jewishatl, Author at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

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Propel Grantee a Leader in the “Maker” Movement

More than a year ago, Federation Innovation sponsored a Propel Pitch funding competition for social entrepreneurs in Atlanta. The first-place winner was a team from Georgia Tech known as Tikkun Olam Makers, or TOM. The Jewish Abilities Alliance (JAA) works closely with TOM. In 2022, JAA provided an Inclusion Microgrant to fund ASL interpreting services at the Makeathon and provided guidance and training around planning an event that is accessible and welcoming to individuals with disabilities.

The TOM movement started in Israel with a mission to serve the most neglected members of society — the elderly, people with disabilities, and the poor. This global movement brings together people with disabilities (known as “Need Knowers”) and people with creative abilities (known as “Makers”). TOM’s mission is to develop open-source assistive technology to address the everyday challenges faced by people with disabilities. At Georgia Tech, there are currently 10 projects in development. Federation’s Propel Grant provided a new infusion of funding that will help TOM scale up its team at Tech and establish new teams on other Georgia campuses.

Teddy Lambert, who leads TOM at Georgia Tech shared news about the 2022 Makeathon. “We had 30 students across 5 Maker teams working on 3 different challenges. Teams 1 and 3 developed a shower support and alert system for a Need-Knower with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a condition that causes lightheadedness and fainting. They developed portable shower support handles that would provide extra grip if the Need-Knower became dizzy or lightheaded and alert a family member or partner to come to assist the Need-Knower. Team 2 was working on a visual phone notification system for a Need-Knower that is hard of hearing. They developed a lightbulb-sized LED notification device that could be placed around the house and connected to the Need-Knower’s phone. When the Need-Knower’s phone received a notification, the device would flash a certain color based on the alert type, allowing the Need-Knower to pinpoint when a call or text was received. Teams 4 and 5 created low footprint upright standers for a Need-Knower whose son has CP. The teams’ standers provided support for the child while allowing them freedom of motion in front and to the side, making it easier for the child to play with toys.

The Makeathon culminated in the virtual showcase. After an intense 48 hours of making, three judges and over 20 public spectators logged on to the virtual event to see all the work the Makers accomplished during the weekend. Team 1, which developed one of the shower support systems, was crowned the winner. Even after the Makeathon, the work continues. Multiple teams are now finalizing their designs, with hand-offs to the Need-Knowers expected by the end of the semester. The Makeathon was a huge success, and the rest of the TOM executive board and I can’t wait to start planning next year’s events!

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More Family Camp Weekends!

Earlier this month 27 families totaling nearly 100 people gathered for Family Camp: Passover Edition at Ramah Darom. Once again, Federation helped create and convene an immersive family camp weekend along with partners 18Doors, Be’Chol Lashon, PJ Library Atlanta, Ma’alot, and the Israeli American Council. Other family camp experiences have included PJ Library Atlanta’s Book it to Shabbat celebrating the love of Jewish books. In March, families gathered at camp for The Grand Getaway, bringing grandparents and grandkids together in partnership with Ramah Darom, the Jewish Grandparents Network, and PJ Our Way.

The Passover themed weekend targeted diverse families and was specifically geared for little ones, ages 0-5. Over the weekend families connected with one another in Hebrew, Russian, and Spanish. Bonds were forged over fireside chats, making charoset recipes from around the world, and dancing with handmade tambourines. Families who had previously felt marginalized due to their cultural identity, family structure, etc. shared that it was the first time they felt not only welcomed but embraced and celebrated by the Atlanta Jewish community.

Families said:

Our favorite part of the weekend was simply being immersed in Jewish culture with other Jewish families. All of the hosts and co-leaders were extremely welcoming, nice, and accommodating. It truly made us feel welcome, at home, and less-stressed in a new environment, when surrounded by so many new families.
We’ve always wanted to attend a weekend like this. We aren’t as involved in our Jewish community as we once were, and we’d love to be more involved again. After attending this weekend we know that there is a space for us in the community

Following the success of these weekends Federation is interested in expanding additional experiential offerings as well as a weeklong family camp. Interested? Let Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez, Director of Family Engagement & Education, know what kind of experience you’re looking for.

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Announcing our 2022 Community Award Winners

It is a special joy to announce the names of Federation’s 2022 Community Award Winners. They are passionate people who thrive on collaboration and volunteerism in service to Jewish Atlanta. We’ll honor these community builders, along with Carol Z. Cooper, Federation’s Lifetime of Achievement Award winner, on Wednesday, June 1 at Federation’s 116th Annual Meeting.

The Marilyn Shubin Professional Staff Development Award
Recognizes outstanding communal professionals

Caroline Goldberg | Educator, Cantorial Soloist; The Davis Academy
Caroline has served as a faculty member at The Davis Academy for nine years. As Grade Chair, she ensures that her colleagues are supported in planning, implementing lessons, and fulfilling their curricular and organizational goals. Caroline is truly an outstanding teacher, a leader among her peers, and a consummate team player.

