Lani Preis, Author at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

JILFA Offers Free Online Financial Coaching

The Jewish Interest Free Loan Association of Georgia (JILFA), in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, is proud to offer free one-on-one financial coaching services with financial coach Shay Port. The Jewish Interest-Free Loan of Atlanta helps community members overcome challenging financial periods and maintain financial stability by providing interest-free loans.

Nancy Weissmann, JILFA’s Executive Director, says, “With the support of our amazing partners at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, these sessions are free for those interested and are designed to help anyone reach their financial goals. We continue to be committed to the health and prosperity of Jewish Atlantans and will always look for new ways to best help our community and support financial stability for all.”

The program began in January, thanks to a special allocations grant. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis, are 50 minutes each, and are offered via phone or Zoom. Sessions are customized to fit each person’s financial goals and help them achieve success across a multitude of monetary issues, including:

Debt management
Credit score improvement
Budgeting/spending plans
Home purchasing guidance
Savings/investing plans
Credit card use best practices
Applying for public assistance programs
General financial education

To sign up for your session, click here.

Lani Preis In Young Leadership Division

Adult Summer Camp Is Almost Here

Do you ever wish you could escape the daily grind and go back to Jewish summer camp? Well, now you can! Relive your days in the sun with s’mores, swimming, and campfire songs at Trybal South, the southeast’s Adult Jewish Summer Camp from Trybal Gatherings.

Trybal Gatherings offers innovative getaways for young adults to connect, explore, play, and celebrate in a socially Jewish context. Their adult summer camps are an opportunity to reconnect with Judaism and your inner kid. This year, Trybal South is August 10-13.

At this weekend getaway, choose from traditional camp activities (like Color War or bouncing your friends into the lake from The Blob), or original ones (like Bubbe’s Beer Garden and a silent disco). All campers get to experience a Shabbat Soirée and a Five-Senses Havdallah. Registration includes 4 days and 3 nights of lodging, all meals and snacks (yes, even the s’mores!), an open bar, and more.

Nathan Sauer, a 30-years old IT Project Manager who attended Trybal South, says, “I encourage anyone to sign up for Trybal. You’ll get an immersive experience that brings you out of your comfort zone and allows you to connect with other Jewish young professionals from all across the region, from all different backgrounds. It is a truly special and one-of-a-kind experience and is hard to grasp just how much of an impact it has on everyone involved until the end.”

To sign up for Trybal South, click here. Standard registration is open until June 30, so book your bunk now to reserve at the lowest rate. Federation is proud to support Trybal Gatherings and offer this incredible experience for young adults across the southeast.

Lani Preis In Philanthropy

Welcome Our New Frances Bunzl Chief Philanthropy Officer!

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta is thrilled to announce our new Frances Bunzl Chief Philanthropy Officer, Rob Mann.

Rob grew-up in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago. He comes from, as he describes it, a “Federation Family” – his grandparents were donors to Federation in Chicago, and his father was Campaign Chairman in the 80s.

Philanthropy and service are truly Rob’s passion. He has a long history of volunteering with Federation; in Chicago, he was a member and Campaign Chair of the Young Leadership Division of Jewish United Fund in Chicago, and then a member of the National Young Leadership Cabinet of which he was Campaign Chair and Chair of the Men’s Cabinet. He was also chair of the National Training Department for the United Jewish Communities—now known as the Jewish Federations of North America. Rob has spoken at or trained in more than 30 Federation communities throughout North America and has been on more than 15 Federation journeys to Israel, The Former Soviet Union, and Ethiopia—often as a chair or learning resource.

He earned his BSM from the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University before moving to Atlanta to work in Macy’s Management Training Program. He transitioned into radio advertising sales with Emmis Broadcasting, a position which brought him to Indianapolis, and then home to Chicago. In 1990, he joined the family business, Henry-Lee and Company. His grandfather, the “Henry” in “Henry-Lee,” founded the company 65 years ago. Rob eventually became President, as well as 3^rd generation owner, and successfully pivoted the brand from dressmakers to purveyors of premium denim. While at Henry-Lee and Company, he earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Rob is thrilled to have reached a point in his career where he can make the leap into this field full-time. “Working for Federation is what I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” It is important to him to see Federation succeed, and to usher in a new generation of philanthropists. He says, “My main drive is always harnessing on my own enthusiasm for a cause and then sharing and giving that excitement to others.” He has big dreams for Jewish Atlanta, including enhancing and growing our Young Leadership Division.

For the last ten years, Rob has split his time between Chicago and Atlanta. He and his wife, Dorsey Waldron Mann, are happy to finally be settled together in Sandy Springs. Rob has three adult children: Lila, and Ryan, who live in New York, and Henry, a rising senior at Tulane.

We are delighted to have him on board and cannot wait to see how Atlanta’s philanthropy blossoms under his tenure!

Lani Preis In Atlanta Jewish Community

Survey Results Teach Us About Federation’s Community

In February, Federation conducted a Community Snapshot Survey to help us learn a little more about Jewish Atlanta. We received 1,367 responses to the survey, all from adults over 18 who live in the metro Atlanta area.

We learned some fascinating things about our Atlanta Jewish community:

The most important aspects of Judaism for respondents are morals and family/traditions.
Respondents have deep ties to Atlanta; even those who grew-up somewhere else (like New York, Florida, or Chicago) have likely lived in Atlanta for many years.
82% of those who filled out the survey do not plan to move away from Atlanta, and those who are planning some sort of move are likely to move within the metro area.
40% of respondents are over the age of 65, and 67% are women.
Over 71% of respondents either have not designated any charitable giving in their estate planning, or do not have wills at all.

This data, while not entirely surprising from what we knew of our community, still gives us valuable insight into the makeup of Jewish Atlanta. Many of the responses align with community surveys from other areas of the country—especially when it comes to the importance of Jewish morality and traditions.

These results reinforce Federation’s emphasis on investing in overnight camping (a grand tradition in the Jewish community), Gather Grants (which help people form new traditions), and to caring for the vulnerable (a pillar of Jewish morality).

It also shows us that there are opportunities for Federation’s community to consider the importance of legacy giving. Endowments and other legacy gifts are vital to the longevity of Jewish institutions and will help them continue to thrive for decades to come. Jori Mendel, Chief Foundation Officer at the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, says, “Atlanta Jewish Foundation is here to help you plan your legacy—it’s easy and so important. Your generous endowment gifts help to secure our Jewish future and help ensure that Jewish life remains vibrant in Atlanta, in Israel and around the world.”

Thank you to everyone who answered our Community Snapshot Survey. It is one example of our overall investment in data and research. We recently completed an Early Childhood Community Assessment and are working on a qualitative report regarding interfaith families. We are dedicated to focusing on data so we can better understand our community needs and provide the most needed services to our community.

Lani Preis In Atlanta Jewish Community

Thank You by Matt Bronfman

My term as Board Chair ends this month. Since I accepted this position, we have experienced a global pandemic, unprecedented rising antisemitism, and (generally speaking) more requests for aid than I could have anticipated. But serving as Federation Chair has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.

I have been part of fostering community, from our successful Journey to Israel to creating affinity organizations for real estate and technology professionals. I have experienced firsthand the good we do, from pandemic emergency funds, to delivering relief in Ukraine, to supporting our schools and our elderly, to overseeing and providing security for our community organizations.

I am proud to say that Federation has raised and distributed more money in the last two years than in any previous period. I am more convinced than ever in the Federated model of giving. Yes, you should give to the unique charities that engage you. But Federation uniquely speaks for our entire community. We offer wayfinding for those in need of assistance and those looking to provide it; we aggregate community data to anticipate broader needs; we fund both startups and established organizations to ensure that when you need services, they are available to you. In any given year we support over 50 organizations, providing the backbone that makes the Atlanta Jewish community one of the most thriving in the world.

I am so proud to be a part of our community and the Federation team, and I thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Lani Preis In Jewish Education Collaborative

Fellowship Trains Jewish Educators to Teach Israel in New Ways

Do you ever wonder how educators stay on top of best practices and research in their field? In Atlanta and Chicago, one option is the “Shifting the Paradigm” Israel Education Fellowship. This exciting program is an initiative of the Jewish Education Collaborative (JEC) of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, in partnership with the Chicago Jewish education community, the iCenter, and the World Zionist Organization.

