January-February 2012 - The Jewish Georgian

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Page 34 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN January-February 2012 JF&CS NEWS RAINBOW CENTER HONORS OWEN HALPERN. Owen Halpern does not like attention. He is a private person who would rather provide help to others quietly. Halpern is not a religious man— at least not in a conventional way. Instead, says lifelong friend M a r n i n Steinberg, he “is Owen Halpern very spiritual, with a beautiful ‘Yiddisha Neshama’—a Jewish soul. He has the ability to help others in a way that allows them to retain their personal dignity and move forward with their lives.” Halpern will be receiving a lot of attention on March 10, when The Rainbow Center and its parent organization, Jewish Family & Career Services, honor him with the 2012 Rainmaker Award at Purim Off Ponce, the center’s annual fundraiser. Anyone who knows Halpern is aware of his longtime support of The Rainbow Center, which was founded to serve the needs of GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) individuals, their families, and professionals. For the past six years, he has generously supported the center with charitable gifts, by hosting numerous outreach events, and by volunteering to speak at its educational workshops. Halpern wants others to know the important service the center provides and the way it promotes a healing message of love, tolerance, and acceptance. “Owen’s endless dedication has been vital to The Rainbow Center’s operations and ensuring that everyone has a safe place to turn to,” says Rebecca Stapel-Wax, its director. “Being silent and not standing up and confronting prejudice is dangerous these days,” Halpern says. “There is too much hatred in the world, and we have to be vigilant as Jews, certainly, and I must be, too, as a gay man. One of the best ways to combat all this is through education and knowledge.” In addition to being enormously loving and kind, say his friends, Halpern is a “renaissance man.” A former restaurant owner, he continues to build on his talent for cooking and entertaining. He has cultivated award-winning gardens and has traveled the world to bring fine designs to Atlanta. He is currently director of OH! Atlanta Tours, a perfect match for his facility with words, education, and making people feel valued. “Owen is very proud to carry on the legacy of service and giving back to the community established by his father, Bernard Halpern,” says Steinberg. “This generous spirit is shared by Owen’s siblings, nephews, nieces, and cousins.” Halpern became involved with The Rainbow Center when Stapel-Wax reached out to him. Prior to that, he had been active in similar organizations, but when he learned more about the center and JF&CS, it seemed like a natural fit. Since then, he has served on the JF&CS Board of Directors and co-chaired both the Community of Caring event, which kicks off the Annual Campaign each year, and Tools for Leaders, which grooms people to become involved in leadership roles with the agency. “The Rainbow Center is about going into the community and educating—teaching people about things like bullying, which is such a crucial subject now,” he says. “People’s fear of the different is quite alarming. One would hope as we evolve it would become less so, but it’s become more so. Now is the time for people in the GLBTQ community to gain as many rights as we can, because we just don’t know in which direction the country is going.” Purim Off Ponce takes place March 10, at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. For more information, including how to become an event host, visit www.therainbowcenter.org. WHY YOUR COMPANY NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT JF&CS. Stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse can dramatically affect an individual’s ability to work productively and safely. Statistics show that, at any given time, more than 10 percent of employees are impaired by one or more of these challenges. These are issues Jewish Family & Career Services clinicians address daily with clients. JF&CS recently launched a “Corporate Engagement” initiative directed at human resource professionals to educate them on how JF&CS can provide support and assistance to their employees and enhance performance and productivity. Awkward disciplinary actions or coaching scenarios with an employee are part of the territory. JF&CS trained clinicians can provide an alternative method of addressing difficulties and improve the prospects of converting a troubled situation into a positive resolution. JF&CS’ counselors are represented on most insurance panels, and these services are covered by major insurance plans. For more information, contact Peggy Kelly at 770-677- 9405 or pkelly@jfcs-atlanta.org. CALLING RECENT COLLEGE GRADU- ATES. “Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!” Dr. Seuss wrote that in 1990, and even then, finding a job wasn’t easy. But people starting their careers right now are discovering that it is a tough market. In fact, finding employment is more competitive than ever. With unemployment in Georgia above 10 percent and employers often preferring more experienced workers, those just coming out of college are stuck in a hard place. Finding the right job requires creative thinking—and some introspection. JF&CS’ Career Services–Tools for Employment now offers college graduates resources and programs to help in the job search. GradWORKS comprises three career packages with various elements, from career assessments to job coaching to resume writing and interviewing skills. Graduates may also register in a job placement bank. For more information about getting started, call 770-677-9358, or e-mail grads@jfcsatlanta.org. DIVORCE SUPPORT SERVICES EXPAND- ED. In 2002, Georgia had one of the lowest divorce rates in the nation; only three states had lower rates. But today, Georgia is one of the top 10 states in terms of divorce. Anyone going through a divorce knows it can be very