I am a wife and mother to a 4-year-old, currently residing in Atlanta but originally from South Florida. When I first moved to town, I encountered numerous challenges such as the absence of Jewish friends, a synagogue, or a strong Jewish identity.
But when I met my husband (who is not Jewish), things changed. Together, we have cultivated a thriving interfaith life filled with traditions and a close-knit group of interfaith friends thanks to initiatives funded by Federation.
Honeymoon Israel was instrumental in helping me find my community. In 2018, my husband and I traveled to Israel, an experience that proved to be transformational for both our lives and our marriage.
Shortly after our return, we welcomed our son into the world, and I became a PJ Library mom. Due to the constraints of COVID-19, we were confined to our home, making the monthly book deliveries from PJ Library our son’s first exposure to Judaism.
Now, we incorporate various elements of Jewish tradition into our lives. We use Honeymoon Israel candle holders to recite blessings together on Friday nights, and my husband has adopted his favorite Honeymoon Israel challah recipe and cover. Recently, my son joined me in services with Ma’alot, and he has formed incredible friendships through community events and neighborhood groups.
I am immensely grateful for the programs supported by Federation in our community. My love for Atlanta runs deep, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to give back through my work in my new professional role at Federation. I aspire to provide support to another families in the same way that Federation supported me.
