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Profile of an American Jew
by Yonathan Ben-Natan
Abe Stolar was born in Chicago
in 1912. He grew up there through
the first World War, the Roaring
Twenties, and during the stock
market crash ushering in the Great
Depression and Abe’s parents
wanted a better life. They decided
to move from Chicago to settle in
Moscow as they, and many of their
contemporaries, believed that
Communism was a better way of
life, especially at the time. Aliyah
was only a remote thought as Israel
was not to be born for another 17
years.
Abe was an only child, and
though 19 years old, did not feel
that he could be on his own yet,
independent of his parents. Abe
went with his family, planning to
return to Chicago within two years.
By 1933 it had already become
impossible to leave the Soviet
Union. Stalin continued to consol
idate his power by exiling and
murdering hundreds of thousands
of people deemed a threat to his
regime. This time became known
as the Black Years, a time when
people did not know if they would
be alive the next morning. Abe’s
family did not escape the purges.
One night Abe’s father was taken
from their home and never seen
again.
During his early adulthood Abe
became friends with another man
from Chicago whose parents had
also moved to Moscow. Bernie
Lampert was 12 years Abe’s junior
yet they became very close friends.
After a while Abe and Bernie re
signed themselves to living in Mos
cow, not to return to Chicago.
Eventually they both married Jew
ish Muscovites. Bernie had four
children and Abe had one son,
Misha.
After the Six-Day War many
Soviet Jews became more inter
ested in Israel and Judaism. This
was a catalyst for the beginning of
the emigration movement among
Soviet Jews. Abe was also inspired.
He, his wife Gita (who now holds
Israeli citizenship), and son app
lied to leave. The Soviets promptly
refused his application, saying that
Soviet citizens could not emigrate
to Israel. Abe, however, was not a
Soviet citizen and never applied
for Soviet citizenship. He has al
ways held a U.S. passport and has
all the rights of an American citi
zen residing in the U.S.S.R.
Finally, in the autumn of 1975,
Abe got permission to leave. Within
days Abe, Gita and Misha had sold
everything they owned and pur
chased plane tickets to leave the
U.S.S.R. Before the plane took
°ff, three KGB men boarded the
plane and told Abe that their per
mission had been revoked at the
last minute, that they were to go
home. As the Moscow winter rapid
ly approached, Abe and his family
returned “home" with nothing other
than the clothes they wore.
Abe was already an elderly man.
" 'thin a few years he retired and
began studying Hebrew, which is
illegal in the U.S.S.R. Misha also
studied Hebrew while learning
about Judaism, and became obser
vant. With his many Western con
nections, Abe was able to arrange
for an American rabbi to perform
a wedding for his son and wife-to-
be. Throughout the late ’70s, as
emigration increased, Abe’s appli
cation was always passed by.
Finally, in April 1985 Abe re
ceived permission again for him
self, his wife and his son, but not
for his daughter-in-law. The Soviets
will not recognize Misha’s mar
riage. At the same time, Bernie
Lampet also received permission
and was able to leave the U.S.S.R.
within a week with his entire family.
Abe knew that leaving without
Misha’s wife meant that they would
never see her again, so he decided
to try again to get out all together.
His permission from April was
valid for six months, so he hoped
to leave by September. He was
packed, ready to go, fully expect
ing that he would leave shortly.
September came and passed with
out change. The Geneva summit
resulted in many others getting
permission to leave, also after
many years of waiting, but to this
by Rabbi Samuel J. Fox
JTA
Why are Jews traditionally re
quired to live in, or at least eat in,
temporary shacks or booths called
sukkas during the last autumn fes
tival of the year?
A biblical statement (Leviticus
23:42) explicitly requires this prac
tice, associating it with the dwell
ing in booths by the people of
Israel led by Moses in the desert.
In general, the practice is consi
dered a reminder that, even if Jews
must move from place to place,
they should retain their faith in the
Almighty and understand that this
is their destiny and the Almighty
will look after them.
Such has been the case many
times in Jewish history; each
movement was not catastrophic
day, Abe’s permission has been
refused over and over again.
In February 1985 Julia Stolar,
Abe’s daughter-in-law, gave birth
to their first child, a girl. Abe’s first
grandchild is a third generation
American Soviet Jewish refusnik.
In light of the recent affair with
Nicholas Daniloff, one can only
wonder why after more than 50
years Abe and his family remain
captive in the Soviet Union, and
why the United States government
has not done more to secure their
release.
Now 75 years old, Abe’s only
dream is that he and his entire fam
ily will be able to get out and go to
Israel. The realization of his dream
is subject to the whims of Soviet
policy, where the only consistency
is in the inconsistency. Abe is proud
to be a Jew, and only wants to live
the rest of his life as a free Jew in
Israel.
Greetings can be sent to Abe,
and should be non-political, at G.
Rozovsky, Prospect Vernadsky 117,
Apt. 151, Moscow 117571 U.S.S.R.
and, with the help of the Almighty,
enriched Jewish faith and culture.
Why is the roof of the sukka
required to cast more shadow than
it allows in light?
This represents Jewish history,
in which there indeed has been
more darkness than light. Yet,
Judaism, the Jewish people and
the Jewish homeland miraculously
have survived.
