jewishatl, Author at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Hillel International Student Cabinet Spotlight

The Hillel International Student Cabinet is a selective leadership opportunity for current undergraduate students. The cabinet serves as a vehicle to connect the global Jewish student community and as an advisory council to Hillel International’s leadership in its efforts to engage Jewish college students worldwide.

This year, Avery Adelman, a rising Junior at Emory studying cultural anthropology and Chinese studies, was one of 17 students from all over the world selected to help guide the International Hillel movement. “It is a great honor to have been selected and for the chance to represent Emory Hillel on this international committee representing over 850 global campuses,” explains Avery. “It is extra exciting to be representing the whole of Hillels of Georgia and making sure there is a southerner’s voice in the room!”

Avery is an experienced leader who last year chaired Emory Hillel’s Keshet Council, a Hillel student club advocating for and creating a safe space for Jewish LGBTQ+ students at Emory. Through her role on the Hillel International Student Cabinet, she not only intends to represent the voices of southern and Georgian Jews but to bolster Hillel’s efforts to fight antisemitism on college campuses.

Avery embodies Hillel’s vision of inspiring the next generation of Jewish leaders. The Georgia and Atlanta community are so proud to have one of our own students representing the interests of our community on an international scale. Kol Kavod, Avery!

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

Meet your 2023 Community Campaign Chairs

The 2023 Community Campaign will begin very soon, on September 6, and we have new campaign leadership, Joel Arogeti and Seth Greenberg. Learn about the dedicated leaders who will be helming this year’s Campaign!

Joel S. Arogeti is the Chair of the 2023 Community Campaign. He has over 40 years of experience in business law and is an advisor and counselor to business owners and their companies. Joel served as President and CEO of Kitchens Kelley Gaynes, PC for over twenty years, where he now continues to practice law.

Joel’s community involvement includes participating in Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2008. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of National Bank of Commerce and a charter member of Private Bank of Buckhead’s Board of Directors. He has also served as Chair of the Board of The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, Hosea Helps (formerly Hosea Feeds the Hungry & Homeless), and on the Board of The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. His not-for-profit service includes the President of Congregation Or VeShalom, The Epstein School Board, The Louis Kahn Group Home, the Atlanta Chapter of the American Jewish Committee, and Hillels of Georgia. Joel is married to Beth Weiller Arogeti, and they have four children and two grandchildren.

Seth Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer of ECI Group, is the Vice Chairman for the 2023 term. For more than 50 years, ECI Group has been one of the most highly regarded, privately owned real estate firms in the Southeast and Texas. The firm is fully integrated, with development, construction, investment and property management groups that have garnered national recognition for innovation and performance in the multifamily rental industry. Seth’s academic background includes a degree from Seton Hall School of Law, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan.

Along with Seth’s commitment to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, he is a member of the Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency for Israel and Co-Chairman of the Immersive Experience Sub Committee. He is a member of the Tel Aviv Foundation Board of Directors, Treasurer of the United Israel Appeal and a member of AIPAC and B’nai Torah Synagogue. Seth is also an original board member of Ian’s Friends Foundation.

Seth and his wife, Lisa, have two adult children, Max and Dori and are dog parents to Charlie and Riley.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Philanthropy

Reflecting on a Year of Great Work

By Matt M. Bronfman
We are full speed ahead on our Community Campaign goals for 2023! While we are forward-focused, we must remind ourselves of our great work this past year.

Through Federation’s Community Campaign, the Atlanta Jewish Foundation and the ALEF Fund, we drove more than $43 million into the Jewish Atlanta community and more than $72 million to our global society. View our brochure.

In an unpredictable world, we are philanthropic first responders. We step in to tackle emergencies from Ukraine to Covid, to meet recurring needs for our partners from scrappy start-ups to legacy institutions, and to provide care to people in need, from patients suffering from Alzheimer’s to children with special needs.

I am so proud of our work and fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such incredible professionals and dedicated lay leaders. It is my honor to be part of this community.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Global News

Ana Sazanov is Leading Relief Efforts for Ukrainians

Ana Sazonov is the Executive Director of the Columbia Jewish Federation in South Carolina and one of the Southeast’s most prominent voices on the humanitarian crisis facing Ukrainians. This issue is deeply personal to her: Ana is Ukrainian herself.

As a young girl in Ukraine, Ana didn’t know that she had Jewish heritage—her father had kept his identity a secret in the oppressive USSR. Their family lived only 90 miles from the Chernobyl disaster site, and after the fall of the Soviet Union, Ana’s parents felt they were no longer safe. When they heard a radio ad from the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) about making Aliyah to Israel, they knew they had to take the opportunity. At 6 years old, Ana left Ukraine to begin life as an openly Jewish girl in Israel.

