Atlanta Jewish Times, VOL. XCIX NO. 22, November 30, 2023

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VOL. XCIX NO. 22 | CHANUKAH

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 17 KISLEV 5784

Happy Chanukah

Standing with Israel at Chanukah by Michael Blaiss, age 70.

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CONTENTS

CONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE ALLEN H LIPIS BOB BAHR CHANA SHAPIRO DAVE SCHECHTER DAVID OSTROWSKY DEBBIE DIAMOND JAN JABEN-EILON MACK W. PARNELL MARCIA CALLER JAFFE MIKE WEINROTH RACHEL A. ELOVITZ

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ISRAEL Beth Jacob Leaders Support Israel in Solidarity Trip By Allen H Lipis Almost immediately after the war with Hamas began, Rabbi Ilan D. Feldman, the head rabbi of Congregation Beth Jacob, and Yisrael Herscovici, its President, left the synagogue for a whirlwind three-day Israel solidarity trip. Their first thought was to be in Israel to provide love and support for Israeli families wherever they were. When asked why that was so necessary, their response was, “How could we not go, how could we stay away?” They knew that there were plenty of rabbis in Israel, but having a rabbi and the president of the synagogue arrive in Israel for support to anyone who needed it, sent a message that U.S. Jews were behind Israel in whatever they needed. They came to inspire Jews in Israel, but in turn they left being inspired themselves. The two men left without knowing where they would stay or what they would do. However, there were many previous members of their shul that had made Aliyah and they would figure it out once they got to Israel. Eventually, Harold and Shoshana Steifel arranged for them to stay at their home, and Feldman’s son agreed to take them in his car to wherever they wanted to go; so, once in Israel, they had their own needs for a place to stay and travel arrangements were organized for them. In addition, Rabbi Yitzchok Tendler at Beth Jacob Synagogue knew of enough contacts in Israel for the two to meet with key people in Israel during their trip. Monday, Oct. 23 With all these arrangements somewhat organized, they made their way from Delta in Atlanta to El Al in Miami. When El Al security asked, “Why are you going to Israel?” the rabbi responded, “How could I not?” When she asked, “Did anyone give you anything to take?” he said, “Yes.” And when she asked, “What was it?” the rabbi tried to answer that he was given body armor and love cards made by Torah Day School students for those soldiers who had been injured, but instead he began to cry. Somehow, she understood and had no further questions. An executive of Christians United for Israel (CUFI) told them: “We will be praying for sure! Please tell all you come in contact with that the millions of members of CUFI and tens of millions of other Christians are standing with Israel and praying for them and the victory over 6 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Two women Israeli soldiers show the lovely cards made by students at Torah Day School in Atlanta.

Hamas. Once you get home, we must connect to hear all about the trip.” Tuesday, Oct. 24 Once in Israel, they went to Yad Binyamin for morning prayers. Afterward, they met with Caryn Oberman, a woman who had made Aliyah from Atlanta, who told them about the relief “war room” being organized by her community, with massive amounts of equipment and food being distributed throughout the South toward Gaza. The community already had donations that were contributed from the U.S., Canada and elsewhere. The reason donations for the refugees and for the soldiers was necessary was because the soldiers left their jobs, their homes, and their synagogues immediately with nothing, no clothes, no food, and no weapons. That was because Hamas terrorists were in Israel fighting for three days and it was necessary for the IDF to respond immediately. All told, about 300 IDF members were killed defending Israel during the initial Hamas invasion. As a result, about 200,000 Israelis left the Israeli cities near Gaza and be-

came refugees throughout Israel, with no food, clothing, or work. From there, the two men went to Rabbi Doron Perez, who is head of world Mizrachi, and the father of a soldier who was taken captive into Gaza and had not been heard from, along with another son who was wounded in battle with terrorists. Despite being lightly injured, the injured son emerged as a hero, participating in the rescue of 20 women soldiers and the successful elimination of several terrorists. He got married a week later even while his brother was still missing. The family had to celebrate the marriage of one son amid a cloud of concern for the other son. Rabbi Perez made the following observation, “Managing your emotions is not straightforward. I’ve never been in such a situation, and honestly, one can never truly predict your reactions until faced with such a reality. As a community rabbi and school head in South Africa, I’ve worked with numerous families dealing with tragedies and losses, whether from crime, accidents, or natural causes. Watching these individuals navigate their grief has taught me that chal-

A soldier who was killed in action holding his young child before he went into battle.

lenges often reveal the core of a person. Yet, nothing truly prepares you when the situation hits close to home,” Perez concluded with a message of hope and unity, sharing his belief that even in the face of adversity, the strength of the Israeli nation shines through. He encouraged everyone to continue praying for his missing son and all the missing soldiers, emphasizing the power of collective prayer. “We believe in life, we yearn for life; we believe and pray for things to rejoice about, G-d willing.” It was not possible to hold shiva immediately for those who had died because some of the dead could not be identified. It would take a couple of weeks before a funeral could be held, and even now the IDF searches the land where battles took place looking for human remains. The two men then concluded the day at the Sderot Hesderr Yeshiva, the largest hesder yeshiva in Israel. Fortunately, a group of rabbis had come to Sderot the morning of the Hamas attack and after prayers they left for another city. They avoided being killed by Hamas terrorists by a matter of a few hours. After the Hamas attack, the yeshiva had to move to

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NO ONE SAVES MORE LIVES IN ISRAEL IN TIMES OF CRISIS. Rabbi Ilan Feldman (left), Israel Herscovici (right) and a shooting victim between them at an Israeli hospital.

another town as all of Sderot was evacuated. Rebbi Fendel, the head of the yeshiva, made it clear that they would return to Sderot as soon as possible, that they would continue to visit yeshiva after yeshiva in the area to bring a message of optimism, and they will be armed not only with weapons but also with spirit to rebuild the city. Wednesday, Oct. 25 The next morning, the two men visited refugees housed in Jerusalem hotels. One floor had an area for clothing, and another area for children to play. Virtually all of the hotels were full of Jewish refugees fleeing from the cities that had been invaded by Hamas. The next stop was to Ramat Beit Shemesh where they met with Dr. Robert Cohen, another man who had made Aliyah from Atlanta. An impromptu gathering for former Atlantans was hosted by the Karsh family, and David Karsh said, “It really meant a lot to us all to have the Rav fly in and share his time and insightful words with us. We are so grateful to hear from Rabbi Feldman in person, especially during this time.” After that, they drove south from Jerusalem to visit a bereaved family in Kiryat Arba. Lt. Ori Shani was a Golani brigade commander who was killed while defending the Kissufim IDF outpost; his team killed approximately 35 terrorists and saved numerous lives.

He was 22 years old and the father of a four-month-old baby. His father, Rabbi Yehoshua Shani, shared words of chizuk (spiritual support) with the community. He said, “We are crying but no one will break us. We have to stay united and if we stay together then the Jews will be a better nation.” He asked people to take on one of his son’s spiritual commitments for the year in his memory. The two men then visited Mearas Hamachpeila and proceeded south to visit the wounded in Soroka Hospital in Beersheva. They were about 20 miles from Gaza and saw many soldiers on the road and at gas stations, waiting to be told when to start the ground war into Gaza. Wherever they went, there was music blaring and soldiers confident, joyous, and serious. The whole area with military equipment looked like what you would see in a movie. As Rabbi Ilan and Yisrael made to the Ben Gurion Airport to leave, they heard the sound of a siren announcing to take shelter immediately. Everyone dropped their luggage and headed for shelter. They had to stay in the shelter for about 15 minutes to avoid being hit by shrapnel from the missiles that were destroyed. The trip by Rabbi Feldman and Israel Herscovici was one of the earliest Jewish Americans coming to support Israel after the Hamas attack. Now it is clear that more and more American Jews are following in their footsteps. ì

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 7

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March for Israel Inspired Atlanta Participants By Jan Jaben-Eilon Ana Robbins, founder and executive director of Jewish Kids Group, posted a photo of the crowd attending the Nov. 14 “March for Israel” rally on Facebook and quipped, “I love going to the mall with friends.” According to Robbins – who is married to Eric Robbins, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta – approximately 700 Atlantans traveled to Washington, D.C., for the rally organized by the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. Organizers estimated that the crowd at the National Mall numbered just under 300,000, making it one of the largest Jewish rallies in American history. Atlantans who added to those numbers seemed overwhelmingly inspired by their presence. “When I heard that there was a rally in Washington to stand with Israel, to call for a speedy return of the hostages, and to end the rampant antisemitism in America, there was no place else to be,” said Rabbi Peter Berg of The Temple. “I’m proud of and inspired by the countless Temple members who booked flights to all be together on the National Mall. It was truly a moment of Klal Yisrael, of Jewish unity,” said Berg. “I’m especially grateful to the leadership of both parties in Congress who held hands while chanting ‘bring them home’. It was important for the world to see so many people calling out Hamas terrorists. I will not stop going to Washington in the coming weeks to make sure my voice is heard loud and clear.” The rally resulted from the desire of American Jews to express their concern, and support, for Israel in the wake of the

J

Hundreds of local Atlantans traveled to Washington to join almost 300,000 other rally attendees.

deadly attack by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7. Israel estimates that 1,200 people were killed not far from the Gaza border, with thousands more injured, about 240 abducted as hostages into Gaza and dozens still missing and whose bodies are unidentified. As Israel retaliated against Hamas that has ruled Gaza for 16 years, killing thousands of civilians along with Hamas militants, antisemitism exploded in the U.S. and across the world. As in other U.S. communities, many local organizations sent out emails urging their constituents to join the Washington rally. One of those was Camp Ramah Darom. Wally Levitt, its CEO, joined the hundreds of Atlantans that day. Levitt said, “Words can’t describe the incredible feeling of being surrounded by almost 300,000 people who share a

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love of Israel, who are worried about the hostages, and who are deeply concerned about the rise of antisemitism. We were all there for the same reasons: to be in community, to support each other, to sing together, to grieve together, and to make our voices heard. One of the highlights was singing [Israeli anthem] Hatikvah together; it truly gave me goosebumps and reminded me that even in our darkest days, the Jewish people are strong, and we are one.” For Justine Cohen, “The day was like a therapy session, and that all of us felt a rejuvenation and motivation to continue supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism around the world.” Similarly, Thea Cohen called it the “most unforgettable, inspiring, unifying, and heartbreaking day. [It was] a life-changing experience being together as one.” Carey Guggenheim felt the “incredible love, support and pride being at the peaceful rally surrounded by so many Jews and supporters of Israel. [It was] a day I will never forget.” Israeli-born Delilah Cohen called it “a truly historical day. My friends and I arrived at the airport full of nerves and uncertainty as to what was ahead for us, but once we got to our gate, we realized we were among friends. We all pulled out flags, bracelets and hats and started taking pictures. Airport security personnel even told us to ‘straighten the flag because you can’t see the Star of David.’ We all were having conversations with people we’d never met before but shared the

The Temple Rabbi Peter Berg and Rabbi Loren Lapidus joined many congregants at the rally.

same purpose, and so our journey began.” She said the sense of solidarity continued on the plane and the group’s “sense of national pride for Israel and the U.S. just exploded” when they arrived at the rally. “As an Israeli, my heart was pounding, and I had tears in my eyes walking alongside fellow supporters. The atmosphere was electric. People of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life were united as one people for Israel. It was a testament to the strength and resilience of the Jewish community and its allies.” Cohen found the speakers that included survivors of antisemitic attacks and family members of hostages “equally inspiring. Their words resonated with me, reminding me of the significance of this cause and the impact we can make when we come together.” She called the rally a “truly transformative experience” and she left with a “renewed sense of purpose and determination to be loud and proud.” To paraphrase a well-known idiom from Joan Crawford’s character in “Mommie Dearest,” long-time local activist and philanthropist Lois Frank could easily say: this wasn’t her first rally. In fact, her first was “in front of Leb’s Deli in downtown Atlanta during the civil rights movement…where there was a sit in.” As she looked back, she said, “these are such sweet memories.” Another memorable rally was against capital punishment which was when she first “realized that I could

ISRAEL

Wally Levitt and Congregation Shearith Israel Rabbi Ari Kaiman at March for Israel rally.

march with folks on one issue and against them on another. The Catholic community is very much against the death penalty, and against [pro] choice” on abortion. As if she’s ticking them off one at a time, she recalls picketing the Bolshoi ballet during the Russian Jewry “let my people go” campaigns, to the march for Soviet Jewry in Washington, D.C., which rallied 250,000, to a national rally to draw attention to genocide in Darfur, to the anniversary march to Selma with the late Congressman John Lewis on the 20th anniversary of the march on Washington and the Women’s March after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016. “I think the most memorable, however, is the one I didn’t attend,” Frank said. She was a graduate student at Atlanta University in 1965. “There was only one other white in my class. The entire class was going to Selma for the March. I was five months pregnant with our first child. [Husband] Larry said, ‘this is my child, too; you are not going.’ That was the only time he forbade my participation in something I cared about.” The Nov. 14 march in Washington “had a special flavor,” said Frank, who obviously had a lot of marches to compare it to. “I called it ruach [Hebrew for spirit]. There was a quiet, yet upbeat feel. Maybe the way Israel is right now. Sober, determined and shoulder to shoulder. The signs were kind,” noting the one that said, “Free the people of Gaza-Defeat Hamas,” or those naming a city, be it Atlanta, Boston, Chicago “loves Israel.” “There was nothing strident or partisan, that I saw. The airport was full of people I didn’t know, draped in Israeli and American flags and Atlanta loves Israel caps. We didn’t know each other, but we felt a kinship and warmth that was contagious the entire day among strangers,” Frank explained. “When we got on

the Metro in Washington, someone was helping a man lay tefillin as we rode. The crowd was very respectful considering that we were packed tightly to enter and also once inside the rally area.” Frank said that overall, she found the crowd respectful of different points of view. “I understand there might have been some booing or some discomfort with some speakers, but despite the long program, with many, many speakers, I thought the crowd was patient and supportive.” She also found the park employees guarding the grounds, who were mostly African American, “were very nice, courteous, and helpful. Notably so.” She added that she often worries whether she might be part of a rally on “a cause I support, but that it might have a point of view that will either offend me or not speak for me. Tuesday’s rally was comfortable. It was about letting the hostages go, about antisemitism and the speakers’ determination to protect Jews and all minorities. Many spoke of Israel’s right to defend itself. Some even talked about reconciliation and peace.” Of course, not everyone experienced the rally the same way. A significant number of participants were upset about the last-minute addition of one speaker, Pastor John Hagee, founder and chairman of Christians United for Israel (CUFI). “The decision to invite Hagee was divisive and wrong,” said Rabbi Jill Jacobs, executive director of the rabbinic organization T’ruah. “His supposed support for Israel comes from a theology in which Jews are pawns in a Christian supersessionist plan.” Hagee is also known for antisemitic statements in the past. A number of progressive leaders felt blindsided by including the evangelical minister. Still, Frank concluded that the rally “was a moment in history. I was proud to be there, but heartbroken that we had to be.” ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 9

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J Street Leader Supports Two-State Solution By Bob Bahr The president of J Street, the liberal American political organization that bills itself as a “pro-Israel, pro-peace, and pro-democracy,” held its annual meeting and fundraising event at The Temple on Nov. 7. The event, which was described as the largest ever for the J Street chapter in Georgia, attracted more than 200 persons. The gathering, which honored the longtime community activist and fundraiser, Judith Taylor, was said to have raised more than $60,000, which was also a local record for the organization. Taylor has, over the years, compiled an enviable record of support and charitable giving for several of the most important community initiatives. Her work to create a non-partisan voter guide, particularly, was cited as one of her most enduring contributions to Atlanta life. The event, which has been planned for many months, came just 30 days after Hamas terrorists swept across the border from Gaza and killed approximately

J Street has been a strong supporter of a two-state solution for peace between Israel and Palestine.

1,200 people, three-quarters of which, according to the official Israel count, were unarmed and defenseless civilians. The keynote speaker for the event was Jeremy Ben-Ami, the founder and president of the Washington-based or-

ganization who reiterated the group’s strong support for the Israeli government’s military response to the terrorist massacres. “The goals of this operation are to reestablish security along its borders, to

hold the perpetrators to account, and to remove Hamas from operational control of Gaza. All of these goals are within Israel’s rights under international law, and we stand squarely behind Israel in seeking to accomplish these goals.”

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ISRAEL

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ENTREES Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president of J Street, was the featured speaker at their Atlanta fundraiser.

Judith Taylor, seen here with her son, Chuck, was the honoree at the J Street annual fundraiser.

But Ben-Ami, whose family traces its roots in Israel to the 1880s and whose grandfather was a founder of the city of Tel Aviv almost 125 years ago, coupled his defense of Israel’s military with a reminder. He reiterated that J Street has departed, at times, from other decisions made by the Israeli government in recent weeks. The organization was an early supporter, for example, of humanitarian pauses in the offensive to allow for the delivery of aid for refugees from the fighting in Gaza, including fuel deliveries and water supplies. The group also criticized the actions by Israel that it said was partially responsible for those “strategic decisions” for what the J Street president termed “this government’s commitment to exclusive Jewish sovereignty over all the land, to its denial of rights and freedoms of Palestinians living under its control.” Israel’s continued existence as both a Jewish state and a democratic nation could only be assured, according to Ben-Ami, with the official recognition of the need for a separate Palestinian state. “Our argument is that the only way for Israel to truly achieve its goals, to be secure, to be Jewish, to be democratic, is with a state of Palestine alongside. Without that, we’re condemning ourselves and both peoples to this never-ending nightmare of violence and bloodshed.” The organization has long been at odds with many in the more conservative elements of the Jewish establishment in America. Nearly a decade ago, the group, by a narrow margin, was denied membership in the influential Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.

Earlier this fall, AIPAC, the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee, launched a full-throated attack on the organization. In a letter to its supporters, it criticized the group’s support for making the nearly $4 billion in US military aid to Israel conditional. J Street was said to have supported attempts to restrict the aid so that it could not be used to expand Jewish settlements on the West Bank or other attempts to expand the occupation of Palestinian territory there. “Today, one of the gravest threats to American support for Israel’s security,” AIPAC said in the letter, “comes from an organization that outrageously calls itself pro-Israel.” Both AIPAC and J Street are expected to play a significant role in next year’s national elections through their respective political action committees. Ben-Ami’s appearance at the Atlanta fundraiser was in place of Yossi Beilin, the veteran Israel peace activist and former Justice Minister who co-founded the Geneva Initiative that drafted a model peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians 20 years ago. He was unable to travel from Israel for the event at The Temple. The president of J Street concluded his remarks by quoting from a recent Oped in the Washington Post, by Beilin, who described the elimination of Hamas in Gaza as crucial. “As long as it continues to take and hold hostages,” Beilin wrote earlier this month, “not only of the 240 Israelis, but also all of the Gaza Strip inhabitants, it will do whatever it can to thwart any peace plan based on a two-state solution.” ì

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Local Israeli Watches Release of Friends Among Hostages By Jan Jaben-Eilon On Friday, Nov. 24, the first day of the temporary truce that Israel agreed to with the terrorist organization Hamas, 13 Israeli hostages were freed along with 10 Thai workers and one Filipino caregiver. Twelve of the 13 either lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz or were visiting family members there. The Filipino, Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, 33, worked for the family of Atlantan Avishay Ben Zvi for four years, caring for his father Amitai, 80, who was murdered when Hamas stormed Israel Oct. 7, viciously murdering, raping, burning and pillaging Israeli communities along the Gaza border. “We were surprised he was released,” said Ben Zvi who lived on Kibbutz Nir Oz from the time he was about one year old until he was 25. He has lived in Atlanta for about a decade. “We saw him in the Red Cross pictures,” but Pacheco and the 10 Thai workers who were also released the first day were not on any lists of hostages released by Hamas. “Jimmy is like a kibbutz member because he worked for the family,” emphasized Ben Zvi, who noted that his brothers Gilad and Ido greeted Jimmy at the hospital to which he was taken after his release. “He lost weight during his captivity,” said Ben Zvi. Malnourishment was common among the freed captives, including the 39 Israelis released on the first three days of the hostage exchange that also resulted in Israel freeing young and female prisoners in its jails. Three Palestinians were released for each Israeli hostage freed by Hamas. The agreement called for 50 Israelis to be freed during the initial four-day truce. Some foreign nationals, not included in the agreement, were also released by Hamas. By the end of the fourth day when 11 Israelis and two Thai workers were freed, of the 77 kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, 49 remained in captivity, according to Ben Zvi who was keeping track. Ben Zvi’s father was born in the U.S., but lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz, founded in 1955 two miles from the Gaza border, most of his life. As reported by the AJT in October, Amitai Ben Zvi had a caregiver because he had Parkinson’s disease. In fact, it was Pacheco who managed to call a friend on Oct. 7 and tell her that Ben Zvi had been killed and that he was being kidnapped. That’s how Ben Zvi and his siblings were notified about their father’s death. It took nearly two weeks for the body to be identified because Israel had many bodies that needed identifying. Some 1,200 were killed that day, according to the State. When Ben Zvi, his wife Shirley and 12 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Amitai Ben Zvi, shown along with his caregiver before Oct. 7 when Ben Zvi, 80 was shot and killed and “Jimmy” was taken hostage.

Kibbutz Nir Oz after one quarter of its population of nearly 400 was either killed or taken hostage on Oct. 7.

twin daughters flew back to Israel for his father’s funeral, they visited a number of survivors of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Many have been housed in a hotel in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, while a few are staying with relatives in the center of the country. A large part of the kibbutz is uninhabitable because many homes were burned. Approximately one-fourth of the 400 residents were either killed or kidnapped on Oct. 7. For Ben Zvi, it’s been a harrowing couple of months. Although he moved away from the kibbutz 25 years ago, he still considers the community his family. He is on two WhatsApp groups, one of which includes about 200 former residents who have moved away. The other group consists of the dozen or so people who grew up in his age cohort. There were 11 children in the younger Ben Zvi’s cohort, born in 1973. Each age group was given a name; his group was called Erez, which means cedar in English. Illustrating the intertwining of Israelis – especially those on kibbutzim – Ben Zvi explains how he has been directly impacted by the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, in addition to suffering the death of his father. “Roee Munder is my age and was murdered in the attack. His big sister Keren, his mother Ruth and his nephew Ohad were released” from Hamas captivity in the first batch of abductees freed. “His father is still missing.” Yocheved Lifshitz was released by her captors on Oct. 23. “Her youngest son, Omri, is my age. His father Oded is still missing. Others my age who have their parents among the kidnapped include the mother of Nadav Sagi, Ada Sagi, and the father of Lior Peri, Haim Peri.” Also missing is Aviv Atzili, who is one year younger

than Ben Zvi, and his wife Liat. However, Ravid Katz who is one year older than Ben Zvi has just been identified as having died on Oct. 7. Two teenage children of Renana Yaakov, Or and Yagil, were released on day four of the truce, Ben Zvi added. Ben Zvi said all of the former residents of Nir Oz are helping to support the kibbutz in any way they can, whether it is picking crops such as avocados, gathering food and clothes or providing transportation to the evacuated residents, helping the elderly or raising donations to help the survivors. “It’s a strong community,” he said. “From far away, I can see that everyone is supportive of each other.” He added that his friends and relatives won’t give up on regaining the freedom of the rest of the hostages. Estimates are that it will take three years to rebuild the kibbutz, but “not everyone will decide to return there. It’s very hard with the memories of those who died,” said Ben Zvi. Meanwhile, survivors of Kibbutz Nir Oz may live in apartments newly built in Kiryat Gat in southern Israel. There’s talk of building a community center for the residents who are accustomed to more communal living. Ben Zvi primarily lived in a Beit Yeludim, or Children’s House, as he grew up. The children slept together and were educated together. They saw their parents for three hours a day. That was already different from how his father grew up, on another kibbutz, when he saw his parents only once a week. During the four-day truce agreement between Israel and Hamas, which allowed the freeing of hostages abducted in Israel in exchange for Palestinians held in

Gelienor “Jimmy” Pacheco, caregiver to Avishay Ben Zvi’s father who was murdered, seen here at the hospital to which he was taken after being a hostage for seven weeks, along with Avishay’s brothers, Ido, on the right and Gilad on the left.

Israeli prisons, Israelis both inside Israel and abroad were glued to their TVs, radios or smart phones, anxious to hear which hostages – and in what condition – were being released. “We don’t usually have live TV on,” said Ben Zvi of his Atlanta-area household. But especially on the first day of hostage releases when a group from his kibbutz were freed, his family watched the handover from Hamas, to the Red Cross, and finally to Israeli authorities. Because Israel is a relatively small country of some nine million people, despite their divisions based on religiosity, ethnic backgrounds and economic viability, nearly everyone knows someone who was either killed, injured or kidnapped – or related to those directly affected. That could help explain the results of a survey of Israelis conducted between Nov. 19-20 by the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Jerusalembased Israel Democracy Institute. The survey results showed that releasing all the hostages was essentially as important to Israelis as toppling Hamas, the governing body of Gaza and the central combatants on Oct. 7. Of those two goals, along with the goals of restoring deterrence and distancing Gaza residents and creating a buffer zone between them and Israel, the release of the hostages scored higher at 49 percent, compared to toppling Hamas at 32 percent, restoring deterrence at 10 percent and distancing Gazans from Israel at only 3 percent. At press time, it was announced that the temporary truce would be extended two more days, with more hostages released. The initial agreement said that Israel would extend the truce a day for every 10 more hostages freed. ì

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ISRAEL

Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested Outside Lenox Mall Eight protesters in support of Palestine were arrested on Friday while demonstrating near Lenox Square Mall in Buckhead. Dozens of protesters had congregated outside the mall until Atlanta Police officers began asking the group to disperse. According to reports, the majority of the group left while the eight protesters who refused to leave were subsequently arrested. The protesters, who reportedly marched from the Lenox MARTA station down Peachtree Road, shouted “From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.” In an official statement given to media, the Atlanta Police Department said: “APD continues to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of shoppers, visitors, and demonstrators, and to uphold the law and protect the right to free speech.”

Eight people protesting in support of Palestine were arrested after demonstrating near the popular Buckhead shopping destination and refusing to leave upon police direction // Screenshot/YouTube/11Alive

Compiled by AJT Staff Pro-Palestinian supporters marched last week from the Lenox MARTA station to Lenox Square Mall and demonstrated outside of the popular shopping destination // Screenshot/YouTube/11Alive

Happy Chanukah!

14 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

A crowd of pro-Palestinian supporters gathered on Friday outside of Lenox Square Mall // Screenshot/YouTube/11Alive

ISRAEL PRIDE

TODAY IN ISRAELI HISTORY

An Age-Tech startup contest was recently held by Ventures // Photo Credit: Getty Images

Irish Company Wins Israeliheld Age-Tech Contest The Mediterranean Towers Ventures investment fund, which claims to be the first investment fund in Israel to have invested in and guided dozens of product development projects that seek to promote quality of life for the elderly, recently held a contest for startups from a variety of fields. “Seven judges from all over the world, including Sasha Spellman, director at AARP, and Oliver Tian, vice president at Global Robot Clusters and advisor to the Asia Pacific Assistive Robotics Association, served in the competition along with 100 seniors from all over the world, who also participated in the vote,” the company said. “The first place won $5,000 and will be guided by the Mediterranean Towers Ven-

Today in Israeli History Nov. 30, 1947: The U.N. partition vote the previous day not only sparks violence between Jews and Arabs in Palestine — the first phase of Israel’s War of Independence — but also leads to riots against Jews across the Middle East. Dec. 1, 1932: The Palestine Post, the precursor of The Jerusalem Post, distributes 1,200 copies of its first, eight-page edition to meet the demand for an English-language newspaper. It nearly quadruples its circulation within a year.

Security and rescue forces work on the remains of the bus destroyed by a suicide bomber in Haifa on Dec. 2, 2001. // By Moshe Milner, Israeli Government Press Office

Dec. 2, 2001: During a surge in Second Intifada violence, a Palestinian plumber from Nablus detonates an explosive device on a No. 16 Egged bus in Haifa, killing himself and 15 other passengers and injuring 35 others.

tures investment fund,” the statement continued, adding that the fund’s “guidance includes a review of the company’s business plan and overseas go-to-market strategy. In addition, the fund connects startups to markets and potential customers in Israel and abroad, helping them pinpoint their product’s value to the end customer by involving seniors in the thinking process.” Reshub, an Irish company developing a quality-of-life enhancing system that engages the local collaborative economy using a unique digital interface designed for the elderly population, was declared the winner. The second place went to the Israeli company Olive Diagnostics, established in 2019 by Guy Goldman, which has developed a smart toilet seat that detects dehydration, urinary tract infections, and other medical signals. Compiled by AJT Staff Dec. 3, 1995: Matityahu Shmulevitz, a member of Lehi (the Stern Gang) and the director-general of the Prime Minister’s Office under Menachem Begin, dies at 75 one day after collapsing during a chess game in Tel Aviv. Dec. 4, 2000: The Knesset passes legislation proposed by Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who is also the education minister, to prevent discrimination against students based on ethnicity, socioeconomic status or political alignment. Dec. 5, 1949: Prime Minister David BenGurion declares in a Knesset speech that “Jewish Jerusalem is an organic, inseparable part of the State of Israel” and that Israel will not give up sovereignty over its “eternal capital.” Dec. 6, 1867: Leo Motzkin, the chairman of the Zionist Executive from 1925 to 1933, is born in what is now Brovary, Ukraine. Motzkin becomes interested in Zionism after witnessing the 1881 pogrom in Kyiv. Dec. 7, 1921: Twenty-two women graduate from the Nurses’ Training Institute at Rothschild Hospital in Jerusalem, making them the first nurses to receive degrees in the Land of Israel. They go to work at Hadassahrun hospitals. Dec. 8, 1885: Joseph Sprinzak, the first speaker of the Knesset and an interim presi-

Aliyah applications have seen a significant increase in some countries in the midst of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Aliyah Applications See Massive Uptick in Some Countries The number of requests to begin the process of Aliyah among Jews in the United States and Canada has nearly doubled following the outbreak of the Oct. 7 war and the resurgence of antisemitism in the West, Israel Hayom has learned based on information gathered by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration and the Jewish Agency for Israel, indicating a clear markable boost in interest to immigrate to Israel. According to the information, in the first five weeks of the war, 791 new files were opened, compared to 427 in the same dent, is born in Moscow. He helps establish many institutions that form the foundation of the state, such as the Histadrut labor federation. Dec. 9, 1987: Riots erupt in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in response to a fatal army truck crash the previous day, marking the start of the First Intifada. The violence kills 900 Palestinians and 100 Israelis by the end of 1991.

Knesset Speaker Joseph Sprinzak swears in Yitzhak Ben-Zvi as president on Dec. 10, 1952.

