Marlene 

HAPPY 70TH, JOJO. If you lived in 

Atlanta in the 1950s and ‘60s, you may 

recall that Emilie Posner was well known 

for throwing some of the best parties in 

town. 

Although she has slowed down a bit on 

the party front, she recently reenacted one 

of her legendary events by throwing her 

urologist husband, Dr. Joseph Haas, a ‘50sstyle 

birthday sock hop at Goldberg’s on 

See HAPPENING, page 4


Happening 

From page 3 

Roswell Road. She claims that was her only 

choice, since Knotty Pines was not available. 

Unfortunately, says Emilie, she had to 

leave out some of the 288 cousins on the H. 

Mendel side of the family. Goldberg’s 

couldn’t accommodate quite that many. 

One of her favorite cousins, Howard 

Mendel, a wonderful professional photographer 

(and available for hire), took great 

photographs during the evening. 

Goldberg’s did its usual great job, and 

co-owner Howard Aaron went so far as to 

fly in miniature hot dogs all the way from 

New York City, where apparently they 

know how to do them just right. 

Howard also provided lots of comfort 

foods from the ‘50s. There were deviled 

eggs, Lipton onion soup dip in the world’s 

largest pumpernickel loaf, pimento cheese 

spread, Cheetos, and even Goldberg’s 

homemade potato chips, along with several 

delicious vegetarian dishes for folks like 

me. 

And guests lined up to get their pictures 

taken with the life-size replicas of 

Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and 

Buddy Holly. 

Rock Around the Clock DJ Brian 

Durio had guests dancing the jitterbug, and 

vintage autos were parked at the curb. JoJo 

(we still call him that, since we have been 

buddies for 67 years) brought his ‘87 Alfa 

Romeo, and retired Coca-Cola marketing 

exec Marc Hamburger drove one of his 

favorite old cars, a 1964 Mercedes convertible. 

Lots of women wore poodle skirts. Joe 

wore an Elvis shirt and a Davy Crockett hat, 

and Emilie wore a great ‘50s wig and saddle 

oxfords. The couple both wore their 

actual dog tags. Perhaps the most authentic 

‘50s outfit was worn by David Herckis— 

blue jeans and a white T-shirt. I wore my 

favorite seersucker suit, with an original 

ketchup stain from 1956. 

After all these decades, Joe is still the 

same nice, sweet, humble person he has 

always been, despite having been a tennis 

and wrestling champ, and the smartest person 

we knew growing up—he even won the 

Joe Haas (left), Emilie Posner Haas, 

and Reg Regenstein (photos: 

Howard Mendel) 

Bible study award at Westminster his senior 

year—not bad for a nice Jewish boy! 

Joe Haas with Elvis 

EMILY MOSES ROCKS. Congratulations 

to the lovely and talented Emily Moses, 

who just graduated magna cum laude from 

Miami University of Ohio, where she 

received the outstanding student award in 

the School of Fine Arts. Among her many 

activities, she regularly conducted holiday 

services at the local Hillel chapter. She will 

continue her studies in fine arts at The 

University of 

Colorado in 

Boulder, concentrating 

on 

opera, at 

which the diva 

excels, having 

a beautiful 

voice. 

Emily 

is the daughter 

of Graham (a 

f o r m e r 

Emily Moses Atlantan) and Sam Massell 

Ellen Moses, 

who now live in St. Louis. For this info, we 

are indebted to Emily’s proud grandmom, 

Rita Moses, our aunt, who is involved in 

many activities in the community but 

always has time to kvell over her kids and 

grandkids. 

GEN. SCHWARTZ, COL. JACOBS REC- 

OGNIZED. Two of our great military 

heroes were recognized at the Ritz-Carlton 

Buckhead recently, where the Children of 

Fallen Patriots Foundation held its second 

annual Atlanta event. The evening featured 

the presentation of the Patriot Award to 

General Norton A. Schwartz, chief of staff 

of the U.S. Air Force, with the ceremony 

hosted by Medal of Honor recipient and 

CFPF Board Member Colonel Jack Jacobs. 

The foundation provides free college 

education for any child who has lost a parent 

during military combat or training. 

General Schwartz is the first Jewish 

chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force, and 

Jacobs is the only Jewish soldier still alive 

to receive the nation’s highest military decoration, 

the Medal of Honor. We honor and 

thank these distinguished military leaders 

for their service to our country and for 

being proud role models to our community. 

FATHERS OF THE YEAR. Craig 

Kaufman, president, Kaufman Realty, and 

Randy Kessler, partner, KS Family Law, 

were honored at the InterContinental 

Hotel’s recent American Diabetes Father of 

the Year Awards Dinner, which recognizes 

“fathers” who portray and epitomize family, 

citizenship, charity, civility, and responsibility 

in their everyday lives. 

Fathers-of-the-year Craig Kaufman 

(left) and Randy Kessler 

SAM MASSELL TO BE HONORED 

AGAIN. “Buckhead Mayor” Sam Massell 

has won yet another much deserved honor 

for his leadership 

and 

vision. On 

October 4, the 

president of 

the Buckhead 

Coalition and 

former Atlanta 

mayor is to be 

the Council 

for Quality 

Growth’s 

2012 Four 

P i l l a r 

Honoree at a 

celebration at The Georgia World Congress 

Center. 

For more info on tickets and sponsorship 

opportunities, contact 

JH@Councilforqualitygrowth.org. 

ZBT ALUM JIM SUMMERS. James P. 

(Jim) Summers does a great job organizing 

alumni activities 

for ZBT 

fraters in our 

area and helping 

them stay 

in touch. 

Thirty or so 

brothers meet 

regularly for 

lunch (and 

occasional 

dinners), 

bonding, net- 

Jim Summers 

working, 

schmoozing, 

complaining, and kibitzing. 

Under the leadership of Jim (Marshall 

University ‘70), James Weinberg (Tulane 

University ‘83), and Faron Lewitt 

(University of Alabama ‘97), the Zeta Beta 

Tau Atlanta Area Alumni Association 

(ZBTAAAA) has developed into one of the 

frat’s most active chapters. 

Jim says, “Brothers attending the 

ZBTAAAA lunch gatherings have spanned 

generations and regions: Sam Massell 

(University of Georgia ‘48), Mort Weiss 

(University of Southern California ‘48), 

Hank Klausman (University of Illinois ‘62), 

Bruce Weinstein (University of Alabama 

‘70), Howard Fleisig (Georgia Tech ‘72), 

Mark Kaplan (University of South Florida 

‘72), Keith Bailey (University of Georgia 

‘79), Chuck Pollack (The George 

Washington University ‘84), Doug Bodner 

(Georgia Tech ‘87), Steven Wiebe (Seton 

Hall University ‘09), Adam Diamond 

(University of Alabama ‘10), and Joshua 

Styles (Georgia Tech ‘11). 

Two Atlanta-area alumni brothers 

received special recognition at the 2011 

ZBT International Convention, at the 

InterContinental Hotel in Buckhead—Steve 

Selig (University of Georgia ‘65) was 

named Man of the Year, which is presented 

to a brother who exemplifies the teachings 

of ZBT and the commitment to better the 

communities in which we live, and Jay 

Davis (University of Georgia ‘70) received 

the Heritage Award, which recognizes a 

member of the Jewish community who 

especially distinguishes himself or herself 

in a communal, philanthropic, artistic, or 

professional endeavor. 

To get involved, e-mail Jim at jsummers@zbtnational.org. 

HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR GEORGE 

DYNIN. Former University of Georgia 

teacher George Dynin, of Athens, is mentioned 

in the new comprehensive publication 

of the United States Holocaust 

Memorial Museum, the Encyclopedia of 

Camps and Ghettos—1933-45, Volume II, 

Ghettos in German-Occupied Eastern 

Europe. 

The entry on Horodyszcze, in Eastern 

Poland, relates how, in 1942, George, “a 

Jewish teenager living outside the ghetto 

and pretending to be a Pole, learned from 

his mother, who worked as a translator in 

the mayor’s office,” about the Germans’ 

plans to kill the residents of the local ghetto, 

with the help of the local police. “He 

twice passed the information to the Jews, 

but very few managed to escape...in time.” 

What is not mentioned is that George 

could have been killed each time he passed 

on the information to his people. He is now 

looking for a publisher for his book, Aryan 

Papers, which has a foreword by renowned 

British historian and Churchill biographer 

Sir Martin Gilbert, and is filled with other 

amazing stories of heroism, terror, cruelty, 

close calls, mass murder, and miraculous 

escapes. We hope some publisher will snap 

the book up and give it the promotion it 

deserves. 

TWO NEW HOLOCAUST BOOKS. 

British writer Colin Rushton has two great 

newly released books on the Holocaust, 

Beyond the Gates of Hell and Spectator in 

Hell: A British Soldier’s Story of 

Imprisonment in Auschwitz, (Pelican 

Publishing). 

Beyond the Gates of Hell tells the 

heartbreaking story of twelve-year-old


Mayer Herszkowicz who, in 1940, was separated 

from his family and began a fiveyear, 

1,500-mile “marathon of miseries.” 

He was transported by cattle truck and 

forced marches from his home in Sieradz, 

Poland, to nine labor camps, surviving 

eighteen months in Auschwitz and fortytwo 

inspections by the notorious Dr. Joseph 

Mengele. 

Spectator in Hell tells of the death 

camps from the point of view of a British 

POW, Arthur Dodd, a Royal Army Service 

Corps driver captured in 1942, who spent 

fourteen months interned in a facility at 

Auschwitz. Rushton documents life in the 

camp, where the British prisoners were 

treated quite differently from the other 

inmates but nevertheless experienced 

everyday horrors of their own. Dodd 

repeatedly risked his life to help Jewish 

prisoners, sabotage industrial facilities, and 

help plan a mass escape, and his story 

makes a fascinating read. 

SUMMER SCHOOL FOR SENIORS. 

Class is now in session at PALS’ six weeks 

of Monday Lunch ‘N Learn courses, 

through July 30. PALS features great classes 

on such subjects as World War I, thriving 

in retirement, Mah Jongg, estate planning, 

films, bridge, gardening, chess, new and 

local authors, and other fascinating and 

useful topics. 

Perimeter Adult Learning and Services 

(PALS), Inc., is for folks 50 and older in 

Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Norcross, and 

neighboring areas of Metropolitan Atlanta. 

The summer classes are being held at 

Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy 

Springs, GA 30327. 

PALS says that “no senior is excluded 

from classes due to inability to pay...and 

tuition is FREE for anyone over 90.” And 

even though the summer session is well 

underway, you can sign up to attend a single 

class. 

To register and for more info, call 770- 

698-0801, or visit www.palsonline.org. 

ENTERTAINING CAKEMAKER 

SYLVIA WEINSTOCK. Photographer 

Denis Reggie, bridal gown designer Anne 

Barge, Paces Papers founder Jackie Garson 

Howard, florist Robert Long, and caterer 

Dennis Dean hosted a gathering at Denis 

Reggie’s home for famous cakemaker 

Sylvia Weinstock while she was in Atlanta. 

Sylvia is widely known as “the 

Leonardo da Vinci of cakes” and the 

“Queen of Wedding Cakes,” since she 

makes cakes for the ultra rich and 

famous—the most lavish costing $50,000 

or more. Helping entertain Sylvia were 

such notables as events planner Barbara 

Roos and Brian Ettelman, director of catering 

at InterContinental Buckhead. 

Julie Bauman (from left), Sylvia 

Weinstock, Martha Jo Katz, and Lila 

Hertz 

AMAZING STORY OF HOLOCAUST 

SURVIVAL. There are rave reviews for the 

brand new musical, By Wheel and By Wing, 

at the Act3 Playhouse, the delightful community 

theater right in the heart of Sandy 

Springs. 

An amazing, incredible Holocaust survival 

story about the family of Helen and 

Stan Kasten, it was produced as a result of 

a chance encounter on an airplane. 

It was first put in writing by Helen’s 

maternal grandmother, Bubbe Esther 

Parnes, when she arrived in America after 

the war. It recounts how Esther, her husband, 

Samuel, and their seven children fled 

their native Polish town of Skalat, in 1941, 

spending five years fleeing and hiding from 

the Germans. 

Miraculously, all of the nine Parneses 

were able to stay together and survive, 

eventually coming to the United States, 

where they were joyously reunited with 

Samuel’s brother and Esther’s brother and 

two sisters. 

A few years ago, on a flight to Atlanta, 

Helen’s aunt, Jeanie Wechsler, found herself 

sitting next to Patti Mactis, the cofounder 

and artistic director of Act 3. Jeanie 

told the story to Patti, who was so taken 

with the incredible tale of survival, she 

helped arrange for Act3 to feature it as a 

musical. 

For info and tickets, check 

www.act3productions.org. The Playhouse 

is located at 6285-R Roswell Road, in 

Sandy Springs Plaza.


Breman exhibition looks at Jewish refugee scholars at black colleges 

In 1935, an article in The Afro- 

American stated, “We rejoice that our newspapers 

condemn German Nazi atrocities. 

It’s a good sign that they may yet discover 

the Nazism which is outside their own 

doors.” 

The relationship between two disenfranchised 

groups—Jewish professors who 

fled Nazi Germany and African-American 

students — and the unique bond that grew 

between them is the subject of the powerful 

exhibition “Beyond Swastika and Jim 

Crow: Jewish Refugee Scholars at Black 

Colleges.” 

This exhibition is now at The Breman 

Museum, after a successful run in New 

York City at the Museum of Jewish 

Heritage—A Living Memorial to the 

Holocaust and a national tour that most 

recently brought the exhibition to the 

Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education 

Center, in Skokie, Illinois. “Beyond 

Swastika and Jim Crow” will be on view in 

Atlanta through December 20. 

“Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow” tells 

the story of Jewish academics from 

Germany and Austria who were dismissed 

from their teaching positions in the 1930s. 

After fleeing to America, some found positions 

at historically black colleges and universities 

in the South. The exhibition 

explores what it meant to the students to 

have these new staff members as part of 

their community, how the students were 

affected by their presence, and what life 

was like for white, European Jews teaching 

at these institutions. The exhibition looks at 

the empathy between two minority groups 

with a history of persecution, some of 

whom came together in search of freedom 

and opportunity and shared the early years 

of struggle in the Civil Rights Movement. 

Aaron Berger, executive director of 

The Breman Museum, describes the show 

as “an incredibly important exhibition, particularly 

for Atlanta.... There are eight historically 

black colleges and universities 

(HBCUs) in Georgia and four here in 

Atlanta. The Breman Museum is proud to 

be the organization able to bring this fascinating 

story to Atlanta.” 

Berger also highlights the similarities 

between immigrating Jews and blacks in the 

Jim Crow South. “HBCUs were founded to 

provide a college education to African 

Americans who were denied access to public 

and private institutions. They helped elevate 

a division of second-class people to 

positions of equality in our nation. 

Immigrating Jews, fleeing Nazi-controlled 

Europe, could identify with the discrimination 

felt by the black community in the 

United States.” 

In early 1933, before the Nazis started 

dismissing Jews from their posts, more than 

12 percent of faculty members at German 

universities were Jewish. While the top academics, 

like Albert Einstein, were in 

demand at prestigious universities, less well 

known professors had a much more difficult 

time finding work in the United States. The 

country was still in the midst of the 

Depression, and unemployment, xenophobia, 

and anti-Semitism were prevalent. As 

anti-Jewish actions in Germany escalated, 

several organizations, including the 

Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced 

Foreign Scholars, worked to obtain positions 

for the exiled scholars. Of the several 

hundred refugee scholars who came to this 

country, more than 50 of them ended up at 

historically black colleges. 

————— 

Notable professors in the exhibition 

include prominent sociologist Ernst 

Borinski (Tougaloo College), political scientist 

John Herz (Howard University), and 

art education pioneer Viktor Lowenfeld 

(Hampton Institute). Notable students 

include artist John Biggers (Hampton 

Institute); Dr. Joyce Ladner (Tougaloo 

College), the first female president of 

Howard University; and Dr. Joycelyn 

Elders (Philander Smith College), the first 

black surgeon general of the United States. 

The refugee scholars who found work 

at black colleges were often more comfortable 

than their peers at white universities, 

who faced on-the-job prejudice. Some professors, 

such as Ernst Borinski and Ernst 

Manasse, felt a deep connection to black 

students and spent the rest of their careers at 

the historically black colleges. Professor 

Borinski was even buried on the campus of 

Tougaloo. His tombstone reads, “Ernst 

Borinski, Inspiring Teacher.” Dr. Ladner 

said of Professor Borinski (whom the students 

affectionately called Bobo) that he 

had “an affinity with blacks, because they 

experienced a similar persecution.” 

Many other professors developed deep 

ties to their schools and friendships with 

their black colleagues and students that 

endure today. “It was a great good luck of 

mine to find my first teaching job at a black 

university, where I felt I had so much in 

common with teachers and students,” said 

Professor John Herz. He felt “at home very 

quickly,” at Howard University, where he 

attended lectures and concerts and spent 

many of his social hours. 

————— 

The environment of mutual respect 

motivated some refugee professors to 

become involved in the Civil Rights 

Movement, officially or unofficially. 

Professor Borinski was identified as a 

“race agitator” for promoting integration 

both on and off campus. He wanted to be a 

“facilitator,” to “bridge communities,” and 

contribute to the Civil Rights Movement by 

bringing black and white people in a room 

together to share ideas. He created the 

Social Science Forums, which brought 

together the top thinkers of the time and the 

community for lectures and discussions. He 

would have his Tougaloo students arrive 

early and scatter throughout the room, so 

the white participants would have to sit 

among the black students. In many cases, it 

was the first time they had a substantive 

conversation or dined with someone of 

another ethnicity. The Mississippi branch of 

the ACLU gives out an annual award in 

Professor Borinski’s name. 

Professor Lore Rasmussen, an associate 

professor of elementary education at 

Talladega College, was arrested, along with 

her husband, Donald, for having lunch at a 

café with a black colleague. At first, the 

police thought she was a German spy, until 

she explained that she was a Jew who had 

escaped from Nazi Germany. “You should 

be glad to be in a place where there’s 

democracy and freedom,” they told her. 

“The experience of injustice I felt in 

Germany from Hitler coming into power I 

felt was being repeated,” she said. Professor 

Ernst Manasse, at North Central College for 

Negroes, in North Carolina, faced similar 

opposition when he would entertain black 

colleagues and friends. His white neighbors 

complained and threatened to shoot his 

guests should they return. 

In addition to getting involved in campus 

life and the political landscape, the professors, 

who came from formal and rigorous 

academic environments, did their best to 

instill high standards of learning. The 

HBCUs, mostly founded between the late 

1860s and the 1880s, were primarily private 

liberal arts institutions, funded by philanthropists 

and missionary groups. A few others 

were public schools that offered both the 

liberal arts and vocational training in agriculture, 

trades, and service. 

“The German Jewish professors had a 

tremendous impact on young blacks in the 

South,” said Jim McWilliams, a student at 

Talladega College, who is now a retired 

attorney. “They exposed us to new music, 

art, and academic programs.” Joycelyn 

Elders was also grateful for her education 

and understood the importance of it. 

“Grandma Minnie was constantly at me,” 

said Dr. Elders. “‘You’ve got to get an education.’ 

That was her refrain, like a drumbeat. 

‘You want to pick cotton and live in all 

these mosquitoes the rest of your life?’” 

Many of the professors encouraged the 

students to learn more about their own history 

and culture, like Professor Rasmussen, 

who took her students to a field to pick cotton. 

She often used unconventional and 

innovative teaching methods to give her 

students concrete experiences that brought 

them closer to their backgrounds. 

Likewise, Professor Lowenfeld encouraged 

his students, many of whom had never 

been exposed to art before, to explore their 

heritage and their struggles through art. The 

renowned artist John Biggers, who was 

studying to be a plumber when he met 

Professor Lowenfeld, said, “I fell in love 

with art. Art became the way we could 

speak.” Several other students went on to 

become top-notch educators themselves. 

————— 

The exhibition is inspired by Gabrielle 

Simon Edgcomb’s landmark book From 

Swastika to Jim Crow: Refugee Scholars at 

Black Colleges (Krieger Publishing 

Company, 1993) and the subsequent PBS 

documentary by Joel Sucher and Steven 

Fischler, of Pacific Street Films. The exhibition 

includes artifacts and photographs, as 

well as two new films by Sucher and 

Fischler that feature the professors and the 

students. 

The exhibition begins with the dismissal 

of the refugee scholars from German 

universities and continues through their 

search for positions in the United States. It 

then highlights the backgrounds of the students 

and follows the professors and students 

coming together to teach, learn, and 

Civil Rights pin belonging to Joyce 

Ladner (Collection of Dr. Joyce A. 

Ladner) 

Donald Cunnigenʼs Alpha Phi Alpha 

fraternity sweater from Tougaloo 

College, circa 1970–1974. 

(Collection of Dr. Donald Cunnigen) 

Professor Ernst Borinskiʼs menorah 

(Collection of Frances and Lee 

Coker) 

See BREMAN, page 13


Savannah’s JEA is wrapping up its centennial celebration 

By Jane Guthman Kahn 

Savannah’s Jewish Educational 

Alliance is celebrating its 100th anniversary. 

Centennial year activities will conclude 

Sunday, September 9, with “Bites + 

Bubbly,” a gala evening of food, festivities, 

and fundraising. The event is designed to 

“reflect on the 100 years of JEA service, 

while celebrating the future of 100 more to 

come.” 

The JEA, which through the years has 

resisted a name change to “Jewish 

Community Center,” is, in fact, Savannah’s 

Jewish community center. For years, it has 

also been known by its nickname, the 

Alliance. It was chartered in 1912, with the 

idea of creating one institution to meet the 

needs of Jews of all ages. The Council of 

Jewish Women had proposed a home for a 

permanent kindergarten, just one of several 

identified needs. 

In the early 1900s, this coastal Georgia 

town, one of the oldest Jewish communities 

in the United States, experienced an influx 

of Jewish immigrants from Europe, who 

needed help adjusting to life in America. 

That became JEA’s focus—to create an 

environment in which the middle-class 

German Jews, who arrived earlier, could 

help assimilate the new (and poor) Eastern 

European Jews, who were streaming into 

the city. The JEA would provide them with 

baths (today, some old-timers remember 

going to the old JEA for showers) and teach 

them language, sports, and manners. 

The goal was to produce Americans 

who would not embarrass the established 

Jewish residents and would be able to blend 

into the general community. 

The idea had been brewing for a while. 

Dr. George Solomon, long-time and 

beloved rabbi of Savannah’s Congregation 

Mickve Israel, had advocated for years for a 

Jewish center as a spiritual force for the 

unification of the community. Some talked 

of an institution to educate immigrants; others 

felt the need for a common meeting 

place. 

Sigo Meyers offered a gift of $25,000 

to create a memorial to his brother, former 

Savannah Mayor Herman Myers. The gift 

was to be matched by the Jewish community. 

In 1914, two years after its organization, 

the JEA began operations, in a leased threestory 

house in downtown Savannah. The 

year before, it chartered Boy Scout Troop 2. 

In January 1916, the organization 

moved into a handsome new three-story 

structure on Barnard Street, in downtown 

Savannah. (That building, which took a 

mere six months to build, is now a dormitory 

for the Savannah College of Art and 

Design.) With the opening of the new JEA 

home, Dr. Solomon proclaimed, “The community 

had builded [sic] far better and 

wiser than it knew.” (Rabbi Solomon was to 

serve Congregation Mickve Israel and the 

Savannah community for 42 years.) 

But, with the onset of World War I and 

many members joining the armed forces, 

the JEA fell into debt and was forced to 

close, leasing the building as a school. A 

skeleton group kept it alive. The Hebrah 

Gemiluth Hessed (HGH), a benevolent 

society chartered in 1889, donated “a substantial 

sum” to initiate a fundraising campaign, 

and in 1920, the JEA reopened. 

In a 1930 celebration, Sigo Myers said, 

“...the institution has more than realized the 

hopes I entertained at its founding. To the 

young people...it has become a home and 

JEA BOY SCOUT TROOP NO. 2, MARCH 15, 1914. Front row (from left): 

Abraham “Chief” Harris (nee Horovitz), Joseph Apolinski, Selig Richman, 

LeRoy Fischer, Louis “Bum” Lasky (drummer), Emanuel Kronstadt, 

Benjamin Chernoff, Leon “Lukie” Tenner, and Joseph Greenberg. Center 

row: Perry Stone, Morris Rubin, Joseph Weiss, Benjamin Litman (bugler), 

Joseph Litman (scoutmaster), Ruben Siegel, Jacob Stone, Jacob or Ruben 

Greenberg, and Rubin Tenenbaum. Back row (holding flags): Nathan 

Marcus, Morris Mohre, Louis Bradley, and Isidore Apolinski. (Donated to the 

Savannah Jewish Archives by Albert Ullman) 

an inspiration. To the older men...a rallying 

place...our non-Jewish neighbors have 

come to look upon...the representative 

Jewish organization of Savannah.” 

