Fire up the latkes  

Dec. 11 (21 Kislev 5786)

The December Dilemma is upon us. With parents and grandparents trying to create holiday magic, some families are wrestling with which holiday traditions to include.  

 Speaking of holidays, our list of Chanukah events has grown since last week. See below.  

 Does your family wrap gifts? Some don’t! I have a pile of presents taking up precious real estate in my home office, and I just can’t bring myself to wrap them all. Maybe this Spotify playlist will provide motivation. 

 Lastly, we apologize for an error in last week’s calendar. See “Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen” at the Tara Theatre tonight, Dec. 11. 

 Happy Chanukah!

Y’alla, 
Logan

Former hostages visit Atlanta

 Benjamin Anthony of the MirYam Institute (pictured, left) spoke with former Israeli hostages Evyatar David (middle) and Guy Gilboa-Dalal (right) about their harrowing capture by Hamas terrorists from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023. The men detailed their resilience in captivity until their release more than two years later on Dec. 4 at the Atlanta Jewish Academy. 

Celebrate the Season with Wonder at Fernbank Museum   

SPONSORED BY FERNBANK MEMBERSHIP

  Looking for the perfect gift?

Something that sparks joy, incites hugs, induces smiles, and warms the heart? Share a year of exploration with a Fernbank Membership—unlimited daytime general admission to exhibits, films, and nature adventures.

Members enjoy 75 acres of outdoor fun in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest, plus three floors of hands-on science exhibits indoors. Seasonal activities, canopy walks, and nature play areas await.

And don’t forget: Fernbank is unveiling new museum experiences over the next two years, starting with Our Place in the Cosmos in late 2025.

 Look for our Holiday 2025 sale running Dec. 18-25, 2025.

Chanukah calendar

Sunday, Dec. 14
 Chanukah market at Congregation Bet Haverim. 

 Menorah workshop with Chabad Intown at The Home Depot. 

 Music, lunch, and artists’ market at Shearith Israel. 

 Glow Strong family celebration at MJCCA. 

 Chanukah festival and menorah lighting at Vinings Jubilee. 

 Majongg-ukah at Or Hadash in Sandy Springs. 

 Inclusive Chanukah party at AA. 

Monday, Dec. 15
 Menorah lighting on Tucker Town Green. 

 Gelt drop and menorah lighting at Brawner Hall in Smyrna. 

Tuesday, Dec. 16
 Chanukah at The Battery. 

Wednesday, Dec. 17
 Hanukkah at Halidom food hall with Liz Rose and Joe Alterman. 

 Three-course Chanukah dinners begin at The General Muir.   

 “Hanukkah Hippity Hop” with author Barbara Kimmel. 

Thursday, Dec. 18
 Cinco de Hanukkah taco and nacho buffet at Morty’s Meat & Supply in Dunwoody.  

5⃣ The Fifth Night food event with celebrity chefs and The Spring.  

 Queer Latke Party with SOJOURN. 

Saturday, Dec. 20
 Hanukkah, solstice, havdalah ecstatic dance with Tish and Mackenzie Wren.  

Sunday, Dec. 21
 Ponce City Market menorah lighting. 

Monday, Dec. 22
 Holiday-themed dinners begin at The General Muir. 

Neraneneh season begins

 Neranenah, the cultural event series with roots in Jewish culture and musical traditions, is announcing the 2025‑26 lineup with award‑winning musicians and Broadway talent.

 The first performance is Thursday, Dec. 11. See Ada Pasternak and The Pasternak Family in a rare performance by the entire family, whose journey from religious persecution in Moscow to artistic acclaim in the U.S. shapes their global-infused, Russian-Jewish sound.

 On Saturday, Jan. 17, Former “Wicked” star Jonah Platt brings a mix of Broadway vocals, candid storytelling, and reflections on identity. The last installment is on Thursday, May 7 when Broadway star Julie Benko appears with Jason Yeager, an award-winning pianist and Berklee professor, for an intimate evening blending jazz, theatre, and contemporary song.  