Annie Garrett | Jewish Abilities Alliance Manager
Annie works tirelessly to make Jewish Atlanta more inclusive for everyone with disabilities. In addition to her role managing JAA, Annie also leads Federation’s legislative efforts. She led an 18-month long community-wide needs assessment on inclusion. Annie is a relentless advocate for those with disabilities and a master collaborator with staff and volunteers at a multitude of Jewish agencies who seek out her advice and guidance.

Tikkun Olam Community Impact Award
Celebrates a community member doing innovative work at a non-profit organization
outside of the Jewish community

Jenny Levison | The Zadie Project
Jenny Levison started The Zadie Project in honor of her father, with a mission to tackle food insecurity by helping feed and educate children, families, and seniors in Atlanta. For each bowl of “My Dad’s Turkey Chili” sold at her restaurant Souper Jenny, a donation is made to The Zadie project. Funds are used to make and package soups into quart containers to help those who need it most. The program provides soup for Title 1 schools, women’s shelters, senior citizens centers and homeless shelters. including the Zaban Paradies Shelter.

Mary and Max London People Power Award
Honoring outstanding initiatives

Jody Reichel | JF&CS Holiday Gift Program
Jody Reichel is a Sandy Springs City Councilwoman and a Real Estate Investor who has been an essential volunteer for J&CS’s holiday gift program. For more than 21 years, JF&CS’s holiday gift program has been providing a holiday experience for underprivileged families. The program makes it possible for JF&CS’s clients, of all faith and backgrounds, to create a special holiday for their family and kids. Personal gifts are given to each family based on their wish list.

Abe Schwartz Young Leadership Award
Recognizes an under 40 community member demonstrating great
community involvement and leadership potential

Bari Beilinson | Community Volunteer
Bari Beilinson is a resident in the Virginia Highland Moishe House and is a member of both the Next Gen Committee and the Jewish Journeys Allocation Committee Federation. As a resident at Moishe House, Bari and her fellow roommates create and execute six programs a month for the Jewish young adult community. This is on top of her full-time job.

Elizabeth (Liz) Rowland | Community Volunteer
Liz Rowland is an active member of the Jewish Community in Atlanta and beyond. She has been involved for several years with Jewish Women’s Connection (JWC) attending and running classes for members. She is an active volunteer with PJ Library and previously served on the board of Hillels of Georgia. Liz’s Jewish creativity sparked her to launch @Jewishlyliz on Instagram, which currently has 8,700 followers- local and beyond.

Gerald G. Cohen Community Development Award
Celebrates outstanding communal work by a non-native Atlantan

Yoni Kaiser-Blueth | Jewish Community Activist
Yoni Kaiser-Blueth manages the Jewish Portfolio at The Marcus Foundation, Inc. and has established himself as a community volunteer. Before joining The Marcus Foundation, he was Director of the Latin America Desk at Hillel International. Along with his professional involvement, Yoni is also active with his synagogue, Congregation B’nai Torah.

Sylvia Newman Memorial Teacher of the Year Awards

Erin Johnson teaches 2^nd-4^th grade in the Kesher program at Ahavath Achim synagogue. Throughout her 6 years on the synagogue faculty, she has gone above and beyond in the classroom, developing creative curricula that inspire further learning among her students. Through dynamic storytelling and hands-on project-based learning methods, Erin has engaged both children and parents, and she has served as a leader and role model for fellow teachers, as well.

Josiah Wolff is a 6th-grade teacher at Temple Beth Tikvah. In a short time as a new teacher, he has become adept at making learning come alive for his students in “out-of-the-box” ways. Having taken advantage of every opportunity for professional development throughout the year, including an intensive year-long cohort, Josiah is a true role model, not only through the kindness he shows to others, but also as a lifelong learner himself.

We will recognize and celebrate all recipients at our 2022 Annual Meeting, on June 1, 2022, at the Federation Building. Stay tuned for more information.

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Loving the Stranger. Paying Our Privilege Forward.

Nataliyah Fleshler and Masha Vaynman came to America with their families from Kyiv as young girls. They were part of the wave of Jews from the former Soviet Union who found refuge here in the late 1980’s and 90’s. In those years, Atlanta was a destination for Soviet Jews seeking a new life, and our community more than delivered.

Back then, Jewish Family & Career Services offered translation services to assist scores of refugees flocking to Atlanta. There was a Russian speaking social worker for the FSU (Former Soviet Union) Jewish community. Over time those services became less needed because Jewish refugees to Atlanta had become solid citizens, fluent in English, successful in their careers, yet still bringing their unique ethnic flavor to our city. Just like Nataliyah and Masha, who are both HR professionals and are raising families here.