Dec. 10, 1952: Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, 68, a native of Ukraine who made aliyah in 1907, is sworn in as Israel’s second president after 30 days of mourning for his predecessor, Chaim Weizmann. He serves three terms until his death in April 1963. Dec. 11, 1948: The U.N. General Assembly passes Resolution 194, addressing “the situation in Palestine” without naming Israel. Palestinians interpret its call for refugees to return home as soon as possible as an unlimited “right of return.”

period last year. A significant jump was noted in the Aliyah requests submitted by French Jews: 465 applications in France compared to 98 in the equivalent period in 2022. The data amounts to an overall rise of almost 400 percent in applications. It is worth noting that an “Aliyah file” is typically open for an entire family seeking to immigrate to Israel, so the actual number of prospective immigrants is even higher. However, not everyone who opens a file ultimately makes Aliyah. In some countries, the figures point to a drop in Aliyah trends, including Argentina, Brazil, and Russia. Compiled by AJT Staff

A 1950 poster declares that an immigrant worker’s place is in the Histadrut.

Dec. 12, 1920: The General Federation of Jewish Labor, known as the Histadrut, is founded in Haifa to serve as an independent trade union for Jewish workers in Palestine. David Ben-Gurion is elected secretary-general in 1921. Dec. 13, 1961: After Nazi Adolf Eichmann is convicted of 15 charges, including murder, crimes against the Jewish people and crimes against humanity, Israeli prosecutor Gideon Hausner successfully argues for a death sentence. Dec. 14, 1981: The Knesset votes 63-21 in favor of legislation to annex the Golan Heights — captured in 1967 — and apply Israeli law there in place of military administration. The Labor Party boycotts the surprise vote. Items are provided by the Center for Israel Education (israeled.org), where you can find more details. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 15

NEWS American Jewish Committee Award Given to Truist CEO By Marcia Caller Jaffe Awards come and go, as this year’s AJC event was elevated to a new level when local Jewry looked to other community leaders to reinforce their support for Israel, building interfaith bridges, and disdain for antisemitism. On Thursday, Nov. 16, The St. Regis Hotel ballroom hosted 500-plus financial, business, and nonprofit category leaders, ranging from UPS to Home Depot to do just that. Before Truist CEO Bill Rogers accepted the National Human Relations Award from previous recipient Marty Flannigan, chairman emeritus Invesco LTD, AJC Regional Director and National Director Black/Jewish Relations Dov Wilker delivered a most impassioned talk coming off a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution opinion piece that Rogers himself said he read a dozen times. Before a meal of sea bass and roasted broccoli, gnocchi, and sundried tomato pesto, the Rev. Sean Smith, New Horizon Baptist Church and Project Interchange alum, gave the invocation beginning with a song, and ending, “We are on sacred ground, beautiful yet complicated … Leaving us with questions versus answers, in this shared community in the face of G-d.” AJC Atlanta President Belinda Morris welcomed the crowd as she re-imagined the possibilities with Atlanta leadership and announced that $850,000 was raised just that evening. She noted, “Since the ‘90s, I have been traveling intermittently for the AJC, opening in Warsaw, all building bridges of understanding, up and until the past 90 days, speaking out to free the hostages. AJC strives for a better world and not just for Jews.” A compelling video was shown decrying the hostage taking and family tragedies of Oct. 7. Wilker took the podium to deliver one of his most hard-hitting talks about the power of “you,” as individuals. “Despite the panic of the past 41 days, tonight is a bright light with our solidarity with those who feel hope and unity … to join in and call out injustice.” Recounting a history of tragedies like at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburg, and the subsequent increasing cost of mounting security, Wilker said, “It takes courage to walk into a Jewish event like this … and [tonight] makes me hopeful.” 16 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

UPS CEO Carol Tome, previous award recipient, praised the selection of Bill Rogers for this year; also pictured are Ramon Tome and Cathy Scott.

Award honoree Bill Rogers (center) posed with Chris Sawyer (left) and the Rev. Sam Candler (right).

Wilker and family recently participated in the DC Unity walk. Note that the pre-function area, the hallways, and the expansive ballroom were well covered with security detail. After dinner, Jenna Kelly, group regional president of Truist Financial Cor-

poration, stated, “Bill is the definition of inclusivity. He was ahead of his time. He sought out people from diverse backgrounds for executive roles long before it was popular.” Honoree William H. “Bill” Rogers, chairman and chief executive officer Truist

AJC’s Dov Wilker chatted with Lauren Pietrantonio, from Truist, with whom he attended Leadership Atlanta.

Financial Corporation, expressed his humility for being selected for this “profound honor.” He recognized the AJC for making the globe safer for the world in general, not just Jewish people, and fundamentally believing in the power of the people. He stated, “As I dig deeper in history

NEWS

Let’s talk about mental health The first Teen Mental Health Roundtable is here!

Is your teen interested in making an impact, destigmatizing mental health, and learning new ways to support their peers? They may want a seat at the Roundtable!

What is the Teen Mental Health Roundtable? A collective of teens that provide insight and share real life experience to help the community understand what teens really need to support their mental health. AJC supporters Lenny Silverstein (past AJC President), Clayton State University professor Larry Menter, and Jack Halpern are community stalwarts.

What will they do? • Serve as a member of our collective • Share input about teen mental health needs • Learn about mental health challenges and how to be supportive • Create and deliver an educational program at the community-wide event, Teen Mental Health Shabbat, on April 12th, 2024 • Establish connections and develop friendships with like-minded peers • Opportunities to grow and lead our upcoming roundtable beginning Fall 2024

Who can apply? Current 10 and 11th graders who are interested in supporting their peers’ mental health th

The event raised $850,000.

back 100 years to now, I recognize the AJC’s role in securing world peace. Unfortunately, antisemitism is the oldest form of hatred and not aging out. We need to replace hatred with kindness and respect … so we can wake up to [knowing] we are better together supporting each other … Be on the field and not on the sidelines!” During the pre-function cocktail hour, Carol Tome, CEO of UPS, and previous 2019 AJC honoree, told the AJT, “Bill is a man of purpose and so well deserves

this award.” Tome is also retired as COO and EVP of The Home Depot. Robin Bren echoed, “Truist is passionate about the Jewish cause and plight and committed to making changes.” The mission of American Jewish Committee is building bridges of understanding among all people, safeguarding democracy and pluralism, and combating all forms of bigotry. Together they counter antisemitism, open new doors for Israel, and advance democratic values. ì

Apply by December 8th, 2023: jfcsatl.org/teenroundtable Limited spots available.

BeWellATL is an initiative of Jewish Federations of North America, in partnership with Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 17

NEWS

Weber Launches Israel Leadership Fellows Program By Debbie Diamond The Weber School launched the Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows program this month with an inaugural two-day, off-site retreat jam-packed with educational seminars designed to provide a deep understanding of the history and current issues facing Israel and Zionism. Rabbi Ed Harwitz, head of school, first conceived of the idea for an Israel Fellows program years earlier. His goal was straightforward: develop teams of dedicated, knowledgeable students who are able to quickly assume leadership roles on their future college campuses and speak knowledgeably about the complex and challenging issues surrounding Israel. According to Rabbi Harwitz, Weber has worked to build a deep and abiding relationship between its students and the land and people of Israel since the school began 26 years ago. “The students in the Israel Leadership Fellows program will be able to articulate a clear and compelling case for Israel, not just defensively, but in a pro-

Sophomores take a lunch break during a busy day of interactive learning.

active and constructive manner when they arrive on college campuses. Even before Oct. 7, we knew there were many challenges at American colleges. Now the need is even greater,” said Rabbi Harwitz.

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In light of the brutal terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, school administrators quickly made a decision to adapt the sessions they had planned to address the current state of affairs in Israel, the United States and across the world. Topics included the Israel-Gaza conflict, terrorism, the rising tide of antisemitism and the impact of social media. The film, “Upheaval: The Journey of Menachem Begin” was screened on the opening night of the retreat, followed by an impactful discussion about leadership. Eighty sophomores, juniors and seniors attended the retreat and heard from speakers as a large group and in smaller breakout sessions. The Israel Fellows program will be three years long and confer an honors-level diploma distinction when participants graduate. The program has been designated as one of the school’s Centers of Excellence and was born from the belief that education about Israel, particularly now, is not only important, but necessary. Educators at Weber emphasize that their goal is not to offer a set of talking points, but rather “to provide an education grounded in rigor that enables students to engage thoughtfully in meaningful discussions about Israel.” “Many Jewish students do not feel comfortable discussing topics related to Israel on college campuses. Our goal is to empower them, so they feel good about educating others. We want our students to understand Israel’s history and what is currently taking place. We hope they will see themselves as an integral part of the next chapter. We need them as our future leaders -- and we want them to feel

Ann Kay and Director of Israel and Global Education Bernadette May Beaver review the agenda for the retreat.

the love, care and devotion for Israel that is informed by knowing the facts,” said Bernadette May Beaver, Director of Israel and Global Education, who will be spearheading the program. At the recent retreat, students were engaged and eager to learn. The updated curriculum was developed by Unpacked for Educators, a division of OpenDor Media, and the sessions were led by educators from their team. OpenDor Media is a nonprofit organization that produces feature-length films, videos, social media content and educational resources designed to appeal to modern tastes. The materials are distributed worldwide with the goal of educating audiences about Israel and Jewish topics. All sessions during the retreat were interactive, and students were provided additional time for verbal and written reflection on the subjects presented. “Teens are curious and hungry to learn. They are passionate and want to be sure their voices are heard. We want to be certain these students have informed narratives. Our program is not an advocacy campaign for Israel, but rather an educational program,” stressed Noam Weissmann, executive vice president of OpenDor Media. “Education leads to serious thinking and is long-lasting. Advocacy without education is shallow,” he added. Another component of the Israel Leadership Fellows program is its partnership with One2One. Through a series of individualized Zoom calls, spread out over several months, One2One allows each Weber teen to partner with a counter-

NEWS

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IS YOUR TIME! Weber Head of School Rabbi Ed Harwitz speaks to students about impact of program and leadership.

Avi Posen, senior director of Israel Education at Unpacked for Education, leads session on antisemitism and social media.

part in Israel to explore ideas like Jewish peoplehood and human rights, while also discussing shared interests and engaging in cross-cultural dialogue. The meetings have already begun with the Weber teens wholeheartedly embracing the concept, especially meeting new friends. Funding for the Israel Leadership Fellows program was provided by a generous grant from Ann Kay and the family of Michael Kay. Kay, z”l, was a philanthropist and a visionary who, with his wife, Ann, had a significant impact on The Weber School and the Atlanta Jewish community. The Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows program is both a tribute and a continuation of his legacy of service to Israel and the Jewish people. Rabbi Harwitz has even bigger expansion plans for the Israel Leadership Fellows program. His goal over the next five years is to engage 10 other Jewish high schools across the United States to replicate the program. He believes the students can be on-campus educational ambassadors for Israel, as well as future Jewish community leaders. “Armed with knowledge and clarity, these students will be our greatest beacons of hope to engage with others on behalf of Israel. And as the program expands to additional high schools, imagine more than 800 of these students, dispersed at universities across the United States. We can have a significant impact in educating others about Israel and combatting antisemitism,” he said. And if the enthusiastic feedback from the students at the retreat is a measure, they are just as passionate about the program as their teachers and adminis-

trators. “With everything going on in Israel, it is so powerful that we have sessions like these to gain knowledge and insight,” said Ari G. According to Elliot F., “It’s important to learn more about these topics since there is so much misinformation out there. Jewish voices are needed now.” And Hannah C. said, “Learning other perspectives has been eye-opening and changed my entire view of the conflict. I have learned we can be pro-Israel and not anti-Palestinian.” The Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows will have another retreat in the spring of 2024, as well as educational sessions throughout the year. Upcoming topics will include a focus on the diversity of thought among Zionist thinkers, including the distinction between Political and Labor Zionism, Revisionist Zionism and Religious Zionism. The first session will focus on the philosophy of leaders Theodor Herzl, David Ben-Gurion, and Golda Meir. According to May Beaver, the goal is to expose students to a diverse array of Zionist thinkers whose impact continues to shape Israeli politics, identity, and culture. In closing the inaugural retreat, Rabbi Harwitz spoke of the future and expressed his profound appreciation for all who helped make the Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows program a reality. “This is only the beginning. Israel and the Jewish people need you,” he exuberantly shared with a group of students who seemed eager to learn and make their mark on an increasingly changing world. ì

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NEWS

Bank and Schoenbaum Turn Out for FIDF Shabbat By Marcia Caller Jaffe Caterers extraordinaire Sandra and Clive Bank planned an “intimate” Shabbat dinner for close to 200 with an important twist: that it be for a good cause and involve the younger generation. On Nov. 17, at their daughter Samantha Schoenbaum’s house in Midtown, they teamed up with the Friends of the Israeli Defense Force to show unity and respond to the recent tragedy in Israel. Citing Added Touch and A Kosher Touch Caterers, Sandra Bank stated, “Many [other] wonderful sponsors came to the table to help. I found this event particularly meaningful because of the engagement with younger people … getting them involved in a warm fuzzy Shabbat feeling connected to a Jewish cause. That was our goal, to get that generation to the table. I saw many new faces.” Co-chairs Wendi Aspes and Schoenbaum came up with the idea over lunch when they were feeling depressed about “the state of world turmoil.” The latter said, “We felt we had to do something … All over the restaurant

Jennie Mollen, Allison Greenberg, Wendi Aspes, and Samantha Schoenbaum represent a younger generation of leaders who stand up for FIDF. Note the symbolic blue and white roses // Photos by Beth Intro

were members of our community feeling a similar way. Behind me was Souper Jenny, and we asked her if she would make soup. We asked Julia (owner of the Daily Chew) to make chicken. I knew my mother, Sandra, would help. Every vendor was amazing and generous.”

A cousin is friends with Jenny Mollen, actress, who used her platform to advocate and speak that night. The FIDF came into play for its vital role in caring for soldiers year-round and especially during this crucial time. Garry Sobel, FIDF national board member and

Karen Shulman is working on an ongoing, massive successful FIDF campaign for the Southeast.

chairman emeritus Georgia and Southeast, addressed the group, “Tonight is a great show of love and support for our soldiers. We haven’t had a lot to smile about the past 42 days. Tonight, we have the opportunity to give each other a hug and help our brave soldiers.”

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NEWS

Michelle Hirsch lit Shabbos candles in honor of her fallen niece Rose Lubin // Photos by Beth Intro

Garry Sobel told the group about the drastic needs for IDF soldiers’ which will long continue.

Sandra and Clive Bank support daughter Samantha Schoenbaum’s passion to help // Photos by Beth Intro

He noted that there are now more than 500,000 soldiers serving in the IDF’s war effort. “The soldiers’ needs are massive, and they will continue long after the war is over. FIDF provides financial support solely for the humanitarian needs of soldiers, and since Oct. 7, needs extend to medical supplies – blood/plasma, combat ambulances, field hospitals, defibrillators, monitors, and genetic testing machines.” FIDF takes its direction from Israel’s Minister of Defense, and they are their first call for humanitarian support. To date, FIDF has met every request. Karen Shulman, FIDF Southeast Chair, added, “I know we all remember the morning of Oct. 7. There was a lot of confusion, disbelief, panic. My first call was to Garry Sobel. We didn’t hesitate - knowing we were needed, we jumped right in spending countless hours on the phone helping with FIDF’s emergency campaign. Since it began, our Georgia and Southeast States Chapter has raised over $2.4 million from over 3,800 gifts. The support has been unprecedented. Unfortunately, this is only the beginning. The needs of our soldiers and their families are growing.” Rabbi Peter Berg, of The Temple, shared remarks regarding the conclusion

of shiva for Sgt. Rose Lubin, the fallen Lone Soldier from Dunwoody. Many of her family members were present. Berg encouraged support for FIDF. He had also recently spoken to a soldier in Gaza who was grateful that people here care. Berg said, “I bore witness to the 45-minute video I had seen of primary footage from Oct. 7. I have shared that story over 100 times this week. As I led the Shabbat blessings, I spoke of how much it means for us to be together as a community supporting each other in the worst moment of our Jewish lives.” Co-chair Aspes commented, “Now more than ever, we, as Jews, need our community for solace, refuge, and strength. Samantha and I felt enraged after Oct. 7, and we had to channel our feelings into action. FIDF became the perfect vehicle to help make a difference. Tonight is a clear message that we are stronger together. Many weren’t familiar with FIDF previously but have now become advocates. Let this be the beginning of many events to spread light and show our unwavering support for Israel and Jews everywhere.” Schoenbaum summed it up, “The night was really magical. We sang ‘Hatikvah’ arm in arm. The FIDF had never been my cause, but you better believe it is now!” ì

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS HAPPY HANUKKAH

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 21

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The Shabbat Project: Keeping It Together By Chana Shapiro The announcement of The Shabbat Project, a communal Shabbat gathering in the Toco Hills area, was more than welcome. Obsessed with news from Israel and shaken by antisemitism here at home and abroad, Jews were eager to join other Jews for comfort and unity; Toco Hills was part of a global phenomenon. In 2014, the idea of Jewish communities world-wide sharing one Shabbat was conceived by South Africa’s chief rabbi, Warren Goldberg, and his wife, Gina. Getting Jews from all parts of the world to participate in a Jewish event on the same Shabbat seemed overly optimistic; however, undaunted, the Goldbergs boldly launched a unifying movement, which they named The Shabbat Project, and it soon spread. The goal of the movement was to encourage Jews from across the spectrum – religious, secular, traditional, young, and old, from every ethnic background and practice, from all parts of the world – to experience one Shabbat together. This year, The Shabbat Project, which had already become a global vehicle for “creating a Jewish future based on unity, pride, and values,” showed a dramatic increase in events and participation, in more than 1,500 cities in over 100 countries, bonding Jews everywhere who were horrified by the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel. Rabbi Goldstein remarked, “Jews worldwide are thirsting for Jewish unity and for a genuine connection, particularly now.” This year, from sunset on Friday, Nov. 3, until the stars came out on Saturday night, Nov. 4, The Shabbat Project came to life in Toco Hills. One month after the surprise attack by Hamas, the universal Shabbat observance was dedicated to the people of Israel and was framed with the slogan, “Keeping It Together,” referencing the vernacular “keeping” Shabbat, meaning observing the Sabbath. Using social media, flyers in supermarkets, grocery stores, businesses, and announced in the AJT Jewish Connector, the program in Toco Hills issued an open invitation, beckoning all Jews to share a communal kiddush on the grounds of Congregation Beth Jacob, where special security had been hired to ensure safety. Dozens of volunteers prepared kiddush food and set up buffet tables in an open area outside the synagogue. Artist Judy Kessler stepped up to create 4-foottall centerpieces for the buffet tables, their design based on the universal symbol for The Shabbat Project, their size 22 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Esther Behdadnia and team work to prepare Friday night dinner for Shabbat Project.

David Benhanania cooks for Shabbat Project.

Betsy Cenker and Rhoda Gleicher plating for Block Party Kiddush.

large enough to be seen from a distance for visitors unfamiliar with the kiddush site. The buffet tables referenced areas of origin of Jewish residents of Toco Hills, including North America, South America, Asia, the Middle East, Israel, and Europe. After morning services, neighborhood Toco Hills synagogues cancelled their usual synagogue kiddush. Between 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., congregants headed to Beth Jacob where nearly 1,000 community members gathered for camaraderie and plentiful kiddush food, comprising a diverse group observing Shabbat together.

The weekend was even more meaningful because it was a month since the Hamas massacre, likened to the 30 days of shloshim, the intense period of mourning following the death of a brother or sister, a symbolic loss many felt deeply. Sarah Faigie Berkowitz, director of marketing and engagement of Beth Jacob, noted, “When Rabbi Mordechai Cohen began to recite Kiddush outside in a booming voice, I looked around and saw Jews of all backgrounds coming to celebrate Shabbat together. It’s a boatload of work feeding so many people, but the unity and the holiness it created made it all worth it.”

Dozens of volunteers spent many hours baking and setting up for The Shabbat Project Saturday kiddush; however, The Shabbat Project began at Beth Jacob the previous evening, at a seated Friday night dinner for 600. For the Friday night dinner, community member David Behdadnia led several days of cooking with a coordinated volunteer team who prepared a multi-course Shabbat dinner with the menu theme, “Shabbat in Israel.” Temima High School girls created floral centerpieces for the tables and helped with the set-up. The Shabbat Project kiddush and dinner in Toco Hills involved scores of volunteers and

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Judy Kessler with hand-painted signs.

was sponsored by more than 50 individual donors, Toco Hills businesses, and synagogues. Rabbi Don Seeman of New Toco Shul remarked, “Besides supporting our brothers and sisters in Israel, one of our fundamental responses to the terrible events from which our community continues to reel is to reaffirm Jewish life, the values for which we live, and our attachment to one another. That is how I understood the Shabbos Project this year.” Simultaneously, many other Atlanta synagogues, like Congregations Beth Tefillah and Kesher Torah in Sandy Springs, which joined for Shabbat events, embraced The Shabbat Project. Atlanta was one of 900 participating North American cities. An official Shabbat Project report lists 1,594 events in North America, as well as programs in cities as widespread as Tokyo, Abidjan on the Ivory Coast, and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. On the Nov. 3-4 Shabbat, Israelis demonstrated amazing spirit and fortitude in spite of the ongoing war. Some Shabbat events in Israel were even held in bomb shelters. The Shabbat Project reached hotels around Israel, where evacuees from Sderot and displaced families from the north and south sheltered. Throughout Israel, challahs, candles, and Shabbat food were distributed by Shabbat Project volunteers for families in which a parent had been drafted, and Shabbat meals were delivered to IDF bases. Responding to the impact of this year’s Shabbat Project, founder Rabbi Goldstein concluded, “While a grim battle for survival rages on, we affirm our right to live as Jews, to celebrate with pride and confidence, to proclaim, Am Yisrael Chai!” ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 23

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Artificial Intelligence Challenges Control of Technology By Bob Bahr When Stanley Kubrick’s film masterwork, “2001: A Space Odyssey,” first premiered 65 years ago, audiences were introduced to a number of technological advances that America was just starting to grapple with. The dramatic force that literally propelled the motion picture forward by the Jewish American filmmaker was provided not by a character of flesh and blood, but by HAL, a large-scale electronic computer. It was a machine with a human voice and seemingly a human consciousness that Kubrick and his literary collaborator, Arthur Clarke, endowed with an almost human ability to act. So, America and the world were first exposed to what these many decades later we have come to call artificial intelligence. In the film, the computer seemingly rebels and challenges the crew of a spaceship destined for the planet Jupiter. It actually causes the death of one crew member before being deactivated, or killed off, itself.

Artificial intelligence has come a long way since it made its on-screen debut in the 1968 film, “2001: A Space Odessey.”

Today, HAL has been reborn, as it were as a full-blown branch of human inquiry, that is challenging all of us, much like the crew of Kubrick and Clarke’s space vehicle. Artificial intelligence, or AI

as it’s called, for better or worse, is here to stay. Because of its potential to attach itself to everything we do, the new technology has set off alarm bells in think

tanks, corporate offices, and governments around the world. Just this week the United States, Britain, Israel, and 15 other nations signed the first international agreement to guide the responsi-

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Geoffrey Mitelman’s non-profit Sinai and Synapses has given an AI-related grant to Congregation Shearith Israel.

Paul Wolpe, the Emory University ethicist, believes we are in the midst of a techno-intellectual revolution.

ble development of artificial intelligence. The non-binding agreement is the first step in what is likely to be a broader consideration of the ethical uses of the new technology. It is yet another sign that the new science could lead us into a revolution, as profound or more so, that the industrial revolution of the past couple of centuries. For Paul Wolpe, the Emory University ethicist, the new era comes with a new name. “It’s not an industrial revolution. It’s a new techno-intellectual revolution,” Wolpe says. “I mean, computers changed everything, but they were still a tool. Artificial intelligence is more than a tool. It’s a partner. It makes decisions with you. So that changes the nature of the way that we interact with technology.” As someone who has spent most of his life exploring the ethical implications of human conduct, Wolpe now sees a new role for himself. Not only is he looking to explore human conduct in this new age but also how machines conduct themselves in our society. “Artificial Intelligence or AI, as it’s called, is decision-making technology and because of that, everything it does has ethical implications. You can’t design an automated car and not tell it what to do without confronting the possibility that it can hit the pedestrian or smash into the wall and maybe kill people. Ethics are an intrinsic to it, part of its development rather than outside of it or extrinsic, part of its use, like most other technologies.” The concern of the future of how we interact with our increasingly smarter machines has even touched Jewish religious life in Atlanta. Earlier this year,

Congregation Shearith Israel, the Conservative synagogue in the Virginia Highland neighborhood, was awarded a $5,000 grant funded, in part, by Sinai and Synapses, a New York-based nonprofit that hopes to encourage a broader consideration of technology in local Jewish communities. The grant, which the AJT reported on in June, is one of 15 awarded to synagogues around the country to help them bring together scientists and religious leaders in thoughtful dialogue. The founder of the Sinai and Synapses project, Rabbi Geoffrey Mitelman, believes that what makes AI so challenging for us as Jews is much the same as what makes it so challenging for scientists and ethicists. “Artificial intelligence asks the fundamental question, what does it mean to be human? And that’s a question that really gets to the core of who we are. For so much of human history, we’ve said what makes humans unique is intelligence. The influential Jewish German philosopher, Herman Cohen, over a century ago said that what it means to be created in the image of G-d is to have intelligence. And so, if there is an artificial intelligence that raises this question of, are we now godlike? And if so, what is our responsibility.” Much of the concern as Rabbi Mitelman sees it, is that the development and acceptance of AI is moving so fast. The fear is that as the technological development of AI accelerates it will outstrip our ability to control it. So, like HAL in 2001 we may find ourselves and our future in a battle to challenge the machines themselves. ì

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I Care America and HOD Partner to Support Homeless By Sasha Heller Anthony Delgado, founder of I Care America, is on a mission to help support the homeless and the Hebrew Order of David is lending a hand. I Care America, formerly known as I Care Atlanta, is a nonprofit devoted to ending homelessness by reaching out to the working poor and homeless men, women, and children in metro Atlanta and surrounding communities. Delgado says his group partners with several local police departments and businesses. Retail stores donate food and money, and police direct people in need to Delgado so he can help find them shelter or other resources. “The way it has been, this pandemic is so tight for us, but we seem to manage to make our payments. We are struggling right now. We are feeding so many people. We give out and G-d fills us back up.” Delgado says he has seen a significantly higher demand for food and shelter since the pandemic hit. He says many people do not have unemploy-

Anthony Delgado, founder of I Care America, and Jody Pollack, executive director, Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival

ment checks and he worries that when rent forgiveness ends, there will be an uptick in homelessness. He says he feeds about 400 people in one day. The organization also has a GED training center, financial planning center, and during the holiday season they give out brand new toys to dozens of children, as well as holding food drives. When asked what ordinary people can do to help the homeless, Delgado advises not to give money directly to them but to give them food or talk with them over a cup of coffee. He also recommends telling people to call their local United Way for assistance getting the resources they need. Delgado’s story is one of inspiration, intervention, and immersion as he was once living on the streets himself and addicted to crack. “I was dropped off at a train station in Doraville after an argument with my cousin. That is when my journey as a drug-addicted homeless person began. I did a lot of bad l things. Crack was my drug of choice and I panhandled on the streets of Atlanta to feed my habit. I did not know at the time that years later I would have my own charity across the street from the very train station where

26 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

it all started. I look at the station today and think, ‘G-d has a sense of humor.’” The turning point for Delgado came when he was sitting at a Greyhound bus station in the winter and had just smoked some crack, apparently having hit a new rock bottom. Delgado found his way to the VA hospital and eventually gained employment. After attending a church service about obedience, Delgado took bags of bread and pastries to the spot where he used to sleep on the streets. It was very emotional, he said. “I saw the same people after a year, the same people I slept next to.” Within 45 minutes all the bread and pastries were gone. As I was driving back, I started crying and said, “Thank you, Father G-d, I found my purpose in life.” He continued, “When I was homeless, I saw the best and worst in people. I was pushed, kicked, and spit on by some. But there were others who would give rides, pay for a hotel, or buy sandwiches. I warn that people should also be cautious about safety when offering rides and things like that. And it is not just people on the streets who need help. If you can help your neighbor or help somebody you know that does not have anything, it is reasonable to go buy them food. It is not going to really break you.” Jody Pollack, executive director of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival, explained how the Hebrew Order of David connected with Delgado on his mission. “As the initial planning was coming together for the 2015 Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival, our team met with the Dunwoody Police Department and asked if they had a charity that they supported. They then introduced us to Anthony Delgado. Our partnership with Anthony and I Care Atlanta, now known as I Care America, included renting his refrigerated truck from time to time as well as donating extra produce, canned goods, spices, and financial donations.” “We all need to help each other. We are in a bad state right now. We do not know what’s happening one day to the next,” Delgado said. “Open your heart. Help your neighbor. Do not be selfish. The me, me, me attitude is not going to get us anywhere. It is just not.” To contribute, visit www.icareatlanta.org or use Zelle/Cash App; For more information, call 678-524-3316. Note that Kindest.com is the donation platform. ì

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 27

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AJFF Examines Israel Film Industry After Oct. 7 Attack By Bob Bahr The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival presented a powerful afternoon program at the Tara Theatre, “In Conversation - The Reel Resilience of the Israeli Film Industry.” The Nov. 12 program captured some of the horrors and the hopes of the Israeli film industry following the tragedy of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. A prominent feature of the Sunday afternoon program was a hastily edited trailer for a documentary about the massacre of participants in the Supernova Succoth music festival in Southern Israel in the early hours of Oct. 7. The documentary, which is still in the early stages of production, features scenes of the music festival in the hours before Hamas launched its horrific attack and during the attack itself. Participants who had hidden themselves used their cell phones to record their fears and their hushed reactions to the murderous events that were taking place around them. The award-winning director of the film, Yariv Mozer, is still in the process of assembling the startling and sometimes extremely unsettling images that have been provided, in part, by the survivors of the attack. At least 364 persons were killed and many more were wounded when Hamas terrorists opened fire on the open-air festival near Kibbutz Re’im, a little over three miles from the border between Gaza and Israel. Forty more were taken hostage. Mozer rushed to the scene of the tragedy just two days after it occurred and was among the first to see firsthand the horrific results there. In the prerecorded online discussion, prepared by the Festival for the Tara program, Mozer

Israeli filmmaker Yahav Winner died saving his wife and onemonth-old son. His film, “The Boy,” was screened by AJFF.

spoke of his shock about how such a tragedy could have occurred. “How did we get to this point in which such a big surprise happened and where were we? And is it the fault only of the security people and the army? What is the consequences of having such a regime next to us for almost 20 years? This is a question that we must ask ourselves.” Mozer won Israel’s most prestigious film award for his documentary six years ago about the last days of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. His more recent production about the Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann was a Jury Prize nominee for best documentary at last year’s AJFF. In addition to his production about the music festival, Mozer is working on a behind-the-scenes look at how Israel’s government is conducting the delicate negotiations for the release of the hostages in Gaza. He said he is dismayed by much of the reaction by the world to the result of the savagery that had occurred

Kenny Blank, artistic and executive director of the AJFF, introduced the program on the Israeli film industry.

in Israel. “We discovered that the world is not really believing us, which is shocking,” Mozer said. “We see the protests of people all around the world and in the Western world. I see the people that are ripping off the signs about the hostages in New York City, in London, in Paris, in America. How come? Who are those people? How come we do not get the full support of what Israel is doing now? Our enemy is Hamas. It’s not the Palestinian people.” For Noa Regev, director of the Israel Film Fund, which encourages new productions, the challenge is how filmmakers in Israel can help shape public opinion in the world to what is happening today. Regev believes in that sense, Israel is at a critical moment in that process. “The story about what happened on Oct. 7 is taking shape as we speak. And will it be a story of hate and darkness or hope and, of course, pain? And the cultural community in Israel plays a central part in shaping this narrative. And this is

something that I think about a lot.” The AJFF’s Tara Theatre program also screened the last film made by the young Israeli filmmaker, Yahav Winner, who lived in Kfar Aza, just across the border from Gaza. He died protecting his wife and their one-month-old infant during the attack by Hamas. His haunting 25-minute production, “The Boy,” captures in an eerily prescient way some of the tensions that have developed among those, who, like Winner, lived just beyond the fence that separated Israel from Gaza. According to the AJFF, the organization is making a significant contribution to the filmmaker’s family and is inviting the community to join them. All of the money raised will go directly to the family. It’s all part of the AJFF’s goal to provide ongoing direct support to Israeli filmmakers during these challenging times. The AJFF will showcase films from Israel and more than 15 other countries at its festival next year that begins on Feb. 13 and runs through March 7. ì

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Atlanta Teens Embrace Engaging with Israel Together Atlanta-area teens spent four hours Nov. 12 learning about and analyzing contemporary Israel. Said one teen from Midtown, “I came to learn more about how to talk about Israel in America. Being able to communicate effectively and start conversations around Israel, especially in light of recent events, will be incredibly beneficial to me and to the greater Atlanta Jewish community.” At the end of the learning program with the Center for Israel Education at its Emory campus location, the student noted, “I learned a lot about the history of why Jews are hated. … I need to do more within my community to educate people. I also need to show pride in order to combat the antisemitism.” That student was among 41 teenagers from 18 high schools who learned why Hamas murdered Israelis, how Israel was replying, and why anti-Israeli demonstrations on college campuses have exploded. They drilled down on the flaws in media coverage of Israel and came away with definitions of Jewish peoplehood. Naturally, meeting other teens from across the city and the suburbs, they overwhelmingly indicated a desire to meet again in the spring to continue Israel engagement. “I realized how much I need to learn about Israel and its history to understand and have conversations about Israel with my peers,” a Lakeside High School student said. The teen program was part of CIE’s fifth-year program of targeting Israel engagement with Jewish youth. Debbie Sasson, the CIE project manager who organized the program, thanked the students for the positive attitude and eagerness with which they approached the afternoon. “You have a deep desire to learn more,” she said. “It’s clear that you have a love for Israel and your Judaism.” A Woodward Academy student praised “the variety of insight regarding college and the college experience as a Jewish student,” gained by meeting with Emory and Georgia Tech students who shared their respective encounters of life on campus.” Said Ken Stein, an emeritus Emory professor and the president of CIE, who taught a session on Israel and Hamas, “You could detect the students’ intensity to grasp the geopolitical realities of Israel’s importance to the United States

30 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Ken Stein, President of the Center for Israel Education, leads an informative session on contemporary Israel and issues facing the nation.

