JewishTHE Georgian Volume 22, Number 2 Atlanta, Georgia JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2010 FREE A different Dr. Seuss is coming to The Breman What’s Inside The cartoon is black and white and DR. SEUSS GOES TO WAR. For decades, filled with attitude. There’s something readers throughout the world have enjoyed clearly familiar about its style, and it takes the marvelous stories and illustrations of Dalton’s Jewish only a moment to realize it’s Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as a drawing by Theodor Seuss Dr. Seuss. But few Community Geisel—Dr. Seuss. know of Geisel’s The cartoon is one of work as a political Jewish entrepreneurs helped make hundreds that will be on cartoonist during Dalton, Georgia, the “Carpet Capital of display soon at The World War II. the World.” William Breman Jewish From 1941 to 1943, By Aaron Welt Heritage & Holocaust he was the chief Page 28 Museum, just one of the political cartoonist special happenings that for the New York are keeping staffers at newspaper PM, Outdoor Adventures the midtown facility using his creative busy as the year begins. genius to rail against Brought together by a shared talent for A mix of activities, isolationism, racism, developing camping trips for Jewish exhibitions, and and anti-Semitism, youth, an Atlanta couple is embarking on galas—many involv- while exhorting a new project. ing the Holocaust, all America to enter the Elinor Angel Rosenberg Breman, By Susan Kay Asher linked in some fashion to war in Europe. pictured here with her rescue dog, Page 10 Atlanta and the Jewish community—are Angel, will be honored at the Seuss planned for the next several months. Here Gala on February 13. (photo by Bobi See DR. SEUSS, page 5 Seamless Transitions are some highlights. Dimond) Greenfield Hebrew Academy signs agree- ments that bring Atlanta one step closer to having a unified Jewish day school sys- A Jewish film festival in Northeast Georgia ADVENTURES tem. Page 7 Who would have thought? Between with a gala reception at 6:30 p.m., fea- the hedges and among the Dawgs, could turing great food and live local music. ABOUND there be a Jewish film Festival? It Then, the acclaimed Israeli film, Sharing the Wealth could...and it is...and such a festival! The Beetle (2008), will be screened in The second Athens Jewish Film Ciné’s two theaters. This is a touching MedShare brings together surplus med- Festival, February 20-24, will and funny documentary about a ical supplies, a devoted staff, and an army feature 14 films, a new young filmmaker, Yishai of volunteers to help people in need “Challenge” to emerging Orian, and his journey to throughout the world. filmmakers, a series of save his beloved old car By Leon Socol special events, an as he prepares for Page 30 opening reception fatherhood. The and screening spon- screening is sponsored sored by the by the Consulate A Man of Peace Consulate General General of Israel to of Israel to the the Southeast; A citywide service honors the memory of Southeast, and a Ambassador Reda Yitzhak Rabin. closing award cere- Mansour and his wife, By Sharon Kabalo mony featuring world Mona, will be present to Page 8 premieres of the introduce the film. Challenge-winning films. The reception was sold All festival events, except the out last year, so people are Generous new discounts and closing night, will take place at the Ciné, advised to purchase tickets as soon as Ten Festivals Later more than 100 indoor and outdoor an arthouse cinema and community film they become available at www.athen- specialty camp options herald a The 10th Atlanta Jewish Film Festival center at 234 West Hancock Avenue, in sjff.org. was a rich and varied experience. downtown Athens. On Sunday, February 21, events bright summer for MJCCA Day By Suzi Brozman The opening night celebration is Camps in Dunwoody and East Cobb. See page 17. Page 15 Saturday, February 20. Festivities begin See JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL, page 6 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN January-February 2010 ment on the implication or influence of the protect Jews from the ravishes of the Nazis. number 36 itself. My interest is in the legend. The simple act of donating blood to save lives Lamed Vavniks According to the lore, the lamed vavniks are of people unknown to the donor. The humani- not known to each other; may not know that tarians who volunteer their time, talent, and It seems that the modern technology and they are one of the thirty-six; are pious, hum- money to work towards trying to protect and information access that it affords has provided ble, modest, and earn a small income by the make the existence of people in undeveloped society with so many new, in-depth tools for sweat of their