jewishatl, Author at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

A Word from our New Director

JumpSpark is pleased to announce Nathan Brodsky will lead JumpSpark as our new Director.

As a kid growing up in Sarasota, Florida, I often looked at the copy of The Jewish Book of Why that was prominently displayed in the living room, and I learned at the young age about the importance of asking questions. Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso says, “At the heart of what it means to be a Jew is to ask questions.” I love connecting with new people by asking open ended questions to learn about their lives.

I am honored to start my new role as Director of JumpSpark, and I plan to often reference the Jewish value of asking questions. Through this, I plan to deepen my understanding of the Atlanta Jewish teen ecosystem, learn about how teens and their parents connect to Israel, and encourage creative problem solving. While we further and sustain JumpSpark’s impact, I look forward to the many questions time will bring and discovering the answers along the way.

Sincerely,

Nathan Brodsky
Director of JumpSpark

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Nathan Brodsky is thrilled to bring his passions for teen engagement and Israel experiences to JumpSpark as the new Director of JumpSpark. Nathan has worked as the Family Impact Manager at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta for the past six years where he grew the PJ Library initiative by instituting new initiatives like PJ microgrants and programming for the Russian-speaking Jewish community, doubling subscription numbers, and deepening opportunities for community partnership. Originally from Sarasota, Florida, he previously worked at the boarding high school American Hebrew Academy (AHA) in Greensboro, North Carolina and was on staff at Ramah Darom for six years. Nathan is currently pursuing his MBA from Kennesaw State University and has a BA in Anthropology and BS in Psychology and Jewish Studies from Tulane University. He looks forward to connecting with you about how JumpSpark can support your teen engagement initiatives.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring, Young Leadership Division

ATL’s Moishe House Without Walls

We’ve shared stories in Fed5 about Atlanta’s four Moishe Houses (MH) where young adults live together and create meaningful, welcoming Jewish communities for themselves and their peers. Atlanta currently has Moishe Houses in Toco Hills, Virginia Highland, Buckhead, and a house for Russian-speaking Jewish (RSJ) young adults in Brookhaven.

But Moishe House also impacts Atlanta through a growing network of Moishe House Without Walls (MHWOW) hosts. Here, individual hosts create Jewish experiences with support from the Moishe House organization. MHWOW hosts decide who they want to invite, where they want to host, what they want to explore in Judaism, and when they want to gather. Activities can range from Friday night Shabbat dinners, holidays, learning events, and cultural celebrations.

In addition to MHWOW hosts in Intown Atlanta and inside the perimeter, we also now have three new MHWOW hosts in Kennesaw, Smyrna, and Cumming, thanks to the support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Making Jewish Places (MJP) microgrants initiative.

Each host serves a different demographic and has a unique vision for their monthly MHWOW programming. programming. Additionally, an existing MHWOW host relocated from Los Angeles to Cumming in March 2021 and has been leading programming and building community.

One host wrote about the vibrant and inclusive community she aims to create with ongoing MH support: “I want to engage with Jewish young professionals who are looking for a relaxed community of their peers. I am targeting those who may not feel comfortable joining a larger organization but want to socialize with a smaller group of friendly faces. My programming ideas are centered around the Jewish holidays, especially the lesser-known ones like Tu B’Shevat (terrarium making!), Shavuot (ice cream sundae bar!), or Tu B’Av (Galentine’s games!). For the more well-known holidays, we’ll try Sushi in the Sukkah, an interactive Seder on Passover, hamantaschen baking on Purim, a latke exchange on Hannukah, and themed Shabbat dinners.

“My goal is to create a small but deeply connected group of open–minded friends, who enjoy fun activities and celebrate Jewish holidays in a way that is meaningful to us, and to give back to our larger community through volunteering time/money.”

In May, MHWOW host Zach Givarz took eight participants on a Shabbat weekend in the mountains. The group celebrated the beauty and love of Shabbat through food and celebrations.

A group of women gathered, led by MHWOW host Leah Berryhill, to celebrate Shavuot and the spring harvest with roses and rosé wine. The participants made flower arrangements and took time to enjoy and connect safely outside at a local community park.

MHWOW host Shira Colsky hosted an ice cream party with nine friends in honor of Shavuot. They discussed the history of this less-known Jewish holiday and enjoyed various homemade ice cream flavors!