During the 1920s, Jewish life revolved 

around the JEA, and many clubs and organizations 

that started then remain today. 

During the Great Depression, involvement 

increased, and, in 1939, the board voted to 

sell the Barnard Street building and expand 

elsewhere. But World War II intervened, 

and the building plans were put on hold. 

The JEA became a USO center, welcoming 

members of the armed forces from around 

the area. In 1946, the JEA opened the first 

Jewish day camp in Savannah. 

In 1950, the JEA site committee identified 

an 11 1/2 acre tract, eight blocks south 

of what were then Savannah’s city limits, 

for its new location. Funds raised from 

1943 through 1954 were less than a half 

million dollars, but the institution moved, in 

September 1955, to the building it now 

occupies. JEA Executive Director Adam 

Solender commented recently on the 

“incredible commitment JEA leaders made 

to the community and each other,” in undertaking 

the construction of a new facility in 

the mid-20th century. 

During the 1990s, the building underwent 

major renovations, and an addition 

was built. Today, the 80,000-square-foot 

complex houses a fitness center, gyms, racquetball 

courts, an outdoor swimming pool, 

an indoor lap pool, and athletic fields. As in 

the early days, pick-up basketball is a 

lunchtime activity, but the health and wellness 

program today also includes adult 

recreation, youth sports, water aerobics, 

yoga, personal training, and fitness classes. 

The summer camps continue to be popular, 

as well as seasonal holiday camps. Weekly 

senior lunches, with programming, are well 

attended—the JEA provides transportation 

as needed. 

The JEA continues to offer concerts 

and speakers on a variety of subjects and 

also sponsors weekly games (Scrabble, 

bridge, Mah Jongg) an annual film festival, 

and monthly exhibitions featuring local 

artists. As it always has, the JEA adapts its 

programming to the needs of the community. 

An agency of the United Way (which 

See SAVANNAH’S JEA, page 13 

JEA BASKETBALL, 

1921-22. Front row 

(from left): Louis 

“Libe” Gittelsohn, 

Isadore “Izzy” 

Itzkovitz, Fred 

Rosolio (captain), 

Mortimer “Bud” 

Fischer, and Harry 

Marcus (also known 

as Dick Leonard). 

Back row: Frank 

Buchsbaum (cheerleader), 

Louis “Bum” 

Lasky, Emanuel 

Kandel, Jacob “Jack” 

Saul (nee 

Savilowsky), and 

Jerome Eisenberg. 

JEA SUMMER CAMP, AUGUST 1947. Identified: Barbara (Mirsky) Seligman, 

Murray Freedman, Isser Gottlieb, Lillian (Heyman) Lowe, Arnold Tillinger, 

Brenda (Hirsch) Schimmel, Gilbert Kulick, Lynn (Schlosser) Levine, Beth 

(Odess) Fagin Childress, Sammy Feinberg, and Frances (Solomon) 

Gretenstein.


MJCCA NEWS 

Exhibition celebrates 90 years of the bat mitzvah 

BAT MITZVAH COMES OF AGE. The 

Marcus Jewish Community Center of 

Atlanta (MJCCA) is presenting a unique 

exhibition in the Katz Family Mainstreet 

Gallery, “Bat Mitzvah Comes of Age,” celebrating 

the bat mitzvah’s ceremony’s 90th 

anniversary. This traveling exhibition tells 

the remarkable story of how, in less than a 

century, individual girls, their parents, and 

their rabbis challenged and changed communal 

values and practice to institute this 

now widely practiced Jewish ritual. The 

exhibition runs through September 19. 

To mark the 90th anniversary of Judith 

Kaplan’s bat mitzvah, the National Museum 

of American Jewish History, in 

Philadelphia, and Moving Traditions have 

organized “Bat Mitzvah Comes of Age.” 

The exhibition includes oral history recordings 

of bat mitzvah stories from around the 

country and across Jewish movements, a 

timeline of milestones, and an interactive 

component in which visitors can share their 

coming-of-age stories and photos. 

Weaving together stories of the evolution 

of American Jewish life with 20th century 

feminism, the exhibition includes narratives 

and artifacts from a range of women, 

from the little known to the prominent, 

including Supreme Court Justice Elena 

Kagan, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, 

and activist Ruth Messinger, to illustrate the 

substantial impact of bat mitzvah on Jewish 

life across the religious spectrum and on the 

girls (now women) themselves. 

The exhibition is based on more than 

150 responses to Moving Traditions’ “Bat 

Mitzvah Firsts” survey. The selected personal 

stories range across the American- 

Jewish spectrum, from secular to ultra- 

Orthodox and from small town to urban 

center. “In conducting research for the exhibition, 

we heard from women who were 

willing to raise their voices and challenge 

the gender expectations of their time; these 

‘bat mitzvah pioneers’ moved girls and 

women from the margins to the center of 

Jewish life,” said Deborah Meyer, Moving 

Traditions founder and executive director. 

“That bat mitzvah—once a radical innovation—is 

now a nearly universal tradition 

shows how Judaism continues to evolve in 

each generation.” 

Related programming includes “A 

Taste of Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing!” 

August 9, 6:00-7:30 p.m., which will introduce 

a monthly group for teen girls, and an 

open house for the Lisa F. Brill Institute for 

Jewish Learning, September 11, 7:00 p.m., 

at which women who marked their bat mitzvahs 

at a synagogue service can share their 

experiences. 

The Katz Family Mainstreet Gallery is 

located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill 

Road, Dunwoody. Gallery hours are 

Monday-Thursday, 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.; 

Friday, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 

a.m.-6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 8:00 a.m.-8:00 

p.m. Admission is free. For information, 

contact Kim Goodfriend, MJCCA Arts & 

Culture director, 678-812-4071 or 

kim.goodfriend@atlantajcc.org. 

Judith Ginsberg and her mother, 

Adele Wall Ginsberg, open gifts, 

September 19, 1959, in Larchmont, 

New York. (Photo courtesy of Judith 

Ginsberg) 

HAPPY, HEALTHY BABIES. Ina May 

Gaskin, famed midwife and co-founder of 

The Farm, in Tennessee, author of Spiritual 

Midwifery, winner of the 2011 Right 

Livelihood Award, and creator of “the 

Gaskin Maneuver” (a life-saving childbirth 

technique), was a presenter at “Essentials 

for Pregnancy, Birth & Parenting: An 

Educational Benefit,” a Bellies to Babies 

Foundation event, July 22, at the Atlanta 

Perimeter Holiday Inn. The event provided 

connections for Atlanta’s parents and education 

on the essentials of pregnancy, birth, 

and parenting. Event proceeds benefiting 

Midwife International (midwifeinternational.org). 

Also presenting was Mayim Bialik, 

Ph.D., author of Beyond the Sling, nationally 

acclaimed attachment parent, spokeswoman 

for the Holistic Mom’s Network, 

and actress on “The Big Bang Theory” and 

“Blossom.” 

Educational topics included prenatal 

heath, childbirth options, preventing the 

preventable C-section, maternal issues 

internationally, a variety of parenting 

philosophies, and more. Exhibitors represented 

a wide range of experts, including 

physicians, midwives, chiropractors, 

doulas, cloth diaper specialists, lactation 

consultants, and goods and services, including 

car seats and strollers, baby clothes, carriers, 

and organic baby food. 

In partnership with the MJCCA, North 

Fulton Hospital, and Atlanta Midwifery, the 

event was hosted and organized by The 

Bellies to Babies Foundation, a Metro- 

Atlanta based non-profit that connects families 

to health care providers, fosters peer 

support, and provides education about 

healthy parenting. 

OLYMPIC DAY. On Friday, June 29, the 

MJCCA joined more than 700 nationwide 

events in celebrating the birth of the modern 

Olympic Games. The MJCCA Day Camps 

Olympic Day featured a special guest, 

United States Olympian Marty McCormick 

(1992 Kayak), and included a range of 

activities and sports. 

The day began with the carrying of 

an Olympic torch, a flag relay, and an opening 

ceremony. Campers participated in 

activities with McCormick and had the 

chance to compete, participate, and show 

their spirit as members of “National Teams” 

representing Great Britain, the United 

States, Israel, and Canada. The afternoon 

included a field day, with track & field 

United States Olympian Marty 

McCormick and Ryan Pollard, 

MJCCA sports director, lead 

campers in the MJCCA Day Camps 

Olympic Day. 

events, soccer matches, and a gymnastics 

event. The day ended with closing remarks 

from Doug Brown. 

THE GUTTENBERG BIBLE. On July 12, 

the MJCCA welcomed Steve Guttenberg, 

who starred in such films as Diner, The 

Boys From Brazil, Cocoon, Police 

Academy, Short Circuit, and Three Men and 

a Baby, for a special Page from the Book 

Festival author event. Guttenberg presented 

his new book, The Guttenberg Bible, a 

hilarious, insightful memoir of the highs 

and lows of Hollywood and a man determined 

to make it there. The event was held 

in an “In Conversation” format, with Conn 

Jackson, host and executive producer of 

“The Conn Jackson Show.” 

In The Guttenberg Bible, Steve 

Guttenberg tells a Horatio Alger story of 

how he became the star of some of the ‘80s 

most successful blockbusters. He spent his 

early days sneaking onto the Paramount lot 

(pretending 

to be 

Michael 

Eisner’s 

son) and 

meeting 

m o r e 

celebrities 

and casting 

agents than 

most aspiring 

actors 

ever would. 

Even before 

the hit 

P o l i c e 

Academy (which his agent said would be a 

flop), he had already worked with everyone 

from Sir Laurence Olivier to Mickey 

Rourke. His self-awareness and sense of 

humor about the ups and downs of fame 

made this one of the most sympathetic and 

unguarded Hollywood stories to date. 

FROM THE TWEENS TO THE TEENS. 

“Rosh Hodesh: It’s a Girl Thing!” is a new 

program to the MJCCA that draws on 

Jewish teachings to help girls in grades 6 

and 7, of all affiliations, navigate the complexities 

of adolescent life. Parents and 

their daughters are invited to “A Taste of 

Rosh Hodesh,” on Thursday, August 9, 

6:00-7:30 p.m., at the MJCCA, where they 

will get the chance to ask questions and 

experience the program firsthand. The girls 

group will then meet one Sunday a month, 

September 9, 2012-May 12, 2013, 5:00- 

6:30 p.m., at Zaban Park. 

A contemporary celebration of the 

ancient New Moon holiday, Rosh Hodesh 

builds girls’ self-esteem, leadership skills, 

and Jewish identity. The program works on 

an intimate model, bringing together small 

groups of girls for monthly Rosh Hodesh 

celebrations. Each Rosh Hodesh gathering 

will focus on specific “life lessons” that 

draw on core Jewish values and practices to 

explore such issues as body image, friendship, 

family, assertiveness, and social 

action. Activities include arts and crafts, 

See MJCCA News, page 15

July-August 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 9

Page 10 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN July-August 2012




AJC Atlanta’s ACCESS group meets with Kwanza Hall 

ACCESS Co-Chair Harris Konter (from left), outgoing ACCESS Co-Chair Rebecca Oppenheimer, Kwanza Hall, 

incoming ACCESS co-Chair Joel Feldman, Lauren Rosenberg, and Rabbi Lawrence Rosenthal 

ACCESS, the young professionals 

division of the Atlanta Regional Office of 

American Jewish Committee, held its 

open Steering Committee meeting, its 

final event for the 2011-2012 program 

year, on May 21. The highlight of the 

meeting was the keynote presentation by 

District 2 Atlanta City Councilmember 

Kwanza Hall. 

Councilmember Hall discussed his 

role as an international ambassador for 

metro Atlanta and the many nations he has 

visited in his official capacity. Since AJC’s 

mission is to foster a more pluralistic and 

democratic world, attendees were especially 

interested to hear about his visits to 

China, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, and 

most recently, Israel, where he participated 

in a week-long seminar sponsored by 

Project Interchange, an educational institution 

of AJC. 

Councilmember Hall described the 

construction of mega-cities in China 

meant to house millions of citizens who 

Savannah’s JEA 

From page 7 

JEA’s executive director helped start), as 

well as a Savannah Jewish Federation beneficiary, 

the JEA sponsors communitywide 

programs throughout the year. 

Traditionally, the JEA is a springboard for 

leadership in the broader Savannah community. 

Solender says the JEA’s primary purpose 

today is “to strengthen Jewish life…. 

Respecting and supporting diverse Jewish 

opinions, beliefs, and practices is essential 

for a strong and enduring Savannah Jewish 

community.” The JEA, he believes, is “a 

connector to Jewish life; a place where 

individuals and families can encounter 

Jewish ideas, principles, practices, and values; 

where they encounter Israel and 

explore the ideal of Jewish peoplehood in 

Kwanza Hall addressing the 

ACCESS Steering Committee 

meeting (Photos: Itai D. Tsur) 

are moving into urban environments; having 

to cancel a meeting in the Philippines 

with professional boxer Manny Pacquiáo, 

due to State Department concerns about Al 

Qaeda threats; and Israel’s remarkable 

success as a high-tech hub, despite significant 

day-to-day hardships. 

their lives....” 

To honor its centennial, the JEA is 

publishing a 100-year tribute journal, featuring 

a timeline and history of the JEA, as 

well as pictures. 

Anna Berwitz, JEA director of development 

and special events, said guests at 

the “Bites + Bubbly” gala will sample 

exquisite appetizers provided by the JEA’s 

premier chefs and caterers and enjoy a 

gourmet buffet dinner, live and silent auctions, 

and live music. Tickets are $100 per 

person. For more information, contact her 

at anna@savj.org or 912-355-8111, ext 

211. 

Councilmember Hall proposed that 

metro Atlanta learn from these other countries 

and adopt best practices in order to 

grow and thrive as an international city. 

One of the specific challenges facing 

Atlanta is the need to improve transportation 

infrastructure to accommodate 

growth. Councilmember Hall encouraged 

participants to learn about the 

Transportation Investment Act (TIA), 

which would authorize a one-percent sales 

tax, and vote as they see fit on July 31. “It 

is always rewarding to exchange ideas 

with a group of emerging leaders who 

share my devotion to improving Atlanta’s 

standing on the world stage,” said 

Councilmember Hall. “I have always had 

great respect for American Jewish 

Committee and its contributions to 

improving relations between Atlanta’s 

diverse communities and appreciate the 

opportunity to work with its next generation.” 

Breman 

From page 6 

share a community on campus. The exhibition 

includes their mutual participation in 

the Civil Rights Movement and concludes 

with a look at the impact of the contributions 

of the professors and the students to 

American life. 

Exhibition highlights include: 

• receipts for the $28 in fines Professors 

Lore and Donald Rasmussen paid, after 

being arrested for having lunch with a black 

Civil Rights colleague at a black café, in 

Birmingham. Eating in a public place with 

someone of the other race without a sevenfoot 

high separation wall was considered 

“incitement to riot.” When Professor Lore 

Rasmussen was free to go, she was not 

allowed to ride home alone with her black 

student, so she stayed in jail with her husband, 

until a black dentist posted bail for 

them. 

• paintings by Professor Viktor Lowenfeld 

and his student John Biggers, showing their 

influence on each other’s work. Biggers 

went on to get his Ph.D. from Professor 

Lowenfeld, at Pennsylvania State 

University, and then chaired the art department 

at Texas State University (later Texas 

Southern University), where he stayed until 

his retirement, in 1983. His work is in the 

permanent collections of the Museum of 

Modern Art and the Smithsonian American 

Art Museum, among other institutions. 

• a menorah and a spice box brought from 

Germany by Professor George Iggers. He 

taught at Philander Smith College in Little 

Rock, Arkansas. Professor Iggers and his 

wife, Wilma, were involved in the Civil 

Rights Movement and spearheaded a challenge 

to the Little Rock Board of Education 

in the 1950s. Professor Iggers was one of 

the first white members of the black fraternity 

Phi Beta Sigma. 

For more information, visit thebreman.org, 

or call 678-222-3700. 

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Harmonious love 

BY 

Shirley Kahn 

Friedman 

Music was a given in our household...an 

inheritance, a duty...a pleasure, 

a heartache...no more an option than 

breathing. This was wrapped around us 

like a gift from Daddy (Mama furnished 

the ribbons), who, somewhere between a 

small Lithuanian village and a small 

Georgia town, decided that he could take 

a seat before a piano or an old pump 

organ and conjure up a tune of his 

choice—anything from “America” to 

Brahms’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 5” 

(one of his favorites; you could stir up a 

big impact with that one). All by ear, very 

recognizable, very “homespun.” 

As time and life progressed, with 

music lessons for six children, piano for 

all to begin with was followed by violin 

for a child prodigy son and clarinet for 

the second son, who continued to 

progress and enjoy his instrument at the 

University of Georgia—in the marching 

band, in the symphony, and as leader of 

t h e 

dance 

band. 

Of the 

entire 

group, I 

was the 

least 

talented. 

My 

sisters 

always 

won top 

state 

honors 

in solo 

piano, 

but the 

only top 

honor I 

w o n 

was as 

part of a 

“ t w o 

piano-eight hands” ensemble. It took six 

other hands to make me score. In college, 

my sisters and I studied voice. It was my 

major, and I was so thankful for the piano 

lessons that made it possible for me to 

read and learn the music. 

It was many years later before we 

began to realize that not every household 

was like ours, with music sailing around 

every corner...some fine, some in the 

practicing stage and not so fine. It was 

before the days of TV, and we were so 

accustomed to the racket, that it seemed 

as natural as crickets or birds. After supper 

or Sunday dinner, Daddy would put 

Daddy and Mama around our piano 

his hands across his eyes and pray silently. 

After a sometimes rather lengthy session, 

he would hop up and make his way 

to the piano to offer, encouraged or not, 

after-meal selections. His mood of the 

moment or the general condition of the 

world influenced his choices. If he felt 

complacent, it might be a Chopin waltz, 

with a thoroughly familiar right hand and 

a left hand group of chords that seemed 

to have wandered in from someplace. But 

if the mood was peppy, he would roll out 

as good a “Beer Barrel Polka” as a pro 

with left and right hands in accord. A 

right foot stomping was part of this rendition; 

and as the years went on, the hardwood 

floor under the piano pedal showed 

a well-worn reminder of the exuberance. 

To us, it was always a respected trademark. 

When I married and moved to 

Sandersville, we were fortunate enough 

to find a small house to rent and even 

more fortunate to have the perfect neighbors...a 

family right next door and another 

just across the street. It was truly the 

beginning of life-long friendships. When 

Daddy and Mama paid their first visit, I 

put compatible ingredients together and 

it turned out to be a meal, but I was glad 

to have Mama as a co-chef. I introduced 

my parents to the neighbors, so it wasn’t 

t o o 

inconceivable 

t h a t 

w h e n 

Daddy 

heard 

piano 

music 

coming 

f r o m 

n e x t 

door, it 

was like 

a magnet 

pulling 

him, and 

h e 

decided 

to pay a 

visit. My 

neighbor, 

who 

was a 

very fine pianist, welcomed him, and she 

even played what he requested. 

A few days after my folks went back 

home, I heard a rather noisy vehicle in 

my driveway. I heard a horn and went out 

to see a truck and a friend from South 

Georgia! It was Bob Elliott, who owned 

the musical instruments business way 

down there, 200 miles away. We hugged, 

and he said, “Shirley, here’s your new 

piano your daddy bought for you. He said 

he didn’t want you to have to go out to 

practice. He said to tell you that a house 

is not a home without a piano.”


MJCCA News 

From page 8 

creative writing, role-playing, and small 

group discussion. 

The program is $225 for non-members 

and $180 for members. For information, 

visit atlantajcc.org/teens, or call Amy 

Helman-Darley, Rosh Hodesh lead facilitator, 

at 678-812-3978. 

“Rosh Hodesh: Itʼs a Girl Thing!” is a 

new MJCCA program for adolescent 

girls. 

BERNIE MARCUS HONORED AT 

HARRY MAZIAR CLASSIC. On June 4, 

the MJCCA presented the Harry Maziar 

Classic, an annual golf tournament, which 

took place this year at Hawks Ridge Golf 

Club, an 18-hole private course designed by 

Bob Cupp. Each year, the tournament honors 

an outstanding member of the community. 

This year’s tournament honored 

Bernie Marcus, chairman of the board of 

The Marcus Foundation, in appreciation of 

his dedication and leadership in shaping our 

vibrant Atlanta Jewish community. 

HMC proceeds help the MJCCA 

enhance vital programs, such as preschools, 

sports leagues, summer camps, Alzheimer’s 

daycare services, programming for people 

with developmental disabilities, and much 

more. 

This year, a record amount was raised 

through generous sponsors and donations, 

to support MJCCA programs; 120 golfers 

participated. 

Tournament winners were Jeff 

Greenbaum (putting contest); Brandon 

Downs and Caryl Paller (longest drive); 

Stephen McDonnold, Matthew Prater, Dick 

Sullivan, and Ron Whited (first place team, 

net score); Jeff Greenbaum, Tre 

Hiltzheimer, and Austin Ort (second place, 

net score); Larry Isaacson, Gavin Meyers, 

and Bradley Young (third place, net score); 

and David Abes, Jeff Edelman, George 

Nozick, and Paul Nozick (fourth place, net 

score). 

The 2012 HMC was chaired by Ron 

Brill, former executive VP and chief administrative 

officer of The Home Depot, Inc., 

and Howard Halpern, chairman of 

Halperns’ Purveyors of Steak & Seafood. 

The Host Committee included Lisa Brill, 

Michael Coles, Michael Dinerman, Jim 

Grien, Jack Halpern, Douglas Kuniansky, 

Lynne M. Halpern, Mike Leven, Mark 

Lichtenstein, Harry Maziar, Bob Paller, and 

Judy Zaban. 

Marcus foursome: Billi and Bernie 

Marcus (standing) and Nancy and 

Peter Brown (seated) (Photos: Heidi 

Morton) 

Harry Maziar, past MJCCA president 

and former co-chair of the MJCCA 

Governance Board 

First-place team: PGA TOUR 

Superstore Associates (from left) 

Stephen McDonnold, chief information 

officer; Dick Sullivan, president 

and CEO; Ron Whited, VP 

Operations; and Matthew Prater, 

controller; all are also former Home 

Depot Associates. 

GRANTS FOR GARDENS. The MJCCA’s 

award-winning East Cobb preschool, The 

Sunshine School, recently received two 

grants for its Organic Learning Gardens, 

created to help preschoolers identify, understand, 

and demonstrate the life cycles of 

plants and animals. The school received 

$2,000, from Whole Kids Foundation (a 

Whole Foods Market foundation), and 

$1,000, from Keep Cobb Beautiful. They 

will enhance the activities that teach chil- 

dren how to take care of the environment, 

while recognizing that people create food 

from natural resources. The Sunshine 

School is located at Temple Kol Emeth, in 

Marietta. 

The Sunshine School garden beds were 

installed by Farmer D Organics. There is 

one large bed on the toddler playground and 

four smaller beds on the preschool playground. 

This spring, the students’ science 

lessons included such topics as planting 

seeds, learning about the parts of a plant, 

what a plant needs to grow, and healthy 

foods. The school purchased a rain barrel to 

collect water for the crops. 

The garden education is continuing the 

summer, as children from the Sunshine 

School’s summer camp, Camp Billi 

Marcus, have science once a week with garden-themed 

lessons, along with hands-on 

experience weeding, watering, harvesting, 

and tasting the crops. Future plans include 

purchasing a compost bin and teaching the 

children about composting/recycling. 

See how our radishes grew at The 

Sunshine School 

J-SERVE. More than 500 Atlanta Jewish 

teens, in grades 6-12, recently joined with 

thousands of teens around the world, as 

they participated in J-Serve, a national day 

of community service and improvement 

projects during the month of April. Teens 

across the metropolitan Atlanta community 

worked together towards the Jewish ideal of 

“Tikun Olam” (repairing the world). 

J-Serve is the annual community service 

program for Jewish youth throughout 

the world. Since 2005, J-Serve has been 

part of Youth Service America’s Global 

Youth Service Initiative. Participating in 

these community service projects allows 

teens to see firsthand how their actions have 

a direct impact on our city’s future. 

This year’s projects included the 

Daffodil Dash at Georgia Perimeter 

College; working on the AIDS Memorial 

Quilt; preparing brunch at Ronald 

McDonald House; volunteering at The 

Gateway Center, which helps individuals 

move out of homelessness; volunteering 

with Chastain Park Conservancy; preparing 

and packing food at Project Open Hand; 

and volunteering at Morgan Falls Recycling 

Center. 

In an effort to invite all Jewish teens 

and tweens to participate in Atlanta J-Serve 

2012, the MJCCA partnered with Am 

Yisrael Chai, Amy’s Holiday Party, BBYO, 

BBYO Connect, Club 678, Congregation 

Or Hadash, JCC Maccabi Team Atlanta, 

Jewish Student Union, MJCCA’s Teen 

Community Service, Temple Emanu-El, 

The Davis Academy, Israeli Scouts, Young 

Israel of Toco Hills, The Weber School, and 

Congregation Etz Chaim. 

