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PAGE 4 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE February 28, 1986
The Southern Israelite
The Weekly Newspaper For Southern Jewry
Since 1925
Vida Goidgar
Editor and Publisher
Leonard Goldstein
Advertising Director
Luna Levy
Associate Editor
Eschol A. Harrell
Production Manager
Lutz Baum
Business Manager
Published every Friday by The Southern Israelite, Inc.
Second Class Postage paid at Atlanta, Ga (ISSN 00388) (UPS 776060)
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Southern Israelite, P.0. Box
77383, Atlanta, GA 30357
Mailing Address: P.O. box 77388, Atlanta, Georgia 30357
Location: 188 15th St., N.W., Atl., Ga. 30318 Phone (404)$76-8248
Advertising rates available upon request.
Subscriptions: $20.00, 1 year; $35.00 2 years
Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency; Religious News Service;
Amencan Jewish Press Assn.; Georgia Press Assn.; National Newspaper Assn.
Help make a miracle
We call your attention to the Campaign "86 thermometer on
this week’s front page. To date, Atlantans have responded to the
annual Federation drive with a healthy $6 million.
That’s admirable for this stage of the campaign, but the hard
part is yet to come if our community is to reach its $8.5 million
goal. As in any funding effort, the major gifts come in first. The
numbers build quickly, especially when there is the kind of
commitment to helping others which permeates our leaders.
For the most part, the remaining $2.5 million needed will come
in smaller, though no less important, amounts.
There are still regular contributors who have not been
contacted. There are no doubt many others whose names are not
on the list. It is important that volunteer campaign workers make
an extra effort now to complete their cards. It’s equally important
for those who are not contacted to participate in this vital
campaign which ensures that we remain a community that cares.
The theme this year is Miracles Can Happen. Help make a
miracle.
A step forward
Vida Goidgar
A time to take
Ever since the population study came out last year,
with its astonishing information that the Atlanta
area’s Jewish population is at least
60,000, many of us have made the
assumption that a lot of that
growth was comprised of young
people, new in town, who, after
they got reasonably settled in,
would surface and take their places
in the community.
Well, 1 found some of them last
week. The good news is that they
are beginning to get involved. They
want ot be part of the community. The bad news is
that many of them are astir with feelings of alienation
before they can get started.
This was a meeting of B’nai B’rith’s newest lodge,
named for one of Atlanta’s foremost citizens, the late
Sidney J. Marcus. Now maybe the two dozen or so
young men are not representative of all the
newcomers—but I’ve got a feeling there are a heck of a
lot more out there who share their feelings.
Let me tell you a little bit about them. The age range
was late 20s, early 30s. The majority were lawyers,
with accountants second, a banker turned entre
preneur, a pharmacist, a coach and a career or so that
I can’t remember. Some were single, others had tied
the knot. I assume the meeting was held in Dunwoody
because many of them live there or close by.
Most of them have only been in Atlanta a few years.
There was one native in the bunch, one returnee and
the rest had settled here (and who can blame them)
from other parts of the country.
At first, I was excited that they had “made the
Jewish connection” so early in their residency here.
Statistics indicate that it often takes longer, especially
for young career-oriented people.
After a warm welcome and a good dinner, 1
launched into my favorite topic, Jewish journalism.
They were an attentive audience but as 1 was winding
up, 1 could tell that there were questions barely held in
check. Then came the shocker. The young man who
opened the discussion was distressed because he
wanted to do some volunteer work and felt that no one
wanted him. He’s already joined a synagogue and
expressed his willingness, he said, but had not been
asked to help at all. “I’d even be willing to stuff
envelopes,” he said. There were nods of agreement
and understanding. Another voiced the complaint that
although he had been attending synagogue services
regularly for a number of months, though he had not
yet joined, nobody ever made him feel welcome or
acknowledged his presence as a newcomer.
They both used the term “alienation” from the
Jewish community. Again there were nods and
murmers of agreement. And so the discussion went.
You can see why I was disturbed. Here are the very
people that everybody is giving lip service to wanting
to locate and draw into the community. Yet, they are
feeling ignored and neglected.
One thing must be clear. By the very fact of their
youth and the financial burdens of getting started, I’d
be willing to venture that most of these young people
are not ready for multiple dues payments and pledge
cards. But they are willing to give time and effort to
help others. The rest will come later—unless they
become so turned off that they melt into that vast
number of “unknowns” out there.
