After 738 days in captivity, the remaining 20 surviving hostages have finally come home to their loved ones. The Atlanta Jewish Foundation joins our community and all of Israel in celebrating this long-awaited moment of reunion. We honor the resilience of the hostages and their families and continue to pray for all whose lives have been shattered by terror, and the families still waiting to put their loved ones to rest.
This month’s impact stories reflect that same spirit of home and family. Birthright Israel, now celebrating 25 years, continues to connect young Jews to their homeland. The Jewish Fertility Foundation is helping families bring new life into the world. Together, they remind us that building a strong Jewish future begins – and continues – at home.
Thank you for being part of the Atlanta Jewish Foundation Mishpacha!
Lindsay
Birthright Turns 25
Since 1999, Birthright Israel has sent over 900,000 young Jews – including 12,000 Atlantans and 120,000 Israelis who accompanied the groups – on transformative journeys to our homeland.
“It’s just the honor of my lifetime to be part of this,” says Doug Ross, Vice Chair of Birthright Israel Foundation and long-time Atlanta Jewish community leader. “I wouldn’t even call it an organization – this is an enterprise that I think is changing the arc of Jewish history in ways that nobody anticipated.”
The program, originally focused on a 10-day trip for 18–26-year-olds, now includes four major initiatives under its umbrella: the classic trip, Onward Israel (internships and professional development), Excel (a competitive global fellowship in high-tech), and the Birthright Volunteer Program.
In total, one out of every 18 Jews in the world has experienced Birthright. Studies from Brandeis University confirm its extraordinary impact – 85% of participants describe it as “life-changing.” Many alumni go on to lead Jewish lives and careers: 70% of Jewish Federation professionals under age 40 are Birthright alumni, as are half of all Jewish nonprofit professionals.
“One of the greatest Investments that people can make in the future of our community, the future of the Jewish people, is supporting Birthright.” says Ross. “Our future donors, lay leaders, and professionals are coming from the ranks of Birthright alumni.”
The 25-Year Celebration – and a Look Ahead
This December, Birthright Israel will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a major gala in New York, followed by a December 9th celebration here in Atlanta. Ross notes that Birthright has now reached the point where some participants are the children of Birthright alumni – a full generational cycle of impact. “If you were 25 when Birthright started, you’re 50 today – and your children are now going on the same trip you took,” he reflects. “That’s just incredible.”
Looking ahead, Birthright’s goal over the next five years is ambitious yet achievable: bring another 200,000 young people to Israel, representing a $1 billion investment in Jewish identity worldwide.
Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s stakeholders are playing a big role in achieving this goal. During Fiscal Year 2025, our donors made 56 grants valued over $350K to Birthright Israel. Several of these grants are perpetual and being made through donor designated restricted funds invested and held at the Atlanta Jewish Foundation.
How Birthright has evolved
In the aftermath of October 7th, Birthright’s mission took on even deeper significance. Just three weeks after the attacks, the organization launched its Volunteer Program, offering people ages 18–50 the opportunity to serve on the ground in Israel – in farms, hospitals, and humanitarian centers. “Since October 7th we’ve sent over 50,000 young people to Israel across our programs,” says Ross. “More than 16,000 have participated in volunteer experiences at hundreds of sites. People didn’t just want to write a check. They wanted to be there. To show solidarity.”
While the recent ceasefire brings hope, Ross emphasizes that “the work is far from done.” Over 10,000 Israeli soldiers have been wounded. Thousands of families are still recovering, and the social and economic toll is vast. Birthright’s Volunteer Program will continue to support rebuilding efforts, and trips now include educational sessions about Israel’s history and the war. “Our participants come home understanding the courage and the pain of the Israeli people in a way you can’t get from a news headline.”
A Personal Legacy of Giving
For Ross, who first fell in love with Israel as a college student on a kibbutz in the 1970s, Birthright’s mission is deeply personal. Inspired by his parents’ quiet example of Jewish involvement, he has devoted much of his life to strengthening Jewish identity and continuity. “I’ll never forget my first flight to Israel,” he says. “The pilot said, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve just entered Israeli airspace,’ and people started singing and clapping. That moment changed me forever.”
