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Supporting Teens and Soldiers

By Atlanta Jewish Community, Global News

We are relieved that the ceasefire is holding, and we thank Gd that life is getting back to normal here in Israel. However, we experienced a tremendous loss with the death of Omer Tabib. Omer Tabib was born in Moshav Elyakim and was the eldest of Tali and Amir Tabib’s two children. Omer was killed by an anti-tank missile in the Gaza Perimeter, while patrolling near Moshav Netiv Ha’asara. 

Itzik Holovsky, head of the Megiddo Regional Council remembered Omer with these words: A terrible disaster fell on us yesterday, out of the blue. The heart is torn and the head refuses to believe. There is no consolation for the terrible loss. It doesn’t make sense and it’s not normal for a father to read Kaddish for his son. Omer Tabib was killed at the gates of Gaza by a missile fired by the damned and vile Hamas. Omer was active in Bnei Akiva, an outstanding student at Hatikva School in the Moshav and the Megiddo High School and was loved by everyone. An excellent athlete, a talented water ball player, he was an outstanding soldier who received the IDF award from his unit. In just another month he was supposed to be released – how terrible, how painful! 

Read on for an update on how we are faring in Yokneam and Megiddo after the bombardment.                                            

Supporting IDF soldiers from the Elyakim Base: There is an army base in our region that is very close to Moshav Elyakim. The Partnership steering committee decided to support the soldiers on the base and show them how much our communities think about them during this challenging time. Committee members, who had participated in fundraising courses supported by Federation, raised 2,100 ILS in four days and delivered 60 trays of pizza and drinks to the soldiers. Rebecca, our new steering committee member who was the champion of this initiative said, “Today we had the honor of delivering and handing out 60 pizzas plus drinks to Base Elyakim. We got to chat with the soldiers and they literally could not stop thanking us. Within minutes it was gobbled up! There were some serious smiles and laughter.” 

Supporting Atlanta & St. Louis Lone Soldiers: The connection between the Partnership Region, Atlanta, and St. Louis IDF soldiers was strengthened during this operation. The “adoptive” families of our Lone Soldiers and our committee members called each of them to make sure all was okay and to see how we can help. June 10 will mark our first visitors in the region after COVID-19, from Hillels of GeorgiaSeven soldiers confirmed their participation for dinner in our region. There are also videos and letters that schools created for the soldiers, such as this one from The Davis Academy:  

Megiddo is hosting teens from the southThe Megiddo Regional Council is hosting 150 teens from the south of Israel for a respite from the challenging situation. There is real need to help the teens recover from these difficult times, and Megiddo is helping to provide that. The Federation of St. Louis helped with funding part of the costs of the meals for the teens.  

5/28 – A Day for Menstrual Equity

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, PHILANTHROPY

The average length of a menstruating person’s period is five days. The average length of a menstrual cycle is 28 days. Those numbers inspired advocates around the world, and our own Women’s Philanthropy activists, to declare Menstrual Equity Day on 5/28.

Providing menstrual supplies to Atlantans who cannot afford them has been a major focus of Women’s Philanthropy for more than a year. Through Project Dignity, our women have engaged friends, families, and Jewish teens from JumpSpark to collect and distribute more than 100,000 menstrual supplies across Atlanta. Lori Peljovich, who helps lead the initiative says, “It’s been a great hands-on way to have an impact during the pandemic because much of the shopping can be done online. I’ve been so impressed by the women of our community when asked to step up and engage.”

“Project Dignity has been so successful that we’ve been able to partner with a number of organizations in our community to expand our reach,” Peljovich said. “We were overwhelmed by the response, and we will try to do collection drives twice a year in order to keep increasing our distribution to those in need.” To get involved contact: Yael Sherman, Director of Women’s Philanthropy, ysherman@jewishatlanta.org

Some surprising facts about menstruation equity:

  • In her lifetime, a woman will spend approximately 3,500 days (equivalent to almost 10 years) menstruating.
  • Approximately 70 percent of women use tampons and may use 11,000-15,000 in their lifetime.
  • 1 in 10 college students in the U.S—a relatively privileged group—experience period poverty, which has clear ties to stress-related mental health.
  • In a 2019 study of low-income women, almost two-thirds of respondents reported not being able to afford the products they needed in the last year.
  • According to a 2019 study, 1 in 5 teens in the U.S. could not afford period products, and 1 in 4 have missed class because they did not have access to pads or tampons.
  • In the state of Georgia, we have Georgia STOMP (Stop Tax on Menstrual Products), working in the legislature to eliminate the 4 percent state tax on items necessary to manage periods. Georgia STOMP has over 15,000 members and helped to introduce HB 8, which has yet to pass.

