On September 24, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s Women’s Philanthropy division hosted a sold-out Lion of Judah and Pomegranate Luncheon, marking a celebration of generosity and community spirit.
Nearly 300 attendees filled the room with palpable energy and excitement as we honored donors and their unwavering commitment to Jewish life.
Guest Speaker Adrienne Gold Davis captivated the audience with her personal journey and powerful insights on Jewish leadership and community. The luncheon also recognized Virginia Saul, Atlanta’s 2025 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award recipient, for her lifelong dedication to strengthening Jewish Atlanta and the global Jewish community.
“Many of these women have been engaged for years and eagerly anticipate luncheons like this,” said Carey Guggenheim, Women’s Philanthropy President. “It’s a chance to reconnect, especially after the challenges we’ve faced as Jewish women. Coming together in support of one another is truly special. I love witnessing these connections and feeling that deep sense of belonging to our community.”
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and made this event a success. Your generosity fuels Federation’s mission to build a brighter future for us all—together.
Your gift to Federation enriches the lives of Jews in Atlanta, Israel, and around the world. If you’d like to support the 2025 Community Campaign, please click here.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to get involved with the 2025 Community Campaign!
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s commitment to supporting local synagogues and Chabad has reached new heights, awarding $747,807 in fiscal year 2024 to 33 synagogues across the community. These grants are driving innovation, collaboration, and lasting impact.
Here are a few highlights of how these funds are making a difference:
- After Chabad of Decatur’s building was vandalized, the LiveSecure initiative provided crucial grant funding for repairs and security upgrades. Over the past year, Federation has significantly increased its security grants, helping synagogues across the community enhance personnel and infrastructure to create safer spaces for all.
- The Temple received a JumpSpark teen engagement grant for its “Getting Social for Social Change” program, expanding the initiative beyond its usual private tour for teens at the Center for Civil and Human Rights. With the grant, more than 100 teens from across the community participated, including a session led by Brendan Murphy of Marist School, who highlighted the museum’s connection to Jewish identity and the fight against antisemitism.
- Temple Emanu-El was awarded a Jewish Education Collaborative BOOST grant to support a unique religious school program using beekeeping to teach Jewish values.
- An Organizational Gather Grant enabled four synagogues in East Cobb and Roswell to collaborate on a community-wide Chanukah party. The event, which rotates locations annually, fosters partnership and shared celebration.
- Congregation Beth Shalom received a Jewish Abilities Atlanta grant, which funded the installation of a hearing loop system to assist congregants with hearing impairments.
In Fiscsal Year 2025, Federation is expanding its impact through Interfaith Engagement Grants, supporting programs like Congregation Gesher L’Torah’s Lag B’Omer bonfire, where families created personalized family trees to celebrate their unique heritage.
“Through our partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Beth Shalom has implemented much-needed security measures and so much more,” said Loli Gross, Executive Director of Beth Shalom. “We’ve installed a hearing loop in our sanctuary, created a sensory room in our preschool, and added handicap-accessible door openers to our bathrooms. Federation’s support is something we value deeply and are proud to be part of.”
These investments reflect Federation’s continued commitment to strengthening synagogues, Chabads, and the broader Jewish community.
Moishe House in Atlanta continues to serve as a vital hub for young Jewish adults seeking meaningful connections and is not only a cornerstone of the local Jewish community but also a key part of the broader global Moishe House network. With three locations—Buckhead, East Atlanta, and Toco Hills—Moishe House offers a wide variety of social, educational, and religious programming for young adults (aged 21-32), helping them connect with their Jewish identities while building lasting friendships.
As part of a global ecosystem that spans 126 locations across 29 countries, Moishe House in Atlanta is a thriving example of the organization’s mission to provide vibrant Jewish community for young adults by supporting leaders in their 20s and early 30s as they create meaningful home-based Jewish experiences for themselves and their peers. Supported by the generous funding of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s partner fund, Moishe House has created a dynamic and inclusive environment where young adults can flourish. The Federation has also provided a special grant to support a Jewish Learning Retreat in 2025, bringing young adults from across North America to the Greater Atlanta area for a weekend of immersive learning utilizing the 4HQ (Four Hatikvah Questions) framework as a template to guide meaningful conversations about Israel even (and especially) with a divided audience.
“Thanks to support from the local Jewish community and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Moishe House is empowering the next generation of Jewish leaders,” said Dave Press, Moishe House’s Senior Director of Advancement.
Atlanta’s place within the global Moishe House movement is further highlighted by its hosting of the 2024 North American Resident Training Conference (Natty Con) at Ramah Darom. This biennial gathering brought together Jewish leaders from across the continent, empowering them with the skills and tools to lead in their communities. Moishe House’s model of peer-led, home-based community building, which the residents in Atlanta embody, is a key driver of success globally, allowing young adults to take ownership of their Jewish experience. During the conference, Lindsey Flax, Federation’s Jewish Abilities Atlanta Training Coordinator, conducted a transformative training session.
