JewishTHE Georgian Volume 26, Number 6 Atlanta, Georgia September-October 2014 FREE WHAT’S INSIDE A Tradition of Reading The 23rd Book Festival of the MJCCA will feature more than 40 authors, including Bob Saget, Mark Bittman, and Anna Quindlen. Page 29 The Circle of Giving Inspired by her experience volunteering with Friendship Circle, 16-year-old Ruthie Tanenbaum embarked on her own fundraising project for the organization. By Rickelle New Page 22 OVS Turns 100 The highlight of Congregation Or VeShalom’s centennial celebration is the writing of a new Torah. Page 8 Day School and Sharp Minds A 9th-grade Genesis study class was about more than the Bible — it was an introduction to critical thinking. By Jason Axelrod Page 18 Vaulting to Victory Three Atlanta pole-vaulters are garnering national attention. By Ashley Rosenberg Page 5 Helping Out an Old Friend at UGA AEPi Omicron raised funds for beloved former house caretaker Walter Willis, who is now battling cancer. By Joel Turry Page 35 Page 2 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN September-October 2014 ‘Presence of Jewish absence and the absence of Jewish presence’ — Author unknown witnessed in the 20th century. A combination theater, all of which had included and been in April of 2013 at a cost of approximately of the European pogroms in the early part influenced by the rich reservoir of Jewish $100,000,000. The land was donated by the of the century, the Holocaust carnage and involvement, was being lost with the smoke city of Warsaw, and the construction cost BY Marvin post–war exodus, the expulsion from Arab and ashes of crematoriums. There is now was paid for by the government of Poland. lands after the establishment of Israel, and a realization that there was more than just Poland’s richest man, Jan Kulczyk, who is Botnick the exodus from Russia, particularly after the removal of the Jewish population from not Jewish, gave $6.4 million toward the the collapse of the Soviet Union, resulted the country’s population, there has been the cost. in the mass migration from and decimation diminution of the country’s culture. It is not a secret that there is a rise of anti- As a general statement, for the Jew, of long-standing Jewish habitation in many Ruth Ellen Gruber, an American Semitism in Europe, which is dangerous and more than any other time of the year, this locals around the world. Primarily, due to researcher and journalist, is quoted in the chilling. This is the reality of the situation, is the season for reflective introspection on outside forces, we became a nomadic people, October 26, 2012, issue of Haaretz in an and we must be guarded and concerned actions, principles, and perspective. It is a moving from one location to another, not in article by Moshe Gilad, as commenting that about this plague. But there is also a current time for remembrance, thanksgiving, and search of seasonal food but rather in search “Dozens of European cities hold a Jewish flowing through some parts of the population hope. of a place to live in the peace and tranquility Heritage Day every year, and most of the recognizing the loss to the cultural wellbeing Over the centuries, the conditions under that is available to others. participants aren’t even Jewish.” She points of a nation that has been suffered as a result which our people lived — economically, But along the way, we always left out that in Italy, with a Jewish population of of the influence of its Jewish population, emotionally, and opportunistically something of ourselves behind. While often only 25,000, “Jewish heritage days are held which, for all practical purposes, no longer — changed and ran the full gamut of imperceptible, the influence of our legacy in 60 cities and towns, attracting hundreds of exists. Jan Kulczyk, the individual who possibilities. Languages changed, clothing had become part of the local culture, often thousands of people.” was so generous in his contribution to the styles changed, food tastes changed, and unrealized until our absence. The presence of Jewish absence. creation of the Polish museum, said, “When business opportunities changed; yet, Before World War II, the Jewish ----- the Jewish nation and the Polish nation, somewhat like the chameleon, we have population in Poland of 3,300,000 was In Poland, along with other European when we are together, when we look in the been able to outwardly blend in with the second only to the United States in size. At countries, there has been an effort to revive same direction, it is great for us, great for environment while maintaining our inner the end of the Holocaust, the number had and acknowledge the contribution of Jews. Poland and great for the world,” identity. dropped to 20,000, and the 2011 census There are now courses in Yiddish being The absence of the Jewish presence. Except for the exile of Jews from Israel, listed a count of 