This Hanukkah, history is on my mind. I accessed the Breman Museum archives. I searched 1920s-1924 photos of Jewish Atlanta. There, I saw men and women happily posing in front of Model T Fords. There were family members smiling in front of houses and stores against the backdrop of majestic Magnola trees and fragrant pine trees. I pondered over the outward display of these happy faces because a few years earlier was the 1918 pandemic. And, WWI ended in 1918.
People were still mentally and physically impacted by these horrible events. On top of that, 100 years ago was the height of the Roaring Twenties in Atlanta. It was a time of uncertainty, violence, and change. However, amongst the pictures, I saw menorahs being lighted. I saw potato cakes being eaten. I saw Jewish Atlanta embracing their traditions. That’s the answer. That’s the lesson to live by, even today! Despite the uncertainty of today, we should continue to enjoy and find the treasure in traditions. When we gather, pray, and fellowship, it keeps us going and thriving for days, weeks, years, decades, centuries.
As a sidenote, the Breman has late 1920s-1980s archives of the Atlanta Jewish Times (old name was the The Southern Israelite).
Tiffany Parks is an educator and freelance writer for Atlanta Jewish Times.
article originally posted here
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