January-February 2012 - The Jewish Georgian

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Page 8 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN January-February 2012 Atlanta Jewish Film Festival aims for its biggest event ever By Brian Katzowitz Drawing more than 26,000 people to its screenings and earning venerable recognition from its counterparts throughout the country, the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival has become a standout part of Atlanta’s vast line-up of cultural offerings. Now gearing up for its twelfth year of existence, event organizers are looking to expand upon previous years incarnations with more days, more films, and more venues. “Our focus has been on making the experience of the festival more customer friendly,” said Executive Director Kenny Blank. “By offering two extra days of screenings (February 8-29), we are increasing our bandwidth and providing opportuni- AMIT From page 1 which keep our Jewish way of life alive and connect us to those who came before us. The Amit Program’s Antique Judaica Appraisal Show, at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Selig Center, will help you determine the value, era, and origin of your family heirlooms, including ritual objects, works of art, books, manuscripts, and antique silver of any kind. The program will kick off with Greenstein sharing tips on how to collect Judaica, followed by a group presentation on the value and history of individual heirlooms brought by attendees. The event will also include a community celebration honoring Helen Hackworth, Brenda Benamy Lewis, and Sylvia Schwartz, each of whom has played an important role in educating generations of Atlanta children who learn differently, paralleling the mission of The Amit Program. Since 2001, Amit has been the central resource in the Jewish community for special education, ensuring that each child is able to reach his or her individual potential, while learning in a Jewish environment. Amit strives to ensure that students with special needs can thrive and be integrated into the community by offering a wide range of educational services and family support. Atlanta native Sylvia Schwartz has ties for attendees to check out some of the festival favorites they may have missed the first time.” This year’s favorites could include any number of the 70 films being offered. From a World War II crime caper to an animated documentary on the life of Ben Gurion, the festival offers a wide array of narratives and documentaries bound together by a common Jewish thread and chosen by a robust selection committee. According to Blank, the committee, consisting of rabbis, local film professors, industry experts, and enthusiastic cinephiles, spends countless hours between May and October screening, discussing, and identifying the festival line-up from more than 400 entries. While a seminal part of the planning process, film selection is only one component of a year-round effort to keep the festival moving forward. Especially difficult during times of economic austerity, Blank relies heavily on a dedicated staff and volunteer leadership to secure sponsorships, drive marketing efforts, sell tickets, and provide on-site support. “I think now more than ever, our audience wants films that will allow them to escape for a couple of hours,” said Blank. “They are looking for movies that will not only entertain but will inspire and motivate, A hand-carved silver spice tower appraised by J. Greenstein and Co. Birmingham, c. 1936. Estimate $3,000-$5,000 dedicated her life to education and the community. For decades, she worked as an educator and was instrumental in mainstreaming special-needs children into the classroom. Over 40 years ago, she developed the Jewish Community and we strive to make that happen.” Highlights from this year’s festival include: My Best Enemy – Returning to The Fabulous Fox Theatre, the festival opens on February 8 with a true red-carpet-worthy event. My Best Enemy is a lighthearted thriller set against the backdrop of World War II. The event includes a reception and live auction. My Best Enemy Rabies – The always popular Young Professionals Night is scheduled for February 9 with the presentation of Rabies, a staple on the international film festival circuit and one of the few horror comedies to ever come out of the Israeli film industry. A pre-party at STRIP will be held before the screening. Silver Chanukah lamp, with all original wick holders, servant lamp, and oil pitcher appraised by J. Greenstein and Co. Germany, c. 1890. Estimate $1,200-$2,000 Center’s preschool program for children with disabilities. Now in her mid-eighties, Sylvia is a much loved community figure, with lifelong friends from her involvement in Brandeis, Jewish War Veterans, and Jewish Family & Career Services, as well as her many years teaching at the JCC. A speech pathologist by profession, Helen Hackworth is a respected private tutor and independent educational contractor who works with children with learning differences. Helen began and directed the learning differently program at Greenfield Hebrew Academy, which was the predecessor to the current M’Silot program. She is the current chair of The Amit Program’s education com- Rabies The Apple Pushers – Demonstrating the diversity of subject matter available to attendees, The Apple Pushers chronicles a community effort to address the obesity epidemic through immigrant pushcart vendors. The Apple Pushers For a complete schedule and ticket information, visit www.ajff.org. mittee and has been instrumental in helping launch Amit University, which provides professional development opportunities for educators. Brenda Benamy Lewis is no stranger to the disability community. Having two cousins with special needs, Brenda grew up understanding the importance of support services and education in the community. Several years ago, she began working as a special-needs