On October 7th, the community of Nahal Oz was devastated by an unimaginable tragedy. Four teenagers were brutally murdered, one was kidnapped, and many others lost family members. Those who survived faced severe trauma, leading to feelings of anger, confusion, and withdrawal.
After relocating to Mishmar HaEmek, a kibbutz in Federation’s Partnership region of Yokneam/Megido, the teenagers initially struggled to engage in social interactions or participate in normal activities.
Federation stepped in to fund new educational programs aimed at re-engaging these teenagers. To aid in their healing and help rebuild a sense of community, a special trip to Greece was organized. This trip included pre-trip group sessions and ongoing support from trauma experts and youth guides.
The results were remarkable. The teenagers began to show improved behavior, punctuality, and respect. They opened up during group sessions, developed empathy, and strengthened their sense of belonging. By the end of the trip, many were discussing their traumatic experiences for the first time and seeking further psychological help.
This success has inspired other communities to adopt similar approaches.
“Attached is a heartfelt thank you letter from the community of Nahal Oz, detailing the Federations’ invaluable support for mental therapy for their youth—a top priority for the kibbutz this year,” said Eliad Eliyahu Ben Shushan, Atlanta & St. Louis Federations’ Representative in Israel Partnership Director Yokneam & Meggido- Atlanta & St. Louis. “Their healing journey to Greece exemplifies how the Federations’ assistance met a crucial need that could not have been addressed without your help. Thank you for your continued support.”
Federation is committed to partnering with Kibbutz Nahal Oz over the next three years as the community recovers from the traumatic attack it endured on October 7th. This partnership is part of a Jewish agency initiative called “Communities Together”, in which communities from the Gaza region are paired with Jewish communities worldwide to support their healing. This initiative is supported by the Israel Emergency Campaign.
Michael Kogon’s commitment to legacy and nurturing the next Jewish generation is deeply ingrained in his DNA. With strong Atlanta roots, Michael fondly recalls attending minyan at Ahavath Achim Synagogue with his grandfather, participating in BBYO youth group events, and attending Sunday morning Federation meetings with his family. His parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents exemplified what it means to care for the local Jewish community, demonstrating steadfast actions and a commitment to philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism.
For Michael, signing the Jewish Future Promise (JFP) was an obvious choice. This moral commitment encourages individuals to allocate at least 50% of their charitable contributions after passing to Jewish causes and/or the State of Israel.
Founded by Atlanta philanthropist and community leader Mike Leven, in collaboration with Amy Holtz, JFP aims to help Jewish families prioritize sharing Jewish stories, values, and traditions with loved ones. The Promise is a moral, not legal, commitment. In today’s climate, uniting the Jewish community in support of itself and Israel is more critical than ever.
When asked about the Jewish causes closest to his heart, Michael emphasized his passion for the Federation: “Being Jewish in the world has always been and will always be unpredictable. The only thing that can help us navigate that unpredictability is Federation. It supports our entire Jewish community, regardless of the challenges we face.”
In the Cohen-Kogon family, the connection to Jewish life, values, and causes remains strong. Conversations around the Shabbat dinner table have long focused on Israel, Jewish education, and local communal needs, passing on a culture of philanthropy.
This is one of the powerful outcomes of Jewish Future Promise. JFP encourages families to discuss legacy, philanthropy, and Jewish values meaningfully, helping shape similar conversations around Shabbat dinner tables across the country.
Embedding this practice into family life inspires new opportunities for growth, resources, development, and services for the Jewish community. It fosters an attitude of gratitude, appreciating the contributions of past philanthropists and eagerly giving back.
Michael recalls a pivotal moment during a transformational Jewish experience in college when he participated in a UJA trip to Poland and Israel in the 1980s. “Seeing post-Holocaust Poland and then visiting Israel, which at the time felt like a resistance movement to the Holocaust, made me angry. It showed me that we must protect ourselves because no one else will. That’s when I transitioned from being a consumer of Jewish activity to a worker for Jewish activity.”
Articulating one’s legacy is a key part of the JFP process. For Michael, his legacy is a link in the unbreakable chain of the Cohen-Kogon family, a lineage of dedicated philanthropists and community leaders who have shaped Jewish Atlanta for generations.