According to NY Rep. Carolyn Maloney, 2021 ushered in major policy reforms for menstrual equity around the world. New Year’s Day marked the end of the tampon tax in England —the culmination of a seven-year organizing campaign. Scotland made history as the first nation to mandate free period products to anyone in need.

Here in the United States, there have been notable advances, too. Back in March, when Congress passed the CARES Act, it included a long-sought provision: reclassification of menstrual products as qualified medical expenses, meaning they now can be purchased with pre-tax dollars via employee health savings and flexible spending accounts.

Our Board Co-Chairs Look Back

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, PHILANTHROPY

Lisa Galanti Rabinowitz and Lori Kagan Schwarz are ending a year of purpose and partnership as Co-Chairs of the Federation Board of Trustees. To say that they could not have imagined the challenges they would face together is an understatement at best. These talented women handled their roles with grace, grit, and flexibility in a time of unique stress and community need. We asked Lisa and Lori to reflect on their year of leadership below. We hope you will join us (virtually) at the 115th Annual Meeting, when we’ll thank them formally, for the love and commitment that carried all of us through this extraordinary year.

A Year of Love and Blessing

By Lisa Galanti Rabinowitz

By Lisa Galanti Rabinowitz
A year ago I eagerly anticipated connecting in person with Jewish Atlanta’s people, agencies, and organizations. Instead, we faced a wicked curveball. Specifically, the best-of-times responsibility, honor, and privilege to serve as Co-Chair of the Federation Board of Trustees collided with the worst of times as we isolated at home with disease, death, and uncertainty swirling mercilessly.
Yet, Federation could waste no time. The only path forward was to move in concert and with resilience to ensure the health and well-being of our Jewish people and 100+ Jewish Atlanta organizations.
Blessed with a communal cocoon and Federation’s sacred mission “To care for, connect, and strengthen Jewish communities throughout metro Atlanta, Israel, and the world,” the Zoom-Zoom of life took hold. Computer screens adorned with faces of servant leaders in little squares mobilized as indomitable sparkplugs to plow forward exuberantly and forcefully to do good and to do right. In return, and with transcendent spirit, YOU, our Jewish community, gave generously with time, wisdom, and wealth to care for, connect, and strengthen Jewish community.
Through the worst of times together Jewish Atlanta brought powerful grit, passionate purpose, and unyielding dedication every single day. Together we worked with resolve, ingenuity, and heart – united in the optimistic quest to thrive in the face of difficulty, as we have for centuries. And it was, therefore, the best of times.
While we begin to put this past year’s test of will behind us, let us also heartily celebrate with immense respect, abiding love, and great blessing how our Jewish Atlanta and Federation embody a conjoined heartbeat that keeps on giving. Here’s to continued good to come, even amidst life’s ever-present ebbs and flows. Onward and upward we grow together!

Inspired by Our Stories

By Lori Kagan Schwarz

By Lori Kagan Schwarz
I am a bit of a data geek. It’s not the numbers per se that fascinate me; it’s the Federation stories behind them that reveal the character and promise of our community. In a year when the world felt like it was spinning out of control, the stories from across our Atlanta Jewish community were all the motivation I needed.

The $4.3 million raised for Federation’s Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund tells a tale of donors who came together with warp speed to care for seniors in solitude, struggling families, over-burdened Jewish institutions, and those in need of food and basic necessities.

A record of nearly 1,000 camp scholarships were awarded this year speaks to the magic of Jewish overnight camp and our community’s commitment to making camp affordable for so many.

