Atlanta Jewish Foundation Impact Story
November 11th, 2025
This Veterans Day, we honor those who have served our country – and the values of courage, humility, and commitment they bring to our community.
Few embody those qualities more fully than Billy Medof – a U.S. Army veteran, Atlanta Jewish Foundation Donor-Advised Fund holder, and former Board Chair of The Weber School – whose story reflects a deep sense of duty to America and an unwavering connection to Israel.
Active-Duty Davening
Billy graduated from the prestigious United States Military Academy at West Point in 1994. His time there deeply connected him to Jewish life – thanks in part to a rare institution.
“West Point is the only Army base in the United States that has its own synagogue,” Billy explained. “The West Point Jewish Chapel is a beautiful building commissioned in 1984 – and it’s a point of pride for Jews in the military.”
The synagogue was built entirely through private fundraising (which began in the late 1960s) and later gifted to the U.S. government. Today, the Army provides upkeep and staffing – including an active-duty Rabbi or Cantor. Billy now serves on the board of the West Point Jewish Chapel Fund, which continues to support Jewish life on campus. “The fund pays for Oneg Shabbat, Torah study, travel for the Jewish Chapel Choir, and other programs that enrich the Jewish cadet experience,” Billy explained.
From West Point to the Western Wall
During his time as a cadet, Billy also experienced a formative journey to Israel. “The summer between my junior and senior year, I participated in a trip to Israel that was funded and organized by JINSA – the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs,” he recalled. “They sent 10 cadets from West Point, 10 Naval Academy midshipmen, and 10 Air Force Academy cadets to interact and liaise with the IDF and spend time on a kibbutz. I was fortunate to be selected – it deepened my appreciation for the bond between the U.S. and Israel.”
Billy and his wife, Alli, continue to nurture and grow that bond. Billy has long been involved with AIPAC, while Alli serves as one of the founding executive committee members of the Georgia Solidarity Network (GSN). The couple now also serve as co-chairs of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta’s upcoming Mission to Israel.
The commitment to Israel extends to the Medof’s three sons as well. Most recently, Billy and Alli traveled in 2024 to visit their son who was volunteering with Magen David Adom “We have a very strong connection and affinity for Israel,” Billy said. “It’s our people. We are part of the Am (the Nation).”
Serving the Community
Billy’s leadership extends far beyond his Army service. “I’ve been on the Weber School board for about 10 years, serving as Chair from 2021 to 2023,” Billy said. “It’s a pluralistic place where students of all backgrounds can grow in their Jewish identity and sense of community.”
With assistance from the Georgia GOAL Scholarship Program and the Jewish Federation, and by strategically investing funds through the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, the Weber School is able to provide subsidies to families in need and make excellent Jewish education accessible to all.
As longtime donor-advised fund (DAF) holders with the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, Billy and Alli have found giving easy, flexible, and tax-efficient. “It’s just incredibly easy,” Billy Said. “Being able to go into the donor portal, to make gifts quickly, and have them all tracked in one place. That’s important to us.”
Billy also loves how the fund aligns with his Jewish values. “You can support any 5O1C3 you want, but personally, we really try to give 95% to Jewish philanthropy, like Congregation Etz Chaim, JF&CS, the Weber School, and Federation Annual Campaign… So really, if you’re going to have a donor advised fund – why do it anywhere else? We know the Atlanta Jewish Foundation professional team. We know the lay leadership. And they’re people we trust. There aren’t many things in life that are no brainer. This is a no brainer.”
Veterans Day Reflections
For Billy, Veterans day is a time of gratitude. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to serve our country. I’ve gotten way more out of it than I put into it. I have wonderful memories and wonderful friends and a tremendous feeling of pride and honor for being a part of the armed forces, and that motivates me to give back.”
Billy encourages young Jewish Atlantans to consider military or public service “It’s important that Jews are represented in every vital American institution,” he said.
Atlanta’s Jewish community shares that sense of gratitude to our veterans and active service members. Temple Sinai volunteers at the USO station at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport – ensuring Jewish servicemembers feel supported when far from home. The Jewish War Veterans group in Atlanta continues to meet regularly at Berman Commons.
This Veterans Day, we honor our Jewish veterans and draw inspiration from them as we aim to serve our local community. As Billy shared: “There are two cornerstone values from my time in the military that deeply inform how I work in the Jewish community: humility and teamwork. There’s no limit to what you can accomplish when you don’t worry about who gets credit. For both Alli and me, our number one objective is to strengthen the Jewish community, and we’ll do that in any way where we can be helpful.”
To open a donor-advised fund or learn how you can support Jewish veterans, reach out to Ghila Sanders at gsanders@jewishatlanta.org or call 404.870.1611.