painful, especially when there are children involved. JF&CS’ Child & Adolescent Services–Tools for Families division offers a variety of divorce support services. From individuals to families and from adults to children, JF&CS counselors provide help to families during a difficult time. Services include: • Pre-Divorce Counseling: For parents considering divorce or already starting the process, pre-divorce counseling can answers questions about the first steps to take, when and how to tell the children, and the best ways to separate. • Assistance with Parenting Issues: Research shows that children who see their parents arguing during and after a divorce are more likely to have behavioral problems. In disagreements on issues regarding children, an objective third party can help one parent learn to communicate with the other parent after trust has been broken and/or anger remains. • Collaborative Divorce: A growing trend nationwide, collaborative divorce focuses on helping couples make decisions without having to go to court. Teams of lawyers, financial advisors, therapists (or “coaches”), and child specialists can help a divorcing couple do what is best for the family. Tools for Families has counselors on staff who are trained in this approach. • Post-Divorce “Check Up” for Children: Tools for Families offers evaluation services to assess children’s strengths, needs, and overall mental health as they adjust to divorce. • Starting Over (a divorce support group for adults): This support group brings together men and women of various ages who are having trouble moving on after divorce. Starting Over meets twice a month to discuss a host of topics, from meeting new people and dating to remarriage to financial and legal issues. • Moving On (a support group for children of divorced couples): Parents aren’t the only ones who find family changes overwhelming. Few things can be as scary to a child as when his or her parents split up. Talking with other children who are going through it can be comforting, as well as a great way to make new friends. • Parenting After Divorce (a workshop for adults): Parenting can be a real challenge when the mom and dad don’t live together. This workshop focuses on effective communication with the other parent and what children need at different stages of development. In addition, it provides support and resources parents might need. For more details on these and other services, as well as information on cost, e-mail divorcesupport@jfcs-atlanta.org or call 770- 677-9300. Bregman Conference promotes independence, goodwill By Marla Shainberg For the third year in a row, I bundle up and head out to the Selig Center on a winter Sunday morning. Why would I choose to leave my house on a cold weekend at such an early hour? Because I am guaranteed to have a magical experience in an incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere. I get to join hundreds of spirited and upbeat folks for fun, food, and fellowship at the Larry Bregman, M.D., Educational Conference, which is presented annually by Jewish Family & Career Services. Volunteer Marla Shainberg and Molly Levine-Hunt, Caregiver Support Services manager Volunteers dressed in orange Tshirts start arriving early to make sure that breakfast items are put out, signs are hung, the registration table is organized, and the bags full of goodies are ready for a very special group of people. As the mob of participants multiplies, the whole building comes to life with a vibe of high energy, enthusiasm, and inspiring human interactions. I am a volunteer who looks forward to seeing my buddy from last year, who hugs me and remembers my name, as well as the sweet girl who shows me the matching bracelets she made for herself and her friend at the jewelry-making class. I feel a sense of exhilaration when I peek in the room during “Bregman Idol” and hear squeals of excitement as I watch people dancing, singing, and high fiving. I am proud when the policeman passes by and raves about the inquisitive people he taught in his session about personal safety. As I help people find their way to the next session, I am delighted to see one participant’s face light up as he introduces the girlfriend he met at last See BREGMAN CONFERENCE, page 35
January-February 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 35 Raising the bar in Judaic studies Since its inception in 1971, Yeshiva Atlanta has prided itself on providing its students with a high-quality education in both secular and Judaic studies. This, of course, is consistent with the school’s standing as a Modern Orthodox institution and reflects the paradigm articulated by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik z”l regarding the importance of a synthesis between Torah scholarship and secular scholarship, as well as positive involvement with the broader community. This approach, commonly referred to as Torah Umadda, was perhaps best summarized by Rabbi Norman Lamm, past president of Yeshiva University, in New York, when he wrote: “Torah, faith, religious learning on one side and Madda, science, worldly knowledge on the other, together offer us a more over-arching and truer vision than either one set alone. Each set gives one view of the Creator as well as of His creation, and the other a different perspective that may not agree at all with the first . . . Each alone is true, but only partially true; both together present the possibility of a larger truth.” Yeshiva Atlanta’s commitment to the Torah portion of this equation was again underscored by the caliber of new Judaic teachers it added this year to its faculty. Together with the school’s veteran faculty members Ariella Allen and Rabbi Daniel Estreicher, they have inspired in their students a new energy and even greater passion for Judaic studies. Leading the charge is Rabbi Asher Yablok, the school’s new dean of Judaic studies. He comes to Atlanta from St. Louis, Missouri, where he was a Judaic studies instructor and program director at Block Yeshiva High School. Rabbi Yablok earned his