Learn more about MHWOW in our area, email: withoutwalls@moishehouse.org

jewishatl In Federation News

Eric’s Summer Book List

July has provided a happy breather for me. Coming off our incredibly successful 2020-21 fundraising year, I am exhaling a bit, but also feeling challenged to do even better in 2022. Knowing that the new fiscal year has just begun and that the 2022 Community Campaign launches in a few weeks makes these waning July days even sweeter. So, I have been treasuring time in the north Georgia mountains for hiking and hanging with friends and doing some traveling. I am looking forward to our Federation professional retreat at Ramah Darom next month and am also excited that Limmud Atlanta will be back at Ramah Darom in August (August 27-29).

And I’m reading. This summer my focus is on books about Israel, organizational accountability, and racial justice.

Our leadership is engaged in training on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) — a set of concepts and practical tools that provide an accountability and management system we will roll out to the entire organization. The executive team has been engaged since May. We are working with a consultant and learning the tools we’ll use to improve our operations. For this work I’m reading “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business,” by Gino Wickman. It asks CEOs to define their values and build a culture around their core values. It’s a call to always let these values guide you when you hire, fire, review, and reward people, as well as a push to a more data-driven organizational culture.

I’m having fun reading “Coming of Age: The Atlanta Jewish Federation 1962-1982,” by Max C. Gettinger.” Max (Mike) Gettinger grew up in New York City. Like me, he practiced social work and went on to become a Federation professional. Mike moved to Atlanta in 1962 taking on the role of Assistant Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and shortly after became the Executive Director when Ed Kahn retired. He served in this position until 1979 when he retired. Mike continued two years past his own retirement to launch Federation’s first endowment program. It’s been illuminating to learn more about the philanthropic foundation of our community and see how our Jewish leadership structure developed in those critical years of growth.

Mike Leven, who stewards the Jewish Future Pledge, urged me to read “Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth,” by Noa Tishby. Tishby is an Israeli actor and activist. She blends memoir and advocacy in this tribute to her beloved Israel, bemoaning how little the rest of the world actually knows about Israel. If you’re looking to counter social media “misinformation” about Israel, this is a helpful and inspiring read.

Also on my nightstand is Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson. This was last year’s big book on the roots of racism in America. Wilkerson approaches race differently than other writers, using the framework of a skin-color-based caste system, to explain how slavery compounded inequality and lack of social movement. She analogizes America to an old house that needs repair. “We can never declare the work over. Wind, flood, drought, and human upheavals batter a structure that is already fighting whatever flaws were left unattended in the original foundation.” The idea is, we ignore the urgent renovations at our own peril. An important book.

Enjoy these last lovely days of summer. Let’s hope that we’ll be healthy and ready for in-person events in August and during the September Jewish holidays.

P.S. If you are reading something powerful and memorable, please send me an email and tell me about it.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Foundation

The Power of Storytelling in Legacy Giving

What will your philanthropic legacy be? Will it improve the world? Will it support the community institutions you care about? Will it sustain your family? Will it express the values you want to be remembered for?

Atlanta Jewish Foundation believes that your legacy can do all those things, and we are honored to help you shape it.

Through a new LIFE & LEGACY® campaign, called Each One Reach One, Atlanta Jewish Foundation is partnering with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation to potentially double the number of donors in our community-wide legacy giving initiative. The new effort encourages committed legacy donors to share their stories and motivations for leaving a legacy.

Have you shared your stories with your kids and grandkids? We’re big believers in the power of storytelling to inspire philanthropy, so we’re pleased to share these stories from fundholders Stephanie Abes and Avery Kastin, attesting to the power of legacy giving to secure the Jewish future. Read them and contact Rachel Rosner to initiate a conversation about a LIFE & LEGACY gift.

LIFE & LEGACY donor Stephanie Abes said, “It was the right time in my life to help spark and steer conversations with my peers about leaving a legacy gift to our community. As I’ve progressed in my commitments as a Jewish woman, I can see that all I’ve worked for over the years leads to this. There are so many motivations to support LIFE & LEGACY. When I see the outstanding education my grandchildren enjoyed in our Jewish day schools, and as I watch my grown children step up and serve on the boards of our backbone agencies, I want all these organizations to be strong and sustainable going forward. It’s up to me and my family to ensure that these Jewish institutions continue for future generations.”