After the service projects were completed, 

participants from all of the various 

sites came together at the MJCCA’s Zaban 

Park for a closing ceremony to reflect on 

the day’s physical and spiritual components 

and how they tied together. Community 

service certificates were given to conclude 

the meaningful day. 

J-Serve 2009 is a collaboration of 

PANIM: The Institute for Jewish 

Leadership and Values and the Jewish 

Coalition for Service, with additional support 

from partner agencies and foundations. 

J-Serve teens help beautify the park 

and learn about conservation efforts


Marcus Foundation provides $20 million for nation’s first heart valve reference center 

The Piedmont Heart Institute has 

received a $20 million grant from the 

Marcus Foundation to establish the nation’s 

first heart valve reference center at 

Piedmont Hospital. As a regional reference 

center, the Marcus Heart Valve Center will 

be a one-stop shop for patients with heart 

valve problems, as well as for physicians 

who want to learn the latest advancements 

in treatment for these medical conditions 

and increase access to care. 

“Atlanta is the perfect place for this 

unique center, and Piedmont Heart Institute 

is the organization that will make it happen,” 

said philanthropist Bernie Marcus, 

who, as a driving force behind The Home 

Depot, Georgia Aquarium, and numerous 

other endeavors, is one of Atlanta’s biggest 

ambassadors. “We have an international airport, 

a great hospitality industry, and excellent 

medical expertise. My goal is to 

enhance the latter and provide our experts 

with new tools and capabilities needed to 

help more people across the country.” 

The Marcus Foundation, dedicated to 

Jewish causes, children, medical research, 

free enterprise, and the community, has 

funded many enhancements to healthcare in 

Atlanta, including neurosciences at Grady 

Health System and The Marcus Autism 

Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. 

“We take this charge very seriously,” 

said Charles Brown, M.D., interventional 

cardiologist and chief medical officer at 

Piedmont Heart Institute. “It energizes us 

more than ever when we earn the trust of 

philanthropists willing to lend their names 

Bernie Marcus 

to heart care at Piedmont. It started with the 

late J.B. Fuqua, after whom the Fuqua Heart 

Center of Atlanta at Piedmont Hospital was 

named, and it grows with Bernie Marcus’ 

trust that we will build a valve center worthy 

of the Marcus name.” 

The Marcus Heart Valve Center will 

provide a seamless experience for patients 

and package services within a time frame 

that is most convenient for them and their 

families. A patient navigator will walk them 

through treatment, while a multidisciplinary 

team of cardiovascular specialists will create 

individualized treatment plans for these 

patients, who often have multiple medical 

conditions. Lower mortality rates are one of 

the many benefits of this patient-centered, 

integrated-care model. 

The center also is expected to draw 

more renowned surgeons and other specialists 

to Piedmont in Atlanta. As a regional 

reference center, it will be the nation’s first 

comprehensive valve center for care, training, 

and research, regardless of the valve in 

which the damage occurs—aortic, mitral, 

pulmonary, or tricuspid—or whether it is 

congenital or acquired. 

Piedmont Heart Institute is developing 

an academic relationship with one of the 

nation’s most experienced valve experts and 

teaching centers, to create the education 

component for practicing physicians and 

patients and established best practices in 

care. 

“This center fills a void in the community 

and region by offering a coordinated 

and integrated care model,” said Sidney 

Kirschner, president and CEO of Piedmont 

Heart Institute. “Most importantly, it 

improves the quality of life for patients and 

their families. Once created, the rising 

demand for services and the Piedmont 

Heart business model ensures long-term 

sustainability of the center.” 

According to the American Heart 

Association, mitral valve regurgitation is 

the most common type of heart valve insufficiency 

in the United States. Because 

prevalence increases with age, the growing 

population of people over the age of 65 will 

result in an increased demand in an area that 

is already under-treated, according to wellrespected 

cardiology journals. 

“The skill and experience of the surgeon 

are probably the most important determinants 

of whether repair or replacement 

surgery is performed,” Dr. Brown said. 

“Repair is the treatment of choice when surgical 

skill and expertise are available. 

Appropriate treatment results in better outcomes 

and quality of life for patients. 

“A program like this one will provide 

to the people of Atlanta, Georgia, and the 

Assisting the Master Gardener 

By Susan Robinson 

“I’m babysitting,” my husband 

informed me. 

I assumed he was talking about 

spending some time with one of the 

grandchildren, but sometimes nothing is 

what it seems. 

My husband was actually tending 

our neighbor’s garden while she was on 

vacation. The “babies” that he was caring 

for were tomatoes, cucumbers, and 

cabbages. My husband’s responsibilities 

included watering, some weeding, and 

chasing away the occasional rabbit. In 

return, he was to keep anything—and 

everything—that ripened during that 

time. Such a great deal! 

I expected a huge bounty, but it was 

still early in the season, so all we got that 

first week was one itty-bitty tomato. No 

matter. My husband did his duty with 

loyalty and love. We kept that tomato on 

the counter, admiring its color and shape 

as if it were a unique piece of art, worthy 

of being on display at The High 

Museum. 

Last summer, we had our own minigarden. 

Cucumbers grew in abundance, 

some barely visible among the leafy 

foliage. We had started the plants from 

seeds, in small pots in our living room. 

Within a few days, the little seedlings 

popped through the soil, and it was time 

to transplant them outdoors. 

Each morning, I stopped to greet the 

little cucumber plants. I would 

announce, “Look how tall you’ve 

become!” When I returned home at the 

end of the day, I was startled to see how 

much the plants had grown in so short a 

time. Perhaps that little bit of earlymorning 

attention had given them a 

morale boost, just enough to get them 

going and growing. 

Our sweet-potato plant, on the other 

Southeast the opportunity to have the most 

appropriate surgical procedures applied in 

heart valve repair, versus replacement, 

thereby taking advantage of not being on 

blood thinners,” Dr. Brown added. 

In addition to Piedmont Hospital being 

named “Best in Atlanta for Overall Cardiac 

Care, Cardiac Surgery, and Coronary 

Intervention” by HealthGrades, a leading 

healthcare ratings company, Piedmont 

Heart Institute physicians are leaders in 

many areas of heart care. Among many 

accomplishments, Piedmont heart specialists: 

• provide patients with access to the 

Medtronic CoreValve clinical trial, which 

involves implanting valves through a 

catheter versus open-heart surgery, which is 

often not an option for older patients. 

Piedmont Hospital is one of 40 hospitals in 

the United States participating in the 

CoreValve trial. 

• lead the nation in the treatment of chronic 

total occlusions of the coronary arteries. 

They host renowned cardiologists from 

around the world for onsite training in this 

technique on a regular basis. 

• offer the most experienced and successful 

adult ECMO program in Atlanta. ECMO 

(extracorporial membrane oxygenation) is a 

lifesaving procedure that gives failing 

hearts and lungs time to heal without harming 

critical internal organs. 

• give people with heart failure a better 

quality of life through the latest heart assist 

devices and heart transplants. 

• are part of one of the leading centers in the 

country for atrial fibrillation treatment—in 

particular, catheter based ablation therapies. 

This common arrhythmia frequently 

accompanies heart valve disease. 

hand, needed very little attention. We 

simply plunked a raw sweet potato into a 

jar of water, left it on the kitchen counter, 

and went away for several days to 

visit family. Lo and behold, upon our 

return, we discovered our potato had 

sprouted roots, and its vines were twisting 

and turning all over the counter. 

So, we admired (and ate!) the tomato 

from our neighbor’s garden, just as we 

had enjoyed our cukes the year before. 

It’s been amazing to watch the everyday 

miracle of the growing veggies. While 

we were in the process of taking care of 

the garden, I came across an old note 

from a friend. There was a short statement 

on the front of the card attributed to 

the Midrash, “G-d appoints an angel and 

tells it to cause a blade of grass to grow. 

Only then does that tiny blade flourish.” 

We’ve enjoyed our role as gardeners, all 

the while knowing that it is G-d who is 

the Master Gardener.


Schwobs receive honorary degrees at CSU’s spring commencement 

Columbus State University presented 

honorary doctorates to Henry and Joyce 

Schwob before one of its largest graduating 

classes, during the 2012 spring commencement, 

May 7, at the Columbus Civic Center. 

Columbus State awarded 728 degrees at this 

year’s ceremony: 488 for undergraduates 

and 240 for graduate students. 

The Schwob family’s support of 

Columbus State has been strong for 

decades. Family members were among 

prominent Columbus businessmen and educators 

who led the push to establish a junior 

college in Columbus in the 1950s. Henry 

Schwob was among the charter members of 

the Columbus College Foundation’s Board 

of Trustees in 1964. Because of generous 

donations over the years, CSU’s Schwob 

Memorial Library and the Schwob School 

of Music bear the family name. 

“Without a doubt, the support of Henry 

and Joyce Schwob has been one of the most 

important factors in establishing the reputation 

of Columbus State University as a center 

of excellence in music and the arts,” Rex 

Whiddon, Columbus State University interim 

vice president for University 

Henry and Joyce Schwob 

Advancement, said. 

A native of Baltimore, Henry C. 

Schwob graduated from Georgia Military 

The Weber School recognizes top grads 

The Weber School has recognized 

Class of 2011 Valedictorian Rosa 

Ilyayeva and Salutatorian Leslie Gordon. 

As a Weber student, Valedictorian 

Rosa Ilyayeva, a resident of Tucker, was 

a member of the National Honor Society, 

Peace By Piece, and the Moot Beit Din 

Team (2009); was a student ambassador 

and peer leader; and received the Harvard 

Book Award, National Spanish Exam 

Gold Medal (9th and 10th grades) and 

Silver Medal (11th grades), and Math and 

Science Department Awards. 

Rosa chose Mrs. Michelle Brown as 

her most influential teacher while at The 

Weber School. Rosa said, “Mrs. Brown is 

a caring and engaging teacher. Not only is 

she dedicated to her job, but teaches 

English with a passion and roots for her 

Rosa Ilyayeva 

students’ success.” Rosa will attend 

Emory University in the fall. 

Salutatorian Leslie Gordon, a resident 

of Sandy Springs, was acknowledged 

earlier this year as Weber’s STAR 

student. She was also a peer leader, varsity 

soccer and volleyball player, Culinary 

Arts Club co-president, Math Team member, 

AP Scholar, and yearbook member. 

Leslie received the English Department 

Award, Math Department Award, and 

National Spanish Exam Gold medal. 

Leslie chose Mr. Randall Robson as 

her most influential teacher, citing his 

teaching style, humor, and vast knowledge 

as key components to her growth as 

a student at Weber. She is attending 

Emory University in the fall. 

Leslie Gordon 

Academy, now Woodward Academy, in 

Atlanta. After serving two years in the 

Army, in Korea, he earned a BBA in marketing 

at the University of Georgia. 

He began his career in Chicago with 

Hart Schaffner & Marx menswear, later 

moving to Columbus to join Schwob 

Manufacturing, eventually serving as its 

president. He developed Columbus Square 

Mall, Georgia’s first indoor shopping mall, 

and helped establish Pine Manor and Oak 

Manor nursing homes. 

He has served on the boards of First 

National Bank, First Union Bank, 

Wachovia Bank, Wells Fargo, Burnham 

Services Corp., the Medical Center, 

Columbus Museum, and Temple Israel. An 

avid collector of American art, he now 

serves on the board of The High Museum, 

in Atlanta, and the Anti-Defamation League 

National Board. He’s president of Schwob 

Realty and the Schwob Family Foundation. 

A Philadelphia native, Joyce Harrison 

Schwob was a scholarship student at the 

University of Pennsylvania before earning 

bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music 

from Auburn University. 

Under her leadership as president of 

the board for the Columbus Symphony 

Orchestra, its musicians moved to paid, professional 

status. She also chaired an international 

search that resulted in the hiring of 

George del Gobbo as the orchestra’s music 

director and conductor. 

An accomplished pianist, Joyce 

Schwob served for several years on the 

piano faculty of CSU’s Department of 

Music. She’s performed as a piano soloist 

with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, 

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Marietta 

Symphony, Columbus Symphony, and 

Columbus College Symphony Orchestra. 

She has served on the boards of the 

National American Symphony Orchestra 

League, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, 

Jewish Family & Career Services, The 

William Breman Jewish Heritage and 

Holocaust Museum, The Temple, and 

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. She 

was awarded Federation’s Woman of 

Achievement Award in 2001 for co-chairing 

“Music with a Mission.”


Thought You’d Like To Know 

By Jonathan Barach 

ISRAEL ADULT EXPERIENCE. Take the 

trip of a lifetime in 2013 as The Temple 

hosts its Israel Adult Experience, June 12- 

24 of next year. It will be an adventure, with 

visits to awe-inspiring Masada, a visit to the 

artist colony in Tzefat, a chance to meet 

with Israeli leaders like Anat Hoffman, and 

much more. An informational meeting is 

scheduled for July 24, 7:30 p.m., in the 

home of a Temple member. To RSVP for 

this informative session, e-mail Joya 

Schmidt, jschmidt@the-temple.org. 

GRANDPARENTS CIRCLE. The 

Grandparents Circle for Jewish grandparents 

of grandchildren growing up in an 

interfaith home, will meet July 24, August 

21, October 16, November 6, and 

December 4, 7:00-8:00 p.m. The Marcus 

Jewish Community Center of Atlanta offers 

this facilitated educational and support 

group to help grandparents instill Jewish 

identity in their grandchildren. The curriculum 

was created by the Jewish Outreach 

Institute. The program is free; the only cost 

is an $18 materials fee (payable at first 

meeting), which includes a book. Confirm 

interest by contacting Suzanne at 

Suzanne.hurwitz@atlantajcc.org or 678- 

812-4160. 

FAMILY FUN NIGHT. On July 26, 5:00- 

7:30 p.m., MJCCA members and their 

guests are invited to a free Family Fun 

Night, featuring poolside family games. 

Participants will enjoy the MJCCA’s beautiful 

outdoor pools, splash park, and an 

inflatable bounce house. Pizza (by the slice 

and whole), drinks, pretzels, and desserts 

will be available for purchase at the pool. 

Participants may bring their own picnics, 

but no glass containers, please. For more 

information, contact Rabbi Brian Glusman, 

brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org. 

DIVE INTO SHABBAT. Celebrate Shabbat 

at the MJCCA pool and splash pad with 

family and friends at “Dive Into Shabbat,” 

July 27 and August 17. This popular summer 

series begins with an open swim, at 

5:00 p.m., followed by poolside songs and 

prayers with Rabbi Glusman, at 5:30 pm. 

Bring a picnic, share in a vegetarian potluck 

dinner, or purchase food at the pool from 

Goodfriend’s Mobile Grill, which will be 

open until 7:15 p.m. Bring your friends. 

Free ice pops for all children. For more 

information, contact Rabbi Brian Glusman, 

brian.glusman@atlantajcc.org. 

SAFE SITTER. The Safe Sitter class offers 

teens, ages 11-15, the opportunity to learn 

essential skills. This up-to-date, wellrounded 

program with a medical basis 

teaches young teen babysitters everything 

they need to know to keep themselves and 

the children in their care safe. The nationally 

recognized, pediatrician-developed program 

includes childcare techniques, basic 

first aid, infant and child CPR, rescue techniques 

(like choking infant and child rescue), 

babysitting as a business, and online 

and cell phone safety. This program is July 

29, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; the cost is $140 for 

non-members and $120 for members. 

Contact Linda Citron at 678-812-3972 or 

linda.citron@atlantajcc.org. 

COMMUNITY SHABBAT SERVICE. On 

Friday, August 3, the entire community of 

Atlanta Reform Jews will gather for a communal 

Shabbat service, at Temple Emanu- 

El, 1580 Spalding Drive. A Shabbat dinner 

will follow, at 7:30 p.m. The dinner is $18 

for adults and $9 for children. Guest speaker 

is Rabbi Jonah Pesner, vice-president, 

Union for Reform Judaism. RSVP at templeemanuelatlanta.org. 

AT THE BREMAN. Check out the following 

events at The Breman Jewish Heritage 

and Holocaust Museum: “Bearing Witness, 

Unforgettable Stories From The 

Holocaust,” featuring Albert Baron, is 

August 5, 2:00 p.m. “Treasures from 

Terezín,” featuring art glass, personal let- 

ters, and documents from inside the camp, 

runs August 29-October 26. “Celebrating 

Defiance” will offer free performances and 

a panel discussion by artists and art experts 

working to ensure that work created during 

the Holocaust is remembered and celebrated, 

August 29, 7:00 p.m. For additional 

information, visit www.thebreman.org. 

WELCOME TO BETH SHALOM. 

Congregation Beth Shalom will host several 

prospective member events in August. 

Meet Rabbi Zimmerman, the board, and 

congregants, and feel the intimacy and 

warmth of a synagogue that so many in the 

community are proud to call home. Brunch 

is Sunday, August 5, 10:30 a.m. On Friday, 

August 10, there is a wine & cheese reception, 

at 5:30 p.m., and Rockin’ Shabbat, at 

6:15 pm, followed by a barbecue dinner. On 

Saturday, August 11, Shabbat services, 9:30 

a.m., will be followed by kiddush lunch. 

For more information or to RSVP, call 770- 

399-5300, or e-mail office@bshalom.net. 

OPEN HOUSE. Congregation Ner Tamid, a 

West Cobb Reform Jewish congregation, 

will have an open house for its Religious 

School on Sunday, August 5, 9:30-11 a.m., 

at Mountain View Prep, 2320 Baker Road, 

Acworth. Meet Rabbi Tom Liebschutz, 

some of the teachers, students, and parents. 

Learn about classes from Pre-K-12, including 

Hebrew in the upper grades, 

Confirmation, and B’nai Mitzvah. Classes 

begin August 26. Congregation membership 

is not required in the first year of 

enrollment. Need-based scholarships are 

available for those who qualify. For more 

information e-mail education@mynertamid.org 

or call Principal Heidi Meyer at 

678-264-8575 to schedule an individual 

appointment. 

BLACK-JEWISH COALITION. The AJC 

Atlanta Black-Jewish Coalition 30th 

Anniversary Celebration, featuring 

Congressman John Lewis, is August 15, 

6:30 p.m. General admission is only $10 

per person. For information and registration, 

visit www.ajcatlanta.org. 

MEET THE MOMS. Moms in interfaith 

marriages/relationships and their young 

children are invited to drop in at the Sophie 

Game Day at The Breman Jewish Home 

BY 

Marice 

Katz 

It was the 1st of April, a Sunday. I was 

in high spirits, because the game I was 

going to play was Scrabble. I knew I had at 

least one good player to challenge me. 

Shauna Horvath, the director of volunteers 

for The William Breman Jewish Home, 

was her name. I was not kidding when I 

told her that I was going to topple her for 

sure. 

Well, it did not work out quite that 

way. But I 

am getting 

ahead of 

myself. 

Another 

good player, 

Linda Diamond, joined us, and, without 

further adieu, we were off and running. 

Imagine this big auditorium filled with 

women, indulging in mah jongg, bridge, 

canasta, and other games. Honestly, if there 

was one peep out of them, I do not remem- 

ber it. Of course, I was deep in concentration. 

There were all kinds of snacks available, 

and we three were hitting popcorn 

hard. I 

really 

was not 

worried, 

because I 

took the 

lead pretty quickly. I will not leave you in 

suspense; I won that game. 

Now, for the sad part. But, first, you 

need to know we had a lunch break. The 

food was from Goldberg’s, and, as always, 

it was delicious. However, something omi- 

Hirsh Srochi Discovery Center, 9:30 –11:30 

a.m., on August 16, September 19, October 

23, and November 19. Spend time with 

other moms for playtime in this free program. 

For information, contact e-mail 

suzanne.hurwitz@atlantajcc.org or call 

678-812-4160. 

FREE TO BREATHE. Join the national 

movement to defeat lung cancer at the third 

annual Free to Breathe Atlanta 5K 

Run/Walk & 1-Mile Walk, at John Howell 

Park, on August 18. Proceeds from the 

event support 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. To 

register for this event or donate, visit 

www.FreetoBreathe.org. 

MY NAME IS ASHER LEV. On September 

6, 6:00 p.m. enjoy a special reception at The 

Breman prior to a performance of the 

Theatrical Outfit’s production of My Name 

is Asher Lev. Possessing a prodigious artistic 

ability, Asher Lev is driven to draw and 

paint the world as he sees it. Born into a 

Hasidic family in post-World War II 

Brooklyn, his artistic genius threatens to 

estrange him from both his parents and his 

observant Jewish community. This is a fascinating 

coming-of-age story that seamlessly 

explores art, family, and religion. For 

additional information, visit www.thebreman.org. 

CAMP SUNDAY. Beginning September 9, 

the MJCCA will offer “Camp Sunday.” 

Children, pre-K to 2nd grade, will learn 

Jewish traditions and customs in a camp 

setting. The program, which is open to 

everyone, will incorporate Israeli culture, 

art projects, nature, dance, cooking, stories, 

and music, while building a strong sense of 

Jewish identity. Parents and children are 

invited to an open house and information 

meeting, August 2, 5:00-6:15 pm, to participate 

in a camp activity and tour the beautiful 

MJCCA facility. For information, contact 

Lori Goldstein, at 678-812-3881, or 

visit www.atlantajcc.org. 

nous happened. Linda complained of drawing 

a lot of vowels, and here I was, getting 

nothing but consonants. Now, even if you 

don’t play Scrabble, you surely know you 

cannot make much of a word in this kind of 

a situation. You could say the luck of the 

draw was not with us. And Shauna won 

that game. Linda then had to leave. 

Shauna and I stayed to play one more 

game. She beat me. This time, I had drawn 

all the wrong letters again. And that is not 

an excuse; it is the pure truth. 

Please don’t think I am bitter, but I lost 

my title as the Scrabble Queen. I believe 

The Home is planning to have a Game Day 

every year. I think that is wonderful but 

hope I can get my title back sooner than 

that!


Taste of Atlanta founder always remembers her roots 

By Brian Katzowitz 

Whether it is the first tear-inducing 

taste of bitter herbs at Passover Seder or the 

latest flavor creation of hamentashen during 

Purim, food has always played an integral 

role in the Jewish experience. Its preparation 

before holidays drives interaction 

between generations of families, and its 

absence at Yom Kippur defines the spirit of 

repentance. 

This has never been lost on Dale 

DeSena. As the founder and president of 

Atlanta’s defining food event, Taste of 

Atlanta, she understands the role food can 

play in bringing neighborhoods together 

and helping to shape a city’s cultural output. 

“We want to give people the chance to 

sample some of Atlanta’s great restaurants 

and allow them to learn how to recreate 

these recipes in their own kitchens,” 

DeSena explained. “Our mission is to turn 

tasters into diners.” 

While maybe not completely fulfilled, 

this mission has been carried out successfully 

in Taste of Atlanta’s ten years of existence, 

but its foundation was laid many 

years earlier. 

Growing up in a Jewish household in 

Savannah, DeSena was exposed at a young 

age to her grandmother’s traditional Jewish 

recipes, in one of the epicenters of classic 

Southern food. While it would not become 

apparent until later in her life, her upbringing 

in this crossroads of cuisine taught 

DeSena an appreciation for food’s role in 

the community. 

She earned a degree from the 

University of Florida and gravitated toward 

sponsorship sales and advertising, before 

forming an idea for the next phase of her 

career. 

“After spending years working in a 

number of different roles for the Atlanta 

Jazz Festival, Alex Cooley and Peter 

Conlon [Atlanta’s legendary concert pro- 

May 18 was a proud day for Torah 

Day School of Atlanta, when Moshe 

Caplan, TDSA Class of 2003, addressed 

nearly 1,000 undergraduate and graduate 

students, their families and friends, 

and faculty members of Polytechnic 

Institute of New York University as 

valedictorian. Moshe stated in his moving 

speech, liberally sprinkled with 

humor, “Success marks a completion, 

but failure is an opportunity to reassess 

and improve your idea.” He then went 

on to recount his first assigned project at 

Polytechnic, in which he and his classmates 

failed miserably, but clearly 

recovered fully. 

Graduating with a combined bache- 

moters], I recognized a need for a foodthemed 

event in the city,” DeSena said. 

Shortly thereafter, in 2001, DeSena 

founded Taste of Atlanta and began introducing 

locals to the city’s varied restaurant 

options, under a modest 30,000-square-foot 

tent at Lenox Square. Without major corporate 

backing, DeSena relied on the grassroots 

marketing skills she honed while 

working in event planning, to sell tickets 

and convince restaurateurs to participate. 

Within just a few years, the festival’s 

popularity grew. As Atlanta’s restaurant 

scene began to produce “Top Chef”-worthy 

talent and more upscale and diverse dining 

options, DeSena worked to keep pace. 

