Atlanta Jewish Times, Vol. XCIII No. 8, February 23, 2018

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Teen Essay Targets Hate Icesha Sanders acknowledges that when she heard the news about the Parkland, Fla., high school shooting Wednesday, Feb. 14, she broke down in tears. Two days later, the Marietta Middle School eighth-grader was bringing tears to adults as she read an essay she wrote months earlier that decried the hatred and bigotry behind mass shootings. “Every day, I take a quick look at the news, and I hear about a mass shooting or a protest and how it was fueled by people who think that their race is better than others,” the 14-year-old wrote. Icesha, the daughter of Clevette and Miker Sanders, was honored as the winner of the Enlighten America essay contest, sponsored by B’nai B’rith. Icesha, Marietta City Schools’ student of the month, insisted she’s not a good writer, but the Rev. Coakley Pendergrass from Turner Chapel assured her she is: “Writers are people with ideas.” Art Link, who ran the contest, said Icesha is living up to the slogan on her school T-shirt, “Losing is not an option.” While the U.S. and Georgia flags outside the school flew at half-staff, Achim/ Gate City Lodge President Karen Kahn Weinberg said Icesha brought “such hope and light at a time when we need it.” • Read Icesha’s essay, Page 22.

Photo by Michael Jacobs

RuthE Levy, the owner of bookstore And Thou Shalt Read, presents Enlighten America essay contest winner Icesha Sanders with one civil rights book for her and one for Marietta Middle School as part of a prize package that also included awards from B’nai B’rith and from the Marietta Communities in Schools program. Art Link is behind them. The essay contest “is a program that I support with my heart and with my soul,” Levy said.

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INSIDE Candle Lighting �������������������������� 4 Israel News �����������������������������������6 Opinion �����������������������������������������8 Health & Wellness �������������������� 13 Food ���������������������������������������������21 Arts ���������������������������������������������� 26 Obituaries ���������������������������������� 28 Marketplace ������������������������������ 30 Crossword ����������������������������������� 31

AFTER PARKLAND

The shooting deaths of 17 high school students in Florida spark calls for actions beyond thoughts and prayers from Atlanta leaders, Rabbi David Geffen and the AJT. Pages 8-10

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FEBRUARY 23 â–ª 2018

MA TOVU

Bas Mitzvah or Wedding? is blessed with young children. What to do? A cousin’s wedding or a sister’s bas mitzvah? “A wedding takes precedence over a bas mitzvah,” the sisters reasoned. “Randy will understand.” But when I peered into Randy’s green eyes, I saw pain and resignation. Randy didn’t want to sway her sisters with pleading. With her almost-

Shared Spirit Moderated By Rachel Stein rachels83@gmail.com

12-year-old dignity, she felt it was important that they want to share her big day, not that they feel compelled or guilty. As a mother, I am conflicted. I am not the type of parent who relishes giving advice, especially to adult children, unless they ask me. Even then, I often turn the question back to them to find their own resolution. Shouldn’t they know, however, that by not coming for Randy, they are causing her pain? “Randy is just having a kids’ party,” my oldest daughter, Rena, said. “She thinks she wants us there, but in the scheme of things, she’ll be busy with her friends.” “And it’s the last wedding for Uncle Ira and Aunt Irene,” my next daughter, Cheryl, said. “It’s so important to her that we come.” “I know we told Randy we would try to make it,” Bev, third in line, said. “But that was before the wedding came up.” “I understand what you’re saying,” I said, “and I support whatever decision you choose to make. But don’t forget: Randy did plan her party around your winter vacation after speaking with you in the hope that you would attend — before Yisrael was even dating. And even if you won’t spend time with her during the actual party, there is the Shabbos before and just the feeling of being surrounded by family that means so much.” Perhaps there’s no easy answer to this dilemma. Where do the sisters belong — with their aunt and uncle or their sister? ■ Send replies for publication to rachels83@gmail.com. And may we all have such wonderful dilemmas of debating which simcha to attend.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Randy, my baby, has anticipated her big day for months. She selected her color scheme of pink and gold and planned an art project and a lively, interactive game. We went shopping and found her a flattering dress, bought special invitations, and plans for a gala bas mitzvah celebration were falling into place. The only other thing Randy wanted to make her special occasion complete was for her older, married siblings, living out of town, to join in the festivities. “Can you come?” Randy asked each sister. “How about if you plan the party during our winter break?” they suggested. “Then we should be able to make it, assuming we can find a good flight.” That’s what Randy did. Then she sat back, waited and hoped. Meanwhile, something else was brewing in the family. My nephew, Randy’s first cousin, started dating seriously. Within a breathless six weeks, Yisrael went from a single guy to a radiant chosson eagerly anticipating his wedding. The wedding date was set for Tuesday night of the week of Randy’s bas mitzvah. Well, I told myself, this can be done. You just have to be super-organized. A woman on a mission, I began the task of cooking and filling my freezer. We would come home from the wedding on Thursday and zoom into a busy Shabbos (with some out-oftown family) and her party on Sunday. Yisrael is the youngest son of my only sister, Irene. Not only are Irene and I incredibly close, but she and her husband, Ira, have made it their business to be a wonderful aunt and uncle to my children. Ira and Irene often have my young marrieds over because they live within driving distance of each other and have forged an intimate bond. Now Irene, emotionally fragile as she plans for her baby’s marriage and ensuing empty nest, has made it clear that she hopes her nieces and nephews will join them for this momentous occasion, Randy’s bas mitzvah notwithstanding. Now the sisters face a dilemma. How can they not go to the wedding? But if they attend the wedding, they’re unlikely to be able to travel again for Randy’s party, especially because each

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Contributors This Week DANIEL EPSTEIN SKYE ESTROFF RABBI DAVID GEFFEN YONI GLATT JORDAN GORFINKEL LEAH R. HARRISON HAROLD KIRTZ RABBI ARI LEUBITZ KEVIN C. MADIGAN ROBBIE MEDWED MARIANA MONTIEL ICESHA SANDERS TERRY SEGAL CHANA SHAPIRO ELI SPERLING RACHEL STEIN

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Lobby day. Tzedek Georgia guides volunteers to lobby state lawmakers on hate crimes, civil rights, assault weapons, bump stocks, Medicaid and adoption at 9 a.m. at the Coverdell Legislative Office Building, 18 Capitol Square, downtown. Free; tzedekgeorgia@yahoo.com or 470-723-9406. Edgewise. Brown Forman rep Kyle Rivera speaks about the history of Jack Daniel’s and leads a whiskey tasting at 10:30 a.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free for members, $5 for others; www.atlantajcc.org/ knowledgewise or 678-812-4070. Women’s discussion. Sherry Frank leads a conversation about current events over lunch at noon at the National Council of Jewish Women’s Atlanta office, 6303 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Free (bring your own food); RSVP to christineh@ncjwatlanta.org. Election preview. Emory political scientist Alan Abramowitz speaks about the 2018 elections at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Sandy Springs. Free; RSVP required at templeemanuelatlanta.org/calendar/ te-talks-adult-education-series.

FRIDAY, FEB. 23

Women’s Shabbaton. The Jewish Women’s Connection of Atlanta holds a weekend of rejuvenation featuring Adrienne Gold and starting this evening and concluding Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn, 909 Holcomb Bridge Road, Roswell. Registration is $279; www.jwcatlanta.org/events.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

Concert. Elana Arian closes her Shab-

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES

Tetzaveh Friday, Feb. 23, light candles at 6:11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, Shabbat ends at 7:07 p.m. Ki Tissa Friday, March 2, light candles at 6:17 p.m. Saturday, March 3, Shabbat ends at 7:13 p.m. bat as artist in residence at Temple Emanu-El, 1580 Spalding Drive, Sandy Springs, with a public concert at 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP required at templeemanuelatlanta.org/calendar/artist-residence-elana-arian. Talent show. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, holds its fundraising Adar talent show for people 12 and older at Motzei Shabbat at 8 p.m. Free, with a suggested $10 donation; www. yith.org or 770-312-6723 (Ilana Weismark) to participate.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25

Wheelchair basketball. American Friends of Israel Sport Center for the Disabled holds an exhibition at 10:30 a.m. at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.afiscd. org/champions-for-life. Hunger Walk/Run. At least 20 teams operating under the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta umbrella are participating in the Atlanta Community Food Bank fundraiser at Georgia State Stadium, 755 Hank Aaron Drive, downtown, with activities and registration at noon and the 5K at 2 p.m. Register or donate at bit.ly/2Dvw5fI. Mitzvah expo. Atlanta Party Connection holds its Bar & Bat Mitzvah Expo from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Hotel at

Avalon, 9000 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta. Free; www.atlantamitzvahconnection. com/free-parent-pre-registration. Bearing witness. Holocaust survivor Henry Friedman speaks at the Breman, 1440 Spring St., Midtown, at 2 p.m. Free; thebreman.org or 678-222-3700. Israeli minorities. AJC ACCESS Atlanta and Reservists on Duty present five Israeli minority speakers at 6 p.m. at Taco Mac, 5600 Roswell Road, Suite M-003, Sandy Springs. Admission is $10; bit.ly/2BnFW4U.

MONDAY, FEB. 26

Dinner for two. The Jewish Fertility Foundation and chef Debbie Lewis help women who are experiencing fertility issues prepare classy kosher Mediterranean meals for two at 7 p.m. at the Marcus JCC’s Kuniansky Family Center, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Admission is $18; www.jewishfertilityfoundation.org/shabbat-in-a-box.html. Interfaith humor. Congregation B’nai Torah Rabbi Joshua Heller and Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church minister TJ Shirley discuss words and music when “A Rabbi and a Minister Walk Into a Bar” at 7 p.m. at 5 Seasons Brewing at the Prado, 5600 Roswell Road, Suite 21, Sandy Springs. Free; www. bnaitorah.org or 404-257-0537.

Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at the Atlanta Jewish Connector, www.atlantajewishconnector.com.

Remember When

10 Years Ago Feb. 22, 2008 ■ Atlanta’s Memorial to the Six Million has been added to the Georgia Register of Historic Places and is expected to receive an official place on the national register by Yom HaShoah, May 4. Architect Ben Hirsch’s design represents a significant shift to a monumental scale for Holocaust memorials, according to the register application. ■ The b’not mitzvah ceremony of Jenna Paige Lightstone of Roswell, daughter of Alan and Sharon Lightstone, and Kerri Fogel of Marietta, daughter of Harris and Stacye Fogel, was held Saturday, Oct. 13, at Congregation Etz Chaim. 25 Years Ago Feb. 19, 1993 ■ B’nai B’rith, the 150-year-old service group, has reorganized locally into B’nai B’rith Atlanta, according to a recent letter to its 1,200 area members. The idea behind the new entity is to provide a way for the lodges to work together on big events, such as a 500-person outing to the Braves’ open-

ing night, while preserving the social atmosphere of the small lodges. ■ Robin and Gordon Slutsky of Atlanta announce the birth The six 18-foot torches at the of daughter Memorial to the Six Million burn Sheridan Blaine brightly each Yom HaShoah. on Jan. 22. 50 Years Ago Feb. 23, 1968 ■ The Army Commendation Medal has been awarded to Capt. David Geffen, a grandson of Rabbi Tobias Geffen of Congregation Shearith Israel, for his service as a chaplain at Fort Sill, Okla., from September 1965 to June 1967. “Chaplain Geffen consistently distinguished himself through his initiative, personal excellence and professional competence,” the citation reads.

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CALENDAR Infertility support. Therapist Ashley Marx facilitates a Jewish Fertility Foundation support group in Toco Hills at 7:30 p.m. Free; www.jewishfertilityfoundation.org/support to RSVP and get location.

TUESDAY, FEB. 27

Job fair. JF&CS, 4549 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, holds a job fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for people who can provide direct support to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Apply at www.jfcsatl.org. Avoiding senior fraud. The AgeWell program holds an interactive session with legal experts at 11 a.m. at Congregation Etz Chaim, 1190 Indian Hills Parkway, East Cobb. Free; form.jotform. com/jfcsatl/learn-how-to-age-well. Customer experience. Conexx’s HiTech Connector looks at intangibles in business relationships at 11:30 a.m. at InReality, 120 Interstate North Parkway, Suite 226, East Cobb. Admission is $35 for members, $50 for others; www. conexx.org/events.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28

Babyccino. The program for babies up

to 2½ years old and their mothers explores holidays at 10:30 a.m. at Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta. Free; RSVP to hs@ chabadnf.org or 770-410-9000. Book talk. Scott Zucker speaks about his novel “Chain of Custody” at 11 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs. Free; www.templesinaiatlanta.org or 404-252-3073. ADL luncheon. The Anti-Defamation League’s Southeast Region honors Vernon Jordan, Sally Yates and Radha Manthe at its annual Jurisprudence Luncheon at noon at the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta, 181 Peachtree St., downtown. Tickets are $125; www.adl.org/ JPATL2018 or 404-262-3470.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1

Habima. Jerry’s Habima Theatre, Georgia’s only professional theater for people with developmental disabilities, presents the first of eight performances of “The Addams Family” through March 11 at the Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children for JCC members, $35 and $15 for others; 678812-4002 or atlantajcc.org/­habima.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

Bingo. Congregation Ner Tamid, 1349 Old Highway 41, Suite 220, Marietta, holds Bingo & Brownies at 6:30 p.m. Free; mynertamid.info or 678-264-8575.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

Book talk. Beth Schafer speaks about her book “Seven Sparks: Tools for Jewish Wellness” at 11 a.m. at Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs. Free; www.templesinaiatlanta.org or 404-252-3073. Infertility support. Parents, grandparents, siblings and friends of people with fertility issues are invited to the Jewish Fertility Foundation’s “Loving Someone With Infertility” at 7 p.m. at Jewish Family & Career Services, 4549 Chamblee-Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Free; www.jewishfertilityfoundation.org/ JFCS (live streaming available).

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

Music fest. The Atlanta Jewish Music Festival, which runs through March 25, opens with Tsvey Brider and Beyond the Pale at 7:30 p.m. at City Winery Atlanta, 650 North Ave., Suite 201, Old Fourth Ward. Tickets are $20 to $36; atlantajmf­.org.

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

MG Walk. The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation fundraiser starts with the check-in at 9 a.m. and the walk ceremony at 10 at Brook Run Park, 4770 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody. Free; www. mgwalk.org/georgia. Honor dinner. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, honors Joel Axler and Jeff Budd at a gala dinner at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75, or $700 for a table of 10; www. bethshalom.net or 770-399-5300.