Ana began her journey in the nonprofit Jewish world working for Emory Hillel. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Jewish Professional Leadership and a master’s in Nonprofit Management at the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program and The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. In 2021, she became the Executive Director of the Columbia Jewish Federation. “I felt a call to lead, as a triple-outsider: a young, female, foreigner,” she says.

When the war in Ukraine began this spring, Ana’s resolve and leadership were immediately put to the test. She and her parents planned to meet in Israel in early April for Passover—a week before Russia invaded. Her parents had only brought small suitcases with them, but they found themselves stuck, unable to return home. It would have been easy to feel paralyzed, but Ana leaped into action instead.

She changed her travel plans, and instead of going to Israel, she traveled to the Ukraine/Poland border and spent two weeks volunteering with refugees. While there, she met many Jewish and non-Jewish people whose lives would never be the same. She remembered what it felt like to flee her home at 6 years old.

“I think my story is one of going from hiding to providing,” she says. But she is adamant that you don’t have to give much to give back. “You don’t need to be rich to make a difference; my family was changed forever because of a radio ad.” She thinks of that ad often, mainly because JAFI is one of Federation’s partner organizations.

“The money we allocate impacts people on so many different levels. I’m a living example of someone who benefitted from the Federation system and now can give back to it.”

Supporting Federation means supporting people in need worldwide, and Ana wants people to understand how meaningful their time and donations are to those who are struggling. “People need to keep Ukrainians in their hearts, their minds, and their actions. That’s how we make a difference.”

Ana Sazonov is the featured speaker at the Women’s Philanthropy Fall Event on October 26, 2022. To learn more about the event, click here.

To support Federation’s mission, please click here.

To give to Federation’s Ukrainian Relief Fund, click here.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

August 2022 Legislative Update

Leslie Anderson, Executive Director, JCRC

America was founded on basic principles of democracy that encourage – require, really – active civic engagement to complete the social contract between government and citizens. The non-partisan Jewish Democracy Network was created to mobilize Jewish institutions and individuals across states, denominations, backgrounds, and political ideologies – through the people and organizations they trust – to ensure free, fair, safe, and accessible elections. It will take many people with different expertise and experiences working creatively, and compassionately together to be successful in supporting election administration. In that spirit, JCRC of Atlanta has joined the Jewish Democracy Network (https://www.jewishdemocracy.org) to recruit non-partisan poll workers in Metro Atlanta. We will kick off our campaign on Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, National Poll Worker Recruitment Day.

More information and sign-up details will be on the JCRC website at jcrcatlanta.wordpress.com/poll-workers or email jdn@jcrcatlanta.org.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

Reflecting on the Challenges and Successes of Last Year

By Rich Walter

I hope that you had a restful and productive summer. Here, we spent the summer reflecting on the challenges and successes of our previous year and planning for the upcoming one. Our greatest success was the more than $72 million of impact we had on the community through the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, Federation’s fundraising, and the Alef Fund. Together we enhanced Jewish education, took care of the most vulnerable, and invested in new ideas and opportunities. Other highlights include:

We launched a major research project around Jewish Early Childhood Education as we plan for the best way to strengthen this important entry point for so many Jewish families. We are expecting the results shortly.
We continue to support the ecosystem from the ongoing effects of Covid-19 though grants for PPE and disruptions to service and through access to community health experts.
We launched JproATL (more below) to best serve the professionals working and supporting our Jewish community.
We sent the first ever Shinshin emissary from Atlanta to our partnership region Yokneam/Meggido in Israel as one of 25 teens who received a Jumpspark gap-year scholarship.

Our year was not without challenges, and we remain committed to positioning Federation as a community champion that is here to both convene our ecosystem around important issues and provide guidance and support when needed. One area that we are looking to do better is in convening the ecosystem and relevant sectors in a more intentional and meaningful way. Part of that will be achieved by our continued investment in JproATL, but we are also working on ways to expand into the broader network of our partners to enhance the lay leadership experience and connect this important sector more in our work.

One of the ways we aim to do this over the coming year is engage our partners in a series of consultations where we can learn from each other about successes and challenges in our work. This is part of a reimagined allocations and grant making structure in which, rather than only receiving reports from those who receive federation funding, we more intentionally engage in conversation with each other to identify the best ways to enhance collective impact in the community.

