LANDSCAPERS
AA Synagogue deploys a crew of 30 goats of all shapes, sizes and colors to clear out years of overgrowth. Page 4
EYES AHEAD
FIT TO GO
Ahead of his Atlanta Scholars Kollel talk, Bernie Marcus shares fears about the Jewish future. Page 17
Laura Frank Barnard’s global pursuit of endurance sports leads to a new business. Travel, Page 22
Atlanta VOL. XC NO. 18
MAY 15, 2015 | 26 IYAR, 5775
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
Consul: JNF Was Right On Stanley By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
F
Answering Prayers
Photo by Ziv Koren
One of the 260 Israel Defense Forces personnel who deployed to Nepal in a humanitarian mission April 27 takes a break from delivering earthquake relief to daven at the IDF field hospital in Kathmandu. In a two-week effort that wrapped up May 10, the IDF treated 1,600 Nepalese patients in the 60-bed facility and earned the thanks of Nepal’s government. More photos, Page 26
FOR THE WIN
Emory junior Aaron Karas is an inaugural winner of a national prize recognizing positive Israel engagement on campus and at camp. Page 14
SEE SHYLOCK
It’s not necessarily a positive portrayal, but Doug Kaye in the Shakespeare Tavern’s “The Merchant of Venice” is essential viewing. Page 28
Calendar
INSIDE
2 Business
18
Candle Lighting
3 Travel
20
Local News
4 Arts
27
Israel
8 Obituaries
29
Opinion
10 Crossword
30
Education
14 Marketplace
31
irst Baptist Church Atlanta Senior Pastor Charles Stanley has atrocious LGBT views, but Jewish National Fund made the right decision to honor him at its annual Israel Independence Day breakfast last month, Israeli Consul General Opher Aviran says. The ambassador spoke during a breakfast meeting May 8 at The Temple that was meant to reconcile JNF with SOJOURN: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity and others who were angered by the decision to honor Stanley at the Yom HaAtzmaut breakfast 15 days earlier. Stanley declined the Tree of Life Award days before the April 23 event, but only after three weeks of angry public debate over his anti-gay statements. Aviran said he has told Stanley those opinions are indefensible. But he said Israel must embrace true friends. “His support is incredible,” Aviran said of Stanley, who responded to last summer’s Gaza war by organizing a trip of 400 members of his church and 300 other Christians to Israel. The consul general questioned how many of the 50 or so people in the room visited Israel during or after the war. Neither Aviran’s call to separate the issues of LGBT rights and support for Israel nor JNF CEO Russell Robinson’s lengthy statement about JNF’s LGBT support and determination to better vet honorees appeared to heal the rift. ■ “Family” keeps feuding, Page 7