VOL. XCII NO. 46 WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
NOVEMBER 24, 2017 | 6 KISLEV 5778
Biggest Book Fest Event Canceled The national wave of sexual misconduct and harassment accusations cost the Marcus JCC its biggest Book Festival event ever when a Los Angeles radio host accused Sen. Al Franken of improprieties during a USO tour in 2006. Franken, a Minnesota Democrat, was a radio talk-show host and comic two years from his first political campaign when he forcibly kissed and groped Leeann Tweeden, she said Thursday, Nov. 16. She released a photo that appears to show Franken fondling her in her sleep. Franken acknowledged improper actions and apologized to Tweeden. Within hours of the news breaking, he canceled his appearance at the JCC for the Book Festival’s closing night Monday, Nov. 20. That talk, in support of Franken’s “Giant of the Senate,” sold out more than a month in advance. Over 1,400 people were expected to attend, making it the Book Festival’s biggest event. The JCC has not said how or whether ticketholders will be compensated. On the day Franken had been scheduled to appear at the JCC, a second woman, Lindsay Menz of Texas, accused him of grabbing her buttocks at the Minnesota State Fair in 2010. ■
Judy Marx, the ICI executive director, welcomes attendees to the luncheon.
Photos by David R. Cohen
Temple Sinai Senior Rabbi Ron Segal joins the Rev. Gerald Durley (left) and Imam Plemon El-Amin (right) for closing prayers at the Interfaith Community Initiatives luncheon Nov. 15.
William Nordmark (left) talks about what led him to start the Atlanta Friendship Initiative with fellow businessman John Grant.
Uncommon Friends, Common Ground By David R. Cohen david@atljewishtimes.com Businessman William Nordmark was upset last year about nationwide tensions between police and AfricanAmericans. “There were police officers who were called into parking lots and gunned down,” he told the more than 300 attendees at the second annual Interfaith Community Initiatives Friendship Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 15. “There were unarmed African-Americans being shot and killed while running away.” He came up with the idea of getting people of different colors together to have “deep, intentional friendships.” Nordmark’s first such friendship
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was with John Grant, the executive director of the ESPN Celebration Bowl. The two men have grown Nordmark’s idea into the Atlanta Friendship Initiative, a project that facilitates friendships between people of different backgrounds. Since the initiative officially launched in October 2016, Nordmark and Grant have connected 138 pairings. Each pair agrees to meet once per quarter for breakfast, lunch or dinner and once per year with their families. “We are all from the same Creator,” Grant told the crowd. “If any one of you was cut, would you bleed any color but red? We are all the same under our skin. Change does not happen by a desire to understand others; it is a reflection of
INSIDE Candle Lighting �������������������������� 4 Synagogues �����������������������������������5 Israel News �����������������������������������6 Opinion ���������������������������������������10 Food �������������������������������������������� 20 Obituaries ���������������������������������� 26 Marketplace ������������������������������ 28 Education ����������������������������������� 29 Crossword ���������������������������������� 30
your understanding of you.” Nordmark said he and Grant have spoken to leaders as far away as South Africa interested in participating in the project. The ICI luncheon at the Carlos Center Ballroom on the campus of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation included many representatives from the Atlanta Jewish community, such as Rabbi Ari Kaiman of Congregation Shearith Israel, Rabbi Ron Segal of Temple Sinai, Rabbi Ellen Nemhauser from the Center for Israel Education, American Jewish Committee Atlanta Regional Director Dov Wilker and ICI Executive Director Judy Marx. The event exceeded its $50,000 fund raising goal. ■
GA. BDS DISPUTE
The two leading Democratic candidates for governor, Stacey Abrams and Stacey Evans, split on anti-BDS legislation the state enacted in 2016. Now Abrams is being forced to defend her “no” vote. Pages 12-14