The program was attended by more than 40 teenagers from 18 area high schools.

and why Israel’s future remained a core concept in Jewish identity.” Stein concluded, “There is no

doubt that these teens are craving content, and they have great capacity to learn and embrace Israel’s story. It is

mandatory for our CIE staff to engage them again.” ì Compiled by AJT Staff

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Gwinnett High Students Perform Holocaust Play By Mike Weinroth “And a Child Shall Lead” is a play that is both riveting and harrowing to watch. It is the true account of a group of Jewish children who must negotiate the horror that awaits them in the Terezin camp, a fortress city that was used by the Nazis to hold 15,000 children before moving them to Auschwitz for extermination. This small village was near Prague. The essence of the play is that the children must confront what has happened to them and use their ingenuity and creativity to survive as long as possible. The children grow as they must make life-saving decisions in facing the reality of their situation. They are determined to maintain hope and beauty by studying, playing, making art, and creating an underground newspaper. If they are found out, their lives will end quickly. The play by Michael Slade was chosen by drama teacher Alissa Zimmett at the Paul Duke STEM High School, located in Peachtree Corners. What brought even more credibility to the play was audience member

32 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Ilse Eichner Reiner, surrounded by cast, crew and director, Alissa Zimmett (top row, center).

Ilse Eichner Reiner, a Holocaust survivor, who at the age of 11 was separated from her parents and sent to Terezin. Of the approximately 15,000 children forced into this “village,” only 132 survived. Reiner did survive Terezin and later was moved to Auschwitz. Zimmett chose this play due to its continuing relevance in today’s world. The play was selected prior to the surprise attack on Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7. To prepare for their roles, students read about the actual children of Terezin who wrote the real stories and poems that are included in the play. In addition, the students watched interviews of Holocaust survivors, including survivor Ela Weissberger’s testimony about the Brundibar Opera that she and other children were forced to perform for the visiting International Red Cross. Following the performance there was a standing ovation for the cast, who then presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Reiner. She told the student actors that she was greatly moved by their individual performances. As she hugged them, many broke down in tears. ì

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SPORTS Jewish Pitcher Named New Red Sox Executive For the third time this century, the Boston Red Sox have hired a Jewish Yale University alum to be their head of baseball operaDavid Ostrowsky tions. While the 2002 hiring of a then-28year-old Theo Epstein ultimately proved instrumental in the Red Sox winning their first World Series in 86 years, the 2019 appointment of Chaim Bloom to the prestigious post fell drastically short of expectations as the Red Sox finished in last place three out of four years during his stewardship. Now, following Bloom’s dismissal this past September, Boston has handpicked Craig Breslow, the onetime medical school aspirant and former journeyman lefty reliever, to shepherd the franchise back to relevancy. If nothing else, Breslow’s background as a former player (seven teams

in 12 years) with an Ivy League pedigree (he graduated from Yale in 2002 with degrees in molecular biology and biochemistry, and deferred admission to the NYU School of Medicine to pursue a professional baseball career) makes him one of the more intriguing figures in baseball heading into the 2024 season. “I understand that some of you will see me as another Ivy League nerd with a baseball front office job. It’s true, I am that.” Breslow, a Trumbull, Conn., native who attended Congregation B’nai Israel in nearby Bridgeport, where he had his bar mitzvah in 1993, acknowledged during his Nov. 2 introductory press conference as Boston’s new head of baseball operations. “But I’m also a 13-year big leaguer and a 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series champion. I know what it takes to win here and I’m willing to make the hard decisions necessary to deliver.” While his initial press conference with the Boston media was laden with the inevitable platitudes and praise of ownership -- “The commitment to winning from ownership is not a question

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While he has a strong quantitative reasoning bent, new Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow also has a wealth of experience as a former big-league pitcher // Photo Credit: Boston Red Sox

here” -- Breslow, as one of the precious few baseball executives with former MLB playing experience, took a moment to wax poetic about the game that quickly became his livelihood upon leaving Yale a couple decades ago. “I know what it’s like to put on a Red Sox jersey and jog through the bullpen gate across freshly cut outfield grass,” added Breslow, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2017 before working his way up the ranks of the Chicago Cubs front office the past few seasons. “I know what it’s like to stand on the mound in front of tens of thousands of the most passionate fans in the game, to feel the cool, fall breeze hit the Red Sox jersey. And I know what it’s like to hoist the World Series trophy overhead, the culmination of a group of people coming together to accomplish something that they couldn’t have alone.” In his newly minted role, Breslow, who in 2008 started his Strike 3 Foundation to fund pediatric cancer research in honor of his older sister who survived pediatric thyroid cancer, will be the face of the team’s front office. In this sense, it’s hard to imagine anyone more well-suited for the role as the 43-year-old comes across as exceptionally well-spoken and bright. Known league wide as the smartest man in baseball during his playing days, Breslow, as his former Red Sox manager John Farrell once said, “uses words in a normal conversation that I’m not used to. When he starts to speak, some guys might not be thinking along with him.” But he will also be Boston’s lead decision maker on players, coaches and

personnel, an all-encompassing function in which he is a novice. With the Cubs, working under the wing of curse-busting/likely future Hall of Fame executive Epstein, Breslow served as director of strategic initiatives in 2019 before being promoted to director of pitching in 2020 and finally assistant general manager in 2021. But he was never charged with having to pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade that would jettison a wildly popular player elsewhere, and in effect, alter the trajectory of the franchise. Now he will have to do so for a team that not so long ago was a regular postseason contender, like the Braves, but whose ownership group’s perceived reluctance to land big-ticket free agents has left many fans, ones who pay rather steep prices for tickets and concessions at Fenway Park, feeling disillusioned. “I know that we have some needs to fill on our major league roster,” Breslow responded when being pressed about whether the front office would be willing to shell out big dollars to overhaul the roster in free agency this winter. “I think that there are multiple ways to get there, and our job is to take as comprehensive a look as we can at all possible paths there.” Just as there are questions about how Breslow will adjust to making executive decisions, so too are there people wondering how he will reconcile the two seemingly competing visions of baseball being a sport driven by statistical analytics and one that is still played by actual human beings. “I think great decision makers are great synthesizers of information,” he made a point of saying. “That can look differently for different people, and particularly at different times. I think what I would like to represent is the ability to weigh different information streams and to engage in conversations out of the empathy of all parties. The experience that I have does give me a unique perspective on what it’s like to endure the challenges of a major league schedule, of a major league family, of a major league coaching staff. I also have a great appreciation for the ability of objective information to remain unbiased and consistent and disciplined.” While reviving the fortunes of a once-dominant franchise can be a years long drawn-out process, Red Sox Nation is growing restless. Put another way, when Truist Park hosts the All-Star Game in 2025, New Englanders expect the Red Sox, on Breslow’s watch, to be well represented. ì

SPORTS

Top Sports Books by Jewish Authors By David Ostrowsky

The Wingmen by Adam Lazarus

Rocket Men by John Eisenberg

When Ben Bradlee, Jr. came out with his 864page biography of Ted Williams (“The Kid: The Immortal Life of Ted Williams”) a decade ago, it was expected that the tome would be the final word on the man widely considered the greatest hitter who ever lived. However, readers of Adam Lazarus’s fantastic new work, “The Wingmen: The Unlikely, Unusual, Unbreakable Friendship Between John Glenn and Ted Williams,” will be thankful it wasn’t. Lazarus, an Atlanta-area resident who recently presented at the Book Festival of the MJCCA, offers a fresh perspective on Williams’s heroic yet nevertheless complex life by deftly tracing the arc of Teddy Ballgame’s decades-long friendship with Glenn that was forged when both men were serving America in the Korean War. In a considerably more succinct manner than that of Bradlee, Jr.’s bestseller, “The Wingmen” brings to life a comradeship steeped in irony: on the one hand, there’s Williams, the Hall of Fame ballplayer, a notorious womanizer often perceived as gruff and short-tempered, who adamantly remained a dyed-in-the wool Republican; and then Glenn, the war hero/astronaut/Democrat senator whose wholesome values included marital fidelity and a refrain from cussing. And as the first half of the book, grounded in seemingly exhaustive military research, chronicles the genesis of the Williams-Glenn friendship in the brutal, arctic conditions of war-torn Korea, it is quite evident that the two titans of 20th century American history had very different perspectives on serving their country. Without divulging too much of a key plotline, Williams, who nearly died during a crash landing in Korea, was not exactly gung-ho about sacrificing more years of big-league stardom for another tour of duty following his time overseas in World War II. Although Lazarus’s isn’t the first Ted Williams book to bring to light the storied slugger’s dark side, the veteran sports author, who has penned stories for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution among other publications, doesn’t shy away from detailing some uncomfortable truths. Just as Williams was a tireless champion of the Jimmy Fund’s efforts supporting young cancer patients, so too was he known as an absentee father whose professional career was tainted by an acrimonious relationship with the Boston media and acts of hostility toward Red Sox fans. Meanwhile, the juxtaposition of Williams’s and Glenn’s life stories illustrates a fascinating dynamic that further complicates Williams’s legacy: even though he was a devout supporter of the civil rights movement – as well as the plight of former Negro League stars to earn their due recognition – Williams never budged on his hardcore Republican values, ultimately refusing to support his former wingman in his later-in-life political career. Such irony only adds more intrigue to the already compelling story-

In the modern-day NFL, nearly half of starting quarterbacks are Black, including those in last year’s Super Bowl, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively. But as esteemed sports author and former Baltimore Sun sports columnist John Eisenberg demonstrates in “Rocket Men: The Black Quarterbacks Who Revolutionized Pro Football,” this is a relatively new development, one that really didn’t begin in earnest until the very end of last century. Indeed, throughout much of the sport’s history, NFL teams were loath to draft Black quarterbacks, clinging to the hideous, racist stereotype that, by virtue of their skin color, they were not suited to lead teams into battle. (Interestingly, one notable exception was John McKay, the father of Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay, who as Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach in the 1970s had a very progressive mindset.) In fact, it wasn’t until the late 1990s/early 2000s that there was a sea change when a new wave of dual-threat quarterbacks, headlined by Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick, entered the league, became embedded in American mainstream pop culture, (although in Vick’s case that, of course, was short-lived) and forever changed the dynamic of the game’s most critical position. And yet, as Eisenberg reasons, for all the tremendous gains made by Black quarterbacks over the past few decades, which can largely be attributed to trailblazing QBs Warren Moon (first Black quarterback to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame) and Doug Williams (first Black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl), subtle forms of discrimination still linger. Earlier this century, many Black quarterbacks getting recruited by top tier college programs, such as Atlanta native and eventual NFL MVP Cam Newton, were encouraged to slide over to wide receiver or running back. Curiously, the Chicago Bears in 2017 drafted a far less accomplished white quarterback, Mitchell Trubisky, now a veritable NFL journeyman, over the future Hall of Famer Mahomes. Even now, in the mid-2020s, there are relatively few Black players who are backup quarterbacks – a position that is often viewed as an extension of the coaching staff. “Rocket Men” is not only an evergreen sports history book that is particularly relevant to this NFL season with Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud taking the league by storm; its embedded narrative is, in many respects, a vivid illustration of how the civil rights movement carried over to the athletic fields.

line of an enduring friendship between two American folk heroes, who were in many ways polar opposites. Toward the end of “The Wingmen,” a finalist for the Casey Award, given to the year’s best baseball book, Lazarus quotes John Glenn as saying, “When you fly in combat with somebody, there’s a bond that runs so deep you cannot describe it.” Perhaps true, but Adam Lazarus nevertheless does one heck of a job chronicling it.

Rangers vs. Islanders by Stan Fischler and Zachary Weinstock Long considered America’s foremost hockey historian, Stan Fischler has devoted his entire professional life toward chronicling the wintry sport, initially as a publicist for the New York Rangers as a recent college grad in 1954 before turning to writing and broadcasting. These days, the 91-year-old New Yorker still serves as the resident hockey expert for MSG Networks. He’s also a rather prolific hockey author, having written over 90 books on the sport, including “Rangers vs. Islanders,” which he co-authored with Zachary Weinstock, an accomplished hockey writer in his own right. Originally published in 2016 but later updated in a new edition two years ago, “Rangers vs. Islanders” is a fun journey through a half-century-long Big Apple rivalry that has pitted two now championship-starved fan bases against one another. The Islanders last won a Stanley Cup in 1983, the apex of their dynastic 1980s run, while the Rangers haven’t hoisted the Cup since 1994. Through the years, as Fischler and Weinstock illustrate, the bad blood and frustration would manifest itself in fracases throughout Madison Square Garden and Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, often requiring a heightened security presence to subdue. While Fischler and his co-author Weinstock go into detail chronicling the classic Rangers-Islanders matchups through the years, the rivalry’s leading characters are brought to life. The stories of Denis Potvin, Mark Messier, Mike Bossy, Mike Richter, Mike Keenan, Al Arbour, and so many others are all chronicled. There’s also a fairly lengthy section on Adam Fox, the gifted New York Rangers defenseman who has a chance to become the most accomplished Jewish hockey player of all time. For the purposes of this book, it is notably ironic how Fox grew up on Long Island not far from Nassau Coliseum, but now stars for the Islanders’ Manhattan-based rival, of whom he was a diehard fan in childhood. Ultimately, after reading “Rangers vs. Islanders,” hockey fans will understand why the New York Islanders unveiled the Stan Fischler Press Level at their sparkling new home of UBS Arena last year. ì ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 35

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OPINION On Day 50, Some Good News S e v e n weeks ago, I did not know their names. S e v e n weeks ago, I did not know their faces. S e v e n weeks ago, I Dave Schechter knew nothing From Where I Sit about them. That changed after the Oct. 7 Hamas massacres in southern Israel, when I learned that 10 members of my extended family were missing from Kibbutz Be'eri, as were two others from Kibbutz Nir Oz. These cousins are descended from or connected by marriage to descendants of my great-grandfather's twin brother. Yisrael Schechter emigrated in 1882 from Romania to what then was part of the Ottoman Empire, where he helped found the town of Zichron Yaakov. Five generations later, there are more than a few hundred Schechter descendants in Israel. I met some of them — actually about 150 — at a family gathering in Israel in 1985 but did not maintain contact. That also changed. Since Oct. 7, I have added more than three dozen leaves to the family tree in my computer. In addition to tracking developments in the story, and reporting on Jewish Atlanta's response to the terror attacks and Israel's war against Hamas, I have paid particular attention to updates about the family members. I have written about them in this column and posted their pictures on social media platforms, with the hashtag #BringThemHome. The mother and daughter kidnapped while visiting Nir Oz, who live in the Chicago area, were released on Oct. 20. Six of the 10 at Be'eri were visiting from elsewhere in Israel on Oct. 7, taking advantage of the Sukkot holiday period. Ten days later, the bodies of three residents of Be'eri — two men and a woman, people roughly my age — were recovered and identified. Funerals were held for Eviatar Kipnis, z"l; his wife, Lilach Kipnis, z"l, and Avshalom Haran, z"l, while seven other family members, representing three generations, were held hostage in Gaza. Hopes for their freedom were raised with a negotiated pause in the war that included an agreement to exchange Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails for kidnapped Israelis and other foreign nationals held hostage in Gaza.

The first exchange took place Nov. 24. The next day — day 50, starting with Oct. 7 — 13 Israelis were released, among them six of the seven kidnapped family members. Freed were Avshalom Haran's wife, Shoshan (who is also Lilach's sister); their daughter, Adi Shoham, and grandchildren Yahel, 3, and Naveh, 8, along with Avshalom's sister, Sharon Avigdori and her daughter, Noam, 12. For weeks they have been faces on "Kidnapped" posters — such as those displayed on the bimah at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue and on the backs of empty chairs at a Shabbat table during an Oct. 30 vigil for the hostages. Seeing photographs and videos of them after their release was, to say the least, heartwarming. That joy was tempered by awareness that Tal Shoham, Adi's husband and Yahel's and Naveh's father, remains a hostage in Gaza. Contact with Israeli cousins has been a ray of light in this darkness. I have shared some of my columns with them and their messages have provided a glimpse of the strain caused by this ordeal. I have watched from afar as the extended family has mourned and —putting their pre-Oct. 7 lives on hold — devoted itself to the return of not only their relatives but all of the kidnapped. They kept the hostages front and center on social media and gave interviews to Israeli and foreign media. They were present as hostage families gathered near the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, in an area known as "Hostages Square." A film student produced a video about the missing family members, while another cousin became a leader as the families organized and marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to confront the government. Meeting two of the cousins at the Atlanta Press Club, where they and representatives of two other hostage families spoke, as part of a tour to raise public awareness in the United States, was an extraordinary and affecting coincidence. At the Ahavath Achim hostage vigil, Or Sella, whose father hosted the gathering that my wife and I attended those many years ago, said: Sooner than later, I’ll come back to being a musician and a music producer. All of us — and a lot of families in Israel . . . this is who we are, families of hostages.” Over the past seven weeks, the Israeli cousins — people whose names, faces, and lives previously were unknown to me — have become part of my life, professionally and personally, both expanding and enhancing the meaning of family. ì

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OPINION

Hope and Heartbreak in Israel I recently had the honor of leading a group of elected officials and policy leaders on a solidarity mission to Israel. Our experiMack W. Parnell ence was unGuest Contributor like any other trip I have led to the Holy Land, and we have a solemn obligation to share what we saw: hope and heartbreak, inspiration and destruction, helplessness and heroism, sorrow, and resolve. From landing at Ben-Gurion Airport, we saw hope and heartbreak. Posters of the more than 200 hostages lined the terminals, and the normally crowded airport seemed almost empty. Yet, when you look outside on to the tarmac, you see reason for hope: a large jet from a from the United Arab Emirates had

landed inspiring hope for peaceful and prosperous days ahead. In Kfar Aza, we saw inspiration and destruction. Wearing body armor, we walked the ruins of Hamas’ murderous rampage. House after house laid waste. Kfar Aza was one of the villages hit hardest on Oct. 7 with 58 of 400 residents murdered. The smell of burnt tires and death still permeate the town. We stood in the rubble of a house where a family of 5 was trapped and burned alive by radical jihadist terrorists. Coming out of the house, the courage of the Israel Defense Forces was evident and inspiring as they bring Hamas to justice. We heard and felt artillery and mortars as the IDF worked to destroy these monsters. In Tel Aviv at Captives Square, we saw helplessness and heroism. We met with families of those held hostage by Hamas. Shani Segal’s cousin, Rimon Kirsht, and husband, Yagev Buchshtav, were taken into Gaza. Shani has had no contact with them, but she has not given

in to the immense feelings of helplessness. She has worked nonstop to BRING THEM HOME. Shani shared her deep appreciation for the U.S. saying, “Israelis have always known Americans were our friends, but now we know America is our family.” She will not rest until they are all back. The families' efforts to bring their loved ones home are nothing short of heroic. In Yanuh-Jat, we saw sorrow and resolve. We mourned with Arab Israeli families from the Druze community, who lost soldiers in this fight against evil. The families of Lt. Col. Salman Habaka and Lt. Col. Elim Abdullah are united both in their overwhelming sorrow and their firm resolve for Israel to be victorious in this fight against evil. Back at Captives Square, Shani mentioned that she felt unqualified to be leading the effort to bring hostages home. It was my honor to remind her of the story of Esther, and that she was made for such a time as this.

Since its founding in 1948 as stated in her Declaration of Independence, the modern State of Israel has sought peace and prosperity for its neighbors at every turn. Time and time again, Israel’s pleas for mutual recognition and peace have been met with bloodshed, violence, and war. Coming home, we must be the voice for Israel and the Jewish people. As Christians, we are told that those that bless Israel will be blessed. Next week, the Faith & Freedom Coalition will be sending a letter from key leaders in the Christian community to Congress urging action on critical legislation supporting Israel and standing up to Iran. We will work to support Israel in churches, on college campuses, in media, and at the Federal, state, and local levels of government. Join us and stand with Israel. ì Mack W. Parnell is the Executive Director of the Georgia Faith & Freedom Coalition.

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OPINION

The Irony is Palpable O v e r the course of about 12 years (1933 – 1945), Nazi Germany and its collaborators established 44,000 camps concentration Rachel A. Elovitz camps, forced Guest Contributor labor camps, transit camps, prisoner-of-war camps, and killing centers. Dachau, the first concentration camp, opened outside of Munich in 1933 – and ran until its liberation in 1945. Among the early prisoners were German Communists, Socialists, and Social Democrats. Almost 80 years later, on October 8, 2023, the day after 1400 Israelis were butchered, raped, burned alive, and slaughtered by Hamas terrorists and 241 civilians were kidnapped, the American Democratic Socialists organized a rally in the Big Apple, at which “pro-Palestinians” stomped on Israeli flags. In facilitating the “Final Solution to the Jewish Question,” the Nazis, their allies and collaborators systematically murdered 6 million Jewish people, largely by gassing them in “showers” and with mass shootings. Almost 80 years later, on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists paraglided into a music festival and gang raped, butchered, and engaged in the mass shooting of 260 Israelis. That same day, Palestinian terrorists raided the kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, and bomb shelters of Israeli kibbutzniks, and blew up, mutilated, burned alive, and shot up Jewish civilians – men, women, and children. They kidnapped 241 Israeli civilians – infants whose parents they murdered, cancer patients in the middle of treatment, Shoah survivors, peace activists. Initially, the whole world seemed outraged, but within a matter of days, even members of the U.S. House of Representatives were shouting “Free Palestine” from megaphones. During WWII, there were 6 killing centers in the Nazi’s “Euthanasia Program.” At Auschwitz alone, the Birkenau killing center had four gas chambers, “the crematoria,” where an average of 6,000 Jews a day were gassed during the height of deportations between 1943 – 1944. A total of 2,772,000 Jews were murdered in these killing centers – and another 2 million in mass shootings across occupied Eastern Europe. Another 800,000 to 1,000,000 were murdered in ghettos, labor camps, and concentration camps, and at least 250,000 Jews were

killed in antisemitic riots, on forced marches, in cattle cars, ghettos, on ships. Even though these figures were calculated in part based on prewar and postwar documents created by the Nazis, almost 80 years later, there are still those who engage in Holocaust denial. And there are those who are already denying the atrocities committed against Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023, even though Hamas captives have admitted what they did – and wore body cams that government officials and journalists from all over the world have watched. In the late 1940s, secular kibbutzniks adopted an old rallying cry, “Never Again.” Never again would the Jewish community march to our deaths. Never again would we be exiled from our Jewish homeland. Never again would we be without a Jewish state or an army. Never again would the world sit by and watch our suffering and extermination, like America did when refugee ships were turned away from their shores – and when the State Department suppressed reports of mass killings. Americans could have screamed for its leaders to bomb the train tracks to the death camps and the gas chambers, but few did. America, like many of her allies, was largely indifferent to the genocide of Jews and by her (and their) apathy, even complicit. In the weeks following the events of Oct. 7, 2023, as Israel retaliated and invaded Gaza, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of London, Copenhagen, Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Istanbul – chanting “Ceasefire Now!” They bemoaned - as any caring person would - the horrible loss of civilian life in Gaza that resulted from a war that Hamas started and has openly celebrated. But these calls for a ceasefire have generally not included simultaneous calls for the Israeli hostages to be released. These “pro-Palestinian” protesters have falsely accused Israel of genocide, while marching with placards showing Stars of David being tossed into trashcans, literally calling for the ethnic cleansing of Jews. Interestingly, you never hear “pro-Palestinian” protesters accuse Hamas of genocide for refusing to allow their people to evacuate Gaza or for using them as human shields. In the last 12 years, 13 million civilians in Syria, half the Syrian population, have been displaced. More than 350,000 people have been killed – including over 20,000 children. But there is a dearth of human rights activists shouting about genocide from the streets of London,

Paris, and Istanbul. Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan in 2021, over a thousand civilians have been killed and 2,679 wounded, the majority of whom were killed by suicide bombings in mosques, markets, schools, and other public arenas. But there haven’t been any marches calling to “Free Afghanistan.” By the end of 2021, the war in Yemen had killed 377,000 people, nearly 15,000 civilians, often from targeted air strikes at civilian gatherings like weddings and in marketplaces. But there’s been no outcry from the Democratic Socialists, no rallies in New York, no marches in Marseille or Paris. If Israel or Jews are not involved, no one seems to care about dead Arabs or Muslims. Why is that? And if we are involved, then even when attacked, we are blamed for the resulting casualties. Is “Never Again” now? It is for the 300,000 or so demonstrators from across the U.S. who gathered for the March for Israel at the National Mall in Washing-

ton, D.C. on Nov. 14, 2023. It is for U.S. Congressmen and Senators like House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jefferies and Speaker Mike Johnson, who have been vocal in support of Israel and the Jewish people. It is for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who went to Tel Aviv to “express solidarity with the Israeli people “and for two-thirds of America and most of her European allies who immediately condemned the horrific atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct 7th and expressed solidarity with Israel. But, given concurrent calls for Israel’s annihilation from “the River to the Sea” that have flooded the streets of major cities across the globe, the ongoing denial of present and past atrocities committed against us, the celebration in the streets by Palestinians when we are slaughtered, we can never be complacent. Nazis still abound. So “Never Again” is definitely now. ì Rachel A. Elovitz is an attorney in Atlanta, Ga., and a member on the board of the Atlanta Israel Coalition.