facilitator to ensure that even children who learn differently are able to participate in Jewish preschools. What started out as a way to help others has since become a personal passion and given her a new direction in her own life. It is not just tangible items of sentiment that have been passed down over the generations. These honorees exemplify how Judaism teaches values and instills in us a sense of duty to improve the lives of others. As a community, we must join together to make sure that our most prized possessions, our children, have the chance to embrace their heritage and traditions through Jewish educational and experiential opportunities, regardless of their abilities. Supporting The Amit Program will help children who learn differently today and for generations to come. For more information about The Amit Program or the Antique Judaica Appraisal Show, visit www.amitatlanta.org, or contact Amit at info@amitatlanta.org or 404-961-9966.
January-February 2012 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 9 Girl Scouts From page 1 Scarcely a year after the founding, Mildred would lead Savannah’s first Girl Scout camping trip to Wassaw Island, still today a barrier i s l a n d . Photographs from that 10-day campout and Mildred’s vivid memoirs punctuate the exhibit. Camp at Wassaw Island, July 1913 “Finding a suitable campsite and financing the enterprise was easy in comparison to getting the anxious parents of the Patrol Leaders and of the girls to consent to such an unheard-of-expedition,” Mildred wrote. Wassaw Island caretaker and Girl Scout, July 1913 In Savannah, the first Girl Scout patrols included girls from the elite Pape School, as well as Jewish girls and those from local orphanages and homes. In the beginning, Girl Scouting opened a whole new world. After 6th or 7th grade, girls had nothing to do, nowhere to go. Girl Scouts offered them opportunities to go camping, learn to cook, travel, participate in community service, and earn proficiency badges at award ceremonies that singled them out. Girl Scouting was that “new thing.” Through Scouting, they could do anything they wanted to do. (Historic note: That year, suffragettes and their supporters were parading in New York City.) The 279-yearold Congregation Mickve Israel is a natural to showcase the Girl Scouts. Located just a few blocks from the Girl Scout First Headquarters and the Girl Scout Birthplace, the temple has created a museum on its premises (including a Torah brought from England in 1733 by the original settlers). It attracts Girl Scout troops and other visitors from throughout the world. (Like the Girl Scout First Headquarters and the Girl Scout Birthplace, the Mickve Israel Museum is a member of the Coastal Museums Association.) It is expected that some of the newly created displays will become part of the permanent collection. The Girl Scout exhibit will be housed in two sections of the synagogue’s Mordecai Sheftall Memorial Hall. It is organized by a sub-committee of the standing museum committee, which includes descendants of the first leaders and early Girl Scouts. Phoebe Kerness is chair of the Girl Scout sub-committee; Eileen Lobel and Margie Levy are co-chairs of Mickve Israel’s museum committee. Savannah is expecting thousands of visitors during the centennial year, culminating in Girl Scout Weekend, March 9-12. Mickve Israel will have appropriate activities for girls—a service, tours, scavenger hunt, and the opportunity to acquire a Shalom Y’all Mickve Israel Girl Scout patch with the congregation crest. Since Gottlieb’s Bakery in 1936 provided the first commercially produced Girl Scout cookies in Savannah, the girls may have the opportunity to bake cookies (from the original recipe provided by Isser Gottlieb) as part of the weekend. There are numerous other Girl Scout events planned throughout the year. Mickve Israel is located on Monterey Square, in Savannah’s historic district, on Bull Street, between Gordon and Wayne streets. Docent-guided tours of the sanctuary and the museum are offered 10:00 a.m.- 1:00 p.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m., Monday- Friday. The last tour starts approximately 30 minutes before the end of each session. For more information, visit www.mickveisrael.org. Missing Dr. Kiley BY Gene Asher Come back, Dr. Kiley, we miss you. James Del Kiley, everybody’s favorite physician at The Jewish Tower, has retired, and we are not likely to find another one like him. My mother, the late and brilliant Erna Fromme Asher, said there would never be another Herbert J. Rosenberg, our family physician for some 50 years. When I broke my arm in a fistfight with Jack Brail at the old, old Standard Club, one of the club members hollered, “Quick, take him to the emergency room.” “You are not taking me to an emergency room, you are taking me to Dr. Rosenberg’s office,” I said. He was our family doctor for fractures, stomachaches, headaches, or any other kind of aches. Although he has been deceased for more than 50 years, I can still remember him carrying that black bag of his with all the medicines he needed. Mainly he carried a smile, a laugh, a cigar, and an assurance that all was going to be well. And it usually was. “There will never be another H. J.,” mother said. Well, mother, there is one, and his name is James Del Kiley. People at The Jewish Tower cried when they heard their Dr. Kiley was retiring October 31, 2011. This is no trick. And it certainly is not a treat. Tower resident Lynn Morris expressed it best. “Talk about mixed emotions. We all are happy he can spend more time with his family, but we are going to miss him something awful.”
Page 1 and 2: By Bradford R. Pilcher Why host a J
Page 3 and 4: January-February 2012 THE JEWISH GE
Page 7: January-February 2012 THE JEWISH GE

January-February 2012 - The Jewish Georgian

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

Delete template?

Save as template?