 Read more about Neranenah. 

He used to think Jewish athletes were a punchline; now, he wants to help them get a proper paycheck

 My favorite joke in the 1980 comedy Airplane! is, by the standards of a movie featuring a glue-inhaling Lloyd Bridges and an inflatable toy autopilot, one of its subtler gags. A passenger asks a flight attendant for some light reading; in return, she receives a pocket-sized leaflet of “famous Jewish sports legends.” 

 The vicious canard (just kidding, we’ve been called worse) that the so-called people of the book are ill-at-ease on the court or the gridiron contains a kernel of truth, of course. There’s a reason nearly all Jews know the names Koufax and Spitz — there are few other Jewish sports stars to choose from. 

 Read the full story on the Forward.

Be a mensch

 Volunteer opportunities abound in the Jewish community. Here are some ways to get involved. 

 Pinch Hitters is still accepting volunteers for Dec. 25. Sign up is required. 

 JF&CS Family Mitzvah Day is planned for Sunday, Jan. 18. Children and adults will work together on projects to serve the community. Registration is required. 

 Drivers are needed to make food deliveries across metro Atlanta to those unable to visit the kosher food pantry at JF&CS. Must be at least 21 years old and have registered vehicle, current driver’s license, and auto insurance. Click here to apply. 

What’s doin’ around town

SPONSORED BY CONGREGATION OR HADASH

 Dec. 17:“Light Through the Darkness” is the story of a Holocaust and Oct. 7 survivor. 

 Dec. 18: Drop-in Jewish meditation. 

 Dec. 19:Light Shabbat candles and eat latkes. 

 Light shabbat candles this week at 5:11 p.m.

 The next holiday is Chanukah starting at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14. 

 Light the candles. Share the latkes. Or Hadash invites you and your family to a joyful Hanukkah Kabbalat Shabbat on December 19 with candle lighting at 5:15, a family latke dinner, and bring-your-own-hanukiyah fun. Come early! RSVP today!

Before you go

 On Thursday, Dec. 18, The Spring is bringing the heat (and the light) to Chanukah with local chefs Todd Ginsberg and Tal Baum who will join forces with rising Bukharian star Liat Tzionov. Expect a taste of the Jewish diaspora from Ashkenazi to Sephardic to Central Asian delicacies. 

 This isn’t your Bubbe’s Hanukah party (although she’s invited and will have the time of her life). Get tickets. 

The post 🕎 Eight crazy nights appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

It’s been 10 years since the passing of Mayor Eva Galambos, who was known locally as the mother of Sandy Springs. Flags flew at half mast when she lost a battle with cancer at age 87 in April 2015.

As Sandy Springs celebrates 20 years of cityhood, Rough Draft is taking a look back in time at the city’s first mayor, who has been called tenacious, engaging, and enduring.

Galambos spent endless hours volunteering with Sandy Springs Revitalization, Sandy Springs Clean and Beautiful, Sandy Springs Council of Neighborhoods, and the Fulton County Public Housing Authority.

From 1975 to 2005, Galambos was the president of the Committee for Sandy Springs – the group that fought to incorporate Sandy Springs.

“She had that gift of bringing people onto her side, of coming to the table with you, explaining an idea to you and when she left you thought it was your idea because now she put you in charge of implementing it,” Sandy Springs City Council Member Tibby DeJulio said.

Galambos then served as mayor from November 2005 to November 2013. She told Rough Draft Atlanta in a closing interview that the creation of Sandy Springs was worth the fight.

“Not only have the citizens of Sandy Springs gained a more attractive city, with better infrastructure and new parks, but they are also enjoying the pleasures of civic involvement. The enthusiasm of our residents in participating in our public life is palpable. The next milestone will be a public downtown area where our folks can live, shop and enjoy each other, deriving all the benefits of urban life at its best,” Galambos said.

