INSIDE: EAGLE STAR PREVIEW, PAGES 15-18 GIVING LESSONS
JUNE 3–5, 2016 ∙ AGES 0–5 TICKETS
alliancetheatre.org/toddlertakeover 404.733.5000
RISING PORT
Anita Zucker just want ed to be a schoolteach er; now she’s the phil anthropic “Bill Gates of South Carolina.” Page 15
With a deeper river, Savannah is well equipped to become the key hub for Israeli trade. Page 16
SHINING BRIGHT
Energiya is bring ing utility-scale solar power, plus elementary education, to South Georgia. Page 18
Atlanta
INSIDE Calendar �����������������������������������4 Candle Lighting ���������������������� 5 Israel News ������������������������������8 Sports ����������������������������������������9 Opinion ���������������������������������� 10 Food ���������������������������������������� 12 Business ��������������������������������� 15 Education ������������������������������� 19 Arts ������������������������������������������26 Cartoon �����������������������������������28 Obituaries ������������������������������29 Crossword ������������������������������30
VOL. XCI NO. 21
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
MAY 27, 2016 | 19 IYAR 5776
FUTURE FLAVORS
From kosher barbecue to bagel eating, get a taste for the food festivals ahead. Page 12
YOUNG WINNER
An AJA fifth-grader and Shearith Israel member’s fam ily history project is taking her to Israel. Page 19
COMMUNITY GEM
Beth Jacob’s reconstruction of its sanctuary aims for comfort amid grandeur. Page 22
BEST FRIENDS
Melissa Fay Greene talks about her latest book, “Under dogs,” the story of the healing power of canine love. Page 29
Looking to the Future Photo by Michael Jacobs
Sending messages from the top of their mortarboards while waiting to process onto the Ferst Center stage for their graduation May 22 are Weber School Class of 2016 members (from left) Zoe Aaron (University of Michigan), Cassidy Aronin (her initials), Jessica Bachner (University of Pennsylvania) and Brooke Berman (Tulane University). Full coverage, Page 21
Survey Will Say, ‘I Am Jewish Atlanta’
T
he Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is undertaking a survey to learn not only how many people are in Jewish Atlanta, but what they want and need from communal organizations. The results will update the 2006 community study, which put the area’s Jewish population at 120,000, but with a focus on quality more than quantity. “It’s all about finding ways to really service the community,” said Matt Bronf man, who co-chaired Federation’s com munity study committee. So instead of finding the Jews, mar
ket research firm Melior Group is bring ing Jewish Atlantans to the survey. From June 6 to 30, anyone 15 or older in metro Atlanta who identifies as Jewish or lives in a Jewish household is invited to take the survey at www.IamJewishATL. com. The full survey will take about 20 minutes, although shorter versions will be served to younger participants and to mobile devices. (Text JEWISHATL to 41411 to get the survey sent to your phone.) The goal is to get at least 2,500 re spondents, said Renee Kutner, Federa tion’s vice president of marketing. Using
60,000 “#IamJewishATL” postcards, syn agogues, schools and other communal organizations are promoting the survey because, Kutner said, “we’re not the ones who primarily will benefit from this.” In addition to getting their voices heard, survey takers will be entered in a drawing for $500 and $250 gift cards. Melior has spent months research ing the market and will supplement the online survey with 250 phone interviews. By September, Melior should report its findings to Federation, including a solid estimate of Jewish Atlanta’s size. ■