JewishTHE Georgian Volume 28, Number 3 Atlanta, Georgia March-April 2016 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE A Mensch at the Helm On July 1, Rabbi Ari Leubitz will become Atlanta Jewish Academy’s new head of school. Page 7 Farber on Film Funnyman Jerry Farber gets laughs and gets serious in a new short film. Page 13 Remember the Children This year’s Yom HaShoah Commemor- ation, at Greenwood Cemetery, will honor the children of the Holocaust—those who died and those who survived. By Harold Kirtz Page 40 Artists Among Us Atlanta is home to several accomplished members of the American Guild of Judaic Art. Page 16 A Telling Collection Rabbi Tobias Geffen’s 2007 donation of 99 Haggadot to Emory University’s Pitts Theology Library has inspired more donations and acquisitions. By M. Patrick Graham Page 9 Davis Expansion In less than a year, The Davis Academy will have a new performing arts center, Lower School cafeteria, and more. Page 22 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN March-April 2016 have lived, we, somehow, did maintain Coldwell Banker elements of shared interest. #1 TEAM Metro Atlanta Communal continuum Having the foundation of a common of individual humans, but rather it is a history and elements of shared interests many-faceted community. Regardless of are critical components that have provided how some people may wish to define and the communal linkage. But these do not BY Marvin constrict their affiliation, their Jewishness and will not stand alone and require the does impart a unique tint to their universe. shared support for the common good. Botnick I have a There is no legislated concern, however, requirement, but our about whether or not vibrancy is heavily we are becoming a bolstered by the Much has been written and many confederation rather words have been spoken on the issue of continuous seeking than a community. of knowledge and defining Judaism and what constitutes Judaism has not THE SONENSHINE TEAM being a Jew. What is generally agreed to is understanding of our Atlanta’s Favorite Real Estate Team! been an alliance rich and meaningful 404.252.4908 (Office) that there is no agreement. of unconnected 404.250.5311 (Direct) Some view this appellation as cultural, heritage — a task individuals or that is ongoing. Hand SonenshineTeam.com some ethnic, some religious, some bodies that have linguistic, some moral, some culinary, and hand with this is joined together to the necessity of the and some as organizational membership. form an umbrella financial support of understood that it is incumbent on us to not Regardless of the parameters, most organization. Rather, Jewish institutions only pursue this unilaterally for our own would acknowledge that there is some it is the evolution A that constitute the benefit, but also that we have the duty and commonality. of a theocracy that mechanism and vehicles to impart our rich obligation to support these institutions for But the above elements are not is grounded in shared values, beliefs, heritage, meaning, and vision of a better the benefit of all. genetically inherited. They are learned expectations, and meanings amongst world to the present and future. So it is with chagrin and consternation components, whether formally taught or individuals. It is the support of others and If we wish to continue as a community that I read in a recent report by one of our absorbed by exposure, and they become part the visional pursuit of the perfection of the and not merely a confederation, it is institutions a statement that certain of its of who and what an individual becomes. world. incumbent on us to support the institutions members had resigned with the explanation Historical environs and the moral, ethical, The amazing story is that historically that are vital in this endeavor. These that it “no longer meets their needs — and theistic considerations have a major we have been able to maintain an are the vehicles that have impacted our children are grown.” influence on the social-cultural system that interconnectivity of identity even though continuation over the centuries; that have In our world today, it seems as though has evolved. we have lived as a people without national transmitted our values, meaning, and the mantra is fees for services. Community Judaism is not merely a collection boundaries. Although not necessarily understanding of life; that have enabled us is not quantifiable. Education and study are known to one another and being influenced to encompass within our being the meaning not determined by age. Mutual support is by many and varied cultures in which we THE of humanity. And as a community, we have basic. Jewish Georgian TThe Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbolt, Ltd. It is written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. Publisher Marvin Botnick On The Cover Co-Publisher Sam Appel Editor Marvin Botnick Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold THE Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber Copy Editor Ray Tapley Jewish Georgian Volume 28, Number 3 Atlanta, Georgia March-April 2016 FREE Makeup Editor Terri Christian WHAT’S INSIDE Production Coordinator Terri Christian A Mensch at the Helm On July 1, Rabbi Ari Leubitz will become Atlanta Jewish Academy’s new head of Designer David Gaudio school. Page 7 Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz Farber on Film Funnyman Jerry Farber gets laughs and gets serious in a new short film. Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz Page 13 Columnist Jonathan Barach, Remember the Children This year’s Yom HaShoah Commemor- Janice Rothschild Blumberg, ation, at Greenwood Cemetery, will honor the children of the Holocaust—those who died and those who survived. Marvin Botnick, Eva Friedlander, By Harold Kirtz Page 40 David Geffen, Carolyn Gold, Artists Among Us Jonathan Goldstein, R.M. Grossblatt, Atlanta is home to several accomplished members of the American Guild of Judaic Art. Page 16 Marice Katz, Balfoura Friend Levine, Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, A Telling Collection Rabbi Tobias Geffen’s 2007 donation of 99 Haggadot to Emory University’s Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, Pitts Theology Library has inspired more donations and acquisitions. By M. Patrick Graham Stuart Rockoff, Roberta Scher, Page 9 Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, Davis Expansion In less than a year, The Davis Academy Rabbi Reuven Stein, Ruben Stanley, will have a new performing arts center, Lower School cafeteria, and more. Cecile Waronker Page 22 Advertising Ruby Grossblatt Michael Pelot Symbolic Seder Plate Editorial Advisory Board Members Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell illustration by David Jane Axelrod William Rothschild Gil Bachman Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin Paul Muldawer Schendowich Doug Teper 8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30350 (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 [email protected] www.jewishgeorgian.com The Jewish Georgian ©2016 March-April 2016 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 What’s MOVERS HAPPENING SHAKERS title of one of the most amazing speeches we have ever heard. If you’re looking for a spellbinding and provocative speaker for BY Reg your group, here he is. Rabbi Eric Wisnia, who has served Regenstein Congregation Beth Chaim, in Princeton JEWISH Junction, New Jersey, since 1977, spoke to the Atlanta Civil War Roundtable, at the Capital City Club Downtown. His main GEORGIAN OF THE YEAR SAM OLENS. point: “It ain’t CHANGE Georgia Trend magazine has named Attorney necessarily so,” General Sam Olens “Georgian of the Year.” he sang, quoting As writer Susan Percy notes, “Attorney George Gershwin’s General Sam Olens has taken on some of the Porgy and Bess, MAKERS state’s toughest problems—sex trafficking, referring to the prescription drug abuse, and Medicaid traditional narrative fraud—and of The War Between Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta championed open the States, that “You government. And Southerners were wishes you a Happy Passover he’s not done yet. Rabbi Eric Wisnia not as good as us and invites you to “He’s a lot more, Yankees.” but Sam Olens is He points out, accurately, that the War basically a good was not all about slavery, and that some guy. Georgia’s states in the North held slaves throughout Join us on May 5, 2016 Republican attorney the conflict: “My own New Jersey had slaves general, in the until they were freed in 1866 [the year after middle of his the war ended], New York banks financed at the Buckhead Theatre for Sam Olens second term, is a the slave plantations,” and he added that plays-well-with- “The North was as complicit as the South in others, roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-to- slavery.” work consensus builder, a lawyer’s lawyer “It’s time to stop blaming the South,” he who is quick to share credit and gives every concludes. FED sign of loving what he does.” He remembers well when he was a Replies Sam Olens, “What greater boy and a nice black family moved into his Talks 2016 honor can there be for an attorney than to neighborhood, in Levittown, Pennsylvania, represent the state?” in 1957, causing violent protest and featuring Our response: being married to Lisa is opposition. one thing that comes to mind. The Brooklyn native says he “is a Read the entire article at: georgiatrend. Southern boy at heart.” Not long ago, he was MARTY KOGON SUSAN JACKSON com/January-2016/Georgias-Advocate/ in Brookhaven, Mississippi, rededicating a Lifetime of Achievement President and CEO of monument to Jewish Confederates. Award Winner Focus on a Jewish Tomorrow A JEWISH VIEW OF THE WAR OF YANKEE AGGRESSION. That was the See HAPPENING, page 4 RANDY GOLD DAVID YARUS Founder of JScreen Founder of JSwipe Put some overtime INFO & REGISTRATION AT JewishAtlanta.org/FEDTalks or toward yourself.