Volume 25, Number 5 Atlanta, Georgia July-August 2013 FREE Summer Fun In Atlanta Legally Blonde: The Musical, a Company J production, Mah Jongg mania continues at opens at the The Breman Museum Marcus Jewish See Page 20 Community Center See Page 40 28 Letters Sustained by Faith Keeping Us Safe Robkin at the Helm Getting Back on Track A Milestone for TDSA Robbie Friedmann’s What looked like an irra- Sixteen public safety offi- Shai Robkin is the new The CSI Women’s Shelter This spring, Torah Day mother died a few days tional act was instead a cials from Georgia executive director of the offers housing, counsel- School of Atlanta gradu- after his birth, but he demonstration of faith received specialized train- American Israel Chamber ing, and other services to ated its first child of an came to know her through that ensured survival in ing in Israel, thanks to the of Commerce, Southeast break the cycle of home- alumnus. a small bundle of letters. the face of despair. Georgia International Region. lessness. Law Enforcement By Robbie Friedmann By Howard Margol Exchange. By Leon Socol Page 9 Page 16 Page 8 Page 19 Page 10 Page 17 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN July-August 2013 July-August 2013 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 Page 4 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN July-August 2013 denial of human dignity, protection, equal The 4th of July is the day on which we participation, and opportunity that a Jew celebrate the equality and privileges we Midwifery of a nation would pen from her inner soul the immortal share with all Americans as our friends and words of the New Colossus by Emma neighbors without any differentiation. We July is the month in which we celebrate Lazarus that appears at the base of the are proud citizens who rejoice in our her- the formation of the United States of Statue of Liberty? itage as Jews, a heritage that led John America as a free and independent country. Adams, the second president of the United The birthing process and delivery of the BY Marvin Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, States, to write the following in a letter to newborn nation was a difficult, chaotically With conquering limbs astride F.A. Van der Kemp dated February 16, challenging time. But the gangly, slightly Botnick from land to land; 1808: uncoordinated creation with large eyes Here at our sea-washed, “I will insist the Hebrews have [con- looking to the future has matured into a side. sunset gates shall stand tributed] more to civilize men than any towering beacon for others to follow. In 1802, the U.S. Military Academy at A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame other nation. If I was an atheist and believed And Jews were among those who West Point graduated its first class consist- Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name in blind eternal fate, I should still believe served as midwives to the birthing. While ing of 2 cadets, one of whom, Simon M. Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand that fate had ordained the Jews to be the small in numbers and percentage of the Levy, was Jewish. And it is reported that Glows world-wide welcome; most essential instrument for civilizing the population, Jews were counted among those Haym Solomon, a Polish immigrant, was her mild eyes command nations .... who actively support, both in service and possibly the prime financier of the The air-bridged harbor “They are the most glorious nation that financial support, this grand effort to estab- American War of Independence. He was that twin cities frame. ever inhabited this Earth. The Romans and lish our nation. recognized with a stamp issued by the U.S. “Keep ancient lands, their empire were but a bubble in compari- Some, like Francis Salvador of South Postal Service hailing him as a “Financial your storied pomp!” cries she son to the Jews. They have given religion to Carolina, the first identified Jew to be elect- Hero of the American Revolution.” With silent lips. three-quarters of the globe and have influ- ed to an American colonial legislature and Since the destruction of Jerusalem in “Give me your tired, your poor, enced the affairs of mankind more and more the only Jew to serve in a revolutionary 70 CE and the disbursement of the Jews, the Your huddled masses yearning happily than any other nation, ancient or colonial congress, was the first Jew to die Jewish people had been a people without a to breathe free, modern.” for the cause of American liberty. In 1777, country. According to the Jewish Virtual The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. We are proud citizens who have fought Mordecia Sheftall of Savannah was Library, “The first country to emancipate Send these, the homeless, and died to defend this country. We have appointed as deputy commissary general to the Jews was the United States.” Is it any tempest-tost to me, had Congressional Medal of Honor recipi- the Continental troops in South Carolina wonder that we have proudly committed I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” ents, we have had leaders in all fields of and Georgia as well as commissary general ourselves to the service and support of this education and business, we have made of Georgia troops. He was later commis- great nation? To us, those famous words of All of this is not to say that we have not ground-breaking contributions to the field sioned as a colonel by Major General The Declaration of Independence, “. that faced bigotry and hatred, and that there of medicine and science, we have served as Robert Howe, making him the highest- all men are created equal, that they are have not been certain restriction in educa- elected officials, and we have made sub- ranking Jewish officer on the American endowed by their Creator with certain tional, societal, and commercial areas. But stantial financial contributions to charitable unalienable Rights, that among these are the psyche and intent that foster the nation’s endeavors of all types. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” John D. Rockefeller said it best: “Every THE formation, as is verbalized in our founding has a greater meaning than just “Rights”; to documents, has continually moved our right implies a responsibility; Every oppor- Jewish Georgian us it has also meant “Opportunity.” country towards the vision of those large tunity, an obligation, Every possession, a Is it any wonder that after centuries of eyes ever looking forward and upward. duty.” The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It is Amen! written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. Publisher Marvin Botnick Co-Publisher Sam Appel Editor Marvin Botnick Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume Virtuous Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold Consulting Editor Gene Asher Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber Copy Editor Ray Tapley friendships Makeup Editor Terri Christian Production Coordinator Terri Christian One of the great things about Facebook Designer David Gaudio Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz is reconnecting with childhood friends who Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz have moved away. That’s exactly what hap- Columnist Gene Asher, Jonathan Barach, pened recently when Allison Glass Bassen, Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Marvin Botnick, David Geffen, who grew up in Atlanta but followed her Carolyn Gold, Jonathan Goldstein, dreams to Manhattan, came back to pro- R.M. Grossblatt, Marice Katz, Balfoura Friend Levine, mote her first novel, Virtue. Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, With the help of social networking, Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Allison was able to track down friends from Susan Robinson, Stuart Rockoff, Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, Riverwood High School, The Temple, and Rabbi Reuven Stein, Ruben Stanley the University of Georgia, turning her book Cecile Waronker debut into a reunion going back to elemen- Special Assignments Lyons Joel tary school. The book signing was hosted at Advertising Ruby Grossblatt Steve’s Live Music, in Sandy Springs, by Editorial Advisory Board Members her close friends Heleen Grossman, Peggy Mitchell Bassen (from left), Lisa Halpern, Heleen Grossman, Allison Glass Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell Jane Axelrod Albert Maslia William Rothschild Marbach, and Ron Kirschner. Bassen, Peggy Marbach, and Ron Kirschner Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin When asked why she decided to write a Asher Benator Paul Muldawer Doug Teper novel, Allison replied, “My friends and reviews agreeing that Allison has cleverly scheduled to be published this summer. Her family have been telling me to write for created a suspenseful story, with characters love of writing, “gets me out of bed every that are easy to connect with, making it a morning.” She adds, humorously, “Okay, 8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 100 years. The challenge was coming up with Virtue Atlanta, GA 30350 the story. Virtue was inspired by scandalous page turner impossible to put down. breakfast, lunch, and dinner are equally (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 newspaper headlines. A governor got is the perfect balance of Southern charm motivating. If I’m not writing, I’m reading. [email protected] caught with an escort. That had me scratch- and New York edginess. There is nothing better than a great read.” www.jewishgeorgian.com ing my head. Why would a powerful man Fans of Allison can be sure there are Virtue is published by Word of Mouth risk his career? And what about the escort?” more stories to come. Her second novel, My and is available in paperback or Kindle edi- The Jewish Georgian ©2013 Published in April, Virtue is garnering Father’s Affair, inspired by a true story, is tions at Amazon.com.