Longtime Mayor Rusty Paul remembered Galambos for her unflagging dedication before and after the city incorporated.

Sandy Springs’ strength “is due greatly to her unwavering love and devotion to creating something better for us all,” Paul said.

Galambos, many said, was one of a kind.

In a 2011 memoir, she wrote about her family’s escape from the Nazis in 1930s Germany for Genoa, Italy and later moving to Athens, GA. Her husband of 65 years, Dr. John Galambos, survived Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp, but the pair did not meet until the late 1940s at the University of Georgia. The couple had three children and six grandchildren.

Galambos earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Georgia, a master’s in labor and industrial relations from the University of Illinois, and a doctorate in economics from Georgia State University.

Revered for her labor economics expertise, Galambos was frequently recognized with awards and kudos.

She spoke regularly at The Epstein School about Holocaust education. Attorney General Sam Olens, a Republican and the state’s highest-ranking Jewish elected official, called her “a tireless advocate of good government.”

Galambos was awarded the 2015 Humanitarian Award by the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, a commemoration of the victims of the Holocaust as well as survivors and liberators.

Gabriel Sterling, a longtime Republican politician, said he was proud to work with Eva Galambos, Tibby DeJulio, and Mayor Rusty Paul.

“Hard to believe it’s been 20 years since that smashing referendum win of 94% YES for the City of @SandySpringsGA,” Sterling posted on X. “Eva’s vision for our city took years, decades to come to fruition. We now have one of the best cities in America to live, work, run a business, and raise a family.”

The post Remembering Eva Galambos: the mother of Sandy Springs appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

DeKalb Commissioner Ted Terry held a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9, to discuss a recently approved $45 million hangar expansion at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK), giving residents a chance to air their thoughts about the decision.  

Held at Brookhaven City Centre, Terry reviewed the process that led the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners to approve Sky Harbour’s plan to build out eight hangars on the east side of PDK to hold 16 corporate jets under a 50-year ground lease. Sky Harbour was the only applicant to a request for proposal (RFP) issued by the county in 2023. 

The county is following the PDK 2040 master plan, which calls for expansion. Residents have expressed their concerns about an increase in noise and environmental pollution.

The county estimates the contract over a 50-year period could bring in $576,607,163 in revenue: $211 million of which would go to DeKalb County, $230 million to DeKalb school system, and $67 million to the City of Chamblee.

As of now, the Sky Harbour contract is still being hammered out by DeKalb’s Chief Procurement Officer Michelle Butler. Terry said the contract has not been made available to the commissioners, and he will make the details public as soon as he receives them. 

“It’s very important to know what we’ve negotiated,” Terry said. 

Larry Foster, a 48-year resident of unincorporated DeKalb County, said PDK is already the least safe airport in the country in terms of runway incursions. At 103 runway incursions, PDK is about seven times higher than other airports, Foster claimed.  

“Approving the Sky Harbour contract will constitute the second-most damaging decision in the history of PDK Airport that impacts the health and wellbeing of the estimated one-tenth of DeKalb County’s residents who live within the approximately three to four mile radius of the airport,” Foster said. 

Sky Harbour claims the number of repositioning flights will drop by 50 percent, therefore reducing noise and pollution. The company will report its findings quarterly to DeKalb.

“I want to know what happens when they fail the 50 percent reduction compliance test,” unincorporated DeKalb County resident Beth Schissel said. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) defines PDK as a general aviation airport, allowing a high volume of corporate/general aviation jet traffic, 10 flight schools, a robust helicopter community, and helicopter flight instruction.  

Brookhaven resident Anna Martin said she’s spoken to all of her neighbors, and “no one wants more planes coming through.”

“So here we have a new hangar being built for rich, pompous CEO jerks to fly in because they don’t like to fly commercial. That’s the truth of it,” Martin said. “I’m wondering if my husband and I might have to move.”

Terry is proposing to the DeKalb commissioners a moratorium on all new hangar development until the PDK master plan is updated, and an FAA ban on night flights except for emergencies. 