The event outgrew Lenox Square and 

moved to roomier quarters at Atlantic 

Station. No longer having to knock on 

doors to solicit participation, Desana found 

that restaurant owners were reaching out to 

her and her team, to get involved with one 

of the city’s hottest cultural offerings. 

Like its host city, which has shed its 

reputation of being strictly a rib joint and 

Waffle House town, Taste of Atlanta has 

expanded and diversified its offerings. It 

now encompasses 10 city blocks on Spring 

Street and offers three full days of restaurant 

tastings, cooking competitions, and 

chef demonstrations. DeSena, however, has 

not forgotten her upbringing and always 

includes a dash of her Jewish heritage in 

Taste of Atlanta’s recipe book. 

“Every year, we try to incorporate 

something Jewish into the festival, like 

offering a number of Israeli wines or featuring 

traditional Jewish recipes,” she said. 

Regardless of how many people Taste 

of Atlanta caters to or how big it gets, the 

event will always appeal to those with a 

taste for homegrown cooking and a hunger 

for epicurean knowledge. It is these essential 

ingredients that have made DeSena’s 

enterprise a success. 

lor’s and master’s degree in computer 

science and cybersecurity, Moshe’s thesis, 

“Cybersecurity of Critical 

Infrastructure: Recent Attacks and 

Research in the Field,” reflects his keen 

interest in computer science, as well as 

the safety and security of our country, 

many organizations, and the individuals 

within them. Currently pursuing job 

opportunities with the federal government, 

Moshe interned with the United 

States Secret Service, as well as Emory 

University and the Georgia Institute of 

Technology. 

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, 

Moshe grew up in Atlanta. His family 

spent one year in Israel, when he was 11 

Curtis Stone and Dale DeSena 

years old. When asked about his experience 

as a student at Torah Day School, 

Moshe responded, “TDSA taught me to 

always challenge myself; to always 

attempt to accomplish more than was 

expected of me.” He added, “This is 

something I think about every day in my 

academic studies, religious activities, 

and interpersonal interactions. All of my 

accomplishments today began many 

years ago as a student at TDSA. This is 

a testament to the excellent and 

extremely dedicated faculty and administration 

at TDSA, each of whom has 

inspired me to constantly work harder to 

achieve my goals in all areas of my 

life.” 

Food samples are prepared at the 

2011 Taste of Atlanta 

Attendees enjoy samples from Takorea 

TDSA grad’s reach and grasp are both impressive 

Moshe’s sentiments regarding his 

education clearly reflect the Torah Day 

School’s mission to “inspire each student 

to love G-d, to observe the Torah, 

to strive for personal excellence, and to 

pursue life-long learning.” 

“We take incredible pride in the fact 

that one of our students has achieved so 

much success at such a young age, and 

that he has taken lessons acquired at 

TDSA and applied them in adulthood,” 

said Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, TDSA’s head 

of school. “The Torah Day School’s 

‘family’ looks forward to seeing our 

current students follow in Moshe’s footsteps 

and succeed in whatever field or 

arena in life they choose.”



Jewish 

THE 

Georgian 

Chassidic rabbi is also a Pop artist 

By Ron Feinberg 

Rabbi Moully 

Sometimes, a little creativity works out 

much better than tossing loads of money at 

a problem. That’s exactly what the energetic 

staff at Jerusalem’s Abraham Hostel 

have done, when figuring out how best to 

pull together Shabbat dinner for their 

guests each week. 

To understand the problem, you probably 

need to know that Jerusalem, both the 

capital and spiritual center of Israel, is one 

of the few places in the world that takes 

Shabbat seriously. The city essentially 

shuts down for the Jewish Sabbath, a period 

that stretches from Friday afternoon 

until three stars appear in the sky on 

Saturday evening. 

That means if you’re a tourist, you’ll 

have plenty of time to rest and relax; it also 

means that you’d better plan ahead if you 

want to eat on Friday night and throughout 

the day on Saturday. Just about everything 

in the city closes—retail stores, public 

transport, museums, and theaters; restaurants, 

cafes, fast-food joints, mega-supermarkets, 

and mom-and-pop groceries. 

If you’re staying at one of Jerusalem’s 

luxury hotels, you don’t need to worry. 

Generally, along with the high cost of your 

Abby Sosin with Moullyʼs Kiddish Cups 

Ron Feinberg helps prepare 

Shabbat dinner 

room, you’ll be wined and dined in fine 

style over the Sabbath. Most 5-star hotels 

offer up a smorgasbord of delights—soups, 

salads, and fishy appetizers; beef, chicken, 

and fish; veggies and baked goods; vintage 

wines and dessert! Needless to say, you 

won’t go hungry. 

That’s not the case if you’re staying in 

By Leon Socol 

Abby Sosin arrived in Atlanta at 

the tender age of one and has grown 

up to be a beautiful young lady with 

a talent for art. She wanted to be an 

art curator, and last January, she got 

her chance, when she accepted a 

position with the Emory Marcus 

Hillel to plan exhibitions and educational 

programs that promote Jewish 

studies. It was a big undertaking for 

the aspiring curator. 

Although she is an artist herself, 

Abby had little experience curating, 

but she was given the project of 

bringing an artist to the Emory campus 

who would appeal to the students. 

An Internet search turned up 

See POP ARTIST, page 22 

Special Shabbat in Jerusalem with friends and strangers 

a 3-star hotel or hostel. Most of these places 

provide a hearty—if limited—breakfast. 

Otherwise, plan ahead or fast...unless 

you’re booked into the Abraham Hostel. I 

stumbled across it online, when planning 

my most recent trip to Israel. It looked 

interesting, and the reviews were mostly 

good. 

The price was certainly right—$20 for 

a bed in a dorm and $60 for a private room 

and bath. Once I figured out the location 

was just about perfect—it’s on Jaffa Street 

in the heart of the city, a block or so from 

the Jewish Market and the pedestrian mall 

on Ben Yehudah Street and an easy 10minute 

walk from the central bus station— 

I decided to try it out. 

Turns out you get what you pay for! 

When traveling solo, I don’t mind roughing 

it a bit. I’ve stayed in 3-star hotels and the 

occasional hostel. The hotels, without 

exception, have always been fine—clean 

and neat, safe and affordable. The hostels 

have also been safe and very affordable; 

unfortunately, they’re generally a little 

seedy around the edges. 

The Abraham Hostel was light, bright, 

and filled with secondhand everything— 

See SHABBAT, page 23 

Sam Massell 

reflects on his 

passions and 

careers 

By George Jordan 

One morning in January, I woke up and 

started to think about who would be an 

interesting interview for The Jewish 

Georgian. We have lived in Atlanta for 40 

years and somehow the name of Massell— 

that’s Sam Massell—came to mind. Sam 

served as mayor of Atlanta from 1970 to 

1974 and, to date, is Atlanta’s only Jewish 

mayor. So I placed a call to his office and 

was able to arrange for an interview. Below 

are the highlights. 

Sam Massell 

I understand your father was a publisher of 

a local Atlanta newspaper. Were you 

involved in the newspaper business? 

Actually, after the depression, my father and 

his brothers (Ben and Levi) split up, and he 

went into law, but he did publish a monthly 

paper—The Atlanta Democrat—as a hobby. 

And I did pitch in, selling ads, handling circulation, 

and doing some writing, and at one 

time was named editor. 

Did you ever think about following in your 

father’s footsteps? 

See MASSELL, page 23


Company J at the MJCCA presents Spring Awakening 

Company J at the Marcus Jewish 

Community Center of Atlanta will present 

Spring Awakening, a groundbreaking 

fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock & 

roll, August 9-19. The production takes 

place at the Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, 

located at the MJCCA, 5342 Tilly Mill 

Road, Dunwoody. 

Spring Awakening, based on a late 

19th-century German play, celebrates the 

remarkable journey from adolescence to 

adulthood. The musical, written by 

Duncan Sheik with a book by Steven 

Sater, is the winner of eight Tony Awards, 

including Best Musical. 

When the teenage characters break 

into song, they approach the music and 

lyrics from a modern standpoint, using traditional 

rock music and lyrics that contain 

modern colloquialisms. With this single 

decision, the connection to modern 

teenage angst is made intrinsically clear. In 

addition, all of the adult roles are played 

by the same two actors, clarifying the characters’ 

belief that all adults are, in the ways 

that matter to an adolescent, inherently the 

same. Spring Awakening remains bold, 

direct, clear, and challenging to the society 

that would more often prefer to look away. 

Company J Producing Artistic 

Director Brian Kimmel will direct Spring 

Awakening, with music direction by Annie 

Cook and choreography by Eileen 

Edwards. It will feature a strong ensemble 

Pop Art 

From page 21 

the name of Rabbi Yitzchok Moully. After 

viewing his Jewish Pop Art on the web, 

Abby knew he could excite young and 

older alike. 

She immediately contacted Rabbi 

Moully and offered him the opportunity to 

display his art in the beautiful Emory 

Hillel building. The rabbi accepted, and 

this was the beginning of a big undertaking. 

Abby rose to the challenge. 

Paintings and prints were selected, 

and the artist involved Abby in all the 

details of exhibition preparation, including 

where and how the paintings would be 

displayed to ensure the best visual flow. 

Moully respected Abby’s artistic eye in 

the layout of the exhibition. 

Rabbi Moully’s parents were strict in 

raising their son, even though they were 

hippies when they were younger. Moully 

experienced much more than would be 

normally expected in a rigorous Chassidic 

community. His formal education was in 

Australian day schools and the Rabbinical 

College of America. Although his education 

did not include formal art classes, he 

had a yearning and talent for creative 

expression that he felt could bring an 

important dimension to Torah and Jewish 

tradition. 

Moully dabbled in various art forms 

Brian Brandt (photos: Karen 

Rooker) 

of teen actors from around the metro 

Atlanta area. In order to provide more 

opportunities for young performers, many 

of the roles are double cast. 

The cast includes Thaddeus Kolwicz 

and Max Chambers (Melchior), Gil Eplan- 

Frankel and Ryan Talley (Moritz), Tate 

Durand and Olivia Medley (Wendela), 

before he found an expression for his creativity 

in the silkscreen process. 

Mastering this process was taxing and 

tedious. Moully would sometimes work at 

night, creating works with multiple layers 

of color. Often, when he was dissatisfied 

with his effort, he would scratch a work 

that he might have spent months creating 

and start over. By day, he served as the 

youth rabbi at the Chabad Jewish Center, 

in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. At night, 

he came home to his wife and four children 

and 

devoted what 

little time 

was left to 

being an 

artist. 

His art 

contrasts 

strong Judaic 

a n d 

Chassidic 

images with 

electrifying 

colors. 

M o u l l y 

describes it 

as “Jewish 

Pop Art.” His ideas are brought to life 

using pen & ink and acrylics on paper and 

canvas. As evidenced in his Emory portfolio, 

it doesn’t look as if he is in danger of 

running out of subjects. Everything from 

hamentashen and dreidels to ritual objects 

Nine Dreidles 

Jaquan Beachem (from left), Brian Brandt, Eric Rich, Thaddeus Kolwicz, 

Gil Eplan-Frankel, and Justin Stanley 

Ebeth Engquist and Thainara Carvalho 

(Ilse), Eric Rich (Hänschen), Justin 

Stanley (Georg), Brian Brandt (Ernst), 

Sylvee Legge and Lucy Gross (Martha), 

Brian Brandt and Jacob Lang (Otto), 

Bronte Upshaw and Kaitlin Reynell 

(Thea), Maital Gottfried and Tori Budden 

(Anna), Brandy Morris (Girl 1), Joel Rose 

(Adult Male), and Savannah Stein (Adult 

find their way to his canvases. 

Andy Warhol gained fame with his 

Campbell’s Soup paintings, and the rabbi 

hopes to do so with material from the 

Torah. Moully has had numerous art 

showings, mainly in the northeastern 

United States, and has received numerous 

awards for his work. He has gained popularity 

and media recognition, most notably 

through a two-part Oprah Winfrey documentary 

on Chassidic life. 

Among the paintings on exhibit at 

Emory Hillel 

are Nine 

Dreidles, an 

acrylic and ink 

on canvas. 

This painting 

was the first of 

Moully’s 

Holiday 

Series, which 

he plans to 

complete by 

painting a canvas 

of each of 

the Jewish 

holidays. The 

repetition of a 

single image in multiple colors puts a 

“spin” on the painting. Note the gelt in the 

bottom right panel. 

Orange Socks is also an acrylic and 

ink on canvas. The artist claims this is 

somewhat of a self-portrait. It’s about 

Female). 

Spring Awakening contains adult content 

and themes. It is intended for mature 

audiences only. 

Tickets are $12-$28. For more information, 

visit www.companyjatl.org, or call 

the Company J Box Office at 678-812- 

4002. 

Orange Socks 

conforming and being an individual at the 

same time. He claims the Torah gives us 

guidelines on living as individuals and 

using this individuality in expressing our 

faith. Moully doesn’t use tattoos or dreadlocks 

to express individuality; instead, he 

wears orange socks, and that works for 

him. Note that, in this painting, the eighth 

rabbi from the left is wearing orange 

socks. 

“Jewish Pop Art” is now open until 

October. At the exhibition, posters, wall 

peels, prints on canvas, greeting cards, 

invitations, and postcards are available for 

purchase. For more information and 

hours, call Jennifer Harris, at 404-963- 

2548, ext. 109.


Shabbat 

From page 21 

furniture and floor coverings; dishes and 

glasses; beds and bedding; towels and bathroom 

fixtures. The building was ancient 

and needed work. My room was tiny and 

featured a jarring blend of school-dorm 

simplicity and jail-house practicality—two 

single beds (really cots) pushed together, 

harsh neon lighting, and cheap wooden cabinets 

nailed to the walls; a small and shaky 

desk, nightstand, and chair. There were two 

additional smallish rooms, one for the toilet 

and another for a shower. Functional is 

about the best I can say about the place. 

There was a bright spot. The main 

gathering area—sort of the hostel’s ballroom—was 

on the second floor. It was 

expansive and included colorful sofas, 

chairs, bean bags, and hammocks; a fully 

stocked bar and huge entertainment system; 

a dining area and public kitchen. It was here 

that everyone willing to pay out 35 shekels 

(about $9) came together for Shabbat dinner. 

Lacking the funds to wine and dine 

their guests, the hostel’s management came 

Massell 

From page 21 

I definitely got interested in real estate (and politics) 

because of him and made my living in 

commercial real estate before going full time 

into elected offices. He set the tone for my interests. 

I did get my LLB degree, but didn’t practice 

law. 

Where were you born, and where did you live 

growing up? 

I was born in Atlanta in the old Piedmont 

Hospital, then located downtown, about where 

the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium was built. I 

lived my first month in the Massellton (an apartment 

building dad and his brothers built, which 

still stands on Ponce de Leon, as a condo building). 

We then moved to Druid Hills, where I 

lived for 11 years on Oakdale Road, followed by 

five years on Briarcliff. When I went off to college 

at the University of Georgia, the family 

moved into Midtown, on St. Charles Place. 

What was your first job? 

I have had four careers: 20 years in commercial 

real estate, 22 years in elected offices, 13 years 

in the tourism industry, and now I am in my 24th 

year of association management. Actually, my 

very first employment (other than newspaper 

routes and errand boy in my father’s law office) 

was two years as chief of publications for the 

National Association of Women’s and 

Children’s Apparel Salesmen. 

What caused you to get involved in Atlanta politics? 

My father instilled in me the value of giving 

back to my community, with one way being 

up with the novel idea of pulling 

everyone together like a family. 

The staff would go out and 

purchase the food for dinner, 

but it would be the 

guests who, with a little 

help from the 

staff, would do 

most of the 

prep work 

and cooking. 

So 

it was 

that a trickle 

of tourists 

from around the 

world began gathering 

in the kitchen area, as 

Jerusalem started shutting 

down for Shabbat. We stood 

around, gazing about, waiting for 

instructions. Fresh veggies were spread 

across several tables, and a few staffers 

handed out knives, bowls, and other such 

stuff. 

Before you could shout shalom, we 

were all slicing and dicing, sharing a bit 

about our background and chatting with 

Guests gather around the table for our Shabbat feast 

through civic life and the other in government. 

There is very little difference in the two fields, in 

my opinion: In civic work, the people ask you to 

participate and don’t pay you; and in politics, 

you ask if the people will let you participate, and 

they pay you a small salary. 

Was mayor of Atlanta your first elected position? 

No, my first elected position was to the Atlanta 

Democratic Executive Committee, elected by 

wards to run the primary elections. This was followed 

by service on the Mountain Park City 

Council, a government body for the incorporated 

resort town between Roswell and Marietta 

(where only property owners were allowed to 

vote and hold office). I was then elected for two 

four-year terms as president of the Atlanta Board 

of Aldermen (now called the City Council) and 

vice mayor, after which, I was elected mayor of 

Atlanta (1970-1974). 

After your term of office as mayor, did you want 

to continue as an active participant in Atlanta 

politics? 

Because of my liberal leanings, I doubted that I 

could get elected in a regional or statewide contest. 

So I moved on to business interests that 

actually got me involved greatly in the political 

arena, which I still enjoy. 

How did you become involved in the Buckhead 

Coalition, and what are its goals? 

A group of guys started the coalition as a supplement 

to local government, feeling the mayor 

and council couldn’t do it all and that we shouldn’t 

take the success of Buckhead for granted. A 

headhunter firm was retained to find someone to 

run the program, and they came up with me. 

They offered me a one-year contract, but I wanted 

a three-year agreement. We compromised on 

one another about our latest adventures. 

The ice had been broken. The people at 

my work station were typical of the 

guests at the hostel—a guy from 

Canada, traveling through 

Israel as part of his college 

coursework; a 

couple from Japan 

on holiday; 

and a midd 

l e - 

aged 

woman 

f r o m 

California 

visiting relatives. 

Well, you 

get the idea. 

The prep work 

took about 30 minutes; 

then we had another hour or 

so to talk and meet up with 

friends. Did I mention there was 

drinking? As the sky turned dark and the 

first stars of Shabbat winked and twinkled 

a two-year contract—which 24, years later, we 

still have not drawn! There was work to be done, 

and I hit the ground running. The goal of the 

Buckhead Coalition is to nurture the quality of 

life of those who live, visit, work, and play in its 

28 square miles. 

As a longtime Atlanta resident, what do you consider 

Atlanta’s shining moment? 

Atlanta has earned headlines many times, and I 

have to think that its greatest success—not yet 

completed—is its reforms in race relations. 

Were you actively involved in that? 

I am fortunate to have come along in history at a 

time, and with the credentials, that allowed me 

the opportunity to participate in the city’s human 

relations reforms. The powers I had in public 

office to appoint the first woman to the city’s 

governing council and the powers to appoint the 

first black department head are but two examples 

that give me great pride. 

In what areas does Atlanta have to excel to compete 

with other cities in being a desirable place 

to live? 

I focus my attention as president of the 

Buckhead Coalition on this community, which 

must compete without grant funds or tax incentives. 

Thus, we must constantly strive to create 

and maintain an image and atmosphere that 

make this the address of choice for those within 

its boundaries. This, of course, includes a place 

that is safe, clean, and orderly. 

And, of those, what do you consider the most 

important? 

I think the magnet that attracts individuals and 

firms to relocate and remain in a community is 

always a combination—rather than a single 

across Jerusalem, we settled down for the 

evening meal. There were about 50 of us 

spread about the room—friends and 

strangers, young and not-so-young, Jews 

and Christians. 

A youngish woman took a few minutes 

to detail the importance of Shabbat, offered 

some religious background and historical 

context, then lit the Sabbath candles. 

Another staffer said Kiddush, the traditional 

blessing thanking God for the “fruit of 

the vine,” and finished with a blessing over 

a loaf of challah. 

Our work and the work of the staff had 

pulled together a feast—fresh veggies and 

fruit; rice, pasta, and potatoes; chips, dips, 

bread, and chicken! I’ve already mentioned 

there was drinking, right? 

It was Shabbat, and we were family, at 

least for the moment, sharing a special meal 

in a very special city. As I said at the start, 

sometimes the best way to deal with a problem 

is to hold onto your money and use a 

little creativity. The evening worked for me, 

something I’ll be remembering in coming 

months. Now, I’m thinking the hostel’s 

bosses might want to capture some of their 

staff’s creativity and figure out how to use 

it to freshen up their property. 

choice—of values. And we must nurture everyone’s 

quality of life. 

Are any of your family members interested in 

civic or political activities? 

I have never pushed family members to get 

involved, because I think each person seeks a 

level of interest and makes a contribution in different 

ways. 

What do you think the future holds for the city of 

Atlanta? 

With Atlanta’s history of steady, sound growth, I 

don’t believe anything can hold it back, and it 

shall forever be out front. 

————— 

Recently, in the “Guest Column” feature of 

The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Sam Massell 

gave his views on the transportation situation in 

Atlanta. The following is a portion of that column: 

“...transportation...is a social concept for 

which the benefits cannot be measured with 

numbers. They must be personally evaluated, by 

people. 

“The greater the growth and prosperity of a 

city, the greater the deprivation imposed upon 

those who are without satisfactory means of 

transportation. As a community expands geographically 

and culturally, the more absolute is 

the imprisonment of those who lack mobility. 

“Yes, I’m addressing the benefits of mass 

transit—safe, clean, and dependable rail and bus 

service; appropriate roadways with efficient turn 

lanes, synchronized traffic lights, and adequate 

signage; the benefits of connectivity—and the 

related transportation tax referendum scheduled 

for July.”


By Belle Klavonsky 

PRESTIGIOUS TECH SERIES. During the 

week of June 11, The Davis Academy hosted 

the 10th annual Ed Tech Teachers 

Workshop Series, which is based out of 

Harvard University, Cambridge, 

Massachusetts. The topics were “Teaching 

the Elementary Grades With Technology” 

and “iPads and ePubs in the Classroom.” 

Nearly 40 metro area teachers attended, 

including several Davis faculty. Shown here 

are 21st Century Learning Coordinator 

Stacy Brown (front) and 1st-grade teacher 

Dara Amram. 

WORDS OF WISDOM. Davis Academy 

Class of 2012 heard from Sally Galanti, 

Class of 2003, during the graduation ceremony, 

on May 31. Sally, who is currently 

working toward a Ph.D. in school psychology 

at North Carolina State University, 

spoke about the important educational foundation 

she received and great experiences 

she had at Davis and inspired the graduating 

8th-graders to take “diligent action” in pursuing 

their goals. 

FIELD DAY. First-grader Avery Friedman 

gets low under the limbo bar, while Connor 

Swislow waits his turn. It was all part of 

Davis Academy’s Field Day, for Mechina 

through 4th-grade students, on May 16. The 

day included lots of indoor and outdoor 

activities and competitions, with an international 

flavor and Olympics theme, and 

ended with the Quiz Bowl, which tested 

Judaic knowledge. The Davis PTO sponsors 

this fun annual event. 

YOUNG SCHOLARS. Sixteen Epstein 

School 7th-graders have qualified for the 

Duke University Talent Identification 

Program. Jennifer Friedman, Noah Platt, 

and Noah Weinstein received Grand 

Recognition. Yoel Alperin, Becky Arbiv, 

Nathan Cohen, Maddy Dorfman, Jenny Lee 

Judenberg, Sabrina Kaplan, Tamara Kaplin, 

Noah Lampert, Sari Leven, Chase 

McGrath, Sarah Peljovich, Shaun 

Regenbaum, and Benny Soran received 

state recognition/summer studies. Pictured: 

(back, from left) Tamara Kaplin, Noah 

Weinstein, Noah Platt, Benny Soran, Becky 

Arbiv, Noah Lampert, and Yoel Alperin; 

(middle) Jennifer Friedman, Sari Leven, 

Shaun Regenbaum, Sarah Peljovich, 

Maddy Dorfman, Jenny Lee Judenberg, and 

Nathan Cohen; and (front) Sabrina Kaplan 

and Chase McGrath 

EAGLES ROCK. The Epstein Eagles Track 

& Field Team (from left, Julia Stern, Becky 

Arbiv, Ian Neil, and Zahava Feldstein) had 

a great season. Seventh-grader Becky Arbiv 

placed 2nd in high jump, 2nd in pole vault, 

and 6th in 300-meter hurdles at the 2012 

Georgia State Middle School 

Championships. At the 2012 MAAC (Metro 

Atlanta Athletic Conference) League 

Championships, three athletes placed in the 

top three: 8th-grader Zahava Feldstein 

(gold, 1st-place finish, pole vault), 8thgrader 

Ian Neil (1st place, long jump; 1st 

place, 200-meter dash; 3rd place, 100-meter 

dash), and 8th-grader Julia Stern (silver, 

pole vault). 

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR. Epstein 8thgraders 

Dori Greenberg and Max 

Marcovitch were the 2012 recipients of the 

prestigious Epstein Eagle Athlete of the 

Year Award. The award is given each year 

to one male and one female eighth-grade 

student who excel in sports. Candidates 

must play sports in all three seasons and 

exemplify the character expected of an 

Epstein Eagle in the areas of leadership, 

coachability, and sportsmanship. 