Behind the seven Shinshinim who still came to Atlanta overcoming all of the COVID restrictions is a story about the unbelievably inspiring Israeli high school graduates taking a gap year in Atlanta before military service. Working long days in our day schools and synagogues, with our youth groups, and in our camps, the Shinshinim infuse our community with their passion and love for Israel.

These stories, and especially the people behind them — the volunteers, professionals, communal leaders, and donors — fill me with gratitude and hope.

Day School Seniors Reflect on an Abnormal Year

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

Federation extends warm congratulations to all of our high school graduates and also acknowledges that this has been a difficult year for them. The pandemic required students to deal with hybrid of virtual and in-person learning. Many felt deprived of the beloved rituals that come with senior year. Social distance protocols kept friends apart. We asked Gabe Weiss, a senior at Atlanta Jewish Academy, and Lili Stadler, who is graduating from The Weber School, to share what they experienced this year, what they missed, and where they are headed next. 

Lili Stadler, The Weber School:
Last March, I was a junior in high school dealing with an insane course load, the stress of taking the SAT, and was soon to be diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Now, I have overcome both of my mental illnesses, gotten into every college I applied to, and am going to Georgia Tech, my dream school next year. Being a senior amidst a global pandemic has meant a lot of things to me: it has taught me to appreciate the small things in life, such as the feeling of hugging my grandmother and catching up over a home-cooked meal, but most importantly, it has taught me to let go of the things I cannot control and make the most of what I have.  

Every year, the seniors at Weber go on a month-long trip to Israel; however, this year, we did not. The trip is an opportunity to finish our high school years with a culmination of everything we have learned about friendship, Judaism, and Israel. Although there is a place in my heart that yearns to have had that experience, my friends and I have made up for it in different ways. We lost our trip to Israel, but we remain thankful for the memories we did get to make together at school and on the weekends. Being apart from one another for so long has taught us to appreciate the moments we have together before college. 

Gabe Weiss, Atlanta Jewish Academy:
I chose to study remotely for my senior year due to a family health situation. As someone who’s mostly introverted, I initially looked forward to staying remote. However, losing out on the excitement of senior year felt worse than I expected. Missing events such as leading Battle of the Classes, giving a senior talk at the end of school, and even missing some privileges, such as having an exclusive senior lounge, really affected me. I realized that I will never have the opportunity to experience these privileges again.  

Most importantly, I missed being able to interact with my classmates, both close friends and mere acquaintances. I know that there will be so few times that I will get to see them all again after we graduate. Additionally, learning became so much more difficult. At home, I often get distracted, have internet issues, or have a lack of motivation due to everything feeling the same and there being no distinction between school life and home life. The coronavirus situation has proven the old Yiddish phrase “Man plans, God laughs.” I may have been looking forward to experiencing being a senior in high school, but it was not destined for me. Next year I am attending the joint program between List College (JTS) and Columbia University. 

Looking ahead to the Shmita Year

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, Gather Grants, Jewish Journeys

By: Joanna Kobylivker  

Community OrganizerGeorgia Interfaith Power and Light 

The Jewish Climate Action Network of Georgia (JCAN GA) is a newly formed chapter of the Massachusetts based Jewish Climate Action Network. We began as a small but concerned group of Jewish community members who came together to raise awareness and create solutions around climate change.  Our diverse group represents several congregations, from spiritual leaders to climate scientists to moms and dads who simply want an earth for future generations to enjoy. We strongly believe the Atlanta Jewish community has a unique opportunity to be part of the solution. 

Our specific mission is to promote environmental stewardship though Jewish community building. By coming together, we can: 

  • Inspire and mobilize Jewish communities to take leadership and participate in bold climate campaigns and reduce carbon footprints. 
  • Develop and provide infrastructural, informational, and educational resources to any and all Jewish groups: synagogues, community centers, day schools, camps, youth groups, parent groups, all of us.  

How will we do this? By working with strong community partnerships both in Atlanta and around the country who are already doing this important work. We are very excited to announce a partnership with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light (GIPLwith where I will be serving as a dedicated staff member, to Joanna Kobylivker, who will engage with our Jewish community.  

When will this work begin? It’s already started! JCAN GA members have already held several virtual events through partnerships with Repair the WorldLimmud Atlanta and Southeast, and various congregations.  

