Volume 25, Number 3 Atlanta, Georgia March-April 2013 FREE A Citizen at Last Escaping the Nazis and arriving in the U.S. in 1944, Jack Bass took his Oath of Citizenship on February 1. Jewish servicemen celebrating Passover at the Progressive Club, 1943. They were served by the Zionist District, Page 16 Mayfair Club, and Temple members. Tasty, Nostalgic Fun Passover seder at the home of the Jacobs family at 1715 Noble Drive, 1944. At the head of the table are Isidor Jacobs and Elizabeth Jacobs. (photos: The Cuba Family Archives of Southern Jewish History at The Breman Museum) For Waffle House fans, The Waffle Palace hits both home and the funny bone. By Leon Socol Page 21 A Timeless Lesson Bert Lewyn’s memoir, On the Run in Nazi Berlin, now resonates with younger readers in the United States and Germany. By David Geffen and Rita Geffen Page 30 Here Comes the Judge Wendy Shoob has served on the Fulton Superior Court since 1996. By Carolyn Gold Page 8 Holiday Preparations Kosher Korner answers questions about Passover. By Rabbi Reuven Stein Page 35 Through the Café Door A mezuzah finds a home in an unlikely place. Page 6 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN March-April 2013 March-April 2013 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 Page 4 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN March-April 2013 Should actions reflect the original intent? I have always been interested in and What struck me about this was the con- ships to larger and larger organized groups. amazed by those individuals who fall into a tinuation of the performance of certain cer- Out of necessity, rules have evolved as gov- grouping that is variously referred to as emonies without an understanding of why ernances and customs. Sometimes, we end Crypto-Jews, Marranos, Conversos, and BY this was being done or what they represent- up observing the rules but not the intent. I New Christians. These are names that are Marvin ed. But the more I thought about this, the have written before of the tendency to be used to designate individuals who are Botnick more I realized the lack of uniqueness of influenced by form rather than the sub- descendants of Jews who were forced to such a scenario. stance that gives rise to the form. convert to Catholicism during the Conversos” dealing with finding Jewish Think about things that you do in your Locally, nationally, and internationally, Inquisition or be put to death, very often by roots of people in Sicily, she relates the everyday life and ask yourself why you do we are hearing and seeing words and being tortured and burned at the stake. story told by her father-in-law, Joe, who, at them and what do they represent. Do you actions that are being played out on the Within this group are those who out- the age of 60, converted to Judaism. He was slow down when driving through a school basis of selective interpretations of laws wardly became Catholics while secretly raised in Sicily, but whether or not he was a zone because there is a sign posted requir- and customs. Why do we mouth words they continued to observe some of the ritu- descendent of Jews was not determined. ing you to do so, or is the sign posted to when we do not know or do not observe als and customs of their Jewish faith. Over Ms. Gordon wrote, “ Looking back, it’s lessen the possible harm that might be their meaning? What is it that gives us the the centuries, in some cases this duality was easy to see that Joe was exposed to ele- inflicted on one of the school children? Do right and the power to inflict suffering and continued; however, in other instances, ments of a Jewish past, although he didn’t you stand when “The Star-Spangled death on others who do not agree with us? what had been Jewish religious rituals know it at the time. He was 11 years old Banner” is played because you have been Why do we denigrate those who believe dif- became customs that were passed down when he and his family left Castelmola, a taught that doing so is what is required, or ferently while espousing the principles of without explanation. small town above Taormina, but he never do you stand out of respect for the freedom equality and love? In a number of homes, on Friday nights forgot a peculiar ceremony he watched on and opportunity that is yours as a resident of Customs and traditions are important the woman head-of-household would go Friday nights: The priests would exit the old this country? How many people realize that and beautiful inheritances that add to the down to the basement of the home where church carrying large and beautiful silver the tipping of one’s hat comes from the days enrichment of our lives. They continue nothing could be seen from the outside and ‘relics’ — which I would later learn were when Knights would raise the face visor on because of a place that they occupy in