CLASS OF 2012. At Epstein’s 8th-grade 

graduation, Head of School Stan Beiner 

offered a welcome; Rabbi Lou Feldstein led 

the D’var Torah; Jewish Federation of 

Greater Atlanta Board of Trustees Chair 

Robert Arogeti, 8th-grade Knesset 

President Abby Blum, and class advisor 

Shannon Lutes spoke; and Middle School 

Principal Myrna Rubel provided the class 

with advice and presented the class gift. 

Eighth-graders perform at graduation 

ceremony: (back, from left) 

Michal Levin, Gregory Fish, Joshua 

Jacobson, Michael Asher, and Dotan 

Brown; (front) Remmy Zimmerman, 

Erin Kowalsky, Rachel Kahen, Eliana 

Greenwald, Julia Stern, and Karen 

Videlefsky 

Head of School Stan Beiner performs 

with faculty at graduation: 

(from left) Stan Beiner, Alicia Cole, 

Laura Levine, Anna Stanton, and 

Clint Purcell 

AWARD-WINNING VIDEO. Epstein took 

2nd place in the Avi Chi Jewish Day School 

Video Contest, a nationwide competition. 

Epstein’s entry received silver honors in the 

Expert Judging Category and a $5000 

award. The video focused on three examples 

of how technology and learning are 

blended together to promote interest and 

skills. The creative use of a progressive 

continuum of learning and the messaging 

captured the attention of the judges’ panel. 

Notable among the team of student actors 

and staff who worked on this project are Dr. 

Bernice Kirzner, Leora Wollner, and Matt 

Blum. 

EAGER READERS. Torah Day School 

Head of School, Rabbi Naphtali Hoff, 

reviews kriah (Hebrew reading) skills with 

first-grade students. 

STAYING SAFE. Mrs. Davida Levin holds 

a brand-new battery operated LED-flashing 

stop sign donated by Safe Kids USA and 

FedEx, through the offices of Janet 

Weisman, injury prevention coordinator of 

the DeKalb County Board of Health. 

ON THEIR WAY. Torah Day School celebrates 

the graduation of its kindergarten 

classes.


MAKING GHA PROUD. Three of this 

year’s valedictorians at local high schools 

are graduates of the Jacob and Katherine 

Greenfield Hebrew Academy class of 2008: 

(from left) Eytan Palte, The Weber School; 

Sarah Chelser, Yeshiva Atlanta; and Leah 

Topper, Norcross High School. Each 

achieved this honor through intelligence, 

hard work, sterling character traits, and a 

solid academic foundation from their earlier 

years. (Photo: David Topper) 

CHAGIGAT CHUMASH. Greenfield 

Hebrew Academy 2nd-grade students 

enjoyed their Chagigat Chumash, singing 

songs and reciting the names of all the 

parshiot by heart for their audience. 

Afterwards, they were presented with their 

very first chumash. Here, the class listens 

attentively to Head of School Rabbi Lee 

Buckman’s address, but Aryeh Freitag can’t 

resist a quick peek into his new chumash. 

Pictured: (from left, top) Ari Gabay, Alex 

Schwartz, and Reese Bober; (bottom) Isaac 

Fialkow, Kiki Starr, Aryeh Freitag, Joshua 

Alhadeff, and Shiraz Agichtein. (Photo: 

Devi Knapp) 

AVI CHAI EQUIPMENT. GHA took 3rd 

place in the Jewish Day School Academy 

Awards, an online video contest sponsored 

by the Avi Chai Foundation. The school’s 

video, “Put the P Back in PTSA,” was written 

and directed by recent GHA graduate 

Nicole Nooriel. It brought the school 

$2,500 in new video equipment, including a 

video camera with microphones, a tripod, a 

firewire drive, Adobe Video Editing software, 

and more. Here, Head of School 

Rabbi Lee Buckman uses the new video 

camera to interview rising 3rd-grader 

Yonatan Levy on the last day of school. 

(photo: Leah Levy) 

M’SILOT. GHA celebrated M’silot’s rededication 

as the Matthew Blumenthal M’silot 

Program. Matthew, a GHA student from 1st 

grade through his graduation, tragically 

died, at age 24, of muscular dystrophy. In 

1999, his grandparents, Saul and Adele 

Blumenthal, z”l, provided seed money to 

start M’silot in his honor. With their sustaining 

gift, Matthew’s parents, Elaine and 

Jerry Blumenthal, are continuing the vital 

work that Matthew’s grandparents started. 

Pictured: the Blumenthals with the eight 

original M’silot students, now graduating 

high school—(from left) Malki Field, 

Rachel Kleiman, Risa Hayet, M’silot director 

Phyllis Rosenthal, Elaine Blumenthal, 

Jerry Blumenthal, Sydney Lippman, Rachel 

May, Michael Usdan, and Jacob Singer 

(Photo: Devi Knapp) 

SIYUM HASHANA. The Siyum Hashana, 

which GHA holds to mark the end of the 

Camp Yofi offers unique approach to autism 

For the eighth consecutive year, Ramah 

Darom will host Camp Yofi, a unique program 

designed for Jewish families with children 

with autism. 

Camp Yofi will take place August 8-12, in 

Clayton, Georgia, on the 122-acre campus of 

Ramah Darom, an organization devoted to 

providing exceptional experiences in Jewish 

living and learning. 

Families and staff at Camp Yofiʼs 

amphitheater (photos: Asher Krell) 

“Unlike many programs that focus on different 

therapeutic methods, Camp Yofi focuses 

on what we believe are the most important 

pillars of strength for families with children 

with autism—community and support,” said 

Susan Tecktiel, director of Camp Yofi. “Camp 

Yofi provides a respite for families and the 

ideal space to foster a community that lives on, 

well past the week we spend together.” 

Camp Yofi family 

The program is designed for children ages 

6-13. Single parents, grandparents, and siblings 

are invited to attend, and all Jewish families 

are welcome, regardless of denomination 

or synagogue affiliation. Camp Yofi is offered 

in partnership with NOVA Southeastern 

University, host of the world-renowned 

Mailman Segal Center for Human 

Development. With a 1:1 staff ratio and a 

strong emphasis on safety, Camp Yofi provides 

an unmatched experience for families who 

otherwise would be limited in their ability to 

take a family vacation, due to the challenges 

autism presents. 

Morning programs at Camp Yofi are 

designed with separate tracks for children with 

autism, siblings, and parents. Afternoons are 

devoted to family programming, and in the 

evening, the camp community joins together 

for bonfires and sing-alongs. Every family is 

assigned a chaver, or special friend, who provides 

a consistent, comforting presence 

throughout the week. After the children are in 

Campers enjoy activities with staff 

school year, is the time for graduating students 

to receive recognition for their 

achievements and express their gratitude to 

the teachers and volunteers who helped 

them. Here, graduating 8th-grader Zach 

Maslia receives the Keter Shem Tov award. 

(Photo: Devi Knapp) 

MUSEUM OF THE MIND. Museum of the 

Mind was an exhibition documenting the 

academic achievements of 5th- and 6thgrade 

GHA students, curated by teachers 

Ryne Harris, Marci Kaplan, and Hilary 

Gorosh. Here, 6th-grader Devorah Chasen 

and her mother, Hallie Chasen, proudly display 

The Diary of Margaret, a story 

Devorah wrote to demonstrate her knowledge 

of the Crusades period in England. 

(Photo: Leah Levy) 

bed and under the watchful care of the staff, 

adults have the opportunity to participate in 

fun programs, as well as study and support 

groups. 

Thanks to the generous support of sponsoring 

foundations and individual donors, 

Camp Yofi is designed to be affordable to any 

family wishing to participate. Tuition is $750 

per family, which covers 25 percent of the 

$3,000 cost of the program. Participation in 

Camp Yofi is limited to 25 families, and registrations 

are accepted on a first-come, firstserved 

basis. 

For more information about Camp Yofi, 

visit http://www.ramahdarom.org/campyofi, 

or e-mail Susan Tecktiel at susant@ramahdarom.org.


Eagle Star Awards Gala honors Deal of the Year and Company of the Year 

Proctor & Gamble/Teva won the Deal 

of the Year award and Alpha Omega took 

home the Israeli Company of the Year 

award at the American-Israel Chamber of 

Commerce, Southeast Region’s, 11th annual 

Eagle Star Awards Gala. SunTrust Banks 

hosted the event at its headquarters in 

Atlanta, on June 12. Jonathan Medved, one 

of Israel’s most celebrated entrepreneurs 

and high tech venture capitalists, who was 

prominently featured in the bestselling Start 

Up Nation, was the keynote speaker. 

The Eagle Star Gala is AICC’s community 

flagship event, honoring the people and 

companies who have contributed most to 

the Southeast-Israel business relationship. 

In addition to awarding the Israeli 

Company of the Year and Deal of the Year, 

the chamber also recognized Asheville, 

North Carolina, attorney Robert Deutsch 

with the Chamber Founders Award and the 

Israel Economic Mission to the U.S. South 

with the Community Partner Award. 

Deal of the Year honorees Procter & 

Gamble and Israel-based Teva 

Pharmaceutical Industries created a joint 

venture, PGT Healthcare, to sell over-thecounter 

medicines that will combine Teva’s 

expertise in drug marketing with P&G’s 

expertise in branding, to expand their presence 

in the $200 billion consumer healthcare 

industry. 

In connection with the formation of the 

joint venture, P&G sold its OTC plants in 

Greensboro, North Carolina, and Phoenix, 

Arizona, which produce Vicks and 

Metamucil, respectively. It will transfer the 

employees of both plants to Teva, which 

will be the manufacturer and supplier for 

the PGT Healthcare business and P&G’s 

North American OTC business. 

The North Carolina facility will continue 

existing product lines, and, with retooling, 

it will gain more sophisticated capabilities 

to manufacture new products, thus 

continuing to provide, as well as increasing, 

much-needed employment opportunities in 

Greensboro. 

Other Deal of the Year finalists were 

Arris/BigBand Networks and IDEA 

Biomedical/Medical University of South 

Carolina (MUSC). 

Israeli Company of the Year honoree 

Alpha Omega, a Nazareth Illit-based company 

with its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, 

develops, manufactures, and markets 

microelectrode recording and stimulation 

devices for neurosurgery and neuroscience. 

Its products can be found in the best hospitals, 

universities, and research institutes 

around the world. The company offers 

superior technology, service, and personal 

attention through a global professional sales 

and support team and network of worldwide 

partners; it competes in the same markets 

as such large companies as Medtronic 

and St. Jude. 

Other Israeli Company of the Year 

finalists were Amiad and Shalag. 

Bob Deutsch (center) receives 

Chamber Founders Award from AICC 

Chairman Lorin Coles (left) and VP 

Barry Swartz (right) 

Proctor & Gambleʼs Director of 

Finance Ken Jones (center right) 

accepts Deal of the Year Award from 

AICC Chairman Lorin Coles (left), 

Eagle Star Gala Committee Chairman 

Barry Sobel (center left), and VP 

Barry Swartz (right) 

Davis project sparks multitude of passions 

Davis Academy eighth-graders graduated 

this year with an enormous sense of 

accomplishment. Most of them finished 

nine years (including kindergarten) of all 

the things that comprise a trademark Davis 

education – strong academics, Jewish and 

Hebrew studies, a life-changing two-week 

trip to Israel, and strong bonds with friends 

and teachers. But this year they had accomplished 

even more, thanks to a first-time 

Davis Middle School yearlong project 

called Siyyum. Some created a nonprofit 

organization or started a business; and all 

had answered an important research question 

or otherwise made some notable positive 

community impact. 

Siyyum is a Hebrew word that traditionally 

refers to a joyous celebration that 

takes place when Jews complete the study 

of a section of one of the sacred texts. Yet, 

while it marks a milestone, there is never 

any finite end to Jewish study, a premise 

that is also celebrated. 

The Davis Siyyum project encouraged 

students to think more deeply and explore 

more thoroughly about a question or topic 

of interest. But the research was not to be 

found solely in books or websites. Each student 

selected a community mentor whose 

expertise could offer a connection to the 

project. In addition, students were encour- 

aged to plan, work independently, and 

choose a faculty mentor to help guide the 

process. 

All 59 Davis eighth-graders carried out 

a Siyyum project, and the topics were as 

diverse as the students. Rachel Kaufman, 

for example, created a blog called Unite to 

Write to provide a forum for young female 

poets to express themselves. Student photographer 

Max Harris worked with a professional 

community photographer to 

explore Poverty Through the Lens of 

Photography with his own work. Ashley 

Spector, touched by one family’s story, 

asked How Does Childhood Cancer Affect 

the Child and Family? Entrepreneur Logan 

Botnick created a viable business model for 

Bot Wear Sports Apparel. And one student 

who struggled with the project initially 

finally decided to explore, What is 

Accomplishment? 

“Though none of us had ever done this 

before, the results blew us all away,” said 

teacher Kendrick Phillips, who was the cocreator 

of Siyyum. “The project was about 

empowering students to take ownership and 

be accountable for one’s own learning – 

which will be paramount to their future. It’s 

very rare for students at the middle school 

level to see through a project of this depth,” 

she said. 

Logan Botnick models his prototype 

of the Bot Sock, which offers extra 

support for the ankle. 

Many of the students presented their 

projects on May 29 just days before graduation. 

They dressed professionally and 

chose their own format. Some created video 

or power-point presentations, others had 

real prototypes of their work or other displays. 

The eighth-graders debriefed following 

the morning of presentations with a 

variety of comments and observations 

about this yearlong learning experience. 

Photographer Max Harris said, “I loved 

this project, and the community mentor part 

Israel Economic Consul Roee Madai 

(center) accepts Community Partner 

Award from AICC Chairman Lorin 

Coles (left) and VP Barry Swartz 

(right) 

Alpha Omega U.S. Branch Manager 

Liz Caruso (center right) accepts the 

Israeli Company of the Year Award 

from AICC Chairman Lorin Coles 

(left), Eagle Star Gala Committee 

Chairman Barry Sobel (center left), 

and VP Barry Swartz (right) 

Cassidy Aronin presents her project 

on The Face of Homelessness after 

getting acquainted with and offering 

aid to homeless individuals in 

Atlanta. 

was genius. I hope my mentor relationship 

will continue.” Larry Yanovich said Siyyum 

gave him a great outlet to explore something 

in which he had a great interest, 

Concept Cars and Design: Lamborghini. 

And writer Rachel Kaufman learned even 

more about her peers. “It was interesting,” 

she remarked, “ to see what other people’s 

passions are.”


BUSINESS BITS 

By Marsha Liebowitz 

ALI’S IN DUNWOODY. Ali’s Cookies has 

opened its newest location, at Perimeter 

Place Shopping Center, near Perimeter 

Mall. The new store features a shabby-chic 

interior, full kitchen, baking area, and coffee 

and milk bar serving skim, whole, and 

chocolate varieties. Ali’s Cookies is a gourmet 

cookie company that bakes the “old 

fashioned” way—everything is made from 

scratch. All of Ali’s Cookies are kosher, and 

many can be lactose free. Ali’s Cookies also 

handcrafts cookie cakes, cakes, and cupcakes. 

For more than 30 years, Ali’s 

Cookies has shipped products across the 

country. For more information, call 770- 

971-8566, or visit www.shipacookie.com. 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

On April 30, 2012, after the ending of a 10year 

franchise agreement, the local 

Schakolad Chocolate Factory became an 

independent business, diAmano Chocolate. 

Craig and Sheree D’Egidio will continue 

ownership of the business, as they have 

since 2002, at the same location, 1100 

Hammond Drive NE #430-A, Sandy 

Springs, GA 30328. Contact them at 770- 

JSU NEWS 

JSU AT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL 

SERVICE. The annual Yom HaShoah 

Holocaust Memorial Service at Greenwood 

Cemetery, sponsored by The Breman 

Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, 

The Lillian and A.J. Weinberg Center for 

Holocaust Education, and the Jewish 

Federation of Greater Atlanta, saw hundreds 

of people from across the Jewish 

community gather together to commemorate 

the lives of six million souls lost during 

the Holocaust. For the second year in a row 

now, teens from the Jewish Student Union 

were invited to help staff the event. 

The JSU teens who participated in the 

ceremonies assisted in the event setup, 

handed our programs to the attendees, coordinated 

and organized parking, arranged for 

VIP seating, and, most importantly, escorted 

the elderly survivors to and from their 

seats. 

The feedback was overwhelmingly 

positive, with attendees remarking repeatedly 

how respectful and helpful the teens 

were. For many of the teens, this was their 

first in-person encounter with Holocaust 

survivors, which naturally made their participation 

in the ceremonies that much more 

meaningful. 

In appreciation, each of the teens 

received free passes to the Breman Jewish 

730-9770 or 

diamanochocolate@gmail.com, or visit 

www.diamanochocolate.com. 

ALL SMILES. Nanci Lubell, DMD, is a 

new associate at Right Smile Center, a fullservice 

dental practice. She brings with her 

20 years of experience, with a focus on 

restorative and endodontic treatment. Dr. 

Lubell grew up in East Cobb and returned 

to practice there after receiving her degree 

from the Medical College of Georgia, in 

1991. She and her husband, Dr. Mark 

Rosing, live in Dunwoody. Their two sons 

attend The Davis Academy. Throughout her 

career, Dr. Lubell has been active in various 

cancer-related charities and women’s/children’s 

shelters in metro Atlanta. For information, 

visit www.rightsmilecenter.com, or 

call 404-256-3620. 

NOT YOUR MOTHER’S FITNESS 

CLUB. Ellen Lowenstein Italiaander has 

opened Elevate Your Body, a new fitness 

studio offering sessions stressing the power 

and effectiveness of Pilates and yoga classes, 

in concert with other unique intervalbased 

classes. Located at 6053 Sandy 

Springs Circle, in Sandy Springs, its class- 

Heritage and Holocaust Museum. 

The JSU volunteers were: Leslie 

Apseloff and Rebekah Helfgot, Dunwoody 

High School; Maital Kaminer and Noa 

Kalfon, Riverwood; Shai Bendavid, 

Chattahoochee; Julia Lee, Nili Nourparvar, 

and Rebecca Neusner, Centennial; Isaac 

Dosetareh, Druid Hills; Allison Marill, 

Michelle Gofman, Seth Gregson, Sera 

Thomas, and Danielle Wagner, Lakeside; 

and Tori Zellner, Northview. 

JSU leaders Sera Thomas and 

Allison Marill handing out programs 

for the Holocaust Memorial 

es combine components of heart rate-elevating 

intervals (the cardio ingredient) with 

advanced muscle group training (the core 

and sculpting ingredients). Call 404-257- 

0808, or visit elevateyourbody.com. 

Ellen Lowenstein Italiaander (right) 

with Linda Citron, one of Elevate 

Your Bodyʼs professional trainers 

THE PARADIES SHOPS HONORED. The 

Paradies Shops, the leading airport concessionaire 

in the industry for over 50 years, 

was named “Corporate Member of the 

Year” for 2012, at the Southeastern Chapter 

of the American Association of Airport 

Executives (SEC-AAAE) Annual 

Conference held in Savannah, Georgia, 

May 20-22. The 2012 SEC-AAAE 

Conference gathered the region’s top airport 

managers in interactive sessions focusing 

on air service development and produc- 

BIKUR CHOLIM. Over 300 teens at over a 

dozen JSU Public School Clubs took part in 

the important mitzvah of bikur cholim (caring 

for those who are sick). The teens gathered 

together to make decorative pillowcases 

for children attending Chai Lifeline’s 

Camp Simcha, a camp for Jewish children 

suffering from terminal illnesses and cancer. 

As the teens hand-decorated the pillowcases, 

Rabbi Chaim Neiditch led a discussion 

of why bad things sometimes happen 

to good people. During the discussion, 

may of the participants shared personal stories 

of what it was like to deal with sick 

family members. Nonetheless, the overall 

mood at these events was positive, as all 

participants were overjoyed to be able to 

use their talents to do something meaningful 

to help brings smiles to the faces of children 

struggling with illnesses. 

Jacob Shelton and Ari Fine, from 

Chattahoochee High School JSU, 

display the pillowcases they made 

for children at Camp Simcha. 

tive strategies centered on the economic 

challenges the aviation industry is facing 

today. 

IT’S HARD TO TRUMP THIS. Sam 

Marks opened his Bridge Club of Atlanta, 

the first full-time bridge club in Sandy 

Springs, on July 16, in a 4,500-square-foot 

facility in the Fountain Oaks Shopping 

Center on Roswell Road. Marks is an 

Emerald Life Master and an accredited 

American Contract Bridge League teacher 

who began teaching five years ago after 

being asked to run the Atlanta Senior 

Olympics bridge competition. There will be 

eight games per week, and a full schedule 

of lessons will be offered from beginner to 

advanced levels. More information is available 

at www.bridgeclubatlanta.com. 

Opening day at Bridge Club of 

Atlanta 

HEBREW NAMES. One thing that has 

helped the Jewish people survive for millennia 

is adherence to the tradition of keeping 

Jewish names. This was the overriding 

theme of recent events at JSU Public 

School Clubs across the Greater Atlanta 

area, where hundreds of teens made Jewish 

name bracelets, necklaces, and key chains. 

Guided by Rabbi Chaim Neiditch, students 

learned how Judaism attaches a very 

special importance to Hebrew names and of 

the Divine inspiration behind many of these 

names. Teens learned the translations of 

their Hebrew names, as well as how their 

names related to their personal characteristics. 

Interestingly, these traits often tied in 

quite well with many of their family histories, 

which they were only too happy to 

share with the rest of the group, especially 

if they were named after ancestors. 

Everyone took home a personalized 

bracelet, necklace, or keychain. 

Teens at Centennial High School 

show off their new Jewish name 

accessories.


The birthday ring’s family circuit 

BY 

Carolyn 

Gold 

In the years before bat mitzvahs 

became an accepted rite of passage for girls, 

my astute and caring 

uncle, Joe Rubin, of 

Columbia, South 

Carolina, began a family 

tradition. I doubt he 

had any idea that he 

was starting something 

that would become a 

ritual, but here is the 

story. 

His two sons, 

Hyman and Sammy, 

had the usual bar mitzvahs 

at age 13. Uncle 

Rubin wanted to do 

something special for 

his daughter, Charlotte, 

on her 13th birthday. 

He bought her a beautiful gold and silver 

ring, with a little chip of a diamond set 

in the center. This gift initiated a lovely and 

sentimental, as I call it, “dance of the ring.” 

My Cousin Charlotte wore the pretty 

ring from 1936 to 1942. That year, I turned 

13, and Charlotte, who was like the big sister 

I never had, gave the ring to me. By that 

year, Charlotte’s ring finger probably was 

adorned with an engagement ring from 

handsome soldier Larry Kantor, from New 

Jersey, who was stationed at Ft. Jackson. 

I remember sitting in high school, in 

Elberton, 

Georgia, 

admiring the 

pretty ring on 

my finger. I 

was so proud 

of it. A diamond 

ring! I 

felt so grown 

up. 

I n 

1953, I passed 

the ring on to 

Eleanor 

R u b i n , 

Charlotte’s 

brother’s 

daughter, in Columbia. Charlotte and Larry 

had two sons, so Eleanor was the next girl 

in the family to turn 13. By that time, I was 

wearing a wedding ring. 

Eleanor’s cousin, Jane Rubin, turned 

The birthday ring 

13 a year later, and my mother was concerned 

that Eleanor’s turn had not been long 

enough, or that Jane wouldn’t have a ring. 

So Mother went out and bought a little 

alternative ring for Jane. We don’t know 

what happened to that one, but the original 

family ring continued to travel. 

My daughter, Susan, became the next 

wearer of the 13-year-old’s ring in 1973, in 

Atlanta. She wore it in high school and into 

her college years. After seven years, she 

passed it on to Debi Niestat, Eleanor Rubin 

Niestat’s daughter, who turned 13 in 

Columbia. 

In 1984, it went back to the original 

wearer’s granddaughter, Beth Kantor. 

Finally, there was a girl in that New Jersey 

Kantor family! 

My granddaughter, Rebecca Kahn, 

received the birthday ring in Atlanta, in 

2004. She wears it very carefully, mindful 

of its history. It has gone from its original 

recipient to her granddaughter; to a niece 

and her daughter; and to me, my daughter, 

and my granddaughter, three generations in 

our case. Its last three wearers have had bat 

mitzvahs, but this has been like icing on the 

cake. The ring has, so far, traveled for 76 

years. 

It has traveled back and forth, from 

South Carolina to Georgia about five times, 

BY 

Gene 

Asher 

Memories.... 

• My daughter Laurie, celebrating her first 

birthday, sitting on my lap for seven innings 

and watching Murphy High School’s Bobby 

Dalgleish two-hit Roosevelt High School 

and win 6-0. Laurie never missed a pitch and 

hollered “Hi!” at umpire Frankie Allen the 

whole game. 