Much more is to come with the upcoming Shimta year.  The Shmita Year is part of a cycle analogous to the weekly Sabbath but taking place once every seven years as opposed to every seven days. Also known as the Year of Release, Shmita invites each of us to re-examine our relationship with the earth, with the Divine, and with one another. In the Shmita year, we rest alongside the land; we share the abundance of our landscapes as equals with one another and with the wild creatures; money is deemphasized; and debts are released.  

As a community, we are setting intentions and goals for how we will bring Shmita values to life in the form of environmental sustainability. Caring for our earth is part of being Jewish.  From the great philosopher Maimonides to the late Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, we are taught and reminded in countless texts of our duty to honor this beautiful earth that G-d created. We say prayers, celebrate holidays, and are always encouraged to be humble and grateful for what we have been given. We can demonstrate that gratitude by protecting the earth, and there is no greater time than now.  

Thou Shalt Eat Ice Cream! (And Other Shavuot Observances)

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING

This year the Jewish holiday of Shavuot (literally, the festival of weeks) which celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, falls on May 17-18.  We wanted to give our readers a heads up on what Shavuot means and how you might observe it here in Atlanta. 

What’s it all aboutShavuot falls seven weeks after Passover at the end of the counting of the Omer. In biblical times, Shavuot was one of three pilgrimage festivals in which all the Jewish men would go to Jerusalem and bring their first fruits (usually grain) as offerings to God. Today, we celebrate Shavuot by going to synagogue to hear the recitation of the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth. Check the websites of individual synagogues to see what they have planned for Shavuot this year. 

Holiday Highlights & Traditions: Many people invite friends for festive meals of dairy foods which evoke the nourishment of the Torah as “mother’s milk. Blintzes filled with cheese are the quintessential Ashkenazi Shavuot treat. Some Sephardi Jews serve flaky cheese-filled pastries called bourekas. 

  • Monday, May 17, join the Chabad Intown Community for Thou Shalt Eat Ice Creaman outdoors iccream party. Gather at Chabad Intown on the BeltLine (outdoors) at 5:30 pm to hear the Ten Commandments followed by ice cream, snacks, and a light dinner for the kids! This event is free of charge. RSVP here. 

Stay Up Late Learn: Many people follow the custom of staying up all night to study Torah texts, including mystical tractates of the Zohar where the tradition of midnight study comes from.  

Raising Up Great Leaders

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING

A cohort of twenty organizational leaders representing fourteen organizations across Jewish Atlanta will soon complete an intensive leadership and board development program called OnBoard, brought to our community in partnership with a national foundation. But their “graduation” from the program is really just the beginning of their leadership journey. OnBoard is a leadership launching pad that challenges and stretches each participant’s capacity to be effective inside their current organizations and in any future roles.

Their training is right in step with Federation’s role as a Community Champion. Raising up strong leaders has an amazing ripple effect within an organization, and ultimately on our entire Jewish ecosystem. By investing in leaders, we strengthen the community’s collective capacity to meet current challenges, to ensure stable succession planning, and to be ready for the future.

The OnBoard program is uniquely invested not just in the development of the fellows, but also in increasing organizational capacity at the organizations in which they serve.  In addition to intense seminar and Jewish learning and coaches who work individually with OnBoard fellows, the board of each organization engaged in a self-assessment process, and each organization was granted $10,000 to work with an outside consultant on a project identified as an area of opportunity to strengthen their board functioning. At the conclusion of the formal learning part of the program next month, each organization will now also apply for a 1:1 matching challenge grant of $100,000 for projects that increase organizational capacity. If all our participating organizations are successful in meeting their challenge grants, Jewish Atlanta will see an infusion of more than $1.5 million of outside dollars coming into the community for substantial impact!

Wally Levitt, CEO of Ramah Darom values his OnBoard experience. “In these challenging and unusual times, every non-profit leader is turning to their board of directors more than ever for support and guidance. Ramah Darom is so appreciative to be part of the OnBoard program, providing valuable training and guidance to our board members and professional leadership. The topics covered were relevant, and the quality of the speakers has been exceptional. We know that this experience will help ensure Ramah Darom continues to thrive.” 

