JewishTHE Georgian Volume 31, Number 1 Atlanta, Georgia November-December 2018 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE New Life for an Old Synagogue Georgia’s oldest still-standing synagogue building, built in 1869 for the Congregation Children of Israel, is on track to become the Augusta Jewish Museum. Page 16 Underground in a Nazi camp From 1942-44, a group of brave teenagers published Vedem to chronicle life in Czechoslovakia’s Terezin Ghetto. An art installation at The Breman Museum explores their important work. Page 21 Innovations in Israel Education Atlanta-based Center for Israel Education uses primary sources and hard facts to provide exciting educational opportunities to people of all ages. Page 13 Remembering a Forgotten Community Builder In the first few decades of the 20th century, Victor Kriegshaber brought important changes to education, infrastructure, charitable giving, and more in Atlanta. By Brian Katzowitz Page 32 Partners in Learning Ramah Darom and The Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies have come together to provide transformative classes in a stunning setting. By Eliana Leader and Rabba Yaffa Epstein Page 28 Meaningful Service Through a Jewish Lens Repair the World, which provides service opportunities for young adults, has just established an Atlanta branch. Page 5 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2018 Coldwell Banker Civility, where have you gone? #1 TEAM State of Georgia hardened. While I riled internally, I announce the political affiliation of merely muttered to myself and went members of the canvassing boards, on my way. But this past political the constitutional office holders, and BY Marvin campaign pushed me over the edge, the judiciary if not to impugn their and I feel that it is time to speak out. integrity and character? If a person Botnick To begin with, let me say that misused a position of authority, then I think that the news media bears a put forth the evidence; otherwise, it heavy responsibility. The fourth estate is morally wrong to make unfounded is fast to yell about the constitutional implications. Such action should be in THE SONENSHINE TEAM Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team! Eleazar ben Arach said, “Let the protection of freedom of speech; conflict with our ethics. honor of thy neighbor be as dear to however, they seem to lose sight of Not only did the press constantly 404.252.4908 (Office) • 404.250.5311 (Direct) thee as thine own.” In Leviticus 25:17 the responsibility that goes with this parade a collection of “experts” before SonenshineTeam.com we read, “You shall not wrong one precious right. Why is it that they are the public to explain the motivation another” which quotation, we are so quick to determine that personal behind every act, but the media also gain is an individual’s motivation? gave a forum to the spokesmen for the told, “forbids us to say anything that the listener by a third party. “The will insult or anger another person.” I am sick and tired of hearing of the candidates, who then spewed forth often political affiliation of an elected or unfounded and venomous innuendoes. Torah forbids one to denigrate the behavior or character of a person or Enough already! to make any remark that might cause What has happened to decency physical, psychological, or financial and civility? Where have common “The Talmud tells that the tongue is an instrument so harm.” This is such an important part courtesy and respectful talk gone? dangerous that it must be kept hidden from view, behind of Jewish law that entire books have Why is it that the idiomatic tone of the been written about it. day is one of anger, hate, challenge, two protective walls (the mouth and teeth) to prevent its In Judaism 101, an Internet and humiliation? Everywhere we turn misuse. encyclopedia of Judaism, the — the movies, TV, radio, entertainers “The harm done by speech is even worse than the following commentary on this subject — we are confronted with expressions appears. of derision and debasement. harm done by stealing or by cheating someone financially, “The Talmud tells that the tongue Innuendoes are substituted for facts, because amends can be made for monetary harms, but is an instrument so dangerous that it and any allegation is capitalized on the harm done by speech can never be repaired. must be kept hidden from view, behind for personal gain without regard to the two protective walls (the mouth and implications it may have for the other teeth) to prevent its misuse. person. “The harm done by speech is even Unfortunately, the protracted worse than the harm done by stealing abusiveness has left me somewhat appointed official whose position Why, after the votes had been cast, did or by cheating someone financially, required him or her to perform some the character assassinations continue, because amends can be made for THE act in determining the election. Why and what was the reason for the stream monetary harms, but the harm done of vituperative statements? by speech can never be repaired. Jewish Georgian A Chasidic tale