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Atlanta Jewish Community

Jun 28 2021
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Expanded Emergency Services for Georgia and Regional Holocaust Survivors

By AgeWell Atlanta, Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, People in Need

We are excited to share that Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and JF&CS have become KAVOD SHEF initiative partners. The additional KAVOD SHEF funding will help meet the needs of survivors in Georgia and the Southeast region primarily for home care needs. It will be administered by JF&CS and will supplement Claims Conference funding and the impactful work of the Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF) improving the lives of survivors who need assistance.

Since 2016, Federation’s Holocaust Survivor Support Fund (HSSF), under the leadership of Cherie Aviv, has provided funding to address shortfalls from the Claims Conference to meet the needs of survivors in their final years. These funds provide survivors with grocery food gift cards, home-delivered meals, medical/dental-related needs, homecare, emergency assistance, and more in Georgia and remote locations in the Southeast.

There are 160 survivors in Georgia, and 58 in the regional program, who receive some type of financial assistance from the Claims Conference and/or HSSF funding. More than 25 percent of survivors receiving support have annual incomes that fall below the Federal Poverty Level.

Home care continues to be the most needed service and the costliest and additional help is now coming for survivors in Georgia and the Southeast region. The Seed the Dream Foundation has partnered with KAVOD, a long-time advocate for survivors, to establish the KAVOD Survivors of the Holocaust Emergency Fund (SHEF). KAVOD SHEF exponentially multiplies the dollars and vital services directly reaching survivors and ensuring their dignity and quality of living.

Jun 22 2021
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Atlanta Innovates Again: World’s First Inclusive Melton Program

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, Jewish Abilities Atlanta

The Florence Melton School is the largest adult Jewish learning program in the world. Atlanta’s Melton program, part of the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning at the MJCCA, has one of the largest enrollments in North America. So, leave it to Atlanta to pioneer the world’s first inclusive Melton class that brings adults with and without disabilities together to learn virtually.

The unique, inclusive, Melton curriculum, called Members of the Tribe (MOT) is in its second semester with an enrollment of 17 students. It has been hailed as a ground-breaking effort to break barriers in adult education. Discussions are underway with the Florence Melton School Institute at Hebrew University about replicating the local Atlanta adaptation of the curriculum worldwide.

“We would never have had this class without guidance and support from the Jewish Abilities Alliance of Atlanta (JAA),” said Talya Gorsetman, who runs adult learning at the MJCCA. “JAA introduced us to Jay Kessler who helped it. Even more crucially, JAA has guided us about the nuances of inclusive language and other best practices when working with people of diverse abilities. Our teachers have also been wonderful, and we are so proud that this curriculum is going global.”

As for Jay Kessler, this longtime Jewish advocate in Atlanta for people with disabilities is both a cheerleader and recruiter who attends every class. “When Talya Gorsetman first told me about the class, I knew it had the unique potential to connect people with disabilities to people without disabilities,” Kessler said. “Every time I attend class, I am inspired. Devorah Lowenstein, this semester’s teacher asked the class, ‘what’s precious to you?’ A student named Rachel Gray, who has Down syndrome said, ‘My soul is precious to me, because my soul teaches me how to talk to God.’  “The Rebbe himself couldn’t have said it better.”

Jun 11 2021
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Elated Parents, Happy Kids

By Atlanta Jewish Community, Jewish Camp Initiative

The much-anticipated re-opening of Jewish camps for summer 2021 is happening in full force! Duffle bags are being packed. Names are being written on everything, even masks!  Staff is on site at all of our regional overnight camps, and campers have begun to arrive. Our Jewish day camps are bursting with energy.   

Jewish Camp Initiative Manager, Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez, has been joyful and even a little teary to see so many kids returning to camp or going for the first time.  “A year ago, we had no idea what the future of Jewish camping looked like. And now, our camps are filled with campers and staff ready to dive back in and re-engage with this amazing immersive summer experience.”  