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

ASK tribute. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel honors its founders at its Tribute to Jewish Learning at 5:30 p.m. at the Westin Atlanta Perimeter North, 7 Concourse Parkway, Sandy Springs. Tickets start at two for $108; www.atlantakollel.org/event_detail.php?event=215.

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

Atlanta Unity Seder. Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus leads the American Jewish Committee program at 6:30 p.m. at The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St., Midtown. Admission is $36, or $18 for students and young professionals; global.ajc. org/2018-unity-seder.

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FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

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ISRAEL NEWS

Israel Pride: Good News From Our Jewish Home Gliding on ice. Israeli figure skaters Alexei Bychenko and Daniel Samohin had impressive showings at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. The veteran Bychenko finished ninth in the free skate Saturday, Feb. 17, and 11th overall, while Samohin was 11th in the free skate and 13th overall. Israel has never won a medal at the Winter Olympics, but immigration from the former Soviet Union has led to bigger Israeli teams, with a record 10 athletes this year. Cooking with gas. Egypt has agreed to buy $15 billion worth of natural gas over 10 years from Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar gas fields in the eastern Mediterranean, partners Noble Energy and Delek Drilling announced Monday, Feb. 19. “This will put billions into the state treasury to benefit the education, health and social welfare of Israel’s citizens,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Printed arms and legs. A 3D printing company, Stratasys, is teaming up with software company Dassault Systèmes and robotics innovator Easton LaChap-

pelle to provide amputees with affordable, custom-made, battery-powered, prosthetic limbs created using 3D scanners for printing anywhere in the world. Established in 1989 and based in Eden Prairie, Minn., and Rehovot, Israel, Stratasys is a leading manufacturer of 3D printers and production systems. Sing about it. Ethiopian-Israeli Eden Alene, 17, of Jerusalem won Israel’s “X-Factor 2018.” Her performance of Demi Lovato’s “Stone Cold” went viral. Alene, who was raised by an Orthodox single mother, sang “Human” by Christina Perri for her final performance. Easier orthodontics. Researchers at the Technion have developed an “enzymatic blade” — the targeted release of enzymes using nanotechnology — as a replacement for a surgical scalpel in orthodontic procedures. The enzymes break down collagen connecting teeth to the underlying bone, enabling the straightening of teeth. The procedure tested by Assaf Zinger’s team completes in a few months a treatment that typically takes two years but without the

painful, invasive surgery typically used to speed up the process. The technique, which could be ready for common use in a couple of years, also could be applied for other surgical purposes. Saudi flyover. Saudi Arabia has approved Air India to use its airspace for direct flights between New Delhi and Tel Aviv, the first time that flights to Israel have been allowed through Saudi skies. The new route is 2½ hours shorter. VR news. Tel Aviv-based startup Inception, a production studio and an aggregator of virtual reality content, has launched a channel to introduce more VR into news. It offers 360 Associated Press videos across a broad spectrum of historical, cultural and social topics. The channel can be downloaded from the Inception app across a range of platforms, including Samsung Gear, iOS and Android.

Japanese style. Fashion design retailer Miniso is opening its first Israeli store in Tel Aviv in the next few months and plans 50 stores within five years, representing an investment of $4.3 million, the company announced Monday, Feb. 19. The store sells health and beauty products, travel accessories, bags, tools, toys and more. Half the products will sell for 20 shekels ($5.70) or less. The company has licenses to make items featuring characters from Disney, “Hello Kitty” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”

Traveler’s Choice Acre. The Efendi Hotel in Acre, a restored Ottoman-era palace-turned-boutique hotel, appears

Compiled courtesy of verygoodnewsisrael. blogspot.com, israel21c.org, timesofisrael. com and other sources.

Ariel Sharon visits the Suez Canal while at peace with Egypt in 1982.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Today in Israeli History

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in five categories of TripAdvisor’s 2018 Travelers’ Choice Awards. The hotel is among the top 10 small hotels in Israel, the top 25 small hotels in the Middle East, the top 25 luxury hotels in Israel, the top 25 hotels for service in Israel and the top 25 hotels for romance in Israel. The Efendi is owned by chef Uri Jeremias, whose world-renowned fish restaurant is just steps away.

Items provided by the Center for Israel Education (www.israeled.org), where you can find more details. Feb. 23, 1965: Ephraim Kishon’s “Sallah Shabbati” becomes Israel’s first Oscar-nominated film, getting the honor in the foreign language category for the 37th Academy Awards. Italy’s “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” wins. Feb. 24, 1942: After being mistaken for an enemy ship, the SS Struma, carrying nearly 800 Jewish refugees hoping to immigrate to Palestine, including 70 children, is sunk by a Russian submarine in the Black Sea. Feb. 25, 1994: Baruch Goldstein, an American immigrant and member of the radical Kach party, opens fire on Muslim worshippers in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, killing 30 and wounding 125 others, before being beaten to death by survivors. Feb. 26, 1973: Hafez Ismail, named to the new position of national security

adviser by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat in 1972, holds secret meetings with U.S. National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger. Feb. 27, 1928: Ariel Sharon, Israel’s 11th prime minister, is born in K’far Malal, near Hod Hasharon. Born Ariel Scheinerman to socialist parents who came to Eretz Yisrael during the Second Aliyah, Sharon joins the Haganah in 1945 and serves in the War of Independence, launching a long military career before his political career. Feb. 28, 1955: Two Israeli paratrooper platoons with approximately 50 soldiers storm an Egyptian army camp in Gaza. The raid is a reprisal for attacks by fedayeen (Palestinian militants) against Israeli civilians. March 1, 1922: Yitzhak Rabin, Israel’s fifth prime minister, is born in Jerusalem to parents who came to Israel during the Third Aliyah. After a military career and a stint as ambassador to Washington, in 1974 he becomes the first Israeli prime minister born in Eretz Yisrael.

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ISRAEL NEWS

Downed F-16 Doesn’t Alter Israel’s Aerial Dominance many infamous dogfights and air attacks that took place over the six days of the June 1967 war. Similarly, Israel attained hundreds of British-made Centurion tanks during this period,

Israeli Air Force photo

An F-16I Sufa fighter-bomber (right), like the one shot down Saturday, Feb. 10, flies near Israel’s first F-35 Adir in December 2016. Lockheed Martin produces both aircraft.

Business Sense By Eli Sperling

which likewise bolstered its strategic capacity for the 1967 war. After that war, France, under the leadership of Charles de Gaulle, cut Israel off from purchasing military technology. But in 1968, President Lyndon Johnson, impressed with Israel’s military prowess in 1967, agreed to sell Israel U.S.-manufactured F-4 fighters and A-4 bombers. A substantial upgrade, those jets gave Israel a qualitative edge over belligerent neighbors. Further, the technological improvements that Israel made to these jets were shared with the Americans, who used those

upgrades during the Vietnam War. Despite the American aviation technology available in the 1970s and early ’80s, Israel developed and manufactured its own fighter jets because it wanted to be self-reliant and potentially a player in the military aircraft export industry. Israel Aerospace Industries, established in 1953, began to produce the Kfir, Nesher and Lavi jets. While these aircraft were designed with the specific needs of the IAF in mind and performed well in air tests, they were prohibitively expensive to produce. By the late 1980s, the Israeli government decided it was easier and significantly

cheaper to rely on the United States for advanced military aircraft, including combat helicopters. Today, the IAF’s fleet includes American-made F-15s and F-16s and, as of 2016, the U.S. military’s most advanced fighter, the F-35. While the rare loss of an Israeli jet to enemy fire is a blow to the IAF’s combat record, Israel still maintains the strongest, most advanced and bestequipped air force in the region. ■ Eli Sperling is the Israel specialist and assistant program coordinator for the Center for Israel Education (www. israeled.org).

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Syrian forces recently shot down an Israeli fighter jet after an Israeli Air Force raid on Iranian military infrastructure in Syria. The downing of an Israeli jet — in this case, an Americanbuilt F-16I Sufa — is rare in Arab-Israeli bouts of combat. According to The New York Times, enemy fire had not claimed an Israeli fighter jet since the early 1980s, when Israel was fighting the PLO and other militants in Lebanon. Israel has one of the most advanced air forces in the world. In part, the IAF’s success reflects the rigorous training and competitive vetting processes that fighter pilots have to go through. Also crucial to the IAF’s international pre-eminence is its modern fleet of fighter jets, most of which were manufactured in the United States. Further, many of these jets have been reverse-engineered by Israeli technicians and engineers to accommodate the unique needs of the IAF. These Israeli improvements to American technologies are often shared with the U.S. defense establishment through regular technology exchanges that date back to the late 1960s. The U.S.-Israel relationship that has fostered the development of this world-class fleet of military aircraft has been a work in progress. Before the late 1960s, the United States was apprehensive about providing any military equipment to Israel, especially advanced aircraft. (An exception was in 1962 when the Kennedy administration supplied Israel with defensive Hawk anti-aircraft missiles.) U.S. officials feared that providing Israel advanced arms would spark China and the Soviets to provide similar technology to Arab states, catalyzing an arms race in the Middle East. Accordingly, Israel looked elsewhere for crucial military technology in the early years of the state. Surrounding the 1948 War of Independence, Israel’s air force consisted largely of Czech-supplied aircraft and donated or pieced-together British and American planes from World War II. After winning the 1948 war and developing strategic coordination with the French and British governments related to the 1956 Suez campaign, Israel acquired dozens of advanced, French-manufactured fighter jets. Those French aircraft made up the majority of Israel’s fleet during the

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OPINION

Rabbis Go Beyond Thoughts and Prayers The following are excerpts from Atlanta Jewish leaders’ responses to the shooting deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Five of those slain were Jewish: Alyssa Alhadeff, 14; Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Alex Schachter, 14; Meadow Pollack, 18; and Scott Beigel, 35. The others: Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; Martin Duque, 14; Gina Montalto, 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Peter Wang, 15; Luke Hoyer, 15; Carmen Schentrup, 16; Helena Ramsay, 17; Cara Loughran, 14; Chris Hixon, 49; and Aaron Feis, 37. You can read more about the massacre at atlantajewishtimes.com. Feeling Numb I will admit that I have become numb to the carnage. It is not the first, second or third mass shooting in the last few months. We will now swing through the usual cycle of handwringing, as we did after similar events at Sandy Hook Elementary, the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, churches in Sutherland Springs, Texas, and Charleston, S.C., the Las Vegas Strip, and too many other epi-

sodes to even name. Pundits and elected officials will offer “thoughts and prayers” but insist that it is too soon to act, or that nothing can be done. Soon enough, our country will turn its backs on the mourners and the wounded, and our nation will continue in its way until the next mass murder. I am embarrassed that a regular school shooting does not shock me more, and numbers or proximity are required to rouse me. The numbness originates in helplessness. As long as our society does not choose to address the causes of these events head on, thoughts, prayers, grief and anger are all we are left with. — Congregation B’nai Torah Rabbi Joshua Heller Action After Prayer Since the last mass shooting, too few hands have been raised to change our reality. As always we are called together to pray. But like our tears, the words of prayer are hard to find. They seem to all have been said, and we aren’t sure if anybody is listening. We are tired of praying. We are heartbroken when

we hear about another act of gun violence, this time leading to the deaths of 17 children and faculty members of a South Florida high school. Yes, we are tired of praying. Or shall we say we are tired of just praying for the dead, their families and for the well-being of those injured? Prayer has its place, but it should be clear to us all now that prayer, without well-targeted action, is what our rabbis would have called a bracha l’vatalah, a prayer in vain. … We hear hints of the famous words of Cain when he answered G-d’s question “Why does your brother’s blood scream to Me from the earth?” He responded, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The answer is yes. — Ahavath Achim Synagogue Rabbis Neil Sandler and Laurence Rosenthal Blast Radius I think that it is vital for you to know just how far … “the radius of the initial blast” has extended to our Cobb County family. I have received calls from congregants who are stunned to hear about

this shooting taking place in their parents’ back yard in Florida. Others have sought solace because they have friends whose children attend Parkland high school and are now deeply traumatized. Sadly, there are also families in my synagogue who have children attending the same summer camp of Jaime Guttenberg. … There must be nothing more important or sacred to your constituents right now than the safety of our children, and we have faith that you will not disappoint us by staying silent. — Congregation Etz Chaim Rabbi Daniel Dorsch to Sen. Johnny Isakson JF&CS Offers Help At JF&CS, we specialize in treating mental health disorders. We stand ready in Atlanta to diagnose problems in children and teens and help them proactively work on their psychological demons. … In addition, we are here to help our families who are having difficulty handling the news and children who may become fearful to attend schools. — JF&CS CEO Rick Aranson

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OPINION

Guns’ Tragic Message “Cry out! Cry out!” hit me as I turned on the TV and learned that 17 high school students in Parkland, Fla., had been killed by a former fellow student, whose semiautomatic rifle blew his victims away, one by one. I wrote about the Columbine, Colo., massacre in 1999, in which two students carried weapons from room to room in their high school. I cried out then: “Stop this carnage. The gun laws must be changed. The Wild West attitude of the United States must be neutralized.” Israelis ask me what is wrong with Americans. I pause, then reply, “They have truly become apathetic. They no long are ready to fight for a cause and destroy evil, which is the real face of easy access to guns.” I am very fortunate: My mother saved me. When I was growing up in Atlanta in the 1940s after the war, a fad arose among practically all my friends: love of the BB gun. The gun was an answer to the pressures of everyday existence. Have that gun and kill squirrels, kill birds, kill whatever else a BB will execute. I was like all my friends: I wanted that gun to be sure that I was accepted. My mother said no. “Human beings cannot be armed to kill the smallest creatures and then move on to human beings.” Truth to tell, I do not know whether those in my Atlanta past who were BB gun owners became gun enthusiasts. I do know that our TVs, our movies and the Internet demonstrate how every human can be killed without restraint. Having passed on a few truths, now is my time to speak to you directly. First a question: Do you want the Second Amendment to the Constitution confronted as a killer? I share with you the slightly altered words of Rabbi Morris Adler, who was assassinated on a Shabbat morning in Detroit in 1966. Let us motivate ourselves for the

fight ahead. Only we, the citizens, can eliminate unrestricted purchases of guns, which set the stage for murder after murder of the innocent, young and old. I am in this fight because our tradition teaches that every life is sacred. I am in this fight because I can no longer watch as innocent victims are destroyed not by natural acts, not

Guest Column By Rabbi David Geffen

by automobile accidents — the list goes on — but by the speeding bullet, which has no conscience as it strikes indiscriminately with the inevitable result: death. I am in this fight because I know it is right. I know it cannot continue this way or we will murder ourselves. I am in this fight because I know the NRA can be beaten, no matter what people say. They control our legislators with money, cash and favors. This has to end. I am in this fight because my tradition and my experience as a Jew have sensitized me to recognize that human life is fragile, not to be blasted away. Will you line up to fight, or say I cannot do anything? Will you organize like-minded individuals in every state of the Union who will say dy (enough)? Will you then march on Washington to see your congressmen and senators? Will you surround the Capitol and not permit any of our legislators to exit until a breath of fresh air can be breathed — finally a start for gun legislation? Killing is easy; action is harder. Veim lo achshav ametai — if not now, when? ■

Florida Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch’s three children, all alumni of Camp Ramah Darom, are organizing a Purim fundraiser for Everytown for Gun Safety in response to the Parkland, Fla., massacre. The Deutches live in Boca Raton, which borders Parkland. Gabby, a senior at Yale, Serena, a senior at Vanderbilt, and Cole, a freshman at the University of Texas, are urging people to bake hamantaschen and prepare mishloach manot baskets, then sell them, with the proceeds going to Everytown.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Purim Action

Ramah Darom promoted the fundraiser by distributing a news release. Information on Bake Action Against Gun Violence is available at bakeaction.com.

