A change is gonna come
Feb. 26 (9 Adar 5786)
😥 It’s been a long week.
💔 After blowback sparked by the Consulate General of Israel withdrawing its support of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival when the festival refused to remove a juror, we have felt like a community divided.
‼️ Social media commentary started over the weekend regarding the situation and it has not subsided. There have been calls for refunds and a boycott of the AJFF on one side of the issue, which is in direct conflict with patrons who are packing theaters showing their continuted support. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old juror has been doxxed in several online forums.
🤔 My take is that you can’t have art without controversy, and you can’t have community without opinions.
⬇️ Below, you’ll see Rough Draft’s reporting on the developments and an opinion piece by Staci Brill, a native Atlanta Jewish community member and philanthropic consultant.
📰 Keep reading for Purim listings and more.
Y’alla,
Logan
Israeli Consulate pulls funding for Atlanta Jewish Film Festival over juror’s social media posts
⌨️ On Monday, Rough Draft Associate Editor Sammie Purcell broke the story.
The Consulate General of Israel to the Southeastern US announced
that it will end its partnership and financial support of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival over a juror’s views on the state of Israel and the war in Gaza that were posted to social media.
❗The AJFF first stuck to their decision, then apologized: “We regret and share in the depth of concern expressed by members of our community and the distress it has caused,” their statement said.
Since then, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta commended the festival for its apology, but said that its current and future financial support of the festival would be “contingent” upon a list of conditions. American Jewish Committee, the original festival supporter, said they’ll continue the dialogue. Staci Brill’s opinion piece
says “self-righteous outrage — even when well-intended — is not productive, and it’s not the Jewish way.” Lots of voices have entered the chat.
💭 We would love to hear your thoughts.
Explore Israel Together
SPONSORED BY JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA
✈️ Experience the spirit of Israel on this unforgettable journey with your Atlanta community! From the vibrant streets of Tel Aviv to the breathtaking views of the Negev, this immersive tour will go far beyond the usual sights.
You’ll get a personal look at the resilience, unity, and rebuilding of communities across Northern and Southern Israel following October 7. Meet the people whose strength and spirit continue to shape the nation’s future. Don’t miss your opportunity to deepen your connection to Israel’s people, culture, and story.
➞ Register at jnf.org/atlcommunity.
A Jewish look at hunger
🥫 Examining food insecurity through a Jewish lens is the focus of a panel of community leaders, advocates, and healthcare leaders on Thursday, March 5, at 8:30 a.m. at Congregation Ohr HaTorah in Toco Hills.
Community Council, a quarterly meeting of Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta (JCRC), will focus on understanding the scope and impact of hunger and how the Jewish community can help.
Community Council serves as a common table for the Atlanta Jewish community, convening individuals and organizations to discuss critical public policy issues and advocate for solutions grounded in Jewish values.
👋🏼 The meeting is open to the community. Registration is required.
RELATED
Add to your calendar: JCRC is participating in the Hunger Walk/Run 2026 on Sunday, March 15, and the Atlanta Interfaith Hunger Seder on Sunday, March 29.
Purim knows how to party
Sunday, March 1
⇢ Join 3GATL and JF&CS Holocaust Survivor Services for an intergenerational Purim party with an illusionist, activities, and lunch. All ages welcome.
⇢ Or Hadash hosts a Purim carnival and puppet show from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Costumes encouraged. Get tickets.
⇢ Join a family-friendly Hamantaschen Bake and Take in Grant Park from 1:30-3 p.m. with PJ Library. First-time bakers and pros are welcome to celebrate this beloved tradition.
⇢ It’s a day of Purim at Shearith Israel with carnival games, food, hamantaschen, PJ Library, and more.
Monday, March 2
⇢ Congregation Etz Chaim is off to see the wizard with “Purim in Oz” including dinner, Megillah reading, and a costume contest starting at 5:45 p.m. RSVP today.
⇢ Good vibes are guaranteed at Congregation Or VeShalom’s Purim celebration. Enjoy a relaxed setting, Megillah reading, and more.
⇢ Be in the room where it happens with a Hamilton-themed Megillah reading and Purim spiel at Or Hadash.
⇢ The Temple will survive a disco Purim (adults only) spiel and dinner from 6-8 p.m. Costumes encouraged.
Tuesday, March 3
⇢ Mitzvah House is ready to party 1980s style. RSVP for free bowling, laser tag and arcade games at 5 p.m. at Big Play ATL.
Sunday, March 8
⇢ It will be a “Wicked” good time at Etz Chaim’s Purim carnival from 12-2 p.m. Food, games, raffle prizes, inflatables, and more. Get tickets.
Saturday, March 21
⇢ SOJOURN’s annual Purim off Ponce party is going Back to the Future at The Supermarket in Poncey Highland. Get tickets.
Muslim and Sephardic Jewish college students connect over shared heritage
🥖 Joseph Pool, a senior at Rollins College in Florida, grew up hearing his Moroccan-born grandparents describe Mimouna, a traditional Moroccan Jewish celebration marking the return to eating chametz after Passover. Because Jewish families had cleared their homes of chametz for the holiday, Muslim neighbors would bring over fresh flour, butter, and milk, and together they would enjoy a chametz-filled meal.
Amid rising campus tensions after Oct. 7, Pool decided to host a Mimouna event of his own at Rollins College, and Muslim students showed up in droves.
At a moment when Jewish-Muslim tensions have intensified on campuses nationwide, some Sephardic and Muslim students say shared cultural heritage, rather than formal interfaith programming, is opening unexpected space for connection.
➡ Read the full story on the Forward.
✡️ Is your child ready for overnight camp? A Day at CJ is one unforgettable day of Israeli dance, archery, the ropes course and more, all FREE at Camp Judea on June 21 or July 19 for rising 1st to 4th graders. SPONSOR MESSAGE
What’s doin’ around town
SPONSORED BY CONGREGATION OR HADASH
🗒️ March 1: Gil Hoffman of Honest Reporting speaks at Etz Chaim.
🎗️ March 8: Survivor George Rishfeld hosts 3GATL in his home. RSVP required.
📅 March 8: Jewish Women’s Fund Impacts! event.
🍽️ March 18: The Community Women’s Seder. Register by March 9.
✡️ The next Jewish holiday is Purim on March 2.
🕯️ Light Shabbat candles this week at 6:14 p.m.
✨ Not your Hebrew school Purim. Join Or Hadash March 1 at 10 a.m. for our family Carnival and Puppet Show, then March 2 at 6 p.m. for a Hamilton-inspired Megillah reading and shpiel. Costumes welcome. Hamantaschen plentiful. Come for the fun!
Before you go
Catch these Jewish authors in the Atlanta area.
📚 Dr. Mimi Zieman, winner of 2025 Georgia Author of the Year for Memoir, will be at the Decatur Library on Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. Her book Tap Dancing on Everest recounts her wild adventure on Mt. Everest.
📚 New Yorker writer Nicholas Lemann will be at AA Synagogue on Tuesday, March 17 at 7 p.m. to talk about his book, Returning, tracing his family’s history in New Orleans and the complexities of Southern Jewry.
📚 The baseball expert known as PitchingNinja, Rob Friedman will speak at Manuel’s Tavern on Tuesday, March 24 at 7 p.m. with his new book, Unhittable.
📚 Congrats to Emory professor Miriam Udel, winner of the National Jewish Book Award for Modern Jewish Worldmaking Through Yiddish Children’s Literature. Listen to Udel on the podcast “Ye Gods with Scott Carter.”