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Night 1 Thursday Dec 7th Chabad hall county

5:00 PM

Flowery Branch Amphitheater 5603 Mitchell Street Flowery Branch, GA, 30542

Chabad of North Fulton

5:00 PM

Town Green at City Center 2 Park Plaza Alpharetta, GA 30009

Chabad of Smyrna & Vinings

5:30 PM

Happy Chanukah

wishes you

Chanukah Night 4 Sunday Dec 10th

The Battery Atlanta 800 Battery Ave SE Atlanta, GA 30339

Chabad of Augusta

6:00 PM

Evans Town Center Park 7016 Evans Town Center Blvd, Evans, GA 30809

Chabad of Rural Georgia

4:30 PM

Colombus 11th St & Broadway Ave Columbus, GA 31901

Chabad Toco Hills

5:00 PM

Toco Hills Promenade 2945 N Druid Hills Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30329

Chabad Decatur

5:30 PM

Tower Green (avondale Estates) 64 N Avondale Rd. Avondale Estates, GA 30002

Chabad of Dunwoody

Chabad of Forsyth

The Lawn at Ashford Lane 4500 Olde Perimeter Way Dunwoody, GA

Dahlonega City Center 465 Riley Road. Dahlonega, GA 30533

Chabad of gwinnett

Halcyon 6365 Halcyon Way Alpharetta, GA 30005

5:30 PM

4:00 PM

Chabad atlanta/ CBT

8:00 pm

Fowling Warehouse Atlanta 1356 English St NW Atlanta, GA 30318

Chabad of Cobb

Chabad of Hall County

The Avenue East Cobb 4475 Roswell Rd Marietta, GA 30062

Gainesville Square 104 Main Street Southwest Gainesville, GA, 30501

Chabad of Buckhead

4:30 PM

Chabad of North Fulton

5:00 PM

Chabad Israeli Center

5:15 PM

blackburn park 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Rd NE, Brookhaven, GA 30319

Chabad of peachtree city

3:15 PM

lake kedron park & boat ramp 420 N Peachtree Pkwy Peachtree City, GA 30269

4:00 PM

Drake field 151 Willow Bend Rd, Peachtree City, GA 30269 40 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

5:00 PM

The Forum 5145 Peachtree Pkwy STE 455 Peachtree corners, GA 30092

Avalon- near Apple store 8130 Avalon Boulevard Alpharetta, GA 30009

Night 3 Saturday Dec 9th

3:00 PM

5:00 PM

4:30 PM

Buckhead village district 3035 Peachtree Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30305

Chabad Toco Hills

5:30 PM

TDSA 1985 Lavista Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329

Chabad of Savannah/ Scad

3:30 PM

Bandshell at Forsyth Park Drayton St and E Park Ave Savannah, GA 31401

Night 5 Monday Dec 11th

Night 6 tuesday Dec 12th

Chabad of Georgia

Chabad Intown

HAWKS: State farm arena 60 Centennial Olympic Park Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30303

North Highland Park 780 North Highland Avenue Northeast Atlanta GA 30306

6:00 PM

7:30 PM

Chabad of North Fulton

Chabad Rural Georgia

5:00 PM

5:00 PM

Broadwell Pavilion 12615 Broadwell Rd Milton, GA

Cartersville Municipal Court 10 N Public Square Cartersville, GA

Chabad of Smyrna & Vinings

5:00 PM

Chabad of Gwinnett

Chabad Rural Georgia

The Landing- City of Sugar Hill 5029 W Broad St. Sugar Hill, GA 30518

B"H

Brawner Hall Smyrna 3180 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30080

6:00 PM

4:30 PM

Hiawassee town Square 19 S Main St Hiawassee, GA 30546

B'H

Chabad of Kennesaw/ KSU

Night 7 wednesday Dec 13th Chabad intown

6:00 PM

Atlantic Green 1380 Atlantic Drive Atlanta GA 30363

Chabad of Rural Georgia

5:00 PM

Forsyth Court House 1 Courthouse Square, Forsyth, GA 31029

Chabad of Gwinnett

7:00 PM

Suwanee City Hall 330 Town Center Ave Suwanee, GA 30024

Chabad of Kennesaw/ KSU

5:30 PM

City hall 2529 J.O. Stephenson Ave, Kennesaw, GA 30144

6:00 PM

Logan farm park 4405 Cherokee St, Acworth, GA 30101

Night 8 thursday Dec 14th Chabad intown

6:00 PM

The Yard at PCM 675 Ponce de Leon Ave Atlanta, GA 30308

Chabad of North fulton & Downtown roswell

5:30 PM

The Heart of Roswell Park 925 Canton St Roswell, GA

CYP Buckhead

8:30 PM

Thirty 30 Irby Ave. Atlanta, GA 30305

Chabad Rural Georgia

6:30 PM

Robins AFB 2739 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins, GA 31093

Chabad of Gwinnett

7:00 PM

Lawrenceville City Hall 70 S Clayton St Lawrenceville, GA 30046

For more information go to Chabadga.com/chanukah ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 41

CHANUKAH Chabad Menorah Parades, Lightings, and Gelt Drops By Chana Shapiro Chabad is widely acclaimed for its unique community Chanukah celebrations, which include menorah parades and menorah-lightings with “gelt drops” in local squares throughout Atlanta. Join friends for these events which will add fun to the holiday and make you proud when a giant menorah is lit in your neighborhood. Intown Chabad will host four festive public menorah lightings. They include a celebration on Sunday, Dec. 10, in Decatur Square between 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., another on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at Virginia Highland’s North Highland Park between 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., one on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in Atlantic Station on the Green from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and yet another on Thursday, Dec. 14, between 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ponce City Market on the Yard at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. (call 404-898-0434 or check admin@chabadintown.org for details). On Sunday, Dec. 10, Chabad of Cobb will sponsor a menorah lighting and Chanukah celebration at The Avenue in East Cobb between 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., with menorah lighting at 5:30. A “Chanukah gelt drop” from a helicopter will be the main feature, among other family-friendly activities which include music, treats and glowsticks. (Call 770-565-4412 for more information). On Thursday, Dec. 7, Chabad of Toco Hills will host a Grand Menorah Lighting at the Toco Hills Promenade at 2969 N. Druid Hills at 6 p.m. Bring the family to celebrate between 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for a gelt drop, activity booths, food, music, crafts, and inflatables. Chabad invites students on Atlanta campuses of Emory, Kennesaw, and Georgia State/Georgia Tech to gather for menorah lightings and Chanukah treats. The popular university events welcome non-students from surrounding areas to join the Chanukah festivities. For the best information about dates and times, call: Emory Chabad at 404-441-3199; GA State/ GA Tech Chabad at 678-304-8672; or Kennesaw Chabad at 770-400-9255. In addition to the public Chanukah menorah lightings held on campuses and in town squares throughout the city, the most iconic events are the trademark Chabad motorcades, in which convoys of private vehicles drive through different parts of Atlanta. All cars and vans will be decorated with large menorahs on their roofs, and many vehicles will be equipped 42 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Area Chabads have several events planned this Chanukah season.

Menorah lightings are always a highlight of Chanukah season.

There's usually tasty treats provided at area Chabad Chanukah parades.

to amplify Chanukah music. Most of the parades lead to public menorah-lighting, food, gelt drops, and family festivities. Don’t miss the following Chabad Menorah Parades and join the community Chanukah menorah lightings. Congregation Beth Israel in Dahlonega is planning a Chanukah Menorah Mo-

torcade on Sunday, Dec. 10. Vehicles will start from the Dahlonega City Center in Forsyth County. They then continue, with a police escort, along I-400, and end with a public menorah lighting at the Halcyon Village Green in Alpharetta. The parade leaves Dahlonega at 3:30 p.m. Contact rabbi@jewishforsyth.org or call

Check out this year's schedule to find a Chanukah parade near you.

Light the fire this year at one of Chabad's Chanukah parades throughout Metro Atlanta.

470-253-7111 for details. Chabad of Peachtree City will host the annual Golfcart Menorah Parade, which starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, and will make its way along a paved path through the city’s golf course, over the lake, ending at the park behind the City Hall for a community menorah

CHANUKAH

Chanukah season is all about the parades and menorah lightings.

Chanukah parades are set throughout Atlanta this holiday season.

NEURO CARE

Congregation Bet Haverim flew the flags high at a previous Chanukah event.

It's beginning to sound a lot like Chanukah...everywhere you listen.

lighting, gelt drop, hot chocolate, latkes, and doughnuts at 5 p.m. Many Jewish Peachtree City residents own golf carts which they decorate with roof menorahs for the festival, and the parade is open to all golf cart drivers or renters who wish to participate. There may be golf carts to borrow. Contact Shternie Lew at 678-5959277 for more information. On Sunday, Dec. 10, Chabad of Toco Hills will host a parade of vehicles with cartop menorahs that will travel through the meandering streets of the Toco Hills neighborhood. Meet at Torah Day School of Atlanta at 5:30 p.m. This year, celebrate Chanukah Jew-

ish Heritage Night on Monday, Dec. 11, at a halftime menorah lighting ceremony, when the Atlanta Hawks meet the Denver Nuggets at State Farm Arena. A Chanukah night ticket package includes a $10 food and beverage credit redeemable inside State Farm Arena (kosher food options are available for purchase) as well as entrance into the Hawks Fan Experience Raffle. For general questions call 404-878-3839; for the Chanukah night package, check out hawkspromos.com/ menorah. ì Note: All event times and dates are subject to change. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 43

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The Fragility and Splash of Glass By Marcia Caller Jaffe Retired art teacher Renee Karchmer has found her niche in glass design, fusion, and slumped glass in her RK Glass Designs where she is passionate about the beauty of glass and its possibilities in dramatic contrasts and colors. Especially this time of year, Karchmer cannot produce enough of her Judaic glass line, and said, “I take a particular interest in making menorah display pieces, as Chanukah is a special family holiday for us. I also enjoy incorporating Judaic images into plates and platters, which are best sellers. Menorahs are actually made from glass shards to arrive at its branch-like images.” Karchmer spent her childhood in Jacksonville, where she loved anything art related. As a young girl, she designed doll clothes and made the most of a drawer of construction paper, crayons, scissors, and glue that her mother kept stocked for her artistic daughter. After high school, Renee enrolled at the University of Georgia to pursue her major in art education which allowed a long-term career in sharing her talent with others. Over the course of teaching in the DeKalb County School System for 27 years, Karchmer exposed her students to different art forms, techniques, and theories while practicing her own drawing and ceramics skills. After she retired, she became a regular at the Spruill Center for the Arts in Dunwoody. She started with what she knew - ceramics classes. After a few short years, Renee decided to explore fused and slumped glass where she ultimately landed. She stated, “I am drawn to the beautiful colors and the process of glass fusion. Over time, I’ve created various types of glass pieces: display plates, plates, bowls, jewelry, and platters.” Most of Karchmer’s glass pieces are utilitarian, and all are food safe. She says, “When I am immersed in art, I have nothing else on my mind. It’s my time to lose myself in any art activity.” Back in the studio, she starts by examining various glass pieces envisioning how to assemble them into a work of art. After selecting a sheet of “starting” glass, Karchmer cuts this base sheet into a shape: a circle, rectangle, square, or something more organic. From there, she lets the colors and textures inspire her. After creating a design, the glass piece is fired in a kiln to fuse the glass pieces to the base glass. Then, the piece is set on 44 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Renee Karchmer spends her time at the Spruill Center for the Arts in Dunwoody coming up with unique designs.

Karchmer’s menorahs are composed of glass shards subject to her imagination.

a mold and fired again to “slump” to the shape of the mold. This results in a bowl, platter, night light, or plate. Amber, lime, and shades of blue and aqua are frequent

Star of David is 10” by 10” and a best seller.

color palettes, but occasionally Karchmer uses crimson or white. The process of “slumping” places the glass over a mold at high temperatures.

The slumping of a pyrometric cone is often used to measure kiln temperature, in heating over a shape or even a 3D object. The more water is used, the higher

CHANUKAH

Beatrix Potter

Drawn to Nature

The platter has a dreamy “water feel” separated by a gold bar.

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Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

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A V&A Exhibition–Touring the World Beatrix Potter (British, 1866–1943), Mrs. Rabbit pouring out the tea for Peter while her children look on, 1907, watercolor and ink over pencil on paper, Victoria and Albert Museum, Linder Bequest, BP.468. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London, courtesy of Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd.

Renee uses lime to contrast with intense royal blue.

This turquoise plate suggests a candy/heart theme.

the risks of cracking. “Fusing” focuses on combining glass into one piece vs. the reshaping achieved through slumping. Karchmer achieves contrast by using “irid” glass that provides a sparkle and glow. Irid has a thin metallic coating on one surface in the most common colors for fusible glass in gold, silver, and rainbow. Some have pattern effects. She also uses “fritted” material, which is printed with ink, resulting in ultra small particles of ground-up glass. RK Glass Designs participates in local shows where Karchmer oversees and displays her work. Prices range from $10 to $100, with many in the $45 range for her one-of-a-kind treasures. Karchmer said, “I am not doing this to make a living. I want to make my work affordable.” A member of Temple Sinai, Karchmer shares a creative verve with her daughter and granddaughter, and said, “But each in our own way.” For more information, visit rkarchmer@comcast. net or call 770-396-3195. ì

From Our AJA Family To Yours Chanukah Sameach! ‫חנוכה שמח‬

With Prayers for Peace & Light ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 45

CHANUKAH

Chanukah Bazaar at Or Ve Shalom a Big Success By Bob Bahr This year’s annual Chanukah bazaar at Congregation Or Ve Shalom, the Sephardic synagogue on North Druid Hills Road in Brookhaven, welcomed one of the largest crowds in its history. The synagogue’s parking lot was closed to most visitors shortly after the 11 a.m. opening. Parking spaces on surrounding streets were also in short supply. The slow-moving line for the Sephardic lunch snaked around the crowded social hall as the patient but hungry crowd waited 30 minutes or more to savor the traditional Mediterranean menu. And, if you didn’t pre-order take-out of the burekas, the savory pastries that the synagogue’s Sisterhood prepare each Tuesday and freeze for the annual event, you could be out of luck. They also sold out of thousands of the Sephardic snacks that had been stocked away, although as a consolation, you could still pick up a sack of bunelos, the traditional Chanukah treat. It once was a familiar sight at this time of year

46 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Hanukkah Veronica, The Mitzvah Fairy, was on hand to help sell books and rag dolls.

in the Jewish community of Turkey or the island of Rhodes, off the coast of Greece, where many of the early congregants of the synagogue were born. And if the food was traditional, so was the participation of some of the synagogue’s older congregants. Eighty-

The flyers of the many Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza papered the wall behind the display for the congregation’s gift shop.

five-year-old Albert Baroccas was wearing his red and blue Super Sephardic Superman T-shirt as he helped out in the main exhibit hall. The retired physician and surgeon who came from Cuba in the 1950s and who still speaks Ladino, the language of the Sephardic Jews of the

Mediterranean, was lending a hand in the main exhibit hall. A spry and still physically active Dan Maslia at 91 was overseeing the cashier’s table for the food line. Occasionally, he would sprint to the lobby to check on the sale of raffle tickets for the large se-

CHANUKAH

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Albert Baroccas, who’s been a member of the synagogue since he arrived from Cuba in the 1950s, proclaimed himself a Super Sephardic.

Getting her face painted for the Chanukah bazaar was 2-year-old Lila Sella.

Eighty-nine-year-old Grace Benator, a lifelong member of Congregation Or Ve Shalom, still works at the bazaar.

lection of wines and liquors and the lavish gift baskets that were available. And, 89-year-old Grace Benator, who with her late husband, Asher, headed the committee that raised the money for the present synagogue over 45 years ago was working one of the raffle tables. Coincidentally, her name and her husband’s name were prominently inscribed on the wall facing her, in tribute to their leadership of a fundraising campaign from years past to endow a new Torah scroll. She still drives the 10 miles or so each way from her home each week to fold and stuff the burekas that the Sisterhood creates for the annual event, rain or shine. The noted food writer, Joan Nathan, had written about her and the other “bureka ladies” of the synagogue for a lengthy story in the New York Times a few years back. Benator didn’t think there was anything unusual, at her age, to be spending a Sunday afternoon helping to raise money for the synagogue one more time. It was, she noted, a place after a lifetime of joyful participation that felt just like home. There were also plenty of younger faces at the bazaar. Two-year-old Lila Sella was getting her face painted in the children’s area off the main social hall, while a lengthy line of small youngsters waited patiently for their turn to be made up. Not far away, another young face was

dressed as Hanukkah Veronica, the Mitzvah Fairy. She was helping sell rag dolls modeled after the main character in the book written by Julie Anne Cooper and Wendy Brant, that was also being sold as a Chanukah gift in the main hall. For adults, there were plenty of handmade craft and jewelry items and more than a few Chanukah menorahs for sale. The executive director of the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America had a table as well. He represented the umbrella organization that’s based in Forest Hill, N.Y., of the several dozen Sephardic synagogues that still remain active in this country. And, if you were interested in a prepaid burial plan, Eddie Dressler of Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care was there to help. If you needed a free, fully annotated Jewish calendar, a reminder, perhaps, of the limited time we all have, he could provide one of those as well. Roni Robbins was autographing copies of her prize-winning novel based on her grandfather’s life, just next to a large display of Judaica from the synagogue’s gift shop. The wall behind the same one was covered with posters of the 240 hostages that had been taken by Hamas terrorists when they invaded Southern Israel on Oct. 7. It was a reminder, if one was needed, that this year’s Chanukah which, for all its gaiety, had a darker side, too. ì

Happy Hanukkah &

Chag Sameach!

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 47

CHANUKAH

Sparks of Light Will Fly Over Ahavath Achim By Debbie Diamond Ahavath Achim Synagogue (AA) will celebrate Chanukah with a big bang again this year during its annual Sparks of Light festivities on Dec. 10. For the fifth year in a row, the evening will feature a magnificent, colorful, and loud fireworks display in the sky above the front lawn at one of Atlanta’s most venerable synagogues. Wayne Neuwirth, a longtime congregant, and volunteer will light up the night with his pyrotechnical wizardry. “Sparks of Light is a huge night for our congregation. At a time when it would be easy for Chanukah to be overshadowed by the negative events happening in the world, we have a fireworks display that will literally blow it out of the water for all who attend. I know that big memories are created each year during this incredible evening,” said Rabbi Lawrence Rosenthal, senior rabbi of AA Synagogue. The event is well-attended by both congregants and their extended families, as well as other Jewish community members. Last year, close to 250 people attended the night’s festivities. The evening begins with a variety of Chanukahthemed crafts and activities for children, followed by performances from each of the Sunday school classes. There is also a menorah lighting and dinner for all attendees. And then it’s time for the bright lights and loud noises. Neuwirth, who has been fascinated by fireworks all his life, says the show is his gift to a synagogue family he loves dearly -- and judging from congregant sentiment, the community loves him right back. Neuwirth personally plans, funds, and launches all of the fireworks himself. “Congregants have offered to help sponsor the fireworks, but I tell them I want to do it all and wouldn’t have it any other way. AA is extra special to me and my family. I live to see the smiles on people’s faces, particularly the kids,” he says. Neuwirth, a regular Shabbat and holiday attendee, grew up at AA with his parents, Barbara and Herb Neuwirth, and brother, Glenn. His wife, Sara Fran, and daughters, Lauren and Dana, are also active in the shul and known for their welcoming presence, volunteerism and willingness to jump in and help, even at a moment’s notice. Whether leading shiva services for congregants who have lost a loved one or handing out candy to kids every Shabbat, Neuwirth is recognized by synagogue 48 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Fireworks during Sparks of Light delight and amaze attendees each year at Ahavath Achim synagogue.

Neuwirth family at Disney Paris last month.

(Right) Congregant Bonnie Levine dressed up as Wayne Neuwirth (left), with him at the synagogue’s Purim celebration.

members not only for his devotion to Judaism and his benevolent spirit, but also for his colorful personality and unique interests. He rarely attends Saturday services without donning a colorful suit or sport jacket, along with his signature Mardi Gras beads, which he has accumulated over 25 years spent at the festivals in New Orleans. As far as his colorful clothes, Neuwirth mentions he often selects them based on a specific occasion, such as his strawberry sport jacket to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness Month or the pumpkin orange suit for Halloween. In spring and summer, he sports white spats to complement his outfits. “Wayne is his own person and most definitely a nonconformist,” says Gary Alembik, the current president of the congregation.” He brings joy and happiness to our services and events, and I have a lot of respect for the passion he brings to prayer,” he adds. Though Neuwirth says nothing compares to his commitment to Judaism, he has three other passions –amusement parks, Halloween, and Mardi Gras. Some of his friends, in fact, call them his “obsessions.” Almost every Sunday, Neuwirth can be found at Six Flags Over Georgia, frequently accompanied by AA congregants and their children. He has helped several families at the shul map out their own visits to Disney World in

order to maximize their time at the park. At Six Flags, Neuwirth is known by staffers and his cadre of fans as “Mr. Six.” His six-year-old granddaughter, Charleigh, is his frequent companion these days, and his children were raised visiting amusement parks around the country during every vacation break. Neuwirth says his favorite park is Disney Paris, which he visited this past October with his family. As for his other passions, Halloween and Mardi Gras, each holiday has a room in his East Cobb home dedicated to it. At Halloween, neighborhood children save his house for last, knowing the visit will be festive and fun, not to mention a little scary. Wife, Sara Fran, says of his interests, “Wayne enjoys collecting and buying all these decorative items around town and collects the Mardi Gras décor when he attends Mardi Gras each year. He has such fun installing his new purchases, and that keeps him happy. And what’s more, it keeps him busy with lots to do!” And while Neuwirth lays tefillin and prays every day, studies Torah, keeps kosher and never misses a Shabbat or holiday service, he does not see his interest in Mardi Gras and Halloween as contrary to his religious observance. “Interestingly, the first King of Carnival at Mardi Gras in New Orleans was Lewis J. Solomon, a Jewish man who was a member of the

Rex krewe. Both Halloween and Mardi Gras are about giving, bringing people together and making them happy. Experiencing joy is a central tenet in Judaism, and I love being able to create these moments for others,” says Neuwirth. Neuwirth’s “krewe” at AA appreciates his contributions at the synagogue. Director of Education Annsley Klehr calls him “brilliant and creative, always coming up with great ideas for the synagogue that reflect his passionate interests.” According to Klehr, Neuwirth spends months planning what she calls “the spectacular, professionally staged fireworks show.” Rabbi Rosenthal has also embraced the innovative, lively, and fun events at the shul as it continues to evolve to meet members’ interests. According to Rabbi Rosenthal, “We are glad the community can see something big coming out of AA. Our congregation continues to grow, and we have experienced a rebirth due in large part to offering this type of dynamic programming. People are coming back to their family’s roots at AA, along with many newcomers who want to be part of all that is happening here at the synagogue.” To learn more and register for Sparks of Light, please visit www.aasynagogue.org/event/sparks-of-light-3/. Full security will be on-site throughout the event. ì

CHANUKAH

Selling Sizzling Latkes with Love By Marcia Caller Jaffe Karen Lulka Tenenbaum grew up in an Ashkenazi family in Mexico City as one of three daughters. After attending Jewish Day school, she did a gap year in Israel working at kibbutz Maale Hahamish near Jerusalem and traversing the hills, deserts, countryside, and cities. Tenenbaum met her husband, Jay, on JDate, and they were married in the summer of 2005 in Mexico City. She exclaimed, “It was so joyous, and we were even featured in the AJT Simcha section that year!” But did Jay already know you could make a yummy fried latke? Now selling matzoh balls and latkes out of her Morningside home, Tenenbaum gives tips and directions on how to get her golden latticed “coins.” She said, “My customers say what makes my latkes different is that they really are right on point: not too chewy, not too crusty, not too salty, and not too sweet.” But how does one grate all those ‘taters’? Tenenbaum began cooking in earnest in 2008. Upon moving to the U.S., she became a Food Network fan and watched every episode of “Chopped,” “Beat Bobby Flay,” “Iron Chef,” and various favorite chefs. She stated, “This took my love of cooking to a new level, and I began adapting recipes from various sources. My family likens me to a Cordon Bleu graduate! Once I came to Atlanta, my husband’s aunt, Fay Tenenbaum, ‘The Cake Lady,’ made the most amazing latkes that we enjoyed every year at the big Tenenbaum family Chanukah party.” Thus, Karen set out to make her own secret recipe: combining/borrowing ideas from family members and favorites like Ina Garten. Latkes and matzoh ball preparation have long been in her family. Back in Mexico, she made them with her mother, where instead of apple sauce, they sprinkled sugar on top which now their kids, Alex, and Mia, 15, replicate. “Latkes are not just for holidays, but also for whenever the craving hits,” they said. After bringing her latkes to several parties over the years, many of her friends thought they were “to die for” and suggested that she sell them online each year. Tenenbaum agreed, “So I decided, why not? I’m a stay-at-home mom and I love to cook!” Her matzoh balls got the same reac-

Karen’s latkes are known to be just the right combo of salt, sweet, chewy, and crusty.

Karen Tenenbaum brought many of her family’s recipes from Mexico City to the U.S. to combine with her Food Network inspirations.

tion and she started selling them in 2022. As far as marketing her new specialties, “That first year, we posted on Facebook and asking for orders - we sold maybe 10 dozen. The next year, almost all my customers reordered, and another 10 people ordered.” In terms of the cooking process, Tenenbaum states that it’s extremely labor intensive, as she peels, mixes and mixes, then fries and fries for hours. She said, “Luckily, my kids help, and I have acquired all the right cooking essentials to handle these orders. I start about four weeks before Chanukah, and each day I’ll make five or six dozen which I freeze. I found out that after freezing, they come out amazing, just like fresh. The week of Chanukah is frantic. We make batch after batch, we keep the doors and windows open to dissipate the delicious smell, and yes, it gets a little crazy.”

Karen specifies starting with Russett potatoes for a crispy exterior and soft inside.

Tenenbaum labels the cooking process as labor intensive.

Priced at $25 per dozen, the latkes are packaged with heating instructions as they come frozen. Customers can come to Morningside to pick up or arrange a convenient spot. Tenenbaum enjoys that part. “I love meeting all my customers! People have asked if latkes are available year-round,

but I have not taken that big step yet. I think I might for my 5-year customers, so many have become new friends. I do sell my matzoh balls at Pesach!” Husband, Jay, still posts on Facebook to his 2,500 friends. To order, visit www.fs4.formsite. com/pF8SZ3/zsougqwu93/index ì

Tenenbaum’s Helpful Tips Use Russet potatoes because they add to softness inside and crunchiness outside. Use canola oil and get it hot but not “crazy” hot. Then drain the mixture well so there is barely any water dripping. Fry for approximately 5 or 6 minutes each side but rely mainly on the eye to watch for just the right color before removing. Lay on paper towels for at least an hour before wrapping and freezing.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 49

CHANUKAH

Hanukkah It is an eight day Jewish celebration, Commemorating The Second Temple Rededication. This fun holiday begins on the 25th of Kislev, with the downing of the sun. Kindled hanukkiahs and colorful swirling dreidels, Are integral symbols of our Light Festival. It dates back to 200BC when King Antiochus outlawed the Jewish religion. A revolt ensued and desecration of the Second Temple occurred, in the Jerusalem region. The Greek Army was vast. Judah Maccabee and men miraculously ousted those heathens! The second victory was for the Israel spirit, No more Greek paganism. The Jewish faith in God is implicit. The Second Temple must be rebuilt! The 7 branched, gold menorah must be relit! The rebuilding of The Second Temple included the lighting of the menorah. Enhancing the Temple with light, is a preformed mitzvah. Their one day supply of holy oil was a dilemma, The emerged eight day miracle is the crux of Hanukkah! “Hanukkah! Oh Hanukkah! Come light the menorah...” The mitzvah of Hanukkah is to light the menorah and display its lights, Thus publicizing our ancient miracle that lasted eight days and nights. The early hanukkiahs were made of stone and clay, The one vesseled, oil menorah was placed outside the front doorway. Candles were introduced in 18th Century Europe, They were cleaner and inexpensive. The 8 holders and shamas, the Germans developed. It is filled with jelly or topped with apple sauce and sour cream, But, it is the oil that ranks supreme! Fried sufganiyot and latkes are traditional foods for Hanukkah, To symbolize the miraculous Maccabean oil menorah. “I had a little dreidel ~ I made it out of clay...” “A great miracle happened here!” “A great miracle happened there!” Hebrew letters of shin, hei, nun and gimel, A great significance for our little dreidel! Put in, take half, none or all, depending what the dreidel “dealt”. Bills, coins or chocolate, we all love Hanukkah gelt! In Hanukkah around the world, our beautifully unique menorahs shine so brilliantly! To symbolize both miracles; the physical and spiritual victories. Through out the ages, in times that are darkest and gloomy, Our Jewish light is never quenched! Our inner spiritual strength endures so emphatically! Chag Urim Sameach! Happy Hanukkah Lovingly Composed By Sheri Rosenblum December 2, 2018 50 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 51

CHANUKAH

How is the Israel-Hamas War reminiscent of Chanukah, when the Maccabee Jews regained control of Jerusalem and rededicated the Temple for you? For our Chanukah holiday issue, we invited members of our community to share their responses.

Joe Alterman The great drummer Art Blakey once said, “Music washes away the dust of everyday life,” and ever since the darkness of October 7th, this statement has, for me, never rang more true. As a Jew, I have never felt more “other” than I do now, and as I pray for the day when everyone’s humanity and mutual desire to be happy and loved is what brings us most together, never in my life have I been so excited for those first few notes on the stage, which has truly become a treasured refuge away from a troubled world. It’s in times like these that I’m drawn to the piano, feeling deeply what Leonard Bernstein wrote: “This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before.” I often see firsthand the magical capacity music has to bring polarized people together, and it’s times like this that I’m grateful for the existence of music, the arts, and my role as a musician. I’m reminded of what philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said: “Without music, life would be a mistake,” which I’ve always interpreted this as “Music is proof that life is not a mistake.” These days, I appreciate that reminder. In my work at Neranenah, I often discuss the question “What Is Jewish Music?,” and while many think Jewish Music is music in a minor key, to me, the “Jewish move” is music that starts in a minor key and ends in a major key (think Gershwin’s “Summertime,” for example); it goes from sad to happy or, as some say, “from oy to joy.” There’s an unfathomable amount of sadness in Jewish history and music, but there’s always hope alongside it too. To me, the beautiful melody of Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah” - which actually translates to “The Hope” - is a great example of this. It captures the intricate dance of darkness and hope, and resonates deeply with many, especially in times of strife. “Hatikvah” predates the state of Israel and was sung in the darkest corners of concentration camps, yet its message of hope remains unwavering. Hanukkah is the holiday of light, and while I don’t have answers, solutions or news to offer, music is my light and I want to encourage you to find yours and lean more into it. We need more light these days! Joe Alterman is the executive director of Neranenah Concert and Culture Series, formerly known as the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival.

Rabbi Peter S. Berg Light A Candle

Since the bloody Hamas attack on Israel on the seventh of October and the explosion of antisemitism that has followed, we have all dedicated our hearts and lives to both the State of Israel and to becoming our best, most authentic Jewish selves in Atlanta. Light is a perfect metaphor for that kind of dedication. The adage “don’t curse darkness, light a candle” – reminds us that only when the light of dedication burns brightly within us, can we hope to see through the dreary darkness of the challenges all around us. Chanukkah gives us the opportunity to reflect on the courage of those whose dedication helped us preserve Judaism from extinction. Had the Hasmonean family, Mattathias and his sons, chosen the more cautious path, Judaism would likely have been suspended by Hellenism and perished. What they realized is that the very survival of Judaism demanded that they act immediately and decisively, outnumbered or not. If they waited, it would be too late. They seized the moment and made sure the flame of Judaism would never be extinguished. When one candle lights another, the one that contributes to the flame is not diminished by its gift. It continues to burn brightly while the recipient bursts forth with a flame of its own. The light is doubled. So it is with dedication – dedication to Israel and dedication to our Jewish community in Atlanta. The more we contribute, the more darkness is dispelled, and the more light is created. Far from being diminished, dedicated doers seem to increase their own commitment even as they inspire dedication in others. The real miracle of Chanukkah is not the tiny cruse of oil that lasted for eight days but rather the dedicated few who could conquer the apathy of the many, ... and in the process, fan the faint spark into a sustainable flame. Now is the time to dedicate ourselves, in the spirit of the Maccabees, to preserving and strengthening our Jewish future. In this horrific hour, let us be courageous and dedicated modern Maccabees. Rabbi Peter Berg is the Senior Rabbi of The Temple, Atlanta Ga. 52 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHANUKAH Bonnie and Chuck Berk Hanukkah is a perfect time for us to step back, especially in these troubled times, and think about re-dedicating ourselves to higher aspirations. Who would have thought that in our lifetime we’d experience a massacre that could be compared with the Holocaust, ... or antisemitism on such a large scale. Hanukkah prompts us to reflect on our people’s quest over thousands of years for freedom and human dignity and it reminds us of our values and what our responsibilities are to our friends, family, and fellow men. We just returned from visiting our children and grandchildren in Colorado and we felt it our obligation to sit with them and reinforce and educate them about Israel’s history and why it’s crucial for us to embrace Israel. We bought each of them an Israel Bond, a way to show support and connect with our tradition. As Jews, we have an obligation to be a light unto the world by stressing the teachings, or “light” of the Torah and doing Mitzvahs, but we also have a duty to bring light to others who may walk in darkness. Chuck Berk is local co-chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition with his wife, Bonnie.

