CARING

Repair the World and Federation are calling on the Jewish community to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day “a day on, not a day off.” Beginning this Friday, Federation, Repair the World, and our coalition partners will observe MLK Day with a weekend of service opportunities across Atlanta inspired by Dr. King—and you’re invited to join.

The 2023 MLK Weekend of Service is a way for Jews in Atlanta to connect with each other, care for our neighbors, and build resilience for the times we need support. Choose from service projects like tree planting, park clean up, daffodil planting, meal delivery, cooking meals for shelters at home, packing hygiene supplies, and more.

The Weekend of Service will begin with a Racial Justice Shabbat this Friday, January 13. This evening, presented in partnership with Atlanta Jews of Color Council (AJOCC) and OneTable, is an opportunity to begin this impactful weekend with learning, reflection, and mindfulness with and from our Jews of Color (JOC) community.

Service projects will take place January 14 – 16. There are a variety of meaningful service options for all ages, but spots are limited, so be sure to sign up in advance.

This weekend is an opportunity for all to engage in tikkun olam (repairing the world) and in meaningful learning around the legacy of Dr. King.

Click here to register for projects around the Atlanta area. Please join us this weekend and have a Day On!

Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Community Campaign is underway. But what happens to the funds that are raised? The answer is, they are granted to our community partners—incredible organizations in Atlanta and across the world that make a difference in people’s lives. One such group that we are proud to support is Jewish HomeLife.

Jewish HomeLife is Jewish Atlanta’s senior care network that supports people at every stage of aging. Their network is comprised of nine residential communities and at-home care services, including The William Breman Jewish Home, The Cohen Home, Berman Commons, the Jewish Tower, Eckstein Home Care, and Weinstein Hospice, to name a few. Founded in 1951, Jewish HomeLife provides independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing care, rehabilitation, private home care, hospice services, and more.

Stephanie Wyatt, Jewish HomeLife’s Chief Development Officer, says “We partner with Federation in many ways. We are privileged to be part of Federation’s core partners and receive annual allocations that directly benefit our residents. A large portion of these community funds help fill the gap between Medicaid reimbursement and the actual cost of care for those residents, which can exceed $45,000 per resident per year.”

She says another major way Federation supports Jewish HomeLife is through our collaboration with Atlanta. AgeWell is a joint project between Jewish Family & Career Services, Jewish HomeLife, the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and Federation. “The community has a one-stop-shop where people can learn about our services, and the other available services for aging people in Atlanta. It’s expanded our reach and helped more people contact us.”

The key to Jewish HomeLife is that its network serves everyone while being guided by Jewish values. Principles like cherishing life, respecting all people, and restorative justice through family are at the core of Jewish HomeLife. For 70 years, they have served the people of Atlanta, no matter their background or ability to pay.

Stephanie says “Federation is a community resource, and we are grateful for their continued support. Not only do they provide needed financial assistance, but they provide professional development and support through programs such as LIFE AND LEGACY®,  Jacobson Leadership Institute, as well as other trainings and seminars.”

Jewish HomeLife provides numerous services for people who are recovering from surgery, require dementia care, need help with daily living, or who simply could use a companion. They partner with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide subsidized housing for those who need it, and even have a home care agency, Eckstein Home Care, to help those who need caregiver support or trained companions in their own home

Even if you or a loved one do not currently need the help of Jewish HomeLife, you might someday. Stephanie says that it is vital for people to know what they do, and how to contact them. “Everyone ages,” she says, “and we support people while they do.”

To give to Federation and support the work of Jewish HomeLife, click here.

This past Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida, following the University of Georgia (UGA)/University of Florida (UF) football game, there was yet another high-profile instance of antisemitism in the United States. The words, “Kanye is right about the Jews” were projected onto the side of the stadium, as well as other downtown buildings.  

For weeks, the American Jewish community has endured a parade of hateful messages. In few places is this more keenly felt than on college and university campuses. Current college students report that anti-Zionist sentiment on campuses is rampant, and that non-Jewish students conflate their feelings about the Israeli government with their feelings about their Jewish classmates.  

In October, the Anti-Defamation League reported that there were 359 anti-Israel incidents on campuses during the 2021-2022 school year. And on Saturday in Jacksonville, an event between two universities was marred by American antisemitism. 

Wayne Keil, Interim CEO of Hillels of Georgia, awoke at 3:30 am on Sunday morning to a phone call about the incident in Jacksonville. He and his UGA Director, Jeremy Lichtig, spent the morning speaking with officials at UGA, UF, University of Florida Hillel, and the Anti-Defamation League, among others.  

Hillel works to support Jewish students, faculty, and staff on college campuses, and Keil says in moments like this, he sees the value of their daily work. “We’ve been preparing for this, not knowing what ‘this’ would be.” 

“What I found to be most impressive was the ability of so many different people from different organizations to quickly come together,” he says. “Hillel has managed to build bridges into the administrations at these schools so they could quickly speak to each other and release a joint message.”  

That solidarity is extremely important for Jewish college students, who face prejudice from other students, and sometimes even faculty, on campus. In September, AP reported that the University of Vermont is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education after a teaching assistant threatened to give Zionist students lower grades.  

So what can we do? Federation supports programs and organizations, like Hillel, that work with college students. Hillel gives Jewish students a community on campus and gives them tools to address hot-button issues with their peers.  

Federation also funds The Jewish Agency for Israel’s (JAFI) Israel Campus Fellows program, which brings Israeli young adults to work on university and college campuses. The Fellows work to expose Americans, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to real Israeli people in order to diminish stereotypes and help them develop a personal relationship with the people of Israel.  

In the face of rising hatred, it is vital that Jewish people are able to tell our stories and care for our community. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Community Campaign is currently open, and your donations will directly help Jews in Georgia and beyond. When you give to Federation’s Partners Fund, you’re supporting Hillels of Georgia, Israel Campus Fellows, and more. 

Jews are a vibrant, diverse, and strong group of people. We have overcome obstacles and lived through tumultuous times. The way our community mobilizes in a crisis is beautiful and powerful, and today you can be part of rallying against antisemitism. Please visit our website, read about the work of our partners, learn about our own programs, and consider donating to our Community Campaign.  

As Keil says, “They can try to divide us, but they won’t be successful. They never are.” 

We are united against the forces of bigotry. We Are Jewish ATL.