Our Community
Jewish tradition teaches that “Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh” – we are all responsible for one another. That spirit lives within every member of the Atlanta Jewish Foundation community: donors, advisors, lay leaders and partners who believe in showing up for each other and shaping the future of our people. Every gift matters. Every voice matters. And together, our collective light will shine bright for generations.
"I remember when I first started calling myself a philanthropist. And it was like, that's a really weird thing, because that sounds like someone who's uber wealthy, you know, has millions to give away, and I'm just average Debbie. But now I know that being a philanthropist is about giving charitably around purpose and values. Whether I'm giving $10,000 or $10, it's all meaningful... I grew up in a very small Jewish community. We had one synagogue with 60 members. I didn't really have a big Jewish life growing up but my parents were always active leaders in our community, and I was taught to take on leadership roles. When I came to Atlanta and was introduced to this very vibrant Jewish community, it was exciting because it was something I'd never had before. The number one thing that inspired me was my husband because he grew up here and his father was a tremendous builder of this community. It touched me when I heard all the stories about him (Max Kuniansky) calling up his fellow community leaders and saying: ‘Hey Erwin (Zaban), I just found this property out in Dunwoody, and it would be great for a JCC!' and Max would find the players who would pull it all together. Those were the Jewish leaders who really built this community. You know, Federation has been here well over 100 years. And when I look at that and see where and how this community has grown, I think: What is my generation going to accomplish and how are we going to not just sustain what the generation before us did, but build on it? Yeah, I mean, this is what I want to do. I want to make a difference in this community. I want to help it be as great as it can be, just like the people before me did."
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Board Chair
Atlanta Jewish Foundation DAF Donor
"Before Federation, I only supported the Jewish causes I had personally experienced - without realizing just how vast and interconnected our community truly is. It’s only when we support the entire ecosystem that we can ensure a strong Jewish future... That's why I'm excited to give through the Foundation and support our new One Gift model. I work alongside a passionate team of professionals and more than 80 dedicated volunteers - as diverse as the community we serve. We lead a months-long process: reviewing grant applications, hearing from organizations, analyzing data, making site visits. Together, we ensure that your gift powers the full spectrum of Jewish life. Because of you, a student learns our history. Because of you, a teen becomes a Jewish leader. Because of you is a phrase I can use again and again and again."
Atlanta Jewish Foundation DAF donor
Chair of Community Planning and Impact, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
"Kids understand sharing at a very early age. They want to help each other. They rarely hoard resources and they're always trying to make sure that everybody in the sandbox gets a turn. I was fortunate that from a very young age, we understood that our family was committed to building community, and we were encouraged to get involved. A cornerstone of our Shabbat dinners was that every grandchild got to talk about their week. From the time we were three years old, we were standing up and talking in front of our family about what we were doing to impact ourselves and our peers. And I think that constant refrain of self reflection really shaped all of our lives. So my advice for anybody who's thinking about philanthropic longevity, be it of their own life or generations beyond, is talk about it a lot with your family. don't hide and quietly give behind the curtain so your kids don't know. Bring them into the discussion. They may not be decision makers yet. They may not get a vote for years. But let them understand what your values are and why you've chosen philanthropy to express your values. So when it becomes their turn to weigh in, to contribute, they might just follow in your footsteps."
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta Campaign Chair
Atlanta Jewish Foundation Donor
"Leadership rarely begins with certainty. It begins with responsibility. With the willingness to see clearly, to care deeply, and to take the next right step even before the full path is visible... Atlanta is a young, vibrant and growing community. We have so much to be proud of, and so much opportunity ahead. May this year be one in which we continue to meet this moment together, confident not because we have all the answers, but because we are committed to the values and purpose that guide us forward."
President & CEO, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Lion of Judah endowment donor
"I just think there's something in our Jewish DNA, that tells us that if we have a little extra, we should be out there helping others... My grandparents were Holocaust survivors. And the most amazing thing to me about them, beyond the fact that they survived, was that all they wanted to do was give back to other people. And I've always thought to myself - here are people who were in a horrible situation. They were almost executed. And you could easily see someone like that saying, I've done my share, you know, I don't need to give back to anybody. Yet their biggest, and highest priority was to give back. And so to me, if they can go through what they went through and still be in a mindset to give back, we all should be giving back in some way."
Atlanta Jewish Foundation Vice Chair and DAF Donor
"Local community making a global impact is definitely the biggest thing for me. How do we create that community here in Atlanta, but also spread that joy and caring and fulfill our Jewish responsibility around the world... That's something I'm really passionate about right now - building safe spaces where you can experience all your identities at one time. Being Jewish, being LGBTQ, being a Zionist... and I think that without the leadership of Federation, that mission would be impossible. Federation is my Jewish family. My Jewish home."