Nataliyah and Masha are paying their privilege forward by organizing a massive volunteer program to send medical supplies to Ukrainian refugees. They are choosing to forget the bullying, the hatred, and the discrimination they experienced as Jewish children in Ukraine and are throwing themselves into Ukrainian relief work. To me there is something very Jewish about this.

Jews well understand the commandment to love the stranger and protect the vulnerable. Having been strangers in many hostile lands, having been isolated, persecuted, and exterminated because of our differences, we are uniquely attuned to the needs of immigrants and refugees. And baruch ha shem, we Jews have Israel — a Jewish homeland that has never stopped taking in huddled masses from North Africa, Ethiopia, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and the former Soviet republics.

So, this Passover, let us celebrate Nataliyah and Masha, who have not turned away from the land they fled. They help renew the Passover story for us this year and remind us that we can all be part of a modern-day Exodus for millions of Ukrainians seeking safety and freedom.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

Community Seder Recipes

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JF&CS Supports Ukrainian Holocaust Survivors in the Southeast

By Cherie Aviv, Founder Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF)

The news out of Ukraine is heartbreaking for all, but there is one group that has been deeply impacted: Holocaust survivors. Many of them once called Ukraine and Russia their homes. And though they left for a better life, it is still incredibly difficult to watch their former homeland be attacked. Many still have loved ones in Ukraine.

JF&CS provides supportive services, with Claims Conference funds from Germany for Holocaust survivors in Georgia, and 10 states in the Southeast region. The Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF), convened by Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, provides funds that meet the shortfall from Claims Conference funding, so survivors receive needed homecare, grocery food gift cards, home-delivered meals, prescription assistance, and more. Of the 229 Holocaust survivors who get support services, 93 are from Ukraine (62 live in Georgia and 31 live in other areas of the Southeast region). In addition, there are 40+ survivors from Russia.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has added to the already snowballing anxiety experienced by survivors over the last few years—increased significantly during the pandemic. They witnessed empty shelves at grocery stores, became socially isolated, saw people get sick, and knew people who died. Many experienced flashbacks to World War II.

Hence, stress level is high, and those who have family there are scared. Thankfully, JF&CS case managers are in regular contact with survivors and stepped up their outreach with survivors from Ukraine, Russia, and other parts of the Former Soviet Union to provide crucial support during this challenging time. They call survivors, listen to them, and attend to their emotional needs. And continue to provide them with much needed services to help with food insecurity, homecare, and more.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring, People in Need

Matching Fund to Feed Hungry Jews at Passover

With Passover ten days away, many community members will need extra funds to purchase Passover food items. Jan and Marsha Spector, longtime supporters of the Jewish community, have created a Feed the Hungry Challenge Match to feed hungry Jews at Passover. The Spectors will match dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000, for new and or increased contributions made to the Maos Chitim Fund by the end of Passover. Make your donation here.

“Food security is a basic human right,” said Jan Spector. “It saddens us to think there are Jews in Atlanta who are going hungry or who must choose between food or medicine or gas for their cars. At Purim, we learned of the halachic imperative of matanot l’evyonim — giving gifts to the poor to make sure no one is hungry. Let’s make the words of the haggadah come true, so that all who are hungry can come and eat.” To donate and learn more, please contact Arielle Orlansky.

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So Many Seders & Celebrations!

Now that people are returning to in-person Passover seders, we are delighted to share the many traditional and unique Passover celebrations happening around the Atlanta Jewish community. Many of them are supported by Federation’s Making Jewish Places initiative. Don’t forget to check the Atlanta Jewish Connector for updates on Passover.

National Council of Jewish Women: Women’s Seder | April 5 | 6:30-9 pm | Congregation Or Hadash | FREE | Reservations 404-843-9600
Pesach Boot Camp | April 6 | 7:30 pm | Chabad Intown | RSVP
Matzah, Magic & Cookies | April 10 | 12-2 pm | Ali’s Cookies Dunwoody | FREE | REGISTER
Mental Health Seder | April 10 | 4-5:30 pm | Gesher L’Torah | Age 16+ | RSVP
Community Passover Seder | April 15 | 7:30 pm | Chabad Intown | RSVP
First Night Seder | April 15 | 6:30 pm | Congregation Etz Chaim | RSVP
Public Passover Seder | April 15 | 7:30 pm | Chabad of Rural Georgia | RSVP
Second Night Plant-Based Seder | Jewish Climate Action Network & Federation | April 16 | Temple Beth Tikvah |RSVP
Rediscovering the Passover Seder Plate – Interactive Family Experience | Outdoors | April 17 | 12-1:30 pm | Congregation Kehillat Chaim | RSVP
Atlanta Interfaith Hunger Seder | April 20 | 6–9 pm | Temple Kol Emeth | REGISTER

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring

Nataliya and Masha: Helping Ukraine, the Country They Once Fled

Nataliya Fleshler and Masha Vaynman both came to America from Kyiv (the Russian name is Kiev) as young girls — part of the wave of Russian Jewish refugees who were resettled in America in the 1990’s.