7,508 people that identified offered to regain access to the literary trove ----- probably at no time in history has there themselves as Jews. Much of the carnage of literature, theater, and music that was such Shana Tovah: May 5775 be a year when been a greater disruption and dislocation that took place was the work of the local an important contribution to their county’s both Jews and Gentiles dig deep within of the world’s Jewish population than was Polish population in concert with the Nazi culture. themselves and find the spark of goodness rulers, and it was the result of the centuries of The Museum of the History of that dwells within us all. anti-Semitic bile that had eaten away at the Polish Jews, located on the land formerly THE conscience and attitude of the citizenry. This occupied by the Warsaw Ghetto, opened mindset was similar to that found in other Jewish Georgian countries which, while in lesser absolute TThe Jewish Georgian is published bimonthly by Eisenbolt, Ltd. It is numbers, contributed to the mass murder of written for Atlantans and Georgians by Atlantans and Georgians. so many of our Jewish brethren. Publisher Marvin Botnick But a strange phenomenon has started L’shana Co-Publisher Sam Appel to emerge. Although not universal, there Editor Marvin Botnick appears to be recognition of a communal Managing Editor Marsha C. LaBeaume loss that has resulted from the decimation Assignment Editor Carolyn Gold Tovah from of the Jewish population. The expunging of Consulting Editor Gene Asher Associate Editor Barbara Schreiber the people had meant the disappearance of Copy Editor Ray Tapley part of the fabric of a nation’s character. The THE Makeup Editor Terri Christian food, the literature, the music, the art, the Production Coordinator Terri Christian Designer David Gaudio EPSTEIN Photographic Staff Allan Scher, Jonathan Paz Graphic Art Consultant Karen Paz Columnist Gene Asher, Jonathan Barach, About The Cover Janice Rothschild Blumberg, SCHOOL Marvin Botnick, David Geffen, Carolyn Gold, Jonathan Goldstein, ON THE THE R.M. Grossblatt, Marice Katz, Balfoura Friend Levine, COVER. The VolumeJewish 26, Number 6 Georgian Atlanta, Georgia September-October 2014 We look forward Marsha Liebowitz, Bubba Meisa, WHAT’S INSIDE FREE A Wedding to shofar is circa Remember Erin O’Shinsky, Reg Regenstein, It was a day of meaning and beauty for the bride, the groom, and all in attendance. By Janice Rothschild Blumberg Page 14 to seeing you on Stuart Rockoff, Roberta Scher, Scanning History 1894 and The Breman Museum’s Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History is now digitizing documents and will start Jerry Schwartz, Leon Socol, putting them online by the end of the year. By Jeremy Katz Page 18 belonged to At Home in Jerusalem Rabbi Reuven Stein, Ruben Stanley Twenty places in the U.S. call themselves Jerusalem. our newly-renovated By David Geffen Cecile Waronker Page7 Dr. Herbert 30 Years of Lending a Hand Since its opening in 1984, the Shearith Israel Women’s Shelter has helped more than 1,000 women beat homelessness and restart their lives. campus. By Leon Socol Karp. Dr. Page 16 New Name, Advertising Ruby Grossblatt Expanded Vision THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Region, has changed its name to conexx: America Michael Pelot Karp sounded Israel Business Connector. Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta Page 6 The MJCCA presents the epic musical Anne Bender drama Les Misérables, August 7-17. Schedule a tour at the shofar Page 24 during Rosh EpsteinAtlanta.org/tour. Editorial Advisory Board Members Hashanah Sam Appel Rabbi Alvin Sugarman Sam Massell Jane Axelrod William Rothschild Gil Bachman services at Ahavath Achim Michael H. Mescon Marilyn Shubin Paul Muldawer Congregation for many years starting in THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL Doug Teper 1968. The shofar is in the Collection of the Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta 335 COLEWOOD WAY NW 8495 Dunwoody Place, Suite 100 Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish SANDY SPRINGS, GA 30328-2956 Atlanta, GA 30350 History at The William Breman Jewish EPSTEINATLANTA.ORG (404) 236-8911 • FAX (404) 236-8913 Heritage Museum. Photograph and photo- [email protected] illustration by David Schendowich. Shana THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta www.jewishgeorgian.com Tovah. The Jewish Georgian ©2014 THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL 4819 JG rosh hashanah ad_prf1.indd 1 9/12/14 9:52 AM Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL Solomon Schechter School of Atlanta September-October 2014 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN Page 3 for helping get the job done so quickly, and Braves fans, as were most of the estimated we congratulate the consulate for a job well 40,000 people in Cooperstown that day— done.