JewishTHE Georgian Volume 29, Number 4 Atlanta, Georgia May-June 2017 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE Distinguished Speaker CNN’s Wolf Blitzer is the featured speaker at this year’s Fran Eizenstat and Eizenstat Family Annual Lecture. Page 17 Journalist and Hero Ralph McGill, who rose through the ranks to become the publisher of The Atlanta Constitution, worked ceaselessly to alert Americans about Nazism. By David Geffen Page 6 A Compassionate Innovator The Breman Museum’s Dr. Liliane Kshensky Baxter, who just retired as director of the Weinberg Center for Holocaust Education, made her mark in exhibitions, teacher training, a lecture series, film, and more. Page 5 Fifty Years Ago The landmark anniversary of the Six- Day War prompts memories of a tense but victorious week and its aftermath. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Page 14 The Meaning of Marriage HAPPYSHAVUOT For a genetic counselor, Shavuot has special significance. By Estie Rose Page 7 Training New Leaders Rabbi Ari Leubitz, Atlanta Jewish Academy head of school, will become a mentor for the prestigious Day School Leadership Training Institute. Page 13 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN May-June 2017 incumbent upon you to complete the work, but neither are you at liberty to desist from On The Cover it” (Pirkei Avot 2:21). He ain’t heavy, In an opinion article in the April 14 + THE 21, 2017, issue of The Forward, editor-in- chief Jane Isner writes about an interview Jewish Georgian she had with David Miliband, International Volume 29, Number 4 Atlanta, Georgia May-June 2017 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE Rescue Committee president and CEO. She Distinguished he’s my brother Speaker concludes the piece with the following: CNN’s Wolf Blitzer is the featured speaker at this year’s Fran Eizenstat and dangers that could be embedded in the Eizenstat Family Annual Lecture. Page 17 “‘This debate in not about them Journalist and Hero refugee problem. And what about any Ralph McGill, who rose through [refugees],’ he said. ‘It’s about what we the ranks to become the publisher of The Atlanta Constitution, worked ceaselessly to alert Americans about possible economic impact these refugees Nazism. By David Geffen [Jews] believe in, what we are willing to Page 6 might have on my living standard? In listing A Compassionate Innovator sacrifice to aid the stranger. This is a hard The Breman Museum’s Dr. Liliane the pros and cons of actively trying to help Kshensky Baxter, who just retired as director of the Weinberg Center for test of morality, a hard test of a vision of a Holocaust Education, made her mark in BY exhibitions, teacher training, a lecture Marvin the refugees, the con side will show a long series, film, and more. Page 5 good society. It’s important that we face up Fifty Years Ago list of dangers; the pro side will recite the The landmark anniversary of the Six- Day War prompts memories of a tense Botnick to that. We reveal our character in the way but victorious week and its aftermath. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg biblical mitzvah: “neither shall you stand by Page 14 we deal with refugees. The Meaning of Marriage HAPPYSHAVUOT the blood of your neighbor.” For a genetic counselor, Shavuot has “‘This is not just about rescuing them,’ special significance. By Estie Rose But let us not forget the story of the Page 7 he added, ‘It’s about rescuing us.’” Training New Leaders Rabbi Ari Leubitz, Atlanta Jewish Passover 5777 has just been celebrated, escape from bondage that we recounted in Academy head of school, will become He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. a mentor for the prestigious Day School Leadership Training Institute. Page 13 and we are now approaching Shavuos. The the Seder service we celebrated last month. first recognizes freedom from slavery; the In response to the four questions that are part Happy Shavuot latter acknowledges the giving of the Torah of the service, the answer (particularly as to Coldwell Banker with its code of ethics and responsibilities why that night was different from all other #1 TEAM Metro Atlanta The cover illustration by David commanded of the freed people. This nights) focused on the acknowledgment of Schendowich incorporates duality highlights the connectivity and “what the Almighty did for me when I left a photograph of the wooden overarching imperative that with freedom Egypt.” representation of the Ten In addition to our responsibility to “tell Commandments that adorned the comes responsibility and accountability. thy son in that day, saying: It is because Ark at Congregation Shearith Israel The obligation to protect human on Washington Street in Atlanta, life stands at the center of our tradition. of that which the Lord did for me when I circa 1929. (Courtesy of the Cuba Stemming from a verse in Leviticus that came forth out of Egypt,” inherent in this Family Archives for Southern reads, “neither shall you stand by the blood recognition