Nataliya was 9-and-a-half when her family arrived in Atlanta. She went to Garden Hills Elementary School and studied Management and HR at Georgia State. Today she works in HR at VMware, a cloud computing company, and is the mother of two little girls. She was recently chosen to participate in Leadership Sandy Springs.

Masha’s family originally settled in St. Louis, and she later came to Atlanta. In college she studied art history, psychology, and business administration. “Eventually I became a corporate recruiter. After having my second daughter, I spent two wonderful years with PJ Library Atlanta as a Russian speaking connector. Now I do HR work full time for a local startup.”

Living safe, comfortable lives in Atlanta, both Masha and Nataliya are horrified by Russia’s brutal assault on Ukraine and the refugee crisis that has ensued. As Jewish women who also identify with the broader Russian speaking community in Atlanta, they admit it’s complicated. Masha is married to a Russian with lots of family members in Russia. “His peers and friends understand the truth about the war in Ukraine. But family not so much. It can be divisive, but I would say most of the local Russian community has stepped up to help Ukraine.”

The irony of prioritizing humanitarian support for the country they fled is not lost on Nataliya and Masha, but both women are committed to taking action in a big way.

“I mostly have sweet childhood memories of Kyiv,” Masha says, “but my family came to the United States as refugees because we were persecuted in Ukraine as Jews. Our papers and passports were stamped Jewish. Even though we were not religious, there were strange little signs. My grandparents spoke Yiddish. And once a year we had matzah, but it was kept hidden in a closet. It wasn’t until years later after attending Jewish day school in St. Louis, that I realized my father came from a religious family and knew all about Judaism. It just didn’t come up much at home.”

“Having a Jewish last name made us second-class citizens. I was picked on. Had we stayed there it would have been hard to get into college or have the career of my choice. We left Kyiv in the dark of night without telling our neighbors. But now the Ukrainians need us, and I am committed to helping. There is a lot of complexity about putting in so much effort to help the country we ran away from because we could not build a life there. For me it is a matter of humanity, and of not repeating history. We must be better, and it feels good to be able to help.”

For Nataliya, Ukraine relief has practically become a second career. She has launched a program to send medical supplies to Ukraine, in partnership with VMware and Leadership SS. “There are huge medical needs in Ukraine – drugs to perform surgeries, surgical supplies and daily medicines to treat refugees. This past month has made me self-reflect on the abundance in my life. I want to prioritize my energy and talents to help those in need. Normally we’d get our families together for Passover, but now my time is going to logistics work, getting supplies from Poland to Ukraine. My own family has understood that this is my way of coping, through giving.

Masha adds, “Today Jews in Ukraine are having a much better life, with more possibilities, and even a Jewish president! But there’s still racism and prejudice there for Jews and for people of color. With Passover coming it is impossible to not see this as a modern Exodus for Ukrainian Jews who now able to leave for Israel. It also makes me think about how Jews risked so much to celebrate Jewish holidays in the Nazi era. This will be a profound Passover for all of us.”

How You Can Help Send Medical Supplies to Ukraine:

For the month of April, Congregation Beth Shalom will be holding a Ukrainian Medical Supply Drive. In partnership with Project CURE and MedShare, these items will be delivered to hospitals in Ukraine. The drive will focus on medical supplies currently in shortage, as well as personal hygiene items. If you would like to contribute, please select the items created on our Amazon wish list to be sent directly to Beth Shalom. Please be sure to select Anna Shakhnovsky on the registry address so the items can be delivered directly to the synagogue.

Amazon Wish List

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Federation is for Good Times Too!

By Matt Bronfman, Federation Board Chair
We talk a lot about how Federation is built to carry us through difficult times. Whenever and wherever Jews are in crisis – from Covid relief in Atlanta to the Ukrainian refugee crisis – our generous donors make it possible for us to step in and make a difference. We stand with those facing emergency situations, and we also continue to build a strong foundation so that we will be here for you and your family if you need us.

But we also are built for z’manim tovim, good times. Just one year from now, in April 2023, I will be leaving for a Jewish Federation Community Journey to Israel that will showcase all that Israel has to offer. The trip will offer the opportunity to explore Israel through different “tracks,” that emphasize the unique dimensions of Israel. There will be specialized itineraries for first-time visitors, outdoor enthusiasts, technology and innovation, and even one for foodies. I really hope that you will join us as we deepen our bond with Israel and with each other. I promise, this is going to be a fantastic trip. Learn more here and if you have questions, please contact Marsha Hurwitz.