Stephanie shared a story she heard about a woman with modest assets. “The woman wanted to support her synagogue’s future but didn’t think she had the means. She realized that her small condo was a possible resource, so she checked in with her kids to ask if, upon her death, making that asset a legacy gift was OK with them. Her children let her know that they’d be fine if she did it.”

“Stories like that give me the tools to open up conversations with friends about making a legacy gift. I tell them, ‘I’m not your financial planner, but through Atlanta Jewish Foundation, you can get the advice you need.’ They can help you look at your assets and determine what makes sense for you.”

Avery Kastin told us, “Legacy giving resonates with me, it’s a genius idea. The moment I heard about the LIFE & LEGACY opportunity and about the Jewish Future Pledge, I began to understand the potential impact on our community. I wanted to make Federation the recipient of my gifts because it’s where I’ve focused so much of my time over the years — first as chair of Federation’s Young Adult division, as a Federation board member, and as chair of the Business & Professionals’ division of Campaign and the new Journeys Allocation Committee.”

To encourage donors, organizations, and our community to participate, the Harold Grinspoon Foundation is offering $300,000 in national incentives. To learn more, visit atlantajewishfoundation.org or contact LIFE & LEGACY Coordinator Rachel Rosner.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring, Philanthropy

Mazel Tov to Cherie Aviv: AFP’s Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year

When the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Atlanta Chapter hosts its 39th annual National Philanthropy Day event on November 4, 2021, Jewish Atlanta can take justifiable pride that Cherie Aviv will be honored as Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year.

Cherie Aviv is a fiercely dedicated and effective fundraiser with a longtime interest in the arts, and a deep passion for social services in the Jewish community, older adults, clients with disabilities, and meeting the needs of our region’s Holocaust survivors. Her fundraising efforts and remarkable collaborative initiatives have raised more than $10 million to date to benefit people across the greater Atlanta community and beyond.

In 2016, after assessing the needs of Atlanta’s Holocaust survivors, Cherie spearheaded the partnership between Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS), Jewish HomeLife, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA), The Breman Museum, Eternal Life-Hemshech, and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta that created the Holocaust Survivors Support Fund (HSSF). Through Cherie’s efforts, the fund has raised just under $3 million, engaged more than 600 donors, and had a transformational impact on the lives of more than 135 Holocaust survivors annually.

On behalf of Federation, Karen Botnick Paz nominated Aviv for the AFP award. In her nomination, Karen paints a rich picture of Cherie’s busy life. “It’s 5:30 a.m. and Cherie Aviv is quietly reading before she takes a morning run. Juggling up to four books at a time keeps her mind engaged, while running allows time for thinking. These hobbies provide a healthy balance to her full-time volunteer schedule which runs the gamut from fundraising, creating special moments, outreach, and hands-on activities.

Cherie applies this same discipline and determination to everything she undertakes. Terri Bonoff, CEO JF&CS said, “Cherie’s approach is to respond to community needs with urgency and innovation. This was evident with the 2014 JF&CS Capital Campaign to Complete the Campus where the campaign raised $6.6 million, exceeding the goal by $1.5 million. Cherie co-chaired with John Perlman and made the matching lead gift.

Miriam Friedman, an MJCCA professional shared, “Cherie co-led a team of 15+ volunteer and staff solicitors and helped to construct the campaign framework from marketing materials to campaign structure and reporting, to board solicitations and grant writing. Cherie’s project management savvy kept the team on track and motivated, exceeding the campaign goal by over $1.5 million.”

Mark Silberman, past Board Chair of Federation said, “Cherie has no peer when it comes to fundraising. Absolutely the best I have seen.”

While serving as Vice President of Development at Jewish HomeLife, Cherie increased their annual campaign by 25%. From 2014-2016, as Co-Chair of Jewish Family & Career Services Capital Campaign, she helped secure $6.6 million. In 2018, she and her husband Gary chaired a record-setting Community of Caring luncheon, which raised $500,000.

Cherie is not only generous with her time and expertise, she is personally generous, though her giving is often anonymous. Supporting letters for the AFP award provide story after story of her dedication and generosity and her engaging collaborative style.