brows. They appear when there countries safer and less painful. The people advancements and improvements. The living is a need and then return to their anonymity who are willing to stand up and publically standard in the developed countries rivals the BY Marvin once their task is completed. decry acts and movements that are motivated comforts and product availability that was for- Botnick While the original tales that emerged by a desire for control, subjugation, money, and merly accessible only to royalty. The speed of dealt with averting a threatening disaster from personal power. Surely these people must fall communication and travel has made distances surrounding enemies, the principle certainly within the definition of lamed vavniks. base. For centuries, we Jews have known and almost non-existent. Opportunity abounds; has expanded applications. Rabbi Rami As we move into a new decade with the experienced the suffering and tragedy that unbelievable wealth is being amassed; con- Shapiro in his book: The Art of celebration of the secular new year, each of us accompanies these aggressions. While such sumerism, while slowed by the recent econom- Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice, com- should sit back and take a good look at who and torment has not been exclusive to Jews, we are ic conditions, has become the mantra. ments that, “Without their acts of lovingkind- what we are. Are we part of those who are a people who have survived and have contin- But these advancements have not been ness, life on this planet would implode under threatening disaster or are fostering anger, ued longer than others. universal, and legions of people in many under- the weight of human selfishness, anger, igno- ignorance, and greed? Are we, for personal We have always seemed to find the inner developed countries are lacking what we would rance, and greed.” gain and power, willing to aid those who are strength to look forward with faith and hope in consider basic human rights. Hunger is ram- In spite of the greed and selfishness that driven to bring death, destruction, and suffering the face of daunting challenges. Such is the pant, and subjugation for personal gain contin- are headlined every day; putting aside the crass to others? Are we part of the majority who case of Lamed Vav, a concept that appears in ues as it has over the centuries. Life is lightly acts that are perpetrated for the acquisition of mutely stand by when we see wrong around the Babylonian Talmud (Sanhedrin 97b; regarded, and education is sorely lacking. power and wealth; shuddering at the inhuman- us? Sukkah 45b) attributed to the talmudic sage In the former instance, self-aggrandize- ity, torture, enslavement, and suffering inflicted Whether you want to understand the con- Abbaye, who lived in the fouth century C.E. ment and greed have so permeated the morali- by humans on others, there is ample evidence cept of lamed vav literally or figuratively, do The name is derived from the Hebrew ty that too many want to possess for the sake of that there are the requisite lamed vavniks in our not shy away from the belief that the world will letter lamed, the letter that is used for the num- possessing rather than for the sake of what ben- midst. not survive without the righteous stepping for- ber 30, and vav, the Hebrew letter that is used efit can be derived. The same is true in the lat- When there is a tragic loss of life or prop- ward when the circumstance demand. And do for the number 6. Together, these two produce ter case, the difference being the relative pain erty, there is a pouring out of support from peo- not assume that the wrongs and evils of the the number 36, which, according to this legend, and suffering inflicted on those at the lower ple unknown to one another without the need world will be addressed by others. We too can is the number of righteous people required for levels for the benefit of those at the top. of notoriety. The horrific inhuman acts that be lamed vavniks. the world to exist. These thirty-six are referred A sub-storyline is the challenge and dan- took place during the Holocaust are in stark Thomas Edison said: “We shall have no to as lamed vavniks. ger that has developed because of ideological contrast to the unbelievable actions of the better conditions in the future if we are satisfied Not being grounded in gematria, the differences, values, and conflicts that have Righteous Gentiles, who put at risk their lives with all those which we have at present.” Jewish study of numerology, I will not com- gained momentum, often using theology as a and the lives of their families to hide, feed, and JewishTHE Georgian February program will focus on Middle East The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd.