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JewishTHE Georgian Volume 31, Number 2 Atlanta, Georgia January-February 2019 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE Older, and Still Here Celebrating possibilities while anticipating limitations is the best way to age. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Page 37 Black Forest Is a Grim, Important Film A new documentary about a deadly, unprovoked assault will be screened at Beth Jacob on January 31. Page 16 Water Woes and Wonders Jewish National Fund supports innovative solutions to water resource problems. By Evan Alberhasky Page 24 Folksbiene Comes to Atlanta When Folksbiene Yiddish Troupe performed in Atanta in October, it was a rich experience for audience members and performers alike. Page 29 20 Years of ISMI Emory University’s Institute for the Study of Modern Israel celebrated its 20th anniversary with two days of stimulating discussion. Page 5 Brave Teens of Terezin For two years, a group of boys in the Terezin Ghetto took great risks to publish Vedem, an underground magazine. By Brian Katzowitz Page 26 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN January-February 2019 Coldwell Banker Atlanta’s Jewish Community — centuries of #1 TEAM State of Georgia mutual support and culture continues society regulated and subject to the rules and culture those oppressive conditions, they took this sub- of the land in which they resided. In many cases, culture with them. This self-directed structure the immediate Jewish governing body was charged functioned within this unofficial, semi-governing with implementing municipal functions — i.e., communal concept as the body that oversaw and BY Marvin taxes, military service, courts — answerable to implemented the communal services. and subject to the rules and controls of the ruling My early years were spent in a Jewish Botnick government. This was particularly the community community of approximately 30 families. Because structure with which the majority of the Jews who of the small size of the Jewish population, we did migrated to the United States were familiar. not have any paid communal staff; however, this THE SONENSHINE TEAM The concept of community and the resulting On one of the sites on the Internet I found did not preclude the involvement of the congregants Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team! social and governing structures has always held a the following commentary, which I feel really in attending to need of the members of the fascination for me. I have been interested in how speaks to the underlying communal concept that community. If the situation required professional 404.252.4908 (Office) • 404.250.5311 (Direct) and why certain groupings have existed and been I find is universally true of the existence of the involvement, where necessary, the community SonenshineTeam.com viable for longer periods of time than others. Jewish community. “Though the precise structure would step in to help provide this from Jewish More particularly, I have tried to fathom of Jewish communities has changed according to organizations in nearby, larger cities, or from what and why are the reasons that the Jewish place, time and current interests, membership in a individual providers. community has existed and remained vibrant Jewish community has always demanded a sense of While the size of the Jewish population for school system, served as members of local, state, throughout the generations and across many shared destiny, manifested in the obligation to care that community has remained stagnate, I have and federal governing bodies, and have served as geographical landscapes — much longer than most for other members of the community, as well as in watched the size of the Atlanta Jewish community mayor of Atlanta. Members of our community other communities. the joy of partaking in others’ celebrations.” increase some six fold. This increase in population have made meaningful material contributions to the In an article in the Encyclopaedia Britannica on As I look back on what piqued my interest has placed additional demands for communal social arts and culture of the city and made possible the Judaism, I found the following brief, meaningful in the existence of a communal environment that services and the resource demands to maintain this establishment of many activities and attractions that description of Judaism: “a complex phenomenon of existed within the Jewish population, I recall the viable sub-culture community. What has changed have lifted Atlanta into a sought after tourist locale. a total way of life for the Jewish people, comprising amazement I felt in witnessing the same basic entity is the background and historical understanding of The dynamism of the Atlanta Jewish theology, law, and innumerable cultural traditions.” wherever I lived, whether it was Mississippi, New what and how some of what exists came into being. community radiates in all directions, but it has In a very broad, descriptive statement, this, I feel, Hampshire, North Carolina, Texas, or Georgia. Given the rapid growth of size of the community, never lost sight of maintaining and supporting the gives cogent insight into the basis for the unusually In cities that had populations that varied from 20 it is understandable that the cadre of professionals religious, social, and civic institutions that have long continued existence of Judaism as a religion families to 5,000 families, there was a universal and volunteers would have moved into the area and been so instrumental in who and what we are. It and a societal concept. interest and concern for support for the needs not been exposed to some of the uniqueness of the is important that we never lose sight of how we One of the uniquenesses of the Jewish of the membership and the continuing of the culture. evolved from a few settlers to a major Jewish community is its basic, underlying foundation upon implementation of ethnic identity, theology, and We need to recognize the political and social community; how we and the city were able to which it was established. Unlike many societies traditions of the Jews that have continued to be environment that has fostered the opportunity for a come out of the tragic events involved in the Leo that revolved around territorial location, language, passed down for centuries. Jewish community to flourish as such while being Frank travesty to a “city too busy to hate”; the need and ethnic identity, Judaism relies on theology and In the shtetl days, the Jews actually structured active participants and contributors to the total to see the advantages of supporting communal traditions to be its cornerstones. and operated the municipal duties of the community growth and character of Metropolitan Atlanta. We organization for the overall benefits that are derived Throughout the centuries of the exile of the under the direction and supervision of the national have been instrumental in the establishment of as opposed to looking at financial support on the Jews and the resulting settlements in many foreign government. As this population emigrated from the Grady Memorial Hospital, the Atlanta public basis of fees for services; our appreciation of the countries, most often the Jews found themselves opportunities that being citizens of Metropolitan resident, not as citizens but rather as an alien Atlanta have accrued to us; and our continued commitment to maintain the communities historical perspective through the William Breman Jewish THE Heritage Museum. It is in the context of the above points that I Jewish Georgian focus on a unique opportunity that presently exists. The City of Atlanta has had 60 mayors, but only T Pointe North The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbolt, Ltd. It is written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans one has been Jewish — Sam Massell, a native and Georgians. born citizen of the city. Sam is still active as head INSURANCE GROUP of the Buckhead Coalition, and his incorporation Publisher Marvin Botnick in a major way in the visible collection of both the Co-Publisher Sam Appel opportunity and actual participation in the overall Editor Marvin Botnick THE RIGHT development of Atlanta is an opportunity that Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume should not be lost. Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber COVERAGE Copy Editor Ricky Dimon MAKES THE Makeup Editor Terri Christian Production Coordinator Terri Christian On The Cover Designer David Gaudio DIFFERENCE Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz • Personal Insurance THE Columnist Jonathan Barach, Janice Rothschild Blumberg, • Business Insurance Jewish Georgian Marvin Botnick, Zalman Eisman, Volume 31, Number 2 Atlanta, Georgia January-February 2019 FREE David Geffen, Allison Glass, • Employee Benefits WHAT’S INSIDE Older, and Still Here Carolyn Gold, Marice Katz, Celebrating possibilities while anticipating limitations is the best way to age. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Brian Katzowitz, • Executive Benefits Page 37 Balfoura Friend Levine, Black Forest Is a Grim, Important Film A new documentary about a deadly, Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, unprovoked assault will be screened at Beth Jacob on January 31. Page 16 Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Call Rick Swerdlin Water Woes and Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Wonders CIC, ARM, Sr. Vice President Jewish National Fund supports innovation solutions to water resource problems. Rabbi Reuven Stein, By Evan Alberhasky Page 24 and Ruben Stanley Folksbiene Comes 678.336.7370 to Atlanta When Folksbiene Yiddish Troupe performed in Atanta in October, it was a rich experience for audience members