ISRAELI SPICE
A trip to New Orleans provides a chance to taste Jewish chefs’ imported flavors. Page 18
TRAVEL, PAGES 18-21 DRIVE INTO THE PAST
Savannah offers a nearby opportunity to experience the best of old and new. Page 20
Atlanta VOL. XCII NO. 4
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
JANUARY 27, 2017 | 29 TEVET 5777
Marchers Demonstrate Fear and Hope This is one of several first-person reports from the women’s marches held in Washington, Atlanta and hundreds of other cities Saturday, Jan. 21. The stories continue on Page 8 and at atlantajewishtimes.com, where you’ll find more photos and videos. By Marita Anderson I bought my ticket to Washington shortly after the election when I heard that a protest march might form. It was a reaction to the relentless waves of emotions I was feeling: disappointment, shock, sadness, and, worst of all, fear. I felt fear that our new president had normalized the denigration and dehumanization of women, minorities and people with disabilities. I felt fear because, despite years of anti-bullying campaigns at our children’s schools, our nation elected a bully to be our leader. I felt fear because my beloved Jewish community was tearing itself apart as people made different political choices. This election polarized our community and divided us. That makes my heart ache, and I find it unacceptable. As I left my house at 5 Saturday morning, every cell of my body resisted. I didn’t want to march. I didn’t want to celebrate or protest. I didn’t want to raise my voice or be part of something bigger. I wanted to be home with my family. I stayed quiet all morning, turning
Photo by Robbie Medwed
The diversity of signs reflects the diversity of the crowd during Atlanta’s March for Social Justice and Women on Jan. 21.
down the noise of the outside world and looking inward for insight. What is my purpose? How do I stay true to my values? What if I see something I don’t agree with? How do I protect my integrity? What I learned from my first protest: • Protesting is grueling. When you are part of a crowd of a half-million people, standing and walking for more than five hours, your body hurts. I am in awe of the people who showed up, especially the youngsters, elders and people with disabilities. The efforts and personal investments people made were inspiring. • Peaceful demonstrations of this
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magnitude are miraculous and a reminder of the potential goodness of people. • I didn’t agree with everything said and done at the march. I will continue speaking out for the issues that are important to me while not staying silent on issues that go against my moral compass. • Uncertainty is deeply uncomfortable and unsettling. It is also the nature of being human. It is challenging to stand one’s ground. But doing nothing is also a choice with consequences. • I’m proud of so many people for showing up at the marches. Now we have to keep showing up in our communities. ■
INSIDE Calendar ��������������������������������������� 4 Candle Lighting �������������������������� 4 Israel News �����������������������������������6 Opinion ���������������������������������������10 Arts �����������������������������������������������16 Business ������������������������������������� 26 Obituaries ���������������������������������� 27 Marketplace ������������������������������ 28 Crossword ���������������������������������� 30
Falcons Fly To Big Game It took 15 years, but Arthur Blank is dancing to the Super Bowl as an owner competing for the Lombardi Trophy. The Atlanta Falcons earned a spot in Super Bowl LI with a crushing 44-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Jan. 22. It was the first time the Falcons won the NFC championship at home, and it happened in the final game at the Georgia Dome, which will be razed this year to make way for the Falcons’ new home, Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Jewish Atlanta, like the rest of the city, has celebrated the MVP-caliber exploits of quarterback Matt Ryan and the rest of the Falcons as they have risen to the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history. The first time, a 3419 loss to the Denver Broncos in 1999, was three years before Blank bought the team for $545 million, and the Falcons had to win the NFC championship on the road in Minnesota that year. Blank’s limited partners include fellow Jewish Atlantans Ed Mendel and Doug Hertz. Atlanta Hawks CEO Steve Koonin, who will speak to the Jewish Breakfast Club three days after the Super Bowl, showed support for the franchise next door by tweeting out a photo of himself and wife Eydie on the sidelines. The big game Sunday, Feb. 5, in Houston is against the New England Patriots, whose Jewish owner, Robert Kraft, is one of the biggest financial backers of American football in Israel. The timing poses a problem for Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Executive Director Kenny Blank. Not only does the game fall in the middle of the festival, but 16 films are being screened that Sunday. The idea was to offer alternative programming to the Super Bowl, Blank said; instead, he plans to slip away for the day to join his father in Houston. ■