Barbed-Wire Surgeon a Reissued Book Tells an Inspiring, Har- Rowing Tale of Survival in the Pacific Theater of World War II
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JewishTHE Georgian Volume 26, Number 3 Atlanta, Georgia March-April 2014 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE Barbed-Wire Surgeon A reissued book tells an inspiring, har- rowing tale of survival in the Pacific Theater of World War II. By Brian Weinstein Page 4 A Race against Time More than anything, Benjamin Sokolik wanted his grandfather to witness his bar mitzvah. By Sharon Sokolik Page 19 An Accidental Documentarian When Heinrich Jöst wandered into the Warsaw Ghetto with his camera, he had no idea his photographs would become part of the historical record. Page 5 Food = Love and More Sally Kaplan follows in the footsteps of her mother, Helen Cavalier, as she leads Ahavath Achim Synagogue’s Hunger Walk effort. By Carolyn Gold Page 20 Seders Here and There Traditions may vary from family to family, but the richness and importance of the Seder never changes. By David Geffen Page 38 Run Boy Run This year’s Atlanta Jewish Film Festival opened with the story of a Holocaust survivor unable to embrace his Jewish identity. By Brian Katzowitz Page 45 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN March-April 2014 room for those Jews. The world’s doors, shown that the drive to achieve power has closed at Evian, remained shut throughout skewed the human values, both in business Never again . Really? the World.” and politics, away from ethical behavior An observer at the Conference is said towards aggrandizement. Evian-les-Bains is located in the to have reported to Hitler: “You can do Unfortunately, it seems that history French Alps on the French side of Lake what you like with the Jews, nobody is does repeat itself, and we seldom learn the Geneva at the Swiss border. It is famous for interested in them.” The Manchester errors of our ways. The canard of humanity its hot mineral baths and its mineral drink- Guardian quoted Chaim Weizmann as say- overcoming greed has yet to be a proven ing water, which, for over two centuries, BY Marvin ing: “The world seemed to be divided into trait. have been considered elixirs and sought Botnick two parts — those places where the Jews We do not believe in or accept the con- after as a source of good health and thera- could not live and those where they could cept of sacrifices, human or animal, as a peutic treatment. Today, the sight of the not enter.” And Hitler is quoted as saying: concept. Yet, while not as a religious prac- concept was to accommodate the dire need brand Evian on bottled water is a common “It is a shameful spectacle to see how the tice, that is what is happening. The objec- of the rejected and disenfranchised Jews occurrence and has made the name a house- whole democratic world is oozing sympa- tives that seem to be sought have as a whose legal rights and standing had been hold word. thy for the poor tormented Jewish people byproduct the sacrifice of lives, the dis- abrogated by the Nazi Germany. The curative qualities of the water and but remains hard-hearted and obdurate placement of and degrading of living con- So it was, that from July 6 to July 15, the picturesque scenery created an ideal when it comes to helping them.” dition, the subjugation of other people to 1938, representatives from 32 countries, 39 combination for a sought-after respite from There are those who point out that the power of rulers, and the imposition of private organizations, and some 24 volun- worldly pressures. Because of these quali- “Evian” spelled backwards is “Naïve.” We laws. tary organizations met at the Royal Hotel in ties, the town and area around it have flour- know all too vividly what followed. One hundred years ago, in 1914, the Evian-les-Bains and formally discussed the ished as a retreat and spa destination, and a But here we are now, 76 years after world witnessed the beginning of World issue among themselves. The convocation number of different properties operate to Evian, and little has changed. While we War I, the war that was supposed to end all came to be known as the Evian Conference. service those seeking these amenities. It is Jews are not presently the target, look wars. What a sad commentary that we still The bottom-line result of the Conference an up-scaled, elite resort where people can around at the death of humanity, despair, have not learned to live and let live. The was that of the 32 countries in attendance, go to relax and enjoy themselves. and horror being inflicted on ethnic and Jewish concepts of yetzer hara, man’s mis- only one, the Dominican Republic, stepped In 1938, just after the Anschluss and religious groups around the world. Millions use of things the physical body needs to forward to offer to increase the number of the resulting annexation of Austria into have been murdered and millions more survive, and yetzer tov, man’s impulse to do Jewish immigrants it would