JewishTHE Georgian Volume 30, Number 1 Atlanta, Georgia November-December 2017 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE CELEBRATE Coming Together, Moving Forward In August, Federation launched The Front Porch, an ambitious project focused on community self-examination and renewal. By Eric Robbins Page 21 Great Food and an Important Mission The General Muir is an acclaimed deli that donates a portion of its profits to the Anti- Defamation League. By Allison Glass Page 36 The Many Lives of Sam Massell A new biography of Sam Massell details his four careers, and his impact on the community. By Carolyn Gold Page 8 Helping Students in Need The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is funding scholarships at the University of Georgia for Westside Atlanta students and for pharmacy students. Page 21 Embracing Chanukah As members of The Temple, then Atlanta’s only Reform congregation, stepped into the mainstream of American Judaism, their perception of winter holidays changed. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Page 7 20 Years of Southern Jewish History For two decades, Southern Jewish History, published by the Southern Jewish Historical Society, has made scholarly research accessible to laypeople. DECEMBER 12 - 20 Page 21 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2017 Coldwell Banker On The Cover Do you seek answers or knowledge? #1 TEAM State of Georgia THE Significantly, at the direction of Joshua Jewish Georgian ben Gamla, the high priest who officiated Volume 30, Number 1 Atlanta, Georgia November-December 2017 FREE around 64CE, the format of an educational WHAT’S INSIDE CELEBRATE Coming Together, Moving Forward BY structure, which amazingly is still In August, Federation launched The Front Marvin Porch, an ambitious project focused on community self-examination and renewal. By Eric Robbins recognized today, was instituted. According Page 21 Great Food and an Botnick to the Babylonian Talmud: Tractate Baba Important Mission The General Muir is an acclaimed deli that donates a portion of its profits to the Anti- Defamation League. Bathra, under his direction, “teachers of By Allison Glass Page 36 The Many Lives of young children should be appointed in each Sam Massell A new biography of Sam Massell details his four careers and his impact on the community. “Education is not the learning of facts, but district and each town, and that children By Carolyn Gold Page 8 THE SONENSHINE TEAM Helping Students the training of the mind to think.” should enter school at the age of six or Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team! in Need The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation is funding scholarships at the University of —Albert Einstein seven.” In addition, he specified that “The Georgia for Westside Atlanta students and pharmacy students. 404.252.4908 (Office) • 404.250.5311 (Direct) Page 21 number of pupils to be assigned to each Embracing Chanukah As members of The Temple, then Atlanta’s only Reform congregation, stepped into the mainstream of American Judaism, their Educating is the act of imparting skills, teacher is twenty-five. If there are fifty, we SonenshineTeam.com perception of winter holidays changed. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Page 7 appoint two teachers. If there are forty, we 20 Years of Southern information, knowledge, and understanding. Jewish History For two decades, Southern Jewish This includes both specifics as well as appoint an assistant, at the expense of the History, published by the Southern Jewish Historical Society, has made scholarly research accessible to laypeople. DECEMBER 12 - 20 Page 21 the guidance in thought and the mental town.” development skill to process situations and Instruction was primarily focused on Asking Questions,” Britain’s Former Chief conditions in deriving and understanding. the study of the Torah and associated texts Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks says, “As Jews Celebrate Hanukkah original art by We Jews are the inheritors of a rich and teachings. While the Hebrew Bible is we believe that to defend a country you David Schendowich history and tradition of education and a theological document, it is more than just need an army, but to defend a civilization its purpose. According to Wikipedia, that — it also is a history of a people, its you need education.” Rabbi Sacks, in The “Education has as one of its fundamental rules, and governances. Unlike the study Haggadah, further expounds on this theme aspects the imparting of culture from of this type of text in other societies, the with the following words: “Education is not Happy generation to generation. Formal education purpose was not to memorize but rather indoctrination. The child who asks becomes in this sense can be traced in Ancient to search for understanding and embrace a partner in the learning process. He or she Hanukkah Israel and Judah to around 1300 BCE the concept of seeking fuller meaning. is no longer a passive recipient but an active with adoption of the Torah, which means Acquiring a foundation of thought and participant. To ask is to grow.” ‘teaching’, ‘instruction’, scribe’, ‘or ‘law’ in information on which to draw is critical, but In trying to arrive at meaning and Hebrew.” The initial dictate to educate one’s true education also encompasses instilling understanding, it is only natural that there children was center in the parents and the and developing the thought processes to may be divergence of thought and opinion. home; however, this evolved into classes analyze. In seeking some commonality of such taught in Jerusalem by others. In an article entitled “The Necessity of divergence in the study of Torah, during the talmudic period the Hebrew word pilpul THE was the descriptive term that was used to described “the logical distinctions through Jewish Georgian which apparent contradictions and textual TThe Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbolt, Ltd. It is difficulties were straightened out by means written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. of reasoning.” Publisher Marvin Botnick In our secular educational system, Co-Publisher Sam Appel this quest for knowledge is akin to what Editor Marvin Botnick the Association of American Colleges & Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume Universities describes as Liberal Education. Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold The Socratic method of study, which is Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber Copy Editor Ricky Dimon based on developing critical thinking rather Makeup Editor Terri Christian than lectures by an instructor, is a format by Production Coordinator Terri Christian which cooperative, argumentative dialogue Designer David Gaudio among and between students is encouraged Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz to focus on the critical thinking rather Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz than accepting factual instruction as being Columnist Jonathan Barach, Janice Rothschild Blumberg, objective. This differs from training, which Marvin Botnick, Zalman Eisman, one writer has described as “what you get David Geffen, Allison Glass, Carolyn Gold, Marice Katz, R.M. Grossblatt Katz, through mindless repetition.” Brian Katzowitz, Balfoura Friend Levine, Fast forward to today. One of the Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, predominate concepts of the education that Roberta Scher, Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, is received through our institutions is the Rabbi Reuven Stein and Ruben Stanley acquisition of answers. There is an answer to a mathematical problem; however, this Advertising Julie Joffre Benveniste Michael Pelot See BOTNICK, page 5 Editorial Advisory Board Members Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell Jane Axelrod William Rothschild Gil Bachman Marilyn Shubin Paul Muldawer Doug Teper CORRECTION In the September/October issue, 8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 200 the date for the arrival of the ship Atlanta, GA 30350 William and Sarah, in the article “A (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 short historic trip through early Jewish [email protected] History in the U.S.,” was inadvertently www.jewishgeorgian.com stated as 1773. The correct date is The Jewish Georgian ©2017 1733. November-December 2017 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 What’s HAPPENING “Happy Birthday, Boss. I will promise to take the Falcons to the Super Bowl again this year, if you will promise to stay off the field when we’re ahead.” BY Reg From the entire Atlanta City Council: “Happy Birthday, Arthur, but where are our Regenstein free season tickets? We did pay $200 million in hotel taxes for the stadium for you, after all.” From President Trump: “Happy Angela Blank, Jerry Farber, and Arthur Blank (photo: Ben Rose) ARTHUR BLANK’S BIRTHDAY PARTY. Birthday, Arthur, I hear the Falcons are now We have obtained an exclusive, never- worth four billion dollars. Big Deal. I got before-revealed account of Atlanta Falcons golf courses worth more than that. Seriously, From the head of the Democratic $2 million to keep us afloat through the next owner Arthur Blank’s fabulous 75th the Falcons are huge, they’re great, the best National Committee, Senator Chuck season. Popcorn sales were down a bit this birthday party, with about 100 people at The ever. I will tell you that. But how come Schumer, and Representative Nancy Pelosi: year.” Estate, the elegant Buckhead venue of Tony you can’t support me like your pal Bernie “Urgent alert: Dear Democrat loyalist: From Steve Cannon, who headed up Conway’s Legendary Events. Marcus does? You got a nice little football immediately write, call, or text your senators development of the Falcons’ Mercedes- Telegrams flowed in from all over team there, be a shame if anything should and representatives and demand that they Benz Stadium: “Hi Arthur, please stop by the country for Arthur, who, with Bernie happen to it.” not abolish the estate tax, but increase it! a Mercedes dealership, tell ‘em you know Marcus, founded The Home Depot. They From the IRS: “Happy B’day, Mr. We know that, as a good Democrat, we can me, ask for the birthday special, all the were read to the crowd by comedian Jerry Blank, and thanks for all the taxes you pay.