JewishTHE Georgian Volume 23, Number 2 Atlanta, Georgia JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011 FREE AJFF ushers in 2011 with a bigger roster of films and venues What’s Inside By Bradford R. Pilcher Fans of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival (AJFF) could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by the 2011 event. This cultural institution of Atlanta Jewry, which this year runs February 8-27, has expanded to six ven- Big Changes at ues and spreads across three full weeks, with a slate of films that now totals well over 60. The festival’s footprint now touches East Cobb, Sandy Federation Springs, and the northern metropolitan areas near John’s Creek, as well as As Steve Rackitt heads to Washington, downtown. Federation begins the search for some- So where to start? Opening night is a safe bet for both excitement and value. The one to fill his shoes. Fabulous Fox Theatre will play host to the festivities, meaning more seats Page 20 than ever. General admission is just $10, making it easily affordable for the entire family, and kids in Little League can get in free just by wearing their uniforms. (Red Carpet VIP tickets are available and include a pre-film Being Jewish party with celebrity chefs and a live auction.) An encounter with a customer is an And the reason for baseball uniforms? That would be the movie Jews important reminder of what it means to and Baseball: An American Love Story, which chronicles the Jewish love be Jewish. affair with America’s pastime. Sandy Koufax sat for an interview in the By R.M. Grossblatt film, which features other Jewish major leaguers, as well as celebrity Page 41 fans like Ron Howard. It’s a clever blend of feel-good heroics and time- less nostalgia that will appeal to all audiences, and it’s a perfect way to kick off the festival. The Jews of See AJFF page 5 Columbus, Part I The Columbus Jewish community has Shafron becomes Davis long been lively and dynamic. JFGA joins national By Dr. Stuart Rockoff Page 9 Academy head of school campaign to fight efforts The Davis Academy has named Amy Shafron as its new head of school. to delegitimize Israel Youth in Action Shafron served as Davis’ associate head of school for the last two years during a successful, well-planned transition. She replaces Sidney The Atlanta Jewish community is proudly joining an The Temple Youth made the holidays Kirschner, a dedicated Davis leader and supporter, who leaves to pur- unprecedented campaign to fight back against growing efforts happier for residents of the Zaban sue other opportunities after having served as head of school for the last to delegitimize the State of Israel. Couples Center. four-and-a-half years. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta (JFGA) is a lead Page 22 Shafron has been with The Davis sponsor of the Israel Action Network, an initiative of The Academy since 2004. Prior to becom- Jewish Federations of North ing associate head of school, she was America (JFNA) in cooperation A Landmark Year director of institutional advancement, with the Jewish Council for overseeing school fundraising activi- Public Affairs (JCPA). The Wish for Wendy, which is engaged in ties as well as communications, mar- Israel Action Network is a major the fight against cystic fibrosis, has keting, and community outreach. continental initiative to protect topped $1 million in funds raised. Before Davis, she was a tax and cor- Israel against a vicious cam- Page 10 porate law attorney and worked in a paign that seeks to isolate the variety of professional capacities for Jewish state in the international non-profit Jewish organizations and arena and utilizes BDS—boy- Kosherfest and More independent schools. cotts, divestment, and sanc- Amy Shafron Our intrepid Kosher Affairs columnist “We are pleased that our transi- tions—as its principal tool. not only visits Kosherfest, she gets to tion plan has been so effective,” said Davis Academy Board of Trustees Through the Israel Action President Tonia Sellers. “I am proud of our school’s foresight and Network, JFNA, the nation’s judge a competition. Robert Arogeti thoughtfulness in planning our Head of School transition in a way that leading Jewish philanthropic By Roberta Scher ensures continuity of leadership for our staff, families, and community. movement, and JCPA, the consensus voice of the organized Page 35 We are grateful for Sid Kirschner’s excellent leadership and dedication over the years, and we are extremely fortunate to have someone as tal- See JFGA page 6 ented as Amy Shafron that we now turn to with great confidence.” Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN January-February 2011 avenging reaction. Passion, on the other hand, Guidepost to your value system can have the suggestion of an attempt to cor- rect or modify a situation with the goal of mak- ing it better and is an indication of our value Technological advancements; develop- meaning of these words within the context in system. ment of new approaches; multi-venue avenues which they are used. Here is what I think is While the above was put forth many for the dissemination of thoughts and ideas – being said. centuries earlier when the societal evolution verbal, visual, and written; and the rapid addi- BY Marvin Koso, cup, is used to represent the mate- and economic conditions were substantially tion of words and expression into everyday rial world. Is the cup bejeweled or simple? The different from those that exist today, the con- usage have resulted in a more diffuse percep- Botnick frequency of use made of the cup is symbolic cepts remain valid. Communal activities and tion of basic, underlying principles. of an overly self-indulgent person or one who support were much more personal and not as To better understand the explosion of ical, fundamental precepts are swept into a is able to enjoy life with moderate usage. Is it institutionalized as we have today in this coun- publications and public pronouncements and lesser role. I find myself so engulfed with try- the liquid, per se, and its effect that is the goal, try where we address many of the services and their dissemination by individuals, groups, ing to understand the interrelationship or is it a social tool that is used as part of a needs through professional agencies. And this governments, and researchers, you only have amongst the world currencies, the balance of gathering? Is there a motivation behind the is good, for they are better organized, more to compare what is available today with what elegance of the cup to project an image of suc- th payments and international trade, and the focused, and can have a greater impact by existed in the 19 century. In the 1850s, the amount of debt that I tend to overlook the cess? pooling the efforts of many to the cause or Philological Society in England conceived of a moral imperative to help meet the human-need Keeso, coin or pocket, is an obvious ref- causes that they are backing. But giving project to compile a comprehensive dictionary, requirements of the truly destitute. Anger and erence to the use of money. What is a person’s money, while critically important, does not which evolved into what we now know as the passions are couched in the terms of personal relationship to money? Does the individual meet the total responsibility. We must give of Oxford English Dictionary. To accomplish this economic considerations, and the abuses of look on what he has accumulated as a cache ourselves and our time as volunteers, for it is feat, a cadre of approximately 800 volunteer human rights, justice, dignity, and fair play are for use in obtaining items for himself, or is only through this that we can truly appreciate readers was assigned particular books, copy- relegated to a role of lesser importance. We do there the realization that he should provide how fortunate we are and understand the jus- ing passages illustrating word usage onto quo- need to enjoy the benefits we earn but not some portion for the help of some less fortu- tice and fairness of sharing with people who tation slips. While the task extended over without the concern for others. nate? That is the just and righteous thing to do. are genuinely in need. many years, the number of books and the What is a standard, therefore, by which Gloria Steinem is reported to have once Most of us import to the word “judge” thoughts and ideas included in these publica- we can judge our value system? In the remarked, “If you look at my check stubs, the act of assessing actions of individuals or tions was so small by comparison to today, that Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Ila’I says, “A per- you’ll see what I stand for.” society, but we do not always apply this to our these readers were able to cover the available son is known by three things: Koso [his cup], Ka’aso, a word that is translated as own behavior. Introspection is critical to who offerings. Keeso [his coin], and Ka’aso [his anger].” anger, can have a broader connotation if we and what we are, and we can all benefit from Today, so much is coming at us in such Certainly, more learned and scholarly people substitute the word passion in its place. Anger our ageless teachings and traditions by recall- rapid succession that it is difficult not to be so have studied this saying in depth, and I am carries with it an undertone of an emotional ing these three words, Koso, Kesso, and overwhelmed with all of this material that crit- sure that there are many interpretations of the reaction to a happening that may have an Ka’aso.