Representing The Breman Museum as a fellow, Adam Koplan also feels his organization has benefitted from an OnBoard consulting grant. “We used the grant for taking a hard look at our board and asking how we might be an even more effective tool for growing The Breman. We created an action plan to revitalize and optimize board participation around a target set of priorities: re-aligning the whole team around our future vision and strategic plan, reviewing committee structures and charters, creating a board matrix of skills and strengths, and increasing our awareness around Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.”  

“We also benefitted from personal training with wonderful national experts on fundraising and board structures/governance. We meet monthly in intensive four-hour training blocks for an MBA style class in these key areas of non-profit leadership. The training has already made me more engaged and knowledgeable in this board revamp process and successful fundraising strategies over time,” Koplan said. 

Ana Robbins, Executive Director of Jewish Kids Groups said, “High functioning boards drive impactful organizations. OnBoard has been a learning accelerator for our whole organization, positioning us for new heights and greater impact.”

OnBoard is strengthening our local leaders right where they are, right on the job. Several fellows have become board chair of their organization in the midst of the program. These investments in rising leaders and organizations positions Jewish Atlanta to become an even stronger and more impactful ecosystem.  

Participants in the OnBoard cohort:
Atlanta Jewish Academy: Leanne, Kaplan, Pia Koslow Frank
The Epstein School: David Poline
Jewish Kids Groups: Sara Watson
Camp Coleman (URJ): Myndi Carter, Jackie Dalton
Ramah Darom: Angela Cohen
Hillels of Georgia: Kara Adler
The Breman Jewish Heritage Museum: Adam Koplan
Jewish Family & Career Services: Rashelle Berry, Zak Koffler
Jewish Home Life Communities: Andrea Lipman
Jewish Fertility Foundation: Lynn Goldman
Congregation Bet Haverim: Barry Golivesky, Amy Price
Congregation Ohr Ha Torah: Marci Joel, Raanon Gal
Temple Beth Tikvah: Todd Boehm, Robert Rickles
Congregation Shearith Israel: Blair Rothstein 

 

Pandemic Learning: Humans Crave Connection

By Atlanta Jewish Community, CARING, People in Need

May is mental health awareness month, and good time to look more closely at Federation and Jewish Family & Career Services (JF&CS) recent COVID-19 Jewish Community Self-Care Study. The study revealed that two particular age groups in our community experienced the greatest stress and anxiety during the pandemic year. Many mental health issues, including substance abuse, surfaced from the survey, but the deep need for activities that support human connection was evident across all age groups. 

Under 24yearolds reported high levels of anxiety and loneliness because they couldn’t be with their friends. They also worried about the vulnerability of older loved ones to the virus. We know that a robust social life is core to this age group.Those under 24 lack the life experience to cope and understand that this too will pass. As we think about responses to their needs, a core question for this age group is how do we help them build resilience skills and stronger selfcare practices? 

35-44yearolds, especially parents who were homeschooling their kids, were deeply affected by the combined stressors of meeting their responsibilities to their families and doing their jobs. They feared the illness, were anxious about supervising their childrens’ education, and felt high stress around taking care of others. Core questions for this age group: TV watching, visiting in person, exercise, being outdoors, and cooking sustained this group. How can we balance their family responsibilities with their need for personal care? 

Dan Arnold, Director of Clinical Services at JF&CS believes the stress we are experiencing may not subside any time soon. He cites the “Shadow Pandemic” where mental health concerns are expected to follow even as COVID cases decline, “We’re in the midst of a collective trauma,” Arnold says. “Trauma often overwhelms the ability to cope and diminishes the ability to feel a full range of emotions. Clinicians need to understand the sense of betrayal, confusion, and loss that so many are feeling.” 

Amy Glass, a director in Federation’s Community Planning and Impact helped design and field the self-care survey. She feels theres a strong community call to action coming out of the results. “I hope every Jewish professional will think creatively about how their programs can enhance mental health resilience. want us to come together to mine new responses from our organizations that address supporting good mental health. The survey showed that people want exercise buddies, and activities that bring people together — they want to feel connected!” 

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