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OPINION

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Our View

After Parkland

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

If solving the problem of school shootings were simple, we would have done it a long time ago. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, liberal or conservative, urban or rural, a member of Everytown for Gun Safety or of the National Rifle Association. We are united in wanting to be sure that the kids we send to school in the morning come home safe in the afternoon. But the slaughter of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., is a reminder that we can’t keep throwing up our hands, shrugging our shoulders, and offering thoughts and prayers. Nor can we keep rejecting possible responses because they won’t stop every killing every time. It appears this massacre could have been prevented if the FBI had followed its own protocols with substantive tips that 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz was a time bomb set to explode in his former high school. That reality reinforces the need for changes that will prevent one human error from leading to slaughter. But we can’t immediately solve “America’s gun problem.” Mass shootings represent a small percentage of gun homicides, which cause far fewer deaths than gun suicides and accidents. And what happened in Parkland is different from mass shootings in workplaces, churches and open-air concerts. Let’s try to address a specific need: providing the safest environment possible for U.S. schoolchildren. We don’t need to vilify people or organizations for past action or inaction, nor should we promote proposals as “common sense,” implying that anyone opposed to them is insane. We need everyone at the table to make the case for why ideas would reduce the likelihood — not necessarily eliminate the possibility — of another Parkland. A ban or extended waiting period on the sale of assault-style rifles or an increase in the purchase age to 21 must be considered, but not the seizure of weapons in private hands. Enhanced and more consistent background checks also should be explored. Any laws involving guns must be enacted by Congress because one of the things we’ve learned from violence in Chicago and some other cities is that local gun controls don’t mean much in a nation built on easy interstate commerce. Crucially, we cannot approach the problem only from the perspective of how to keep deadly weapons out of the hands of dangerous people. We must do more to secure our schools even when the Nikolas Cruzes of the world are armed. Perhaps part of the answer is defensive firepower, whether that means more police, military veterans or other trained volunteers. But we have examples of effective defense in depth at Jewish day schools and other private schools, which require visitors to be admitted through a perimeter fence and a secured door. It’s not a foolproof system, but it makes an attack on students much more difficult. We’ve talked a lot in this country about protective border walls and decaying infrastructure, but we must recognize that nothing is more urgent than ensuring that our schoolchildren are safe. We must make our public schools just as secure 10 as our private schools. ■

Cartoon by Nate Beeler, The Columbus Dispatch

Noa, LAMP Make Words Matter the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s recent Respectful dialogue, debate and discussion are leadership mission to Israel to support its Front in short supply these days, but two Shabbat excurPorch initiative. You’ll see that as we run columns sions Feb. 16 and 17 raised my hopes for humanity. from participants, starting on Page 12 this week with I went to Friday night services at Congregation Or Hadash because the Israeli singer Noa (Achinoam thoughts from Harold Kirtz and Rabbi Ari Leubitz. A more universal dialogue was on display the Nini) was speaking at the invitation of New Israel next day at Emory University during the fourth Fund, of which she is a board member, before her annual Leadership and concert the next night at Multifaith Program symthe Marcus JCC. posium, using the theme Whatever you think Editor’s Notebook of “Religious & Scientific of NIF, whose efforts to By Michael Jacobs Perspectives on the Future promote an Israel striving of Life.” Video from symmjacobs@atljewishtimes.com toward its ideals can lead posium sessions should be to grants to organizations online in early March, and that do more harm than it’s worth looking for if good, Noa gets a bad rap. you’re open to having your mind blown. When she tours in the United States, she runs into But the point here isn’t to talk about the posopposition motivated by the false belief that she sible sentience of bacteria, or compassion and promotes cultural boycotts or is anti-Zionist. secular ethics, or what various faith traditions have She has chosen not to perform in Israeli to say about environmental protection, or even how settlements in the West Bank for the past quarterastrobiologists are searching for life in space while century, but that doesn’t make her Roger Waters. At re-creating evolution in labs on Earth. Or Hadash, she declared several times that she is a Instead, it’s a reminder that the gaps between us Zionist — drawing a clear line between her and the are rarely as wide as we imagine. Ram Krishnamurlikes of Jewish Voice for Peace and Linda Sarsour — thy of the Scripps Research Institute showed how and wants an Israel that is Jewish, democratic and religion and science run along parallel, compatible separate from the Palestinians. tracks when he presented eight Hindu principles Noa said she has paid a high price for her peace and their scientific equivalents. Georgia Tech colactivism, but it is still less than the cost of doing leagues Amanda Stockton and Frank Rosenzweig, nothing and losing the Israel she loves. who show incredible imagination in envisioning The most important part of her talk dealt with experiments and instruments in the search for life, her recent visit to the West Bank at the invitation of struggled to understand why anyone would see a settler leaders. Noa and her hosts had meaningful conflict between evolution and G-d. conversations despite their disagreements because Perhaps the most important lesson to take away of their shared dream of Israel as the Jewish homefrom the symposium was the suggestion by Emory land at peace with its neighbors. She and the settlers biologist Arri Eisen after almost a decade of the of Judaea and Samaria differ on the details of what Emory-Tibet Science Initiative that all good teaching that Israel will look like and how we get there, but is good translating. the Zionist dream is alive and real on both sides. The more time we spend trying to understand That willingness to look for common ground as those we’re talking to, the less time we’ll have to the basis for a discussion could serve as a valuable spend trying to change their minds. ■ example in so many places and was a key part of

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Letters To The Editor

U.S., Russia Must Cooperate

Your editorial “Iranian Face-Off” (Our View, Feb. 16) rightly exhorts the United States to strongly support Israel’s right to self-defense. It is also imperative to work with the Russians to curb escalating Iranian/Syrian/Hezbollah/Hamas aggression. Otherwise, more dangerous confrontations will soon erupt, possibly leading to all-out war in the Middle East. De-escalating the bloody Syrian civil war presents the best opportunity to collaborate to defeat radical Islamic fundamentalism, both Sunni and Shia. Iran must be prevented from expanding and strengthening its military presence in the region: Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza and the Sinai. Its goal is to encircle and attack Israel. Russian help is needed to thwart this very dangerous behavior. It is important for us to remember that the United States and Russia worked together during World War II to defeat deadly foes: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and imperial Japan. Nuclear prolifera-

tion is not in either country’s interest and puts the whole world at risk. North Korea and Iran are allied in their quest to obtain nuclear bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles as soon as possible. The U.N. Security Council presents an opportunity for greater U.S.-Russian cooperation to stem dangerous activities. Time is of the essence to recognize mutual threats to the peace and security of the world and especially Israel. — Gail K. Ripans, Sandy Springs

Embrace the Breman

I attended several of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival screenings, including closing night’s incredibly moving presentation and discussion of “The Last Suit.” Reflecting on the positive audience response to this and other films, I experienced conflicting emotions of inspiration and pride in my Jewish heritage while also feeling sad. Why sadness when clearly there were many films, particularly Holocaust-related subjects, that focused on our Jewish resourcefulness and resilience? Because for three weeks people attended the film festival and invested their time and money extolling their Jewish heritage who have never visited,

much less joined, the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, a hidden Atlanta treasure the past 20 years. Our Atlanta museum is home to the permanent exhibition “Absence of Humanity: The Holocaust Years, 19331945.” The gallery, designed by the recently deceased Benjamin Hirsch, is as equally compelling as any Holocaust museum throughout the world. It features personal accounts of survivors living within our own Jewish community, including Ben’s. You can hear our local survivors bear witness to their remarkable stories. Other galleries are dedicated to Southern Jewish history and traveling exhibitions. The current exhibit “Discovery and Recovery: Preserving Iraqi Jewish History” features original documents and artifacts from Baghdad’s oncethriving Jewish community that were discovered in the flooded basement of Saddam Hussein’s intelligence headquarters. The museum archives preserve and catalog our Jewish heritage dating back to the original Jewish settlers in Georgia and continue to record oral histories of leaders and activists from all facets of our diverse Jewish community.

For all those who attended the AJFF, and all others who, like me, take pride in embracing your Jewish heritage, please visit the Breman Museum. Tour the exhibitions, partake in our many learning opportunities, do research in the archives, and attend the many interesting cultural and educational programs offered there. Once you experience this hidden treasure, I promise you will want to become a member; please consider it. — Judy Bauer Cohen, Atlanta, Breman Museum board member/docent

Political Cowardice

An undocumented immigrant murders a citizen, and what do Donald Trump and his fellow travelers offer us? A multibillion-dollar wall and xenophobia. Gun-toting Americans butcher our neighbors, and what do Donald Trump and his fellow travelers offer us? Their “thoughts and prayers.” The threat of nuclear-weaponized North Korea and Iran doesn’t scare me half as much as the political cowardice and mumbo-jumbo of those sworn to safeguard our domestic tranquility. This is old news. I wish it were fake. — Rabbi Scott B. Saulson, Atlanta

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

OPINION

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OPINION

Israel Shines as an Oasis of Mideast Peace The Federation-sponsored trip of 70 representatives of Jewish organizations and synagogues was a chance to see and hear what is happening in Israel, both new and not so new. One of our speakers was Alon Ben-David, a well-known senior defense correspondent and, as someone there described him, Israel’s Walter Cronkite. Ben-David described Israel as being in a good position strategically. Israel’s traditional enemies are imploding. No foreign armies are on Israel’s borders. Israel faces no existential threat at this time. There might be a future existential threat from Iran. While Ben-David views the Iranian deal as bad, it does give Israel 10 years to prepare for the moment when the threat is greater. While it is a bad deal, Israel might find itself alone if the United States pulls out, so he believes that the

United States should stay in the deal. Also, there is some ability to fix the situation with international coopera-

Guest Column By Harold Kirtz

tion while the deal is in place. No one is sure of the future of Syria. It is a Russian-oriented state. Iraq is two-thirds Shia-dominated and one-third Kurdish. Will the Sunni accept that situation in the long run? Meanwhile, there is no real Lebanon and no Yemen. For Israel, this is a time of strategic opportunities. The key word is frenemies. Everyone is working together in certain ways, and everyone is undermining one another in other ways. For example, Israel and Turkey do not want Iran to dominate the

region, so they will cooperate while being cautious of each other. Other Middle Eastern countries are willing to work with Israel. In 2017, Israel bombed Syria 35 times. No one paid attention. (That was before Israel shot down an Iranian drone and Syria downed an Israeli jet.) Russia understands Israel’s position and looks at Israel as the force that can interfere with its plans. But Russia is a responsible adversary Israel can talk with and deal with. The Russians are a restraining and stabilizing force in the region. Hezbollah knows that if it starts something, it might have to deal with Russia as well as Israel. Russia has leased an air base in Syria for 50 years; that is one reason Russia wants to maintain a lid on the region. Israel has bombed Egyptian territory 20 times in the past year — always in the Sinai with Egypt’s approval. Much of the bombing is to prevent cross-border activity. Egypt

just does not want to be embarrassed. Israel is making friends out of individual Syrians by helping with medical care. There is enormous brutality in Syria. But 3,800 Syrian patients are being helped in Israel after making their way to the border. Word has spread in Syria, and more patients are seeking help. As one Syrian said, “I had been taught that you had horns and a tail. … But then I heard that you were human. Others told me this, and I came for help.” Israel is investing in resources and activities to protect itself. Those efforts are putting off a major war. This is considered a “campaign between the wars.” It is a daily campaign, under the radar, of keeping adversaries uncomfortable about going to war. If there is a major war, the enemy will be less capable because of this policy of deferring conflict. Every major country around Israel is at war in some fashion. Israel is a relative island of stability. ■

In Jewish Atlanta, We Are Family

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

I’m back from a most meaningful trip to Israel. I keep replaying moments, discussions, debates and connections from the week, and I find myself smiling. When Federation invited us on this trip for Atlanta leaders, I wondered how this incredibly diverse group would interact. We came from very different places — geographically, religiously, spiritually — and yet we were heading to Israel together to tackle the problems and challenges facing Atlanta Jewry. How do we create a community of belonging? How do we overcome the challenge of so many unaffiliated Jews? How does American Jewry connect with the very different/complex/political Israeli Jewry? Those are but a few of the intense challenges we dived into. It’s always so interesting how relevant the parshah is and how the timing is so often perfect. In Israel, we read Yitro, in part about how the Jewish people received the Torah (more precisely, the Aseret HaDibrot, the 10 principles or utterances). That is where we accepted the brit (covenant). A covenant is like the signing of a contract. Both parties commit themselves to do something in the interest of the other. It was our people’s first 12 step — namely, to accept the sacred

charge and internalize it. Our Atlanta team of 70 accepted our covenant to enter our weeklong work by being present, setting aside any preconceived notions, and engaging with curiosity, candor and grace. The Torah portion after our return,

