The Wine Shop succeeds with customer and community service and some good kosher wines. Page 12
WOLPE STYLE
SILVER TOUCH
Val Root Wolpe brings a womanist sensibility to the decoration of her Judaica-packed home. Page 26
ACCESS prepares to celebrate 25 years of engaging and grooming Jewish Atlanta’s young leaders. Page 14
ALL NEW
DRINK UP
Atlanta CATCH IT IN APRIL
#ONLYZOOATL VOL. XC NO. 13
Abilities Site Launches
A
tlanta has a new resource to help people with disabilities and their families, thanks to the work of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Disabilities Task Force. The Greater Atlanta Jewish Abilities Alliance website (atlanta.jewishabilities. org) has launched after months of preparation, including the creation of a 17-page resource directory that runs from AARP to Zimmerman-Horowitz. The website uses a template created by Baltimore’s federation, The Associated, two years ago. About the same time, the Disabilities Task Force in Atlanta was assessing the community’s needs. Federation began funding the task force’s recommendations in the summer of 2013. When Baltimore offered federations a chance to form a national network of Jewish Abilities Alliance websites, Atlanta signed on first, said Jaime Russo, Federation’s community disabilities coordinator. “Our goal is to reach as many people as possible in Atlanta, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and have them utilize the website, starting as a child develops and continuing through adulthood.” The website fits Federation’s role as a convener of service providers rather than a direct service provider. ■
FIRST LADY
Blair Marks has traveled the world as Women of Reform Judaism president but sees something special in Kol Emeth’s upcoming honor. Page 8
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
We Remember
APRIL 10, 2015 | 21 NISAN 5775
Rabbis Skip JNF Event Over Stanley By Michael Jacobs mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
C
Jewish Atlanta’s observances of Yom HaShoah will start April 12 at the Besser Holocaust Memorial Garden at the Marcus JCC in Dunwoody. But what happens in the not-too-distant future when no more survivors remain? Pages 18-24
SUPER BENEFIT
Hillels of Georgia raises more than $100,000, far exceeding its goal, while crowning a Dawg as the state’s latest Campus SuperStar. Page 25
Calendar
INSIDE
2 Business
12
Candle Lighting
3 Education
25
Local News
4 Home
26
Remember When 5 Obituaries
28
Israel
9 Crossword
30
10 Marketplace
31
Opinion
lergy members from at least two synagogues are skipping the biggest annual event of Jewish National Fund’s Southeast Region because of the honoree’s position on gay rights. JNF is giving the Tree of Life Award to the Rev. Charles Stanley of First Baptist Church Atlanta during the 12th annual Jack Hirsch Memorial Breakfast the morning of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel Independence Day, April 23. The event is being held at The Temple, but the congregation’s rabbis and staff will not attend. Senior Rabbi Peter Berg and Temple President Jonathan Amsler issued a statement on the decision that reads in part: “The Temple is renting our social hall space to the Jewish National Fund as we have done with them and so many other organizations over the years. Recognizing the good work that JNF does for the State of Israel, The Temple remains a strong supporter of the Jewish National Fund. As inscribed over our doorway, The Temple is a house of prayer for all people and we will continue to work diligently for the inclusion of all.” Temple Sinai’s clergy also will not attend the breakfast. Rabbi Ron Segal said Sinai is a community of inclusion and could not ignore Stanley’s positions on same-sex relationships. But the decision to stay away does not represent a statement about JNF. “We are tremendous supporters of JNF and all things Israel,” he said. ■ SOJOURN takes a stand, Page 4.