jewishatl, Author at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Zalik Foundation Renews Its Commitment To Gap Year Experiences In Israel

This article was originally published in Fed5. Read the original article here.

If you have a high school senior thinking about a gap year in Israel, JumpSpark has wonderful news! The Zalik Foundation has renewed support for a second year of the Atlanta Israel Gap Year Scholarship pilot. For a second year in a row, select high school students will be generously awarded $10,000 towards a gap year program in Israel for fall 2022. JumpSpark will continue to manage this program which provides generous scholarships for a limited number of pre-approved, eligible Gap Year programs. (Learn more about eligible Gap Year options here).

Right now, 25 lucky students from Atlanta are having Gap Year experiences in Israel. They are exploring the desert, volunteering on kibbutzim, visiting high-tech startups, engaging in meaningful social action, and connecting with Israeli history. One of them is Ariel Goldt, a graduate of Walton HS, who chose the Nativ program for her gap year in Israel. She posts weekly on her adventures. Read some of her excerpts below.

Week 10: Last Shabbat on the Moshav (cooperative community) was such an amazing experience. I played Settlers of Catan entirely in Hebrew with 10-year-olds who didn’t know English while I didn’t know any Hebrew. Somehow, they won but I think something must have gotten lost in translation … or maybe the 10-year-old actually did beat me, but I guess we’ll never know! The family we stayed with did not speak English except for the grandma. The grandma’s daughter, her husband, and seven kids were also staying at her house this weekend. Oh, and a few other of her daughters were there so it was a busy house, but I loved it. Something exciting is always happening and I got to play with the baby all weekend! On Saturday we walked around and got a tour of the Moshav. It was beautiful.

Week 8: On Wednesday we went to a MASA event in Tel Aviv. It was SO much fun! The venue was so cute and Hativah 6 performed for us! We have been listening to their music a lot here, so it was so much fun to see them live! All of the gap year programs that are funded through MASA were there and it was nice to see all of our friends that are in Israel. That night we had a girls’ night in! We set up the laptop and watched Pitch Perfect, the first one obviously, because it’s the best. On Thursday we did some exploring around Jerusalem and found this pretty park! We walked around the park then grabbed lunch at the cutest cafe! That night our camp friend Jonathan was getting sworn into the IDF (Israel Defense Forces), so we went to his ceremony at the Kotel! I loved getting to see him and it was so special we got to be there for him!

Week: 7: This week we started our first official classes at Hebrew University! Now we have classes with other people in the international school. I have never been in one classroom with so many different denominations. Everyone I talked to was from a different country and it’s amazing hearing everyone’s unique perspective on the things we are learning in class! I am excited for the rest of the semester! The other night we last minute decided to go to a Hapoel basketball game! We lost at the buzzer, but it was still a really fun game!

jewishatl In Young Leadership Division

Zalik Foundation Renews its Commitment to Gap Year Experiences in Israel

jewishatl In JumpSpark

My First Month In Yokneam

Shalom! My name is Zoe, I’m 18 years old, and I’m from Atlanta, Georgia. I currently live in Yokneam Illit in a communal apartment with six other people and am a Shinshinit, which means I’m participating in a “year of service”. In the mornings, I work in a high school and help students with English and in the afternoons, I help out in a community center. As a shinshinit, I get the amazing opportunity to live and connect with Israelis and create a positive impact in my community.

I’ve had several “wow moments,” but I think one of my favorites was on our first “komuna Shabbat,” which is when once a month, we all stay in the apartment and spend a Shabbat together. On Friday morning, we made a group trip to the mall, and while we were there, we found a puzzle shop. Now I’m sure you can only imagine how difficult it is for seven people to choose a puzzle. Everyone wanted a different puzzle, and we all disagreed on how much was reasonable to spend on a puzzle. But after a little time, we were able to discuss and compromise, and find two puzzles that we all were happy with. Then we went home, cooked and ate a beautiful Shabbat dinner, and had a very intense, very exciting puzzle competition (not to brag or anything, but my team won). Just the thought that we could all compromise and work together to find a solution really blew my mind. The situation could have turned ugly, but instead I think it strengthened our connection as a team. I’m really happy to be here in Yokneam, and I can’t wait to continue to grow and learn and experience more “wow moments.”

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

Your Support Saved Lives in Haiti

On August 14th, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake crippled southern Haiti, killing at least 2,200 people. Over 12,000 people were injured, and 130,000 homes were damaged or destroyed. Haiti was already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, unparalleled economic hardship, as well as social and political unrest in the wake of the assassination of its president weeks before. Haiti’s hospitals were quickly overwhelmed, and people were unable to get the medical care they desperately needed.

