TREE RETREAT
Ramah Darom helps people get back to nature for Tu B’Shevat. Page 26
CAMPS, PAGES 26-28 JEWISH ESCAPE
Like the Catskills, England’s Green Park offered a spot for a cultural recharge. Page 27
URBAN RENEWAL
The Hawks’ day camps play a role in creating and guarding community. Page 28
Atlanta VOL. XCII NO. 7
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
FEBRUARY 17, 2017 | 21 SHEVAT 5777
BDS Is Turned to Israel’s Advantage
Price’s Seat Sparks Rush
A Hollywood actor’s BDS activism is leading to a donation to a nonprofit organization battling the boycott movement on college campuses. Sandy Springs resident Dovid Antopolsky had agreed to rent out his house exterior and driveway for a movie shoot Monday, Feb. 13, but had second thoughts when he learned that the film features Danny Glover, a political activist who has been among the leading celebrities backing the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. Glover — who is shooting “Come Sunday,” about an evangelical preacher who is ostracized for saying there’s no hell — signed an open letter Feb. 10 urging NFL players to cancel a seven-day visit to Israel. He also celebrated the decision of Seattle Seahawk Michael Bennett and others to skip the trip. Jewish Atlanta experienced controversy over actors and BDS in January because Emma Thompson, the star of Atlanta Jewish Film Festival opening-night movie “Alone in Berlin,” had joined a call to boycott an Israeli theater group in 2012. Last year she said the boycott decision was a mistake. Glover’s position is clear, however, so Antopolsky, an electrical engineer/ consultant, sought the advice of Rabbi
Voters in the 6th Congressional District will have plenty of choices in a special election April 18 to replace Roswell Republican Tom Price, who resigned from Congress after the Senate confirmed him as President Donald Trump’s health and human services secretary Feb. 10. Candidate qualifying was set for Monday to Wednesday, Feb. 13 to 15. Sweeping from East Cobb through North Fulton to North DeKalb, the 6th District encompasses one of the core areas of Jewish Atlanta. Fifteen candidates qualified by Feb. 14. Nine are Republicans: Judson Hill, who resigned from the state Senate to run; Mohammad Ali Bhuiyan, who hopes to be the first Muslim Republican in Congress; William Llop, who lost in the primary in the 11th District last year; Dan Moody, a former state senator; Bob Gray, a Johns Creek councilman; Bruce LeVell, a jeweler and Trump ally; Keith Grawert, an Air Force veteran; and small-business men David Abroms and Kurt Wilson. The Democrats on the ballot are Jon Ossoff, who has the backing of Reps. Hank Johnson and John Lewis; Ron Slotin, a Jewish former state senator; Richard Keatley, a Navy vet and college professor; Rebecca Quigg, a cardiologist and health reform advocate; and Ragin Edwards, who works in tech services. Independent Alexander Hernandez, who works in film production, also qualified. At least one more Democrat, former state Rep. Sally Harrell, has announced she’s running, as has Republican former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel. State Rep. Betty Price, Tom Price’s wife, is among others considering a run. (Visit atlantajewishtimes.timesofisrael.com for the final list.) If no one gets a majority, the top two vote-getters will have a runoff June 20. ■
By Marcia Caller Jaffe mjaffe@atljewishtimes.com
Trucks line up in the Antopolsky driveway for a movie shoot Feb. 13.
Yossi New, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Tefillah. Rabbi New advised Antopolsky to proceed with the movie contract, but with the stipulation that the rental fee be paid to a pro-Israel charity. “I feel I have a chance to also make a statement,” Antopolsky said. “When a star like Glover makes public statements against a nation trying to defend itself, I want to express my disappointment. Further, I don’t want to be associated with blatant misinformation.” The production company agreed to make the donation, and Antopolsky chose StandWithUs, whose mission is to fight propaganda, falsehoods and bias in the media and on campuses. The organization is bringing two Israel Defense Forces soldiers to Georgia for appear-
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Danny Glover makes no secret of his opposition to Israel. For more on the NFL trip to Israel, see the Editor’s Notebook, Page 10.
“I feel I have a chance to also make a statement,” Dovid Antopolsky says.
ances at Atlanta Jewish Academy on Friday, Feb. 17, and at Georgia State, Emory, Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia on Feb. 20 and 21. Rabbi New said, “I thought it best to move forward with the movie shoot and call attention to our objections and what step could be taken to turn it into something more positive.” ■
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