• With Northside High trailing North Fulton 

6-0, at halftime, Laurie said, “I want to touch 

the colorful purple and white tiger.” We went 

to the Northside bench, and Laurie touched 

the paper tiger, which was Northside’s mascot. 

The Tigers came back after intermission 

and beat the North Fulton team, 14-6. When 

Northside coach Wayman Creel heard what 

happened, he asked me to bring Laurie to 

every game and have her touch the paper 

tiger. I did, and with Laurie’s golden touch, 

the Tigers went on to win the state championship. 

• When I asked Laurie which she liked best, 

football or baseball, she replied, “basketball.” 

• Carl Richard (Chubby) Zwerner, the star of 

the Tech High School basketball team, and 

Rebecca Kahn wears the birthday 

ring 

with a trip to New Jersey included. The next 

candidate is Eleanor’s granddaughter, now 

age 6, who is in Chicago. 

Best of all, the ring has taught three 

generations of girls something about their 

family tree. It has made those girls who’ve 

worn it feel special at 13 and beyond. It 

says, “We welcome you into your teens.” 

Boys get to keep the family names as 

adults, but girls, thanks to Uncle Rubin, get 

to wear the modest, but beloved, family 

ring. 

No 13-year-old has complained that the 

ring didn’t fit. They’ve worn it on various 

fingers. And miracle of miracles, none of 

them, in three-quarters of a century, has lost 

it. 

Memories of days gone by 

his brother, Herbert, the star of the Tech 

High swimming team. 

• Taking geometry I and geometry II at the 

same time. I flunked geometry I and made an 

“A” in geometry II. 

• My brother Buddy carrying me out of the 

ring on his shoulders, after I won the 1949 

lightweight state Golden Gloves championship. 

Out of eight divisions in that tournament, 

three titles were won by Jews. In addition 

to me winning the lightweight crown, 

Asher Benator won the featherweight title 

and Harold Rosenthal the welterweight title. 

• Watching, with my dad, Sandy Koufax setting 

a World Series strikeout record (15) and 

beating the New York Yankees’ Whitey 

Ford. 

• Watching Memphis’ Marv Rotblatt beat the 

Atlanta Crackers and earning a trip to 

Chicago to pitch for the White Sox. He had 

a brief career in the majors but a long and 

bright one with the New England Mutual 

Life Insurance Co. 

————— 

Hoorah for Oglethorpe University for 

honoring the family of Luke Appling, a 

member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

Luke’s daughter threw out the first pitch as 

the Stormy Petrels defeated Birmingham 

Southern. It was a super day for Oglethorpe, 

thanks to the leadership of Jay Gardiner, athletic 

director, and Hoyt Young, sports information 

director.


YOU NEED TO KNOW... 

During the last 60-plus years, meter 

for meter, person for person, no other 

nation has done more for the betterment of 

the health, economic, and technological 

advancement of the world population than 

Israel. It is a story, although critically 

important, that is not heralded and largely 

remains unknown. We plan to present some 

of these unbelievable accomplishments in 

an attempt to disseminate the heart and 

soul of what and who Israel really is. 

GIVING TO THE WORLD 

THROUGH SCIENCE. Have you ever 

stopped to think how much better, safer, 

and healthier all people are because of what 

Israel has given to the world–––small in 

geography but gigantic in contributions? 

What a great reservoir of knowledge 

and innovative technology has emanated 

from that young, vibrant society. It would 

have been hard to imagine a little over sixty 

years ago that a diverse group such as this, 

speaking many different languages, could 

develop a country that would produce so 

much in the way of new and innovated 

technology. There is probably no other 

place that proportionately has served as a 

more advanced and concentrated incubator 

of ideas and technical innovations. 

And now we read about another med- 

ical device that is in the development stages 

and promises to help alleviate suffering and 

untimely death. Check-Cap is a small, 

biotechnology company, based in Isfiya, an 

Arab Druze village in the Galilee close to 

Haifa, where the majority of its staff 

resides. The company employs 35 people, 

and most of its engineers are graduates of 

the Technion (Israel Institute of 

Technology). 

Today, the primary screening procedure 

for colon cancer is a colonoscopy. 

About ten years ago, Israel’s Given 

Imaging developed the PillCam imaging 

system that is based on cameras. Both the 

colonoscopy and the PillCam require 

aggressive bowel cleansing, a process that 

is somewhat upsetting to the patient. The 

beauty of the Check-Cap is that it operates 

with virtually no bowel preparation. The 

small capsule captures 360-degree images 

as it travels through the intestines, and it 

then transmits the information to a data 

receiver worn on the wrist. 

ISRAEL HAS BECOME A GIANT IN 

STEM-CELL RESEARCH. It is only natural 

that the lovers of chopped liver with 

schmaltz and rye bread spread with 

gribenes (for some reason my spell-check 

program could not find this word) would 

FEDERATION NEWS 

ROSENBERG TO CHAIR COMMUNITY 

CAMPAIGN. Mark Rosenberg will lead 

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s efforts 

for the 2013 Community Campaign, which 

begins September 1. As chair, he will spearhead 

strategy and fundraising to support 

Federation’s 17 affiliate agencies, as well as 

more than 60 outcome and community partners 

in Atlanta, in Israel, and around the world. 

Mark is a managing director with Morgan 

Stanley Smith Barney and has 30 years of 

experience in the financial industry; his areas 

of focus are retirement 

planning, fixed 

income, and overall 

wealth management. 

Recently, he was recognized 

by Barron’s 

as one of the top 

1,000 financial advisors 

for the third consecutive 

year. 

Mark has been a 

Mark Rosenberg 

member of the 

Federation’s Board 

of Trustees for the past four years. He also 

serves on Federation’s Investment Committee, 

was the chair of Premier Gifts for the 2011 

Community Campaign, and was vice chair of 

the 2012 Community Campaign. He served on 

The Davis Academy board for 10 years and 

chaired the school’s golf tournament for several 

years. He lives in Dunwoody with his wife 

and has three adult children, who are all graduates 

of The Davis Academy. 

106TH ANNUAL MEETING. Jewish 

Federation of Greater Atlanta’s 106th Annual 

Meeting took place June 5, at the Selig Center. 

This year’s meeting recognized community 

leaders, including outgoing Chair of the 

Board Robert Arogeti and incoming chair of 

the Board Gerald R. Benjamin. 

Also recognized were the participants of 

Federation’s Emerging Leadership Project, a 

comprehensive eight-month program aimed at 

community members age 45 and under. The 

goal of the program is to turn participants into 

Federation leaders of the future. This year’s 

participants are Josh Berman, Dana Bernath, 

Stephanie Effron, Abbey Flaum, Civia Gerber, 

Marc Goldberg, Benjamin Halpern, H. Elisa 

Iteld, Steven Kushner, Brian Levy, Jared Levy, 

Allison Medof, Zackary Morris, Jeff Pollock, 

Raanan Pritzker, Avi Robbins, Evan Rosen, 

Hilary Saperstein, Ryan Silberman, David 

Skid, Viktoria Sobolevsky, Alana Sonenshine, 

Marc Sonenshine, Jonathan Swartz, Darren 

Tobin, Arin Tritt, and Glenn Zweig. 

Community Award winners will receive 

their awards at the Annual Meeting as well. 

The 2012 award winners are: Rick Aranson, 

Marilyn Shubin Professional Development 

Award; Bob Arotsky, Gerald H. Cohen 

Community Development Award; Josiah 

Benator, Max and Mary London “People 

Power” Award; and Isaac Frank and Ross 

Kogon, Abe Schwartz Young Leadership 

Award. 

The new Board of Trustees was inducted 

at the event; for a full list, visit 

www.JewishAtlanta.org. 

understand the importance of this. 

Recognized as a world leader in scientific 

research and development, Israel has 

made major contributions to stem-cell 

research. At its best research institutes, laboratories 

have been concentrating on heart 

disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease or on 

repairing nerve damage. At Technion in 

Haifa, an Israeli team has been able to form 

healthy heart tissue from a patient’s own 

skin stem cells, which can merge into existing 

muscles. 

Professor Lior Gepstein, head 

researcher at Technion in the project, said, 

“What is new and exciting about our 

research is that we have shown that it’s possible 

to take skin cells from an elderly 

patient with advanced heart failure and end 

up with his own beating cells in a laboratory 

dish that are healthy and young — the 

equivalent to the stage of his heart cells 

when he was just born.” 

TEACH THEM TO FLY; TEACH 

THEM TO DUNK. The very nature of 

being combat pilots requires fast, immediate 

reactive decisions appropriate to 

observed conditions in which they find 

themselves. This is a reflex reaction based 

on training and experience. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, Daniel 

Gopher, an Israeli expert in the field of cognitive 

psychology and engineering at the 

Technion, led in the development of video 

game-like training methods for use by the 

Israeli Air Force and the US Army Aviation 

Center. Based on the use of cognitive psychology, 

the study of mental processes by 

which people speak, think, perceive, 

remember, and learn, a video game trainer 

was developed that improved flight performance 

more that 30%. 

The technology was subsequently 

demilitarized, improved, and became the 

basis for the formation of Applied 

Cognitive Engineering (ACE) headquartered 

in Hod Hasharon, Israel. Under the 

brand IntelliGym ® , the company develops 

training tools that significantly improve the 

performance of trainees in targeted tasks, 

including sports. 

“We found a lot of similarities between 

jet flying and competitive sports,” Danny 

Dankner, CEO, is quoted as saying. “We 

realized we had the technology to improve 

performance of people in information-condensed 

environments with a lot of data 

coming in, and where fast decisions need to 

be made under duress.” 

When former Atlanta Hawks coach 

Hubert Jude “Hubie” Brown was introduced 

to this training tool, he was sufficiently 

impressed that he joined the company’s 

Advisory Board. In Israel21c, the following 

testimonial by Brown is quoted: “In 

the game of basketball it is not about who 

runs faster or jumps higher, but about who 

makes better decisions and fewer mistakes.”


Helping others help themselves 

By Mordecai Zalman 

Unfortunately, many of us are 

unaware of the total religious, moral, and 

communal package that is the Jewish heritage, 

and we seek meaning outside of our 

birthright before knowing this birthright. 

As a segment of our peoplehood, we 

find that throughout the centuries, some 

members of the Jewish community, who 

have had the good fortune to prosper economically, 

have stepped forward to help 

those in need. Mostly, economic hardship 

was not the result of a lack of willingness 

to work, only the opportunity to work and 

financially support the family needs. 

In 1880 a group of Russian Jews 

organized a fund to support and develop 

trade schools and agricultural projects in 

Russia to help elevate the crushing poverty 

of the five million Jews living there. 

This was the origin of ORT. 

The assassination of Czar Alexander 

II of Russia in 1881, for which the Jews 

were made the scapegoat, resulted in government-organized 

anti-Jewish pogroms 

(riots), which were renewed in 1882, 

1883, and 1884. In addition, the new 

ruler, Czar Alexander III, instituted the 

May Laws of 1882, which resulted in 

harsh and more restrictive laws. At the 

Susan K. Friedland, of John’s Creek, 

was recently published in the March 

2012 issue of Cowboys & Indians 

Magazine. The Special Collector’s edi- 

same time, the persecution of the Jews in 

Romania resulted in a mass exodus in 

1900. 

From 1881 to 1914 approximately 

2,000,000 Jews emigrated from Eastern 

Europe, largely from Czarist Russia and 

Romania, to the United States. The majority 

of these settled in New York City and, 

in a secular sense, were uneducated and 

unskilled. As a partial response to this situation, 

in 1891 the Baron de Hirsch Fund 

was incorporated and funded by Baron 

Maurice de Hirsch for the purpose of 

affording relief to this pressing problem. 

One of the solutions was to resettle these 

immigrants in other areas of the country, 

which included locating them in agricultural 

endeavors. 

In 1900, the Jewish Agricultural (and 

Industrial Aid) Society was chartered in 

New York as a subsidiary of the Baron de 

Hirsch Fund striving to implement selfsupporting 

agricultural activities. In 1907 

it became an autonomous organization, 

which was involved in granting loans to 

cooperatives as well as individuals. 

In the 1930s, Atlanta resident Bruce 

“Bud” Feiman and his parents, together 

with a handful of other settlers, went from 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Labelle, 

Florida, to establish an agricultural com- 

tion featured her image Four Friends, as 

part of the publication’s seventh Annual 

Photo Competition. This marks 

Friedland’s fifth award-winning image in 

as many years. 

Friedland has been noted for several 

other images. In 2008, Anna Walker 

Skillman chose her image Equs for the 

Atlanta Celebrates Photography exhibition 

“Anna Skillman Selects,” saying that 

the “horse portrait is grand and mesmerizing, 

both in its size and imagery…the 

soft quality of the land almost pictorial.” 

Equs was most recently spotlighted in a 

December 2011 solo exhibit at Neiman 

munity. Bud 

recalls that his 

aunt had a contact 

in New York 

that provided the 

funding for the 

project, but he 

does not recall 

the name of the 

organization. 

There is no 

knowledge today 

as to the source 

of these funds, 

but there is every 

reason to believe 

that it was the 

beneficiary of help from the Baron de 

Hirsch Fund. While the commune did not 

succeed and they were unable to tame the 

surrounding vegetation, Bud recalls the 

enthusiasm and vigor with which the 

group attacked the project and the appreciation 

for the support of fellow Jews. 

For us today, it is hard to appreciate 

what it must have been like to live under 

the oppressive conditions inflicted on our 

ancestors. David Bressler, general manager 

of the Industrial Removal Office, an 

outgrowth of the Jewish Agricultural 

Society, stated that the goal was to help 

Unknown man, (from left), Ruth Kanif (Budʼs Aunt), Bruce 

(Bud) Feiman, Alle Feiman (Budʼs father), Anna Feiman 

(Budʼs mother), unknown man, unknown woman, unknown 

man, in Labelle, Florida to establish a farming cooperative 

Susan Friedland 

Marcus in Atlanta. It was concurrently 

featured in a gallery in New York’s 

Tribeca area. 

Although specializing in equine photography, 

Friedland has been recognized 

for other works. In 2006, she won praises 

from The William Breman Jewish 

Heritage Museum for her interpretation 

of the theme “Tzedakah: The Art of 

Giving.” Her photograph Tomodachi 

(Japanese for friendship) portrays an 

American woman and a Japanese woman 

laughing as they share a bowl of rice. 

Friedland took the photograph during an 

outreach program in which American 

women help the wives of Japanese businessmen 

who have been transferred the 

U.S. Friedland says that “a lot of times, 

these women feel alone, and they are isolated.... 

Here are these two groups, and 

all of a sudden, here are two cultures 

coming together, teaching each other.... 

It’s about friendship and it’s about giving.” 

these people to find “their own salvation.” 

The local committees were instructed 

to help the needy to find a place in 

which to live and not see them as charity 

cases. And yet, with all of the suffering 

and tribulation they endured, they never 

abandoned their faith and were forever 

supportive of their fellow members. 

In truth, they knew and understood 

the meaning of being a part of this community, 

recognizing the importance of 

making every effort to see that the goodness 

that Judaism has brought to the 

world over the centuries continues. 

Atlanta area photographer known for award-winning images 

Susan Friedland, Four Friends 

Friedland’s other award-winning 

images include Paris, nominated by 

Women in Photography International, as 

a Juror’s Choice Honorable Mention for 

the Decade of Images 2000-2010 competition, 

2010; I love New York, presented 

at the PMG Gallery, 2010; Walk of 

Shame, chosen by Fay Gold, for the 

Atlanta Celebrates Photography exhibition 

“Fay Gold Selects,” in 2007; and 

You Say Tomato, featured in The Atlanta 

Journal Constitution, in 2002. Friedland 

has been highlighted in several publications, 

including Heroes Smile (2008), 

Jezebel Magazine (2006), Skirt! Atlanta 

(2006), The Atlanta Jewish Times (2006), 

and Southern Living Magazine (2003). 

Susan K. Friedland is a Savannah 

native and has been in the photography 

business for over 20 years. She received 

a bachelor’s degree in studio art from 

Oberlin College and took additional 

courses at Massachusetts College of Art 

and Atlanta College of Art. 

Friedland’s work is available for purchase 

at several Atlanta-area locations, 

including Heeney & Co., in downtown 

Atlanta; Galerie Matilda, Roswell; and 

Lakota Cove Gallery, Jasper. Out-of-state 

locations include The Cashiers Trading 

Post, Cashiers, North Carolina, and The 

Good Purpose Gallery, Lee, 

Massachusetts. A sampling of Friedland’s 

work can be seen at 

www.SusanKFriedland.com.


Page 32 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN — KASHER LIVING July-August 2012 

Kosher Affairs 

BY 

Roberta 

Scher 

Once again we are enjoying—or shall I 

say enduring—the long, hot summer in 

Atlanta. Along with the temperature, what’s 

hot? 

FUEGOMUNDO. It’s hot, hot, hot in 

Atlanta—not just because of the summer 

heat but because of sizzling FuegoMundo, 

Atlanta’s kosher South American wood-fire 

grill. This informal, upscale bistro-style 

restaurant offers a menu appealing to meat 

eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. Lunch is 

fast and casual, while dinner is full-service. 

FuegoMundo is a clean, well-run food 

establishment, with good service, fair 

prices, and quality food that just happens to 

be kosher. Co-owners Masha Hleap- 

Hershkovitz and Udi Hershkovitz recently 

changed the menu a bit. At a recent lunch, I 

ordered one of the new items, the tilapia 

burger. Delicious! It reminds me of one of 

my favorite fish sandwiches, the grouper 

Reuben that I always enjoy on family trips 

to Destin. (Of course, the cheese is omitted, 

since FuegoMundo is a meat restaurant.) I 

enjoy both the food and ambience of this 

restaurant. If you haven’t yet experienced it, 

try it. And, more good news—FuegoMundo 

also offers catering. Visit fuegomundo.com. 

Udi and Masha Hershkovitz 

ALI’S COOKIES (Shipacookie.com) has 

opened a second location in Dunwoody, 

under the supervision of the AKC. It is in 

the Perimeter Place Shopping Center, near 

the Dunwoody Target. All cookies and 

cookie cakes are kosher dairy or kosher, 

dairy equipment. 

PITA PALACE (thepitapalace.com) 

deserves kudos. This popular, small, informal 

eatery, has achieved a perfect score—a 

sanitation inspection rating of 100 from the 

DeKalb County Health Department. The 

restaurant specializes in 

Mediterranean/Middle Eastern foods, such 

as falafel, shwarma, and Israeli-style salads. 

Most customers order takeout, but there are 

a few tables for eating in. 

GRILLER’S PRIDE (Grillerspride.com) is 

now carrying Teva beef, which is glatt 

kosher and certified 100% natural. The beef 

is from cattle that have not been treated 

with antibiotics, steroids, or hormones and 

are raised on a 100% vegetarian diet. 

TDSA GARDEN. On behalf of the Torah 

Day School Community Garden, a big 

thank-you to the Whole Foods Kids 

Foundation for supporting the school’s edible, 

organic garden with a $2,000 grant. 

This will help TDSA continue its efforts to 

provide garden education for its students 

and further expand the program into the 

community. If you are in the Toco Hill area, 

do drive by and take a look. With this infusion 

of new funds, we hope to grow. (Yes, I 

am involved in this effort and, along with 

our garden educator, Robin Saul, welcome 

your financial or volunteer support! Contact 

tdsagarden@gmail.com.) 

SPEAKING OF WHOLE FOODS, the 

Briarcliff store continues to expand its 

kosher-friendly selection. The store wants 

to serve the kosher community and better 

understand what customers need. If you are 

in the store, do share your thoughts. This 

store has a large selection of kosher groceries, 

an in-house mashgiach (Elisheva 

Robbins), kosher chicken, and kosher fish 

by special order. Visit 

wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/briarcliff. 

PRODUCT NEWS 

SHAKE-UP IN KOSHER PARVE 

CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Trader Joe’s chocolate 

chips have dominated the kosher food 

news. After years as the kosher consumer’s 

“go to” parve chocolate chips, they are no 

longer certified parve. No one knew, including 

Trader Joe’s, how popular they were, 

until the change to a dairy certification. The 

company, which is usually very consumer 

responsive, has been bombarded with complaints. 

If fact, two online petitions, signed 

by thousands, were started, requesting TJ’s 

to address this situation. To read The Wall 

Street Journal’s coverage of this story, 

google “Trader Joe’s chocolate chips WSJ.” 

SALLY WILLIAMS HONEY NOUGAT. I 

am delighted to share news of this delicious 

product and its availability in Atlanta. I 

recently tasted Sally Williams Nougat, and 

my sweet tooth was delighted. So, what is 

this confection? The story begins in the 

souks of Marrakesh, where Sally Williams, 

a South African chef, sampled flavored 

nougat. This started Sally on a search 

through Morocco, Tunisia, France, and Italy 

to master the recipe for the perfect nougat. 

The results: a luxury, handcrafted confection, 

made with no preservatives or colorants, 

and kosher certified by the OU. 

Most flavors are parve, and the best news is 

that it is available locally from thechosenknish.com. 

To learn more about the 

product, visit sallywilliamsfinefoods.com. 

SPEAKING OF KOSHER PRODUCTS, 

did you know that Original Oreo Sandwich 

Cookies and Oreo Double Stuf Sandwich 

cookies do not contain dairy ingredients, 

though they are manufactured on dairy 

equipment? Therefore, Oreo Original and 

Double Stuf Sandwich Cookies may be 

consumed after meat and poultry, but not 

with them. 

BACK IN THE DAY. A Savannah culinary 

landmark has published The Back in the 

Day Bakery Cookbook by Cheryl and 

Griffith Day (Artisan Books). I discovered 

this book while watching “The Martha 

Stewart Show,” and I knew that I had to 

have it. It is written by the owners of 

Savannah’s Back in the Day Bakery, an 

establishment now in its 10th year. Since 

the bakery itself is not kosher, I especially 

wanted the cookbook, which is full of many 

Southern desserts and breads that I knew I 

could make with kosher ingredients. In the 

book, bakery owners Cheryl and Griff Day 

share many of their customers’ favorites. I 

think this quote from the publisher says it 

all: “Celebrating family traditions, scratch 

See KOSHER AFFAIRS, page 34

July-August 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN — KASHER LIVING Page 33 

Kosher Korner 

BY 

Rabbi Reuven 

Stein 

The Atlanta Kashruth Commission 

thanks all who attended Kosher Day 

2012, making it a wonderful success 

Baruch Hashem. It was a lot of fun 

watching the game with friends and 

enjoying the delicious food from 

Goodfriend’s Grill, served on the Club 

Patio, which offers a great view of the 

ball field. The generous sponsors were 

The Marcus Foundation, Publix Super 

Markets Charities, and Toco Instant 

Printing. Raffle winners were Ms. 

Karen Langley, the Roth family, and 

the Berkowitz family. This event 

helped raise funds for AKC programs. 

KOSHER NEWS 

Goodfriend’s Grill at the Marcus 

Hillel Center’s summer hours, through 

August 21, are Monday-Thursday, 

5:00-8:00 p.m.; closed Fridays. Call 

404-963-2548 ext. 113. 

Advertising is available for the 

upcoming AKC Kosher Guide. For 

details, call the office, at 404-634- 

4063. 

The AKC has a few mashgiach 

opportunities available. Call Rabbi 

Stein for details, at 404-634-4063. 

Ali’s Cookies has opened a second 

location, under AKC supervision, in the 

Perimeter Place shopping center, near 

the Dunwoody Target, 4511 Olde 

Perimeter Way, Suite 300, Atlanta 

30346. Call 770-350-ALIS (2547). All 

cookies and cookie cakes are kosher 

dairy or kosher, dairy equipment. Hour 

are Sunday, 12:00 noon-4:00 p.m.; 

Monday-Thursday, 10:00 a.m.-8:30 

p.m.; and Friday, 10:00 a.m.–before 

Shabbos. 

Schakolad, a candy store in 

Dunwoody, has changed its name to 

CSD Enterprises DiAmno. It sells both 

kosher and non-kosher products. 

Double-check each product before 

making a purchase. Non-approved 

products include dipped strawberries, 

chocolate covered bacon, and salted 

caramels. 

KOSHER ALERTS 

Kroger Private Selection 

“Sorbetto” Desserts were, in the past, 

produced by OU plants and bore the 

OU symbol. Recently, production was 

moved to a non-OU plant (plant 

#3948). Consumers who have any 

Sorbetto OU product should check the 

plant code that is after the “Sell By” 

date on the bottom of the container. If 

the code is 3948, the OU is unauthorized. 

AKC policy is to accept most 

frozen raw vegetables without a 

hechsher, if they have no infestation 

issues (see the AKC Kosher Guide for 

more information) and have no seasoning 

or pasta. This is true only of raw 

vegetables. The AKC does not recommend 

frozen winter squash that is 

cooked. 