With support from Federations like ours, aid from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) came almost immediately. JDC provided life-saving care to people like Esther (an alias) in the small community of Rita. Esther’s house collapsed on her during the earthquake, breaking her pelvis. Eight days after the earthquake she had yet to be seen by a medical team; she was essentially stranded, unable to seek medical care. Thanks to your support for JDC, the medical team was able to provide assistance and arrange medical evacuation to get Esther the treatment she needed.

JDC and Haiti share a rich history, dating back to the late 1930’s and early 40’s when JDC helped Jewish refugees find haven from the Nazis in Haiti and neighboring countries. In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince, claiming over 200,000 lives. JDC quickly responded, partnering with local organizations to provide short-term food, water, and medical care, as well as long-term educational and livelihood resources.

After the 2021 earthquake, your contributions provided:

Lifesaving care and supplies quickly to the most affected people in the most remote locations; 2,500 pounds of essential supplies, such as bandages; gauze; and surgical gowns, masks, and gloves
Mobile clinics and medical supplies for the injured
Food to the hungry
Medical equipment to overwhelmed hospitals

The Federation system is skilled and experienced in disaster response. In the words of Djerhy Jn Baptiste, JDC’s consultant on the ground in Haiti: “From 2010 until now, I’ve seen firsthand that JDC is unlike any other humanitarian organization, mobilizing its local partners and listening to what they need. These local partnerships are crucial for a successful disaster response; these organizations are deeply rooted in the communities they support, with decades of outstanding impact.”

See JDC in action in this video.

jewishatl In Shinshinim Atlanta

Funukkah

Sunday, December 5 | 11 am-3 pm | The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta

Shinshinim are recent Israeli high school graduates taking a gap year in Atlanta before their military service. They live with host families and work with Jewish day schools and camps! Please join us for an inclusive Hanukkah party with our own Schoenbaum Shinshinim. There will be 8 game stations, Israeli music and dancing, and sufganiyot.

Enter in the drawing below and get the chance to win these prizes that our Shinshinim have put together:

Kerem – Sufganiyot making and decorating
Amit – Tea party and bracelet making
Shahaf – Family pictures with Shahaf
Nave – Basketball in your backyard
Noa – Making Challah and Shakshuka – a traditional Middle Eastern dish
Noga – Israeli Krembo – a traditional chocolate treat
Alma – Israeli storytime and puppet show
Ori – Israeli snack review
Beltline walking with Eric Robbins, CEO of Federation

Celebrate Hanukkah with our local Shinshinim and the JCC Camp! And visit our Shinshinim page to learn more about the 2021-2022 Schoenbaum Shinshinim.

Are you not able to attend the exclusive Hanukkah party with the Schoenbaum Shinshinim and want to participate in the drawing? Reserve your tickets below.

jewishatl In Shinshinim Atlanta

Shinshinim Professional Conference

Friday, December 3 | 9 am – 12 pm | congregation Or Hadash Address

Please join us for our annual Shinshinim Professional conference, an opportunity for relationship building with Shinshinim and supervisors, sharing of best practices, and updated information about the Schoenbaum Shinshinim Program.

jewishatl In Caring

$100 Off J-Screen’s New Genetic Cancer Screening Test

No one likes to think about cancer, and you hope it won’t happen to you. But the fact is, half of all men and one-third of all women will get cancer in their lifetime. The numbers are particularly staggering in the Jewish community. Ashkenazi Jewish men and women face a 10 times greater risk of carrying mutations in their BRCA genes. This increases their risk for breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers. The good news is that many of these cancers can be prevented if a person’s genetic risk is known.

JScreen, the national Atlanta-based genetic screening and education organization, has developed a new screening option called the CancerGEN test. This state-of-the-art test analyzes the BRCA genes along with over 60 other cancer-susceptibility genes to determine genetic risk for different types of cancer. This way, if testing shows a mutation in a cancer gene, action can be taken to help prevent cancer.

As always, JScreen’s ReproGEN test (for diseases like Tay-Sachs, cystic fibrosis and over 200 others) is available to those who are planning to start or expand their families. Both tests are done on saliva from the comfort of home, and telehealth genetic counseling is included.

Thanks to a Propel Grant from Jewish Federation Innovation and NextGen divisions, Atlanta residents can now get $100 off the already low JScreen program fee by entering the code ScreenATL at the JScreen.org checkout page. Go to JScreen.org to register for your test kit(s) or to order for loved ones.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

Get a “PhD in Parenting!”

JumpSpark’s popular “PhD in Parenting Tweens and Teens” program is back for a second year.The program helps parents of tweens (10-13) and teens (14-18+) manage the stressors and complexities their teens are facing amid a pandemic that has turned their world upside-down.