illustrates this point: A Maybe it is time for us to rethink TThe Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbolt, our values. Has the need for notoriety man went about the community telling Ltd. It is written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans malicious lies about the rabbi. Later, and Georgians. and personal gain so skewed our principles that nothing else matters? he realized the wrong he had done, Have we lost all respect for manners and began to feel remorse. He went to Publisher Marvin Botnick On The Cover the rabbi and begged his forgiveness, Co-Publisher Sam Appel and personal integrity? Do we not understand that such disrespect for saying he would do anything he could Editor Marvin Botnick to make amends. The rabbi told the Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume THE others ends up diminishing our own Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold self-respect? man, ‘Take a feather pillow, cut it Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber Jewish Georgian open, and scatter the feathers to the Volume 31, Number 1 Atlanta, Georgia November-December 2018 FREE There is nothing wrong with Copy Editor Ricky Dimon winds.’ The man thought this was a Makeup Editor Terri Christian WHAT’S INSIDE being competitive and striving for New Life for an Old Production Coordinator Terri Christian Synagogue strange request, but it was a simple Georgia’s oldest still-standing synagogue success. There is nothing wrong with building, built in 1869 for the Congregation Children of Israel, is on track to become Designer David Gaudio the Augusta Jewish Museum. enough task, and he did it gladly. Page 16 speaking out in favor of your choice, Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz Underground in a Nazi camp When he returned to tell the rabbi that From 1942-44, a group of brave teenagers and extolling that individual’s positive Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz published Vedem to chronicle life in Czechoslovakia’s Terezin Ghetto. An art installation at The Breman Museum he had done it, the rabbi said, ‘Now, Columnist Jonathan Barach, explores their important work. Page 21 points. There is something wrong Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Innovations in go and gather the feathers. Because Israel Education with employing gossip, innuendo, Atlanta-based Center for Israel Education Marvin Botnick, Zalman Eisman, uses primary sources and hard facts to provide exciting educational opportunities you can no more make amends for the to people of all ages. David Geffen, Allison Glass, Page 13 personal attacks on the character of Remembering a Forgotten damage your words have done than Carolyn Gold, Marice Katz, Community Builder someone else, and public castigation In the first few decades of the 20th century, Victor Kriegshaber brought important you can re-collect the feathers.’” Brian Katzowitz, changes to education, infrastructure, charitable giving, and more in Atlanta. of someone’s actions, even more so if By Brian Katzowitz Balfoura Friend Levine, Page 32 While this is a moral dictum Partners in Learning the motivation is to gain a competitive Ramah Darom and The Pardes Institute Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, of Jewish Studies have come together to provide transformative classes in a that is not unique to Judaism, it is stunning setting. By Eliana Leader and edge. Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Rabba Yaffa Epstein Page 28 Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, a concept that is embodied in the Meaningful Service In retrospect, I am sure that there Through a Jewish Lens Rabbi Reuven Stein, Repair the World, which provides service 613 Commandments. As a Jewish opportunities for young adults, has just established an Atlanta branch. are those who would agree that some Page 5 and Ruben Stanley public statements went too far, and newspaper, we hope that we will keep this concept clearly in front of Advertising Allison Glass that the people uttering them should Michael Pelot Celebrate Hanukkah original art by have used more discretion. So what is us as we put together our publication. David Schendowich the big deal? Well Judaism says that it And I hope that the talk-show hosts, 9755 Dogwood Road, Suite 101 is a big deal, and specifically prohibits the politicians, the newscasters, Roswell, Georgia 30075 loshon hora and r’chilus. Loshon hora the newspaper reporters, and the (404) 236-8911 means “the making of a derogatory entertainers will set the tone for a [email protected] or damaging remark about someone” more civil and respectful society. www.jewishgeorgian.com Happy Hanukkah and r’chilus refers to reporting to a As my mama said: “If you can’t The Jewish Georgian ©2018 listener tales that have been told about say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” November-December 2018 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 Steve tells us that he is so proud of Buckhead Coalition’s president for some 30 McKenzie, and that he was surprised that years, is no exception.