Not all Entenmann’s products are 

OU certified. Consumers should check 

each product for the OU-D symbol. 

Trader Joe’s chocolate chips are no 

longer certified pareve. They are certified 

dairy when bearing the OK-D. 

Older packages are pareve and are 

labeled accordingly. There is a petition 

asking Trader Joe’s to return to making 

the pareve chips at 

http://www.change.org/petitions/trader-joe-s-keep-the-chocolate-chipspareve#. 

Whole Foods carries pareve 

chocolate chips. 

Coke is introducing low-calorie 

versions of Fanta and Sprite as “Fanta 

Select” and “Sprite Select.” Both are 

kosher and pareve. 

Original Oreo Sandwich Cookies 

and Oreo Double Stuf Sandwich 

Cookies do not contain dairy ingredients, 

though they are manufactured on 

dairy equipment. Therefore, they may 

be consumed after meat and poultry, 

but not with them. 

OU-certified Christie Triscuit Low 

Sodium Roasted Garlic, Christie 

Brown, a Division of Kraft Canada, is 

missing the dairy designation. 

Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain and Wild 

Rice Mushroom Recipe mistakenly 

bears an OU symbol. It contains a spice 

packet that is not certified by the OU. 

Joy Cone brand Ice Cream Cones 

Fun Pack mistakenly bears the Star-K 

pareve symbol on the outside box. The 

Star-D Dairy symbol pertaining to the 

chocolate-coated cones was mistakenly 

left off the box. 

Rabbi Reuven Stein is director of 

supervision for the Atlanta Kashruth 

Commission, a non-profit organization 

dedicated to promoting kashruth 

through education, research, and 

supervision.


Kosher Affairs Recipes 

From page 32 

baking, and quality ingredients, The 

Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook is 

like a down-home bake sale in a book.” 

AND SPEAKING OF CULINARY 

LANDMARKS, The Horseradish Grill 

has been in the Alterman family since 

1995 and is Atlanta’s oldest continuously 

operating restaurant. Its menu reflects 

cherished Southern food traditions. 

Sadly, the Horseradish Grill is not 

kosher, but owner-founder Steve 

Alterman recently contributed two 

restaurant recipes to The Atlanta 

Journal-Constitution’s “From the Menu 

of” section. In case you missed this, I 

am reprinting the recipes for you. Steve 

told the AJC, “Our biscuit recipe is the 

original recipe brought to us by our 

inaugural chef, Scott Peacock. I recall 

Scott’s mentor, Edna Lewis, of blessed 

memory, sitting in our kitchen and 

coaching, or was it coaxing, Scott to 

make them as well as she had.” (How 

about publishing a cookbook, Steve?) 

What’s cooking? Email kosheraffairs@gmail.com. 

This column is meant 

to provide the reader with current trends 

and developments in the kosher marketplace. 

Since standards of kashruth certification 

vary, check with the AKC or 

your local kashruth authority to confirm 

reliability. 

Horseradish Grill Buttermilk Biscuits 

Recipe adapted from The Atlanta Journal- 

Constitution 

Makes 12 biscuits 

1 pound soft wheat flour (3-1/4 cups), plus 

extra for flouring work surface (White 

Lily, if available) 

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1/4 pound (1/2 cup) Crisco or butter 

1 1/2 cups buttermilk, more if needed 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly 

grease a small baking sheet. 

In a large bowl, stir together flour, 

baking powder, and salt. Cut in shortening. 

Add buttermilk and mix slowly. Add more 

buttermilk, if necessary, to make a dough 

that is soft, but not too sticky. Turn dough 

out onto a lightly floured surface. Pat into 

an 8” x 6” rectangle, 1/2” thick. Using a 

floured knife, cut the dough into 12 

squares. Prick each square with a fork, and 

arrange squares on baking sheet. Bake 5 

minutes, rotate baking sheet, and bake 5 

minutes more or until tops are golden. 

Remove from oven, brush with melted 

butter, and serve immediately. 

————— 

Horseradish Grill Succotash 

Recipe adapted from The Atlanta Journal- 

Constitution 

Serves 6 

1 pound lady peas, small limas, or crowder 

peas 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

1 tablespoon unsalted butter 

4 ears fresh corn, husked, kernels cut from 

cob 

1 small onion, diced 

1 teaspoon minced garlic 

1 small red pepper, diced 

2 tablespoons chopped parsley 

In a medium saucepan, cover peas 

with water and add salt. Bring to a boil, 

then reduce heat, and cook until peas are 

just tender. (Time will vary from 20 to 40 

minutes, depending upon size and freshness 

of peas.) 

While peas are cooking, melt butter in 

a large skillet. Add corn, onion, and garlic. 

Sauté until onion is cooked through. When 

peas are done, drain and add to skillet. Add 

red pepper pieces and parsley. Taste for 

seasoning, and serve immediately. 

————— 

Cinnamon-Sour Cream Coffee Cake 

Adapted from The Back in the Day Bakery 

Cookbook by Cheryl and Griffith Day 

(Artisan) 

This is a Southern classic. So delicious. 

Yes, there is a long list of ingredients, but 

it is a cinch to make. 

Streusel: 

1/4 cup packed light brown sugar 

1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt 

3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) 

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 

cubes 

Cake: 

2-1/2 cups cake flour 

2 teaspoons baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon sea salt 

1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom 

12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter 

at room temperature 

1-1/2 cups granulate sugar 

3 large eggs at room temperature 

1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

1-1/4 cups sour cream 

Glaze: 

3/4 cup confectioner’s sugar 

3 tablespoons honey 

2 tablespoons water 

Position a rack in lower third of the 

oven, and preheat to 350 degrees. 

Spray 10” tube pan with vegetable oil 

spray, and line bottom with a ring of parchment. 

Streusel: Combine brown sugar, flour, 

cinnamon, salt, and pecans. Cut in the butter 

with a pastry blender until crumbs are 

pea-sized. Place mixture in freezer until 

cake batter is mixed. 

Cake: Sift flour, baking powder, baking 

soda, salt, and cardamom; set aside. 

In a mixer, using the paddle attachment, 

cream butter and granulated sugar 

for 4-5 minutes, until light and fluffy. Add 

eggs, one at a time, mixing after each. Add 

the vanilla and sour cream. 

Add the flour mixture in thirds to the 

butter mixture, until just combined, with 

no flour streaks. Scrape down sides and 

bottom. 

Put half the batter into pan, and spread 

evenly with spatula. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup 

streusel. Spoon remaining batter into pan, 

and sprinkle with remaining streusel. 

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until tester 

inserted in cake comes out clean. Let cool 

on wire rack for 30 minutes. 

Glaze: Mix confectioner’s sugar, 

honey, and water. Turn out the cake, 

streusel side up, and drizzle on the glaze. 

Wrapped in plastic, the cake keeps at 

room temperature 2-3 days. 

Note: This is a fabulous recipe—irresistible 

for breakfast or brunch. Although 

many times, I convert recipes to parve ver- 

sions, I like this one dairy, just as it is. You 

can freeze the leftovers—if you’re lucky 

enough to have any! 

————— 

Bourbon Bread Pudding 

Adapted from The Back in the Day Bakery 

Cookbook 

Use day-old bread, like challah, in this 

decadent dessert recipe. If you don’t have 

any on hand, dry out fresh bread in the 

oven for about 10 minutes. Watch the 

video on how to make this at 

www.marthastewart.com. 

Pudding: 

12 tablespoons (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, 

plus more for baking dish 

1-1/2 pound ciabatta, brioche, or challah, 

cut into 1-1/2” cubes (9 cups) 

4 cups half-and-half 

1 cup packed light-brown sugar 

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

3 tablespoons vanilla extract 

5 large eggs, lightly beaten 

1 cup golden raisins 

Glaze: 

4 tablespoons unsalted butter 

2 tablespoons bourbon 

1 cup confectioners’ sugar 

1/2 cup heavy cream 

Pudding: Preheat oven to 350 degrees, 

with a rack set in the lower third of the 

oven. Lightly butter a 9” x 13” baking 

dish; set aside. 

Place bread in a large bowl. Add halfand-half, 

and toss to soak. Let it sit at room 

temperature while pudding is prepared. 

In a medium saucepan, melt butter 

over medium heat. Remove from heat, and 

add both sugars and vanilla; stir until 

smooth and well combined. 

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, then 

add the butter-sugar mixture until smooth 

and well combined. Pour this custard mixture 

over the bread, tossing until well combined. 

Pour bread mixture into prepared baking 

dish, spreading evenly. Sprinkle raisins 

over top, and gently work into pudding, 

making sure liquid covers the bread. 

Cover baking dish with aluminum 

foil. Transfer to oven and bake for 55 minutes. 

Remove foil, and continue baking 

until bread pudding is golden brown, 10 to 

15 minutes. 

Glaze: Melt butter in a saucepan over 

medium heat. Remove from heat, and add 

bourbon and confectioners’ sugar, stirring 

until incorporated. Add cream, and mix 

until smooth. Pour glaze over top of bread 

pudding, and let stand 15 minutes before 

serving. Bread pudding is best served 

warm, but can be kept refrigerated, tightly 

covered, for up to 4 days.


We are God’s partners 

By Celia Gilner 

On May 4, 2012, at the Kabbalat 

Shabbat service and 

a celebratory dinner 

attended by over 

one hundred people, 

Barbara Kleber was 

honored for fifty 

years as a teacher at 

Ahavath Achim’s 

religious school. 

Rabbi Arnold 

Goodman’s letter of 

Barbara Kleber 

tribute stated, 

“During my tenure 

as Ahavath Achim’s 

Rabbi[sic], it was a privilege having you 

anchor our Religious school faculty with 

your warmth, infectious smile, and engaging 

personality. All of us who worked with 

you knew we could rely upon you. You 

have been a model of consistency and stability 

that has inspired not only your students 

but also your colleagues on staff.” 

Rabbi Raphael Gold stated at the dinner, 

“All the children and parents wanted to 

be in her class. God sent me a gift in 1962.” 

Rabbi Neil Sandler wrote, “She has 

influenced three generations of Ahavath 

Achim students and to continue to do so 

over the course of fifty years is both 

astounding and incredibly praiseworthy.” 

What has contributed to her remarkable 

career, and what motivates Barbara to continue 

to inspire her students? 

Upon meeting Barbara, you are struck 

by her attractiveness, energy, and determination. 

Her conversation is peppered with 

references to God and her love of Judaism. 

She said, “This is what I was meant to do 

with my life. God expects me to teach as 

long as I am able.” She believes His hand 

has guided her life and spawned her lifetime 

desire to teach. 

As a teenager, Barbara was asked to be 

an assistant teacher in the Coral Gables 

Jewish Center’s 2nd grade. The Florida 

conservative synagogue grew so rapidly, 

that the class was divided in two. The 

teacher, Janet Finkelhor, recommended 15year-old 

Barbara as the instructor for one of 

the classes, which she continued to teach 

until her high school graduation. 

While studying at the University of 

Miami for her master’s degree in elementary 

education, with a minor in Jewish studies, 

she still managed to teach at Coral 

Gables Jewish Center. She taught in a public 

school for one year and part-time at the 

synagogue but was asked by Rabbi Morris 

Skop to start teaching there full-time. 

Six years later, Rabbi Raphael Gold 

interviewed Barbara for a position at 

Ahavath Achim Synagogue. She had just 

moved to Atlanta with her husband, Garvin, 

and their sons, four-year-old Steven and 

two-year-old Scott. She was anxious to 

make new friends. She had an easy rapport 

with Rabbi Gold, who told her, “You could 

not possibly meet more people than you 

will meet at Ahavath Achim.” Indeed, most 

of her friendships developed and continue 

at the synagogue, where she found that 

women have always been welcomed and 

appreciated. 

Barbara had multiple opportunities to 

teach in secular schools but feels there is an 

additional dimension to teaching in religious 

schools. She stressed that the importance 

of her teaching is not its longevity but 

the effect she has on the lives of others in 

the framework of a Jewish education. She 

hopes her pupils will continue to honor 

their heritage and feel comfortable about 

being Jewish. Nothing is more exciting to 

her and her pupils than when their faces 

light up because they understand a Bible 

story, learn Hebrew, or lead others in 

prayer. 

“What you teach can inspire and influence 

the way your pupils live and what kind 

of people they become. We are God’s partners. 

If I can get the children involved in the 

subject they really want to learn—if they 

know I care, they care; if I’m excited and 

feel it is important, they do too.” Positive 

reinforcement, by praising those who have 

their books open and are ready to study, 

motivates others to do the same. Having her 

students choose between two acceptable 

options involves them in the learning 

process. 

Fifty years of teaching has required 

Barbara to go over the same material countless 

times. She always learns new things in 

preparing lessons, by finding a different 

interpretation or a new way to relate a Bible 

story to the present time. “It takes a lot of 

creativity and ingenuity to keep the children 

interested,” she says. 

If the story is about Jacob’s dreams, 

she asks the children about their dreams. If 

God’s miracles and healing the sick are 

being discussed, she explains how sickness 

can sometimes be averted by not smoking 

and by eating properly. 

Barbara now teaches on Wednesday 

evenings and Sunday mornings. She has a 

3rd- and 4th-grade class in Bible studies 

and a 5th-grade class in prayers. 

Marcia Lindner, director of formal and 

informal education at Ahavath Achim, was 

a student of Barbara Kleber’s. Today, her 

daughter Hope is in Barbara’s class, and 

next year her son Seth will be. Marcia said 

that students come to class on Wednesday 

evenings after a full day of school, tired and 

knowing they have even more homework 

awaiting them. Even with their demanding 

schedules, Barbara is able to capture their 

attention, Marcia, says, by “her intuitive 

ability to reach the students, by adapting to 

their particular needs and interests. She 

teaches from the heart.” 

L’DOR V’DOR—FROM GENERATION 

TO GENERATION 

It is easy to see why teaching remains 

exciting and rewarding for Barbara Kleber. 

Her ideas are fresh, and her enthusiasm per- 

Barbara Kleber (center) working with students and parents 

meates her speech. Lucky are the thousands 

of students she has touched through her talents. 

In her closing remarks at the May 4 

celebratory dinner, she stated, “ I have been 

blessed to be able to use my ability, talent, 

and passion for teaching and my love of 

Judaism in such a meaningful and inspiring 

way. My life has been enriched and filled 

with purpose. My influence will continue to 

make a difference long after my years are 

over. I pray that God will grant me the ability 

to continue teaching and improving others 

in the years ahead.” May Barbara continue 

to be an influence for good in the lives 

of the children, parents, and the congregation 

of Ahavath Achim Synagogue.


JF&CS NEWS 

AWARDS ABOUND. Recently, two senior 

staff members of Jewish Family & Career 

Services of Atlanta received prestigious 

awards in the Jewish community. Chief 

Executive Officer Gary Miller came home 

from the Association of Jewish Family & 

Children’s Agencies (AJFCA) 40th Annual 

Conference, in Houston, at the end of April 

with the 2012 AJFCA Distinguished 

Service Award. In June, Chief Operating 

Officer Rick Aranson received the Marilyn 

Shubin Professional Staff Development 

Award, from the Jewish Federation of 

Greater Atlanta. 

Miller came to JF&CS Atlanta in 1991, 

following a successful career in social services 

in his native Montreal. Under his leadership, 

JF&CS has expanded from nine to 

more than 40 human service programs. The 

JF&CS budget has grown from $1.2 million 

to more than $13.5 million. 

In 1997, Miller oversaw the merger of 

two agencies, Jewish Family Services and 

Jewish Vocational Services, into a new entity, 

Jewish Family & Career Services. 

Today, due in large part to his expertise and 

vision, JF&CS Atlanta is a premier human 

service organization, serving more than 

30,000 individuals in both the Jewish and 

general communities. It is recognized for 

innovative programs and management, and 

it has become one of the most highly 

respected members of the AJFCA, an 

umbrella organization with 145 member 

agencies across North America. 

Aranson joined JF&CS in 2004, after 

practicing law and working in the technology 

sector. As COO, he oversees the 

agency’s programs and services in order to 

ensure their maximum impact and effectiveness. 

He has forged collaborative relationships 

that have had a tremendous 

impact on the organization’s ability to serve 

clients in different ways. For example, he 

led the negotiations between the Ben 

Massell Dental Clinic and Saint Joseph’s 

Mercy Care Services that resulted in 

expanded overall health services to the clinic’s 

patients. He is tenacious about program 

planning and evaluation, as well as in identifying 

resources and relationships that support 

the greater good of the clients JF&CS 

serves. 

JF&CS Chief Operating Officer Rick 

Aranson (left) and Chief Executive 

Officer Gary Miller 

MUSICARES VISITS BMDC. Music filled 

the seats (if not the air) at the Ben Massell 

Dental Clinic, February 22, when members 

of MusiCares streamed in and out during 

the day. MusiCares, a national organization 

established by The Recording Academy, 

best known for the GRAMMY Awards, 

landed a partnership with the BMDC in 

2009, to provide uninsured music professionals 

with free dental screenings, teeth 

cleanings, and complete x-rays. 

Dental care is considered a major gap 

in public health, and both MusiCares and 

the BMDC continue to work to address this 

need. 

Danny Smith hadn’t been to the dentist 

in seven years. The self-taught musician, 

whose last job was making $18 an hour at a 

cable company, has lived off unemployment 

for a year. Newly married, he doesn’t know 

how he’ll pay his rent next month. 

“This place is a Godsend,” said the 28year-old 

Danny. “I had holes in my teeth 

when I came here. The dentists there fixed 

me up.” 

This is the second time the BMDC has 

set aside a day for MusiCares, which provides 

a revenue stream for the clinic, unlike 

the rest of the population that come to the 

BMDC. Those served by the clinic do not 

have the means to pay for dental care. 

Established in 1989, MusiCares provides 

a safety net of critical assistance for 

local members of the music industry in 

Notes from an old dinosaur 

BY 

Balfoura Friend 

Levine 

I must admit it—I am a dinosaur! My 

camera still has film in it, this article was written 

on my trusty IBM Selectric III typewriter, I 

don’t comprendez ‘puters, and have no idea 

what to do with the cell phone that my children 

gave me to use whenever I drive. (They say 

that, in case of the “God forbids,” I can dial 

911). 

I enjoy using the treadmill in our exercise 

room here at the Renaissance, and the boredom 

is alleviated by my little boombox that I plug 

in, as I’m hopefully burning a few calories each 

time. I have a bunch of cassettes (yes, I still use 

those that I’ve accumulated over the years) and 

listen to golden oldies to kill time. 

Yesterday, I heard the nasal tones of Willie 

Nelson singing “Blue Skies.” Wow, that took 

me back to my childhood in China, where my 

times of need. The organization collaborates 

with industry and health-related nonprofit 

organizations throughout the country 

to ensure the most appropriate, comprehensive, 

and vital services are provided to its 

clients. 

A SPECIAL GRADUATION STORY. Meet 

Eren. Eren recently achieved a major milestone, 

one so many students aspire to during 

their educational careers: graduating from 

college. He earned his bachelor’s degree in 

finance from Marshall University, in West 

Virginia. That isn’t all, though; he did it 

with honors, graduating cum laude. That 

accomplishment would be a huge feat for 

anyone. But Eren has Asperger’s syndrome, 

a developmental disability considered to be 

on the autism spectrum. Asperger’s adds an 

extra challenge when navigating complex 

social situations, something that is difficult 

even for neurotypical college students away 

from home for the first time. 

Eren graduates with honors 

Eren began using Jewish Family & 

Career Service’s Tools for Independence 

(TFI) more than two and a half years ago. 

When he would come home from Marshall 

during school breaks, he would work with a 

direct support professional from the 

Zimmerman-Horowitz Independent Living 

Program and share his college triumphs and 

challenges with his support network. 

“Eren is just amazing, and we are so 

proud of him,” said Rena Harris, ZH-ILP 

program manager. 

The ZH-ILP staff works with Eren to 

be more independent, and it provides social 

father had bought a gramophone, and “Blue 

Skies” was among the tunes on those big old 78 

record platters. That company making those 

old phonographs, as we call them now, was 

RCA Victor, with the logo of a dog, listening to 

“His Master’s Voice.” It did not run on electricity; 

we had to wind it up every few minutes. 

But it was pure magic for this six-year-old. 

There was even more magic a year or two later, 

when my father brought home a box, plugged a 

wire into probably the only outlet in the entire 

house, and—voila!—a man’s voice came out, 

saying something about the day’s news. Papa 

was ecstatic, I’m sure, but the magic was all 

mine. 

I do have some CDs and play all those 

support for him through things like TFI’s 

club for adults with Asperger’s. “The support 

we give is to help him be more independent, 

along with a lot of social support. 

Right now, he is looking for both a job and 

to move into his own place. He is getting 

ready to start the next chapter of his life.” 

TFI WORKS CLEANING SERVICE. Is 

the dust and dirt in your workplace getting 

you down? Get your office expertly cleaned 

by enthusiastic TeamWORKS participants. 

TeamWORKS, a program of Tools for 

Independence, now provides cleaning services 

to businesses in the Atlanta area. The 

program operates 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., 

Monday-Friday, and services can be provided 

to businesses on a daily or weekly basis. 

The team comprises four TFI clients and a 

staff member, who assists with supervision 

and transportation. 

TFI WORKS crew 

“This is a great program for our clients, 

because it teaches them valuable employment 

skills,” says Rachel Miller, director of 

TFI WORKS. “Plus, this is paid work, so 

they have an opportunity to build up their 

own business.” 

Is confidentiality an issue? 

TeamWORKS honors confidentiality of all 

files. And service is provided during the 

day. 

References are available upon request. 

Current happy customers include WYZE 

Radio and Therapy Works. 

Contact Rachel Miller, at 770-677- 

9450 or rmiller@jfcs-atlanta.org, for more 

information. 

wonderful tunes we call golden oldies, and I 

listen to them on another player in my apartment. 

Of course, they are outdated, too, what 

with smartphones, iPods, and all the other 

whatchamacallits on the market now, that every 

teenager uses to tweet, twiddle, or take pictures, 

be on Facebook or whatever else the 

young folks do to, with, and for, these days. 

I told you I was a dinosaur. Believe me, I 

can’t even name some of the modern marvels 

around me. Perhaps in my next life; but, by that 

time, all the above stuff will be obsolete. And 

then what? I’m too old and tired to even think 

about it. In fact, a little nap would feel just right 

now. 

In the meantime, God Bless America.


The romance of Israeli trains 

By Lynne and Tom Keating 

The El Al flight from Toronto cut 

through the sunrise and landed at about 

7:00 a.m., at Ben Gurion Airport, 

Wednesday, October 26, 2011. We collected 

our bags, cleared passport control and customs, 

visited the restrooms and an ATM, 

and then purchased a Winter 2011-12 Train 

Time Table at the ticket office. 

An escalator took us down to the track, 

where we boarded #148 to Savidor Center, 

one of four stations in Tel Aviv. 

This was Lynne’s third, Tom’s initial, 

and our first shared trip to Israel. The rail 

experience from the airport lived up to a 

guide book description: “The most straightforward 

method of getting from Ben Gurion 

airport to Tel Aviv is by train.” 

We love trains. Why should Israel be 

different? 

After two days of beach walks, exploring 

street markets, and living and reliving 

Tel Aviv and Jaffa’s attractions, we stood on 

Platform 4, waiting for our second train. 

Trip notes remind us that for 22 new Israeli 

shekels (NIS) each, we boarded Train 6519 

at precisely 11:44 a.m. and headed eastward 

to Jerusalem. 

Several more Israelis climbed on at the 

quick stops at the HaShalom and HaHagana 

stations. We whisked through stations listed 

in the schedule book and reached Lod two 

minutes after noon. 

With the rhythmic clacking of wheels 

on the track and an occasional whoo of a 

whistle, we looked from two seats in row 15 

through somewhat dirty windows at the 

marvels moving past: a caravan of twenty 

camels, refineries, turtledoves, cattle egrets, 

tawny mounds of earth, and green agricultural 

fields. 

Walking through the cars, we saw military 

personnel with yarmulkes and guns, 

sleeping youngsters, readers of Lonely 

Planet guidebooks, students with 

earplugs—and no dining car. 

The lion-skin color of the rolling hills 

reminded us of northern New Mexico, 

while the drooping willows at the creek’s 

edge, the Bedouins picking olives and other 

fruits off trees, and the sheep in stone compounds 

offered distinct scenes of Erev 

Israel. 

We traveled east through Ramla, Bet 

Shemesh, rolling topography, and the 

Jerusalem Biblical Zoo and arrived in less 

than two hours at our destination—the new, 

clean, modern Malha station. We were in 

the City of David. 

Departure schedule at Malha Station 

in Jerusalem 

Despite an Atlanta rabbi’s critique that, 

“The trains are OK, just so slow,” we firmly 

hold to the adage that train time is like no 

other. Train buffs rarely ask or answer the 

question: “How long did it take?” Rather, 

we began to prepare for our Georgia Jewish 

friends asking incredulously, “What trains 

in Israel?” 