Guest Column By Rabbi Ari Leubitz

Mishpatim, deals with laws and behaviors that manifest from the covenant. Our team of 70 will keep wrestling with the big questions. We do this work to ensure that we keep Atlanta Jewry special for the next 50 years. The connection between these two parshiyot reminded me that we must have our own covenantal clarity, purpose and revelation. We need to accept our Jewish covenant, a sacred purpose. Only then can we understand our responsibilities and obligations. In Israel, some moments were tough. We didn’t leave a stone unturned. We raised every challenge, issue and dream for the community. Difficult private and public conversations led to heartfelt, respectful, challenging and uplifting discourse. Can you imagine having a slew of

rabbis and other leaders from shuls and institutions, each offering opinions and views? Oy vey, sounds like a recipe for disaster and ego-clashing. It was the exact opposite. When we engage directly and focus on what unites us, the magic begins. As Jews, we all shared the Sinai experience and are charged with the same sacred mission: to bring G-d’s light into our community and world. We connect and rally around this goal. I was overwhelmed with the realization of how blessed we are as a community — the institutions, resources and people in our midst. It was a profound moment for me. To continue strengthening and growing this community, we simply cannot work alone. We need to engage each other, understand each other, be a light unto each other before we can be a light unto other nations. Regardless of where we are on our Jewish journeys, we are mishpacha (family). We are not simply a people with a shared history or shared goals; we are connected. We are committed to Jewish values. We are a community. There is a reason why we each feel personal pain when any Jew is a victim of terror or when there is a struggle among Jews in Israel. There is a reason why we take immense pride when an Israeli wins an Olympic medal. It’s in our DNA. We are connected with one

another. We are mishpacha. We talk at AJA about being a committed connected community. Sitting in Israel, with this incredible mix of folks, it was so clear to me that the committed connected community is not only at AJA, but also should be a goal for the entire Atlanta Jewish community. We are mishpacha and need to engage from a place of inherent love and respect for one another. When we interact, we need to assume the best and engage one another with grace and curiosity and trust that we are all committed to the same result. We need to continue creating relationships across Atlanta without judgment of each person’s Jewish journey. There is no journey or accomplishment without true connection and understanding. I am grateful to Federation for having the foresight to plan this trip. I’m not sure it would have worked in many other cities. Our community is unique and yet inclusive; there must be something special about our leaders for this trip to be so successful. We in Atlanta share some of the DNA of our overseas mishpacha — our Israeli brothers and sisters — who truly believe they can solve any problem or challenge. ■ Rabbi Ari Leubitz is the head of school at Atlanta Jewish Academy.

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

The Depressing Loneliness of Social Media to text than to call. And it’s certainly easier to fire off an emoji than to compose a complete sentence (insert eye-rolling emoji). But the efficiency of a huggy emoji will never replace the mind/ body experience of hugging a friend

Briefings From The Berman Center By Daniel Epstein

in a time of need. To be healthy, we need to experience face-to-face human interaction and to be good at it. Another critical component of the depressive experiences associated with social media is comparison. Humans naturally compare; it’s a must for survival. How else would we know if the nearby beast is dinner or diner? We compare by instinct. The problem is that a sabertoothed tiger at 100 yards deserves any emotions she may evoke, whereas the photo your old classmate posted of her

iced coffee was meticulously selected from 483 others, then cropped, edited, filtered and retouched. It is merely a representation of a caffeinated beverage, yet you use it as evidence she lives some luxe life you will never achieve as a consequence of your tragically asymmetrical earlobes. Experiencing intense emotions in response to the big cat is useful, but the other is not. Post after post and day after day, this comparison model will weigh down the best of us. Ultimately, what seems to be making people lonelier is the illusion one can sit alone and experience a satisfying social life. Let’s recognize what’s really happening: We’re getting instantly gratifying hits of dopamine from the lights, sounds, vibrations and validations as a result of interacting with curated digital representations of acquaintances. We compare the mundane, momentary aspects of our lives with the highlight reels of others, and it’s bumming us out. Social media are wonderful ways to stay in touch, especially to those spread over geographic distances, and

they certainly are effective for brief interactions like scheduling plans. But social media can’t replace a big hug, a warm smile and a great conversation. Please, go meet a friend or family member for coffee (phone in purse or bag), and catch up without feeling the need to broadcast it on social media. You might actually love it. ■ Daniel Epstein is a licensed psychotherapist and the program director at The Berman Center. For program or private practice inquires, email daniel@ bermancenteratl.com, or call 954-2285101. For those struggling with addiction and mental health illness, The Berman Center’s (www.bermancenteratl. com) Intensive Outpatient Program is the treatment, recovery and personal advancement center that helps people move from existing to living through an individualized, spiritually holistic approach, best-in-class clinical excellence, and exceptional post-treatment community integration programs. For answers to your questions related to mental illness and addiction, call 770-336-7444, or email questions@bermancenteratl.com.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

If we are so connected through technology, why are people so lonely? Connecting digitally is to in-person connection what reality TV is to reality. Our brains didn’t evolve the past several million years on $800 tablets and smartphones. There is a measurable difference between our neurological responses to a digital simulation of an event vs. an actual event. Consider the difference between looking at vacation photos of the Grand Canyon and standing in front of it, with your feet on the dirt, inhaling the fresh air and watching the sunset while some large, creepy bird circles its prey in the distance. The reality show and vacation photos are representations of experiences but not the full experiences. To the brain, social media are simply lowfi representations of socializing. Humans are social creatures, and the technology within our smartphones is shockingly addictive. I could fill a book about the impact I have witnessed smartphones having on my young-adult clients and their families — but my attention span is too short now to sit and complete such a task. Thanks, “smart” phone. What was I saying? Oh, yeah. Many of my young-adult clients are demonstrating clinically significant impairments in their lives around their phones. Research consistently concludes phones are addictive: obsessive thought patterns and cravings; use that is more than intended; withdrawal symptoms; risky behaviors like texting while driving; and the creation of problems within family, social, academic and/or work domains. The biggest difference I’ve noticed between drugs and tech is an iPhone costs only about $120 an ounce. Being social animals, we find the greatest joys to be shared joys. This is based on the dopamine reward (and a few other neurochemicals and hormones) we get from socializing. An example is the excitement we get from hugging an old friend or the ding from a text notification. Hence, it feels like a bonus when we share special moments like concerts, vacations or photos of our experiences with others. The issue I am calling attention to is the “fast food” conundrum: Convenience and efficiency increase at the potentially harmful cost of quality and health. It’s more efficient to call a friend than to visit her. It’s quicker

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PURIM

Superheroes Outnumber Israel’s Purim Heroes

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

While buying some items in a little all-purpose store across the street from the outdoor market of Jerusalem, I heard, “Come here, Rachel. There is a strawberry costume you might like.” As I worked my way to the back, I saw a mother helping her daughter try on that berry costume. I said, “Wear it in good health” in Hebrew. The mother gave me a smile. That store, not a costume shop, offered skeletons, pirates, Maccabees and other options for Purim in Israel. It was nostalgic for me because I remembered when my wife, Rita, and I bought costumes with our children, more than 30 years ago. Back then, there were a lot of cowboys, princesses, soccer players and others. The stream of costuming is what makes Purim so much fun. This year the most desirable outfit for girls seems to be Wonder Woman. Israeli actress Gal Gadot has overwhelmed the world with her depiction of the Amazon warrior. One editor told me last year when

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the movie hit its peak: “Gal Gadot is the best representative of Israel in the world. She should be involved in the

Guest Column By Rabbi David Geffen

peace negotiations.” Every time I see her on TV, it makes me think: What did I do with my old comic books? Captain America is sweeping the boys’ choices because of his strength (of course exaggerated) and his dedication to the United States of America. Maybe we need a Captain Waze or a Captain Mobileye. Those technologies are sweeping the world, but most people have no idea that Israelis created them for the good of the entire universe. Surely there are other costumes in the stores. The special combat teams in the Israeli army provide for many types of

costumes with special berets to maximize their authenticity. Little girls may be angels, butterflies, princesses and nurses. Older girls — preteens and teens — wear costumes with cleavage. Israel is not different from the rest of the world, but Israelis go with the flow and costume as the younger and older women on the streets. This year there is an overabundance of Haredi black suits with long, overflowing white beards. Because of the government turmoil with that group, I would have thought it would be problematic to dress like them. But the costume makers know their business, so Haredi wear is out there for sale. Some Donald Trump rubber masks are being sold, and because of the criminal accusations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, maybe Netanyahu heads will be sold as well. One great buy this year is Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife. Her visibility on the Israeli public stage makes her a good feminist costume treat.

In costume catalogs a few Esthers and Mordechais can be found, but they are sold the least. Four-and 5-yearolds might wear them. Haman and the king do not seem to be found anywhere, even in the most traditional neighborhoods. Since the 1930s, here in our land, Jews and then Israelis have made Purim a time to throw out the real and enjoy what makes you happy. Be it drinking, dressing up, making noise with groggers, or cheering the heroes and heroine of the saga, Israelis let it all out. This year, I assume Purim will be rowdier because our people here have a lot to forget. That is why Israelis can celebrate Purim and Shushan Purim. Jerusalem and other places that observe Shushan Purim are close enough if people want to drive there to have fun for a second day. I have a large, orange, rubber wig I found last year. At the Purim party where I live, I doubt that wearing it will give me any more status, but at least I will have costumed here in Jerusalem. ■

PURIM

(From left) Barbara Fisher, Keren Fisher and Nina Flusberg represent three generations of AMIT volunteers.

Holiday Baskets Support AMIT Schools in Israel By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

Students from Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael load boxes filled with Purim baskets.

number of baskets packed and delivered has more than doubled from 250 five years ago. More than 60 people pack the baskets, and 50 people from nine synagogues and six Jewish day schools deliver them on Purim. The volunteers range in age from 8 to their 80s. “It’s important for me to get people involved that have been a part of the project for decades,” Fisher said. Three years ago, the fundraiser began to earmark the proceeds. The project has built a playground, outside classrooms and a biblical garden for an elementary school in Sderot, has sponsored scholarships for students in Rehovot, and has paid for teacher training for a robotics course in Be’er Sheva. Israeli schools have sent thankyou notes and photos of children at play and of scholarship recipients. “I feel that this program is building a tangible connection between people in Atlanta and Israel,” Fisher said. “I think it’s important for people in Israel to know, especially in more challenging times, that Jewish people all over the world care about them.” ■

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Keren Fisher’s goal isn’t to build bridges in the community when she and other volunteers package Purim baskets to help fund AMIT Children in Israel, but it is one of her achievements. AMIT Children is a network of 100 schools. They are in Israel’s poorest and wealthiest neighborhoods and everywhere in between, Fisher said. The schools are good at absorbing immigrants and are often asked by the government to run other institutions. “I really believe in giving everyone a good education, and when you are giving people a foundation, … they become productive citizens,” said Fisher, an Atlanta native and mother of four. Every Purim, an email invites people to purchase Purim mishloach manot baskets for $3. A recipient gets one basket with a note listing all the people who donated on that person’s behalf. People who receive fewer than 12 donations get cards instead of baskets. The basket’s contents change every year, and it includes gourmet kosher products that are difficult to find locally. There has been an effort to go green the past several years, Fisher said, with reusable containers, bamboo salad bowls and zip-up picnic blankets. Price increases for products create a challenge, Fisher said. “We want to keep it great, so people feel and know their friends are going to get something really nice if they send through AMIT.” The number of donations required for a basket was increased from 10 to 12. She became more involved with the Purim program after moving back to Atlanta and felt that that the project needed to be brought forward. The

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The Times of Shushan All the fake news that fits, we print* * Except maybe some items involving a certain family living in D.C., New York and Florida. After all, Jared, Ivanka and the kids are mishpacha, no? Intrepid reporter Polly Esther Pantz has scraped the bottom of the barrel with the help of tipsters and insiders close to the source — anywhere from Minsk to Pinsk.

Fashion Pushback

Thousands of women sporting real-hair wigs and faux designer bags, many pushing multiple-seat baby carriages, angrily took to the streets of Seventh Avenue during Fashion Week in New York. “The chutzpah of the designers!” spokeswoman Yemima Fognotz declared. “They’re a bunch of goniffs! The styles belong to us and not to those half-naked models.” An increasing number of couture houses are showing maxi skirts, dark stockings, long sleeves and turbanlike head coverings as part of their spring and summer lines, jumping on the Ultra-Kosher fad. “I love the new look!” media maven Arianna Huffingpuffing remarked in a pithy article she dictated between naps for her latest website, hotair.biz. We went to a Torah dedication, and While their wives, daugha fashion show broke out. ters and mothers stormed the Garment District, thousands of black-suited, white-bearded men tore down subway advertisements and erected Times Square scaffolding obscuring billboards showcasing skinny men and women cavorting in black hats with wide, furry brims. “Fake fur!” yeshiva student Feivel Getcha-Tenn shouted.

Ask the Rebbetzin

Rebbetzin Pearl Cluster, educator, media personality and horticulturist, answers all your confounding family and lifestyle queries. Contact the rebbetzin through The Times of Shushan for speaking engagements and landscaping quotes. Dear Rebbetzin Cluster, What’s your recommendation for seating at the Shabbat table? — A Perplexed Hostess Dear Perplexed, I prefer teak or mahogany chairs, but fruitwood will do in a pinch.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Dear Rebbetzin Cluster, I polish my candlesticks every Friday, without fail. My new daughter-inlaw tells me that I’m ruining the patina. What’s with that? — Type A and Proud Dear Type, Patina, shmatina! You polish away, girl. If your daughter-in-law wants an excuse to neglect her own candlesticks, fine.

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Dear Rebbetzin Cluster, I’ve recently converted, and I’m eager to get into the true spirit of Judaism. What books do you recommend for Shabbat reading? — New Jew Dear New, Long ones. Dear Rebbetzin Cluster, I’m 85 years old and have recently joined a live play-reading group of much younger, very stylish men and women. I don’t want to mess up, but I’m not the trendy type. What do you think I should wear?

— Kid at Heart Dear Kid, Your glasses.