Tammi Parker, a friend, and volunteer observes, “Cherie is the ultimate player/coach. She creates the experience for the volunteer, makes it look easy and doable, and fills in any gaps that the volunteer is not able to cover.” Terri Bonoff added, “On one occasion, I joined 20 volunteers to make rugelach to give to survivors, caregivers, or clients with disabilities. These volunteer baking events are quite inspiring and there are waiting lists to join.”

One thing is for certain, what Cherie has done for the Atlanta community and beyond is priceless. Her impact is everywhere. JF&CS can provide comprehensive support services for any senior in the Atlanta community through Aviv Older Adult Services. Jewish HomeLife is well known throughout Atlanta for its high quality of care at Aviv Rehabilitation Center. Thousands of older adults are cheered by birthday cards through Aviv Celebrations. Cancer patients feel the warmth through fleece blankets while going through chemotherapy delivered through her efforts. She has shared that she has more new projects in the works.

Thank you, Cherie, for the abundance of wisdom, persistence, and chesed you bring to philanthropy. You have lifted countless lives!

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Jewish Education Collaborative

Atlanta Leads the Way in Hebrew Language Instruction

Atlanta innovates again! The Jewish Education Collaborative (JEC) is excited to announce that for the 2021-22 academic year, four Atlanta synagogue schools are piloting The Atlanta Hebrew Connection – an exciting community online program for Hebrew language learning. The Atlanta Hebrew Connection focuses on teaching students to decode Hebrew, learn prayers, and understand their meaning. It offers small classes, flexible scheduling, and excellent instruction right at home. Ahavath Achim Synagogue, Temple Kol Emeth, Congregation Shearith Israel, and Temple Sinai have all signed on to the program, created by Shalom Learning, a nationally renowned education organization.

Online Hebrew makes sense for busy families who have had to carpool their kids to Hebrew school in Atlanta traffic. Synagogue school educators have collaborated on the new program with guidance from the Jewish Education Collaborative (JEC). Rabbi Elana Perry, Director of JEC says, “We’ve found that compared to in-person Hebrew instruction, children learn Hebrew just as effectively, if not better, in an online setting.”

Key components of the Atlanta Hebrew Connection include:

Synchronous, small group learning sessions (3-5 students in each)
Excellent curriculum and instruction methods
Top-quality teachers
Social connections among students from different congregations and/or parts of the community

Choosing a class time that works best for your family
NOT having to battle Atlanta traffic in the middle of the week!

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring

What We Learned About COVID Safety

Making Jewish Atlanta Safe Again
By Jeffrey A. Gopen, Chief Operating Officer Jewish HomeLife

In May, the CDC reported 84% of US adults 65+ have gotten at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 71.9% have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Cases in nursing homes as of June have dropped to less than one per thousand from a high of 31 per thousand in December 2020.

As much as this pandemic cost our organization financially, emotionally, and physically, Jewish HomeLife continues to support community-wide efforts to make Jewish Atlanta safe again. With over 85% of our staff and 95% of our residents vaccinated across all our residential communities, the vaccine, along with our other safety measures, has allowed us to achieve nearly full immunity. Consistent with our mission, we want to help Jewish Atlanta get there as well.

Jewish HomeLife can now take our expertise and once again share it with you. We are the only senior care organization in Atlanta with the ability to self-vaccinate any new residents, staff, and families on demand. As a new vaccination site, we intend to assist our community partners. From preschools and camps to shuls and schools, Jewish HomeLife can help everyone in our community return to normalcy. This allows us to continue our mission of getting to 100% vaccination rates for our residents, clients, patients, and staff.

Thanks to Federation and generous community support, Jewish HomeLife was able to spare no expense to protect our own residents and staff while offering access and expertise to Jewish organizations throughout Atlanta. When personal protective equipment (PPE) was in short supply, Jewish HomeLife provided access to our own strained supply chain so shuls and schools could safely set up their new virtual models.

When access to testing was a challenge, our ability to move mountains with our local lab once again afforded access to synagogues, day schools, camps, and other Jewish organizations to provide fast and accurate testing so they could reopen safely. Most recently, after months of waiting for our application to be processed, Jewish HomeLife finally received federal approval to administer vaccines.

