JewishTHE Happy Georgian Passover Volume 21, Number 3 Atlanta, Georgia MARCH-APRIL 2009 FREE JEA Reunion is all about the 3 R’s: reconnecting…reminiscing…reflecting What’s Inside By Leon Socol he Atlanta Jewish Educational Alliance (JEA) was founded nearly T100 years ago as the place for Blurring the Boundaries Atlanta’s Jewish youth to gather for social, A new exhibition at the Dunwoody educational, and sports activities and to Public Library moves effortlessly strengthen their connection to their between poetry and visual art. Judaism. Page 27 The JEA, which was located on Capitol Avenue, was the Sunday gathering place for many young people and home to Part of the Family some 30 clubs. During the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s, Chancer, the country’s first fetal alco- and ‘50s, boys and girls participated in hol spectrum disorder service dog, basketball, softball, track, carom, and ten- has brought calm and joy to a young nis. Many young Jews excelled in these boy and his family. sports and learned teamwork and skills at the JEA. Lasting friendships were formed. Page 27 JEA Reunion Steering Committee (from left to right): Archie Merlin, Sylvia Coming up on the century anniversary Schwartz, Ken Levenstiem, Rachelle Berliner, Arnold Balser, Fran Landau, of the JEA, Dan Maslia realized that there Larry Greenberg, Leonard Sherman, Raymond Taratoot, Helen Alperin, Sam had never been a reunion of those boys and Pinsky (Not pictured: Pat Aronoff, Asher Benator, Johnny Benator, Josiah Holocaust Sculpture girls of yesteryear. Many of them had Benator, Ted Frankel, Hilda Goodelman, David Kletzky, Harriet Mills, Frieda reached their senior years and lost track of Dedicated Socol, Paul Teplis) (all photos: www.heidimorton.com) A new sculpture honoring Holocaust See JEA REUNION, page 5 survivor and author Alex Gross graces the campus of Greenfield Hebrew Academy. Brighton Beach Memoirs wraps up Genesis Stage a dream Page 7 Center Theatre’s inaugural season come true for Mira Hirsch enter Theatre is closing its inaugural season with Neil Simon’s By Bill Sonenshine Leaving India autobiographical comedy Brighton Beach Memoirs. Running CApril 30-May 24, Brighton Beach Memoirs is directed by here is exciting news for Atlanta The recent attacks in Mumbai bring Robert Egizio. This stage production will be brought to life in Center theatergoers. Mira Hirsch— back memories of harrowing experi- Theatre’s beautiful Morris & Rae Frank Theatre, located at the founder of Jewish Theatre of the ences and the kindness of strangers in T Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, 5342 Tilly Mill Road, South and its sole artistic director for India during the early ‘70s. Dunwoody. the whole of the company’s 13 years— By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Tickets are $22-$30, with discounts for MJCCA members, has formed her own production compa- Page 13 groups, seniors, and students. ny, Genesis Stage. She says it will Brighton Beach Memoirs is set focus on plays relevant to the Jewish in pre-World War II Brooklyn, where experience. In the Cards Eugene Jerome, an ambitious, some- The company’s first production will what starry-eyed teenager who Three postcards tell the story of a life be Hard Love by Israeli playwright wants to be a writer, lives with his Motti Lerner, which was staged last well lived. extended Jewish family in a lower- Mira Hirsch season by Jewish Theatre of the South. By Balfoura Friend Levine middle-class home that is filled with Page 16 tension, love, and plenty of laughs. Brighton Beach Memoirs stars See GENESIS, page 6 15-year-old Benjamin Appley- JELF Announces Epstein as Eugene, Tess Malis Jerry’s Habima Theatre Kincaid as Kate, Erin Considine as presents Once Upon a New Fund Blanche, Larry Ruth as Jack, Joshua Mattress , March 25-29, The Jewish Educational Loan Fund Waterstone as Stanley, Laura Floyd at the MJCCA’s Morris has launched a new program for stu- as Nora, and Rachel Whiteman as and Rae Frank Theatre. dents pursuing careers in medicine. Lori. Pictured: (from left) Page 35 For a complete schedule and Bret Brannan, Cynthia Benjamin Appley-Epstein tickets, call the Center Theatre Box Outman, Katie Rouille, as Eugene (photo: Office at 678-812-4002, or visit and Marc Wollam. See www.twmeyer.com) www.CenterTheatreAtlanta.org. page 30. Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN March-April 2009 “You Were Strangers in the Land of Egypt” have always had an interest in and subsequent seven years of famine came to enemies in fighting against us and rise from curiosity about history and historical pass. But because of the preparation made the ground.’ So they set taskmasters over Ievents, the insight that can be gained during the years of plenty, there was food them to oppress them with forced labor.” into how we have evolved into who and available in Egypt. Fast-forward to today. We have seen what we are, and the relevance of the past to BY Marvin Joseph’s family was living in Canaan the years of plenty, and we are now wit- current events. As Jews, we are fortunate to Botnick as shepherds, and there were no pastures for nessing the lean years, which brings with it have a sacred text, which, while dealing their flocks, as the land of Canaan was suf- a scapegoat mentality. We have and are see- with the deity concept, also is the history of fering from the famine. Jacob, Joseph’s ing the xenophobic plague that is spreading a people and the rules necessary for the reflect on this, for it seems to me that father, learned of the food that was avail- around the world and the evil head of anti- operation of a nation. this year, more so than in any recent able in Egypt because of the storehouses Semitism rearing itself out of the dunghill As we approach the observance of years, these circumstances might have that had been built and filled in anticipation of humanity. Passover, we will once again open our greater relevance. of the famine, and he sent ten of Joseph’s So as we gather with our families to Haggadahs to fulfill our obligation to tell As we are told in Genesis, Joseph was brothers into Egypt to buy corn. Joseph rec- celebrate the bounties bestowed on our the story to our children of our freedom sold into slavery by his brothers, and he was ognized his brothers, and eventually he ancestors as they were freed from Egyptian from slavery. Not only is the story told, but slavery, let us take an extra moment to also the format is such that it instills in our remember how we got there. When we open children the concept of inquisitiveness in As Jews, we are fortunate to have a sacred text, which, while the door for Elijah, let us not only offer a the development of one’s mind: hence, Di dealing with the deity concept, also is the history of a people welcome into our midst the spirit of what Fir Kashes, The Four Questions. Elijah means but also eject through that por- By retelling this story each year, we and the rules necessary for the operation of a nation. tal any bad inner feelings we may have for remember the blessing that was bestowed those who are in need and looking for relief on us by God in delivering us from a life of moved his whole family to Egypt. Thus did from their famine, however it may have oppression and servitude to freedom; we taken to Egypt. Through a series of events, the Israelites, looking for a better life, remind ourselves that we were strangers in he eventually was rewarded by Pharaoh for become immigrants in the land of Egypt. manifested itself. Hermann Cohen wrote, another land; and we reinforce our respon- using the gift given to him by God to inter- In Exodus 1:7 - 12, we read: “…the “The alien was to be protected, not because sibility to show the way to a just and moral pret the Pharaoh’s dreams. Joseph Israelites were fertile and prolific; they mul- he was a member of one’s family, clan, reli- life. It is important for us to reinforce all explained that the dreams portended the tiplied and increased very greatly, so that gious community or people; but because he that Passover stands for each year and not coming of seven years of plenty, to be fol- the land was filled with them. was a human being. In the alien, therefore, go through the service by rote. lowed by seven years of famine. No one “A new king arose over Egypt who did man discovered the idea of humanity.” But there is another dimension to the other than Joseph had been able to interpret not know Joseph. And he said to his people, In many synagogues, there is the fol- story of our sojourn in Egypt that we some- these dreams, and, as a result, Pharaoh put ‘Look, the Israelite people are much too lowing inscription appearing above the Ark: times do not think about. How did we get Joseph in charge of his court, a position sec- numerous for us. Let us deal shrewdly with Dah Lifnei Mi Atah Ohmed (Know Before there in the first place, and why were we ond only to Pharaoh. As revealed to Joseph them, so that they may not increase; other- Whom You Stand). Know, also, what we as enslaved? It might be well this year if we by God, the seven years of plenty and the wise, in the event of war, they may join our Jews stand for. JewishTHE Georgian The Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbot, Ltd.