Pomegranate Donor
Young Leader (YLD) at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
"You don't learn how to give unless you're exposed to givers. My philanthropic foundation was my grandfather, who was basically my second father, because my dad was away in World War II. Growing up, every Friday afternoon there'd be a knock on the back door of our apartment building - it was an old man with a beard, holding the Jewish National Fund box, for charity. And my grandfather, whatever dime he had, a quarter, a dollar, he donated. It all went to help other people. And I guess that always stuck with me. But it was only when I moved to Atlanta that I started getting involved. The people here, Federation, they brought me into the community. They really opened the doors to me, at a time when I almost couldn't afford the doors. Later, mentors like Bernie Marcus and Sheldon Adelson... They broadened my capability to do more for the community. They sparked this internal need to help the Jewish people. That's why we started the Jewish Future Promise. Not only to motivate people to give at least 50% to Jewish causes, but I was hoping that people would have the conversations with their kids, like I do with my own kids and my grandkids. Exposing them to the idea that... whether it's a dime in a JNF box or $10 million from a donor-advised fund - contributing to others is a privilege. It's a really special privilege."
Founder, Jewish Future Promise
"We want every Jew to know that they have a home to go to. If they need inspiration. If they're feeling like it's hard to be a Jew today. If they need chicken soup. Education for their kid. A mezuzah. A hug. A blueberry muffin. We got you covered."
Co-Director, Chabad of Dunwoody
Atlanta Jewish Foundation DAF grant recipient
"Women give differently than men. I have a strong conservative bent toward asset management. I'm not a big risk taker, and I have strong analytical and research skills. That's why, over my 47 year career, and now in retirement, I've helped clients and organizations really stay financially stable or growing... But philanthropy is... it's actually more of an emotional thing, you know? What emotions does that giving spark for you? I think that's why women often lead the desire to give to a certain cause. That's why women might give, you know, $10 here, or $50 there, or $100 there, to a whole myriad of organizations. What I would recommend, once the donor makes a decision to give for their own emotional reasons - then let the analytical side kick in. What is the best logistical way to make this happen? What is the best vehicle to use based on the amount and tax situation? Maybe it's time to open a Donor-Advised Fund (I've had one with the Atlanta Jewish Foundation for over 20 years). Maybe you need an endowment (our fund at Temple Emanu-El has grown about 300% in recent years and will be there to support future generations). Maybe, instead of giving a little bit to many different charities, say: which ones are most important to me, and then give larger gifts to fewer organizations. That's something I've tried to follow, and I would recommend that to women. Because that way - if you want to be in a leadership role - then you have more of a say in the direction that organization goes. You're more invested... It's really about sustainability, and educating the next generation - my grandchildren are the shining light of my life, I'm very proud of them. And that really keeps me going - teaching them about their heritage and Tikkun Olam and the resilience of our community."
Co-President, Temple Emanu-El
Lion of Judah Endowment Donor
Atlanta Jewish Foundation DAF Donor
"I've found that people get involved if it impacts them personally. As a father of three (my twin girls just celebrated their Bat Mitzvah), Jewish education is at the top of my list. I think that's so important - giving young people the tools to understand their Jewish identity, our culture, and what connects us. We live in a little bit of a bubble where we don't always feel the rising antisemitism as much as others. But I think it's actually time to get more in touch with our tradition... So I would say, find something that you feel strongly about, something you can really sink your teeth into, and then you'll really make an impact in our community."
Estate attorney and partner at Fox Rothschild
“I started as a camper. I came back as a counselor. I was a unit head. And I always said: next year I'll go get a real job. Next year, I'll get a real job. But I kept coming back. I came back because of the way I felt. Because of the calling that I had to contribute to the Jewish community. Because camp programs impacted me in such a significant way that my life was changed, and I want to make sure that one of those 2100 kids that we serve every summer could have a similar outlook on life that I am so fortunate to have because of my experience at JCC Day Camp... So what I would want somebody to know if they're making a legacy gift to a camp program, is that through their commitment, they are the source of the continuity of the Jewish people. When they entrust us to carry on their legacy, we consider ourselves guardians of that legacy, and we very aggressively protect it, to ensure that their gift helps keep the magic of camp alive. Not just for the campers today, but really for the campers for generations to come."
Director of Community Relations, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) - an Atlanta Jewish Foundation Partner Agency
