Cadranel Receives Hillel’s Marcus Visionary Award

Hillels of Georgia chose March 28 to call upon the community to take a stand against antisemitism and honor Steven Cadranel with the prestigious Billi & Bernie Marcus Visionary Award at Stand With Hillel 2024 at Temple Sinai.

The Marcus Visionary Award is presented annually to a community member who has demonstrated a strong commitment to Jewish life in Georgia, dedication to students, and shown philanthropic support to Hillel to increase the organization’s growth and meaning — especially important now considering the recent wave of anti-Jewish hate on college campuses.

With acts of antisemitism on the rise across Georgia and the nation, Hillels of Georgia shone the spotlight on Cadranel, a native Atlantan who grew up at Congregation Or VeShalom, as slides of his bar mitzvah flashed across the big screen.

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Co-chair Avery Kastin posed with Rabbi and Hillel CEO Larry Sernovitz and Billy Bauman, Hillel board member.

After a buffet, the program began with comments by co-chairs Avery Kastin and Doug Ross. Kastin charmed the crowd with humor that landed just perfectly and ended on a serious note, proclaiming that the students were the reason for the evening.

“You can’t build an ark while it’s raining outside,” he said. Ross focused on the challenge of the current mission, “children facing age old hatred,” and pointed to an empty chair on stage, bearing an Israeli flag, representing the hostages.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch, of both Congregation Etz Chaim and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, related a Talmudic tale about a rabbi at a wedding throwing broken glass, in “how much responsibility we have in putting the pieces back together.”

Co-chair Doug Ross, Robyn Ross, chat with Mark Goldfeder, Hillel’s Legal Councel.

Hillel CEO Larry Sernovitz spoke about the impact of Hillel in aiding students with events like Shabbat dinners in giving them a familiar place. He also sadly relayed that a student from Agnes Scott College was experiencing deep antisemitism and harassment and was missing a full-time Hillel presence on her campus. He shared about the recent antisemitic affronts at Georgia Tech and a BDS referendum at Emory, saying “Our students are fighting a war!”

Hillel is in the process of creating new generational social media content to change the narrative. “Turn the ‘oiy’ into joy” through events like bagel breaks and bridge building unity initiatives, like meeting with Spelman College students.

“Students are worried that they could be the next one assaulted … KSU students are wearing bold hostage dog tags to be seen.”

Next up were the student voices: Sophie Kalmin, Emory class of 2026; Ron Tsur, UGA class of 2025; Zoe Glickman, Georgia Tech class of 2026; and Sarina Amar, KSU class of 2025, who gave impactful talks about their own motivation and connections to Judaism, ranging from how their cousins are still being held hostage to volunteering in Israel post-Oct. 7, and hiding their jewelry (Star of David or chai necklaces).

Amar said, “I feel like I have a target on my back. My friends are aligned with terrorists. There is no use in hiding or being silent.”

UGA college student Ron Tsur spoke about how his Israeli relatives and cousins are still being held hostage.

Kastin was back on stage relating his own father’s advice to him about years-old Ivy League antisemitism. He said, “I’m not embarrassed to ask for money. We need $75,000 to augment the $75,000 match provided by Mike Levin and Norman Radow. Get a young person to show you how to use the QR Code to donate.”

A video played featuring Cadrenel’s wife and daughter, who spoke of his Jewish soul. The latter said she thought everyone’s dad was “equally strong in his Jewish foundation,” and the former commented that “he hardly ever says ‘no,’ and was active in getting Hillel on the KSU campus.”

Another video showed Sernovitz and Jay Kaiman referring to Cadranel as “a general in this war” and how Bernie and Billi Marcus set the bar for community leadership and giving.

A humble Cadranel took the stage with, “Now that was a lot.” He shared that antisemitism was no longer “just a moment considering the unimaginable evil forces today. There are no consequences for twisting the truth.”

Cadranel ended the evening by recognizing David Lubin, candidate for Georgia State Representative, and whose daughter, Rose Lubin, was recently killed in action while serving as a Lone Soldier.

Earlier in the reception hour, Hillel board member Billy Bauman told the AJT, “I hung out at Hillel because my father emphasized that it was so important years ago. And more recently, my children were involved in Hillel at Wisconsin and Indiana. Today, Hillel is a wonderful place for students to learn and become productive community members.”