😟 Menacing visits

Kosher in Summerhill

Aug. 7 (13 Av 5785)

😞 This week, comedian Michael Rapaport’s show was canceled at the  Comedy Club Stardome in Birmingham, Ala. The club’s owner claimed he “received a flood of messages and emails over the past few days, urging organizers to cancel a performance by the actor and comedian” due to Rapaport’s views on the Israel Gaza war.

⚖️ Closer to home, Fairburn resident Christopher Robertson, 42, appeared before US Magistrate Judge Catherine M. Salinas on federal charges after he posted to Facebook multiple videos of himself making racial threats to kill Jews and Blacks. Robertson, who also goes by the name James Lomak, was arrested on Aug. 1 after a lengthy stand-off with the FBI. He allegedly made “menacing visits” to several Jewish buildings across metro Atlanta, U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg said.

That’s all for the bad news. Below we have lots of meaningful, fun events planned as we wait out the last days of summer.

Thanks for reading, and Y’alla, 

Logan

🫶 Fear and stigma around mental health and addiction persist—but change is happening. See how one community is breaking the silence. Southern Live Oak Wellness is working to educate and provide resources. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE

AJC urges reports of hate crimes

‼️ American Jewish Committee Atlanta said today it is deeply concerned that Sandy Springs and South Fulton are among U.S. cities with a population of 100,000 or more that reported zero or did not report hate crimes to the federal government.

The FBI Reported Crimes in the Nation 2024 – Hate Crime Statistics report, released on August 5, found that religiously motivated hate-crime incidents have increased year-over-year, with incidents targeting Jews rising at a faster pace than the national average.

“It’s vitally important that we get an accurate snapshot of hate crimes tied to a person’s religion,” said AJC Atlanta Director Dov Wilker. “The more data law enforcement has on these types of crimes, the better it can marshal the resources to protect vulnerable populations. We hope these cities will recognize that.”

The FBI report shows religiously motivated incidents increased 3.1% from 2023 to 2024, with anti-Jewish incidents up from 1,832 in 2023 to 1,938 in 2024, the highest number of recorded anti-Jewish hate crimes since the FBI began reporting this information. Jews make up just 2% of the U.S. population yet were the victims of nearly 70% of religiously motivated hate crimes and more than 16% of all hate crimes reported in 2024.

However, the actual number is likely greater – as hate crimes are nont widely reported and underreported nationwide, as is the case with South Fulton and Sandy Springs, two of at least 64 cities with populations more than 100,000 that did not report or reported no hate crimes to the FBI.

✅ AJC has released a guide with information for law enforcement, the Jewish community, and witnesses of antisemitism to help close the gaps in reporting.

A Shell of a Good Time: Open now!

SPONSORED BY THE FERNBANK MUSEUM

🐢 This summer, discover the fascinating world of Turtles at the Fernbank Museum! This new exhibit focuses on the lives and behaviors of these beloved reptiles.

Guests can get up close to live turtles through hands-on activities and daily live animal presentations. Visitors will learn about their natural history and survival challenges, their vital role across ecosystems around the globe, and conservation efforts humans are taking to protect these animals.

➞ Learn more about the exhibit and special after-hours events here!

Repro rights

✊🏼 The Red Tent Fund is partnering with local Jewish organizations to continue the conversation about reproductive healthcare on Tuesday, Aug. 26 in Chamblee. “Sacred Choices: A Jewish Call for Reproductive Justice” begins at 7 p.m. at the Distillery of Modern Art.

Panelists include Rabbi Lydia Medwin of The Temple, Georgia State Rep. Esther Panitch, Dr. Mimi Zieman, and Red Tent Fund Founder Alison Tombros Korman. Samara Minkin, executive director of The Spring, will moderate the panel.

☑️ The event is currently on a waiting list, but Rough Draft will be at the event to bring readers first-hand coverage.

MJCCA fall events

The MJCCA has announced its fall arts and authors lineup for all ages.

🤣 Aug. 17: Acclaimed comedian Ophira Eisenberg and former “Ask Me Another” host delivers sharp wit and personal storytelling for an unfiltered night of laughs.

🎂 Sept. 14: “The Birthday of the World” is a sensory-friendly, immersive theater experience for children ages 0–5, in partnership with the Alliance Theatre.

🎺 Sept. 14: Don’t miss “The Men of Motown,” a musical tribute celebrating icons Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and The Four Tops.