Bernie’s New Campaign

Former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders attributes his deep pride and reverent identification with the Jewish people as his motivation for a new agenda. On Israeli Independence Day, the Vermont senator is launching “Make No Mistake: Yiddish Is Just for Jews.” “For decades I’ve been troubled by the usurping of our beloved Yiddish language by non-Jews, but now it’s gone too far. Just this afternoon on the Senate floor, Rand Paul referred to Trump’s tax bill as unkosher,” Sanders said. “When my respected colleague Paul Ryan told me he had to schlep his kids to after-school sports, it made my blood boil. “But the final straw was this morning when my old pal Ted Cruz texted me that he was tired of FBI kvetching. If my sainted Jewish ancestors would have heard him, they’d have delivered a swift frask in the punim!” Pictures of Sanders with young yeshiva students in Borough Park and Crown Heights are posted daily on his Facebook page and appear frequently on the cover of Der Yid. Sanders is struggling to stimulate the grass roots, however. Whenever young activists approach his headquarters — the reopened Second Avenue Deli, where the Yiddish writers used to meet and kvetch — he instinctively snarls, “Get off my lawn!”

Temple Artifacts

Chaim Pippik, erstwhile dealer in antiquities and third-string consultant to Christie’s and Sotheby’s auction houses, came across a cache of astounding items in a clandestine online search. On the lookout for ancient jewelry and

Better Than Cats!

Come to Flanken, a deli so hip and old school that your bubbie will want to know its orthopedist.

All that stuff you’ve always ordered on the side?

That’s all we serve.

We’d give you the menu, but you wouldn’t understand it: It’s all in Yiddish.

Coming soon within a good FitBit walk of Ponce City Market.

THE SHUSHAN TIMES

you’ve seen them all.

Build Up the Wall

Forget that other AJMF. This is the AJMF reimagined: the Anti-Jewish Music Festival.

Scheduled performers include:* Roger Waters Brian Eno Yusuf Islam Elvis Costello Lorde With a special appearance by Linda Sarsour, making her singing debut. *Organizers are not responsible if performers find old habits hard to break and cancel their plans. Coming soon to an empty stretch of BeltLine near you.

Gourmet Guide

Our resident foodie scout, Farfala Grepps, reviews kosher restaurants. Tastes Like Treif A matched pair of kosher restaurants, Tastes Like Treif is set to open in Toco Hills and Dunwoody. Owner Sheldon Shelflyfe spent several arduous years tweaking the taste of kosher food with the help of a non-Jewish foodie friend, Sean Mahoney. Mahoney, a frequent patron of Pricci and an Atlanta bon vivant, was tapped as expert adviser. “He even knows what a quince is, and he’s eaten insects,” Shelflyfe said. The quince-savvy, bug-eating Mahoney shared dinner with Shelflyfe several times a week, except Friday night, when Shelflyfe’s wife, Sarah, insisted on traditional Ashkenazi fare. “Unfortunately, Sarah showed no interest in making kugel and gefilte fish taste treif,” Shelflyfe shrugged. “I love my husband, but I never liked that guy who eats octopus and snails. It makes me sick to think about it,” she said. Mahoney laughed at Mrs. Shelflyfe’s words. “What does she know about poulet and escargot? Once our restaurants open and she gets a taste of kosher treif, she’ll come around. I’ve dealt with novitiates before.” Shelflyfe explained how a glatt-kosher eater and a nonkosher gourmand managed the tradition-shifting process. “Each meeting features a treif dish, such as clam chowder. Sean knows how ideal clam chowder should taste, and, using his educated palate in our kosher home kitchen, he’d manipulate any number of kosher ingredients until he perfectly achieved the treif taste.” Having never tasted nonkosher food, Shelflyfe acknowledged he could have been fooled. “But we tried the new treif-tasting kosher food on lots of experienced treif eaters, and they assured us that the food tasted like treif.” Shelflyfe proudly listed a few of his favorite faux-treif foods on the menu: Welsh rarebit, turtle soup, frog legs au jus and squid ink custard. “It’s just the beginning,” he said. “We’re working on blood pudding now.” Flanken A kosher restaurant also is coming to Ponce City Market Adjacent, a strip center that’s only about three miles southeast of the Old Fourth Ward hub and doesn’t even charge for parking. Welcome to Flanken, an old-fashioned, sour-pickles-on-the-table deli, with the wait staff, décor and triglycerides to prove it. The motto is “Better Than Cats!” — which sounds like a claim to the legendary Lower East Side eatery Katz’s Delicatessen but is really about the long-running Broadway show. “I’d much rather have a hot corned beef on rye than sit in some drafty theater for three hours listening to cats whining,” deli owner and Andrew Lloyd Webber critic Scott Taypp said. “To hell with those ‘health food’ fanatics,” the serial entrepreneur said, emphasizing the air quotes around “health food.” “Those are the same people who believe in global warming and protested on Wall Street for, like, 10 minutes. We use real salt, real sugar and real mayo. Our corned beef is as fatty as your bubbie’s, and we stuff our own kishke.” After clearing it with my cardiologist, I visited the restaurant to sample Flanken’s fare. The food brought back the aromas, ingredients and indigestion of my youth. I couldn’t help ordering a tongue sandwich and celery soda to go. Sure enough, the place was packed with twentysomethings, none of whom ever tasted fried kreplach or gribenes, happily slathering schmaltz on thick slices of pumpernickel and snapping selfies next to their plates, possibly to send to their grandmothers.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

pottery, he was stunned to find an offer of “Treasures from the Temple.” Relics from the time of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem are so rare that they typically find a home only in museums; however, in spite of the extremely fuzzy pictures, Pippik immediately made contact. The price of the lot was so low that he assumed malfeasance and pirating, but his mercenary tendencies got the best of him. When Pippik gingerly unwrapped the heavy parcel, he was dumbfounded to find black-and-white photos from the 1950s and ’60s, pieces of a brass memorial plaque, charred pages of Psalms in English, and fire-damaged bricks and plaster. Pippik showed his purchases to a trusted friend with expertise in forensics. The friend went to his bookshelf, pulled out a volume by Melissa Fay Greene and handed it to Pippik. “The seller didn’t lie to you,” he said. “But everything is from the Third Temple Period — the one You’ve seen one temple, that started in 1867 in Atlanta.”

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PURIM

The Many Ways to Celebrate Esther and Mordechai Purim begins Wednesday night, Feb. 28, and ends Thursday night, March 1. In addition to traditional readings of the Megillat Esther, the following are some options to celebrate.

SATURDAY, FEB. 24

Hamantaschen party. The Sixth Point provides all the ingredients for adults to make triangular treats, plus a photo booth to test their costumes, at 3 p.m. at the Levy home, 2884 Parkridge Drive, Brookhaven. Admission is $8 in advance or $10 at the door; thesixth-point. org/event/make-hamentashen-party. Young adult party. Marcus JCC Young Adults and partners hold a costume party at 8 p.m. at Orpheus Brewing, 1440 Dutch Valley Place, Midtown. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door; bit.ly/2EXWiky or 678-812-3861.

SUNDAY, FEB. 25

Purim PaloozAA. Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., holds a carnival from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with a megillah reading in between, including games, live music, a dessert buffet and food trucks at lunchtime. Admission is $10 per person or $18 per family; form. jotform.com/60544925801960. Purim Palooza. Temple Sinai, 5645 Dupree Drive, Sandy Springs, holds a family megillah reading at 9:30 a.m., followed by a carnival. Game wristbands are $15 for ages 2 to 5 and $20 for 6 and up through Feb. 21, then $5 more; www. templesinaiatlanta.org. Mitzvah carnival. Congregation Gesher L’Torah, 4320 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, from 10 a.m. to noon holds Purim With a Purpose, where children can play carnival games and earn

money for any of 16 nonprofit organizations. Admission is $18 per family; www.gltorah.org or 770-777-4009.

noon at Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road. Free (fee for lunch); order food at www.yith.org/lunchnlearn.

Parade and carnival. The community parade leaves from the Toco Hill Shopping Center near Pike Nurseries at 11 a.m. and ends at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, where a carnival starts at noon. Free for the parade; bethjacobatlanta.org/Purim.

Celebration. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, provides a dairy dinner at 5:30 p.m., a children’s megillah reading and costume parade at 6:15, and a spiel and full megillah reading at 7. Free; www. bethshalom.net or 770-399-5300.

Carnival. Congregation Beth Shalom, 5303 Winters Chapel Road, Dunwoody, holds a carnival at 11:30 a.m. Admission, including lunch, is $12 until Feb. 20 or $15 at the door; www.bethshalom. net/event/purim-carnival1.html.

“American Ninja Warrior” party. Chabad Intown, 928 Ponce de Leon Ave., Poncey-Highland, provides a buffet dinner, ninja warrior parkour activities and a stunt show, as well as a megillah reading, at 5:45 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $10 for children; chabadintown.org/ninja-warrior.

Hamantaschen bake-off. Chabad of Peachtree City holds an event for women and girls at the Lew home, 219 Kel­ vington Way, Peachtree City, at 7 p.m. Free (donations appreciated); RSVP to www.chabadsouthside.com, shternie@ chabadsouthside.com or 678-595-9277.

MONDAY, FEB. 26

Exploring Esther. MACoM, 700A Mount Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, hosts Rabbi Elisheva Brenner for a discussion of the historical, mythical and theatrical Esther at 7:30 p.m. A $5 donation is suggested; 404-549-9679 or atlantamikvah.org.

Young professionals’ party. YJP Atlanta holds a ’90s-themed party with an open bar at 7:30 p.m. at its new property, 730 Ponce de Leon Place, PonceyHighland. Tickets are $10 (early bird) or $15; bit.ly/2C8yoUY.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28

Mishloach manot. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, works with One Good Deed to distribute food baskets to the elderly at 10:30 a.m. Free; www.yith.org.

Intown family party. The Atlanta Scholars Kollel, Jewish Kids Groups, PJ Library and the Marcus JCC hold a celebration at 5:15 p.m. at Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave., Morningside. Free; ask@atlantakollel.org or 404-951-1026.

Lunch and learn. Rabbi Adam Starr leads an exploration of the megillah at

your gold, diamonds, high end watches and designer jewelry!

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Ice cream party. Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, holds an ice cream party after the 6:55 p.m. megillah reading. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta.org/purim or 404-633-0551.

TUESDAY, FEB. 27

WE WANT TO BUY

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D’oh. Anshi, 1324 N. Highland Ave., Morningside, hosts Rabbi Avraham Horvitz as he reads the megillah using the voices of “Simpsons” characters with a “Simpsons” slide show at 6:50 p.m., to be followed by food and music. Free; www.anshisfard.org/simpsonsmegillah-reading or 404-951-1026.

THURSDAY, MARCH 1

Pancakes. Congregation Beth Jacob Rabbi Ilan and Miriam Feldman are serving pancakes from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their home, 1582 Beechcliff Drive, Toco Hills. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta­. org/purim or 404-633-0551.

3960 Old Milton Pkwy • Alpahretta

www.iroff.com 770-751-7222

Children’s megillah. Rabbi Dov Foxbrunner leads a celebration for preschoolers at noon at Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills. Free; www.bethjacobatlanta.org/purim or 404-633-0551. African

celebration.

Chabad

of

Peachtree City, 632 Dogwood Trail, Tyrone, holds an African-themed Purim party with a megillah reading, juice bar, African buffet, drum circle and crafts at 4 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children older than 6 until Feb. 22, then $5 more per person; RSVP at www.chabadsouthside.com. Festive meal. Anshi Rabbi Mayer Freedman and his family hold a Purim feast from 4 p.m. until about 6:30 at 1113 University Drive, Morningside. Free; mayerfreedman@atlantakollel.org. Festive meal. Congregation Beth Jacob, 1855 LaVista Road, Toco Hills, hold s seudah at 5 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults and $17 for ages 3 to 12 for members and $30 and $20 for others; www. bethjacobatlanta.org/purim-seudah. Dance-off. Meir Kay joins Congregation Beth Tefillah, 5065 High Point Road, Sandy Springs, for a dance party at 5 p.m. Admission is $20 for adults and $12 for children 3 to 11 through Feb. 24, then $25 and $18; www.bethtefillah. org/form/purim-dance-off-2018.html. Masquerade and party. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, holds a celebration with crafts and a megillah reading. Free (nominal charge for pizza); www. chabadnf.org or 770-410-9000. Pancake party. Young Israel of Toco Hills, 2056 LaVista Road, holds a pancake pajama party with PJ Library fun, juggler Todd Key and adult trivia at 5:30 p.m. Admission is $18 for adults and $10 for kids for members, $25 and $12 for nonmembers (children under 2 free); www.yith.org or 404-315-1417. Feast and comedy show. Chabad of North Fulton, 10180 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta, celebrates Purim with adults at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $25; www.chabadnf.org/purimadult or 770410-9000.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

Family celebration. The Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody, holds a carnival, a costume parade and a concert at 10 a.m. Free; bit.ly/2EmetUd or 678-812-4161. Cookie swap. The Marcus JCC invites families to dress in costumes and bring hamantaschen with creative flavors to Candler Park, 585 Candler Park Drive, Atlanta, at 3 p.m. Free; atlantajcc.org.

www.atlantajewishtimes.com

PURIM

Purim off Ponce Celebrates Connections By Kevin C. Madigan kmadigan@atljewishtimes.com Everything is new at Purim off Ponce, says Rebecca Stapel-Wax, the executive director of SOJOURN­: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity. “We have never sold out before,” she said. “In the past we have had maybe 90 hosts; this year it’s 160. The theme is fairy tales, so it’s really going to jump-start our storytelling for SOJOURN. It’s a kickoff for our annual giving, and we’ve created a new Fairytale Fund so we can sustain and actually grow much bigger.” The 12th annual Purim off Ponce costume party will be held Saturday, March 3, at The Temple’s SchwartzGoldstein Hall, the first time in that location, and proceeds from the popular event help fund SOJOURN’s mission on LGBTQ matters. Two honorees, Judy Marx of Interfaith Community Initiatives and Billy Planer of Etgar 36, will receive the Michael Jay Kinsler Rainmaker Award “for their professional and personal efforts toward building loving communi-

