Two years later
Oct. 9 (10 Tishri 5786)
🇮🇱 It’s been two years. Musical notes hang in the air, a song interrupted by screams, guns, crashing, exodus, violent noise. There’s a duality in hope for negotiations between Israel and Hamas and the devastation of two years of intense war.
📍 The Atlanta Jewish community met at AA Synagogue, while other cities like Washington, D.C. and New York held public displays.
🕊️ While we’re waiting for peace in the Middle East, here are a few websitesI’m following.
⁉️ Did you read that Bari Weiss – the self-described “Zionist fanatic” and “Jewish lesbian from Pittsburgh,” who is also anti-trans – has been named editor-in-chief of CBS News?
🗳️ Hey, early voting starts next week. Call a friend and go together.
🤘🏼 Thanks for reading, and Y’alla,
Logan
📚 The Book Festival of the MJCCA is back! From Oct. 22 to Nov. 16, the 34th annual festival features an impressive array of authors, including John Grisham, John Kasich, Debbie Gibson, Jake Cohen, and Sanjay Gupta. Checkout the full lineup and get tickets here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
Rough Draft in action
📆 Catch up with Rough Draft Atlanta this week at the Sandy Springs mayoral race debate and Pride weekend.
Thursday, Oct. 9: At 8 p.m. on WSB Now, mayoral candidates talk about how they plan to combat antisemitism in Sandy Springs. Longtime Mayor Rusty Paul is widely considered a friend to the Jewish community, and he’s running against Jewish candidates Andy Bauman and Jody Reichel, as well as Dontaye Carter (pictured).
Saturday, Oct. 11: Starting at 10 a.m., pop by Rough Draft’s table at Pride to visit with Keith, Collin, Katie, Logan, Cathy and others.
Sunday, Oct. 12: Wave to the Rough Draft staff as we march in the Pride parade in Midtown.
👋🏼 See you out there!
Italian Ruins to DIVE for!
SPONSORED BY FERNBANK MUSEUM
🌊 Journey beneath the waves with Sunken Treasures, Ancient Seas at Fernbank Museum.
You won’t want to miss this immersive journey beneath the Mediterranean Sea to uncover ancient shipwrecks, artifacts, and lost worlds. Featuring real relics found off the coast of Italy, HD video explorations, and more, this exhibition reveals how underwater archaeologists bring the past to light.
➞ This exhibit is open daily, or you can swing by for after-hours during select special events! On view now until Jan. 11, 2026.
Sukkot and Simchat Torah
Sukkot is Oct. 6-13 and Simchat Torah is Oct. 14-15. Below is a list of events by date.
🛖 Oct. 9: Sukkot celebration at the MJCCA and Snakes in the Sukkah.
🛖 Oct. 9-12: Sisters in the Sukkah with JWC.
🛖 Oct. 10: Adamah’s BYO lunch and learn, Dinner Under the Stars for 20s and 30s, and family Musical Shabbat.
🛖 Oct. 11: Gather in the Garden with Ma’alot and Havdalah and movie night in the sukkah.
🛖 Oct. 12: Family fun and mahjong at Or Hadash, Fall Sukkot Festival at Shearith Israel (pictured), BBQ in the Sukkah at Or VeShalom, and Donuts with Dads.
🕺🏽 Oct. 14: Simchat Torah at Bet Haverim.
Series on Israeli politics
📰 “Beyond the Headlines: Israel’s History, Society, and Politics” is a four-part series held at The Dupree on Oct. 17, 24 and 31, and Nov. 7. Led by Dr. Eli Sperling, the Israeli Institute teaching fellow at UGA’s department of International Affairs, attendees will trace Israel’s path from modern Zionism through statehood and into the layered reality of today.
Each session places pivotal events and debates in their historical, regional, and global contexts, providing an understanding of Israel’s domestic politics, institutions, society, and foreign relations.
👉🏽 The series costs $50. Register here.
Opinion: Is Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan more about MAGA than the Middle East?
🇮🇱 Trump’s call for Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” accomplished what no protest movement or mediator had achieved in two years of the Israel-Hamas war. It offered a rare moment of relief and a glimmer of hope to end the suffering on both sides.
It’s also a win for Trump himself. If the deal holds, the president could claim a political and personal victory: a war ended, hostages freed, and the image of the consummate dealmaker restored.
➡ Read the full story on the Forward.
📚 The Book Festival of the MJCCA is back! From Oct. 22 to Nov. 16, the 34th annual festival features an impressive array of authors, including John Grisham, John Kasich, Debbie Gibson, Jake Cohen, and Sanjay Gupta. Checkout the full lineup and get tickets here! SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doin’ around town
SPONSORED BY CONGREGATION OR HADASH
🐜 Oct. 18: Interfaith family picnic.
📣 Oct. 19: Eric Saperston at Or VeShalom.
📐 Oct. 22: “ADA: My Mother the Architect” film at The Tara.
🦷 Oct. 23: Fundraiser for Ben Massell Dental Clinic.
✡️ The next Jewish holiday is Simchat Torah on Oct. 14.
🕯️ Light Shabbat candles this week at 6:51 p.m.
🗓️ Join us in the Or Hadash Sukkah! 🎶 You’re invited to musical Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner, Havdalah and a movie, Family Fun Day and Game Night on Sunday, and to dance with the Torah on Monday for Simchat Torah! Details/RSVP!
Before you go
🎗️October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and jscreen was invited to appear on The Today Show on NBC.
🩷 jscreen facilitates genetic testing that evaluates 48 genes – including BRCA – to assess hereditary cancer risk for breast and other cancers. The organization is waiving the program fee for hereditary cancer tests this month with code BCA2025.