Yes, this was a small group. Maybe their feelings
aren't that widespread. But—maybe they are. Itisn'ta
chance we can take. Their peers who grew up here
have a lot of resources to make the connection. Let’s
not forget that these are newcomers and though the
majority said they were Southern Israelite sub
scribers, they may well have overlooked the regular
pleas we carry for volunteers.
So here’s my idea. If you’ll make a commitment, so
will 1. If each organization out there which needs
volunteers will send me a short paragraph listing w hat
services are needed and when (days, evenings,
weekends), how much time is involved, whether it is
short or long term, and a name and phone number to
contact. I’ll publish the list in a forthcoming issue.
Most of the time we are asked to give. This is a
switch. We’re asking you to take. Take advantage of
the willingness of others to help out. It’s a two-way
mitzva.
The Hebrew Academy took a major step this week which can
only help the continuing movement toward making Atlanta a
center for Jewish education.
It has not been too many years ago when Jewish education
occupied a relatively lo\y spot on the priority list.
Fortunately, that is changing. We now have a range of
excellent educational facilities which bodes well for our
youngsters. The new and expanded Academy will provide an
opportunity for even more Jewish children.
Congratulations.
If this is Friday...
by Stanley M. Lefco
Just over five years ago I
submitted the idea of writing a
regular column to Vida Goidgar.
She agreed to consider it and asked
that I submit an article. Vida later
confessed that she was convinced
my enthusiasm would burn
brightly for a few weeks, begin to
flicker after that, and eventually
smolder. Not only having to come
up with an idea, but putting it to
paper every two weeks, is definitely
time consuming and occasionally
frustrating. Just how long can one
keep at it, especially if it’s an extra
curricular pursuit? It’s now about
130 columns later (I wish there was
a book lurking in the wings), and
the fire is still burning. Vida has
been surprised.
What’s ahead? Several ideas are
brewing. Suggestions from readers
are always welcome. I’ll even
consider suggestions from friends.
My criteria are basic: an article
that is informative and may be of
general interest. I know and accept
the fact that each column will not
draw everyone’s attention except
my mother, who loves them all.
Although 1 enjoy a good con
troversy, and 1 like feedback,
preferably favorable, I don’t see
the stirring of the waters as my
objective. However, I mayjust do a
piece on Meir Kahane one day.
Most of us simply do not have,
and some unfortunately don’t care
to make, the time to keep up on
Jewish topics. It a reader comes
away from a column having
learned something, my goal has
been achieved. If you want to tell
Vida what a wonderful job I’m
doing, I won’t object. I’ll even pay
postage.
So in the weeks and months to
come. I’d like to do some stories on
Yiddish and especially the Yiddish
theatre. It s a part of our history we
need to remember and cherish. I
just received Charles Silberman's
book, “A Certain People,” and am
sure a few articles are hiding in its
pages. Since I’ve read that his
predictions on the state of Jewry
are positive, I’d also like to
interview a variety of people on
their feelings about being Jewish
and Judaism in general. If we don’t
care about maintaining our
Judaism, everything else will fall
by the wayside. That’s something
that bothers me. Is the com
mitment still there? And how does
it manifest itself?
I’m in the middle of some
research on the Leo Frank case.
I’ve written about it before, but it’s
hard to get away from this in
credible event. The more I read the
more fascinating it and that period
of history become.
I’d also like to do some type of
story on the Federation. Too many
people have no idea about giving
levels or what the Federation is
about. As the inimitable Dave
Abrams said at his training session
for Super Sunday volunteers,
Federation is the community.
Some, who can do a lot better
without any strain, make pledges
that amount to pocket change for
them. On the other hand, some
flatly refuse even to open their
wallets or pocketbooks. In the long
run. I’m afraid we are all going to
suffer. What is the problem’’ Do
they still not understand how/
important the problems are which
the Federation supports? Ergo, 1 d
like to do at least one column on
this unless 1 just did.
The other day I heard a young
woman —who was a child of
Holocaust survivors—read from
two of her novels. One dealt with
Jewish self-hatred and a burning
desire to be accepted by the non-
Jewish world. Many people ma>
harbor these feelings, and that ma\
be an interesting subject if 1 could
figure out where to begin.
To paraphrase Hugh Downs
closing comments on 20/20, lets
keep in touch. Gotta go! I ve got
less than two weeks before we meet
again.