Erica Hruby facilitates the program. She’s well aware of the unique issues that have faced teens and tweens in a COVID environment — depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation from peers. Erica says, “Parenting tweens and teens isn’t intuitive. Many would call it an art. Parents find it difficult to be vulnerable or ask for help because they don’t want to feel that they’ve failed. In PhD in Parenting, the parents of tweens and teens share their challenges together. They begin to understand that teen issues require the same intensity of attention as the issues they focused on when their kids were infants and toddlers.”

Karen Bowen, the mother of a teen and a tween said, “My biggest insight and takeaway from the class is that we need to meet our kids where they are developmentally. I’m applying what I learned by taking a step back when I approach my children, to remember where they’re at emotionally before I engage.”

Shana Stukalsky, a parent of two teens, found the group setting extremely helpful. “It provided the opportunity to consider situations that I had not encountered, as well as approaches that worked or did not work. It’s always beneficial to hear other people’s perspectives, especially with regard to complex situations. Not only did the group leaders keep the learning relevant, but they also found ways to connect things back to individual situations.”

For more information about PhD in Parenting Tweens and Teens contact info@jumpsparkatl.org.

jewishatl In Philanthropy

Be More Philanthropic in 2022. Open a DAF in 2021!

You’ve probably heard the term donor-advised fund (DAF) in this newsletter, but do you really know what a DAF is, and how it can be a personal financial planning tool? A DAF is a charitable savings account that allows you to donate to charity. But it can also be a tax saving vehicle, especially if you open one with Atlanta Jewish Foundation before December 31, 2021.

Evi Reznick opened a DAF with Atlanta Jewish Foundation in 2013 and is a huge fan. “I love, love, love Atlanta Jewish Foundation and my donor-advised fund. It puts me in charge of all my charitable giving and makes record-keeping simple. A lot of my giving is local and Jewish. For small nonprofit agencies, it costs money to process an $18 check. With my DAF, the funds go directly to the organization, and I do not have to mail anything. Cindy Weik at the Foundation takes care of it. And the tax benefits can be substantial.”

Another great reason to open a DAF is because you can invest in your fund without needing to immediately designate charitable recipients. This allows you to receive a tax benefit the same year you fund your DAF. The money deposited in your DAF is invested and can grow tax-free until you provide instructions for where you want to make gifts to qualifying organizations.

No wonder donor-advised funds are one of the most popular investments offered by Atlanta Jewish Foundation! If you don’t already have a DAF, the extension of the CARES Act makes the end of 2021 an optimal time to establish one with Atlanta Jewish Foundation. Talk it over with your financial advisor or contact Cindy Weik, Philanthropic Services Senior Associate, to start a discussion.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring, Federation News

The Joy of Face-to-Face Conversations

It has been pure joy to attend the in-person outdoor events that are gradually returning to the Federation calendar. Two weekends ago an amazing crew of BBQ pit masters, competing as Team Feederation, joined 18 other teams at the Atlanta Kosher Barbecue Festival at Brook Run Park. Thousands attended the festival and Team Feederation took first place in the chicken category!

Last week I attended two more in-person events — the launch of the new J-CREN (Jewish Commercial Real Estate Network) initiative and the Women’s Philanthropy Fall event. At both, there was a palpable sense of reunion and optimism as people came together for the first time in more than 18 months.

Talking to donors — and to “not-yet” donors — about the work Federation does, and the ways the community benefits from our work, sparks great conversations. Once someone understands our story and respects the strategy we’ve been pushing forward, they are eager to help us care for, connect, and strengthen our Jewish community

At the same time, it is humbling to encounter folks who know little about the resources and opportunities their Campaign gift empowers.

I am hearing that people are hungry to travel to Israel again. We are still hopeful that a 2023 Community Journey to Israel will happen, and we will share details as soon as we can.

I am hearing that people love the microgrants we’re giving to individuals and community groups who want to build community. The small but mighty grants of up to $200 have empowered friends and neighbors to build sukkahs, join together for community service, feed the hungry, and turn their neighborhoods into vibrant Jewish places.

People appreciate the culture shift in the way Federation engages with the community. They value our collaboration with the synagogues, camps, human services, and partner organizations that make up our Jewish ecosystem. They appreciate the priorities and the leadership that emanates from 1440 Spring Street.

At this moment of reconnection, I’m reminded that today would have been the birthday of my beloved sister Judy who passed away unexpectedly in 1978. Judy is the reason I went to Camp Barney Medintz and ultimately moved to Atlanta. She is the person who still fires my love for our city and our Jewish community. With Judy’s memory in mind, I am gratified to report that the 2022 Community Campaign is ahead of pace, at more than 32% of goal.

As always, I love to engage in good conversation about our community. Whether face-to-face, or by email, let me hear from you!