The Fellowship was designed specifically for senior educators at supplemental Jewish education programs, and includes 31 individuals (including education directors, rabbis, and community and camp professionals), 13 of whom are from Atlanta. The 18-month fellowship began in January, 2023, and meets online monthly.

Through the Fellowship, educators are exploring new approaches to teaching and learning about Israel, using the latest research. The Fellows have been participating in a series of engaging online sessions with expert faculty, and the program includes an immersive, 8-day learning seminar in Israel.

Rabbi Elana Perry, Director of JEC, says, “This program is special because we don’t always have the opportunity to collaborate with other communities. Demand for this training has been high—initially, we aimed to recruit 6 Atlanta educators to the program; we ended up with 13. And the commitment to an 18-month program shows the dedication of these educators.”

Participants in the Fellowship will use this training to implement new Israel education programs at their home institutions, funded by grants from JEC. Rabbi Elana says, “I’m so excited to see how these educators take this learning and use it to transform the ways in which learners connect and engage with Israel.”

Lani Preis In JumpSpark

Chesed Student Awards Honor Standout Teens

Teens and families, mark your calendars: the Chesed Student Awards are on May 7! JumpSpark and Hadassah are thrilled to honor these outstanding young people from across metro Atlanta.

The Chesed Student Awards have been presented annually by Hadassah since 1992 to one student from each of the local Jewish day schools, participating synagogue religious schools, and Jewish organizations. Each organization chooses its own recipient based on criteria that are paramount to Hadassah and its members: concern for Jews and Jewish culture and heritage, concern for fellow human beings as exemplified through manner and deed, and good academic standing.

Since 2019, two monetary awards have been presented based on student essay submissions:

The Phyllis M. Cohen Leadership Award is named for Hadassah Greater Atlanta Chapter’s past president and major donor, who conceived and developed the Chesed Student Awards program in 1992. Throughout the past 32 years, Phyllis has continued to support this program wholeheartedly. She has been committed to developing young leaders and new leaders, encouraging them to take an active role.

The Linda & Michael Weinroth Chesed Community Service Award is named for Hadassah Ein Karem Chapter’s past president, and her husband, whose support have enabled the Chesed Student Awards for years. Linda is probably best known for her beautiful and thoughtful descriptions of the student recipients, which she delivered so eloquently at each Chesed Awards Program for 20+ years.

The winners of these two awards will be announced at the award ceremony on May 7. Click here to meet this year’s honorees and register for your seat!

Lani Preis In Atlanta Jewish Community

Federation Celebrates Israel @75!

Yom huledet sameach! The State of Israel is turning 75 years old, and Jewish Atlanta is ready to party! Here are a few activities happening in Atlanta this week where you can celebrate the 75th birthday of the country from afar.

The Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
AJFF is showcasing Israel at 75, a retrospective of the cinematic history in the region from its independence date to today. This hybrid event will occur both in-person and on AJFF’s Virtual Cinema platform. It kicked off on April 23 and continues through April 30th. Click here to see the full lineup of offerings.

Community Reception
The Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta, in partnership with Georgia State, local governments, the Jewish community of Atlanta, and the Atlanta community at large, are excited to unite under one roof for an evening of solidarity, recognition, and celebration. This event will be a highly visible reminder of the strength of the bond between Atlanta and Israel. Wednesday, April 26, at 6 PM. Location provided upon registration. Click here to learn more.

Food Truck Thursday
The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta is excited to partner with the Jewish Federation of Greater of Atlanta and other communal organizations for a community-wide celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Israel’s 75th Independence Day. This celebration at Brook Run Park, as part of Food Truck Thursday, will include live music, kosher food options, activities, and a teen zone. Thursday, April 27, from 5:00 – 8:30 PM. Brook Run Park, 4770 N Peachtree Rd, Dunwoody, GA 30338.

These are just a few of the festivities that will be happening this week. Be sure to check the Atlanta Jewish Connector for more!