I am in my third decade of serving the aging, first as a physical therapist, then as a nursing home administrator, operations director, and now in my fourth year as Chief Operating Officer of Jewish HomeLife. As a clinician and a business leader, the most important aspect of what we do is staying true to our mission – supporting all stages of The Aging Journey. Our community can be proud that its support of its own Jewish senior care organization makes us all safer.

jewishatl In JumpSpark

We’re Hiring

We’re ready to expand the JumpSpark team! JumpSpark is the Jewish teen initiative out of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and we’re hiring for two full-time positions. Do you think you have what it takes to join a fun, hardworking organization dedicated to Jewish engagement and education in Atlanta? Scroll down to see both positions we’re hiring for.

Apply Today

Director of Israel Engagement

REPORTS TO: Director of JumpSpark and Director of Global Jewish Peoplehood

CLASSIFICATION: Full-time, Exempt

SALARY: $60,000-$65,000

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION:

The Director of Israel Engagement will oversee two main programs that aim to increase Israel connection and education focused on youth. The key initiatives include:

Create meaningful connections between teens in Atlanta and the people, land, and state of Israel
Lengthen the arc of engagement for teen participants with Israel and the Jewish community
Increase participation of Atlanta teens in summer Israel travel experiences
Bring Israel and Jewish Atlanta together through human connections with a focus on the Shinshinim as a key driver of engagement
Provide Israel education and engagement to local Atlanta organizations reaching a variety of demographics and age groups

DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS:

JumpSpark: JumpSpark serves as Atlanta’s initiative for Jewish teen engagement connecting and collaborating with the community to create more meaningful and defining moments for Jewish teens in Atlanta while enhancing the infrastructure of Jewish education and engagement in Atlanta. JumpSpark invests in existing programs, supports new and innovative ideas, and fosters creative thinking to meet the needs of teens, their parents, and Jewish educators and professionals that work with teens. Our portfolio includes Teen Programs, Navigating Parenthood workshops, Jewish Professional Development, and Grants.

Schoenbaum Shinshinim: The Shinshinim Service Year Abroad Program is a partnership between Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and the Jewish Agency for Israel. This program selects trained young Israelis to spend a year of service in our community. The Shinshinim live with host families and work across the Atlanta Jewish community where they engage a variety of community members in Israel education and engagement. The Shinshinim develop personal relationships with the community at large with the intention to serve as role models and informal educators and to instill a profound love and appreciation for Israel.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Oversee JumpSpark’s expanding portfolio of teen Israel engagement and education work in the Atlanta Jewish community
Increase Atlanta’s teen Israel travel participation numbers by 90% by 2022 through a multi-pronged strategy focusing on teens, parents, and professionals
Develop an engagement pipeline for teen Israel education, engagement, and travel from Bnai Mitzvah to college
Supervise the Shinshinim program including creating work plans, serving as a liaison to partner programs, and providing training and guidance in best practices of Israel education, curriculum, and pedagogy

Oversee JumpSpark’s new Amplifying Israel Teen Fellowship to expand and grow the relationship with teens in our partner region of Yokneam/Meggido
Work with pre-selected teen Israel travel providers to develop and fund multi-part, pre- and/or post-engagement opportunities, including directing grants and overseeing outcomes
Work with Jewish Teen Funders Network to develop and implement JumpSpark funded teen Israel Giving Circle program
Create professional learning opportunities and assist in curricular resource and program development for the Shinshinim and worksite coordinators
Establish high-level professional development opportunities for Atlanta Jewish educators around the topic of Israel
Expand JumpSpark’s work with 3Owl Media to build-out website, social media and marketing materials and strategies to engage community members and promote teen Israel travel and engagement
Serve as a concierge for local parents and teens to learn about opportunities and as a forum to connect with Israel before and after Israel trip participation
Work with JumpSpark’s professional data and evaluation team at Informing Change as well as other consultants identified by Federation to develop and implement data gathering and evaluation metrics to track the impact of RootOne dollars and programming in the Atlanta Jewish teen community and the impact of Shinshinim in the community
Ensure cross-collaboration with other Federation professionals to better leverage resources and talent
Initiate and respond to Federation and JumpSpark staff, board members, volunteers, and the lay community
Other duties as assigned