Cary Blumenfeld You guys know me! I am thankful to be a Jew. Period. It’s scary right now. We don’t know what is going to happen and how long this will last, but in the end, we have each other. We are stronger together, stronger than any hate that comes at us. Am Yisrael Chai! Cary Blumenfeld is managing partner and associate broker at Method Real Estate Advisors.

Delilah Cohen Chanukah, the holiday that brings us much light, serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination of the Jewish people. Just as the Maccabee Jews fought against oppression and regained control of Jerusalem, the Israel-Hamas war highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom and self-determination. Chanukah teaches us the importance of perseverance and the power of hope. The miracle of the oil burning for eight days, is the triumph of light over darkness. Similarly, amidst the chaos and destruction of war, we must hold on to the belief that peace and justice will prevail. We must remember the significance of unity and solidarity. Just as the Maccabees united the Jewish community to fight for their freedom, we must continue to stand together in support of Israel and speak up, educate, and stay strong in our values and beliefs. It is crucial to recognize that this conflict is about the right of a nation to exist and defend itself against those who seek its destruction. It is to grant us global freedom from evil, violence, aggression, barbarism and antisemitism. As Chanukah approaches, we have much hope. In the face of adversity, we must find inspiration in the stories of our ancestors and their triumphs. Let us draw strength from their courage and work towards a future where peace and coexistence can flourish. May the lights of Chanukah guide us toward a world where conflicts are resolved through dialogue and understanding, and where the Jewish people can live in peace and security not only in Israel but around the world. May the light shine on the hostages that have been released, and may they continue to be released until they are all home safely. May our soldiers be successful in their mission, and may they also return home safely. Amen! #ReleaseThemAllHome #StrongerTogether #AmIsraelChai Delilah Cohen is a founder of Hear For U, The D. Cohen Academy and The Joe Cohen ORT Honey Packing, a JNF-USA Atlanta Board member, and a Yom HaZikaron – Israel Memorial Day co-Chair.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 53

CHANUKAH Cheryl Dorchinsky Recently, I had the privilege of volunteering in Israel with “momentum” on their mother supporting mother’s mission. There were 20 mothers of lone soldiers from around the world, some Israeli mothers, and the rest of us were individuals who simply cared and felt the need to be there and help. In total, there were about 80 women from around the world. Although I didn’t know anyone beforehand and there was a war, my heart told me I needed to be there, to offer any help I could, to witness, and to share. During one of the darkest times in Israeli history, I witnessed a glimmer of light. It was an experience unlike anything I had ever encountered before. Hearts were shattered, and the pain and loss were evident. The needs were immense, and I had the privilege of assisting in various areas, meeting a multitude of different people. I won’t delve into the time spent in bomb shelters or the nightmares we witnessed firsthand, etc. What I want you to understand is that amidst all the pain and suffering, there existed an extraordinary beauty that surpassed anything I had ever seen. No one argued over politics; Israel stood united, with everyone working together. Israeli flags adorned every corner, and the love and kindness strangers showed erased any sense of unfamiliarity. People thanked me with tears in their eyes for simply being there. Families of hostages walked from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, surrounded by love and support. Throughout this walk I engaged in countless conversations with Israelis, and amidst the crowd, we were one voice with a clear message: bring them home. Even in the face of pure evil, the people of Israel stood strong, refusing to let fear dictate their lives. They supported each other, and “ordinary” people were doing extraordinary things to help their communities. Together, we will overcome. They will rebuild what has been damaged, and I pray that they will emerge even stronger than before. I bear witness to the light of Israel, a land of resilience, courage, and unwavering spirit. Its people stand united, bound by shared dreams, and an unwavering love for this land. In the face of darkness, they remain a beacon of hope. They do not want to be in this war. They want peace. Hamas and other terrorists may break our hearts, but they will never break our spirits. This Hanukkah, let us ensure that our light shines even brighter. With all that is happening in the world, it is easy to feel depressed, alone, and hopeless. However, there is a light within each one of us. We must set aside our differences and stand strong together, supporting one another, for united, I truly believe we can accomplish anything. Challenge yourself to do something, obtain a goal, and share some light. I witnessed this unity in Israel, where people of all faiths and backgrounds came together time and time again. This Hanukkah let’s challenge ourselves to do one thing that will light up this world with an act of kindness. Let each of us be the shamash, and light up the darkness. Let each of us light and share the flame we carry within. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Hanukkah. Am Yisrael Chai. Israel lives on. Founding executive director of Atlanta Israel Coalition, social media junkie and singer in my shower.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch Last month I returned from a trip to a mission trip to Israel organized by the Masorti movement and World Zionist Organization. There is still so much to unpack about my trip. There is a great deal of trauma and feeling of loss among our brothers and sisters, let alone the Jewish people at large. But what I also witnessed in Israel was nothing short of miraculous and is a testament to the resilience of Am Yisrael. Everywhere I traveled across the country, I bore witness to a unified Jewish people coming together in our hour of need. Jews have put down their protest signs. They’ve gotten to work helping others, opened up their homes, and remembered that our commonalities are far more important than our differences. I continue to draw inspiration from one volunteer who told our group that they help “displaced persons,” not “”refugees”” from the fighting, because in Israel, Jews always have a home. I saw Torah scrolls damaged by acts of terrorism. Today, they are being restored and repaired so they may once again bring nourishment to our people. I learned that despite the rise in antisemitism that we experience, that there is a world out there, including much of the Arab world, who “behind the scenes” is praying for the success of the Jewish people in rooting out Hamas. We all hold out hope that once this evil is destroyed, that peace may someday ensue. While staying in Jerusalem, I grieved the courageous sacrifice of Rose Lubin, a brave Atlantan who gave her life to defend the Jewish people. May her memory endure as a blessing. In the days of Maccabees, a wicked government sought to annihilate our people. We are watching the same story unfold today. But the story of today is not one of a ragtag group of Maccabees fighting for freedom in a divided Jewish world: it is the story of all of us, a unified Jewish people across Israel and the diaspora together. May this year, we merit continuing to be a “free people in the Land of Zion and Jerusalem. Daniel Dorsch is the rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim, and the president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association.

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CHANUKAH Rabbi Nachi Friedman Souvenirs of Chanuka: Is the menorah the keychain of the war?

Why do people buy souvenirs? Do they actually need small snow globes, magnets or shot glasses or is there another explanation for this behavior? Most times there is little connection between the souvenir and the event. It appears memories are complicated and require further analysis. When we take a look at our Chanuka celebrations, we find that our rituals focus on two distinct parts of the Chanuka story. Ironically, neither make reference to the other: In our prayer Al Hanisim, (recited in the silent shemonei esrei and birkat hamazon) we mention and focus on the military triumph of Chanuka. We describe the underdog victory of the Chashmonaim as they defeated the strong and mighty Greeks. If we just had that text, we would have concluded that the miracle of Chanuka was the war as we don’t even mention the oil at all! However, when the Talmud discusses the holiday, it JUST discusses the miracle of the oil and doesn’t mention the war. If you ask any child what the miracle of Chanuka is, they will undoubtedly answer that the oil burned for eight days. Begging the question, what is the true miracle of Chanuka. What are we actually celebrating? In a similar light, when one listens to pro-Israel news and reports from family/friends in Israel, one of two types of news stories emerge: 1) Reports of military battles from the IDF as they continue their mission into Gaza and 2) stories from soldiers accounting divine intervention. When we relay and talk about the war amongst ourselves and with our children, what stories should we be focusing on? Is the military’s success the true miracles or the many of the small miracles we are hearing about (Book of Tehilim blocking a bullet from killing an IDF soldier, an IDF soldier’s rifle that was deemed unusable miraculously working to fight off terrorist, the hundreds of Yeshiva students tying Tzitzis for soldiers kvelling to wear the spiritual garment, etc.). There is both a military narrative and a religious surge occurring during this war, is one more important than the other? Souvenirs have a special and unique ability to both symbolize and transcend the memories and emotions of places, moments, and events. Souvenirs are physical reminders that enable someone to “suspend in time” their experiences” (Siregar et al., 2017). Souvenirs help activate emotional triggers of memories despite being disconnected to the actual event (Ex. Shot glasses as souvenirs for non-alcoholic vacations). Perhaps we can suggest that the miracle of the oil serves as the souvenir for the military triumph of Chanuka. Not only does it remind us of the miracle, but it emphasizes and allows us to tap into the psyche of the divine intervention that occurred many years ago. As we light our candle, we remind ourselves, relive the experience, and tap into the emotions of the time as a nation experiencing a miracle in front of their eyes. When hearing stories in Israel, we can tap into a similar dynamic. On the one hand, this is a “typical” military mission where a strong army slowly disarms and conquers enemy land. However, as we read and hear stories about divine interventions/miracles in the battlefield, we can truly connect and appreciate G-d’s role in Israel. We should utilize these stories as symbols and emotional place holders as we retell the story of Israel’s current triumph in Israel. In fact, as we light our 44 candles over Chanuka, may each candle serve as a souvenir for our day to day miracle of living a Jewish life. May our performance and adherence to Chanuka laws this year serve as a merit for continued success and divine intervention in Israel. Most of all, may our mitzvot serve as a merit for G-d’s protection of our brothers and sisters in Israel. Rabbi Nachi Friedman is the Rabbi at Anshi Sfard in Morningside/Virginia Highlands and a therapist at JF&CS/ Torah Day School.

Beth Gluck This I know. It is our turn to affect Jewish history. To show up. To stand up. To speak up. Those before us whisper in our ears. Those coming after us watch and listen even when we think they don’t. We need not have all the answers. But we must engage. Beth Gluck​​​​is the executive director in Greater Atlanta for Jewish National Fund.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 55

CHANUKAH Leslie Gordon Hanukkah, the Festival of Light, falls this year at a challenging time for Israelis and Jews around the world. But we should take solace not only in the miracle that we celebrate each time we light the menorah but also in many other chapters of our history where we discovered glimmers of light as darkness approached. One that touches me came during the bleakest of times. It’s the story of what a Jewish sculptor-architect secretly created in the Theresienstadt ghetto in northern Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic), a walled transit camp for western Jews enroute to Auschwitz and other extermination camps. There, Arnold Zadikow, deported from Germany in 1942, was assigned to work in a workshop that created decorative arts for the Nazis. A young Czech woodcarver, Leopold Hecht, stole wood from the Germans so that he and Zadikow could craft a menorah for the boys’ residence. The men took on this dangerous mission so that the children could celebrate Hanukkah and learn about Judaism, since Jewish teaching was forbidden. The lamp carries a Hebrew inscription, “Who is like you, O Lord, among the celestials?” (Exodus 15:11). This rare example of Jewish ceremonial art created during the Holocaust was found in the camp (where Zadikow perished in 1943) after the war. It’s now in the permanent collection of New York’s Jewish Museum. In The Breman’s Holocaust exhibition “Absence of Humanity,” we reveal many instances of Jewish resilience in the face of Nazi persecution. Our guests tell us they draw strength from these stories. It’s the way of our people that in the darkest night, we await the dawn. I feel certain that the darkness that troubles our souls today will only make us more resolute to share our stories and rich culture, to hold up candles to the enveloping darkness. Leslie Gordon is the executive director of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.

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CHANUKAH Rebecca Guttman Chanukah this year is coming at such a difficult time for us as a Jewish community. So many of us - here in Atlanta and around the world - feel plunged into unending darkness, both personal and communal. We find ourselves targets of hate and discrimination; our former allies turning their backs on Israel and the Jewish people. Many of us are also carrying heavy, invisible burdens, the path forward dark and isolated. It is difficult these days to see light or to feel hope when we are filled with so much fear about ourselves and our futures. And still, we are presented with this upcoming celebration, this opportunity to celebrate light. So maybe we should not wait for a light to shine through our darkness. Perhaps, despite the heaviness in our hearts and minds, and weighing on our shoulders, we can BE the light in the darkness. The miracle of Chanukah was the persistence of the light after a long period of darkness and oppression, and the true strength of the Maccabees was in their steadfast belief and convictions. Their unwavering faith despite the unfavorable odds reminds us not just to have faith and hope in the depths of darkness, but also to be beacons of optimism and strength, and to lift others out of darkness. We can hold our heads high, wear our Judaism proudly, and be our best selves, shining the brightest light and doing the best we can. We can be extra kind, extra considerate, and extra loving to ourselves and to others. We are resilient, we are strong - individually, and as a community. Together we will get through this, and together we will emerge from the darkness.

HAPPY CHANUKAH

Rebecca Guttman is the Atlanta manager at Jewish Fertility Foundation.

Rabbi David B. Helfand As we gather to celebrate the festival of Chanukah, let us reflect on the profound words of Rabbi Laura Geller: “”The miracle wasn’t that the oil lasted an additional seven days, but rather that those ancestors lit the first wick at all, without being certain that the light would last long enough to complete the rededication of the Temple. The miracle was that they took the chance, a risk, a leap of faith. They took the first step even though they were not sure they had enough resources to succeed. What is the real miracle of Chanukah? It is the miracle of human courage that empowers us to take risks for the future even in our imperfect, uncertain world. It is the courage, even in the darkest of times, to create our own light.” In the flickering flames of the menorah, we find a timeless symbol of resilience and hope. Chanukah is a reminder that within each of us resides the strength to confront uncertainty with bravery. Like our ancestors who kindled the first wick amidst doubt, we too possess the power to embark on new journeys, to take risks, and to embrace the unknown with faith. As we light each candle, let it be a testament to our collective courage. May the warmth of the Chanukah lights fill our hearts with optimism, guiding us through challenges and inspiring us to be architects of our destiny. In the face of darkness, let us be the bearers of light, forging a path of hope and possibility. Happy Chanukah, a celebration of the miracles within us and the courage to create our own light.

Chag Urim Sameach – Wishing you a meaningful and joyous Festival of Lights From Temple Sinai

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David B. Helfand is the engagement rabbi at Shearith Israel, a master community builder, a passionate experiential educator, and gifted storyteller.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 57

CHANUKAH Rabbi Joshua Heller Hanukkah always falls around the winter solstice, when the days are at their shortest, and darkest. Not only that, but it always begins on the night of the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which is when the moon is in its final stages of waning. It’s not an accident that these dark days, when the sun and moon provide the least light from the heavens, is when we observe a festival of lights. These are dark days for our people. Even as we mourn our losses, our siblings in Israel continue to fight for the return of the captured, held in dark tunnels under Gaza, and for the safety of their entire nation from an enemy bent on bringing destruction even unto its last breath. Meanwhile, a darkness of falsehood and hate moves unhindered through the physical world and the world of information, threatening the reputation and the safety of Jews anywhere and everywhere. Nevertheless, Hanukkah reminds us that when it is most dark is when light is about to be seen. The Maccabees struggled despite the knowledge that the forces they fought in the land of Israel were backed by the armies of countries and empires. They lit a small light of hope, not knowing how long it would last, and how far its glow would reach. We look ahead from this holiday season in hope of new light. We must not merely wait passively for the new light to dawn. Our tradition calls upon us to cast our own light, starting with a Shamash and one candle, and somehow manage to grow that light each night. Let the glow of our candles light the way to victory, on the field of battle and in the realm of ideas, so that the light of truth shines forth from Jerusalem to the whole world. Joshua Heller is the senior rabbi at Congregation B’nai Torah.

Rabbi Jason Holtz Chanukah is all about faith. When the Greek Seleucids first desecrated the Temple, someone had faith that one day it would be rededicated and hid a small jar of oil. The Maccabees had faith that if they fought, they could defeat tyranny. When they won, they had faith that if they lit the menorah, it would work out, even though there wasn’t enough oil. These may all seem like small acts or miracles compared to others that we read about. But there is nothing small about Chanukah. Overcoming despair can seem to be as big a miracle as anything. If the Maccabees had given into despair, no one would blame them. Yet we are still celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil and faith over despair. Since the massacre of October 7th, with all the horrors then and since, one thing that we can’t let be destroyed is our faith in a better future. Since its founding, Israel has often had to fight to defend itself. It can be easy to give into despair that terrorism and war are the norm – that peace is nothing more than a pause between wars or that working towards long-term peace is a fool’s errand. Being a faithful Jew, though, is not to give in to that despair. Israel can’t make peace by itself – Israel has tried hard to achieve peace many times. Yet, we can’t give up our faith in the future or stop trying to achieve it. Israel has achieved peace with Egypt, Jordan, and more recently, with others through the Abraham Accords. One day, perhaps, there will be both security for Israel and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. When that day comes, it’ll seem miraculous – but on Chanukah, we know we’ve seen the miraculous before.” Rabbi Holtz is the senior rabbi of Temple Kehillat Chaim in Roswell, Ga.

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CHANUKAH

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Meliss Jakubovic In the midst of the Israel-Hamas conflict, the parallels with the historical events of Chanukah offer a poignant perspective on the enduring spirit of the Jewish people. The miracle of the oil, which sustained the Chanukiah for eight days instead of one, serves as a metaphor for the unwavering resilience and endurance of the Jewish community throughout history. In the face of persecution and attempts at annihilation spanning centuries, the Jewish people, like the flickering flame on the Chanukiah, have persisted against all odds. The conflict in the present day echoes this historical struggle, where the Jewish community faces adversity but refuses to be extinguished. Just as the oil burned beyond its expected duration, the Jewish spirit persists and shines brightly even when it seems that the energy to endure should have been exhausted long ago. This war, similar to the challenges faced by the Maccabees, becomes a symbol of the ongoing struggle for survival and identity… and we will prevail. The Chanukah story teaches us that a small amount of light can dispel darkness, and in the same vein, the Jewish community continues to stand united, finding strength in their collective identity, perhaps even more so now than ever before. In the face of adversity, the community rallies together, much like the Maccabees did in their quest to regain control of Jerusalem and rededicate the Temple- and we must continue to do so today, every day, and from generation to generation. Despite the limited energy that one might expect the Jewish people to have in confronting recurrent challenges, we continue to endure and thrive, we continue to pass on our traditions, to come together as a community, and to make babies that will become a link in our growing chain. The Chanukah miracle exemplifies how the light of resilience, determination, and unity can endure beyond human expectations. If you are feeling defeated or tired or like this is too much to handle, lean in on your friends, family, and the Jewish community around us. We are one big family and should continue to operate as such. That is the only way to cumulatively increase our energy and raise our collective vibration. May you find comfort on this holiday in those you love and find light in the darkness. Chag Sameach. Meliss Jakubovic is an online marketing strategist and business growth expert specializing in coaches and healers and she is also Atlanta’s Israeli folk dance instructor.

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CHANUKAH Rabbi Ari Kaiman Before Hamas committed the atrocious massacre on October 7th, the people of Israel were engaged in a fierce debate about the moral future of the State. Protestors from all sectors of Israeli society, who disagree about many important issues, agreed that Israel should strive to live up to the ideals embodied in its Declaration of Independence; “Based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race, or sex;” Those ancient prophets of Israel would warn us that if Israel did not live up to the high moral expectations that God had of us, we would surely be exiled from the land. Indeed, that is the story that we tell ourselves about the tragedy of the destruction of the Temple and our very long and dangerous exile in the diaspora. The yearly celebration of Chanukah was one of the ways we kept alive the notion that we could win with military might. But we’ve always held the power of the sword with the ambivalence that comes with the tragic need to use it. That’s why our ancestors chose to tell a story of victory from the perspective of an oil lamp. This Chanukah, I am continuing to pray for military victory over Hamas, that their strategy of maximizing Palestinian suffering should completely end, and the people of Palestine can learn a future of dignity, peace, and light without the destruction that war brings. Israel must defend herself from the forces that seek to destroy Jewish sovereignty in the land, because the Jewish people have a unique story for us to contribute to this world, and the people of Israel in the Land of Israel represented by the State of Israel is the best way for us as a people to make that contribution. I pray that victory will come soon, so that we may continue to Isaiah’s prophecy, where Nation does not threaten Nation, and nobody learns war anymore. Ari Kaiman is the senior rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel.

Quinn Katler We are living through extremely trying times. When checking in on my Jewish friends and family, “How are you?” is answered with disheartened sentiments: “fine, all things considered,” or “honestly, just hanging in.” The atrocities of October 7, and the subsequent fall-out, hit our community at its very core. We are bombarded by stories and images conjuring immense pain, hatred, and suffering. Channukah, quite conversely, is a time for spreading light, discovering joy, and embracing celebration. With so much uncertainly and sadness, how can we possibly commemorate this “festival of lights?” The Maccabee Jews achieved victory in the face of immense loss and unimaginable odds. Today, Chanukah reminds us that throughout history, time and time again, we have achieved triumph, and we have done so as a unified, impenetrable community. Each of us is bound in courage and spirit; we battle our enemies in unison. Pain breeds a unique reminder to re-focus our perspective this holiday season; we must re-direct our intention towards keeping the flame of Jewish beliefs and tradition alive… together as a Jewish community. Quinn Katler is a Reproductive Endocrinologist at SGF (Atlanta), and Medical Advisory Board Member of Jewish Fertility Foundation.

Jared Kaye There is an old saying, “darkness isn’t pushed away with a broom. The only way to combat darkness is with light. And the only way to combat senseless hate is with senseless love.” We are now in the Hebrew month of Kislev which is known as the “month of miracles” because the oil for the menorah in the Second Temple miraculously lasted for eight days. As you view the beautiful glow from your menorah this holiday, use it as a personal reminder to bring more-light and more-love into this world. This can be accomplished by doing an extra mitzvah – give charity, wrap tefillin (males) or light Shabbos candles (females). A simple smile and friendly greeting to a stranger will also do wonders. And view the menorah as a symbol of hope too. “The Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers.” We will prevail in this current war. It is not a function of if, just when. May G-d continue to provide extra strength and safety to our IDF soldiers. And may the month of Kislev render more miracles with the release all the Jewish hostages and renew peace in Israel. Wishing everyone a joyous Chanukkah full of light. Am Yisroel Chai! Jared Kaye is a proud Jew, husband, father, and aspires to be a benoni. 60 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 61

CHANUKAH Mitchell Kaye Am Yisroel Chai!

As we read in the Passover Haggadah “In each and every generation they rise up against us to destroy us. And the Holy One, blessed be He, rescues us from their hands.” Ancient Egypt. Philistines. Assyrians. Babylonians. Ancient Persians. Greek Empire. Roman Empire. Byzantine Empire. Crusaders. Spanish Empire. Nazis. Those nations, once very powerful, are forever gone and just a footnote in world history. There is no doubt Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and the Iranians will share this same fate. Special thanks to President Joe Biden and Governor Brian Kemp for standing firm with Israel and the Jewish people in words and deeds, especially at this time. We celebrate Chanukah and its many miracles and messages. Let’s celebrate with Jewish pride and Jewish unity with a shining light that dispels much darkness. Through prayer, charity and good deeds, the people of Israel will be strengthened and one step closer towards the final redemption! Prayers for all the hostages to be returned safety; a complete healing for all those in need, both physically and emotionally; continued strength to the brave men and women in the IDF; and peace in Jerusalem and for Klal Yisroel. May we speedily usher in the time when “nation shall not lift the sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”. Chanukah sameach! Mitchell Kaye is a former State Representative and will soon be in Israel helping labor shortages in the Agricultural sector.

Harold Kirtz What Hanukkah Means

The holiday of Hanukkah commemorates the re-establishment of holy light in the Temple in Jerusalem over 2000 years ago. In the Torah, the Jewish people are commanded to be a holy nation, to bring light to the world. In this time of massacre, war, and increased antisemitism, it is difficult to see how and where to shine the light. Israel has been and will be responding to the October 7 massacre of Israelis and others. Its response is being grossly criticized in ways that demonstrate the double standard that the world uses in judging Israel’s – and Jews’ – actions. While the loss of life of innocents in Gaza is regrettable – and Israel must do what it can to minimize that loss, it is Hamas that is the culprit, and it must be placed in such as position that it cannot or will not repeat the awful atrocities of October 7 or any atrocities at all. As we work our way through Hanukkah this year, each of us must endeavor to shine our own light in ways large and small. The light that comes from our tradition, heritage, and learning must be our guides. In this season of Hanukkah, each of us must express our own commitment to truth, to justice, or to delivering an accurate picture of our place in the world and Israel’s place in the panoply of nations. We must insist that Israel be treated with the distinction and standing that other nations wish to be treated. And we must insist that Israel hold itself to the highest standards – whether that is in war or in democracy. Every Jew must tap into the Jewish psyche. Even if you do not feel Jewish, or feel particularly Jewish these days, you must try to feel the connection with other Jews, with the Jewish community, with the Jewish world, and with Israel. As we approach Hanukkah, we must think of and act on our connections with each other. Hanukkah is a time to light candles, to light our imaginations, and to light our way to a more Jewish experience and to a better world. Harold Kirtz is a senior litigator with the Federal Trade Commission, and past president of JCRC, Temple Emanu-El, and The Weber School.

62 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHANUKAH Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis Why Celebrate Hannukah This Year

Do you feel like celebrating Hannukah this year? Jews all over the world are living in a state of turmoil since October 7th. The NY Post (10/23/23) reports: “More Jewish customers have been buying guns amid the rise of antisemitism following the Hamas attacks.” Why? Because Jews are fearful. So I ask, with all that’s going on, should a Jew celebrate Hannukah this year? Of course! Hannukah celebrates the miracle of the lights in the first Temple lasting eight days instead of one—after the victory of the Maccabees over the much stronger and cruel Syrian Greeks. It was a victory of light over darkness, of Jews standing up for who they are and what they believe. We must celebrate Hannukah with a full heart trusting that as God was with the Maccabees of old, he will be with us as well in our struggle. While Hamas doesn’t have the military strength of the Syrian Greeks or of the Israeli Army, it has managed to amass a surprising world-wide support for its plight and ignite a surge of antisemitism. This fall has been the worst for Jews since the Holocaust. However, this is not a time to despair. We have seen dark times before, but always, with God’s help we prevail. And yet, like in the Hannukah story, there is much to be inspired by in our people’s response. Considering how fractured the Jewish people were just a few weeks ago—not unlike the Jews in the Hannukah story—we are now solidly unified both here and in Israel. In Israel, we have seen it in the amazing stories of devotion to our people. Here’s just two examples: -A Bar Mitzvah boy leaving his reception hall with $10,000 worth of catered food and bringing it to hundreds of hungry soldiers! -The mother who gave birth and named her son after the young soldier she never knew, but gave his life saving her cousin in the attack against her moshav. Religious, not religious, politically left or right, it didn’t matter. In a crisis Jews help each other! Our hearts are praying for our people in Israel and Gaza. Shema Yisrael is our most important prayer, so let me conclude with two Shema Yisrael stories. Recently I saw an interview with Rebbetzin Chani Klein of Chabad Eilat that helps survivors of October 7th who were sent to Eilat. Let me share these two stories she mentioned: On October 7th, there was a family whose home was entered by Hamas terrorists. Hamas set the house afire, but the family hid in their concrete safe room which was fireproof. 18 hours later the IDF came—can you imagine—they heard banging on the door and shouts of, “Tzahal, Tzahal (Israel Defense Forces). We came to save you.” But they didn’t know if they should believe them. The man inside the safe room, who was one of the founders of the Kibbutz said, “I’m going to say half a sentence and you complete it.” The soldier said, “What’s the sentence?” He said, “Shema Yisrael.” And the soldier said, “Hashem Elokeynu Hashem Echad!” He then opened the door because he knew he was united with Am Yisrael, his people. The second story is of a soldier from a very elite army unit. Hamas targeted his home on October 7th because they wanted to get intelligence—no doubt under torture. When the terrorists entered his home, he killed a couple of them, but he was wounded and forced to join his family in their saferoom. The terrorist then set the house on fire. Soon smoke was coming under the door into the saferoom. They were breathing in soot, but they decided to stay as long as they could. Finally, when they had to open the window, it was eerily quiet. An IDF vehicle came by yelling for survivors. They didn’t know what to do. As this elite soldier crawled out of the window to check it out, he saw four laser lights on him from gunsights. Apparently the IDF didn’t know if he was a terrorist climbing out the saferoom. Terrified, he cried out, Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeynu Hashem Echad, and they were saved! My friends, Shema Yisrael (Listen O Israel), there may be darkness in our world, but if we are Echad—one as a people—we will certainly be able to bring the light of Hannukah into this world and dispel much of that darkness. So yes, let us all celebrate Hannukah with faith in Gd that this Hannukah will be a time of amazing miracles with the return of all the hostages and complete victory over Hamas. Mark Hillel Kunis is the rabbi of Congregation Shaarei Shamayim and author of “Dancing With God.”

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CHANUKAH Lou Ladinsky Historically, the Jewish people have always been in a struggle regarding the land of Israel and the protection of our Jewish identity. This latest series of events in the Israel-Hamas War continues to emphasize the struggle against foreign entities trying to stake their claim to the land for the Jewish people. I find our current war very reminiscent of past historical events, specifically when the Maccabee Jews regained control of Jerusalem from an oppressive force. It is very sad when history continues to repeat itself with events paralleling the past. Antisemitism has once again been increasing at a very alarming and disturbing rate, which is also reminiscent of incline spike in antisemitism recorded in the early days of Hitler’s rise into power. Today, Israel is fighting to regain full control over Gaza to prevent future attacks and to protect their land and people, which they have a right to do. Nobody should have to live in fear. Hanukkah continues to be a symbol of our Jewish identity. As we light the candles over the eight nights of Hanukkah in celebration of our freedom, please keep Israel and its people in your thoughts and prayers so they too can achieve the peace and security they so rightfully deserve.” Lou Ladinsky is a product manager for LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Rabbi Micah Lapidus Chanukah is a holiday that reminds us of the importance of moral clarity. Human affairs are almost always, by definition, complicated, multi-faceted, messy, and imperfect. However, that is no excuse for slipping into moral relativism or for abandoning the need to speak and act with moral clarity and assurance. The lack of moral clarity that we have witnessed in response to the current Israel-Hamas war is troubling to say the least. As an extended Jewish family, we need to remind the world that, while human affairs are complex and complicated, we need to be able to distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, with even greater confidence than ever before. Micah Lapidus is a rabbi and the director of Jewish and Hebrew Studies at The Davis Academy.