undergraduate degree in Judaic studies and an M.A. in Jewish education from Yeshiva University. He has rabbinic ordination from both Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at YU and from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. Rabbi Yablok has a special interest in problem-based learning and has taught exciting courses in Jewish medical ethics and contemporary Bregman Conference From page 34 year’s conference. I am also impressed when a young participant stops by the registration table to find out how he can sign up to be on a panel or the planning committee for next year’s conference. When I help pour lemonade in the lunchroom, I notice it is loud with laughter and chatter, as experiences are shared with friends and caretakers. At the end of the weekend, certificates of participation are handed out, which marks a major highlight of the year for most. As they exit the building, there is already chitchat about returning next year. Halachic problems as initial steps in incorporating this method into the Judaic studies curriculum. Joining Rabbi Yablock is Rabbi Eric Levy, who comes to Atlanta from New York, where he was the Jewish studies principal of North Shore Hebrew Academy High School. Rabbi Levy earned his undergraduate degree in computer science from Touro College and an M.A. in biblical studies from Yeshiva University. He has rabbinic ordination from both Rabbi Ephraim Greenblatt and Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. He spent four years at Yeshivat Har Etzion (Gush) and served in the Israeli Army Tank Corps. Rabbi Levy’s online classes can be heard at OU Torah (ouradio.org/nach), Torah in Motion, and at his own website, www.ericlevy.com. In adding to its faculty, Yeshiva Atlanta understood that the local “talent” available to it was equally impressive, and thus the school reached out to Rabbi Reuven Travis, who has worked both as a teacher and an administrator in various Atlanta day schools. Rabbi Travis, who is teaching honors American and Jewish history as well as Chumash, earned his B.A. from Dartmouth College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a double major in French literature and political science. While at Dartmouth, he played for the school’s varsity football team and spent his junior year studying at La Sorbonne. He holds a master of arts in Teaching from Mercer University and has a T-5 teaching certification in secondary education. He also earned a master of Judaic studies from Spertus College. He received his rabbinic ordination in 2006 from Rabbi Michael J. Broyde, dean of the Atlanta Torah MiTzion Kollel, after spending four years studying with Rabbi Broyde and the members of the Kollel. Lisa Belinky, another long-time fixture in Atlanta’s day school community who has joined the Yeshiva Atlanta faculty, will serve as strategic learning Judaic studies specialist. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in child psychology/education and her master’s degree in Judaic studies from Siegal A caretaker whispers in my ear that it is the most her client has smiled in months, which makes me realize that it is the most I’ve smiled in one day since last year’s Bregman conference. The Larry Bregman, M.D., Educational Conference is a two-day conference for adults with developmental disabilities, their families, and caregivers. The first evening features a dance; the next day is filled with workshops on topics such as being part of the community, being a self-advocate, and living a healthy lifestyle. This year’s conference, “Avenues of Change,” takes place February 25-26 at the Selig Center. For more information, visit bregman.org. College, in Cleveland, Ohio. She taught in the public school system in Georgia for two years and then enjoyed a 23-year tenure at Greenfield Hebrew Academy. In her last ten years at GHA, she taught Judaic studies in the M’silot program for students who learn differently. These recent hires come on the heels of last year’s important additions to the school’s Judaics faculty, including Rabbi Moshe Rose, who joined at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. Originally hailing from Toronto, Rabbi Rose spent the previous four years in Savannah with a oneyear hiatus to teach at Akiva Academy in Calgary. While he was in Savannah, some of his duties through the Kollel included being the youth director, the NCSY chapter director, community schoolteacher, and a Judaic studies teacher at a local military academy. He studied social work in Canada and education in Israel, graduating from Ner L’Elef Center for Jewish Leadership and Community Outreach, Yeshiva Ohr Avraham, and The Torah Educator’s Institute, with his American bachelor’s of education equivalent acquired through the University at Albany. He is currently completing a master’s degree in special education. And it is hard to underestimate the positive impact Liat Kadosh has had on the school’s Hebrew language program, which, by definition, is a primary building block of Judaic studies. Named last year as the school’s Hebrew language department chair, she is responsible for designing and implementing a new Hebrew language curriculum for the school. She is also a member of the SAT’s Hebrew Language Committee, and she is working diligently to prepare Yeshiva Atlanta students to take the Hebrew subject SAT and perform on a high academic level in Hebrew. Liat Kodesh holds an M.A. in Jewish education from Siegal College, in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as a B.A. from Bar-Ilan University Israel, where she earned a diploma in educational leadership. In addition to her teaching and administrative responsibilities at Yeshiva Atlanta, she serves as a consultant for Hebrew at the Center in Boston, which was established in 2007 with the goal of revolutionizing the effectiveness of teaching and learning Hebrew in all educational settings.
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January-February 2012 - The Jewish Georgian

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