The above job duties and responsibilities describe the general nature and level of work for employees in this position, but this is not intended as an exclusive or all-inclusive inventory of all duties required of employees in this job.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree required
Knowledge of, passion for, and/or an authentic personal connection to the relevant issues of Jewish communal life, Israel, and familiarity with the Jewish calendar
Experience in professional setting with standard business tools
Willingness to learn new systems, programs, and skills as needed
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written, and oral communication skills
Self-motivated with a willingness to take initiative in a fast-paced, team environment
Demonstrated organizational skills, with attention to detail and proven ability to fill and manage a complex schedule
Superior customer service skills
Positive attitude, even when faced with a high-stress environment and uncertainty

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Intermittent standing and walking with prolonged periods of sitting at a desk or in meetings. Work hours include nights and weekends, as needed. You must have stamina needed to attend morning, evening and weekend meetings and events in addition to a regular schedule. Must be available for local, national, and international travel to attend meetings, functions and other activities. Must provide your own transportation and have a valid State of Georgia driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.

Education and Engagement Manager

DEPARTMENT: Community Planning and Impact

REPORTS TO: JumpSpark Director

STATUS: Full-time

SALARY: $50,000-$55,000

PRINCIPAL FUNCTION: As Jewish Atlanta continues to boom, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta intends to play a bold and creative role in reimagining and deepening community engagement. We are looking for a driven self-starter to join our team as we expand the ways we impact the community through Jewish education and engagement.

JumpSpark, Atlanta’s initiative for Jewish teen engagement, connects and collaborates with the community to create more meaningful and defining moments for Jewish teens in Atlanta while enhancing the infrastructure of Jewish education and engagement in Atlanta. JumpSpark invests in existing programs, supports new and innovative ideas, and thinks creatively to meet the needs of teens, their parents, and Jewish educators and professionals that work with teens. Our portfolio includes Teen Programs, Navigating Parenthood workshops, Jewish Professional Development, and Grants. JumpSpark exists to bring together Jews across Atlanta to preserve and progress our community for the future and help teens grow and discover their best selves.

JumpSpark is a major initiative of Federation’s Community Planning and Impact (CPI) department. CPI includes all of Federation’s grants and allocations, our innovation portfolio, as well as programs focused on Jewish engagement and education. As we seek to align programming and services to best meet the needs of our community, the Education and Engagement Manager will have programmatic responsibilities in other areas of CPI in addition to JumpSpark.

We seek an enthusiastic creative thinker, bridge-builder, and innovator who is excited by JumpSpark’s and CPI’s mission to offer pathways into Jewish living by creating opportunities for genuine connection and growth for Jews from every part of our city. The Education and Engagement Manager will be team oriented, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously, willing to take risks, and be committed to Federation’s core values of excellence, fearlessness, and empathy. The candidate should be familiar with the Jewish education and engagement landscape, players, and trends and must be comfortable working in a fast-paced, innovative, and experimental work environment with general supervision.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Education and Engagement Manager will have the following areas of responsibility:

Build strong relationships in the Atlanta Jewish community
Strengthen Atlanta’s Jewish teen ecosystem by working with teens, families of teens and educators and professionals who work with teens
Create and manage innovative programming for JumpSpark’s target populations including curricular development and implementation
Work with JumpSpark grantee partners on program implementation and grant oversight
Engage in the national conversation of Jewish innovation and education
Participate in the national network of the Jewish Teen Education and Engagement Funder Collaborative
Complete a broad variety of tasks as needed to further the mission of JumpSpark and Community Planning and Impact department
Manage brand and identity for JumpSpark and its application to all print and electronic communications
Manage the development of the JumpSpark website and its content; maintain the site and links daily
Manage JumpSpark’s social media presence through all relevant platforms – including Facebook, Instagram, and public relation opportunities, creating content and maintaining a consistent and constant presence, including at periodic community-wide events and celebrations
Provide concierge services for members of the community seeking entry points into Jewish life
Serve as a member of the CPI education and engagement team to provide programmatic support and leadership for family retreats and help develop a pipeline of engagement for pre-teens and their families

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree
3-5 years of experience working in Jewish education or engagement
Thorough knowledge of common web content management systems and a proven record of using excellent judgment with social media for brand awareness and marketing
Knowledge of, passion for, and/or an authentic personal connection to the relevant issues of Jewish communal life and familiarity with the Jewish calendar
An appreciation for the diversity of Jewish identity, expression, and practice
Experience in professional setting with standard business tools
Willingness to learn new systems, programs, and skills as needed
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written and oral communication skills
A dynamic and outgoing personality with the ability to build relationships with a variety of different audiences and ages
Self-motivated with a willingness to take initiative in a fast-paced, team environment
Demonstrated organizational skills, with attention to detail and proven ability to fill and manage a complex schedule requiring extensive local travel

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Intermittent standing and walking with prolonged periods of sitting at desk or in meetings. Must have stamina needed to attend morning, evening and weekend meetings and events in addition to regular schedule.