Eti S. Lazarian We all know the old story, the Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and this holiday commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. We see so many little miracles in the shadow of terror this holiday. As the holiday of light approaches and we reflect on this passing year, we can’t help but feel vulnerable and hurt. It’s easy as people of the Jewish faith to think of these horrors and keep dwelling in misery and sorrow. However, if the horrific event of October 7th taught us anything, it is that the Jewish people are as strong as ever. How we came together as a community, support each other, and how we lift each other up should not be taken for granted. When the horror events happened, it was my daughter’s 14th birthday. She was afraid to go to school, and even leave the house. She thought the terrorists would come to us at any point and attack us at our home. As the mother, I was devastated but had to keep my ground to assure her that she is safe. I was considering every word that I was saying to my family and even friends; however, the only thing I could think about was that is Isael is at war. They have been trying to kill us since we left Egypt. This is not a new story, as the story repeats itself again and again and again. Every few years, some terror organization lifts its head to create incredible damage to our beloved Israel and the Jewish community, but somehow, the Jewish people always prevail. This is the story I told my daughter. This is a story I’m telling myself, and this is what I see from our community. Whether we are in Israel, U.S., or Australia, we were at our lowest point in over 75 years, but yet, how strong we truly are. The heroic stories we hear from Israel are mind-blowing and will be told in years to come. We see little miracles in everything we do these days, just like the Maccabim back then we have incredible heroes around us! Each one of us is a small light, but together we are invincible. Hag Sameach. Am Israel Hai! Eti Lazarian is a managing partner at Insignia LLC, an activist in the Jewish Community-encourage philanthropic activity among children.

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 65

CHANUKAH Rabbi Max Miller Every Chanukah, I turn to the words of our sage, Hillel, who instructs us how to light the Chanukah menorah. Hillel says that we add a candle for every evening, increasing our light each night. In a darkening world, both literally and metaphorically, I hold onto Hillel’s description; the role of the Jew is to increase light in the world. Many have dubbed October 7th the black Shabbat. Indeed, there has been no darker day in the last seventy-five years than the 7th. Yet, on October 8th and each day since, Jews and our allies have ceaselessly returned light to the world: lovers were married, babies were born, and each week since we’ve lit our Shabbat candles—and now our Chanukah lights—to welcome the holy back into our lives. After October 7th, we are still broken and damaged beyond our understanding. Still, fragile as ever, this Chanukah, we rededicate ourselves and our holy places to the service of the Holy One and one another. May the Holy One of Blessing bless each of us with a Chanukah increasing in light, from our candles and from the holy spark implanted within us all. Chag Urim Sameach. Happy Chanukah. Max Miller is a rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs.

Rabbi Hillel Norry When we imagine the scene of the first Chanukah, with the Maccabees lighting a small cache of oil in a miraculous expression of hope and courage, we are likely to picture the grand, golden Menorah described in The Torah. But at least one Midrash imagines that the Hellenistic Syrians would surely have pillaged such a treasure for its value, and that instead of the beautiful implements of The Temple, the Maccabees found only the scattered hardware abandoned by the recently ousted Greek soldiers. According to the Midrash, Judah and Matityahu kindled the first Chanukah lights, not on fine gold, but on the iron, SPEARS left behind by their defeated enemies. The very weapons of those who sought to destroy us were turned into an expression of joy, light, and national victory. What once brought death and darkness, now carried renewed hope. In commemorating their victory “ba’yamim ha’hem, ba’zman ha’zeh - in those days, at this season”, we join the martial and the spiritual together. By lighting the Chanukah lights, we remind ourselves to have strength and courage in the face of hostility and challenge, and to turn our shared hardship into light and shared purpose. Our enemies will not succeed with the tools of terrorism. Now, more than ever, we must remain vigilant, continue to build bridges of community, and rededicate ourselves to joyful Jewish living.” Rabbi Hillel Norry leads Temple Beth David, The heart of Jewish life in Gwinnett.

David Ostrowsky For many, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to separate Chanukah 2023 from the IsraelHamas War as sobering news reports from the Middle East continue to overwhelm us during what should be a purely joyous holiday season. But the calendar flipping to Chanukah also serves as timely inspiration -- just how centuries ago the Maccabee Jews demonstrated tremendous resolve and perseverance so too can modern-day Israelis in their plight against Hamas. Since the Israel-Hamas War began in early October, I have not interviewed any athletes currently living in Israeli. However, I have spoken to several Jewish athletes and coaches who have significant ties to Israel and remain personally invested in the welfare of those affected by the atrocities. In short, it is quite apparent that this horrific situation reverberates powerfully across sports -- just as it does in so many other arenas of daily life. While in the States the games go on across college campuses and in billion-dollar stadiums, at least for many American Jewish sports figures, they are indeed representing Israel -- and in effect, Jewish people worldwide -- every time they take the field, ice, or floor or serve in the front office. While Jewish MLB stars and NFL executives may be anchored in America, many are taking a stand to unite with native Israelis in exuding that tremendous resolve and perseverance. Traits that the Maccabee Jews so brilliantly exhibited in regaining control of Jerusalem and rededicating the Temple many years ago. David Ostrowsky serves as the sportswriter for the Atlanta Jewish Times. 66 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHANUKAH Tiffany Parks I have a simple, but powerful prayer for this Hanukkah. I pray for peace and that every Israeli hostage will be able to reunite with their loved ones, not later, but now. This Hanukkah, the season of lights have dimmed, but the lights have not gone out! The future will burn bright again for all Peaceloving people in Israel and Gaza, once the terrorist elements have been defeated.

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Tiffany Parks works as an educator at Georgia State University and is a contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Jody Pollack Chanukah oh Chanukah, light my menorah. Let my candles glow so that I may light the fuse on my present to our terrorist neighbors to the west. Let my present light up their sky and send them off to a better place far-far away from us. Not exactly a pleasant message but one that is appropriate in this time and age. We are once again, in a battle of light and dark. Unfortunately, the dim bulbs of the media, educational idiocrasy and its dupes are all but lemmings following the pied pipers of antisemitism over the moral cliff. This is where we cross the fine line between ignorance and stupidity because far too many have lost the capacity to learn and their hollow heads have become echo chambers for violent rhymes that they do not understand. For those that do understand and propagate the tropes, we must shine our lights upon them and remove their plausible deniability as they out themselves as antisemites. The blatant antisemites that have risen from the cracks in the earth will get their due because this time we will not shrink into the shadows and wait for it to pass. While I do not condone overt retribution, I do 100% support karma. What goes around comes around and they will be faced with a reality they are unprepared for when they read the fine print and find out that they are one of the societal groups on the “you’re next” list. Our history is full of examples where we are the first to be terrorized but never the last. We Jews are always the test bed for experiments in horror. They try it on us to see how the world reacts and then due to gross indifference, they proceed to the next group/country/continent. Today Jews of the world are standing together to bring light to the world and shine it upon the evil that some still do not believe is as evil as it is. Like the Maccabees we will prevail. Unlike the Maccabees we will ensure that these foes do not come back. Chag Sameach. Jody Pollack is the executive director of the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival and the creative force behind PollWood Creations.

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CHANUKAH Eric Robbins As we kindle the lights of Chanukah this year faced with unprecedented darkness, let each flame illuminate not just the darkness around us, but the remarkable lights within our community. The first light flickers with the commitment and resolute response, as we witness our communities rallying together, raising funds, and offering profound support for Israel. In this shared endeavor, we discover the strength that lies in unity. The second light reveals an awakening—an awakening of so many individuals who hold a deep affection for Jewish life, now stepping forward to express their care and solidarity. Their presence adds new radiance to our collective journey. The third light shines upon the strengthened bonds with Israel, uniting us across miles and time zones. Our conversations with family, friends, and community members serve as beams that bridge the distance and fortify our connection. The fourth light emanates from the resilience and unity of Israel itself. In the face of challenges, the nation stands firm, a testament to the unwavering spirit that defines the Israeli people. The fifth light highlights our community’s luminosity in responding collaboratively to the crisis. Organizations join forces, creating a tapestry of support that outshines the challenges we face. The sixth light gleams as people discover new ways to connect within our Jewish community. Initiatives like One Table, PJ Library, and Gather grants weave threads of togetherness, fostering stronger ties. The seventh light anticipates a journey—our professional leaders, representing synagogues and organizations, plan to visit Israel in January. This pilgrimage symbolizes our enduring commitment to stand side by side with the land we hold dear. The eighth light radiates from the heroic individuals, both here and in Israel, whose actions remind us of the strength and uniqueness inherent in our people. Their stories illuminate the path forward, guiding us through the shadows toward a brighter, shared destiny. May all these lights continue to shine bright, and may we find joy in them this Chanukah. Eric Robbins is the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Since October 7, each day has felt anxious as we wait learn of the developments in Israel. With the recent hostage releases and scheduled pause of the operation in Gaza, which starting on a Friday, it’s been another Shabbat of anxiety, waiting to see what news we will learn Saturday night, while trying to focus on the sanctity and celebration of Shabbat. It’s hard not to feel the spiritual and emotional connections between the world we are living in now and the struggle of our ancestors during Hanukah. There is an important lesson which resonates as we wait for our News app to load on our phones or the News agency to get to the top story. Each night of Hanukah, we recite the same two blessings. The second blessing addresses the miracle that occurred for our ancestors. Regardless of which miracle this second blessing is addressing, either the military victory over the ancient Greeks or the oil that lasted eight days, it’s not clear if there was really a miracle on all eight of these days. If the miracle is for the military victory and re-dedication of the Temple, that took place on one day – the 25th of Kislev. So why recite for the remaining seven days? If the miracle is for the oil, enough found for one day but lasted eight, then why recite on the first night. Either way, we shouldn’t need to recite the blessing for all eight days. This is the truth about miracles. Each time I open my news app in the morning, it’s OK to be a realist, knowing that war is brutal and painful. However, every day brings an equal chance of a miracle. Peace can come and human lives that we thought lost can be rescued and redeemed. We must be willing to mark the miracles even on days when we don’t think they can happen. Every day has a chance of being miraculous. Laurence Rosenthal serves as the senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue.

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 69

CHANUKAH Gayle Rubenstein We echo Am Israel Chai!

As we gather to celebrate Chanukah, our hearts are drawn to the profound significance of Israel in our lives. Without our cherished land, where would we be? Israel is more than a place; it is the heartbeat of our people, a preservation of our history, tradition, and culture. Let’s share the stories of our people, from the horror of the Holocaust to the enduring spirit that has defined us for thousands of years. This Chanukah let’s not only revel in the miracles of the past but actively contribute to new miracles. Together, as one united community, we possess the power to light up the world with the enduring spirit of Chanukah. Sending hugs and prayers to you all, especially to our brothers and sisters in Israel. May the lights of Chanukah candles inspire hope, foster unity, and bring peace to our hearts and our beloved land. Chag Samaech! Gayle Rubenstein is the owner of Balloons Over Atlanta and Event Visions.

Maayan Schoen As Jews, we all know that history repeats itself, and this is something we feel acutely as we celebrate a holiday that commemorates our eventual triumph over the campaign of one nation to destroy us in the midst of another such campaign. But as the last 75 years of return to Israel have shown us, history is not stale repetition, but a spiral forward. We encounter similar themes each revolution around the sun, each circle around the spiral, but we are ever moving forward toward the point of light, toward a redemptive final outcome. This is what I believe. The Torah tells of what will happen to us throughout history — the exiles, the inquisitions, and the return. We have seen much of it actualized. It can be tempting, now that the bad has played out once again, to wait patiently (or freeze in fear) with the hope that the good is to come. But we are not people of a passive fate, rather we are a people of action who fights for our destiny. Jews around the world have clearly understood this and have jumped into action in support of Israel throughout the war. In his visions of the redemption, Isaiah foresees, ‫מׁשִי־אֹל‬ ָּ ‫ע‬ ַ֨ ‫סמָח דֹו֤ע‬ ָ ֙ ‫ַאּב‬ ְ ‫בשָו ֹ֥דׁש ְ ֵ֔ךצְר‬ ֶׁ֖ ‫ב ִגּב ֶר‬ ְ ‫א ָרקְו ְך ִ֑יָלּו‬ ָ֤ ‫עׁשּו ְך ִַ֔יתֹמֹוח ֙הָעּוׁשְי ת‬ ְ ‫הּת ְך ִַ֖י ָר‬ ְ ‫ה ִל‬ ָּֽ (60:18). ““The cry ‘Hamas’,” (meaning “violence”), “shall no more be heard in your land, nor ‘Wrack and ruin!’ within your borders. And you shall name your walls ‘Victory’ and your gates ‘Renown.’” For long enough we have had to cry “Hamas.” The IDF is fighting to actualize our destiny to live safely as an independent Jewish nation by protecting our walls and eliminating Hamas from within our borders and the borders of Gaza. Those who sacrificed their lives for our victory, such as Atlanta’s own Rose Lubin, are our renown. (She died guarding the Western Wall at the Damascus Gate.) Though I am one small member of the Jewish nation, I know that my life is bound up with the great project of the Jewish state and that my destiny is inextricable from Jewish destiny. When I came to Jerusalem this year, it was with the intent to plant roots for making Aliyah in the future, whether at the end of this year or later, but I wanted to take my time to decide about if I would return to the US for graduate school before I made the move official. The war moved me to make my commitment official now, come what may, as a stand — as if to say to Hamas you are trying to scare us out of our home, but you will not succeed; as a display of solidarity with a lonely Israel; and as part of my role in taking an active approach to personal and national destiny. What is a Jewish prophet? Our seers were not simple oracles who revealed the future, making known an inescapable reality. They were reluctant, sometimes defiant Warners of what might come to be in a contingent history of human action and divine providence. They prophesied the worst of what was to come, as well as the comfort that would follow. The worst of what was to come: We saw that on October 7th as never before. We were captured. We were uprooted. We were raped and slaughtered. I have been to the border and seen the destruction with my own eyes; it is everything Auschwitz was and more. There is scant comfort these days until every hostage is able to be embraced by their family. But they did prophesy the comfort: “I will restore the captives of my people Israel,” promised G-d. “They shall rebuild ruined cities and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and drink their wine; They shall till gardens and eat their fruits. And I will plant them upon their soil, nevermore to be uprooted from their land” (Amos 9, 14-15). We pray and petition for the return of our captives, but it is actually in our hands to restore ourselves to the land. Aliyah can be difficult, and everyone should return to Israel on the timeline that is right for them. But let us pursue this destiny, and let us be comforted: Come build, come inhabit. Come plant, come drink. Come till, come feast. Come ensure that, as is our destiny, we will never more be uprooted. Maayan Schoen studied in the Migdal Oz Beit Midrash for Women in Israel and recently graduated from Yale University. She now lives in Jerusalem and is chief of staff for Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem and Special Envoy for Innovation Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.

70 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

When I think of Chanukah, I imagine Jews living under the domination of the Roman Empire. Each winter, as the Romans celebrated their mid-winter festival of light, I see Jewish families putting their chanukiah in their windows. From the outside, it looks like Jewish accommodation to Roman rule. But inside, each night, each light has another meaning. Each little oil cup is a symbol of resistance: once we fought for our freedom and sovereignty, and we were victorious. Were faithful to our covenant then, as we are now, and as we pledge to remain. Let the Romans think that we are submitting to their rule, that we are simply enjoying the light in the darkness of winter. We know better. Chanukah still reminds us today of the faith that has sustained us. This year may Chanukah continue to delight us, to encourage and inspire us. This year, may we share our light and our strength with those who have shared their strength with us in the face of hatred and pain. This year may the Holy One bless us, and may we be blessings to our families, friends, and communities. Chag sameach!

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CHANUKAH Rabbi Beth Schwartz

Beth Schwartz is rabbi emerita of Temple Israel in Columbus, Ga, where she continues to be active in teaching, speaking, and community affairs.

Dr. Terry Segal It felt challenging to celebrate the Festival of Lights in this time of great loss and darkness but we’re the bringers of light! I turned to G-d and our history for inspiration. Holocaust stories tell of prisoners who risked their lives to honor our traditions. An article by Lev Poplow, Bornstein Holocaust Center, referenced Yaffa Eliach’s book, Hassidic Tales of the Holocaust. One story of Rabbi Israel Shapiro, who lost his entire family at Bergen-Belsen in 1943 and remained with other prisoners, was “determined to celebrate Hanukkah in the traditional manner and draw whatever spiritual strength they could from the story of the Maccabees.” He gathered bits and scraps of fat and thread to kindle the Hanukkah lights. “Hanukkah in Bergen-Belsen,” written by Libi Astaire, award-winning author of Jewish history and mysteries, tells the story of Rabbi Shmelke, a prisoner during Kislev, 1944. While performing his duties of dead body removal, he stumbled upon a hole in the frozen ground and unearthed a makeshift menorah containing a jar of congealed liquid, eight little cups, and strands of cotton. He wondered about the fate of the person who had buried it there but, that night, recited the blessings and kindled the light. Rabbi Shmelke survived and years later, on a trip to the U.S., visited an acquaintance, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, who disclosed that he, too, had been a prisoner at Bergen-Belsen. He was rescued four days before Chanukah and told of the provisions he had buried and left behind. Rabbi Shmelke, smiled and said, “Your menorah was used. It dispelled the darkness for hundreds of Jews and helped at least one of them survive the war.” Let’s be inspired to shine light into every dark corner of the world. Happy Chanukah. Am Yisrael Chai. Terry Segal is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Ph.D. in Energy Medicine, author and mixed media artist.

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CHANUKAH Rabbi Larry Sernovitz Not by might and not by power, but by my spirit...”” Zechariah (4:6)

These inspirational words have always reminded me that no matter what we encounter, we are never really alone. Throughout Jewish history, we have faced challenge after challenge, loss after loss, and have still somehow found the spiritual power and strength to endure. Hope is in the DNA of the Jewish people and is the secret sauce that has allowed us to rise up time and time again. Not unlike, the story of Chanukah, life since October 7 has been excruciatingly painful but instead of destroying us, it made us stronger as a people. Even more so, it reminded us that the most effective way of dealing with Jew hatred is to embrace our identity and be proud of the values that have grounded us. The Jewish soul is deeply spiritual and was created for moments like this. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z’l once wrote that, “For it is spirituality that teaches us that life is sacred, that there is more to happiness than the pursuit of wealth, power, success or fame, and that though life is short we can, at blessed moments, experience the transformative power of joy giving us a sense of eternity in the midst of time.” Each day is indeed sacred and by enriching the world with the beauty and joy of Jewish life, by taking pride in who we are and what we stand for, we will continue to repair the world and make it a better place. Let the world see your greatness. Time waits for no one so let’s get going. As Rabbi Hillel once taught, “If not now, when?” Larry Sernovitz is a rabbi and the CEO of Hillels of Georgia.

Chana Shapiro Jewish Peoplehood

When I taught in New York, a Black Christian colleague, Claudia, was shocked when a Jewish teacher, at a department meeting, criticized other Jewish teachers for “taking off from school on so many Jewish holidays.” Claudia said members of her community would never criticize one of their own in public like that. I was discomfited, of course, but I answered that Jews are not a homogeneous group, and we often vehemently disagree with one another; I explained that, nevertheless, our diversity does not nullify our linked Peoplehood. But Peoplehood, though real, is hard to explain. As of October 7, 2023, our enigmatic Peoplehood has been tested. When we lived in New York, the public school system employed a lot of Jewish teachers. My friend Claudia, a rationalist, was understandably confounded by the striking differences among the many Jews who worked in our school. The confusing mix included those of us who brought kosher lunches to school and the Jewish P.E. teacher who bought non-kosher hot dogs for lunch from the neighborhood bodega, the Black Jewish math teacher who worked in a Brooklyn yeshiva every afternoon from 3:00 – 5:00, the Jewish school counselor who said she didn’t believe in any religion but always wore a Star of David around her neck, the taciturn Jewish cafeteria worker with a number on her arm who refused to talk about the Holocaust, and the Jewish art teacher who said she was a Jewish Buddhist. “We’re a very diverse group,” I agreed. “But we’re all members of the Jewish People.” I don’t know where Claudia is now: I wonder if she senses the Jewish Peoplehood truth playing out today in real time with amazing acts of generosity and chessed (loving kindness) from all segments of our People, yet disagreements about how to extinguish forever the fire we didn’t start. We’re in pain about the hostages and the war and reel from worldwide antisemitism, but we’ve learned something important about our Peoplehood: we’re all in the fray together. Let the Israelis be our Maccabees; may their valor and fortitude enlighten, strengthen, and unite us. Chag Chanukah Sameach! Chana Shapiro is an educator, author, illustrator, and freelance journalist.

Jenna Leopold Shulman As we light the menorah this Chanukah, let us find strength and resilience in the face of adversity. These past months have been challenging. The Israel-Hamas war and increased antisemitism has cast a shadow, and we, as a community, have felt its impact. In times like these, it’s essential to draw inspiration from the enduring spirit of the Maccabees, our ancestors who prevailed so long ago. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable odds, their determination and faith illuminated the darkest hours. Likewise, we must unite as a community, supporting one another with unwavering compassion. As we gather with loved ones to celebrate, let us extend our hearts to those directly affected by the recent events and all those suffering around the world. Now is a great time to reach out to neighbors, friends, and family with kindness and understanding. It is through these acts of compassion that we embody the true spirit of not only Chanukah but also of the Jewish culture. Jenna Leopold Shulman is the CEO of JELF (Jewish Educational Loan Fund) and co-founder of juLuv, Atlanta’s free Jewish matchmaking service. 72 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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CHANUKAH Jeff Silberblatt

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Rabbi Adam Starr The holiday of Chanukah takes place during the darkest time of the year. It’s in the middle of the winter when there are many more hours of darkness than daylight. This has been a slow process as the days have been getting shorter and shorter since the High Holidays. This parallels and reflects the darkness that has filled our world since the horrors of October 7th, the last day of the High Holiday season, in ways few of us have ever experienced. Historically, Chanukah took place during a time of spiritual darkness for the Jewish people as the Syrian Greeks made harsh decrees against Jewish observance and practice. The Torah is compared to light and its removal brought forth darkness and devastation for the Jewish nation. The Maccabees refused to sit idly by and accept this reality. They fought valiantly against an enemy that sought the destruction of the Jewish faith. The war ultimately was won and the first thing that was done is the Menorah being lit in the Temple. Even though it was a great military victory, it is this lighting that we celebrate each and every year. In Judaism, war is never our ideal and only something we must do out of necessity. It is therefore not the focus of our annual celebration of Chanukah. It is our ability to bring light to darkness, maintain our scared traditions, and the victory of good versus evil that we celebrate every year. War has been thrust upon the Jewish people once again by a brutal enemy who seeks our destruction. We never desired war, but Israel must do what is necessary to morally defend the Jewish people, our land, and our way of life like the Maccabees of old. We must stand firmly with Israel in this fight. When we light the Chanukah candles, we are reminded what we are ultimately fighting for - a time where the light of good, Torah and peace can shine bright again. On this Chanukah, as we light the candles each night, we recommit ourselves to the plight of the Jewish people, praying that this light grows larger and larger pushing away the darkness of what we have experienced the past couple of months. As we light the candles, we bring forth our unique light to Israel and the world, spreading kindness, peace, and unity. When the world was created there was only darkness and chaos and God said, “Let there be Light”. We are all now experiencing darkness and chaos. This Chanukah in the spirit of Imitatio Dei we declare to the world, “Let there be Light!” Adam Starr is the senior rabbi at Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Toco Hills.

74 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHANUKAH Ken Stein, PhD The Oct. 7 horrific murders and the extraordinary anti-Israeli outbursts afterward on U.S. campuses and elsewhere both aim to delegitimize Israel. Physically and verbally, Jews and Israel are attacked by those who believe that Jews are not a people and do not deserve selfdetermination. These are antisemitic acts at their worst. What should we learn from this outbreak of hate? Of course, we have to remember forever those who were traumatized as a result of Oct. 7. Jews should accept a harsh reality. We have accomplished a great deal over the last 75 years in Israel and in the Diaspora, but accomplishments and achievements do not equate with total and irreversible civic and political equality. Earning Nobel Prizes, making endless contributions to modern civilization, boasting a massive Israeli GDP and succeeding in so many fields have not translated into unequivocal equality. Ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with a two-state solution is not going to make antisemitism disappear, nor is it going to induce most Muslim and Arab Middle Eastern populations not to wish for Israel’s disappearance. When the chant “From the river to the sea” appears in marches on U.S. campuses and has for years in Arabic newspapers, no one is referring just to the lands that Israel acquired in the June 1967 war. The disastrously toxic combination of philosophical hate driven by limitless access to petrodollars must be neutralized. Zionism succeeded because we took destiny into our own hands. Israel and Jews in the Diaspora will survive and with distinction if we collectively rebuild our strategic deterrence, if we adjust our governing institutions so they can readily accept change in priorities, if we choose leaders who are not mesmerized by their own grandeur, if we rededicate ourselves to taking pride in learning our own story, and if, we relentlessly message that story. The vial of actionable engagement must last way beyond eight days, it must last for lifetimes to come. Ken Stein, PhD is the emeritus professor of Emory’s Contemporary Middle Eastern History, Political Science and Israeli studies, he is also president of the Center for Israel Education.

Alla Umanskiy Hanukkah: A Celebration of Light and Resilience

As we approach Hanukkah, it is impossible to ignore the complex situation for Jewish people in Israel and worldwide. This Festival of Lights, commemorating the miracle of the oil in the ancient Jewish temple, takes on added significance in a world where resilience and hope are needed more than ever. Hanukkah is a time to reflect on the strength of the Jewish people, who have faced historical challenges with unwavering determination. In the present day, Israel stands as a beacon of democracy in the Middle East, navigating a landscape marked by both progress and adversity. As we light the menorah, we stand in solidarity with Israel, recognizing the importance of supporting a nation that values freedom, diversity, and self-determination. The story of Hanukkah teaches us the power of perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. In our global context, this message resonates as a call to unity and understanding. It is crucial to acknowledge that discussions surrounding Israel can be complex and multifaceted. However, during Hanukkah, let us focus on the values that bind us – the pursuit of peace, justice, and the triumph of light over darkness. This holiday season, as we exchange gifts and gather with loved ones, let us extend our thoughts to Jews in Israel and around the world who continue to navigate challenges, such as war, violence and antisemitism. By fostering empathy and promoting dialogue, we can contribute to a world where the principles of Hanukkah – resilience, freedom, and the pursuit of light – are celebrated by all. Hanukkah serves as a timely reminder that, even in challenging times, the light of hope can dispel darkness. As we kindle the menorah, may the glow of Hanukkah inspire us to work towards a world for Jews where peace prevails. Alla Umanskiy is a mother, wife, writer and lover of sweets, living, working and raising a family in suburban Atlanta.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 75

CHANUKAH Renee Werbin Soon we will celebrate Chanukah, our joyous and treasured holiday commemorating the ancient and miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the tyrant Antiochus and his army of henchmen. It is the famed story of Judah the Maccabee, his brothers and his army of Jewish fighters who led a revolt that vanquished a massive Syrian Greek army and ended their rule over the Jewish people. This astonishing victory allowed the Maccabees to reclaim Jerusalem and rededicate the Second Temple. The ensuing miracle of finding a single flask of pure oil that was enough for only one night but burned for eight is even more miraculous. This tiny amount of oil illuminated the Temple’s Menorah for eight glorious nights bringing light into the Temple, to the Jewish People and to the world. One cannot see light, but we are keenly aware of its presence as it allows us to see the world around us. Light shines as a ray of hope and brightens possibilities; it is a positive symbol of goodness and beauty. Throughout generations tyrants have risen to destroy us; to take away our light and shroud us in darkness. When we study history, we see generations of our people who faced relentless foes and impossible odds, yet our Judaism and our traditions survived. On October 7, 2023, we were cast into darkness again when more than 1400 of our brothers and sisters in Israel were annihilated and over 240 of our people taken hostage, but not even Hamas can quell the light that burns so brightly over our people. In this current time with so much darkness upon us, rising anti-Semitism, and anti-Israel sentiment, we must remember the light that G-d put in every Jew. Chanukah reminds us of how bright that light can shine. May the miracle of Chanukah and the lights of our menorahs spark a fire that ignites us individually and as a community to remember who we are and proudly honor our heritage. May we unite together to bring more light into the world. Renee Werbin is the President of SRI Travel and the Publisher and Co-Founder of Travelgirl Magazine.

Rabbi Mark Zimmerman For over 2,000 years, we Jews were an extremely vulnerable people. Living in exile, we endured inquisitions, pogroms, and genocide. We could not control either our security or our destiny. But if we go back some 2,100 years to the time of the Maccabees, we find a period when we were not so vulnerable. The story of Hanukkah recalls a time when a relatively small band of Jews decided that they had enough of being ruled by a cruel tyrant. We rose up in revolt against the powerful Assyrian Greeks. What followed was a resounding Jewish victory, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the miracle of Hanukkah which we celebrate every year until this day. Jewish rule in Judea lasted some 200 years after the Maccabees, finally collapsing in the first century CE. Without a homeland, a military, or ability to ensure our safety, we lived (or died) at the whim of various rulers, kings and tyrants. We shuddered in fear of the next crusade, pogrom, or antiSemitic attack, relying on the good graces of the king or government to protect our communities. And often there was no protection to be found. The American Jewish experience, of course, has been markedly different from what our people experienced in Europe. Sure, antisemitism existed on these shores as well, often just below the surface, but it was largely limited to rhetoric and discrimination. We felt safe, built robust communities, synagogues, JCC’s, and Day Schools. We thrived as Jewish Americans and felt that here we were finally accepted as an integral part of the American tapestry. But after the events of October 7th, we feel that familiar, aching sense of vulnerability once again. If there is a lesson to be learned from the Hanukkah story, it is that fatalism and retreat is not the answer. The answer to hate is resolve, inner strength, pride, determination and resilience. We saw that power of the Jewish spirit on full display during the solidarity rally last month in Washington DC. Nearly 300,000 of us came together from across the country to sing, pray, and support one another at this difficult time. A meme going around captured our sentiments perfectly: “In the past few weeks we have learned that the world doesn’t care about us as much as we hoped, but we care about each other a lot more than we realized.” And therein lies the Jewish people’s most powerful weapon. God willing, the heroism and determination of the Maccabees will inspire us and strengthen us to face the difficult days ahead and make the world a safer place for Jews and people everywhere. Rabbi Mark Zimmerman is the senior rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in Dunwoody.