But don’t just take our word for it, hear from parents and professionals who are witnessing Summer 2021’s glorious reopening first-hand: 

A Camp Barney Mom:
Michelle Michelman, who grew up in New Orleans, is a Camp Barney Medintz alumna. Not surprisingly, her older daughter Ava, 11 has spent three fabulous summers at Barney and was heartbroken over last summer’s shut-down. “Ava talked about camp all year long in incredible detail — Shabbat, the ‘Blob,’ and her favorite activities. When she felt down about missing camp, she just texted her friends. We dropped Ava off last weekend and her younger sister Liza will be at Barney later this summer for a 10-day session for younger kids.” 

“I have no anxiety about my girls being at camp this summer in regards to COVID-19 or their general safety. Going through Hurricane Katrina taught me a lot about coming through on the other side. Our camps have spent a lot of time and planning to ensure our kids have a safe summer. 

To me, camp is a remarkable skill-building, growing experience — it’s everything! I jokingly tell the kids, ‘We will eat ramen noodles in order to send you to camp.’ It’s that important.”

Day Camp Parent:
Gabby Sirner-Cohen, said, “What a relief it was to drop off my little guy at In the City Camps on Monday morning. Their COVID protocols eased my nerves, and the warm, friendly staff eased my son’s nerves.” 

A Camp Director:
Danny Herz, Director of URJ 6 Points Sports Academy says: “Being back on campus brings such great anticipation for a wonderful summer ahead of transformative Jewish experiences. The energy is palpable, and I cannot wait to see the smiles on faces and the excitement amongst our staff and faculty after almost two years of being away! We are thrilled to be able to have our community of Jewish athletes be whole and together once again!” 

A Camp Counselor Parent:
Gayle Smith said, “My daughter Gabrielle is up at Ramah Darom right now for staff training. We moved to Atlanta from Memphis while she was still in high school, and this is her first time going to a Jewish overnight camp. Gabrielle was lucky to get active in BBYO here and it connected her to a great group of Jewish girls who were going to be counselors this summer. She said, ‘I want this.’ Our family has moved quite a bit and Gabrielle’s exposure to Jewish life has been up and down, but it has really expanded since we moved to Atlanta.”

“I’m excited for her and thrilled that she chose to work at camp, all on her own, right before going to college. Her brother Ethan, 12 will be a first-time camper at Ramah for second session and we’re so grateful for the One Happy Camper grant that’s getting him there.”

Jun 04 2021
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June is Pride Month! Here’s How to Celebrate:

By Atlanta Jewish Community, Gather Grants

National Pride month is a special time: as President Biden said in a proclamation, “Pride is both a jubilant communal celebration of visibility and a personal celebration of self-worth and dignity.”  In June, SOJOURN, Atlanta’s advocacy organization for LGBTQ+ issues, will honor the beautiful partnerships and communities that are happening in Atlanta and continue to educate the Jewish community so that all children, teens, and adults feel worthy, affirmed, and valued.  

To celebrate Pride month, SOJOURN will be hosting a series of conversations via Instagram Live to educate, inspire, and connect with our community. Follow us @sojourngsd to tune in! 

 

Jun 04 2021
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Ten Meaningful Weeks

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, People in Need

With the understanding that the pandemic has disproportionately impacted our cities, Repair the World Atlanta launched a local cohort of Serve the Moment last fall. It offers a ten-week opportunity with a stipend for young adults to engage in critical racial justice work, tackle food insecurity, strengthen our education system, and combat social isolation, alongside contextual and Jewish learning. We’re honored to share reflections from two members of the Serve the Moment Corps, Justine Stiftel and Grace Parker, who were clearly changed and challenged during their service in Atlanta this spring.  

A fall cohort of Serve the Moment will soon be recruiting new members. To be put on the email list for the Fall 2021 application, please email servethemoment@werepair.org   

Justine Stiftel (They/Them):
“You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it,” the famed quote from Pirkei Avot (The Ethics of the Fathers), came up frequently during my time as a Serve the Moment Corps Member through Repair the World. Indeed, the twenty young adults in our spring cohort could never have finished our work responding to the lasting economic and social effects of the pandemic. Nonetheless, we made plenty of headway repairing our communities and strengthening our connections to Judaism. 

