Atlanta WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
VOL. XCI NO. 13
APRIL 1, 2016 | 22 ADAR II 5776
SOJOURN, ADL Cheer Deal Veto INSIDE
Ma Tovu �����������������������������������3 Remember When �������������������5 Calendar ���������������������������������� 6 Candle Lighting ����������������������7 Opinion ����������������������������������� 9 Israel News ����������������������������13 Finance ����������������������������������� 15 Arts ����������������������������������������� 24 Obituaries ����������������������������� 27 Simchas ��������������������������������� 29 Crossword ����������������������������� 30 Cartoon �����������������������������������31 Inside: Finance, Pages 15-17
BAD DAY FOR BDS
With a signature from Gov. Deal, state contractors will have to certify that they don’t boycott Israel. Page 15
STARTUP ADVICE Conexx Women turns its focus to the entrepreneurial side of the business world. Page 16
JOYFUL CHANGE The Marcus JCC marks a double leadership switch at its annual meeting. Page 8
SAFE HANDS Five AJA students are taking their physics talents to Israel to crack safes. Page 24
When the Party’s Over Photo by David R. Cohen
The Purim party masquerading as the main event of the seventh annual spring Atlanta Jewish Music Festival doesn’t stop just because the bands are done as Saturday night, March 26, gives way to Sunday at Terminal West. Adult revelers of all ages, many from Emory University, dance the hora to the house music even after coheadliners A-WA and Jaffa Road have left the building. More photos, Page 21
Security Raises Alarms By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
I
ncidents ranging from terrorist attacks in Israel to the mysterious Rosh Hashanah filming of Congregation Beth Jacob by a woman in a hijab compelled about 100 people to gather at the Toco Hills synagogue Sunday night, March 27, to try to shore up security. Jack Williams, a Georgia State University law professor who specializes in studying “threat” — the intent, capability and authority of someone to cause harm — said the United States has picked up 287 authenticated communications from Islamic State talking about targets in the past year, and most of them not only mentioned the United States, but also identified Jews or Jewish institutions. Law enforcement does an excellent job of disrupting terrorist plans early, but a fundamental question is whether to focus on the extreme unlikelihood of an attack on any particular target or the potentially catastrophic consequences if
that attack happens, Williams said. The key is for communitywide planning and training so that if an attack happens, people can respond rather than react, said Beth Jacob member Ariel Siegelman and fellow Israel Defense Forces veteran Gonen Cohen, who travel the world as security consultants and trainers with the Draco Group. They emphasized the concept of defensive rings of control to identify and stop threats before they can reach the target — “me and us.” A recent Shabbat when a fire alarm went off and no one reacted showed the lack of Beth Jacob’s preparedness for an emergency, attendees agreed. Now the congregation has to decide on the next steps. Siegelman said he would like to see a rapid response team — an offensive force — be part of Beth Jacob’s plan. Congregation President Larry Beck said other synagogues and day schools were invited to the briefing, and it’s up to them to decide whether to join Beth Jacob in security planning and training. ■
Gov. Nathan Deal’s decision to veto the only religious liberty bill to clear the General Assembly this year, House Bill 757, won wide praise from businesses, LGBT advocacy groups, tourism organizations and others. After Deal announced his veto of the Free Exercise Protection Act on Monday, March 28, the Southeast Region of the Anti-Defamation League and SOJOURN: Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity joined the cheers for the governor. Deal chose “to be on the right side of history by vetoing House Bill 757,” ADL Southeast Region Director Mark Moskowitz said in a statement. “This unjust legislation would have authorized discrimination against LGBT people and others in the marketplace, as well as in receipt of public and social services. The governor’s decision sends the resounding message that in Georgia government cannot sanction or support discrimination.” Moskowitz urged the legislature to respond by passing anti-discrimination and hate crimes legislation next year. Rebecca Stapel-Wax, the executive director of SOJOURN, expressed concern in a statement that something like H.B. 757 will be introduced next year, but “we are confident in the growing number of Georgians who understand that equal rights cannot be afforded only to some. … While this is a victory over overt religious discrimination, there are still basic struggles that people have to fight every day, and our work is far from finished. We will continue to partner with Georgia Equality, Georgia Unites and our entire coalition to bring full legal equality to LGBTQ Georgians across the state.” That coalition is going ahead with a planned rally at noon Tuesday, April 5, at the Capitol’s Liberty Plaza but will be celebrating instead of demanding the veto while calling for a state civil rights law that protects all. ■ • Deal finds no need for bill risking discrimination, Page 14 • Our view: Deal was right, Page 10