Atlanta Jewish Times No. 12, April 3, 2015

Page 1

J DEFEAT?

Under Jeremy Ben-Ami, J Street, fresh off its national conference, is cutting efforts to grow in Atlanta. Page 4

1930S REPEAT?

CIVIL DUTY

Yom HaShoah speaker Irving Roth warns of the parallels between anti-Semitism now and then. Page 18

Women return from a mission trip through Alabama with insight on the civil rights movement. Page 16

Atlanta VOL. XC NO. 12

APRIL 3, 2015 | 14 NISAN 5775

WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM

Taste of Pesach

Jacobs Helps Halt Bill On Religion

S

Leslie Chaffer offers daughter Alyssa, 5, a taste of chocolate-covered matzah during the Marcus Jewish Community Center’s pre-Passover family celebration, Matzah and Magic. Alyssa’s twin, Julia, is just out of the picture. You can get the full picture on Passover, which starts at sundown Friday, April 4, with our special section, Pages 28 to 57.

FLOWER POWER

More than 600 people, including many from Jewish and Catholic schools, run and walk around Dunwoody for the Daffodil Dash. Page 20-21

MEMORIES

The sixth Atlanta Jewish Music Festival is in the past, but we can’t stop humming and singing along with the sounds of success. Page 26

Israel

INSIDE 3 Arts

26

Calendar

6 Passover

28

Candle Lighting

6 Obituaries

58

Education

7 Death Notices

60

Local News

8 Crossword

61

Opinion

9 Marketplace

62

enate Bill 129, Georgia’s religious liberty legislation, was tabled March 26 after the House Judiciary Committee added an anti-discrimination amendment proposed by Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Brookhaven. The Judiciary Committee’s vote to table S.B. 129 likely killed the legislation for 2015, although proponents had until the General Assembly’s adjournment April 2 (after we went to press) to revive the bill. The Anti-Defamation League and rabbis representing all denominations of Judaism spoke out against S.B. 129, warning that it would turn faith into a license to discriminate. Proponents noted that the language follows the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Two other Republicans on the committee, Beth Beskin of Buckhead and Jay Powell of Camilla, joined Jacobs and six Democrats in passing the amendment 9-8 after Republican proponents said they couldn’t support the amended bill. The amendment added one clause to the bill: “and protecting persons against discrimination on any ground prohibited by federal, state or local law.” Sen. Josh McKoon, R-Columbus, said the “very elastic terms” in that clause would create enough exceptions to destroy his bill. Jacobs, who is Jewish, said he accepts claims that S.B. 129 is not meant to aid discrimination. But in response to overwhelming opposition to the bill from his district, he wants it to be explicit. “This is what my constituents want me to do, ... This is what I want to do.” See more, Pages 10-11. ■


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