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and prohibits discrimination regarding race, religion, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.

Apply Today

jewishatl In Jewish Education Collaborative

No More “Doing Things the Old Way”

No More “Doing Things the Old Way”
By Rabbi Elana Perry, Dir. Jewish Education Collaborative

The old narrative of “doing things the way they’ve always been done” is long gone in Atlanta. Watch for new and exciting programs coming to supplemental Jewish education this fall!

Four synagogue education teams, comprised of educators, clergy, and lay leaders, recently completed the “Leadership, Vision, and Change” cohort experience, which was designed and facilitated by the Jewish Education Collaborative of Greater Atlanta. This eight-month program propelled organizations forward, embracing exciting and compelling Jewish learning, managing change, and strengthening leadership skills. As a result of their work, each team is preparing to launch a new innovative educational program in the fall.
Connecting families to other families and deepening learning for all ages was elevated throughout the pandemic, and it continues to be a priority for several religious schools.

Temple Kol Emeth is launching a fresh family engagement strategy, including increased grade-level family education programs, new family Shabbat experiences, a twice-monthly alternative virtual program for family learning with the Rabbi, and a family retreat. Temple Beth Tikvah is expanding their “Sababa” program, weaving joyous, school-wide family learning experiences into the fabric of their year. Temple Sinai has a new alternative family track called “B’Yachad.”

Rachel Moldovan, Director of Youth Learning and Engagement at Temple Sinai, says, “Our community is craving connection! We are looking forward to building community among our Sinai families – including the entire family – with our new B’Yachad program. Students get the best of both worlds with this alternative program, engaging in peer-to-peer learning on Sundays and participating in family learning and community building experiences on Shabbat.”

In addition to these exciting opportunities for increased family learning and engagement, Congregation Or Hadash will implement an entirely new B’nai Mitzvah program, which spans grades 4-9 and lengthens the arc of engagement for learners.

Educational leaders have been listening to the needs of their students and families, and each of them has a different creative response. As a result, religious school families can look forward to fresh new ways for Jewish learning to come alive!

jewishatl In AgeWell Atlanta, Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring, Young Leadership Division

They Clicked from the First Phone Call

Brian M., who lives near the JF&CS office in Dunwoody, stopped in at the beginning of the pandemic and asked how he might be of help. He filled out a volunteer application and was directed to Vivienne Kurland, Program Coordinator of One Good Deed, JF&CS’ friendly visitor program supporting older adults.

His timing was terrific. One Good Deed was quickly pivoting to a Phone Friend Program connecting volunteers with older adults who were at heightened risk of loneliness and isolation due to COVID-19 guidelines.

Sharon Spiegelman, One Good Deed’s Program Manager, and her partner Vivienne Kurland, had a match in mind. They had met with a man named Leonard shortly before the pandemic and had a good feeling about Brian and Leonard being a great match.

To quote Brian, “This was a friendship that clicked from the first call!”

The pair quickly established a close bond around a common interest — sports. “We’d recap what happened in sports, with no judgments, no matter what teams we root for.” After a FaceTime call, Leonard said, “I get a vicarious thrill out of hearing what you’re doing at your job.”

As soon as both Brian and Leonard were both fully vaccinated, they arranged to meet. Brian had previously said on a FaceTime call, “I look forward to the day when it’s safe enough to meet in person.”

Now it’s happening! So far, the pair have enjoyed lunch together and a tour of Tucker, where Leonard lives. Brian reciprocated with an incredible treat for Leonard who had not been to a baseball game in four years — he got tickets to a Braves game, and they sat right behind the dugout, where both enjoyed complimentary food and beverages!

Learn more about supporting an older adult through One Good Deed. We also celebrate Sharon Spiegelman who is retiring from the program she managed and sustained for more than 15 years. Thank you, Sharon!