Woodworkers Get ‘Jiggy’ With It
With the help of Jody Pollack, Ed Gerson created a local Jewish woodworking hobby group.
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.
Radiologist Ed Gerson has always been a man of creative hobbies. Just ask about his collection of antique telephones and cash registers. For years, Gerson has been hands on, hunkered down in his well tooled studio where he handcrafts complicated and beautiful woodwork projects. He has expanded this universe by starting a Jewish men’s woodworking club which grew to more than 30 members.
Gerson said, “I can’t count the number of times when I’d mention that I did woodworking as a hobby, and hear, ‘Are you sure you are Jewish?’ Where this interest came from, I’m not sure, but my dad (OBM) would say, ‘There is nothing that a guy with an eighth-grade education can do that I can’t, if shown how.”
So being naturally mechanical and handy, it all came easily to Gerson who became seriously interested in woodworking in the 70s when he bought his first table at a garage sale. Having a “non-Jewish” hobby, he was excited when he met a fellow woodworking member of the tribe.
Recently, Gerson, while buying exotic lumber, struck up a conversation with another shopper, Jody Pollack, whom he recognized from the Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival. They quickly bonded and compiled a list of potential members. Five showed up at an arranged lunch, and through networking, the list has grown to 32, including two younger ladies. Gerson laughed, “What seemed like an ominous task has them coming out of the woodwork (pun intended)!”
The group meets once a month on Sunday morning — shmoozing, problem solving, sharing tips, and show and tell. They’re a mix of mostly more senior “sawdust makers,” mixed with a few enthusiastic younger folks. Backgrounds vary and include retired and active doctors, educators, IT types, and CPAs.
Gerson mused, “We all share a common interest, and there are usually five different conversations going on simultaneously. Most woodworking is done in solitude, but this gives us an opportunity to come together.”
Member David Liss has an IT background and is setting up a website: Jewish Woodworker of Atlanta, or JWWOFATL.com. For most members, woodwork is a hobby, but some sell their wares at craft shows, synagogue benefits and online. The main treasures are cutting boards, wall plaques, Chanukia, mezuzahs, toys for grandkids, and hobby boxes. In terms of selling, most feel that these are therapeutic works of love that are indeed priceless.
Pollack said, “I got into woodworking over 50 years ago as a kid helping my dad. I have been making and selling menorahs and mezuzahs for 25 years. Helping Ed found this group has been great because we have discovered so many more of us than the community would believe. We are bonded by the love of creating beautiful objects with glue.”
Doug Pisik, who has created wood art for decades and been a member of other woodworker groups, said, “Being a member of a Jewish woodworker group adds an additional level of enjoyment. In addition to discussing different materials, tools and techniques, we share our Judaic projects with a unique appreciation. I love both teaching and learning from others, and the members of this group are extremely talented.”
Retired gastroenterologist Gene Hirsh echoed, “I never imagined retirement could be so much fun. After all those years being productive ‘working,’ it’s great to be involved with a creative group of people who are so productive ‘playing.’”
Retired urologist Roy Rubin jokes that he likes woodworking “because it doesn’t get infected, bleed, and or call me in the middle of the night!” He finds camaraderie in the group of aspiring “Bazaleels,” talking shop is fun and educational, certainly more personal and participatory than YouTube.”
He listed a breadth of topics from a recent meeting: preventing warping; the esoterica of vacuum chucking on the lathe; preferred glues; donating and pricing pieces for a charity event; how best to upgrade a dust collection system; and the best electric miter saw.
He concluded, “What’s not to like about a group like ours?”
Gerson shared, “I prefer to work with exotic woods like zebrawood, paduk, wenge, purple heart, canary wood, and less exotic woods like walnut, oak, cherry, and maple. My favorites are exotic wood-mix cutting boards, tzedakah boxes made with old post office box doors, personalized wedding and bar mitzvah gifts, and toys.”
If interested, please email jww@egerson.com.
comments