100 Years of Keeping Jewish Atlanta Connected

This Rosh Hashanah marks the 100th year of publication of the Southern Israelite aka the Atlanta Jewish Times. To be fair, the Southern Israelite began as a temple bulletin at Beth Israel synagogue (B’nai Israel as it was known then) in Augusta under the tutelage of Rabbi Cert Strauss possibly in July of 1925. Beth Israel is now known by its more secular name, Congregation Children of Israel and is still active. Sometime between 1927 and 1929, Steven Schiffer, its first Editor, moved the production of the publication from Augusta to Atlanta and the paper became independent of the synagogue.

In 1975, the AJT turned 50. Adolph Rosenberg was the owner and Publisher and Vida Goldgar was Editor (she began as his Editor in 1969), both very well-known names to the paper. Rosenberg took over for Schiffer in 1954 and Goldgar took the helm in 1980. The paper did mark its 75th anniversary in August of 2000 under its well-known Publisher Steve Levene. Over the next few months, I will mark the 10th anniversary of taking over the AJT.

What an amazing milestone for Atlanta’s Jewish newspaper and how remarkable that over the last 50 years, many of its Publishers and Editors are still well known in the community. Throughout the next 12 months, the paper and I are planning a variety of articles, issues and events to commemorate our history. We will publish old articles and advertisements, write about the paper’s history, and bring back Remember When 15, 35 and 75 years ago. We will celebrate the owners, publishers and editors that have kept the paper going through these years. And we will examine what the next 10 years look like for a newspaper in the digital age.

As we look to the new year and the celebrations ahead, we must always take a moment to reflect on what is happening now. Our family in Israel is still under attack from Hamas in the south, Hezbollah in the north, and Iran in the east. Approximately 700 IDF soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7 of last year, 800 civilian Israelis and 97 Israeli hostages remain unaccounted. In Ukraine, approximately 70,000 soldiers have lost their lives and over 11,000 civilians have been targeted and killed by Russia since its most recent invasion two years ago. The most unfortunate aspect in both conflicts — the antagonists are not seeking peace but rather escalation.

While this will clearly dampen our spirits, it will not, in any way, negatively affect our resolve. I personally look forward to celebrating the New Year with you, visiting and supporting Israel this coming year, celebrating family milestones, and celebrating the Atlanta Jewish Times’ 100th year in publication.

From me to you, from my family to your family, from the Atlanta Jewish Times to the Atlanta Jewish community, and to our brothers and sisters in Israel, I want to wish you a Chag Sameach, a year filled with health, happiness and joy, and Shanah Tovah U’Metuka (a good and sweet year)!

Michael Morris is the owner and Publisher of the Atlanta Jewish Times.