We disembarked from our second 

adventure, gave thanks, hailed a cab to The 

Little House of Bakah (our delightful bed 

and breakfast recommended by another 

Atlanta rabbi), and then walked to the 

Western Wall for our first Sabbath in Yireh 

Shalem. 

A week later, on our 86-kilometer 

return trip to Tel Aviv, the northern windows 

became our portals to the same scenes 

in the Soreq Valley, which never tired us, 

especially when, from our car, we could see 

the engine winding west toward Tel Aviv, 

along the deep river bed. 

Window view of train curving 

through countryside to Tel Aviv 

We yearned for a handy copy of the 5th 

edition of Baedeker’s Palestine and Syria 

1912, yet we knew we could read this 

unique account when we returned home, in 

the special collections area of Emory’s 

Woodruff Library. 

Instead, we used The Guide to Israel 

(1964) by Zev Vilnay and remembered 

Martin Gilbert’s description of the “narrow 

gauge, single-track railway” from its 1892 

beginning, when the Jaffa-Jerusalem line 

was started by the Jewish and Ottoman financier 

Joseph Navon. 

Years before our adventure, Rabbi 

“Alphabet” Browne, of The Temple, had 

reported on these same plans in the Jewish 

South. 

We read and reminisced about the pilgrims, 

settlers, missionaries, and tourists 

who had taken this same ride in the Yishuv. 

A friend and former Temple member, 

Fran Hunter, who made aliyah and now 

lived in Netanya, encouraged us to ride the 

train to Haifa and then take buses to Safed, 

Tiberius, and back to Jerusalem. 

So we boarded a double-decker in Tel 

Aviv, with one suitcase. Our car had neither 

a luggage rack nor any overhead space, 

Unique volunteer opportunity in Israel 

Volunteers for Israel is planning a 

Southeast (eight-state) Regional trip to 

Israel, November 4-22. 

VFI has been a vibrant force in bringing 

Jews and Christians to Israel, to experience 

an adventure of a lifetime. 

This 30-year-old program is open to 

healthy individuals, ages 18-80, who are 

seeking something different. VFI participants 

volunteer in a safe job environment 

on an Israeli Army base, working, eating, 

and living on the base Sunday-Thursday, to 

give Israel and her soldiers a helping hand. 

Volunteers can travel locally on their 

own on weekends or join special activities 

planned for the group, including walking 

tours, shopping, and sightseeing in Tel Aviv 

or other Israeli cities on the first weekend. 

On the second weekend, volunteers 

can register for a 2-day bus tour with a 

licensed tour guide in the area south of Tel 

Aviv, including Sderot; Kibbutz Yad 

Mordechai; Ben Gurion’s desert home; and 

the Black Arrow memorial, where participants 

will pay their respects to General 

Aaron Davidi, founder of VFI; and more. 

On Friday night (erev Shabbat), there will 

be an overnight stop and Shabbat dinner at 

the Beduoin Hospitality Center, in the 

Negev Desert. 

The registration fee for this trip is $90. 

Participants will make their own flight 

arrangements and will meet early Sunday 

morning, November 4, at Ben Gurion 

Airport, near Tel Aviv. 

For the second weekend activities, 

there will be an additional charge of 

approximately $320 (depending on the 

number of people going), to cover two 

overnights, two breakfasts, Shabbat dinner, 

licensed guide, bus, and gratuities. 

This program ends on Thanksgiving— 

November 22—but it is possible to do two 

weeks on the program and the weekend 

which forced us to leave the rolling 

Samsonite behind our seats on the first 

floor. When we first glimpsed the turquoise 

water, we excitedly climbed upstairs to 

enjoy our ticketed view of the 

Mediterranean for 46.50 NIS. 

Coastal view from train window 

The romantic and historical scenery 

sped by. We returned aglow to our seats, 

startled to find our luggage gone. Imagine 

two American tourists, like schlumps, leaving 

luggage unattended on an Israeli train. 

Luckily, Judah, an attendant in the 

HaShaman station, in Haifa, helped us 

reboard back to Binyamin. We had no time 

to study its Rothschildean roots, as we 

jumped off, ran to a train side office, 

grabbed our bag—which must have been 

searched and x-rayed, since no one slowed 

us down—and, within three minutes, 

stepped onto the northbound train for a 

third and last look at the beaches from Dor 

to Atlit. 

All’s well that ends well. With better 

insights, after six train rides, including two 

free ones, Israel and its trains beckon us to 

return. Next year in Jerusalem—to ride the 

light rail. 

The Keatings, Lynne, a writer, and Tom, an 

educator, are members of The Temple. 

tour and still be back in time for turkey and 

all the trimmings. 

There will be a meeting in late August 

for local participants. For information, visit 

www.vfi-usa.org, then call Sharon Sleeper, 

404-378-8692, Alan Mintz, 770-522-8960, 

Tim Anderson 404-441-1176, or Leon 

Rechtman, 770-328-4573.


Schwartz on Sports 

BY 

Jerry 

Schwartz 

ALTA COCKER V. It was a beautiful 

spring morning at the Marcus Jewish 

Community Center of Atlanta. The softball 

fields were lined off and ready for 

play, the umpires were there, and approximately 

100 guys who had played in the 

Adult Softball League during the years 

1971-1992 showed up at 9:00 a.m., ready 

for some softball, friendly conversation, 

and good food. Gene Benator was 

addressing everyone and giving directions, 

so it had to be Alta Cocker V. 

I arrived with my wife, Nancy, just as 

Gene was talking about the four teams— 

the Moyels, Nebbishes, Farmishts, and 

Meshugeners—and distributing lists indicating 

who was assigned to them. He also 

talked about the guys who were playing 

for the first time: Howard Finkelstein 

drove in from Birmingham to take the 

mound, and Bob Spector, Howard 

Kelman, Marty Ellin, Josh Kamin (and 

son, a future center star), Milton 

Silberstein, Arnie Schneider, Jerry 

Draluck, and Ed Hano were there and 

ready to play. Gene recognized the three 

former players who had passed away during 

the year. We observed a moment of 

silence for Henry Levi, Hal Krafchick, 

and Marvin Isenberg. 

Once again, Gene had everything 

well organized, and we played a round 

robin of three games, each lasting two 

innings. I was able to play this year and 

even had Richard Luftig hit me some 

ground balls at Zaban during the week. 

Thanks, Richard. Unfortunately, the first 

ball hit to me at shortstop wasn’t an easy 

one or two bouncer, but a shot by Chuck 

Palefsky in the hole. I managed to get my 

glove on it and tried to field it off my right 

cheekbone. Thanks, Chuck, for the shiner. 

The rest of the day was much tamer. I 

even got to be the “middle man” in two 

double plays. Of course, with Alta 

Cockers running, there was plenty of time 

to make the pivot at second and throw to 

first. For the second straight year, Lloyd 

Marbach made the play of the day, when 

he snagged a shot by Scott Moscow down 

the third base line. 

Gene sent the guys an e-mail with 

some of the highlights of the morning, and 

I’m going to include them, as well as 

other observations. It was great to see 

some veteran Alta Cockers, whose playing 

days go back to when Gene started in 

the league in 1971 and earlier. 

Ralph Kahn told me that his grandson, 

Jared, was named Chattahoochee 

Valley Community College’s most outstanding 

student for the 2011-12 academic 

year. Jared, who earned his associate’s 

degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was the 

star of the night. The son of Phillip and 

Fredericka Kahn, he plans to pursue a 

career in medicine and will be playing 

baseball at Emory University next year. 

That should help Ralph with his gasoline 

Alta Cocker Veterans: (front, from left) George Wise, Mort Diamenstein, 

Lester Pazol, Jon Miller, Willie Green, Ralph Amiel, Joel Lobel, Jerry 

Schwartz, Fred Benamy, and Bob Marmer; (back) Bobby Thompson, Ed 

Solomon, Jay Cohen, and Alan Wolkin. Not pictured: Gabby Balser, Donnie 

Diamond, Bill Klineman, Jim Clancy, and Ralph Kahn 

bill. 

The Metro Boys (Ronnie Merlin, Art 

Seiden, Joel Lobel, Frank Cervasio, Tom 

Harvey, and Robbie Baron) were all there. 

George Shulhofer still looks in great 

shape and reminded me that, 25 years ago, 

I showed him my glove, on which I had 

written in the pocket, “Keep your head 

down.” That’s pretty ironic, considering 

what happened to me about 30 minutes 

later. 

Gene Benator showed us a new move, 

fielding a dribbler down the first-base 

line. He tried to use his “soccer kick” to 

get the ball to first, a move he had used 

successfully 13 times before, according to 

Gene. It didn’t work this time. 

It was great seeing Robbie Baron, 

who had just completed a five-mile run 

before coming to the game. Robbie looks 

like he could get back on the basketball 

court again. 

Howard Wertheimer was playing 

shortstop, with his Mickey Mantle number 

seven on and looking like Derek Jeter. 

(That might be a stretch.) 

My son Michael and granddaughter 

Sophia got to see some of the game, when 

they came over after watching grandson 

Zachary in a T-ball game on a nearby 

field. 

There was a great deli spread after the 

game, thanks to Marcus Katz, who sponsored 

it. Nancy and I shared a table with 

George Wise, Lloyd and Peggy Marbach, 

and Neil Wiesenfeld and his family. 

I got an extra treat after the game, 

when Brian Wertheim invited me to attend 

the Hawks-Celtics playoff game that 

night, which the Hawks won. Thanks, 

Brian, for capping off a fun day. 

Thanks again to Gene and Marcus for 

making it happen. I’m already looking 

forward to Alta Cocker VI. 

Letʼs do it again next year: Gene 

Benator and Marcus Katz 

THE GOLD DUST TWINS. During the 

Alta Cocker game, Chuck Palefsky told 

me that his father, Abram “Pete” Palefsky, 

who died in 1974, was going to be 

enshrined in the Savannah Greater 

Athletic Hall of Fame, on May 7, and 

Chuck was accepting the award and making 

remarks. Chuck’s uncle, Bernie 

Kramer, who died in 1987, was also being 

honored, and his son, Andy, would do the 

same for his father. Their selection was 

for basketball and community service. 

Pete and Bernie had previously been 

Bernie Kramer and Pete Palefsky: 

The Gold Dust Twins, 1947–48, 

Commercial High School 

enshrined in the Jewish Educational 

Alliance Athletic Hall of Fame. 

During the 1940s, at ages 13-14, Pete 

and Bernie were terrific basketball players 

in Savannah and were nicknamed “The 

Gold Dust Twins” by a Savannah sportswriter. 

Their basketball high school careers 

were interrupted by World War II, when 

Pete entered the Navy and Bernie the 

Marines at age 16. After the war, they 

came back to Savannah and played 

together on the first basketball team at 

Commercial High School. 

They both received letters of intent to 

play at the University of North Carolina 

but decided to stay in Savannah and play 

at Armstrong Junior College, because they 

wanted to play for their hometown. 

Armstrong Junior College made it to the 

National Junior College Tournament in 

1948, finishing in third place, and the reputation 

of “The Gold Dust Twins” grew. 

They were tenacious, famous for their 

“blind passes,” ability to drive for the 

bucket, and love of the game. 

Chuck told me about the exhibition 

game in Savannah between the JEA 

Tornados and the Detroit Vagabonds, a 

traveling professional team founded by 

Abe Saperstein, the man who founded the 

famous Harlem Globetrotters. The Gold 

Dust Twins performed so well that they 

were offered positions on the Vagabonds, 

but declined because they didn’t want to 

lose their amateur status. 

Chuck said his father spent the later 

years of his life coaching and managing 

league teams. He had a real love of the 

game and a love for his hometown. 

I hope you enjoyed this edition. Until 

next time, drive for the bucket and score.


Out to the field: An Atlanta Jewish sports story, Part II 

By David Geffen 

Part I of this story appeared in the May-June 

issue of The Jewish Georgian. 

My football career continued in a limited 

fashion. I acquired a secondhand football and 

a helmet, so if I was somewhere and had this 

basic equipment with me, a game was possible. 

We had a few games at Grant Park, the 

public park on Atlanta’s south side. A rowdy 

group frequented the park, and those of us who 

were not really athletes got banged up. My 

parents could not figure out where all my 

bruises came from, since I merely told them 

that I was just going out to have a good time. 

After one season in 1948, my football 

burst and there was no interest in reviving it. 

What made all these sports more fun were the 

games behind the shul, Shearith Israel, on 

Washington Street. 

The synagogue building, the little shul, 

was completed in 1930. As part of its previous 

structure, Shearith Israel had built a large mikvah. 

There, many of the boys and girls, none of 

whom is still alive, learned how to swim. My 

grandfather, Rabbi Tobias Geffen, was not a 

certified lifeguard, but he was the one who 

checked the mikvah to make sure it was 

“kosher.” No pictures of that mikvah exist, but 

I was told that it was enormous, 40’ x 70’. 

Women came only after 8:00 p.m., and the 

men had free range the rest of the time. 

When the new shul was constructed, a 

piece of land was left in the back, extending up 

to the wooden fence that marked the boundary 

of the property. In spite of the rocky terrain, in 

spite of rising ground on the sides, and in spite 

of the length and width, that land became a 

sports paradise. Every day, before religious 

school started at 3:30 p.m., the field behind the 

shul was packed. 

Let me recall a few of the notable athletes. 

The first were the Tuck brothers: Bobby, 

Leon, and Albert. They happened to be 

Kohanim, and I assumed that, when they 

duchaned on the holidays, their sporting spirit 

rose. They blessed us, and God blessed them. 

Only Albert was in my age range. He was 

a natural athlete who excelled in all sports. His 

hands were large, so he could handle a football 

and basketball with ease. Albert seemed to 

have springs in his legs—jumping was no 

problem for him. His two older brothers, 

Bobby and Leon, played high school basketball 

well and led their team to the finals on a 

few occasions. Albert’s crowning moment was 

in the Georgia state tournament, when he not 

only scored 20 points but also blocked a number 

of shots. 

Irving “Boogie” Boorstein played only 

when he was home from the yeshiva in 

Baltimore where he studied. His set shot was 

superb; he could steal bases without any indication 

whatsoever; and he was a wonderful 

wide receiver long before that term was used. 

Charles Firestone got most of the height 

in his family and used it to good advantage in 

softball and basketball. His older brother, 

Stanford, was a terrific basketball player. As I 

watched all these people—as well as others I 

have not mentioned—I wondered what I could 

do. 

First off, my father was a southpaw—a 

leftie—so I thought that he could not teach me 

too much. His left-handedness and my righthandedness 

turned out to be heaven-sent. He 

had an old glove from the teens, southpaw of 

course, but he made me use it while he and I 

practiced throwing. After a few weeks, I could 

catch and pitch pretty well. Then, with my 

own glove, I moved on to the shul, where I 

practiced my batting and got into shape. 

By age 10, I was ready for the shul 

league. I was always stuck in the short outfield, 

but I did make a few nice grabs. My hitting 

picked up—mostly singles, but at least I 

was in the lineup. 

The big concern was always the fence at 

the end of the outfield, which marked someone 

else’s property. Of course, hitting the ball over 

the fence was a home run. The problem was 

how to retrieve the ball. Different people performed 

this function with skill and finesse. 

One day, someone hit the ball over the fence 

when I was playing. 

“David, climb under the fence and get the 

ball.” 

“Why me?” I cried out. “Surely another 

person can do it better and quicker.” 

“Just because you are the rabbi’s grandkid, 

you think that you are special, someone 

said.” 

What could I do? I slid under the fence, 

got the ball, and threw it back. 

“Kid, what are you doing in my backyard?” 

a woman shouted from her back porch. 

“This is private property, not for Jewboys like 

you. I am coming out to give you a whipping.” 

Luckily, I was able to get back under the fence 

before she came out there. Was I scared1 That 

was the only time I ever got the ball. 

As I gravitated from playing behind the 

shul to playing on a real field, I realized that I 

had a talent in softball. I discovered that my 

right throwing arm was really strong, so I was 

able to make the teams in the Boy Scouts, in 

AZA. and later in the college fraternity as an 

outfielder. I challenged many runners to take 

an extra base on my arm, and, usually, I was 

able to throw them out. My hitting was never 

that consistent. I was too slow to steal bases, 

but my arm was like a rocket. 

Stan Silverman, our AZA softball coach, 

once told me, “You have studied a lot of Torah 

to have a throwing arm that strong. I knew that 

your grandfather could teach, but I never knew 

he taught baseball, too.” 

I did not make the traveling squads for 

any sport, but I enjoyed the competition and 

the camaraderie that I found on the Atlanta 

playing fields in my younger years. When I 

look at my children and grandchildren and 

focus on all the sports they have played in 

Israel, I am really proud of them. They have a 

joyful sense of sporting enthusiasm.


MISH MASH 

By Erin O’Shinskey 

NEW BOARD. The new board members of 

the Peach State Stitchers, Atlanta Chapter, of 

The Pomegranate Guild of Judaic 

Needlework, are: Jacqueline Granath, president; 

Debbie Taratoot, corresponding secretary; 

Vilma Arensen, recording secretary; 

Luci Sunshine, treasurer; committee chairs 

Roberta Gross and Susan Big (membership), 

Pamela Rishfeld and June Schwartz (program), 

Judy Berman (newsletter), Gail 

Sklosky (community relations), Barbara 

Flexner and Barbara Rucket (field trips), Judy 

Sternberg (stitch-ins), Flora Rosefsky (publicity), 

Arlette Berlin and Carol Katz (tzedakah), 

Margie Steiner (website); and Brenda 

Bookman, Rina Wolfe, and Harriet Zoller, 

members at large. 

Outgoing Peach State Stitchers president 

Barbara Flexner (left) and newly 

installed chapter president Jacqueline 

Granath hold painted ceramic pomegranates 

on which their names, along 

with other past chapter presidents, are 

inscribed 

“BUTTERFLY,” HERE AND IN RUSSIA. 

Atlanta’s famed Boy Choir, under the direction 

of Maestro Fletcher Wolfe, has returned 

from St. Petersburg, Russia, where it presented, 

“I Never Saw Another Butterfly.” The 

music was written by Cantor Charles 

Davidson to the poems of the Jewish children 

who were imprisoned by the Nazis during the 

Second World War in Teresianstadt, 

Czechoslovakia. Of the 15,000 children 

interned, only 150 survived. The choir has 

performed this work of hope and despair to 

The Atlanta Boy Choir at its recent 

performance of “I Never Saw 

Another Butterfly,” at The Temple 

audiences worldwide for almost a half century 

and recently gave a performance at The 

Temple, with Mira Hirsch narrating. 

AWARD WINNERS. This year’s Lee Haertel 

Award went to Nathan Cohen and Jason 

Zarge. The award is given annually to the 12year-old 

Sandy Springs Youth Sports National 

League player (or players) who displays 

excellence on the playing field, in addition to 

exhibiting utmost sportsmanship, citizenship, 

and scholarship. Lee Haertel was a tireless 

worker who donated freely of his time and talents 

to make SSYS a tremendous baseball 

program for all. He served as a coach, manager, 

and president of the league. He was 

beloved by all who knew him and was a role 

model for all. 

Jason Zarge (left) and Nate Cohen 

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN HONORED. On May 

18, Israeli Major-General (Ret.) Isaac Ben- 

Israel, Georgia State Representative and 

House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, and 

living members of the Tuskegee Airmen laid a 

wreath on the tomb of WWII comrade and 

Atlanta native 1st Lt. Walter D. 

Westmoreland, at South View Cemetery. 

Major General Ben-Israel was in Atlanta to 

speak at the Georgia International Law 

Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) 20th 

Anniversary Gala and brief Georgia law 

enforcement agency heads on security matters. 

Lt. Westmoreland graduated from 

Tuskegee Army Flying School (Class 43-G), 

on July 28, 1943. On October 13, 1944, he 

was killed in combat. 

LUNCH WITH THE GIRLS. Members of 

Mount Scopus Group of Greater Atlanta 

Hadassah recently enjoyed a fabulous kosher 

lunch at the Argentinian grill restaurant, 

FuegoMundo, 5590 Roswell Road, Sandy 

Springs. On the first Monday of every month, 

Fuego Mundo will donate 10% of the cus- 

tomer’s lunch or dinner bill to Greater Atlanta 

Hadassah; obtain a coupon from 

Atlanta.hadassah.org. For more information 

about this “fun”raiser, contact Edie Barr, at 

404-325-0340. Pictured (from left) are Edie 

Barr, Jody Franco, Regine Rosenfelder, Pearl 

Schaikewitz, Marilyn Perling, and Shoshana 

Kagan 

NEW CONFIRMATION CLASS. Reform 

Jewish Congregation Ner Tamid, of West 

Cobb, now offers confirmation classes, which 

are guided by Rabbi Tom Liebschutz and 

Reuven Milikovsky. In addition, the 

Religious School holds classes for children, 

from pre-K through b’nai mitzvah. 

Confirmation Class, for those grades 8-12, 

will be held in Acworth, beginning August 26. 

Congregation membership is not required in 

the first year of enrollment. Need-based 

scholarships are available for those who qualify. 

For more information, e-mail education@mynertamid.org, 

visit www.mynertamid.org, 

or call 678-264-8575. 

OFFICERS INSTALLED. The Mt. Scopus 

Group of Greater Atlanta Hadassah had its 

closing luncheon and installation of officers, 

May 20, at the Selig Center. Toby Parker, past 

group president of Mt. Scopus and past president 

of Greater Atlanta Hadassah, installed 

the board. Pictured: (from left) Marilyn 

Perling, co-president; Susan Berkowitz, copresident; 

Toby Parker; Loretta Bernstein, 

corresponding secretary; Baily Olim, recording 

secretary; Sally Rosenberg, treasurer; 

Edie Barr, co-VP fundraising; Sarah 

Silverman (with baby Leora), co-VP fundraising; 

Regine Rosenfelder, co-VP membership; 

Suzan Tibor, VP programming; and Lois 

Cohen, VP education. Not pictured: Julia 

Alvo, co-VP membership 

BRANDEIS OFFICERS. The Atlanta 

Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee 

held its closing luncheon and installation of 

2012-2013 officers, May 9, at the McCormick 

& Schmidt’s Perimeter location. Guest speaker 

was Tammy Stokes, of West Coast 

Rhonda Bercoon, outgoing co-president 

(from left); Joyce Natbony, 

2012-2013 president; Melissa 

Rosenbloum, outgoing co-president 

Workout, whose topic was “Being the Best 

You at Any Age.” Joyce Natbony was 

installed as the 2012-2013 president. 

Immediate past-presidents are Melissa 

Rosenbloum and Rhonda Bercoon. The Helen 

M. Goldstein Volunteer of the Year Award 

was presented to Barbie Perlmutter. 

HAVERIM SCOUTS. Haverim, the only 

Jewish Girl Scout Service Unit in the USA, in 

conjunction with the Jewish War Veterans 

Post 112, placed flags on Jewish veteran’s 

graves in Greenwood Cemetery on May 20. 

Other major programs this year were a singalong 

at The Bremen Museum, camping at 

Pine Acres, Girl Scout Shabbat services, and a 

Bridging Ceremony at Congregation Or 

Hadash. Troops meet at The Epstein School, 

Greenfield Hebrew Academy, Marcus Jewish 

Community Center of Atlanta, and 

Congregation Beth Shalom. For information 

about joining or forming a new troop, contact 

Sheila Mills, smills@mindspring.com, or 

Judy Glassman, jteacher@mindspring.com. 

TASTE OF TOCO. On Sunday, June 3, the 

Mt. Scopus Group of Greater Atlanta 

Hadassah held its first annual “A Taste of 

Toco,” during which the group toured four 

special homes in Toco Hill. Event sponsor 

Whole Foods Market, at Briarcliff and 

LaVista Roads, provided snacks and coupons 

for all who attended. The money from this 

fundraiser goes to support medical research at 

the state-of-the-art Hadassah hospitals in 

Jerusalem, Israel. For more information about 

Hadassah and upcoming events, contact 

Susan Berkowitz, 404-622-9601, or Marilyn 

Perling, 404-294-1613, or email mtscopushadassah@aol.com. 

Mt. Scopus members (from left) Evi 

Resnick, Barbara Fisher (house tour 

co-chair), Edie Barr (house tour cochair), 

Shirlee Kaplan, and Sally 

Rosenberg 

GIVE BLOOD, SAVE A LIFE. Every summer, 

there is an increased need for blood 

donations. Right now, all blood types, especially 

types O negative and positive, B negative, 

and A negative, are needed to help ensure 

a sufficient blood supply for patients. Visit 

redcrossblood.org and enter your zip code to 

find a blood drive or blood donation center. 

The Red Cross hosts numerous drives daily in 

the Atlanta area and has six blood donation 

centers in metro Atlanta. Appointments can be 

made online or by calling 1-800-RED 

CROSS.

FEDERATION NEWS - The Jewish Georgian

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