In reflecting on the enduring impact of his family’s contributions, Michael encapsulates the essence of their shared commitment: “When thinking about my family’s legacy, I like to think of it as this: Our pin on the map has always been deeply rooted and ready to take on whatever the future brought. My ancestors helped build the community in which I’m living, with an emphasis on the word ‘helped’ – not ‘build’. It has been a collective effort of many multigenerational families together.”
To learn more about Jewish Future Promise and strengthen Jewish ATL for the next generation, click here or contact Rachel Rosner at rrosner@jewishatlanta.org.
Over the past year, Federation’s Jewish Education Collaborative awarded $12,155 in grant funding through its “Building On Our Strengths Together” (B.O.O.S.T.) Micro-Grants program, benefiting over 825 Jewish students in the metro Atlanta area.
The B.O.O.S.T Grants are provided to education directors in supplemental Jewish education programs to foster innovation and creativity in Jewish learning. The aim is to transform these programs to become more dynamic and engaging, encouraging children to develop a lasting connection with their Jewish heritage. Additionally, the grants help eliminate financial barriers that might prevent educators from experimenting with new teaching methods and ideas.
Examples of innovative programs funded by these grants include experiential outdoor education, beekeeping to teach environmental stewardship, and science and engineering activities integrated with Jewish learning.
“Jewish tradition may be thousands of years old, but there are always new and fresh ways to teach it,” said Rabbi Elana Perry, Federation’s Director of Jewish Education. “Grants that support creative innovation help to engage kids with what they are passionate about so that Jewish learning sticks with them for life.”
FY25 will include two B.O.O.S.T grant cycles. Three new grants have already been approved for the Fall, and another application cycle will open in October.
Hillels of Georgia is excited to kick off the new academic year by welcoming new and returning Jewish students and their families to college campuses across the state.
Committed to fostering a sense of safety and connection, Hillels across Georgia are helping students feel welcome within their Jewish communities and the broader campus environment. To achieve this, their back-to-school programming, scheduled over the next several weeks, is thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming “Jewish home away from home” on campus.
Many students have found that Hillel is where they build lifelong friendships.
“As a first year, I met some of my closest friends at Hillel’s back to school programming. Since then, I look forward to back-to-school programs because it gives me a chance to reconnect with Jewish life on campus before the start of the High Holy Days,” said Maya Rezak, Emory Hillel Student Body President, Class of 2025. “My advice to incoming students is to be open to trying new things. There are so many activities to choose from and so many ways to be involved in Hillel, you can find the programs that speak to you!”
Hillels of Georgia recently marked its 20th anniversary, a milestone that is celebrated by its supporters, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Federation invested $488,000 in Hillels of Georgia in 2024 in addition to security and mental health resources.
“Hillel is a safe space on campus for students to experience Jewish joy and celebrate the beauty of Jewish life,” said Rabbi Larry Sernovitz, CEO of Hillels of Georgia. “In these challenging times, safety and security are immensely important. Knowing there is a community on campus that supports them is critical for our students and the development of their Jewish identity.”
Each Hillel across the state offers unique events during these initial weeks, including bagel brunches, happy hours, learning sessions, Shabbat dinners, and movie nights. For a comprehensive list of upcoming events and ways to get involved, please visit the social media pages and websites of the respective campuses. Inquiries can also be sent to info@hillelsofgeorgia.org.
In response to the ongoing emergency in Ukraine, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta raised over $2.6 million to support those directly impacted by the war. Partnering with Jewish Federations of North America, Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Joint Distribution Committee, North American Jewish communities have collectively raised $73 million for this cause.
World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), one of Federation’s global allocations partners, recently received a Federation grant via the Ukraine Emergency Fund to support its “Bringing Light and Freedom to our Ukrainian Congregants Project”.
Through the Ukraine Emergency Fund, Federation provided a special grant of $55,000 to WUPJ, which is being used to supply food, medication, heat, generators, and power banks to individuals living in Belarus.
“On behalf of the entire WUPJ, we would like to express our gratitude to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta for the ongoing support of our projects,” said Claudia Laurelli, Executive Assistant in the Office of the President, World Union for Progressive Judaism.
Founded in 1926, WUPJ represents 1.8 million Reform, Progressive, and Liberal Jews across six continents, 50 countries, and 1,200 communities.
Federation’s support also extends to WUPJ’s branch in Belarus, which focuses on engaging youth and young adults in meaningful Jewish activities. This includes support for summer camps, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and early childhood education programs, helping to create vibrant Jewish experiences for families and communities.
