Tobin ‘Raises the Bar’ for Chanukah Party
Jewish legal professionals gathered to exchange ideas, stand for issues, and practice tikun olam at the Distillery of Modern Art.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
The Distillery of Modern Art hosted a crowd of 210 fun-loving and energized Jewish Atlanta barristers, judges and their spouses for the annual J-BAR Chanukah party on Dec. 18.
Atlanta Jewish Times in November touted the formation of J-BAR as a reaction to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas by “doers” Darren Tobin, and Judges Jay Roth and Stacy Hydrick. Now with some programming behind them, they are gaining traction.
Judge Roth said, “Last night’s party was amazing! It was full of heritage, tradition, Jewish history and good times. J-BAR is still a child, in its youth, learning to grow and become a large part of our entire community. We are only getting started! Next year, we’ll do even better.”
Tax, personal injury, family, in-house, real estate, workman’s compensation, corporate, labor, and litigation were just some of the specialties buzzing about in consummate networking. After the cocktail hour and buffet (food sponsored by E.B. Catering), Tobin called in the group to the ballroom, where he related to the group that Chanukah was about Judah Maccabee and “standing up,” and then virtually awarded J-BAR’s Maccabee Award to Georgia’s only Jewish state legislator Esther Panitch, who graciously accepted crystal candlesticks virtually from Israel.
Tobin called her a “true warrior” in her effort to successfully pass the Antisemitism Bill (HB30). Panitch accepted by saying she was “verklempt” and committed to continue fighting for “our rights with resiliency and creativity. Miracles happen when we work together for common goals … we know how to fight and when we get together, we win.”
Tobin jumped in to explain Pikei Avot’s three pillars vis a vis J-BAR: Torah, good work (service of G-d), and acts of human kindness (charity). He explained, “Thanks to the judges, we have law enforcement. Programs like “pinch hitters” which let non-Jews off on Christmas.”
Then he focused on the third pillar, charity, when he showed a poignant video featuring Lev La Lev, a non-profit orphanage in Israel that takes care of children who are abused, neglected, or truly orphaned. They took in many children who lost their parents following the attacks by Hamas. The money raised will support buying these children clothes and toys this Chanukah season. The money also will go to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s “The Zone.”
Tobin concluded, “A large driving force of our mission is to support Israel and our community on a local level.”
The evening’s fundraising goal was $5,000, with Tobin pledging 10 percent personally. He expects to report a $10,000 total.
During the social hour, Judge Stacey Hydrick told the AJT, “J-BAR is getting bigger and better, membership has increased. We are planning programs with the IDF, a survivor, and the Israeli Consulate.”
Judge Gary Jackson stated, “J-BAR is long overdue. We were the largest group that did not have an association, and we have found a lot of common ground.”
Tax attorney Doug Stein, one of the group’s original members, related, “Our goals are appropriate. We are organized, inclusive and geared to practices.”
Robert Port, fiduciary litigator, recalled, “We tried this in the 1990s and it didn’t work. Post-Oct. 7, with emails and a lot of communication, we have formed a great thing.”
Larry Gordon added, “J-BAR does really important work. I was stunned at some of the issues. We got involved with a situation where someone misconstrued the truth with some nasty anti-Israel comments. We wrote to the legal trial lawyers association which resulted in action.”
Judges Diane Bessen (Fulton State) and Abbi Taylor (Dekalb Magistrate) agreed, and said, “Tonight was an amazing opportunity to come together with our voices for good.”
To donate to the two charities, please visit https://donate.stripe.com/8wMaGTerZ1WYfZe000
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