The PDK voluntary curfew encourages pilots to refrain from taking off or landing between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m., yet Terry said one of his constituents emails him daily because she has been awakened by an airplane. 

“How do we reduce night flights? Can we ban them? Can we take that voluntary curfew and turn it into a permission structure where they have to get permission to fly at night?” Terry asked. 

Terry encouraged participants to attend the Airport Advisory Board meetings and report noise violations. A general grumbling came from the audience. 

Foster said the reason people aren’t calling in noise complaints is because “they know that it’s useless.” A woman in the audience shouted: “It’s a farce.”

Between the airport and the county, there are no ongoing annual general fund contributions to an environmental health and noise impact fund, Terry said. However, once Sky Harbour is up and running, the county will set aside $1 million dollars each year for residents who are experiencing high decibel levels of noise, he said.

Jamie Dutro served on the Citizens Advisory Committee for the PDK master plan. 

“We got sold down the river. We’re the ones who are going to suffer for it. What good is it that you get cancer, but the county’s going to pay for it?” Dutro said. 

The post Residents say they were ‘sold down the river’ over PDK airport expansion appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

On Dec. 1, Sandy Springs will celebrate 20 years of cityhood. Located just north of the perimeter, Sandy Springs has roots dating back to the 1800s when Native Americans frequented the area’s bubbling springs. Known as one of the first cities to follow a public-private partnership model, today the city boasts a population of 106,000, 950 acres of parks and green space, and a bustling arts-and-dining scene.

Explore More: Sandy Springs @ 20 from Rough Draft

Porter was front and center when Eva Galambos, known as the mother of Sandy Springs, Tibby DeJulio (later a city council member), Leadership Perimeter’s Carolyn Axt, and others led a drive to the Georgia State Capitol with the idea that they could be better served as their own entity.

“Lobbying went on for decades,” Porter, 89, recalled. “Eva and I worked hand-in-glove for several years. She was just the most determined and capable person for the 25-year [effort].”

The road to cityhood began with a movement to oppose annexation by the city of Atlanta in 1975. Residents of Sandy Springs were unhappy with Fulton County services, namely police protection, and felt their tax dollars were being used to bolster the less financially stable southern part of the county. Zoning battles between Sandy Springs and the county, which advocated building multi-family residential developments, were common.

Surveys and polls were conducted. Meetings were held to discuss the pros and cons of becoming a city.

“When we had debates … we were hard pressed to find someone from the other side. We often had to get someone from Atlanta or from Fulton County to represent the opposition,” DeJulio said.

Porter said survey results showed zoning as a top priority, followed by traffic and public safety.

“People were really concerned that the character of the neighborhood was being overturned by the development of too many rental properties. The county had set a limit on rental properties of 52 percent, and they had already far exceeded that – and it was getting worse. People were concerned that the character of the community was going to be ruined,” Porter said.

DeJulio told Rough Draft that Sandy Springs residents were simply tired of being tied to a non-responsive Fulton County government. One county study showed Sandy Springs residents sent $91 million more to Fulton County than they received in services annually.

But Democrats accused the Sandy Springs cityhood movement of being nothing more than “white flight” and used their power in the General Assembly to block cityhood efforts.

For nearly 25 years, elected officials tried to get the legislature to pass a bill that would authorize a referendum. Finally, in 2005, with Republican Gov. Sonny Perdue in office and a Republican majority in the House and Senate, Sandy Springs finally got its wish: the legislature authorized a referendum. The people would decide.

For the first time in 50 years, residents would get to vote to create a new city in Georgia. On June 21, 2005, the referendum results revealed 94 percent of Sandy Springs’ voters chose to incorporate.

Galambos was elected Sandy Springs’ first mayor in November 2005. Porter was a retired vice president of sales, having spent his entire career working at AT&T. He jumped to work, putting in 60 to 70 hours as the volunteer interim city manager.