our light candles, a continuation of the Jewish likely Torah embellishments — on pallets, their armor as a sign of friendliness? Or do remembrances, and because they signify traditional lighting of the Shabbat candles. and reverently parade them around the we understand that the handshake comes who and what we are. Sometimes, even The meaning had been lost, but, unbe- courtyard. from the custom of extending one’s hand when their source and meaning is lost, they knownst to them, it was a relic of their “The procession moved solemnly, as into the open to show that there is no sword still can have an impact on us; however, Jewish heritage. the priests recited unintelligible, prayer-like to be drawn? their true value is when we see them as A recent article in the Forward by words. ‘Nobody knew why they did this, Over the many centuries, we have symbols of something greater. Susan J. Gordon entitled “Island of but we knew it was important,’Joe said.” evolved from the smallest units of relation- JewishTHE Georgian New book is a The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd. It is written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. Publisher Marvin Botnick family affair Co-Publisher Sam Appel Over 70 excited children and their curious parents Editor Marvin Botnick Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume jammed BookLogix publishers on January 21, to celebrate the Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold “birth day” of Maxine Rock’s tenth book, Adventures in Faun Consulting Editor Gene Asher Forest. They heard Rock talk about how books are made— Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber from idea to wrap-up—and saw the hard covers crafted by Copy Editor Ray Tapley hand as presses rolled. There was even a gooey “faun cake” to Makeup Editor Terri Christian complete the celebra- Production Coordinator Terri Christian Designer David Gaudio tion. Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz Adventures in Faun Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz Forest is about a family Maxine Rock, left, teaches her two younger grandchil- Columnist Gene Asher, Jonathan Barach, of impish boy-goats dren, Jordyn Rock, 3, and Sara Rock, 5, about Janice Rothschild Blumberg, Marvin Botnick, David Geffen, who defend their magi- Passover. The girls participated in Maxineʼs newest Carolyn Gold, Jonathan Goldstein, cal forest from box- book release, Adventures in Faun Forest, and were R.M. Grossblatt, Marice Katz, Balfoura Friend Levine, brains (who can’t think mentioned in the book. Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, outside the box) and Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Susan Robinson, Stuart Rockoff, Earthsuckers (who heard the faun stories as bedtime tales. Rachel Rock Schiffer, Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, deplete natural Rock’s eldest grandchild, illustrated the book, and her sister, Rabbi Reuven Stein, Cecile Waronker resources). Faun pals Julia, supplied poetry. Sara Rock is learning to read, and her Special Assignments Lyons Joel such as the “stelk” three-year-old sister, Jordyn, was fascinated by the printing Advertising Anne Bender (part seal, part elk) and process. Ruby Grossblatt “panthapus” (part pan- Rock and her husband, David, are long-time Atlanta resi- Editorial Advisory Board Members ther, part octopus) help dents and among the original founders of Temple Sinai. Rock Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell Jane Axelrod Albert Maslia William Rothschild keep the forest safe. is a co-founder of the PATH Foundation, which builds bicycle Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin Other fanciful hybrid trails in and around the city. She is the author of 1,000 maga- Asher Benator Paul Muldawer Doug Teper Julia Rock Schiffer, 9, reads from creatures spur a child’s zine and newspaper articles and the winner of 19 awards for Adventures in Faun Forest, at the imagination and remind writing excellence. Rachel and Julia are students at The 8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 100 bookʼs launch party, January 21, them we are all compli- Galloway School and members of The Temple. Atlanta, GA 30350 at BookLogix in Alpharetta. cated mixtures of many Proceeds from sales of Adventures in Faun Forest went to (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 Juliaʼs grandmother Maxine Rock cultures and “nobody is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a favorite charity of [email protected] wrote the book, with editing help pure anything.” Rock’s daughter, Lauren Rock, who runs marathons and www.jewishgeorgian.com from Julia. Rachel Rock Schiffer, Rock wrote the triathlons each year to supply funds. The Jewish Georgian ©2013 Juliaʼs 12-year-old sister, illus- book as a gift to her trated the book.