Rabbi Discusses Efforts to Exonerate Leo Frank

Atlanta Preservation Center hosts talk on overturning 1913 murder conviction

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:30pm

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The Atlanta Preservation Center is hosting an event where Rabbi Steven Lebow will discuss his work to bring light to the injustice of the 1913 murder conviction of Leo Frank and the importance of giving and welcoming others regardless of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or gender.

Why it matters

The case of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager who was wrongly convicted of murdering a young employee, is a tragic example of antisemitism and racial injustice in the American justice system. Rabbi Lebow's efforts to exonerate Frank and shed light on this historical wrong are an important part of acknowledging and addressing past inequities.

The details

In 1913, Leo Frank was convicted of murdering 13-year-old Mary Phagan, an employee at the Atlanta pencil factory he managed. Despite a lack of evidence, Frank was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life in prison. Many historians believe the conviction was driven by antisemitism and racial prejudices prevalent at the time. Rabbi Lebow has worked to bring attention to this case and advocate for Frank's exoneration.

  • The event takes place on Monday, March 16, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.

The players

Rabbi Steven Lebow

Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Kol Emeth in Marietta, Georgia, who has worked to bring attention to the wrongful conviction of Leo Frank and advocate for his exoneration.

Leo Frank

A Jewish factory manager who was wrongly convicted in 1913 of murdering a young employee, Mary Phagan, in a case widely believed to have been driven by antisemitism and racial prejudices.

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What they’re saying

“Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart.”

— Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Crime and Punishment)

“Rabbi Lebow will discuss the process of his work to bring light to injustice, and to welcome others - irrespective of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, and gender - and the importance of giving and what it can produce.”

— The Atlanta Preservation Center (Event description)

What’s next

The event is expected to provide further insight into Rabbi Lebow's efforts to exonerate Leo Frank and address historical injustices.

The takeaway

This event highlights the ongoing work to acknowledge and correct past wrongs, such as the wrongful conviction of Leo Frank, and the importance of using one's platform to advocate for justice and equality regardless of race, religion, or other factors.