“We were inventing things as we went. The biggest problem was that the legislation which was passed gave no one any authority to do anything. We couldn’t hire anybody. We couldn’t buy anything or lease equipment until the moment the city was started, and at that moment we needed to be fully operational. That’s where I became involved,” Porter said.

Porter – who has since written books and spoken around the world about the cityhood process – came up with a concept of using public-private partnerships to jumpstart city services.

“It worked beautifully. And all of the subsequent cities, 13 new cities I believe, in Georgia, are based on the Sandy Springs model,” he said.

Within the first year, Sandy Springs hired 135 police officers, tripling their public safety staff, repaired dozens of traffic lights, and paved a path for starting their own fire department.

Looking back, Porter is proud of the way Sandy Springs has grown.

“After 10 years, Sandy Springs had zero tax rate increases. We had improved services across the board. Every internal and external survey showed that people were very pleased with the direction of services. We had accumulated a $40 billion surplus. And most importantly, we had zero long-term debt,” Porter said.

These days, Porter is busy consulting other municipalities, enjoying retirement with his wife Pat, of 66 years, and traveling. He is the author of “Creating the New City of Sandy Springs.”

The post Sandy Springs’ long journey to cityhood appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.

It’s giving Chanukah 

Dec. 4 (14 Kislev)

 Let’s jump in! Here are a few things that piqued my interest this week.

 Hillary Clinton spoke at the Israel Hayom summit about anti-Israel propaganda (free subscription required). “There is a great deal of valid concern about how Israel is viewed, not just around the world, but from the United States, how Jewish Americans are viewed, and what is being seen as a significant increase in antisemitism in real life and online,” said Clinton.

  Carrie Soloway, a Jewish psychiatrist and inspiration for the drama series “Transparent,” died this week at age 88.

 Hey, Florida Gators. A UF law school student who was banned from UF for antisemitic online posts has been re-admitted to campus by a federal judge.

 Keep reading for local Chanukah happenings.

Y’alla,

Logan

Chanukah oh Chanukah

 This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Sunday, Dec. 14. Here are our top picks for gifts, events, and food. What did we miss? Email us.

 Atlanta Hawks Hanukkah Night is a personal favorite. Loud music, adoring fans, and a giant menorah at halftime make this a fun event.

 The Daily Chew is hosting a Chrismukkah Bar with latkes and caviar, egg nog, and more.

 Looking for Chanukah-themed gifts? Try Lucy’s Market in Buckhead or the Pineapple Porch Boutique. And don’t forget local gifts like the children’s mahjong book Bubbe and Bams, the Hanukkah Veronica doll, and a pottery lesson for two (ages 6+).

And now for Chanukah events …

Sunday, Dec. 7

 Or Ve Shalom’s Hanukkah bazaar and food festival. 

 Author Laurel Snyder (“The Book of Candles”) at Wild Aster Books.

 LGBTQ+ Chanukah party with SOJOURN.

 Chanukah in the park with PJ Library. 

Friday, Dec. 12
 Hanukkah in the Hangar with PJ Library. 

Saturday, Dec. 13
 Latke cook off for couples at Mitzvah House.

Sunday, Dec. 14
 Menorah workshop with Chabad Intown at The Home Depot. 

 Music, lunch, and artists’ market at Shearith Israel. 

 Glow Strong family celebration at MJCCA. 

 Chanukah festival and menorah lighting at Vinings Jubilee. 

 Majongg-ukah at Or Hadash in Sandy Springs. 

 Inclusive Chanukah party at AA. 

Monday, Dec. 15
 Menorah lighting on Tucker Town Green.

 Gelt drop and menorah lighting at Brawner Hall in Smyrna.

Tuesday, Dec. 16
 Latkes, Chanukah crafts, and more at The Battery.

Wednesday, Dec. 17
 “Hanukkah Hippity Hop” with author Barbara Kimmel in Sandy Springs. 

Thursday, Dec. 18
 Queer Latke Party with SOJOURN. 

