Letter to the Editor: Emanuel Fialkow

Letter to the Editor,

Lessons Learned: Why the Sandy Springs Jewish Community Must Stand United
Last week, Sandy Springs voters experienced the most hotly contested mayoral election in its 20-year history. Among the four candidates, two were Jewish; both members of the same synagogue. The incumbent, Mayor Rusty Paul, is a lifelong friend and has demonstrated his unwavering allyship with the Jewish community through rallies, vigils, simchas, personal relationships, and every moment that has mattered in metro Atlanta Jewish life.

Yet, after all of the ballots were counted, neither of the two Jewish candidates advanced to the December 2 runoff.

This outcome should give us pause. Not because of who won or lost, but because of what it reveals. In an era when true allies of Israel and the Jewish people are increasingly rare in politics, Mayor Rusty Paul has been one of the few who have never wavered. Time and again, he has shown up for us; not for applause, not for votes, and not for publicity, but because he believes in who we are and our right to think and worship as a Jewish people.

The two Jewish candidates who ran are also respectful public servants, each with a record of dedication to the City Council of Sandy Springs. One for 12 years and the other for 8, while also quietly devoting years to Jewish Family & Career Services, founding and sustaining a program that has lifted countless lives. Her humility and compassion embody tikkun olam.

But as proud as we are of their service, this election carries an important lesson. We must think carefully before challenging those rare leaders, non-Jewish allies, who have stood shoulder to shoulder with our community in times of celebration and more recently, in times of fear. Leaders like Mayor Paul are not just political figures; they are bridges of understanding in a world that too often misunderstands us.

We must ask ourselves: when we divide our own support and weaken those who have fought for us, who truly benefits?

Former Israeli Consul General to the Southeastern United States, Anat Sultan-Dadon, offered a powerful reminder of what true partnership looks like. When Georgia Representative Shaw Blackmon asked her, “What can we do as legislators to help fight antisemitism?” she answered without hesitation: “We need non-Jews like you to speak up for us.” Standing beside him, State Senator John F. Kennedy of Macon said, “I can do that.” Blackmon added, “Me, too.”

That simple exchange sparked action. Senator Kennedy went on to lead the charge for House Bill 30, adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in Georgia; a bill that he shepherded to be passed unanimously in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

And who was there that day, standing in quiet solidarity? Mayor Rusty Paul. He didn’t have to be. But he was, because that’s who he is.

Our community cannot afford to overlook or oppose such allies. When non-Jewish leaders stand with us, we must stand with them. When they raise their voices against antisemitism, we must raise ours in support.

This election should remind us that unity is not just about standing together as Jews; it’s about standing together with those who defend us, even when it’s not popular or politically convenient.

Let us take this lesson to heart. Let us remember that our true strength lies not only in our shared history, but in the friendships we nurture and protect. Because in these times, when antisemitism is again on the rise, our survival and moral integrity depend on supporting the non-Jewish leaders that have supported us.

Emanuel Fialkow, member of the Georgia Commission on the Holocaust, Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, and Chair of the Sandy Springs Police Foundation