None of this impact can happen without the collective efforts of all our community partners and as we continue to expand our grantmaking opportunities beyond allocations, we aim to help steward the community into the future. This is only possible due to our ability to serve as the philanthropic champion for the Atlanta Jewish community. I invite you to please consider making a gift and encouraging your constituents to support these efforts as well.

jewishatl In Global News

An Update on Recent Hostilities in Gaza

We are grateful a cease-fire agreement was reached following a weekend of fighting in Gaza. This was the worst flare-up of violence in over a year and, unfortunately, led to attacks by both sides on Tisha B’Av. We stand with our brethren in Israel and are proud to support groups that keep people safe when hostilities arise.

Federation’s Partners Fund contributes to organizations like The Jewish Agency For Israel, which helped to evacuate 1,000 recent immigrants who were in an area receiving heavy fire over the weekend. They also helped to maintain care for 4,000 seniors in Amigour nursing homes, and in the coming weeks, they will provide social and psychological assistance to the 2,000 Masa participants currently living in Israel. 

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta will continue to monitor the situation and keep our community updated. Our hearts are with those affected by the fighting, and we pray for peace.

jewishatl In Secure Community Network

Free Security Training for Jewish ATL

At the end of August, Federation’s Community-Wide Security Program is offering two virtual classes designed to educate our community on proper safety protocols in emergencies. These seminars are meant for all members of the Atlanta Jewish community and are intended to enhance our collective security.

“Be Aware: An Introduction to Situational Awareness” will be offered on August 23 at 7 pm. In this lesson, you’ll be given techniques to develop enhanced perception in your daily life. You’ll learn how to identify security threats, report suspicious activity, and advocate for safety in your community.

Over 400 people recently attended the online security training module “Countering an Active Threat” conducted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Community Security Director, Neil Rabinovitz. This class will be offered again on August 30 at 7 pm and covers topics like how to prepare mentally and physically for an emergency and steps you can take if you find yourself in the middle of an active threat. 

Looking out for each other’s safety is imperative, especially now. Antisemitic attacks are on the rise in the U.S., but we are not powerless to stop them. Be sure to sign up for your free training class and learn how you can uphold the security of Jewish ATL. 

Click here to register for these free online courses.

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community

Exploring Jewish Contributions to Art and Culture in “Side By Side” Series

The Breman Museum and Neranenah Concert and Culture Series are thrilled to announce a new live performance series called “Side by Side.” This week of live performances and conversations will explore Jewish contributions to American arts and culture.

The series features concerts, film screenings, interviews, comedy, and a musical shabbat and will take place across metro Atlanta. “Side By Side” showcases local and international talent, including Ben and Leo Sidran, Eric Krasno, The Hello, Goodbye, & Peace Ensemble, Jessica Kirson, and more. 

Neranenah was previously known as the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival but has rebranded with the Hebrew name Neranenah, which means “to come together and sing.” Neranenah resumed in-person concerts last July and is continually working to bring the Jewish world together in community.

Neranenah Executive Director Joe Alterman says, “This new series is really a love letter to showcase how Jewish contributions paved the way for much of what can be seen today in American arts and culture. When deciding on the right partner for this endeavor, The Breman Museum was a perfect choice because we are both non-profit organizations with a mission to stand side by side in promoting the arts and Jewish culture in our community.”

Leslie Gordon, Executive Director at The Breman, says, “By partnering with Neranenah on this performance series, The Breman reinforces its commitment to bring quality entertainment to Atlanta that highlights Jewish culture and the influence Jews have had in the arts.”

It is impossible to imagine what American music, movies, theatre, or comedy would be without the contribution of Jewish artists. This series celebrates creativity and is a love letter to the traditions that birthed our popular culture.

“Side By Side” begins Sunday, August 21, and concludes Sunday, August 28. For a full schedule and to reserve your tickets, click here. 

jewishatl In Atlanta Jewish Community, Caring

Community Love Stories

We asked our readers to submit their tales of romance, and you delivered! Read these sweet stories from our Federation family.

“My husband and I met in Etz Chaim preschool when we were four. We had a little crush on each other even back then, and there’s a photo of him with his arm around me at that time, and a few others of us playing together. He tried to flirt with me in middle school, but I thought boys were gross then, so, of course, I ignored him. 

My mom ran into him at Publix about 10 years ago and asked if he remembered me. He said yes. After she told me she had run into him, I looked him up on Facebook after all these years. And I thought he was cute! But I was too shy to ask him out, until about five years ago. I asked him to dinner, and we had a horrible first date. I decided I didn’t want to see him again, but he was persistent and really wanted another chance to win me over. So, I relented. We had an incredible second date and have been together ever since. We got married in August of 2020 with 11 people in attendance.”

– Anna Streetman and Harrison Levy

“We met on a Federation mission in 1986 and married later that same year. We remember very fondly that we had nearly 200 chaperones on our “first date.” There were five busloads of us. After all these years, I am finally comfortable admitting that I made certain that Robert and I were on the same bus.