I had the pleasure of being partnered with Second Helpings Atlanta, a non-profit redistributing surplus food to those in need. I revised and evaluated their contact system, improving communications with their food donors, partner agencies, and volunteers. I learned the serious impact that the pandemic had on food access in our city. Thirty to forty percent of the food produced in America ends up in landfills, while one in five children in Atlanta is food insecure. It was an honor to contribute to fixing this disconnect. 

At our cohort’s weekly calls, we reflected on our experiences with our different non-profits. We heard from Jewish leaders and non-profits across the metro, expanding our knowledge of the needs of the most vulnerable populations. As the program lined up with the seven weeks of the Omer, we often connected with the seven lower sefirot. 

In 10 meaningful weeks, Serve the Moment has enabled me to learn about my city, my career goals, and my Judaism.  

Grace Parker (She/Her):
If there’s one thing that I learned from this past year it is that even in the toughest of times, there is always a silver lining. For me, that silver lining has been my experience with Repair the World’s Serve the Moment program and my partner organization, Concrete Jungle, a local nonprofit working to address food insecurity. Through Serve the Moment, I was able to dedicate the extra time on my hands toward meaningful and impactful work during a period that felt overwhelmingly helpless and hopeless for so many, myself included.

Having just moved to Atlanta during the pandemic, I was also able to connect to my newfound community in a truly special way — meeting new people, seeing new places, and taking part in conversations I would not have been exposed to otherwise. I feel incredibly grateful for this program and the countless lessons it has granted me, from lessons in empathy to a deeper connection with Jewish community service to fresh perspectives on rectifying the injustices our world faces now more than ever. I did this program to serve others, but ultimately, with each smiling face receiving their weekly nutritious groceries, I was given the greatest gift of all. 

Jun 04 2021
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The Power of Unity

By Atlanta Jewish Community, Global News

Unity in the Face of Antisemitism  
By Allison Padilla-Goodman 
Vice President, ADL Southern Division

Jews harassed with antisemitic slurs as they walk down the street. Synagogues vandalized and receiving antisemitic threats. Jews stalked and assaulted for no other reason than for being Jewish. Online antisemitic content reaching new heights on social media platforms, with an ADL analysis identifying 17,000 tweets using variations of the phrase “Hitler was right” in a single week. 

These are just a few of the painful examples of the dangerous escalation of antisemitism in the U.S. in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict last month. In fact, antisemitic incidents reported to ADL increased by 75 percent during the conflict. 

The anxiety around antisemitism is real and ADL took action. In response to these disturbing trends, dozens of national organizations joined forces with ADL and Jewish Federations of North America on May 27 in a virtual Day of Action to #ActAgainstAntisemitism. It was tremendous. 

We saw the power of unity in action, with 33,500 participants and thousands of letters sent to members of Congress from across the country to support Jewish communities. We heard from leaders from across the country, who clearly and emphatically condemned antisemitism. These are certainly challenging times when it comes to antisemitism and hatred, yet this rally proved that American Jews will not let the narrative of hatred overwhelm us. Rather, these key moments of solidarity from our friends, and the unity demonstrated within our community, will define who we are and how we continue to persevere. 

All of this is coming on the heels of several years of historically high rates of antisemitism. Last year’s ADL Audit of Antisemitic Incidents revealed the third highest year of antisemitic incident data in our audit’s history. ADL saw sharp increases in antisemitic harassment and the hateful innovation of Zoombombing — two trends we certainly witnessed here in Atlanta last year, over and over again. It can all be overwhelming.  

This is why we must take action. We all must continue to speak up in the media, in Congress, and in our circles, both online and in person. We must never let antisemitism and hatred become normalized. We all must continue to share facts and ensure that everyone understands antisemitism and its impact. We all must continue to show strength and continue to lean into our community and allies as we did at the May 27 virtual rally. Together we must show the world that antisemitism will not be tolerated. 