 Fifth Night with local celebrity chefs and The Spring. 

 Cinco de Hanukkah taco and nacho buffet at Morty’s Meat & Supply in Dunwoody.

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.

Ben Massell Dental Clinic

 JF&CS CEO Jay Cranman and CEO Emeritus Terri Bonoff were on hand to honor Georgia State Rep. Deborah Silcox for her advocacy of the Ben Massell Dental Clinic in Atlanta on Monday, Dec. 1.

 The clinic serves the Atlanta community at-large, providing free dental care to clients within 125% of the poverty line with no access to insurance. 

Be a mensch

 B’nai B’rith Pinch Hitters volunteers will visit seven hospitals and assisted living facilities in Metro Atlanta on Thursday, Dec. 25 to give caregivers a much-needed break. Working in 3-4 hour shifts, the opportunity is perfect for individuals or small groups. Sign up to volunteer.

 Join Brendan Murphy, Director of the Bearing Witness Institute, for a three-part series exploring Jewish–Christian relations—from early antisemitism to the Holocaust and modern reconciliation. Featuring survivor George Rishfeld, this program deepens understanding and strengthens our shared moral responsibility. SPONSOR MESSAGE

Look & Listen

 Submissions are open for Manishewitz’s limited-edition matzah box featuring a Jewish athlete.  

 The Maccabbeats have gone full KPop Demon Hunters. If you’re unfamiliar with the reference, ask any 10 to 12 year old.

What’s doin’ around town

SPONSORED BY CONGREGATION OR HADASH

 Dec. 6:Comedy night featuring Amanda Goldstein Marks. 

 Dec. 9: Local author Annette Joseph on Italian desserts. 

 Dec. 10: Geopolitical Middle East expert Avi Melamed speaks.

 Dec. 11: Find your center with Jewish meditation.  

 Dec. 11: Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen. 

 Celebrate Mahjongg-ukah with Or Hadash on Sunday, December 14th! Enjoy beginner lessons, guided and open play, latkes, laughter, and new friends. Bring a foursome or join one—everyone’s welcome. Winners earn raffle tickets toward door prizes! Join the fun. Sign-up today!

Look & Listen

 Watch: David Portnoy shuts down an ABC reporter.

 Read: The Free Press digs into the Gaza famine myth.

 Listen: Dan Senor, host of “Call Me Back” podcast, and Israeli columnist Nadav Eyal on the Houthis’ attack on Ben Gurion airport. 

What’s doin’ around town

SPONSORED BY CONGREGATION OR HADASH

 May 11: Donuts with dad and PJ Library.

 May 13: Ask a pediatrician with JBaby in Chamblee.

 May 15: Join an Israeli Independence Day celebration.

 May 15: Humans of the Holocaust and Humans of Oct. 7 exhibit.

 June 8: Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat will be honored at the NIF Atlanta Tzedek Awards.

The next Jewish holiday is Shavuot on June 1.

Light Shabbat candles this week at 8:10 p.m.

 Experience the acclaimed work of Israeli photojournalist Erez Kaganovitz on May 15 as he shares the powerful personal stories behind Humans of the Holocaust and Humans of October 7th — honoring resilience and spotlighting the human spirit.  Learn more and RSVP!

Before you go

 Alexandra Toren, service ambassador with Repair the World Atlanta, hosted a Friendsgiving meal and Jewish service amid SNAP disruptions. Toren mobilized a local network to join a potluck and food drive for local Syrian families facing the impacts of disrupted food stamps.

 “My grandmother … was a refugee from Czechoslovakia, as her family escaped the Nazis in 1939. That history led me to develop a relationship with a few Syrian refugee families in pursuit of Tikkun Olam, and it meant a lot for my friends to donate to help these families during this particularly difficult time. It was a really fulfilling experience to blend something so personal with a community gathering that had greater impact beyond just our group,” Toren said.

The post 🕎 Chanukah prep appeared first on Rough Draft Atlanta.