Lani Preis In Federation News

This Year, In Jerusalem

Shalom! We just finished Federation’s long-awaited Community Journey, and I am writing this piece while I am still here, in Israel. To be here on the cusp of the country’s 75th birthday is almost unimaginable. A place that, at least my entire life, we always talked about, dreamed about, and worried about, is really 75. It’s a modern country now, full of life and diversity and all the complexities that come with that.

It’s truly an honor to be here with so many members of our community. It’s been wonderful to have 10 of our communal rabbis, many of the heads of our Jewish agencies in Atlanta, and so many of my colleagues from Federation on this trip. This is a very diverse group of people from our community, including observant individuals and more secular individuals, those on the right and those on the left, gay and straight, first-timers and people who have visited Israel multiple times, old and young. It’s a beautiful representation of JewishATL.

While we are visiting here during a very intense political moment, it has not impacted the experience. I’m especially proud of the options we have given participants. I spent one day on a hike that was absolutely beautiful, to a part of Israel I never been to. I spent another day visiting sites like Caesarea with first timers, and another visiting places like the Israel Blood Bank, which was a vision of our very own Marcus Foundation in Atlanta. It’s been beautiful each evening to come back and feel and hear the buzz of everyone bragging about the experiences they had through various eyes around this wonderful country.

We started this trip on Holocaust Remembrance Day. We heard from Dr. Rachel Korazim, who is a Holocaust expert, and she framed the importance of this day in profound ways. In addition to recognizing the continued trauma the Shoah has caused our people. She also gave us context for understanding the division in the country right now and helped us to recognize the importance of understanding the perspective of other people before you judge their opinions. For instance, a Satmar Hassid in 1930’s Europe saw the world very differently than a secular Jew in Budapest. It reminded me that listening and understanding others is more important than judging others on perspectives that don’t align with mine.

Another highlight on this trip was when we visited our partner city in Yokneam. We each visited with local families and were welcomed into their homes. It was wonderful to have open conversations with these families and be welcomed into their homes with their families to share a meal. They are families just like ours in Atlanta, trying to make sure their families feel connected to their Jewish identities. There’s so much we can learn from one another and it’s so beautiful to have these relationships.

The importance of our community visiting Israel is not just to experience it, but to bring it home. Half of the Jewish world is in Israel now, and it’s so important that as we build a Jewish future in Atlanta, we have a living bridge to Israel. We are one family living in two different places and we must be connected. The only way we will be connected is through peoplehood, and that means relationships of people to people.

As Israel has reached the age of 75. It’s more important than ever that the Atlanta community spend time strengthening their ties to Israel and understanding its history, its challenges, and its opportunity to be an important force to the future of the Jewish world as we know it. It must be a part of all our educational experiences, and it must continue to be a part of our philanthropy. We are so blessed to be living in an age where we can celebrate Israel’s 75th and still live free as a vibrant Jewish community in a city like Atlanta. Let’s continue to build and strengthen this bridge in every way that we can, and let’s come back here as often as we can.

Eric M. Robbins is the President and CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta

Lani Preis In Jewish Abilities Atlanta

The Advocacy Efforts of Jewish Abilities Atlanta

Jewish Abilities Atlanta advocates for Jewish people with disabilities and works to ensure that Jewish spaces are accessible to all people. The JAA community is full of bright, talented individuals who advocate for themselves and their peers and work to make Jewish Atlanta inclusive for individuals like Susan Berch:

Susan Berch has worked at Jewish Family & Career Services for the last 29 years, but not everyone knows her passion for advocacy. One form of self-advocacy that Susan is involved in is Supported Decision-Making (SDM). It involves getting a person support with making a decision. This process can vary from person to person, but the foundation of SDM is creating a plan that shows who will support the individual, and how. The plan must respect the person’s autonomy by making sure they make their own decisions and that their decision-making rights are not removed or diluted. Susan used SDM when she recently planned a vacation to Hawaii with her friends, and when she bought her condominium 20 years ago, as well as other day-to-day decisions.

For most people, having choice and control over their daily lives is deeply important. But many people with disabilities don’t have access to making everyday choices and decisions. This is why JAA works to raise awareness of SDM. JAA hosted a SDM webinar where Susan presented with other colleagues on the importance of SDM and how it is a human right. JAA continues to provide education and support so people with disabilities can have the opportunity that Susan has: to live the life of their choosing.