J-BAR Chanukah Bash Rocks Bar None

The third annual Jewish Bar Association (J-BAR) Chanukah party hosted a crowd of 170 at The Distillery of Modern Art (DOMA) in Doraville. Judges and attorneys mingled and networked around open bars and a bounteous meal by EB Catering. Jewish and non-Jewish legal minds and “plus-ones” made for a lively party on Dec. 18.

J-BAR president and attorney Darren Tobin stated that although J-BAR officially started before Oct. 7, “it’s especially important now, given recent events, it’s that even more important to be more vocal. We have found our footing. We started as a nice social club, now we are aggressive while approaching issues; and just wait until next year.”

He explained that J-BAR is also open to non-Jews who care about rights and equality. Several non-Jewish judges and attorneys networked at DOMA as well. Tobin introduced various officials in the room and joked, “If I miss mentioning a judge, don’t penalize me.”

Rabbi, attorney, and original J-BAR member Doug Stein lit the menorah as a segue to J-BAR vice president Stacey Hydrick’s presentation of the 2025 Maccabee Ward. Note that the 2024 award went to attorney and Jewish State Rep. Esther Panitch. This year’s surprise recipient was benefactor David Zalik, whom Hydrick compared to a Maccabee. She said, “He founded GreenSky [an inventive customer friendly fintech that employs technology to facilitate the home improvement loan process], which he later sold to Goldman Sachs, and he embodies J-BAR’s mission statement.”

She described how Zalik has been involved in pro-Israel and pro-Jewish policies, like the Georgia Solidarity Network. She added, “He does what Maccabees did: sees issues, builds, marshals resources, and protects the community.”

A modest Zalik related that since he was not an attorney, he was “eye candy” for wife, Helen, who is a graduate of Duke Law School. He stated, “This is the closest I’ve come to being credentialed. I didn’t graduate college nor high school, for that matter, so my mother would be very proud.”

He also made a point of saying that he did not start/build Greensky alone. Upon receiving the award, he said, “I’m shocked and amazed! Truth and justice are the American way and the Jewish way.”

Hydrick concluded, “This is a prime audience … with this room full of workers, if called on, could all volunteer for one of Zalik’s projects.”

On Nov. 24, 2024, The Atlanta Jewish Times’ article touted the formation of J-BAR as a reaction to Oct. 7 by Tobin and Judges Jay Roth and Hydrick.

During the cocktail hour, litigator Burt Levy, who specializes in high wealth disputes at Cohan and Levy, told the AJT, “I think it’s important through J-BAR that we support each other, especially in times of increased antisemitism, and also it’s nice to come together tonight.”

Newly elected Sandy Springs District 6 City Councilman and attorney Andrew Chinsky recalled that he was impressed with a previous J-BAR event, a panel discussion at a local synagogue, and said, “I think it’s important to join the local legal community to be able to talk about relevant issues.”

For the second year in a row, J-BAR used the annual Chanukkah party as a vehicle to raise funds for both a local Atlanta and an Israeli charity. This year, recipients were Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and a Jewish National Fund project helping rebuild communities attacked on Oct. 7. Party guests donated using QR codes as J-BAR continues to raise funds for these campaigns. Donations can be made through J-BAR’s charitable 501(c)(3) foundation at https://www.j-bar.org/donate/.

According to J-BAR treasurer Elie Wolfe: “Last year, Darren Tobin suggested using our bar’s Chanukkah party to launch annual fundraising drives. We use gatherings to advance two of the core goals from our mission statement: combining social and networking opportunities for our members with tikkun olam as an organization.”