76 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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CHANUKAH

Atlanta Jewish Times Staff Wishes Our Community

Happy Chanukah

From Our AJT Family to Yours Kaylene Ladinsky Spreading Light in the Face of Overwhelming Darkness

Wikipedia summarizes Chanukah as a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian army. It also celebrates a miracle that happened during this time, where just a day’s supply of oil allowed the menorah in the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem to remain lit for eight days. The menorah was introduced in the Book of Exodus in the Torah. G‑d specified that the Tabernacle and then later the Holy Temple in Jerusalem must contain six holy vessels. In addition to the Holy Ark, the showbread table, two altars; one gold and one copper, and a laver; where the Priests would wash their hands and feet, was the menorah, or the candelabra, which has since become a symbol of the Jewish people. In Exodus chapter 25 G-d instructs exactly how to make the candelabra, and notes that it is made of a lump of pure gold and has seven branches. One of the major daily services, the high priest, was kindling the candelabra. The verse, however, uses an unusual expression for this task — “when you will raise up the lamps,” rather than the more common expression, “to light the lamps.” Based on a verse in Zechariah which compares the Jewish people to a golden candelabra, explains that each of the seven lamps of the candelabra corresponds to one of the seven holy character traits: kindness (chesed), austerity (gevurah), compassion (tiferet), etc. Each of the menorah’s seven lamps was filled with pure olive oil and a wick which was kindled daily. Preparation of the lamps appears to have been even more important than the lighting itself. Any Jew was qualified to light the menorah, but only Aaron and his descendants were allowed to perform the preparation. Each lamp was filled with a half log of oil, which was enough to burn through the longest winter night. Obviously, the miracle of Chanukah that I can relate to most is that each of us have our own characteristics that illuminates our Jewish values. Together as a community we can illuminate miles and miles to combat any darkness. What is most reminiscent about the Israel-Hamas War and the story of Chanukah is conflict and the act of war itself. We may then ask: Is it even permitted according to Jewish law to put oneself in such certain danger? Of course, according to the Torah, war is permitted when circumstances warrant it. In some cases, it is even obligatory. War is dangerous and typically leads to many deaths. But one wages war with the objective of being victorious, and the losses are the price of conflict. Here, however, the war seemed totally hopeless, as there seemed to be no way that it could have ended in anything other than total defeat. In hindsight, we know that “a great miracle happened there,” and a historic victory was achieved. But the Jews could not have known this would happen. Based on the facts available to them, their objective was impossible to achieve, and was destined to result in deadly consequences. By what right did the Maccabees initiate a conflict that, according to any reasonable assessment, was going to conclude in carnage? It is therefore central to the conflict in the Chanukah story that it was waged by the priests. They were the ones who needed to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to prevent Judaism from slipping into oblivion. It mattered little to them how great the risk was, or how poor their chances of survival. They were not standing up for a single mitzvah; they were defending the entire faith. By instigating a war against the Greeks, regardless of the risk or the cost, the Maccabees were making a statement for their generation, and for all generations to come: There are people of stature who will never reconcile themselves with the destruction of Judaism. There is nothing that hurts me more than violence, war or fighting on any level. But this conflict is one where Israel is standing up for their right to exist and to stop the terrorism in the streets. Their act of supreme courage stands as a beacon for all eternity, that when it comes to the survival of Judaism there is no way we will ever capitulate. No matter the size or power of the opposition, and irrespective of their ruthlessness, we will stand our ground. When we kindle our Chanukah candles each year, the lights that glow are the spirit of faith and determination of the Maccabees. We recall their commitment to spreading light in the face of overwhelming darkness. We carry their torch today. We need to have the courage of our convictions. That is today’s miracle. Am Yisrael Chai! Kaylene Ladinsky is editor and managing publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times. Resources: Chabad.org, including Rabbi Yossi Ives and Wikipedia.com

78 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHANUKAH Lilli Jennison Be A Light

In a world full of hate, be a light When you do somebody wrong, make it right Don’t hide in the dark, you were born to shine In a world full of hate, be a light In a place that needs change, make a difference In a time full of noise, just listen ‘Cause life is but a breeze, better live it In a place that needs a change, make a difference - Excerpt from the song “Be a Light” by Thomas Rhett In a world full of hate, be a light. There is so much hate in the world right now, here are 8 small ways you can be a light. 1: Smile and give someone a genuine compliment. 2: Apologize when necessary 3: Share your talents with the community 4: Send cards or presents to a children’s hospital or retirement home. 5: Donate items you no longer have use for to someone who can use them. 6: Volunteer your time. 7: Be a listening ear to someone who needs to talk. 8: Be nice Lilli Jennison is the Creative Director for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Sasha Heller It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Chanukah It’s beginning to look a lot like Chanukah Everywhere you go Take a look at the latkes fry, I’m winning all the gelt tonight When the dreidels spin to and fro Chanukah is my favorite time of the year. As a child, it was all about the gifts and the gelt. The first few nights were always the best as my family usually front-loaded the eightnight gift giving schedule with the most expensive (and, therefore, most desired) presents. On the first night of Chanukah, I might have received a new video game console or baseball bat. But by the eighth night, since my parents were both teachers, I would usually receive a book, pens, or pencils. But I always tried to be grateful, no matter how small the price tag. And I still do, even more so today as my age and experience have provided me with perspective. This year, I am grateful that the speaker system in our office building has not yet started playing Christmas music. I am grateful for Atlanta sports teams, even though the Falcons and Hawks are two of the most frustrating teams to root for. But more importantly, I am grateful that – at the time of this writing – dozens of hostages have been safely returned to their families in Israel and across the world. I am so ready for this war to end. I have been a journalist for 13 years but had never covered a war before. It’s exhausting – both physically and emotionally. But we press on, every day hoping for good news and signs that the conflict may be resolved soon; even though, in our hearts, we know that news is still far from breaking. So, until then, we pray. We light the menorah, spin our dreidel, and soak up the love of the oil in each and every latke. Am Yisrael Chai. Happy Chanukah. Sasha Heller is the Associate Editor and Web Editor for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

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CHANUKAH Michal Bonell How do we find the light through the horrific darkness that’s taken place in Israel and the destruction we see daily in Gaza? I find that like many, I am triggered by occurrences that I never would have really noticed before. For example, since this war began around Halloween, I found that I was unable to watch horror films, which never really triggered any personal emotion. Now, any violent act I see on TV brings out fear and paranoia within me. I just returned from a fun-filled visit to Disney World, where my friends and I enjoyed an Indiana Jones stunt show, featuring a kidnapping scene. I couldn’t help the triggered feelings that washed over me, even though it was a silly performance. I lay in my warm comforting bed each night and wonder if the hostages have their basic needs, food, warmth, toiletries. It’s hard, it’s frightening, and it’s just so heavy to deal with war, with hate, with fear. The only thing I can do is be thankful to have my day-to-day basic needs met; To have my family close by and safe. I pray for peace and hope that someday we can live in a world without war, without violence, and without prejudice. Amen! Michal Bonell is the Senior Account Manager and Team Supervisor for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Ilyssa Klein I have always felt a strong connection to my Jewish roots in culture and tradition. I grew up learning about, and understanding, the struggle the Jewish people endured throughout history to fight for survival and the freedom to practice Judaism. This has fostered in me a profound sense of responsibility to ensure our religion, culture and traditions lived on. October 7th shook me to my core. It was as if I was transported back to Eastern Europe in the 1930s and 40s - Never Again was here. While I have had my own isolated experiences with antisemitism and knowledge of others’ experiences as well, the volume I began to see emerging all over the world has been a terrifying reality. How is it that the world is, once again, supporting terrorism and calling for the demise of the Jewish people instead of rallying around us? The events of October 7th and everything that has transpired since is a reminder that we need to stand together to fight for Holocaust education, the right for Jewish students to feel safe on college campuses, the right to feel safe in our daily lives, and, ultimately, the right to exist. This time of year, as we prepare to celebrate Hanukkah with our friends and loved ones, we will carry the victims, the hostages, and the survivors of October 7th in our hearts. As we do this, we will remember how the Maccabee’s fought and persevered and how we will do the same to guarantee a future for our children - may our light always shine bright! Ilyssa Klein is an account manager for the Atlanta Jewish Times.

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CHANUKAH Fran M. Putney

I write this greeting on the day before I got engaged earlier this month. It’s a funny Thanksgiving – a holiday I enjoy in part because feeling because while my fiancé Kyle and I are on it’s one that most Americans, regardless of cloud nine, we’re also very grounded about all the religion or politics, celebrate in unity. work and planning that’s ahead of us. Even the But this message is about Chanukah, a simplest thing like picking a date has my head Jewish holiday, that speaks to, among its themes, swimming because it’s not just picking a date, it’s freedom and miracles. This year as Chanukah the weather and will people be available and how nears, the world feels especially heavy and frankly, expensive is that month and what does that mean for scary. While some of my work involves Holocaust colors and flowers and the dress and, …. It has us feeling history, I have up until now compartmentalized its as Bilbo Baggins put it, “Thin, sort of stretched, like butter relevance for today as mostly a cautionary tale. But the scraped over too much bread.” We must constantly remind changing winds of politics and ideology of recent years have each other to just breathe and enjoy being engaged. Life goes by much too fast, and it’s important to take this time to celebrate the engagement and the holidays with our made me understand that I live in a bubble of denial, with the events of October 7 and its aftermath causing sentiments of antisemitism and dissention to boil families. worldwide. My advice, to myself and to you, is to slow down. It’s easy to get caught up in Despair is not too strong a word for how I feel about what is happening in planning the “perfect holiday” or “perfect wedding” and then you get to the end and realize you never enjoyed any of it. In 10 years, no one will remember if the house was Israel and Gaza right now. I have been to Israel twice and love this land and what it spotless or if the gifts were perfectly wrapped, they’ll remember the time spent together. means for the Jewish people. I follow the news and try to educate myself through a variety of sources on the current status and long history of this very complicated So slow down, take a breath, and enjoy these moments with the ones that you love. situation: from international media and podcasts I trust, to Ken Stein’s Center for Katie Gaffin is the events and public relations coordinator at the Atlanta Jewish Times. Israel Education’s excellent weekly webinars, to the Israel Consulate’s daily updates. I want to understand as much as possible and encourage everyone to do the same. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for another Chanukah miracle to occur – one that would bring peace and safety to all who live in this region? Sadly, I have no hope for such a miracle. Instead, I pray for the light of compassion to be kindled in all people as a small start for healing and progress. Fran Putney is on the editorial staff at the Atlanta Jewish Times and communications manager at the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust.

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CHANUKAH Rebecca LaBanca During this holiday season we should take some time to reflect on our triumphs and accomplishments. As of late it seems that the Jewish people are under a microscope. We should be proud of our Jewish identity and remember we are a strong people with a robust heritage and community. Sometimes that can be difficult given today’s current events. In times of adversity, we need to be even stronger and draw from within. This is no easy task but is worth it. We will not be silent, and our voice will be heard. Sometimes that means speaking out and educating others about the truth. It is important that we continue our traditions which we pass down to our children. Our continued bravery and faith in humanity will keep us strong. I hope for this coming year that we continue to be resilient and be proud of our Judaism.

Diana Cole When I look at the menorah, I am reminded of the meaning behind Hanukah. Miracle. If you look all around, you will see miracles happening. Whether it be a newborn taking his / her first breath, or a person surviving a horrible disease. These are all miracles. You need to look at life through a different lens to see them. Now with all the horrors in the world currently, there are some miracles. Yes, there were more tragedies than miracles, but rose-colored glasses. I encourage you to look at each life’s moments if they were a miracle. Happy Hannukah. Diana Cole is the community coordinator at the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Rebecca LaBanca is an administrative assistant at Atlanta Jewish Times.

SHARE THE JOY AND WONDER OF FERNBANK MUSEUM THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Give a gift membership for year-round fun and adventure. FernbankMuseum.org/GiftGuide 82 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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Now more than ever, our world needs an increase of light, joy, and Jewish unity. This Chanukah, join us #AsYouAre in adding light for Israel, by celebrating belonging and kindness. With fun for all ages and abilities, be a part of this groundbreaking event that highlights the unique friendships in the Atlanta inclusion community.

1:30 PM The Friendship Festival will be

preceded by the Friendship 5K/ 1 Mile Walk. For more information, please visit friendship5k.org

Fake Snow

Mechanical Bull

Permanent Jewelry

Rock Climbing

Chanukah Crafts

BBQ Food Truck 21+

Petting Zoo

Foosball Exclusive Table ATLANTA JEWISH21+ Area 30, 2023 | 83 TIMES NOVEMBER

CHANUKAH

Chanukah Art contest 2023

Thank you to all who entered this year’s Chanukah art contest. In this special section we spotlight the winners and 20 editors' choice images. All of the submissions will be available to view online. Our Grand Prize winner, Katie Vogin, is 12-years-old. We had two age groups: adult (14 +) and children (13 and under), with first second and third place winners in each age group. Jasmine Shammay won first place in the adult category, and 5-year-old Lena Halpern won first place in the child category. Winners will recieve gift cards from our contest sponsor, Binders Art Supplies and Frames.

3330 Piedmont Rd. 404-237-6331

Jasmine Shammay

Age: Adult Original Painting

Katie Vogin

Parent: Jill Vogin Age: 12 Hanukkah lights

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GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Lena Halpern

Parent: Rachael Halpern Age: 5 The Chanukah Special

ADULT FIRST PLACE WINNER

CHILD FIRST PLACE WINNER

CHANUKAH

Sharon Weiss Age: 74 Menorah

Emma Levin Andrew Levin d Parents: Alix an Age: 9 iah Chagall Chanuk

ADULT SECOND PLACE WINNER

CHILD SECOND PLACE WINNER

Muriel Linsky

Age: 88 Miracles 5784

Arden Halpe

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Parent: Alli H alpern Age: 8 My Hanukkah Happy Place

ADULT THIRD PLACE WINNER

CHILD THIRD PL ACE WINNER

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CHANUKAH

COVER WINNER

Michael Blaiss

Age: 70 Standing with Israel at Chanukah

Declan-Haven "Dex" Rabin Parent: Danya Maloon Age: 9 nnukah The Grinch Who Stole Ha

Nathan Kats

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Kat Parents: Christina SaurelAge: 7 Spinning Dreidel

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Maya Dagmi

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Daniela Freund

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CHANUKAH

Isla Epstein

Akiva Zinn

Parents: Cory Isaacson and Age: 5 Shining Candles

Parent: Laura Epstein Age: 6 Colors Of Judaism

Avi Zinn

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For events and more information, visit www.the-temple.org/chanukah. 88 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

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Jenna Epstein

Parent: Sara Epstein Age: 12 Chanukiah in the Wind ow

Color Spectrum Chanukiot by Ava S. Class of 2020

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CHANUKAH

Bella Ebrams

Parents: Tzeryl and Eli Ebrams Age: 12 Lizkor

Lizzy Harris

Parent: Renee Harris Age: 12 Golden Chanukah

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Daniel Weinstein

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CHANUKAH

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Parent: Neelima Pottigari Age: 10 The Spiritual Light

Coby Ebrams

Parents: Tzeryl and Eli Ebrams Age: 10 a Saga Chanukah

DISCOVER THE GLOW OF NATURE AT NIGHT

Select Evenings, Limited Time Only

A great alternative to holiday lights

Tickets also include current Special Exhibit(s) and a Giant Screen Film.

A WORLD OF WOW Get tickets at FernbankMuseum.org/AGLOW

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 93

ARTS & CULTURE Stern Creates in Multiple Directions By Marcia Caller Jaffe Aviva Stern’s decades of artistry expands, engages, and evolves as mixed media paintings, sculpture, and collage. Stern began her career in modern dance and graduated from The High School of Performing Arts in New York City. She then received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from New York University. After many years of performing in the New York area, she began studying ceramics to follow with an apprenticeship in New York and several years at the Bezalel Art Academy in Israel. She said, “I danced from an early age, finding self-expression through movement. Movement has been the primary motivator in my life as an artist. Motion has highlighted all of my various artistic endeavors. I consider myself to be both a dancer and an artist.” Inspired by the variety of desert landscapes and their Earth tones while living in Israel, Stern embarked on an exploration of ceramic surfaces. Although her ceramics are contemporary, her surfaces have an ancient, dry, rock-like quality and a visual reference to archaeology. While her many years as a dancer have influenced her work, her pieces are often designed in multiples, alluding to groups of dancers inhabiting the space. In addition to ceramic sculpture, Stern has expanded to include painting and mixed-media sculpture. She stated, “I rarely stay with one form for very long. Rather, I shift back and forth, investigating a variety of designs and media. Each new piece builds upon the preceding work; earlier ideas reappear as fresh designs, emerge in untried materials, and acquire a new identity.” Stern’s alma mater, the Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem, was established in 1906 and is touted as Israel’s preeminent academic institution for art, design, and architecture with courses in screenbased arts, jewelry fashion, landscaping, photography, visual and material culture, in addition to the fine arts. In terms of incorporating Judaic messages and themes in her work, Stern noted, “My Judaic background has mainly influenced my sculpture. I have created multiple Judaic-themed religious objects to include menorahs and mezuzahs. I really enjoy making Judaica – specifically out of ceramics and other materials, and of all styles. I like a variety of materials such as ceramics, wood, and paper and take great inspiration from the desert Earth tones and hues.” She continued, “When I lived in Israel 94 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Aviva Stern stands in front of one of her works, “Pink Cloud/Blue Sea.”

“Line in the Sand” is a mixed media collage.

“Never Would I Have Dreamed” has eight figures standing around a book.

In “Ancient Stems,” Stern uses intense magenta to interpret these striking flowers contrasted against deep blue.

“Clouds and Sea” is a 36 x 36” acrylic on canvas.

“Around the Bend” is an original Stern creation.

for six years, I was greatly influenced by Israeli artists. Italy was also a major influence for me, in my painting and sculpture. Traveling through Italy was so inspiring and gave me many ideas for my own work. Overall, my artistic inspiration has been enhanced by the many countries to which I have traveled. I visited museums worldwide to broaden my perspective.” Stern considers living and studying in Israel as “very interesting yet challenging.” She was not fluent in Hebrew upon arriving there, but after six years, she

became proficient in the language. Stern ultimately returned to the U.S. and began exhibiting in galleries around the country. Stern previously worked at The Epstein School and the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. She creates out of her home in a “well-equipped studio” where she spends several hours daily developing new projects and managing multiple pieces concurrently. Artists who Stern admires are Peter Vulkas, an accomplished ceramic artist, Mark Rothko, and Richard Meier.

When asked what’s left for her to create, Stern said she will focus on ceramic tile murals. Outside of art, Aviva enjoys watching vintage movies and hiking. She concluded, “I enjoy teaching my children and grandchildren, most of whom have attached great value to creating joint works in my studio.” Visit www.avivasternstudio.com to view images and learn more. Stern takes commissions for both paintings and sculptures. ì

Fritz Scholder’s masked Sioux “Fancy Dancer in Roma” rests below a mask from Santa Fe. Below is a sculpture of Isom Dart, an infamous African American Wild West cattle driver and horse rustler (late 1800s) by Ed Dwight .

Chai Style Art

Henry Bauer chills in the sunroom with dog, Scooter, in front of Anne Hathaway’s whimsical watercolor, “Moose Under the Stars and Moon.” // Photos by Howard Mendel

Bauer’s Urban Ranch Seeking a haven for his family after his father’s death in 1983, attorney Henry Bauer and wife, Mary Carole, also an attorney, Marcia discovered the Caller Jaffe R Lazy S dude ranch at the foot of the Grand Tetons outside Jackson Hole, Wyo. What was supposed to be a one-time family experience with two children has become an annual summer pilgrimage now totaling 11 with five grandchildren. “Returning to the ranch each summer is like going back to family adventure camp with horseback riding, hiking, fly fishing, games on horseback and cattle herding competitions. This summer, our two oldest grandchildren and our son-in-law “summated” the Grand Teton,” said Bauer. Prior to the ranch experience, Henry was a collector of folk art and art commemorating the South’s civil rights struggle. In a desire to bring the ranch

home, Henry began collecting representational, thematic and abstract paintings of the West and Southwest and the lifestyles of Native American tribes. A gift of “Custer and Crazy Horse” from his wife started Bauer on his way to what is now a respected collection of Native American and Western art and sculpture depicting Western life and wildlife. The Bauer “Ranch” in the Sherwood Forest neighborhood near The Temple, includes indigenous bead work, carvings of wildlife made from wood, whale bones, antlers as well as Native American masks and Kachina dolls. For his 65th birthday, Henry commissioned four collage paintings depicting the history of baseball by renowned Atlanta artist Charly Palmer. Saddle up for a Western art ride due east of the Tetons. Jaffe: What’s the vibe in your yard? Bauer: The front yard hosts a lifesized elk crafted from individual pieces of teak acquired while hiking in Glacier National Park; a cowboy playing a guitar made out of a pot-bellied stove, a life-sized deer with a hornet’s nest in its antlers made from scrap metal, and a deer family crafted from rebar. The private backyard refuge has Beau Smith’s

famous bronze frogs - one playing a violin; a life-sized bear carrying a fish in its mouth made from of scrap metal acquired from the Atlanta History Center by way of craftsman Tom Prochnow (Madison, Ga.) The “outback” has ample room for our beloved New Zealand herding dog, Scooter. Also in the backyard is a bronze relief of pack horses crossing a swollen river I commissioned by former Atlanta lawyer turned sculptor, Tom Player. Jaffe: Cowboy hats are everywhere. What else are we seeing? Bauer: We have an eclectic collection including a large moose antler with a carved eagle; jeweled knives from several medical mission trips to a remote Nepalese village, a wooden albatross from New Zealand, intricately carved loons by Alaskan Intuit tribesman, a rhinoceros menorah from the Jewish Museum in Cape Town, an Australian didgeridoo carved from a cactus, a monochromatic paper sculpture of the Taj Mahal and keepsakes from Israel and Eastern Europe. Jaffe: What Western artists do you favor? Bauer: I have original sculptures

of the Buffalo Soldiers by Ed Dwight, one of the first African American astronauts who segued into sculpture when he didn’t get to fly to the moon. He was a Renaissance man, as he was also an IBM computer engineer, restaurateur, and real estate developer whose sculptures are in museums and galleries worldwide. Some of my favorite Native American and Western artists are Dan Namingha, Malcolm Furlow, Michael Kalish, Tony Abeyta, Rocky Hawkins, Tom Gilleon, and John Nieto. Namingha’s abstract landscape paintings show respect for the Earth and the Moon and the spirit of his Hopi-Tewa ancestry. His works are shown in museums including the Smithsonian and Harvard. Furlow painted this engaging Indian Chief in a ’57 Chevy that spans a hallway. He and John Nieto were considered living legends in the fabric of Southwest art using acrylic images in royal blue, orange, peach, and yellow tones. Their works are in the Smithsonian and very high-brow collections like Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Jane Goodall, Jon Bon Jovi, and the Coca-Cola Museum. We have paintings by Abeyta, a member of the Navaho tribe known for his abstract Western landscapes, and Gilleon,

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 95

CHAI STYLE famous for his depiction of tepees, Nieto and Rocky Hawkins known for their colorful abstract paintings of Plains Indians, and Lousia McElwain, noted for abstract landscapes. Behind the piano is an aqua and brown wooden vessel from the Jackson Hole Arts Festival by Mary Envers constructed with 60,000 individual beads. Look very closely to see the detail. Jaffe: In addition to the Western art, we see… Bauer: Folk art which I began deemphasizing after I got into the Western realm. Our work by Alpha Andrews is on three different layers of glass in the powder room. The dining room has one of Ab the Flagman’s most famous American flags created from reclaimed, reconstructed wood and found objects. His work is in the Atlanta High Museum of Art, as well as House of Blues venues and private collections like Microsoft. Opposite the piano in the living room is the Civil Rights area centered around the original 1968 “I AM A MAN” photograph of the Memphis Above: This uproariously colorful “Indian in a ’57 Chevy” is by Taos, N.M., artist Malcolm Furlow and is one of Bauer’s favorites. Right: In the dining room is a restored 100-plus-year-original: ld painting of the Grand Canyon by Louis Benton Akin. Below is Ed Dwight’s “The Rescue,” a depiction of African American Buffalo Soldiers. Below: As a diversion from Western art, hanging in Bauer’s den is his prized neon Budweiser sign from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Left: These two paintings of cowboys with their horses are by GL Richardson based out of a working ranch in New Mexico.

96 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

CHAI STYLE garbage workers’ strike taken and signed by Ernest Withers, known as the African American chronicler of the civil rights era. It was later discovered that he was also working for the FBI. Above the photograph are two paintings depicting the same event by Atlanta artist Charly Palmer who recently was on the cover of Time Magazine honoring his civil rights art. His painting of activist Medgar Evers assassinated in Mississippi (1963), hangs in our dining room. In the grandkids’ bedrooms are vibrant watercolor paintings of African American women in long colorful dresses by Texas folk artist, Jackie Halliburton. Jaffe: Last word. Bauer: I smile thinking about how shocked my late parents would have been to have known that I would be recognized as a serious “collector." Quite frankly, that surprises the hell out of me as I began collecting, not to become known for anything, but solely for the purpose of bringing joy to me and my family. Our art has been well-received on a number of art tours, the most common refrain being that ‘it reflects our family, not some interior designer.’” ì

Above: Henry and Mary Carole relax in front of Navajo artist Daniel Namingha’s Western landscapes noted for their depiction of wide-open spaces with buttes and moons. Above: Map of the United States is by noted license plate artist and former Atlantan and Woodward Academy grad, Michael Kalish , now LA-based. Below: The Bauer “outback” has several Beau Smith Bronze frogs and a life-sized bear with a fish in tow by Thomas Prochnow which originally was in front of the Atlanta History Center.

Below: Ab the Flagman’s noted American Flag from found pieces of wood appearing to be blowing in the wind; (left) Charly Palmer’s civil rights paintings of Medgar Evers and Ernest Whiter’s “I AM A MAN” photograph.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 97

CALENDAR

DECEMBER 1 - DECEMBER 14

Various Dates and Times Etz Chaim’s Sisterhood Judaica & Gifts Shop has all your Chanukah needs and more, all under one roof! We are open on Sundays, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., when Religious School is in session, Mondays, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., and Tuesdays, from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. when Religious School is in session. Find out more at https://bit. ly/3SEZXvt.

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble from Stage Door Theatre that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. Find dates, times, and tickets at https://bit. ly/3Szbvk0.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1 Shabbat, Me, & Rabbi G - 5 to 5:30 p.m. Bring your children to the JCC for a fun Shabbat celebration with Rabbi G! All are invited to this monthly Shabbat sing-along featuring activities, Shabbat songs, and more! Learn more at https://bit.ly/486n3jM.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 Celebrate Pride Shabbat with Us - 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Etz Chaim and its Pride Alliance invite you to Pride Shabbat. Our Rabbinic Fellow, Rabbi Jonathon Adler will lead us in prayer and give the D’var Torah. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3SAFOXy. 98 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Hot Cocoa for Hanukkah - 10:30 a.m. CNT is co-hosting a Pop Up Play date with PJ Library! This will be a Hannukah themed event for terrific toddlers (ages 1-5), with songs, stories and treats. Please visit https://bit.ly/49AXdp6 for additional details, registration and updated info.

Second Annual Build your own Menorah at CNT! - 5:00 p.m. Create your own “hardware” menorah and enjoy traditional Hanukkah treats. The cost is free, but donations are welcome! Bring your menorahs to Shabbat Services on Friday, December 8 at 7:30 pm to light them for the second night of Hanukkah. RSVP to https://bit. ly/3MDe3tu by November 26 with the number attending and the number of menorah kits needed.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 Mazal Tots: Baby and Me - 9:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Welcoming a new addition to your family is a joyous occasion, and finding a supportive community to share the journey makes it even more special. Introducing Mazal Tots, a unique gathering designed to foster connections, provide resources, and celebrate the beautiful journey of parenthood. With dedicated age-specific sections, we cater to the needs of families with infants (0-5 months), movers and groovers (6-17 months), and toddlers (18 months-3 yrs), creating an inclusive space for all. Sessions are guided by Jackie Perilman, a professional with over 15 years of experience with early intervention and preschoolaged children specializing in language and communication skills. RSVP at https://bit.ly/44FlrL9.

Lego Menorah Workshop - 2 p.m. Bring along the kids for an exciting Lego Menorah building workshop. A professional team of Lego masters will guide each child to build their very own Menorah out of Lego to take home and show their friends! Plus, enjoy delicious donuts and other Chanukah treats! Register at https://bit. ly/477jqcB. The Georgian Chamber Players - 3 to 5 p.m. Join Ahavath Achim Synagogue for a concert featuring the Georgian Chamber Players presented by the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund. Get more information at https://bit.ly/3QqSQnK.

High Donor Appreciation Event (JFFATL) - 6 to 8 p.m. The Jewish Fertility Foundation is so very grateful to our high donors. Please join us for dinner, drinks and socializing to celebrate JFF and your extraordinary generosity. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3Sum0oE. Bat Mitzvah Club @ Chabad Intown - 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Your daughter's approaching Bat Mitzvah marks a significant milestone for her as a Jewish woman. While the celebration is essential, its true importance lies in shaping her identity as a Jew for the long term. We emphasize that it’s not a graduation from Judaism, but rather the beginning of a vibrant Jewish life. To ensure this, we’ve established the successful Bat Mitzvah Club. We provide a space for girls aged 11-13 to learn, enjoy, and connect with other Bat Mitzvah girls. The club meetings are open to all, regardless of where they plan to celebrate their Bat Mitzvah. Register at https://bit.ly/44VT1ND. Shining a Light on the College Admissions Process - 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. Join JumpSpark, Atlanta’s Jewish teen initiative, and community partners for an evening of information sharing, resource collection and connection with fellow parents of high school students (10th and 11th grade parents are encouraged but all parents are welcome). Participants will leave with a toolkit of resources that will help guide them and their teens through the process and help alleviate undue stress on their families. Learn more at https://bit.ly/46deNfW.

Menorah Workshop @ Ace - 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Make and paint a menorah & taste the flavors of Chanukah with Mitzvah House. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3FTQKIk. Hanukkah Party - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Join PJ Library Brookhaven for crafts, music class, and donuts. For families with children ages 0-5 and their older siblings. RSVP at https://bit.ly/40yIl6u to receive address.

Gathering of Small Communities - 3:30 p.m. You are cordially invited to a Gathering of Small Communities, a celebration of Jewish life and experiences from the congregation and community in which you grew up. RSVP at https://bit.ly/40Am6x5.

Jewish Matchmaking! - 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Don’t miss this evening with Aleeza Ben Shalom, the Netflix Jewish Matchmaker! Purchase tickets at https://bit. ly/3uhSckQ.

CANDLE-LIGHTING TIMES Torah Reading: Vayishlach Friday, December 1, Kislev 18, 5784 Light Candles at 5:09 PM Saturday, December 2, Kislev 19, 5784 Shabbat Ends 6:08 PM Torah Reading: Vayeishev Friday, December 8, Kislev 25, 5784 Light Shabbat Candles at 5:09 PM Saturday, December 9, Kislev 26, 5784 Shabbat Ends 6:08 PM Torah Reading: Mikeitz Friday, December 15, Tevet 3, 5784 Light Shabbat Candles at 5:11 PM Saturday, December 16, Tevet 4, 5784 Shabbat Ends 6:10 PM

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4 2023 FIDF Atlanta Legends & Heroes of the IDF - 6:30 to 9 p.m. This donor appreciation event is reserved exclusively for those FIDF members who have generously donated or will donate a minimum of $1,000 toward the 2023 FIDF annual campaign. For Young Leadership (35 & under) a minimum of $360 toward the 2023 FIDF annual campaign. RSVP at https://bit. ly/478KSGY.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5 Lunch and Learn with Rabbi Dorsch 12 to 1 p.m. Join Rabbi Dorsch for his monthly Torah Study on a variety of topics. This program is at 1 Concourse Pkwy, (King/Queen buildings) in the lobby conference room named “Virginia Highlands”. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3QRGwgH.