🤯 Oct. 25: Magician and mentalist Joshua Jay has performed on “The Tonight Show” and “Game of Thrones,” so catch his jaw dropping performance in Atlanta. (pictured)

Jewish food news

Don’t miss these culinary events in September.

Jews + Food
🌱 On Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m., join Adamah ATL to explore how Jewish values inform our relationships with food, health, and the land. Rabbi Jonathan Crane, registered dietitian Julie Taube, and  Daron “Farmer D” Joffe will share how their work reflects ancient wisdom and modern responsibility. Moderated by Adamah CEO Jakir Manela, the conversation will highlight the ethical, spiritual, and environmental dimensions of growing, harvesting, and consuming food. Get tickets.

“KosherSoul” in Summerhill
🥘 On Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m, food historian Michael Twitty will weave history, culture, family, and tradition into every dish. Twitty will discuss his book “KosherSoul,” which draws on his Jewish and African American heritage. James Beard Award finalists Todd Ginsberg and Duane Nutter will collaborate with Twitty at Woods Chapel BBQ in Summerhill – a neighborhood rich in Jewish and Black history (pictured). Learn more here.

RELATED
🍗 Ma’alot is hosting a backyard BBQ in Decatur on Friday, Aug. 8. 

A hero’s journey

🎻 Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann opens her fourth season with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during the weekend of Oct. 3-5.

Stutzmann will conduct Copland’s iconic “Fanfare for the Common Man” – a recognizable piece often featured in cinema, sporting events, and memorials.

Cellist Alisa Weilerstein joins the orchestra for Elgar’s elegiac Cello Concerto. Weilerstein has performed with the world’s top orchestras for decades. The concert finishes strong with Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben,” a layered piece that captures both the grandeur and complexity of a hero’s journey.

🪉 Performances are Friday, Oct. 3 Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. Get tickets here.

Orthodox rabbinical school ordains an out gay rabbi

🏳️‍🌈 The leading liberal Orthodox rabbinical school quietly ordained an out gay rabbi this summer, marking a first for an Orthodox Jewish institution in the U.S.

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah, an all-male seminary in Riverdale, New York, ordained Rabbi Tadhg Cleary in a June 12 ceremony alongside three other graduates.

Cleary’s ordination, or semicha, came six years after YCT’s controversial refusal to ordain a different gay student whose public wedding engagement went viral. The same rosh yeshiva (head of school) who made that decision, Rabbi Dov Linzer, gave final approval to Cleary’s admission into the program and conferred his ordination, the significance of which has not been previously reported.

➡ Read the full story on the Forward.

Look & Listen

🍿 See Joel Silverman’s film “Ponce de Leon Time Machine” on the Beltline Aug. 15-16.

🧑🏽‍💻 Center for Israel Education has revamped its website with user-friendly categories for learning.

✈️ Alex Edelman’s quirky comedy takes flight as “Just For Us” is streaming on Delta this month.

😋 These Galilee Culinary Institute recipes look divine. 

🫶 Fear and stigma around mental health and addiction persist—but change is happening. See how one community is breaking the silence. Southern Live Oak Wellness is working to educate and provide resources. Learn more here. SPONSOR MESSAGE

🎼 Aug. 8:  Musical Kabbalat Shabbat in Sandy Springs.

🦺 Aug. 10: Safety for college students with CIE.

🀄️ ​​Aug. 11: Mah Jongg Monday.

📍Aug. 13: JTeen event for parents in Sandy Springs.

🧘🏼‍♀️ Aug. 14: Drop-in Jewish meditation with Rabbi Lauren.

🧑‍🧑‍🧒  Aug. 17: JF&CS family volunteer day. 

✡️ The next Jewish holiday is Tu B’av on Aug. 8

🕯️ Light Shabbat candles this week at 8:13 p.m.

🌧️ 🚌 First week of school? We’ve got you. Join Or Hadash August 8 for musical Kabbalat Shabbat, comfort food, and good company. 🍽️ No cooking, no stress—just Shabbat joy and community. Babysitting included. RSVP today—don’t miss out!

Bring them home

🎗️ In a video issued by Hamas, Israeli hostage Evyatar David is emaciated, weak, and pale as he digs what appears to be his own grave.

The 24 year old’s family has been screaming for help since he was captured on Oct. 7, 2023 – including a visit to the U.S. and Georgia state capitol.