Judy Marx

Billy Planer

ties where LGBTQ people feel listened to and safe,” SOJOURN’s official announcement said. “The reason for both of them to be chosen is that they do such wonderful generalized work in the world that’s a metaphor for what we do: getting people to understand more about diversity and LGBTQ issues. They are quintessential role models for that,” Stapel-Wax said. Interfaith Community Initiatives works to strengthen relationships in diverse areas and situations, while Etgar 36 arranges fact-finding tours that teach teens and adults about history,

civil rights and culture. “I think the work SOJOURN does is unbelievably important,” Marx said, “particularly in encouraging the Jewish community in being more welcoming. SOJOURN has put the ideal out there of what a welcoming and inclusive community should look like and how to get over some of the hurdles and stumbling blocks on gender and sexual identity. Rebecca and her team really help us all raise our game.” Marx said interfaith relationships are now more crucial than ever. “People feel the political climate in this country is not necessarily friendly to community relations, so it’s time to double down on them and do it better than ever. We are working on building bridges between folks here in Atlanta, where faith is an important part of most people’s identity.” The connection between SOJOURN­and Etgar 36 is also about assimilation, Planer said. “Any group that has been marginalized and not had a voice for power in America has been fighting to be heard,” he said. “Including this (LGBTQ) community in the discussion about civil rights, that’s how

we cross over.” Part of his job in teaching the civil rights movement is bringing it into modern times. “The struggle for civil and human rights issues is alive and well, just like it was back in the ’50s and ’60s when it was a race issue.” One of Planer’s tours pays a visit to the AIDS Memorial Quilt project, which he cites as an example “of an impacted community that did not have a voice. Thirty years later we’re still dealing with deaths and infection rates of HIV/AIDS, even in teenagers.” For Planer, it’s all part of the Jewish concept of taking care of others. “We know what it’s like to be a stranger in a strange land. It’s incumbent upon our people to repair the world. We have to be there for them.” ■ What: Purim off Ponce Who: Honorees Judy Marx and Billy Planer Where: The Temple, 1589 Peachtree St., Midtown When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 Tickets: $100; www.sojourngsd.org/ pop2018

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PURIM

Dress Your Drinks for the Festivities Purim is one of the few days in the year when Jews are not only allowed to let loose and enjoy the revelry of the day, but are actually commanded to. Our tradition teaches that it’s a mitzvah to find the joy in the absurd and to twist the twisted until it’s no longer recognizable as its original form. We turn sad things into happy and happy things into, well, even happier things. And with the way this year has started, it’s even more important for us to be able to find joy in even the most challenging of times. The Purim story reminds us that even in our darkest, most terrifying moments, we can find the strength and resolve to take on the most daunting of challenges. In the story, Queen Esther gathers her strength and acts deliberately. She plots and schemes until the moment is right, and, because of her bravery, she saves our people from destruction. In honor of Esther’s bravery and the idea that what was originally meant to be a day of destruction

turned into a day of celebration, here are three cocktails to help you turn your world upside down and guarantee a night of merriment.

The Cocktail Hour By Robbie Medwed

Gin Punch can be prepared for a crowd well in advance.

Gin Punch When celebrating with a crowd, there are few options better than a punch. It’s incredibly easy to prepare in advance and requires almost no real work. If you

can peel lemons, you’re halfway there. 3 lemons ¾ cup sugar 1 750-milliliter bottle of gin ½ cup orange liqueur 1 liter seltzer/soda water Peel the lemons, place the peels into a tall plastic container and pour the sugar on top. Cover the peels and let them sit for at least an hour at room temperature. The sugar will pull the oil out of the lemon peels and create what’s called an oleo-saccharum (literally, oil-sugar). It should look like damp or clumpy sugar when it’s ready. Pour the orange liqueur and gin over the oleo-saccharum and mix very well. It will take a bit of strong stirring to melt all the sugar. You can fish out the lemon peels at this point. Juice the peeled lemons and add the juice to the mixture. Add the bottle of soda water and mix well. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon wheels in the punch bowl/ pitcher or a lemon wedge on each glass.

a squeeze of a blood orange wedge (about a teaspoon’s worth, not too much) and two dashes of Angostura bitters. Mix well. If you want to stay more traditional, you can easily use a sugar cube or a spoonful of sugar instead of the agave. Add the tequila and stir well. Add ice until you’re happy and garnish with a slice of blood orange peel. If you want to get fancy, squeeze the orange peel over the drink and wipe the rim with it for even more flavor. Champagne Cocktail There’s no rule that Purim cocktails can’t be fancy and elegant, and the classic champagne cocktail proves it. This recipe has been around almost as long as people have been drinking champagne, and it will work with any sparkling wine. Just be careful: The sweeter your wine, the less sugar you’ll need in the recipe. Sugar cube Bitters 1 ounce brandy 4 ounces champagne Drop the sugar cube (or a spoonful of sugar) into the bottom of a champagne flute or coupe and saturate it with bitters. That mixture can sit as long as you need, so it’s easy to prepare many glasses in one batch. When you’re ready to serve, add the brandy and fill the rest of the glass with cold champagne. The sugar will add a whole new level of bubbles to the drink, so there’s no need for any other garnish. Feel free to experiment with different types of spirits. Change the brandy out for gin, whiskey or even rum. ■

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

The Blood Orange Tequila OldFashioned is a drink in disguise.

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Blood Orange Tequila Old-Fashioned One of the best traditions of Purim is dressing up in costumes and wearing masks, and this drink is getting in on the game. To the average observer, it will look like any other old-fashioned, but to those who take a sip, it’s simply a cocktail in costume. This drink takes its cues from the classic old-fashioned but, just as Jews are called to do on Purim, flips it right on its head. Splash of agave nectar Squeeze of blood orange juice 2 dashes bitters 3 ounces good tequila In the bottom of an empty rocks glass, add a splash of agave nectar,

A Champagne Cocktail brings a bit of royal elegance to the party.

FOOD

6 Spots Where Brunch Makes Sunday Fun Day thing outside the box, such as Seed’s Smoked Salmon and Potato Pancakes with poached eggs, dill crème fraîche, asparagus and hollandaise. • Joy Cafe, Midtown (joycafeatl. com). You may remember Joy Cafe from “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” a

The Food Scene By Skye Estroff

few years ago. The restaurant moved from Buckhead to Midtown last year but still serves the same Southern comfort food. Joy Cafe is a contender for Atlanta’s best avocado toast. The cafe’s version has a twist: It’s made with sourdough toast with chunky guacamole, chopped tomatoes, feta, parsley and watermelon radish and served with a poached egg. Joy Cafe serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. • Superica, Buckhead and Krog Street Market (www.superica.com). Superica serves brunch Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Menu highlights include the Breakfast Brisket Sandwich on Texas toast with cabbage slaw, guacamole, jalapeño pickles and two fried eggs. For a spicier kick, order the Huevos Mexicanos — two eggs scrambled with jalapeños, tomatoes, onions and cheese. Other notable options: Canoe, City Winery, Hampton + Hudson, Osteria Mattone, Sun in My Belly, Bread & Butterfly, Nine Mile Station and Parish. ■ Skye Estroff is the marketing and media manager for Atlanta’s largest food festival, Taste of Atlanta. Stay up to date with food and restaurants by following Taste of Atlanta on Facebook (Taste of Atlanta), Instagram (@TasteofAtlanta) and Twitter (@TasteofAtlanta) and following her on Instagram (@skyemichelle58).

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

The meal we wait for all week is brunch. Our culture used to look down on those who missed breakfast, but now brunch is a weekly chance to savor sleeping in and eating great food. The only task for this meal is deciding where to have it. This Taste of Atlanta list is based on atmosphere and consistency of delicious food. Any of these options will please you and your brunchmates. Defer to our guide, and keep your brunch plans easy like Sunday morning. • Murphy’s, Virginia-Highland (www.murphys-atlanta-restaurant. com). One perk is the starter bread basket filled with freshly baked biscuits and muffins and always served warm alongside a flight of butters and jams. A must-order is Eggs VirginiaHighland with spinach, mushrooms and poached eggs on focaccia, covered in a sun-dried-tomato hollandaise. If you prefer something sweet, try the Hazelnut French Toast with caramelized bananas, whipped cream and powdered sugar. Enjoy brunch Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Muchacho, Reynoldstown (muchachoatl.com). If all you see on your Instagram feed is fancy toast, blame Muchacho, which hit the scene just a few months ago. Muchacho’s toasts have upgraded golden-brown bread from boring to decorative. Try the avocado toast layered with cherry tomatoes and fried egg or the PB&J toast with almond nut butter and house jam on grain bread. Get the full menu from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. • Southern Art, Buckhead (southernart.com). Southern Art is a Taste of Atlanta alum and an Atlanta brunch favorite. Breakfast is served daily from 6:30 to 10:30 a.m., but brunch is served exclusively on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Something unique at Southern Art’s brunch is the honey luge, which allows a large honeycomb to drip its honey down a wooden panel so it flows into a container. The luge is on display for the buffet as well as Sunday brunch, and patrons are encouraged to taste this high-quality honey. • Seed, East Cobb (www.eatatseed. com). Most East Cobbers know Seed for dinner, but it also excels at brunch on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. To start, try the Iron Skillet Cornbread with homemade jelly and whipped butter. For the main meal, order some-

Photo by Skye Estroff

The honey luge is a special treat for flavor and entertainment at Southern Art.

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EDUCATION

‘It’s Like the Problems Are Never-Ending’ The following is the prize-winning essay submitted to B’nai B’rith’s Enlighten America contest by Marietta Middle School eighth-grader Icesha Sanders.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Today we’re going to talk about something serious: equality and prejudice. It’s the headline in the world today, and I’m here to state my views on it. There’s this dictionary my parents bought me when I was a kid, and it’s called the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary. I decided to look up what the word equality means. It is a noun, and, as quoted from the book, the definition is “the same rights for everyone.” Sounds easy to get, right? It isn’t. We as humans have existed on this Earth for centuries, and we still haven’t reached equality. It’s disappointing. Every day, I take a quick look at the news, and I hear about a mass shooting or a protest and how it was fueled by people who think that their race is better than others. Sometimes, it’s not because of race either. It can be

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fueled by gender equality, sexual/gender orientation or even religion. I bet you have heard of these things too. Once I heard a quote by one of

Guest Column By Icesha Sanders

our past presidents, Jimmy Carter. He said, “We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” I remembered this quote because it shows how not only the United States is diverse, but also how diverse the world is as a whole. It’s a beautiful quote. I chose this quote because it shows that we call can belong together. It shows that no matter how bad the bigotry is, we all can live together as one, in harmony. This is relevant to society today, as there are many issues involving prejudice. It’s like the problems are never-ending.

Icesha Sanders gets a congratulatory hug from her mother, Clevette Sanders.

Now let’s get deeper into this. I’ll separate this into three big equality issues the world is facing today: races/ nationalities; sexual/gender orientation; religion. First, I’ll start with sexual/gender orientation. A few years ago, same-sex marriage was legalized. Many people were elated with the news, while others were furious. I wonder why people would get angry over people loving people. Shouldn’t everyone love everyone? A while ago, the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., had me wondering: Who in their right mind would shoot innocent civilians, killing so many? According to many news sources, it was, in fact, a terrorist attack, and it may have been fueled by the perpetrator hating homosexuals. This affected many families, dads and moms; a parent’s child died that day. Let’s skip a beat and head over to another related issue, people who are transgender. Does it matter what gender you are to have certain rights? I heard earlier that President Trump banned transgender individuals to enlist in the military. A trans person who wants to serve their country can’t, and all because they strive to be a different gender. I’m reading this book currently called “Lily & Dunkin” by Donna Gephart, and it’s about a trans girl, Lily, and her friend Dunkin and their teenage struggles with life in middle school. On Pages 80 and 81, Lily is bullied by boys she calls the “Neanderthals,” and they not only physically, but verbally abuse her, taunting her with stereotypical slang. It’s sickening to read those words, and it needs to be stopped. The next issue is racism. This is a big one. Racism is not a new subject. It’s been around for over a millennium, and (sadly) there is no sign of it stopping. From counter sit-ins to shootings, racism is displayed in many ways. But many people think racism is

a fight between black and white. Well, that isn’t the case. Racism, in fact, is the action of thinking that one race is inferior to another. It doesn’t matter what race you are. Let’s backtrack to years ago when the police shootings of unarmed black males occurred. Remember the Black Lives Matter protests? Well, in my honest opinion, black lives don’t matter only. White lives don’t only matter. All lives matter. It doesn’t matter what race you are. Your life matters. Let’s take it back a little bit further to the church shooting in Charleston. The man who killed those people killed with monochrome eyes. He only saw two colors, black and white, and wanted to keep things that way. Lives were lost only because of the color of their skin. Like the quote I mentioned earlier, we are a mosaic of races, and we should not be separated because of our color. Take the quote as an analogy. If we separate the colors, it will result in a boring, mismatched artwork. If we mix them up a bit, we can get an astounding masterpiece filled with shape and beauty. Our next and final issue is religion. This one has gotten major press in the media. Does it really matter what religion you are to live freely and independently in this world? I hear about terrorist attacks a lot on the news, and many are sparked by people having religious differences, causing hundreds of deaths. You should be able to do whatever you want to do, whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Muslim or whatever religion you identify as. Even if you are atheist, you shouldn’t be judged because of the fact that you do not believe in a higher power. When people hear of terrorist attacks and immediately think it was a Muslim who committed it, it’s saddening as they stereotype Muslims as terrorists. Disgusting. In conclusion, bigotry and prejudice are major problems in this era, and it needs to be addressed correctly. Don’t label Caucasians as racists, Muslims as terrorists, and other rude stereotypical terms for different groups of people. Don’t look at how they are on the outside. Take a look at their inner qualities. Do not judge someone based on race, religion, orientation, gender, disability or any demographic. Prejudice in the media is displayed as a regular issue that happens often, but it needs to be taken more seriously. It’s not just another news story. It’s someone’s life. ■

LOCAL NEWS

Psychotherapist Linda Freedman discusses sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement in the Orthodox community Feb. 14 at New Toco Shul.