JELF’s Annual Meeting - 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Whether you can attend in-person or virtually, your presence matters as we unite in recognizing the profound impact of our collective efforts! This complimentary reception celebrates JELF and the incredible work of our Jewish community, including dedicated donors whose consistent support fuels our mission. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3QvVfNW.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

Menorah Lighting at Dunwoody Village - 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Join Mitzvah House for the third annual Menorah lighting at Dunwoody Village. The great Rocco Lapaire will be doing fire tricks and stunts, there will be a gelt drop and donuts and latkes, bounce houses and prizes, oh my! This is perfect for your middle schoolers- but really the whole family should start Chanukah off on a high! Find out more at https://bit.ly/3MDQ8Km. First Night Celebration - 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Join Temple Kehillat Chaim for a First night of Chanukkah celebration with Roswell City Council members. Register at https://bit.ly/3SQdNeN.

Family Dinner & Chanukkah Shabbat - 6:15 p.m. Join Temple Kehillat Chaim for a Shabbat Service with Cantor Jennifer Duretz Peled. There will be a Fried Chicken dinner, Menorah Lighting, and a Musical Shabbat service. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3RcwfNv.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9 Gan Katan -10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Congregation Or Hadash is thrilled to introduce a monthly drop-off preschool program at Machon Hadash this year! The program is designed for 3-5-yearolds and is taught by a wonderful, warm, experienced Jewish preschool teacher. After the children finish up each week, we invite parents and kids to stay for child-friendly snacks and schmooze, and for kiddush lunch, too. All are welcome - you do not need to be a member of Or Hadash. Register at https://bit.ly/3KtkKxb.

Flame Chanukah Party - 7 to 11 p.m. Come celebrate Chanukah at Midtown’s hottest new event space! Jewish unity is something we all need right now. Gather on the first night of Chanukah for an incredible evening of light. Kick-off the night with a Menorah Lighting followed by an epic afterparty with hundreds of young adults. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3FSEtUl.

Chanukah Celebration - Flowery Branch - 5 to 7 p.m. Join Chabad of Hall County for a Chanukah celebration as we light the menorah for the first time in Downtown Flowery Branch! RSVP at https://bit.ly/3QTCYve.

Li’l Shabbat: Hanukkah Around the World - 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Join Nurture & PJ Library families for a taste of Hanukkah Around the World. Start the morning with Shabbat songs and stories followed by a tour around the world to learn how families in different countries celebrate Hanukkah with unique and fun traditions! Register at https://bit.ly/3FQzt2m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6 Java and Jewels - 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. An uplifting and fun Pre - Chanukah evening for women with the Chabad of Fulton. Metal stamping jewelry, cocktails and inspiration. RSVP at https:// bit.ly/47z3mA9.

Mega Chanukah Event at the Battery Atlanta - 5:30 p.m. Start your Chanukah with a bang at the Battery Atlanta’s epic event. Fun for the whole family, with a special appearance by BLOOPER from the BRAVES. Don’t miss the joy, treats, and Chanukah spirit. Armed security will be present at the event. Find out more at https:// bit.ly/3uaqDds.

Tot Shabbat at Etz Chaim - 5 to 6:30 p.m. Etz Chaim Preschool invites you to our monthly Tot Shabbat on Fridays. Bring your own dairy or pareve dinner, and join us for songs, dances, crafts, and fun! Find out more at https://bit.ly/3sQ5nsK. Kabbalat Panim and Kabbalat Shalom Shabbat Service - 5:45 to 8 p.m. Once a month at Congregation Dor Tamid will gather for a Kabbalat Panim, an Oneg Shabbat before services at 5:45 p.m. We will then move to the sanctuary to welcome in Shabbat together at 6:15 p.m. Learn more at https://bit. ly/3QgXaHw.

Farbrengen! - 1:30 to 3 p.m. The Mitzvah House favorite Shabbat of the month is next weekend! Farbrengen! Wine and Dine with us at lunch. It’s the community you KNEW you needed but with better food than you could’ve dreamed of. Free and open to the community. break bread with us. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3SALn8r. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 99

Chanukah Story Time - 10 to 11 a.m. The Mitzvah House is having the sweetest mommy and me sing along and story time at Wee Bee Baby Boutique. For the littles in your life and their parents. Learn more at https://bit.ly/40wv1zs.

Kid Fun Yoga - 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Each Kid Fun Yoga class with Jennifer Gruher at MJCCA will focus on proper breathing practices and guided meditations through affirmations and mantras. Little yogis will learn sequences and poses that focus on building strength, flexibility, and balance, all while having a ton of FUN! Classes will include yoga games, music, and mindfulness activities that build confidence. Kid Fun Yoga will leave the kids feeling a renewed sense of well-being, balance, peace, and calm. Register at https://bit. ly/3rJa6M9.

Hadassah Greater Atlanta Brunch and Installation - 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hadassah Greater Atlanta invites you to join us for Brunch and the 2024 Board Installation. Register at https://bit. ly/3MyFrsM.

Super Chanukkah – 12 to 2 p.m. Join Temple Kehillat Chaim for a Super Chanukkah celebration. Lunch will be available. There will be a photo booth, crafts, DJ, Bounce House, and Vendors. Get more information at https://bit.ly/3ucKg4z.

Third Night Havdalah - 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Join Temple Kehillat Chaim for a Havdalah Service. There will be Donuts, Hot Chocolate, Crafts, and Menorah Lighting. Learn more at https:// bit.ly/3R4bwek.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10 Mazal Tots: Baby and Me - 9:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Welcoming a new addition to your family is a joyous occasion, and finding a supportive community to share the journey makes it even more special. Introducing Mazal Tots, a unique gathering designed to foster connections, provide resources, and celebrate the beautiful journey of parenthood. With dedicated age-specific sections, we cater to the needs of families with infants (0-5 months), movers and groovers (6-17 months), and toddlers (18 months-3 yrs), creating an inclusive space for all. Sessions are guided by Jackie Perilman, a professional with over 15 years of experience with early intervention and preschoolaged children specializing in language and communication skills. RSVP at https://bit.ly/44FlrL9. 100 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Unforgettable Stories from The Holocaust with Ben Walker - 2 p.m. Join the Breman Museum and Eternal Life - Hemshech with the Bearing Witness program. Mr. Walker was six years old when his family was ordered to report to the railroad station within four hours. He and his mother survived the Holocaust in conditions beyond description in Transnistria, in southern Ukraine. Following the war, they immigrated to Israel where he served in the Israeli army. Ben later moved to the United States, where he attended the University of Florida and Syracuse University before moving to Atlanta. Register at https://bit.ly/40CRCKQ.

Inclusion and Belonging Chanukah Party - 3 to 5 p.m. Join the Inclusion and Belonging Initiative in partnership with Ahavath Achim Synagogue and Congregation Shearith Israel for a Chanukah party. Register at https:// bit.ly/3SFgNdL

Menorah Lighting at the Forum - 4 to 5 p.m. Join the Chabad Enrichment Center of Gwinnett for a Chanukah celebration this holiday season! Guests are invited to The Forum to celebrate Chanukah with a Menorah lighting ceremony, family-friendly activities and entertainment. Find out more at https://bit.ly/49sOSUj.

Hanukkah in the Park - 4 to 5:30 p.m. Join 18Doors and other Jewish organizations in Atlanta for a delightful inperson celebration on the fourth night of Hanukkah in the Park! Bring your loved ones, a hanukkiah (menorah), 5 candles (4 candles for the 4th night plus the shamash, or helper, candle), foil (to put under your hanukkiah), a lighter and a picnic dinner, which we’ll all enjoy together after candle lighting. We’ll provide sufganiyot (doughnuts) and fun activities for the whole family. It will be magical to light all of our candles together in the community. This event is for Jews and their loved ones. Kids and adults of all ages are welcome! Register at https://bit. ly/3FXnEaH. Chanukah Celebration - Gainesville Square - 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Join Chabad of Hall County for a Chanukah celebration as we light the menorah at Historic Downtown Gainesville! RSVP at https://bit.ly/47rmfF9.

Chanukah Celebration at Halcyon - 5 to 7 p.m. We invite the entire community to our Chanukah Celebration at Halcyon. Meet us in the Village Green for the lighting of the Menorah, gelt (chocolate coins), latkes, games, giveaways and music. Get more information at https://bit.ly/463GS9q.

Decatur Menorah Lighting - 4 to 5:30 p.m. Join Chabad in Celebrating Chanukah at our annual Menorah Lighting in Decatur Square! Enjoy music, entertainment, Dreidels, doughnuts, hot latkes, crafts for the kids and more! Learn more at https://bit.ly/47KYbxp.

Find more events and submit items for our online and print calendars at:

www.atlantajewishconnector.com

Calendar sponsored by the Atlanta Jewish Connector, an initiative of the AJT. In order to be considered for the print edition, please submit events three to four weeks in advance. Contact Diana Cole for more information at Diana@atljewishtimes.com.

Dunwoody Chanukah Festival - 5:30 p.m. Great Chanukah fun for the whole family at The Lawn @ Ashford Lane. This is going to be one epic Chanukah get together, so mark your calendars! Learn more at https://bit. ly/46hdjkY.

ly/3SBMPHw.

Light the JCC - Hanukkah Celebration 5 to 6 p.m. Light up the JCC with Rabbi Brian Glusman to celebrate Hanukkah! Enjoy menorah lighting, Hanukkah songs, and performances. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3stmxwt.

Bat Mitzvah Club @ Chabad Intown - 5:30 to 6:45 p.m. Your daughter's approaching Bat Mitzvah marks a significant milestone for her as a Jewish woman. While the celebration is essential, its true importance lies in shaping her identity as a Jew for the long term. We emphasize that it’s not a graduation from Judaism, but rather the beginning of a vibrant Jewish life. To ensure this, we’ve established the successful Bat Mitzvah Club. We provide a space for girls aged 11-13 to learn, enjoy, and connect with other Bat Mitzvah girls. The club meetings are open to all, regardless of where they plan to celebrate their Bat Mitzvah. Register at https://bit.ly/44VT1ND.

Sparks of Light - 5:30 to 7 p.m. Celebrate the Festival of Lights at Ahavath Achim Synagogue’s annual Chanukah party, Sparks of Light! We’ll have activity tables (planned and executed by Kesher students), a singing performance, candle lighting, and fireworks display graciously provided by Wayne Neuwirth. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3FYBKZm.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11 Gelt Drop - 5 p.m. Join Chabad of Smyrna-Vinings for their Annual Gelt Drop and Menorah Lighting. There will be Gelt raining from the sky. Also, Facepainting, Balloons, Music, and Chanukah Treats. RSVP at https://bit. ly/3SvQczL.

Fifth Night Pajama Storytime - 6:30 to 8 p.m. Join Temple Kehillat Chaim for Storytelling with PJ Library, Donuts, Hot Chocolate, and Menorah Lighting. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3R1zmaF.

Am Yisrael Chai - Community Chanukkah Celebration 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Community Chanukkah Celebration with Temple Beth Tikvah, Congregation Etz Chaim, Temple Kol Emeth & Temple Kehillat Chaim. There will be Latkes, Sufganiyot, Music, Crafts, and more. Register at https://bit.ly/3MMyggs.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12

Menorah Lighting at Marietta Square - 6:30 p.m. Congregation Ner Tamid of Marietta invites you to a Menorah Lighting. Find out more at https://bit. ly/3FUAmHu.

VAHI Menorah Lighting - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join Chabad in Celebrating Chanukah at our annual Menorah Lighting in VAHI! Enjoy music, entertainment, Dreidels, doughnuts, hot latkes, crafts for the kids and more! Find out more at https://bit.ly/474dSzy.

Torah Study with the Rabbi - 2 to 3 p.m. Congregation Etz Chaim hosts a weekly Torah study with the rabbi on Tuesday mornings at Huntcliff Summit I - Independent Living. Learn more at https://bit.ly/45QdNie.

ACT Session - 12 to 2 p.m. Gathering for JWFA’s 5th cohort of the Agents of Change Training (ACT) program. Learn more at https://bit.ly/45RyhYE. Atlantic Station Menorah Lighting - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join Chabad in Celebrating Chanukah at our annual Menorah Lighting in Atlantic Station! Enjoy music, entertainment, Dreidels, doughnuts, hot latkes, crafts for the kids and more! Register at https://bit.

Seventh Night Dreidel Tournament - 6:30 to 8 p.m. Join Temple Kehillat Chaim for Pizza, Dessert, Dreidel Games, and Menorah Lighting. RSVP at https://bit.ly/49EhOZs.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14 Klezmer Concert - 6 to 7 p.m. Join the Mitzvah House for a Free Klezmer concert at the amphitheater in Brook Run Park. Pizza for sale everything else on the house. Everything else means hot soup, delicious donuts and latkes, world-class babka, and of course the best BEST time on the last night of the holiday of lights. Bring your people, this is going to be a good one. Find out more at https://bit.ly/3FVGr6y. Ponce City Market Menorah Lighting 6 to 7:30 p.m. Join Ponce City Market and Chabad Intown for a traditional menorah lighting ceremony on the Yard beginning at 6:00pm. Attendees will celebrate the Festival of Lights with an evening of food and drinks, activities for the kids and music! Learn more at https://bit.ly/3svWEfC.

Art at the Mikvah: Steffi Nicole - 6 to 8 p.m. Join MACoM, Metro Atlanta Community Mikvah in welcoming the multi-talented artist and muralist, Steffi Nicole, a true creative force. Be part of the unveiling ceremony of the magnificent mural she has masterfully crafted at the entrance to the Mikvah. We will also be lighting Chanukah candles in celebration of the 7th night. RSVP at https://bit.ly/3ZxOXS0. BJ 80th Celebration 8th Night Chanukah - 6 to 9 p.m. Celebrate 80 years of community with Beth Jacob Atlanta on the 8th night of Chanukah. Get more details at https://bit.ly/463cb48. Eighth Night S’mores Bonfire - 6:30 to 8 p.m. Celebrate the last night of Chanukkah with Temple Kehillat Chaim for S’mores, Bonfire, Games, and Menorah Lighting. Register at https://bit. ly/47heQsq. ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 101

KEEPING IT KOSHER

Peanut Chew Jelly Donuts This recipe was featured on our Instagram Stories for Chanukah 2019 #beyondthelatke. Check-in daily to see all the fun takeovers we have planned!

Ingredients 16 ounces Gefen Corn Syrup 7-8 cups rice krispies Tuscanini Forest Fruit Jam 16 ounces Gefen Peanut Butter 1 cup sugar

JEWISH JOKE

Words Per Day Avraham was reading an article out loud to his wife. “Did you know that women use about 30,000 words a day, whereas men only use 15,000 words a day?” Sadie replied, “The reason has to be because a woman has to say everything twice.” Avraham turned to Sadie and asked, “What?”

Directions Prepare the Peanut Chew Jelly Donuts 1. Melt the peanut butter, corn syrup and sugar together over a sauce pan or in the microwave.

YIDDISH WORD

2. Add in rice krispies. 3. Spray hand with oil or wear a glove to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands too much. 4. Press around one tablespoon of peanut butter rice krispie mixture into mini silicone donut pan and create a well in the center. 5. Place your favorite jam into a zip lock bag or piping bag. Cut off the tip and pipe jam into the wells of your rice krispie treats. 6. Press two donut halves together to form a 3-D jelly stuffed donut. Recipe by Esty Wolbe Recipe from www.kosher.com Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com 102 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

Gifilted Adj. Stuffed or filled up with anything; originally with food but now also with too much work or a strong emotion. “I’m gifilted with grief.” From the Yiddish gefilte fish, meaning “stuffed” fish.

BRAIN FOOD Video Game Extensions By: Yoni Glatt, koshercrosswords@gmail.com Difficulty Level: Challenging 1

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ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 103

OBITUARIES

Louise Iteld Baum

Timothy H. Boyer

Louise Iteld Baum died on Nov. 23, 2023, after a brief illness. She was born in Atlanta, Ga., on Aug. 29, 1949, to Eva and Sholem Iteld, both of blessed memory. A graduate of Morningside Elementary School, Grady High School and Georgia State University, Louise was a lifelong Atlanta resident, outside of a year at the University of Florida. The day after her 21st birthday, Louise Iteld married the love of her life, Stanley Baum. They had two daughters, Rachel and Lauren. When her children were young, Louise started a calligraphy business outside of their home. She became known in the Atlanta Jewish community as, “The Invitations Lady,” creating and addressing unique Bar and Bat Mitzvah invitations, writing and hand-painting one-of-a-kind Ketubahs (Jewish marriage licenses) for hundreds of couples. Louise used her gift for lettering, attention to detail, creativity, artistic talent, and commitment to perfection to run a successful business for decades. In her retirement, Louise volunteered with many organizations, including Ahavath Achim Synagogue and the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, telling the story of her parents’ survival of the Holocaust to middle school students across Georgia. Louise was intelligent, funny, kind, and thoughtful. She was an outstanding cook and baker, serving delicious homemade delicacies to those she cared about. She was a doting and loving wife, daughter, mom, Bubby, sister, aunt, and cousin, and a loyal friend to many. She is survived by her beloved husband of 53 years, Stanley Baum, her children, Rachel and Brandon Rosenbloom and Lauren Baum, and the light of her life, her grandson Benjamin Rosenbloom, as well as her sister, Judy (Larry) Kaminsky, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Funeral services were held at 3:00 pm on Sunday, Nov. 26, at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt. Vernon Highway, Sandy Springs, GA with Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal officiating. You can sign the online guestbook at www.dresslerjewishfunerals.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the charity of your choice to honor Louise’s spirit of giving. She will be sorely missed by all who knew, admired, and loved her. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, Atlanta 770-451-4999.

Timothy H. Boyer, age 68, of Atlanta passed away on Nov. 17, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Adrienne Boyer, daughter, Rebecca Boyer, son, Sam Boyer, sister, Christine (Doug) Timmons, and his beloved puppy, Teddy. Tim was born in Harvey and raised in Homewood, Ill. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from DePaul University. He was devoted to his family, a lifelong learner, and loved music. He was very unique and it’s difficult to truly depict this in words. One day, you might catch him studying Torah all day, and the next he was drinking beer while watching sports on television. For as smart and studious as he was, he was equal parts goofy and always telling jokes to brighten up the room. Tim accomplished a lot during his life, but school and work achievements didn’t mean all that much to him. What mattered to him was being a good person and taking care of his family, which he excelled at. Tim’s physical presence will be very missed, but his impact will live on through his family who love him very much. Graveside services were held at 2:30 pm, Sunday, Nov. 19 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Magen David Adom and The Temple, 1589 Peachtree Street. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

74, Atlanta

Atlanta Born ~ Atlanta Owned ~ Atlanta Managed

Funeral and Cemetery Pre-planning It’s easy: Over the phone, online, in person It’s safe: Pre-payments are 100% escrowed in an account you own It’s responsible: Simplifies arrangements, removes burden from family, and fixes most funeral costs WE HONOR ANY PRE-PAID FUNERAL FROM ANY OTHER FUNERAL HOME

Helen Scherrer-Diamond Outreach Coordinator

Edward Dressler, Owner

770.451.4999

www.DresslerJewishFunerals.com

104 | NOVEMBER 30, 2023 ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES

68, Atlanta

Marian Schenkman Ely 93, Atlanta

Marian Schenkman Ely passed away peacefully on Nov. 14, 2023, at the age of 93. She was born on Feb. 13, 1930, in Staten Island, N.Y., and at the age of 11, moved with her family to Miami Beach, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. In 1950, she met Bernard Ely at the Standard Club. They married six months later and had four daughters: Ilene, Jenice, Cathy, and Mindy. Marian enjoyed her life in Atlanta. Her eye for fashion stemmed from years of making her own clothes in high school. She loved shopping and made sure that she and her daughters looked fashionable. She also had a natural flare for design and decorated their home with hues of warmth and modern tones. Everything about Marian was beautiful. Her house was everyone’s home with its open door and welcomeness. She valued togetherness and made everyone feel comfortable. Her children and their friends relished the joy of being there with endless food and chatter. Marian was a good friend. She and her sisterhood would play Mahjong and Canasta, where they bonded with seamless talk about the latest gossip, politics, books, shopping finds, and secrets that remain untold. Nothing brought her more joy than being a mother and “Grammy.” She was actively involved in the lives of her children and grandchildren and appreciated each one’s uniqueness. At the end of her life, she felt complete and was proud to be the Grammy of Lori, Juliana, David, Seth, Elyssa, Alex, Carrie, Adam, Dustin, and Sam, as well as the great-Grammy of Sophie, Madelyn, Lila, and Paige. She is survived by her children, Mindy (Michael) Grossman, Cathy Shapiro, Jenice Ely and Barry Ginsberg, and Ilene (Jerry) Carlson. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marian Ely be made to the charity of your choice or to the Vi and Milton Weinstein Hospice at 3150 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30327-2108. To make a gift by phone, call (404)3518410. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

OBITUARIES

Bettye Edelson Goldstein

Gladys Denaburg Hirsch

In loving memory, it is with heavy hearts and profound sadness, we announce the passing of Mrs. Bettye E. Goldstein, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother on Nov. 21, 2023, at the remarkable age of 97 surrounded by adoring family and friends, in Atlanta, Ga. Born on Aug. 6, 1926, in Nashville, Tenn., Bettye was a beacon of love, kindness, and generosity throughout her life. She touched the lives of everyone she encountered with her warm genuine smile; gentle spirit; unwavering compassion; and sincere kind words. Bettye was predeceased by her devoted husband, Martin Goldstein, a decorated World War II veteran; her cherished youngest son, Richard Goldstein, whose unexpected departure occurred on Dec. 4, 2021; her brother, David Edelson who passed in an accident at the age of 29; and her parents, Sadye and Harry Edelson. She grieved for the loss of her dear great-granddaughter, Alessia Bianca. Their bonds of love were unbreakable. Though they are reunited in eternity, the pain and void of their absence is deeply felt by those left behind. Raised in La Grange, Ga., Bettye and her three younger brothers lived in an exciting home filled with abundant love, ongoing diversified activities, and a commitment to their strong Jewish faith. Bettye shared a unique bond with her father and as his only daughter she was the apple of his eye. Bettye attended the University of Georgia where she met Marty, her future husband. Teaching was her passion and she looked forward to teaching Sunday School and substituting in public school for many years. That all changed when Marty passed away at the age of 49. At that time, Bettye took on the responsibility of owner and manager of Marty’s retail business. Bettye was a pillar of strength and wisdom, providing guidance and support to her three sons, who respected her not only as a devoted mother but as a wonderful friend. Bettye was known for her exceptional generosity and her desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Her journey was not without its trials. At the end, she faced a debilitating illness with grace and dignity, never complaining and always smiling. Her resilience was a hallmark of her strong character. Bettye is survived by sons, Ronald Goldstein (Barbara); and Stephen Goldstein (Debbie). Additionally, she is survived by Lisa Goldstein (wife of Rick Goldstein of Blessed Memory); five grandchildren including Spencer Goldstein (Kristen); Sara Goldstein, Scott Goldstein (Jacklyn), Jeffrey Goldstein, and Jordyn Bianca (Chris) as well as three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Emerson, and Luca Bianca. She is also survived by her two remaining brothers, Marvin Edelson (Iris); and Milton Goldstein (Louisa of Blessed Memory) and many loving nieces and nephews. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to her caregiver, Ellen Williams, Weinstein Hospice, and the entire staff of Berman Commons. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Jewish National Fund in support of Israel at this time of crisis, 78 Randall Avenue, Rockville Centre, New York, 11570; or a charity of your choice, in Bettye’s memory. A memorial service will be held in La Grange, Georgia in remembrance of Bettye’s beautiful life and her legacy. Date and details of the service will be announced later.

Gladys Denaburg Hirsch, at age 92 of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on Oct. 31, 2023. She had a master’s degree in psychology. Her interests were family, bridge, watching football, JNF, and Israel. Gladys is predeceased by her husband Jack Hirsch. She is survived by sons, Stuart, and Bryan (Gayle) Hirsch, brother, Bobby Denaburg (Sarah), grandchildren, Jacob Hirsch, Jordan Frost (Ari), and Rylee Pye. Gladys was the matriarch of the family. With a huge heart, any friend was also included as family. Recommended memorial contributions JNF and any organization supporting Israel. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.

97, Atlanta

92, Atlanta

Boris Koonin 96, Atlanta

Boris (Bo) Koonin, age 96, died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Nov. 24, 2023. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Sarah and David Koonin, Bo was in the armed services and stationed in Ft. Gordon, Augusta, Ga. In 1951, Bo came to Atlanta for the Passover holiday and met the love of his life, Harriet Ween. They married in 1953 and stayed blissfully in love for more than 70 years. Koonin had a career in retail management until he retired to join Harriet in her real estate business at Harry Norman Realtors. Survived by his loving wife, Harriet Koonin, children, Lisa Koonin and Sam Solomon, and Steve and Eydie Koonin; grandchildren, David and Jessica Koonin, Amy and Michael Taylor, Sarah Cork, Jay Solomon and Eszter Boda, and Mark Solomon; and great-grandchildren, Sloane and Teddy Taylor, Vera Koonin, and Ben Solomon Boda. The family would like to especially thank Eddie Coffie and Mimi Duhikan for their devoted care and kindness. A funeral service for Boris (Bo) Koonin was held on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023, at 3:00 PM at Crest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Weinstein Hospice, Beth Jacob Atlanta, and Congregation B’nai Torah. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

Dr. Joseph Marcus 82, Atlanta

Dr. Joseph Marcus, age 82, of Atlanta passed away on Nov. 14, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Charlotte Marcus, sons, Mark (Naomi) Marcus and Richard (Ariella) Marcus, daughter, Gabrielle (Azose) Marcus, brothers, Marvin (Ginger) Marcus, Morton (Karen) Marcus, and Alan (Mandy) Marcus, and grandchildren, Alana and Mikey Marcus, Reuben and Rosie Marcus, Helene, Mo, and Mattie Azose. Dr. Marcus was born and raised in Baltimore, Md. The oldest of four children, he grew up in a duplex with his large extended family. He earned his undergrad and medical degree from the University of Maryland. He served in the U.S. Air Force as chief pathologist for Southeast Asia in Vietnam. He moved to Atlanta in 1973, where he began his career in Pathology with Piedmont and other hospitals until his retirement at 75. His favorite activities were crossword puzzles, music, musical theater, sports and the study of Torah. He was notorious for wearing bright red socks for any occasion, even his own wedding. A graveside service was held 3:00 pm, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Lawrence Rosenthal officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Ahavath Achim Synagogue or a charity of your choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.

ATLANTA JEWISH TIMES NOVEMBER 30, 2023 | 105

OBITUARIES

Allen Rabinowitz 72, Atlanta

Allen Rabinowitz, 72, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Oct. 19. Born in Brooklyn, he remained a proud New Yorker in his heart his entire life. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1969. He was a gifted writer, an avid reader, and knew every answer to Jeopardy. He loved music, especially his idols John Lennon and Bob Dylan. He cut his teeth working in the famous CBGB rock club during the birth of punk rock, managed several bands, and covered others as a music journalist. After moving to Atlanta, he became an editor at the Southern Israelite and contributor to the Atlanta Jewish Times. He would later work in public relations, publicizing commercial cinematographers for Kodak. He found a second act in retirement as a digital artist, specializing in creative, colorful city skyline mashups. He fought a long battle against Parkinson’s Disease and was passionate in his advocacy for research and patient support. Allen is predeceased by his father, Stanley, and mother, Pearl. He is survived by his wife, Jan, son, Joey, brother, Marty, and sister, Sue. Memorial donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Well Spouse Association. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770451-4999.

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CLOSING THOUGHTS Are you a Worrier or an Optimist? I come from a long Jewish tradition that believes that everything is for the best, that G-d protects us Jews and that we have survived Allen H. Lipis for thousands The Bottom Line of years under the harshest of conditions. However, I believe that in this world we must take the initiative to solve our own problems, and that we can. But today I hear again and again that we Jews are worried. We worry that the entire world is out to kill us, that antisemitism is on the rise, and it is worse than ever. I hear that it is no longer safe to be Jewish in America, that there is strong antisemitism in American universities, that every major synagogue needs police protection, and mass shootings have come and will continue to come to Jewish organizations and others. I hear that we Jews are worried about speaking out about antisemitism and the need for action for fear that we will be in-

timidated, just as anyone will be for speaking publicly about it. At dinner a few nights ago, I was told that a man sitting outside of a coffee shop at North Druid Hills was asked if he was Jewish because he was wearing a kippah. When the man said, “Yes, I am Jewish,” the other guy spit on the man and said, “All you Jews should be killed.” I hear that people are worried about the government, that many members in Congress are antisemitic, that the government can’t be trusted, that the news can’t be trusted, and that applies to every news outlet – the newspapers, the press, TV and the Internet. There is a worry that all European countries are going to lose their democracies and come under the influence of Muslims, that all Muslims hate the Jews, and it is only a short amount of time before the Muslims take over European governments and the U.S. government. There is a worry that abortions will be outlawed nationwide, that thousands of books dealing with slavery, sexual orientation, and other matters will be outlawed nationwide, and that white male Protestants will once again control the power in this country, and the rest of us will be second

class citizens. Most of all, I am told that there are lots of people who do not believe in the rule of law or the U.S. Constitution when it goes against their beliefs, and the only way to get this country to do what they want done is with military force. Worriers believe they must have their own gun, or at least to strongly consider buying one. They believe they cannot trust anyone, and the only protection they have is to protect themselves with a weapon, the more powerful the weapon the better. It is true that living in peace requires everyone to support the peace, and a few people who don’t like the way it is can destroy the peace by force. Keeping the peace requires strong security and a commitment to live by the rules of society. It only takes a few people to disrupt the peace, and it requires strong security leadership committed to the rule of law to maintain the peace. Unfortunately, one evil leader can not only destroy the peace, but also undermine the rule of law and democracy itself. I hear that there are evil people, and some have risen to positions of power. Optimists want to be sure these evil people cannot be in a po-

sition of power ever again. People I had talked with worry about Hezbollah, Iran fighting a second battle against Israel. They worry that the U.S. support for Israel will not continue, that money to continue the battle in Ukraine against Russia will dry up, and NATO will not be there when Israel and the U.S. needs them. People worry that their children will inherit a world where they will not be able to be better than we are, and probably be worse off. Optimism about the future is always undermined by worry, and it only takes a few worriers who can scare the optimists. We optimists need to speak out, or else we will be consumed by the worriers. To remain an optimist, you must be in action to address the worriers. As an optimist, you have to tell the worriers that there are solutions to many of their worries, and either spell them out or fight to have others solve them. If your worries are political, then make your vote count, and be sure that others vote, too. And, of course, many of their worries may not occur, for most worries do not happen. Failing to take action simply reinforces to worriers that their worry will come true. ì

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