of what the Lord did for me is Jewish History at The Breman of your neighbor,” woven into the fabric of my duty to do the same for others who are Museum) our people has been this directive to actively, persecuted. It is not reading the words, but not passively, reach out with a protective, understanding and acting on their meaning that is required. helping hand. THE SONENSHINE TEAM THE While most of us are fortunate not This human catastrophe is almost Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team! to have been confronted with the fear of incomprehensible, and its magnitude is 404.252.4908 (Office) Jewish Georgian uncertainty, despoliation, and bodily safety overwhelming. The enormity tends to cow 404.250.5311 (Direct) TThe Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbolt, Ltd. It is for ourselves and our families, we would one into inaction. But this is not how it SonenshineTeam.com written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. not have to go back many generations to should be. Rabbi Tarfon tells us: “It is not Publisher Marvin Botnick find that such was the motivation for our Co-Publisher Sam Appel ancestors migrating to this country. How Editor Marvin Botnick fortunate for us that we have received this Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume gift. Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold If we need a memory jog, how about Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber Yom Ha’Shoah, which was observed last Copy Editor Ricky Dimon Makeup Editor Terri Christian month? Production Coordinator Terri Christian So what does, or should, our humanity Designer David Gaudio dictate that our actions should be on the Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz tragic, unimaginable refugee and displaced- Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz persons problem the world is facing? Does Columnist Jonathan Barach, Janice Rothschild Blumberg, it make any difference that this time it is Marvin Botnick, Zalman Eisman, them and not us? David Geffen, Allison Glass, Carolyn Gold, And who are the people within this Marice Katz, R.M. Grossblatt Katz, Brian Katzowitz, Balfoura Friend Levine, category? These are people of all ages that Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, have been dislocated or have fled from their Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, homes and/or their home country and cannot Rabbi Reuven Stein and Ruben Stanley return because they have a well-founded fear of persecution based on religion, race, nationality, political opinion, or membership Advertising Julie Joffre Benveniste in a particular social group. Michael Pelot We cannot say that we are not made aware of this sorrowful plight. Editorial Advisory Board Members During my lifetime, I have witnessed Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell the evolution of the projecting of sound Jane Axelrod William Rothschild Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin Paul Muldawer from the megaphone I remember being Doug Teper used by the singer Rudy Vallee, to the microphone, to broadcasting over radio and TV, to the Internet, and now through the cell 8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 200 phone. At the same time, the printed word Atlanta, GA 30350 from many sources has circulated coverage (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 of the events. So it is almost impossible to [email protected] avoid exposure to this tragedy. www.jewishgeorgian.com Unfortunately, the proliferation of The Jewish Georgian ©2017 comments too often focuses on the possible May-June 2017 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 religious liberty legislation, Trumpcare, and other timely national political subjects. DEBRA BERGER’S BOOK PARTY. Greg has become a real media star, Debra Berger, Georgia state director for appearing frequently on local and cable The Humane Society of the United States television news reports, astutely analyzing (HSUS), threw a great book party at A What’s the 6th District Congressional election. Capella Books in Inman Park, for her The world’s first Jewish fraternity, ZBT, boss, Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO founded in 1898 in New York City, is now of HSUS, the nation’s largest and most a merged Brotherhood of Kappa Nu, Phi powerful animal protection group. Alpha, Phi Epsilon Pi, Phi Sigma Delta, and Wayne is the author of the New York Zeta Beta Tau. ZBT is represented on nearly Times bestseller The Humane Economy: HAPPENING 90 campuses across North America and has How Innovators and Enlightened Consumers 140,000 undergraduate and alumni brothers Are Transforming the Lives of Animals, now children, Lauren and Jonathan. throughout the world. Under the leadership out in paperback. Whole Foods founder and During Sam’s speech, he said that his of Bruce and Jim, we’re sure it will continue CEO John Mackey said of the book, “It father-in-law, who is a ZBT alumnus, got to thrive and prosper.