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com The Orthodox Jewish community isn’t immune to the types of sexual misconduct that sparked the #MeToo movement the past year. “Sexual harassment in the community is routine,” Congregation Beth Jacob Rabbi Ilan Feldman said. “The conversation in the Orthodox community I think needs to start before we get to sexual harassment or protecting women or being decent to women. It has to do with the sanctifying notion of modesty that teaches to respect individuals, and we don’t have that conversation.” Psychotherapist Linda Freedman spoke about the origins of sexual harassment, its differentiation from assault and possible solutions during a workshop on sexual harassment in the Orthodox community Wednesday, Feb. 14, at New Toco Shul. Freedman said a quarter of Orthodox women have been raped by age 24, according to a survey of 380 married Orthodox women ages 19 to 58. Most said they had been abused by age 13. She defined sexual harassment as a form of coercion or a hostile environment with unwanted sexual attention. It could be an assignment, promotion or raise offered in return for the acceptance of sexual behavior, or it could be repeated romantic gestures, invitations, texts, calls or “chance” meetings. Freedman said some men justify harassment through moral disengagement. “They kind of lie to themselves and have to make a rationalization. Yet sexual harassment is always a serious charge,” she said. “Women are not flattered when they receive sexual attention. It makes them fearful and that they will be overpowered and sexu-

ally assaulted because one in four have been.” The efforts of Congresswoman Martha Griffin led to the inclusion of sex as a protected class under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Freedman said. The Supreme Court ruled in 1986 in the case of Meritor Savings Bank vs. Vinson that sexual harassment violated Title 7 of that law. There are more similarities than differences between sexual assault and harassment, Freedman said, and studies have found a high correlation between a person’s proclivity to make objectifying remarks and to do bad things. She said anyone can be a target or perpetrator of sexual harassment, but it’s rarely reported. “Most people don’t think they will be believed, and if they are believed, they’re blamed and told they brought it on,” she said. “The consequences are horrible. … People have memories they cannot forget and feelings they can’t get rid of.” Freedman is working on a proposal for more effective ways for the prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace and conducts research at the Institutional Review Board at the Institute for Clinical Social Work in Chicago. There are multiple reasons why people commit sexual harassment, Freedman said. “Feminists want to say it’s all about power. … It is all about power, but we also know a lot of people who have a lot of money and would never dream about doing this.” Rabbi Don Seeman, a New Toco Shul member, said. “I don’t think anybody can deny that this is a problem that crosses all kinds of boundaries, and until synagogues start having open conversations, people will still feel intimidated and embarrassed and won’t know what the best practices are to protect themselves.” ■

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LOCAL NEWS

From Poetry in Toledo to Pugilism in London

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

Yehuda Halevi was born in Tudela between 1070 and 1075. He is considered one of the greatest Jewish poets of Spain and of all time, and his liturgical poetry appears in prayer rites of all Jewish traditions. He is assumed to be the author of Yom Shabbaton, recited and sung at Shabbat dinners to this day. He also was a medical doctor and one of the most important philosophers of medieval Spain, known for his comparative philosophical treatise on Judaism, Kitab al-Khazari, a work that remains relevant. As a young man Halevi left the Christian kingdoms of Spain to establish himself in Al-Andalus, where he received the influence of Jewish intellectuals such as Abraham ibn Ezra, Selomoh ibn Gabirol and Samuel Ibn Nagrella. He was befriended by Joseph ibn Migash, the head of the yeshiva in Eli-Hossana (Lucena in Cordova), known as the pearl of Sepharad. From Cordova, he traveled to Granada, where Moshe ibn Ezra of-

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fered him a position, although it is not clear whether it was related to medicine or philosophy. The turbulent politics and increasingly antagonistic attitude toward Jews in Al-Andalus forced him to

The Sephardic Corner By Mariana Montiel

return to Christian Spain, particularly to Toledo, where he was introduced to the court by Yosef Ibn Ferruziel (Cidellus), Alfonso VI’s physician and adviser. He practiced medicine and wrote poetry and philosophy. When Ferruziel was assassinated, Halevi wrote a poem that included verses in Spanish. This dedicatory is considered one of the first literary manifestations in Spanish. A talent for improvising poetry, profound thinking and unconditional love of Judaism characterized Halevi. He was said to be kind and friendly,

well received in tertulias (salons) for the ease with which he improvised verses on any subject in all styles. Halevi’s poetry includes secular verses, love songs, and religious and liturgical works. His longest poem is a Kedushah that summons all the universe to praise G-d with rejoicing and that terminates in Psalm 103. His poems reached as far as India and influenced the rituals of the most distant countries. Even the Karaites incorporated some of them into their prayer book, and there is scarcely a synagogue in which Yehuda Halevi’s songs are not sung during a service. In time, Halevi reduced his production of poetry on mundane themes and began to produce eulogies for friends and concentrate on philosophical and religious verses. His love for Zion led him to the Holy Land, and during his voyage by ship he composed a series of poems about the sea. When he arrived in Alexandria, Egypt, he was well received by the Jewish community and stayed about two years. It has never been clear whether he reached Jerusalem, and there have been many legends about his presence and death in 1141 in Israel. Halevi created a religious-poetic genre known as Zionida. The following example reflects his lifelong conflict between his comfortable life in Sepharad and his longing for Zion. My heart is in the east, and I in the uttermost west — How can I find savor in food? How shall it be sweet to me? How shall I render my vows and my bonds, while yet Zion lieth beneath the fetter of Edom, and I in Arab chains? A light thing would it seem to me to leave all the good things of Spain — Seeing how precious in mine eyes to behold the dust of the desolate sanctuary. Life in London Now we shift to the Sephardic diaspora. This month we travel to the Sephardic community of London. In 1655 Oliver Cromwell readmitted the Jewish people to England. That was when the still-active SpanishPortuguese Sephardic community was founded and when the impressive synagogue Bevis Marks, the oldest in England, was constructed. The first inhabitants of the Spanish-Portuguese Jewish community in London came from Amsterdam and included prosperous businessmen

and merchants. One of the most important rabbis who served this community was David Nieto, who had been a physician and rabbi in Livorno, Italy. One of his first books, written in Italian and titled “Pascologia,” explains the difference between the Hebrew calendar and the Roman calendars, showing the errors in the astronomic calculations. In 1702 he was named jajam of the Sephardic community of London and served as rabbi and medical doctor. One of his most famous works is Matteh Dan (or Kuzari Heleq Sheni), heavily influenced by Halevi’s Kitab al-Khazari. A member of the Sephardic community of London whose occupation was different from what we usually discuss was Daniel Mendoza, the first champion Jewish boxer. He was only 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, but Mendoza was England’s 16th heavyweight champion, holding the title from 1792 to 1795. Always proud of his heritage, he announced himself as Mendoza the Jew. He is the father of scientific boxing. He introduced the concept of defense, developed the guard and the straight left, and made use of sidestepping tactics. His approach, the Mendoza School, also referred to as the Jewish School, was criticized by some as cowardly. But it permitted Mendoza to take advantage of his small stature, speed and punching power. Mendoza wrote two books about boxing: “The Art of Boxing” and “The Memoirs of the Life of Daniel Mendoza” (1816). A victory in his first professional fight in 1787 won him the patronage of the Prince of Wales. His acceptance by British royalty (he was the first Jew to speak to King George III) helped elevate the position of the Jewish community in English society. Mendoza’s matches against rival Richard Humphries (or Humphreys) are legendary. From 1788 to 1790, he lost the first battle in 29 rounds but won the next two in 52 and 15, known as Mendoza the Jew rounds. Mendoza became such a popular figure in England that he was the protagonist of songs and of plays. His personal appearances filled theaters. He and his fights were popular subjects for artists, and commemorative medals were coined in his honor. ■ The Sephardic Corner is a monthly contribution of Congregation Or VeShalom to the greater Jewish community.

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LOCAL NEWS

Ottoman Empire Carried Sephardim Up and Down The Jewish expulsion from Iberia at the end of the 15th century led to the creation of a distinct Sephardic Jewish community in the Ottoman Empire until its collapse in the 20th century. For thousands of years, Greekspeaking Jews had lived in the lands of the Ottoman Empire and possessed their own liturgy, customs and culture. But they had to assimilate into the larger group of Sephardic Jews who arrived, Stanford University Jewish history professor Aron Rodrigue said at Emory University’s Carlos Museum on Monday, Feb. 12. His presentation on “The Making and Unmaking of Sephardi Jewry: The Ottoman Centuries” was the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies’ 22nd annual Tenenbaum Family Lecture in Judaic Studies. The Jewish community in Turkey is still called a “guest community,” raising political questions about the diversity of Sephardic Jewry, Rodrigue said. The assimilation of Byzantine Jews into the larger Sephardic community did not occur without a struggle, he said. The rabbis did not accept the different languages and rituals coming from outside, and the communities battled over how to practice Judaism. The Ottoman Empire implemented strategic resettlement policies that moved Jews around and created populations that were economically useful, Rodrigue said. The demographic shifts re-created trade routes and helped revive communities in certain areas. As Sephardim spread through the Ottoman Empire, they brought their culture and language. Jews from Spain spoke the local dialect until a uniform language emerged that mixed Spanish with Hebrew, Turkish and Greek words: Ladino or el ladinado, which means “turned into a Latin language.” Ladino is seen as a Romance language with strong Hebrew influences. By the mid-17th century a rabbinical literature written in Ladino emerged. It was used to re-educate the masses in their own language, Rodrigue said, and led to the rise of Ladino books and newspapers. Rodrigue spoke about the profound nature of the Jewish communities under the Ottomans. They were no longer Spanish Jews living in exile, but Greeks, Armenians and Turks in places such as Sarajevo, Salonica and Rhodes. The communities were by and large polyglot, he said. People knew

Photo by Sarah Moosazadeh

Aron Rodrigue, the Daniel E. Koshland professor of Jewish culture and history at Stanford, says the Ottoman Empire’s breakup led to a decline in Sephardic culture.

their place and would barter in the bazaars with established boundaries. Massive assimilation led to the adoption of pan-Eastern Mediterra-

nean foods and customs, including music, Rodrigue said. Sephardic or Eastern Mediterranean liturgical music is adapted from Muslim high-court music, he said. By the 19th century major incursions from the West, such as the industrialization of Europe, attacks from Russian armies and the rise of nationalism, began to divide the Ottoman Empire, Rodrigue said. The changes directly affected Sephardim because if they became part of a new nation-state, they inevitably became a minority and begin to experience anti-Semitism. Culturally, Sephardic Jews changed under the Ottoman Empire as

their traditional education system was replaced by French Jewish schooling. But the Western teachings complicated matters for Sephardim, who sought to blend into nations, which desired a single language, culture and ethnicity. As a result, the Sephardic culture and Ladino language were declining as the Ottoman Empire collapsed early in the 20th century. “Once removed from the Ottoman setting, there is simply no way this part of the Jewish world maintains itself,” Rodrigue said. “By the 20th century we have witnessed a massive dislocation and disintegration of a traditional Jewish world.” ■

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com

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ARTS

‘Addams Family’ Helps Habima Explore Normal By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com Jerry’s Habima Theatre kicks off its 25th season with the musical “The Addams Family” on Thursday, March 1, at the Marcus Jewish Community Center. Habima, which features adult actors with developmental disabilities, wanted to do something a little different this year. “Our cast mentioned they had done a lot of Disney in the past five to six years, so we looked for a more contemporary show,” JCC Arts & Culture Assistant Director Kim Goodfriend said. The musical is about Wednesday Addams’ desire to date someone different from her family, while she struggles with the concept of “normal.” “The human race wants to put a label on everybody,” Goodfriend said. “Certainly, on any of our actors or anyone seen out, everyone wants a label, and this show is about that. But it’s also nice to think that we don’t have to have labels or can look beyond them.” Actor Michael Silver, who has performed with the theater for more than 20 years, said what he likes most about

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Habima is the opportunity to work with other actors. “I think that people will walk away saying, ‘That’s not what I expected,’ ” Goodfriend said. “If they didn’t know, perhaps they would have no idea that the actors had developmental disabilities.” ■ What: “The Addams Family” Where: Marcus JCC, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, Dunwoody When: Eight shows from March 1 to 11 Tickets: $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under for JCC members, $35 and $15 for others; atlantajcc.org/habima or 678-812-4002

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Wedding Barnett-Moskowitz

Brittany Ann Barnett of Marietta, daughter of Lori and Paul Barnett, and Neal Ian Moskowitz of Marietta, son of Joey and Susie Moskowitz, married Jan. 20, 2018, in Roswell. The bride is the granddaughter of Charles and Arlene Firestone and the late Jean and Leon Barnett. The groom is the grandson of Lois Baer and the late Jake Baer and the late Louis and Sara Moskowitz. Both are graduates of the University of Georgia. Neal is an analyst at Stonemont Financial Group in Atlanta. Brittany is a health care communications specialist at Eagle Medical Services for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. After the wedding, the couple spent their honeymoon in Bali, Indonesia.

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ARTS

‘Last Suit’ First Choice of AJFF Audience “Death in the Terminal” a Hitchcocklike thriller that delves into questions of what it means to live in a world packed with security cameras. “The filmmaker has created a work that is both original in its conception and devastating in its impact. Brilliant!” the jury said. The other jury winners: • Emerging Filmmaker Jury Prize — Astrid Schult, director of “Winter Hunt,” in which a young German woman tries to force a confession from a suspected Nazi war criminal. Schult created “a compelling thriller that felt much larger than the individual parts,” the jury said.

• Building Bridges Jury Prize — “Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds: The Conductor Zubin Mehta.” “This film demonstrates how music can be an olive branch, a tool of diplomacy and a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries,” the jury said. • Shorts Jury Prize — “On My Way Out: The Secret Life of Nani and Papi,” in which the filmmakers’ family deals with the revelation that a married 95-year-old grandfather and Holocaust survivor is gay. “The viewer shares an almost painfully intimate experience,” the jury said, calling the film “genuinely wrenching with moments of levity.” ■

Photo by Michael Jacobs

Pablo Solarz reveals during a discussion on closing night that it took him 13 years to make “The Last Suit.” He said he tried to use an actor the same age as his 90-year-old main character but eventually decided to cast the much younger Miguel Ángel Solá instead.

