Lodge Bezalel News

Lodge Bezalel New Member Initiation
May 21 - 7 PM 
Congregation Or Hadash - 7460 Trowbridge Rd, Sandy Springs

Welcome in our new initiates with a before-the-summer blast. Schmooze at 7 PM, join the initiation festivities at 7:30 PM and give our new brethren a rousing entry to our Lodge and HOD with a Chef Yossi Special.

We also have some exciting summer programs to present and make arrangements based on your vote at the meeting. Be heard and join in.

Register Now!

Read Our Meeting Minutes

Click to read the minutes from our last OLM and mintues from all 2019 OLMs.

Lodge Bezalel Calendar

Bringing the Ocean to Atlanta- The Story of Georgia Aquarium

Our Next OLM - April 16

In late 2005 Georgia Aquarium opened its doors, beginning a sequence of unprecedented success that would impact downtown Atlanta, the state of Georgia and the world beyond. Timothy J. Mullican, DVM, Senior VP, Georgia Aquarium, will give us a look at the visionary concept, history and future of the world’s most successful Aquarium. His Table Lodge presentation follows our 7:30 p.m. OLM - which will be preceded by a 2nd Degree Raising Ceremony at 7:15 p.m. Lodge brothers can have it all by joining us at 6:45 p.m. for schmoozing and snacks.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, he is involved with strategic partnerships with other zoological, governmental an d academic entities, including both federal and state regulatory agencies. With more than 35 years of experience in a wide variety of veterinary, administrative and business positions, Dr. Mullican also represents Georgia Aquarium’s interests to external accreditation organizations, as well as serving as a member of the research and conservation committee.

Dr. Mullican graduated from the University of Dayton with a bachelor’s degree in biology and holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine. He credits the AQUAVET program at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts with providing the inspiration, training and professional contacts that formed the foundation for his career in aquatic animal medicine and public aquarium operations.

This path began in 1997 at the Newport Aquarium in Newport, Kentucky where he served as consulting veterinarian. He was tabbed as Executive Director in 2002, a position he held until 2005. He then served as a consultant for developer Colliers International on the never built Puerto Rico National Aquarium project in San Juan. He came to Georgia Aquarium in February 2008.

He holds the position of Adjunct Professor at University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine, is a certified scuba diver and maintains a special research interest in giant manta rays.

Sign Up Today, and remember to include any outside guests in your registration. Guests can plan on arriving at 8:30 p.m. for dinner and the program.

Our Lodge Bezalel OLM for March

A Visit with Our Friend Jerry Quan, Cobb County Schools PD

We caught up with Jerry Quan, a long-time friend of Lodge Bezalel as a retired Major of the Cobb County Police Department and security guard at Congregation Etz Chaim. Jerry is writing a new chapter in his law enforcement career, serving as a member of the Cobb County Schools Police Department.

He took us inside the schools, discussing the issues he faces and the rewards he reaps in dealing with students. He also talked about the many sides of the issue of school safety and synagogue safety - as well as our personal safety in everyday life.

At our OLM that preceded our Table Lodge presentation, Secretary Wor Bro Craig Varon encouraged our brethren to support the Atlanta Community Food Bank's Hunger Walk, April 28 at the Home Depot Backyard at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Click here and then enter Hebrew Order of David in the "Donate to a Team" box. From list, you can click on the HOD Team.

Wor Bro David Weinberger, Social Chair, and Wor Bro Stan Sonnabend, Treasurer, talked about the upcoming Atlanta Kosher BBQ Festival and Competition, which will be Sept. 8, at City Green in Sandy Springs. Our Lodge is again sponsoring the Cobb County PD team, and we plan to form a team with the Men's Club of Congregation Or Hadash. Our Lodge has already paid the entrance fee for the Cobb County PD team. We're looking for donations to help pay for our Lodge team.

Click here to read the minutes of our March 19 OLM.

Our Lodge Bezalel OLM for January 15:
Restoring Poland’s Jewish Heritage – One Gravestone at a Time

Our Lodge was treated to an inspiring story of how Steven D. Reece, founder and president of The Matzevah Foundation, has led efforts to restore Jewish cemeteries in Poland while providing Holocaust education opportunities. The Matzevah Foundation, a nonprofit organization incorporated in Georgia in 2010, brings together members of the communities in which the cemeteries are located and volunteers from North America, Europe, South Africa and Australia.

He talked about how he was inspired to start this effort of Tikkun Olam through his interactions with Poles as a photojournalist and Baptist minister. You can learn more about the foundation's activities and how you can become involved by visiting their website.

Atlanta’s ‘Super Mario Brothers’ at Zichron Menachem

Worthy Brother Mario Oves, President of HOD’s North America Governing Lodge, and newly-initiated Brother Mario Karpuj, Lodge Bezalel, were in Jerusalem to present a check for $22,000 at the Zichron Menachem campus in Jerusalem.

The money will fund the construction of a hair salon dedicated to helping children with cancer. The salon will provide custom made wigs, along with payot for the religious boys. In the last year alone, they created over 500 custom-made wigs for children and young adults. They style and color the wigs, to create a look as close as possible to their existing hair style. [Read More]

Lodge Bezalel Initiates 13 Brothers into HOD

Lodge Bezalel made it a merry month of May by initiating 13 brethren into the Hebrew Order of David International at its new home, Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs. [Read More]

Lodge Bezalel Officers Installed During HOD International Biennial Weekend

Worthy Brother Barry Simon’s return as President of Lodge Bezalel, Hebrew Order of David International, was made official when he and his leadership team were installed during HOD’s International Biennial Weekend in Atlanta. More than 200 Worthy Brethren and Brethren from around the world attended. [Read More]

Raise-Worthy:
Craig Varon, David Weinberger, Henry Levine Raised to Worthy Brother Status

Henry Levine, Lodge Bezalel Immediate Past President (second from left); Craig Varon, Secretary (third from left); and David Weinberger, Trustee (second from right) were raised to Worthy Brother Status during The Hebrew Order of David International weekend. They join Stan Sonnabend (left) Barry Simon (center) and Ian Platt (right) as Worthy Brethren in Lodge Bezalel. Worthy Brother Adam Waxman was not present for this picture. [Read More]