While the land of Israel always
has been looked upon by Jews as
their homeland, politically the land
has been under the control of many
non-Jewish governments far longer
than under Jewish control.
By remembering that even when
there is darkness there is light, as in
the sukka’s example, the Jewish
people have kept their faith, cour
age and hope.
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Quiz Box
Obituaries
Mrs. Fannie Boorstein dies at 87
Mrs. Mendle (Fannie Spielber-
ger) Boorstin, 87, died Sunday,
Oct. 12.
Graveside service was held
Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Greenwood
Cemetery with Rabbi Arnold
Goodman officiating.
Mrs. Boorstin, throughout her
life, had a major impact on many
areas of the Jewish community,
especially the Jewish Home for the
Aged of which she was a founder.
From the beginning, she served on
the Home’s executive and Admis
sions committees. She served on
the Finance Commiteefor 10 years
and was secretary of the Home for
16 years and received numerous
awards from the Jewish Home.
Although she was 87 years old, she
still volunteered there every Tues
day to help the “older residents.”
A plaque presented to Fannie
Boorstin by residents of the Home
carried a poetic tribute written by
the residents which included the
following stanza:
So may G-d bless you, whatever
you do;
You deserve it, as you are a
wonderful “you."
Fannie dear, you are a woman of
valor, none can deny;
You do everything well without
batting an eye."
For her many years of devotion,
encouragement and assistance to
Fulton Masonic Lodge No. 216
Charles Fleshner
Charles Fleshner of Atlanta died
Thursday, Oct. 9.
Graveside service was held Sun
day, Oct. 12, at Greenwood Ceme
tery. Rabbi Arnold Goodman and
Cantor Isaac Goodfriend officiated.
Mr. Fleshner was a member of
Ahavath Achim Synagogue, a life
member of Hadassah and a member
of Jewish War Veterans Post 112.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Mae Clyburn Fleshner; step
daughter, Mrs. Marsha K. Stein of
Newport Beach, Calif.; step-son,
Michael R. Kessler of Atlanta; and
three grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may
be made to Ahavath Achim Syn
agogue or the American Heart
Association.
Mrs. Mary Dozetos
Mrs. Mary Dozetos of Atlanta
died Monday, Oct. 13.
Graveside service was held Tues
day, Oct. 14, at Greenwood Ceme
tery. Rabbi S. Robert Ichay offi
ciated.
Mrs. Dozetos was a member of
Congregation Or Veshalom and its
sisterhood, and Hadassah. She was
the widow of Raymond Dozetos.
Survivors include her daughters,
Mrs. Louis Habif of Atlanta, Sarah
Marks of Miami, and Regina Bar
ron of Atlanta; son, Charles Doze
tos of Atlanta; sisters, Mrs. Emily
Campeas and Mrs. Zelda Berman,
both of Atlanta, Matilda Frankel
of Miami and the late Victoria Sar-
faty of Atlanta; 11 grandchildren
and 13 great-grandchildren.
Donations can be made to Con
gregation Or VeShalom.
Fannie Boorstin
F&AM, she was affectionately re
ferred to as Mrs. Fulton Lodge.
Her late husband was active in the
lodge for many years, as are her
son and grandson.
Mrs. Boorstin was a charter
member of B’nai B’rith Women, a
member of the Ahavath Achim
Sisterhood, Hadassah, ORT, Geor
gia Gerontology Society, and other
organizations.
She was the former owner of the
Mayfair Shop, a women’s clothing
store.
Survivors include a daughter,
Elise Wollner; son, M. Ronald
Boorstin; brother, Harry Spielber-
ger; all of Atlanta; sister, Mrs. Sid
ney Backer of Macon; grandson,
Herbert E. Wollner of Atlanta;
granddaughter, Mrs. Barbara Funk
of Columbus; and five great-grand
children.
Eleanor C. Rittenbaum
Mrs. Eleanor Carl Rittenbaum,
52, of Atlanta died Wednesday,
Oct. 15.
Funeral was held at Green Lawn
Chapel Thursday, Oct. 16, with
interment at Greenwood Cemetery.
Rabbi Arnold Goodman and Can
tor Isaac Goodfriend officiated.
Mrs. Rittenbaum was a member
of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and
its sisterhood, Hadassah and
Women’s American ORT. She was
a past officer of the A.A. Sister
hood.
Survivors include her husband,
Jerry Rittenbaum; sons, Scott Rit
tenbaum of Atlanta, Mark Ritten
baum of San Francisco, and Eddie
Rittenbaum of Washington, D.C.;
parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene M.
Carl of Atlanta and the late Mrs.
Eva Moldow Carl; sister, Mrs.
Rita Jacobson of Orlando, Fla.;
brother, Richard M. Carl of At
lanta; one granddaughter: several
nieces and nephews.
Marvin Goralnik
Marvin Goralnik, 61, of Law-
renceville died Saturday, Oct. 8.
Graveside service was held Fri
day, Oct. 10, at Crest Lawn Mem
orial Park. Rabbi Shalom Lewis
officiated.
Survivors include his wife, Mrs.
Isabel Putterlik Goralnik; daugh
ter, Miss Gail Goralnik of Alpha
retta; son, Greg Goralnik of Law-
renceville; and sister, Mrs. Bea
Shapiro of Fall River, Mass.
PAGE 25 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE October 17, 1986