accept. On the Germany, the plight of the Jews living have been made into refugees. Property has good, are still in conflict. We do need to narrative at the Yad Vashem web site there under the Nazi regime had garnered world been forcefully confiscated, and inhuman talk, but position papers in place of actions, appears the following statement: attention. At the initiative of President treatment has been inflicted on innocent which we saw resulting from the Evian “The Evian Conference stands in his- Franklin D. Roosevelt, a conference was civilians. Conference, do not suffice as an answer. torical perspective as a critical turning convened to discuss the need for countries And the meetings and conferences go The Abrahamic religions all profess to point. At the conference, the world’s to open their doors to allow more than their on. believe that we are all children of the same democracies made it clear that they were usual quotas of Jewish immigrants. The We acknowledge that the animal king- God. It is past time when human dignity willing to do next to nothing for the Jews of dom is dominated by the need to define and and respect replace the culture of personal Europe. Several months later, Kristallnacht control territory and possessions by cun- power. THE signaled to the world that Jews no longer ningness and strength. But we believe that “But let justice well up as waters, and Jewish Georgian could live under Nazi rule, while at Evian, humans are supposed to have risen above righteousness as a mighty stream.” (Amos the world had shown it would not make such barbarity. History, however, has 5:24) The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It is written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. under 40, $180; 40 and over, $365). Publisher Marvin Botnick For more information or to register, Co-Publisher Sam Appel visit jewishatlanta.org/exchange2014, or Editor Marvin Botnick FEDERATION NEWS Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume contact Lauren Light at 678-222-3723 or [email protected]. Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold GIVE YOUR OLD ACCESSORIES A used to set up a “Secret Shop,” allowing Consulting Editor Gene Asher Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber NEW HOME. Federation’s Women & disadvantaged children visiting The SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS FOR Copy Editor Ray Tapley Philanthropy TOV (Tikkun Olam Breman’s “Return to Rich’s” exhibition to CAMPERS. JFGA has launched the Makeup Editor Terri Christian Volunteers) project and The Breman select a free, wrapped Mother’s Day gift Jewish Overnight Summer Camp Production Coordinator Terri Christian Museum are collecting new or gently used to give to their moms or other special Scholarship Fund. Designer David Gaudio women’s accessories through March 28. women in their lives. Drop-off locations Jewish camp is important to Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz Donated jewelry, scarves, purses, are listed at www.jewishatlanta.org/TOV. Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz Federation, as it helps to fulfill its mission Columnist Gene Asher, Jonathan Barach, sunglasses, and cosmetic bags will be For more information, contact Karen of ensuring a Jewish future. Camp creates Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Paz at 404-870-1631or [email protected]. Marvin Botnick, David Geffen, and enhances Jewish education in a fun Carolyn Gold, Jonathan Goldstein, and informal setting, making Judaism a R.M. Grossblatt, Marice Katz, THE EXCHANGE 2014. The Exchange cornerstone in the development of life- Balfoura Friend Levine, 2014, the Jewish Federation of Greater Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, long friendships and self esteem. All Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Atlanta’s premier networking event, will applications and inquiries will be confi- Susan Robinson, Stuart Rockoff, feature Richard Edelman, speaking on the Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, dential. Rabbi Reuven Stein, Ruben Stanley topic of “The Business of Trust & In addition to camp scholarships, One Cecile Waronker Reputation”; he will be introduced by Joel Happy Camper incentive grants are avail- Advertising Ruby Grossblatt Babbit, CEO of Mother Nature Network. Micael Pelot able to encourage children to attend Richard Edelman is the president and overnight Jewish camp for the first time. Editorial Advisory Board Members CEO of Edelman, the world’s largest pub- Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell OHC is not needs based; all first-time Jane Axelrod Albert Maslia William Rothschild lic relations firm, with 67 offices and campers may be eligible on a first-come, Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin 4,800 employees worldwide. Richard was Asher Benator Paul Muldawer Doug Teper first-served basis for grants of up to named president and CEO in September $1,000. (Per national OHC rules, students 1996.