MORE SWASTIKAS
CITY HONORS
2ND SWING
Vandals manage to strike inside the AEPi fraternity house at Vanderbilt University. Page 7
Holocaust survivor Henry Friedman is honored with a proclamation at Atlanta City Hall. Page 6
George Fox and the Marcus JCC step up to the plate for another round of “Glory Days.” Page 35
Atlanta VOL. XC NO. 10
MARCH 20, 2015 | 29 ADAR 5775
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
Barr Gives Up Reins At JIFLA
Bibi Leads; Israel Waits
I
sraelis went to the polls March 17 to elect the 20th Knesset, but their votes only began the process of selecting the next prime minister. Exit polls from Channels 1 and 10 suggested that incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and the Zionist Union each will have 27 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, while Channel 2 gave Likud a one-seat edge with 28. Final election results were expected March 19, long after we went to press. Voter turnout was 71.8 percent, up from 66.6 percent in the last elections in 2013 and the highest total since 1999. Now President Reuven Rivlin will pick the party leader he thinks has the best chance to form a majority coalition. The task is complicated by the strength of the new Joint Arab List, which the BBC suggests will finish third with 13 seats. “We will block Netanyahu from forming the government,” list leader Ayman Odeh told a rally Tuesday night. Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid appears to have won 12 seats to finish fourth. Israeli commentators said Netanyahu has the best chance at a coalition, but Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog is working on an anti-Likud coalition. He and Hatnua’s Tzipi Livni joined to from the Zionist Union to unseat Netanyahu. ■
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PARTY TIME Share the celebrations with our Spring Simchas section. Pages 20-33
ATLANTA’S ROCKIN’ BEAUTIFUL MUSIC
Before heading to this weekend’s Atlanta Jewish Music Festival events, check out some early scenes from Steve’s Live Music. Page 19
Congregation Bet Haverim has a new home, but it’s maintaining the tradition of raising money by showcasing congregants’ musical talents. Page 36
Calendar
INSIDE
2 Education
18
Candle Lighting
3 Simchas
20
Local News
4 Arts
34
Israel
9 Obituaries
36
Opinion
10 Crossword
38
Business
17 Marketplace
39
he only president in the six-year history of Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta is stepping aside. Morton Barr, who founded JIFLA (jifla.org) Laura Kahn Travis in 2009 and has served as president and board chairman since, has shifted to chairman emeritus of the board, the nonprofit organization announced March 16. Replacing Barr is Laura Kahn Travis, who has been a JIFLA volunteer since its start. She has served on the board and loan committee. Kahn, who is immediately moving into her new role, is a senior vice president in the Commercial Banking Group of Bank of America. She aims to ensure that all Atlanta-area Jews are aware of the resources offered by JIFLA. “We’re very excited about the transition,” Director Karolyn Benger said. Since opening its loan office in 2010, JIFLA has given out $201,635 in interestfree loans to Atlanta-area Jews in financial need. “I am most privileged and honored to have spent the past six years developing and growing this enormously worthwhile organization,” Barr said. He has spent increasing time away from Atlanta as he and wife Edith, JIFLA’s community relations chairwoman, have worked on the aliyah process. “This is the right time for the organization to transition its leadership,” he said. “Our director, Mrs. Benger, and the board are positioned for continued success.” ■