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. (Pictured below is the Cohen-Kogon family)