“We covered all topics from belonging, housing accessibility, SSI, how to welcome people with disabilities in adulthood, and exchanged ideas,” said Lindsey. “My contacts texted me that a few Moishe House residents talked about it for almost an hour and reflected on the topics after the session during the free time before dinner.”
From Shabbat dinners to volunteering and creative celebrations of Jewish holidays, Moishe House in Atlanta has engaged nearly 1,000 unique participants across 174 programs so far in 2024. These programs are designed to offer a low-barrier, inclusive space where Jewish young adults can explore their heritage, engage with their peers, and develop leadership skills that will serve them for a lifetime. As resident Mitchell Chudnovsky of Moishe House Atlanta – East Atlanta notes, “Hosting a community in your own home is something truly special. I’m able to bring together people from all backgrounds, and help them feel connected to their Judaism.”
As part of Moishe House’s global vision, Moishe House in Atlanta contributes to a movement that reaches young Jewish adults at a critical time in their lives, providing them with a strong foundation for lifelong involvement in Jewish life. Whether in Atlanta or one of the many Moishe House locations worldwide, this model of peer-led engagement is proving to be a powerful force for building community, fostering Jewish identity and nurturing future leaders.
We encourage you to learn more about Moishe House in Atlanta and globally by visiting Moishe House’s website or checking out upcoming events in Atlanta here.
Security is a top priority for Jewish institutions across Atlanta. Thanks to the LiveSecure initiative, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta has raised $8.25M toward its $11.2M goal, helping over 70 Jewish facilities in metro Atlanta become safer for all who enter.
Launched in 2020, the LiveSecure initiative represents an unprecedented national effort to safeguard Jewish communities. With support from Federation, facilities are equipped with advanced security systems like BluePoint, and staff receive expert training to enhance their preparedness.
“Having Federation’s support has made us feel more secure and confident that we are keeping our children safe,” said Robyn Grossblatt, Director of Beth Jacob Preschool, where the focus can remain on nurturing children rather than worrying about potential threats.
This commitment to security extends to college campuses as well. Jake Golden, a student at Emory University, shared how Federation’s partnership with Hillel has contributed to his sense of safety.
“When I’m on campus, I feel a great sense of security,” Jake said. “Emory has put a lot of time and effort into making sure we feel safe and welcome.”
Lee Shaffer, Emory Hillel’s Campus Director, echoed this sentiment. “Our goal is for Emory Hillel to be a home away from home. Security is key to creating that space for our students.”
In light of rising threats against Jewish institutions, Federation’s leadership has worked to ensure the Atlanta Jewish community remains protected, enabling members to engage fully in Jewish life.
“I’m very grateful for all the support Federation provides, especially this year with security being top of mind,” said Anna Serviansky, Camp Director & Head of Education at Camp Ramah Darom. “The Secure Community Network has been instrumental in helping us train and feel safe, both at camp and in our Atlanta office.”
Federation’s constant vigilance has allowed Jewish life in Atlanta to thrive, even amidst global tensions.
Help Us Continue Building a Safer Future
By contributing to the LiveSecure initiative, you can help scale our security efforts, ensuring every member of our community can safely and openly participate in Jewish life. Click here to watch our new video highlighting Federation’s safety and security efforts.
To discuss a LiveSecure gift, please contact Marsha Hurwitz, Senior Vice President of Campaign and Major Gifts, at mhurwitz@jewishatlanta.org.
Click here to watch our new video highlighting Federation’s security efforts.
JumpSpark, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, is equipping parents with essential tools to support their teens through pivotal life stages.
On August 28, JumpSpark hosted a workshop on Executive Functioning, featuring experts from JF&CS, The Weber School, and Edvice ATL. Parents learned effective strategies to help their teens improve organization, study skills, and self-advocacy, leaving the session equipped with practical tips to implement at home.
Just weeks later, on September 12, JumpSpark tackled the timely issue of social media and its impact amid the ongoing war in Israel. Led by Yoni Buckman from Jewish Unpacked, the workshop empowered parents to navigate online discussions, identify antisemitism, and support their teen’s mental health in a digital world.
Traci, a mother of two teens, expressed her gratitude for the actionable resources shared during the workshops: “What I appreciate most are the tools I can take with me. Listening is great, but when you offer a book, toolkit, or website, it becomes more meaningful. Those tangible resources help me continue learning.”
With BeWellATL as a partner, JumpSpark continues to prioritize mental health across its programming, empowering parents to guide their teens through the challenges of today’s digital landscape. As one parent reflected, “Parenting teenagers is the most challenging thing I have ever done, and it’s wonderful to be part of a community that prioritizes resources for parents!”
Looking ahead, JumpSpark is excited to co-sponsor Empowering Parents: Navigating Emotions with Inside Out 2 at The Epstein School on November 3, 2024, from 3:30–5:30 PM. Designed for parents of middle school students, the program will use the animated film Inside Out 2 to explore the emotional challenges of adolescence. Attendees will leave with tools to foster emotional resilience, open communication, and a healthy approach to navigating teen emotions.
Check out JumpSpark’s upcoming programs for parents of teens, and follow @JumpSparkATL on social media for the latest updates.