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival saved the best for last, at least according to the more than 36,000 audience members over the 23 days of the 18th annual festival. Closing-night film “The Last Suit,” seen by more than 1,600 people at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Thursday, Feb. 15, won the AJFF Audience Award for best narrative, the festival announced. The film tells the story of an aging Holocaust survivor who leaves his family in Argentina to re-turn to his native Lodz, Poland, for the first time in 70 years to find the friend he left behind. Answering questions after the screening, Argentinian writer-director Pablo Solarz said he wrote the first draft of the script in 2004 after overhearing two men in a restaurant talking about a survivor making just such a journey. He also incorporated elements of the story of his own grandfather, a Holocaust survivor who wouldn’t say “Poland” because he considered it a dirty word and tried to avoid setting foot in Germany during a visit to Europe. The other Audience Award winners are “Itzhak” for best documentary and “The Number on Great-Grandpa’s Arm” for best short. “Itzhak” follows Israeli violinist Itzhak Perlman at home and on tour. “Number,” a documentary that was part of the third shorts program, looks at a boy’s questions about the Holocaust tattoo of his great-grandfather. For the second year, the festival also awarded jury prizes, announced during closing night by the jury chair, Arik Sokol. The Narrative Jury Prize went to “The Testament,” which shows an Austrian Holocaust historian pursuing the truth about a massacre regardless of the cost to himself or his family. The jury called it “a powerful cinematic exploration of how one defines and maintains Jewish family and identity.” The other seven nominees for the narrative prize included “The Last Suit.” “Death in the Terminal,” a documentary about a terrorist attack on a bus terminal in Be’er Sheva in 2015, won two prizes: the Documentary Jury Prize and the Human Rights Jury Prize. The seven other documentary nominees included audience favorite “Itzhak” and the festival’s only feature-length world premiere, “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel.” The documentary jury called

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OBITUARIES

Joan Bregman

to the Atlanta Humane Society, DDD Foundation Inc. (Dentistry for the Developmentally Disabled) or the Atlanta Jewish Academy Booster Club. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Joan Martyn Bregman peacefully passed away Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, in Atlanta, surrounded by her loving daughters. Joan was born Nov. 23, 1929, to W.C. Martyn and Maude Martyn in Detroit. Joan graduated from Cass Technical High School and attended Grace Nursing School. While working at Children’s Hospital in Detroit, she met and fell in love with Dr. Larry Bregman. Shortly afterward, Joan and Larry got married, moved to Atlanta and began their family. Among Joan’s many joys was working with the Atlanta Braves organization. When the Milwaukee Braves came to Atlanta, Joan jumped on the opportunity to serve as the president of the Braves 400 Fan Club. She managed the official festivities for Atlanta’s first All-Star Game, Gameboree and spring training trips. Joan was a dedicated and loving stay-at-home mother until her youngest daughter began high school. Shortly afterward, Joan began the second phase of her nursing career at Georgia Mental Health Institute, where she worked as a psychiatric nurse in the adolescent unit until her retirement. It brought Joan a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction to host/sponsor the annual Thanksgiving Day feast for staff and residents of the hospital. Joan retired from GMHI so that she could take care of Larry during the final months of his life. Joan’s love for animals and traveling filled her retirement years with much excitement and love. Her dogs, Poo and Angel, and her cat, Kitty, offered her unconditional love and companionship. Devoted nurse companions Danyetta Thomas, Chiffon Hairston, Joan Bell, Nadia Hughes, Mude Saukila and Pamela Bryant were a constant source of love and compassion to Joan during her final years. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Larry Bregman, and her sisters, Jean Montgomery, Peg Hausler and Katie Livermore. Her surviving children are Debbie Bregman, Penny Eisenstein, Tammy Bregman (Robin) and Jody Yanovich (Zev). Her surviving grandchildren are Candace Eisenstein (Matt), Alex Yanovich and Larry Yanovich. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made

Mollie Goldberg

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104, Sandy Springs

Mollie Leff Goldberg of Sandy Springs passed on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. She was 104 at the time of her passing. She was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Goldie Rosenbaum; sisters Anita and Sylvia; brother Irving Rosenbaum; husband Morley Leff, the father of her two children; husband Gabriel Goldberg; and granddaughter Elaine Berkman Jakes. She is survived by her daughters, Betty (David) Berkman of Florida and Bobbie Gauthier of Marietta. She is also survived by grandchildren Sherry Berkman Jennings, Steven (Kimberly) Berkman, Jeff (Diane) Blassberg, Eric (Laura) Blassberg and Stephanie Grasch. Mollie is also survived by great-grandchildren Wendy (James) Skinner, Kyle Jennings, Adam Epstein, Jason Curtis, TJ Jakes, Joshua Berkman, Tyler Berkman, Lauren Blassberg, Lindsey Blassberg, Leah Blassberg, Kerri Grasch, Kristina Grasch and Alexandra Blassberg. Mollie was fortunate in that she got to welcome great-great-grandchildren Tristan Skinner, Aubrey Skinner and Grady Skinner. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Mollie had a warm, wonderful, kind spirit. She loved her family deeply and lived to make them happy, always giving banana bread or cake when she could cook. Mollie enjoyed playing poker and mah-jongg with her friends at Hammond Glen. She was a member of Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta. Mollie always donated money to Jewish communities as well as the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington. Also, while she was able, she donated herself and her time to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, Georgia Chapter, as a bookkeeper for the annual Torch Gala fundraiser. Her first love was for Jewish National Fund, where she worked and donated much time and money. She was honored for her work and was made an honorary member of the national board. Donations can be made to JNF, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation or a charity

Jewish Breakfast Club

Luncheon

Thursday, March 8 11:30 am – 1:00 pm Greenberg Traurig LLP 3333 Piedmont Rd NE #2500 • Atlanta

FEBRUARY 23 ▪ 2018

The JBC is also an opportunity to network and connect with fellow business leaders in the community before and after the program.

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Find out the challenges and goals our very own Jewish Millennials are facing. (Millennials are the rising generation born from 1978-1998).

The Jewish Breakfast Club luncheon on March 8, 2018 will be dedicated to honoring the recent winners of the Atlanta Jewish Times’ “40 under 40”. Everyone attending will have an opportunity to meet these leaders and participate in a panel discussion.

Register at: https://atlantajewishtimes.com/jbc-40-leaders/

Past speakers include Bernie Marcus, Georgia Tech men’s basketball coach Josh Pastner, Atlanta Falcons minority owner Ed Mendel, Doug Ross chairman of Birthright Israel’s Atlanta Regional Council and former CEO of Caribou Coffee Michael Coles and many more.

JBC

Jewish Breakfast Club

All food and drinks are AKC certified kosher.

OBITUARIES of your choosing. A graveside service was held Monday, Feb. 19, at Greenwood Cemetery. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta 770-451-4999.

Eli Jacobs 93, Atlanta

Eli West Jacobs passed away peacefully Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018, surrounded by family. He was 93 years old. He was preceded in death by Estelle (Fisher) Jacobs, his beloved wife of 64 years; parents Adolph and Ethel Jacobs; sister Myra Lou Ruben; and brother-inlaw Judge Leon Ruben. He was an adored husband, father, brother, “Papa” to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, uncle, cousin and dear friend. Eli was born in Nashville, Tenn., on Feb. 15, 1925. He graduated from West End High School and Western Kentucky University. Eli defused land mines as a combat engineer in Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army in World War II. He was awarded two Purple Hearts for his bravery. He aided in D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. He returned home to Nashville, where he married Estelle and raised four children. He and Estelle owned and operated Zager’s Deli for over 10 years. During his career in real estate, he was professionally (and affectionately) known as “Uncle Eli.” He was a lifelong member of Congregation Ohabai Sholom (The Temple) in Nashville. He and Estelle moved to Atlanta in 2010. He was a cherished member of the Belmont Village Buckhead assisted living community, his home for nearly eight years. Eli will be lovingly remembered for his congeniality, sense of humor, sharp mind, remarkable memory, passion for big-band music and love of Yiddishkeit. His only regrets were not learning how to play the piano or meeting Mel Brooks. He is survived by brother Marvin (June) Jacobs of Cincinnati; children Norman Jacobs of Nashville, Shelley (Bob) Antin of Atlanta, Robbie (Ron) Lustig of Nashville, and Jan (Colman) Hoffman of Knoxville, Tenn.; grandchildren Allyson (Ricky) White, Natalie (Katee) Antin-McCarty, Laura (Phil) Shmerling, Brian Lustig, Mark Hoffman, Jamie Antin, Tracey Lustig and Andy Lustig; great-grandchildren Sam and Jake Shmerling; and nieces and nephews. Please sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Graveside services were held Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Temple Cemetery in Nashville. Shiva will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 26, at the home of Shelley and Bob Antin. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Rabbi Spike Anderson’s Discretionary Fund at Temple Emanu-El. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

47, Johns Creek

David Mark Rosenberg, age 47, of Johns Creek died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2018. David was born and raised in Columbus. He graduated from Brookstone School in 1988 and from the University of Georgia in 1992. He married his beloved bride, Sheri Berkowitz of Virginia Beach, in 2003. He was a devoted father, husband, brother, uncle and friend. He was also a devout University of Georgia college football fan and truly bled red and black. He was the owner of First National ATM of Georgia, an avid social political blogger, a freelance college sports writer, and the host of podcast “Breaking the Huddle.” His sons and wife were the light of his life, and he was deeply loyal to his family and friends. He will be missed by everyone who knew him. David is survived by wife, Sheri; sons Noah and Evan; mother Gail Cohn (Dr. Harvey Danits); brothers Howie (Kim Rich) and Eliot Rosenberg and sister Melissa Baldwin (Shawn); nephews Aaron Rosenberg, Grant Baldwin, Jonah Medoff and Jack Berkowitz; and niece Audrilyn Baldwin. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Congregation Gesher L’Torah, 4320 Kimball Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30022, www.gltorah.org. Graveside services were held Friday, Feb. 16, at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs with Rabbi Michael Bernstein officiating. Please sign the online guestbook at dresslerjewishfunerals.com. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Obituaries in the AJT are written and paid for by the families; contact Associate Publisher Kaylene Ladinsky at kaylene@atljewishtimes.com or 404-883-2130, ext. 100, for details about submission, rates and payments. Death notices, which provide basic details, are free and run as space is available; send submissions to editor@ atljewishtimes.com.

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Adar: What’s Hidden And What’s Revealed Rosh Chodesh Adar began Thursday, Feb. 15. We know that during this month “our joy increases.” Does it? Does this miraculously happen on its own, or are we required to take some action? We know we’re creeping toward spring in the next few weeks. The days offer us longer hours of sunlight, and the temperatures rise. Those who suffer with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) from decreased sunlight begin to catch a break. But feeling a depression lift somewhat is a far leap to experiencing joy. The new moon of Adar kicked off a solar eclipse. During a regular new moon, the moon passes between Earth and the sun, but a solar eclipse new moon is more powerful because it darkens the sun. Eclipse season happens twice a year, usually just under six months apart. Each of the two seasons lasts about 34 days. During this time, mirroring the eclipses themselves, things are hidden, then revealed. Many great writers have dealt with this theme. Edmond Rostand wrote “Cyrano de Bergerac” about a man who spoke through another man to profess great love to the woman of his heart. William Shakespeare, in the iambic pentameter of the famous balcony scene, wrote of love divulged when Juliet tells Romeo: “Thou knowest the mask of night is on my face; else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek. For that which thou hast heard me speak tonight.” Focusing on things hidden and revealed, some people are more comfortable being seen and expressing themselves on a grand stage, while others only emote when hiding in the shadows or behind a mask. Sometimes they hide behind a gun. New York astrologer Anne Ortelee speaks of the cosmic effects that influence patterns of behavior here on Earth. In her report for the week of Feb. 11, she said that, sadly, the energies revealed a likelihood for a shooting in the week ahead. She also spoke of aspects involving “letting go of things that are dear to you, and perhaps the loss of an important relationship.” She doesn’t call herself a “predictive astrologer,” but her reading chilled me when the school shooting

of Feb. 14 took place. She references what’s hidden and what’s revealed in the astrology of our connection to the cosmos. “Above as it is below.” It’s fitting that the eclipse season, in the month of Adar, coincides with the story of Purim and Queen Esther. Those themes also revolve around things hidden and revealed but result

CROSSWORD

Dr. Terry Segal tsegal@atljewishtimes.com

in great celebration. The joy in the Purim story comes from the strength and power of Esther to assess the situation, hide the fact that she was Jewish, calculate the risks, and reveal her secret with exquisite timing and grace, saving the Jewish people. Our current world still struggles with power, anti-Semitism, violence and the objectification of women. Technology expands our lens and outreach but makes us privy to greater pain and evil. It steals our time and obliterates connections to soul and Hashem. Where can we find our joy? I believe the answer lies within meditation and prayer. We can explore the depths of that inner well to find peace in just being. To sit and track breath as it moves in and out of the vessel of the physical body heightens awareness to thoughts and impressions that flow from Hashem through our souls. It allows outer chaos to settle and dissolve into peace, clearing the pathway to joy. All that’s hidden is revealed so we can act or ignore. We receive inspiration as we align with Hashem, even if we’re unsure of the action to take. It’s a continuous process of flowing through darkness into light and back into darkness again. Meditation focus: Quiet yourself, and be still in darkness. No lights. No candles. Be there with your breath, your heart and Hashem. Sit in silence. Ask what would bring you joy, and listen for the revelation. Then take action on that. The world needs each of us to take this challenge in Adar to continue our work of tikkun olam (repair of the world). Be joy. Spread joy. ■

“Common Costumes”

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many do on Purim, or another title for this puzzle 31. Sonora snooze 33. Lion, for one 35. ___ HaChareidis (Congregation of G-dFearers) 37. “Shalom!” to Mario 39. Believer 40. Less meshuga 43. Common Purim costume 45. How kids are taught to learn Shema DOWN 48. Be a yente 1. Isaac’s replacement 49. Completely 2. Firetruck item 50. Marshmallow item 3. Dom’s “Silent Movie” 51. It leads to a chuppah director 53. Composer Green 4. “Not guilty,” e.g. 57. Chaim ___ (birth name 5. Common Purim of Gene Simmons) costume 59. Hurting 6. Pan of note 61. Reyes has the most for 7. He died when he heard a Met; abbr. of the ark’s capture 63. Exo. follower 8. High spirits 65. Degree for Jared 9. Shmutz Kushner 10. “I’ll take that as ___” 66. ___ Od Milvado 11. Common Purim 67. NBA game extras costume 12. Not Tahor LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 13. Fashion S A G A D A Y A N U R S A 21. Seminary E R O S I N I G O N E T S subj. W A S H I N G T O N R B I S S B S D E E R U S A B L E 23. Be a I L L R O O S E V E L T nagger P A P A Y A N E V E 25. A R E S B I B I E L W A Y “Steppenwolf” I E R L I N C O L N H B O author L A S S O C E N T P O E M O R C A D R I L L S 26. Drain J E F F E R S O N U S E 27. Common A R I A N A G O E S S A G Purim K O T B M T R U S H M O R E costumes E D I E E G E S T G M A N S E N D R I S E S M E M E 29. What 31 1

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CLOSING THOUGHTS

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FEBRUARY 23 â–ª 2018