Robert and I have been married for nearly 36 years. We have three kids: Janine Franco and her husband Alan Pinstein, Dena Franco and her husband Jonny Newburgh, and Eli Franco and his wife Shira Berman.”

– Sara Franco and Robert Franco

“‘We met over a plate of kiddush tuna.'” This long-standing quip from Nachum isn’t so far from the truth. 

In 2007 we were both new to Denver, seeking community, and found ourselves in the same synagogue with a small but growing young adult community. We began spending Shabbat afternoons together and quickly became close friends. Over time that friendship grew to more, and within a few months, we knew we’d found our match. 

We got engaged a year later, on Melissa’s 25th birthday, and the community surprised us with a lovely fancy dinner (because the kosher options were so limited!) and then an impromptu party. We were married that summer in the same synagogue where we met by the rabbi at whose home we’d spent many of our Shabbat afternoons while dating. We have now lived in seven residences in four cities spanning three states/two countries and added two kids to the family.”

-Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez and Rabbi Nachum Gutierrez

“Where do you look for love when you’ve lived in Atlanta your whole life and worked in the Jewish Community most of your career…on JDate! After 10 years of being divorced, I was finally an empty nester and decided to try online dating. 

In early December 2015, I got an online message from Roy: “JDate says that we are a 95% match, do you agree?” After reviewing his profile, I learned he was originally from Savannah. Knowing that my friend and colleague at Federation, Susan Moray, had previously worked in the Savannah Jewish community, I walked down the hall to ask if she knew him. I was thrilled to hear, “not only do I know him, but we were next-door neighbors, and he is a great guy!”

On Monday, December 7, 2015, which happened to be the second night of Hanukkah, we arranged to meet for dinner. There was an immediate connection, and our conversation continued after dinner at a quaint coffee house. We discovered that he had previously worked in the same office building as my father, who published The Jewish Georgian.

At the end of our first date, he asked me what I was doing the next day. I flirtatiously shared that I was having a mammogram. The following evening, I received a thoughtful text asking how my appointment had gone. His care and concern touched me. At the end of the text, he cleverly gauged my interest by asking if I’d like to get together again and said, “is this Friday too soon or not soon enough?!” 

We talked throughout the week and had a great second date, followed by a third date where he offered to cook Shabbat dinner. He asked what I was doing on Christmas Eve, and I shared that I had plans to go to Steve’s Live Music in Sandy Springs to hear Tony Levitas, Mark Michelson, and Hannah Zale. He was also planning to go, so we were excited for our friends to meet.

The night was filled with more coincidental connections. It ended up that the last performer of the night was his niece, Hannah Zale. Roy didn’t know that his niece’s older sister, Tali Benjamin, had been a work colleague of mine at Federation. At lunch on my second day, Tali and I realized that Hannah was the same age as my son Jonathan, also a musician, and they had common friends. As a result, Hannah and Jonathan eventually met and performed together at a music festival.

The biggest surprise was yet to come. I woke up on December 31, making last-minute preparations to entertain friends, excited to ring in 2016 with Roy. I had to run some errands and a scheduled MRI because of some strange symptoms I had been having. Roy offered to come with me, but I told him not to worry, that I was sure it was nothing and that I would call him as soon as I was done.

Around 1 PM, I called to let him know they were sending me to the emergency room because something didn’t look right on the scan. I called my family, all of whom live in Atlanta. Imagine Roy meeting my entire family for the first time in the hospital as we received the unimaginable news that I had a brain tumor. 

We were all in shock from the diagnosis, but then something amazing happened. Roy held my hand, reassuring my family that he was not going anywhere. He explained that in the short time we had known each other, he already knew that we had something special and that sticking around was a “no-brainer.”

Despite my diagnosis, I did not shed a tear because my heart was filled with love. Could it be true that this amazing man was willing to be vulnerable enough to fall in love, faced with so much uncertainty about a future together? On January 7, 2016, four weeks after our first date, I had brain surgery, followed by a year of chemo. The last thing I remember before they took me back to the operating room was him whispering in my ear, “I love you.”

Over the past six and a half years, my brain tumor has remained stable, no doubt in part because of the happiness and love Roy has added to my world. On June 14, 2020, just three months into COVID, Rabbi Berg married us in the gazebo in the backyard of our new home, surrounded by our blended family.

I marvel at the timing of our meeting and all the connections. I have come to believe that, as Albert Einstein is quoted, “coincidences are G-d’s way of remaining anonymous.” In Judaism, we have the perfect word for this type of divine intervention, which is simply defined as ‘Beshert.'”

-Karen Paz and Roy Cranman