ADL is here for you. Learn more about our work in the Southeast at https://atlanta.adl.org/ . 

May 28 2021
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AgeWell Atlanta’s Virtual Events Empower Older Adults

By AgeWell Atlanta, Atlanta Jewish Community, Federation Innovation

A hybrid approach to programming, combining in-person and virtual events is likely to remain a strong option after the pandemic. That’s especially true for older adults, and AgeWell Atlanta is leading the way. 

Ashley Maloy who manages the AgeWell Atlanta Neighborhoods program said, “Seniors are requesting virtual programs. During the pandemic older adults gained new technological skills that empowered them to use tablets and computers. Virtual programming also helps increase contact between older adults who live in different parts of Atlanta. Toco Hills residents didn’t want to drive to the JCC but they loved the virtual fitness classes and seeing friends they wouldn’t have seen otherwise.” 

AgeWell Atlanta offers a robust calendar packed with 18-20 programs a week! Click below to see what’s coming up in June. RSVP and get virtual links for upcoming events by contacting Ashley Maloy.

Monday, June 7 | 3:15 pm | Entertainment with Daniel Weiser
Daniel Weiser, pianist and Artistic Director of Amici Music, will present a special Zoom program along with violinist Tim Schwarz entitled Broadway Violin. It will feature some wonderful arrangements of your favorite Broadway hits from the 1920’s to the 1960’s by Gershwin, Arlen, Rodgers, Bernstein, and more. 

Monday, June 8 | 11:30 am | Smart Moves Panel
We are fortunate to be living in a time when life expectancy is far beyond what our ancestors could have dreamed of! With a little careful planning these precious extra years can be filled with joy, happiness, and comfort. Join our team of experts to learn about how to plan for the unexpected. We will cover the topics of Medicare, Legal Needs, Housing, and Living Situations. 

The Panel Will Include:
Kelley Napier with Brannon Napier Elder Law
Keith Nabb with Affordable Medicare Solutions 

Lucretia Farley and Donna Cardenas with Atlanta Communities Real Estate
Caroline Ventry with A Place for Mom
RSVP: https://agewellatl.org/smartmoves/ 

Wednesday, June 23 | 3:15 pm | High Museum of Art — The Evolution of Visual Storytelling
Come along as we explore how storytelling through images has evolved over time with Amanda Williams of the High Museum. We’ll travel from the 17th century through today and consider how context shapes the types of stories told and the methods artists employ in sharing their narratives. 

May 28 2021
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Loving Shabbat, Learning our Heritage

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, Jewish Camp Initiative

Lana Severinsky is one of PJ Library’s Russian Community Coordinators. It’s been her job to spread the word that generous tuition grants are available for kids from Russian speaking Jewish families (RSJ) to attend Jewish overnight camps this summer. The grants are made possible with the generous support of Genesis Philanthropy Group in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC).

Lana’s eight-year-old daughter Vera received an RSJ Camp Access grant and is “beyond excited” go to Camp Coleman in just a few weeks! “My wish for Vera is that camp gives her a sense of the larger Jewish community. She has some Jewish kids in her class, but I want her to understand Jewish peoplehood — what it is to have Shabbat with all your friends, to sing and dance, and feel pride in being Jewish.” 

Elina Brager came to Atlanta from the former Soviet Union 30 years ago at age 18. Opportunities to experience Jewish religion and culture were extremely limited in Russia and there was no such thing as Jewish camp when she was growing up. “Going to camp was just not something Jewish families did. Now the most important thing for me and my family is that we learn our Jewish heritage and celebrate it. That’s why my daughter Naomi is a student at The Epstein School and why we wanted her to go to Ramah Darom the summer before the pandemic. Camp tuition has increased, so this grant makes it possible for Naomi to return.”  

“Naomi really grew at camp. She matured. She felt the joy of being Jewish. Her world expanded. I could see how connected she felt to her friends, to Jewish culture. We are so grateful that she’ll be able to go back to camp this summer.” 

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