That sense of belonging now guides Ross’s own philanthropy. He recently transitioned his family’s foundation into a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) with the Atlanta Jewish Foundation (AJF). This change made the family’s charitable giving easy and tax efficient, and allowed Ross to engage his own children in tzedakah. “I wanted my sons to have a front row seat to what our family was doing. We work very closely with the terrific professionals at AJF, and it’s been a really great thing for us.”
The Next Generation Awaits
As Birthright Israel marks 25 years, its impact can be felt in synagogues, campuses, organizations, and communities around the world – and right here in Atlanta. The story is far from over – it’s being written by each new participant, every bus that rolls through the hills of Jerusalem, every song sung around a campfire in the Negev, and each person who believes in the power of Jewish connection.
Make your mark on the next 25 years by supporting Birthright through your Atlanta Jewish Foundation Donor Portal. You can also reach out to Ghila Sanders, VP of Philanthropic Advisory, to explore other ways to give.
Labor of Love
For many couples and individuals, starting a family is filled with challenges – emotional, physical, and financial. As World Fertility Day approaches on November 2nd, the Jewish Fertility Foundation (JFF) is shining a light on this journey and the incredible difference that community support can make.
Founded in Atlanta ten years ago, JFF began with one woman’s determination to help others. After undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in Israel – where treatments are government-subsidized – founder Elana Frank returned to the U.S. and was stunned by the high costs and lack of open conversation around infertility. A chance conversation at the JCC pool sparked a realization: she wasn’t alone. That moment inspired her to create a Jewish organization that could provide both financial and emotional support to others navigating the same struggle.
From Baby Steps to a National Movement
JFF started with a small Innovation Grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, helping Frank turn her vision into a structured program offering fertility grants, emotional support, and education. Today, JFF operates in ten locations across the U.S., helping hundreds of families bring Jewish children into the world.
“Our grants support IVF, FET (frozen embryo transfer), and intrauterine insemination,” explained Sarah Shah, JFF’s Director of Operations. “The process is designed to be fast because, for many families, every minute counts.” JFF partners directly with fertility clinics, which streamlines payments and allows grantees to receive discounts. “Every dollar goes directly toward making that Jewish baby.” Sarah said.
To date, thousands of parents have benefited from this model. But the need continues to grow: “We’ve already received more applications in the first half of 2025 than in all of 2023 and 2024 combined,” Shah shared. “We even have a waitlist now.” Rising costs, job layoffs – including recent federal cuts – and lingering post-pandemic financial strain have made fertility treatment even less accessible. Shah also noted a shift post October 7th. “We have had a surge of people interested in applying. I think people are looking for connections to the Jewish community. They want to feel proud of their heritage and raise a Jewish family.”
Keeping the Lights On
From early on, Rachel Loftspring, a fertility attorney and former JFF National Board Chair, understood that lasting impact required long-term vision. In 2019 she brought JFF to Cincinnati – the organization’s first expansion city after Atlanta. But Loftspring’s vision didn’t end there. She understood that JFF’s success depends on its financial stability. “Most seven-year-old organizations don’t usually talk about endowments,” reflected Jenny Jones, JFF’s Director of Development. “They’re just worried about keeping the lights on. But Rachel’s vision inspired us to think bigger.”
Loftspring was determined to create a strong financial foundation for JFF’s future and to memorialize her father-in-law, Dr. Sheldon Pelchovitz z”l”, the first OB-GYN to bring IVF to Cincinnati in the 1980’s. Sheldon was a brilliant doctor who is fondly remembered for his dedication to his family, his friends, and his patients. Along with Elana Frank, Loftspring worked with Rachel Rosner – The Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s Endowment and Fiduciary Review Officer. “Together we established JFF’s endowment and gift acceptance policies, the structure necessary for long-term growth”. JFF opened The Sheldon Pelchovitz Restricted Fund as an Agency Fund at the Atlanta Jewish Foundation with just $10,000. “They started small, but they started right.” said Rosner. JFF continues to make regular contributions to the endowment, and with Atlanta Jewish Foundation’s investment strategies in place, the fund has surpassed $55,000 in less than two years.
Since launching in Cincinnati, the JFF has helped to bring over 50 babies into the world through more than $175,000 in grants. “This is a great example of how it only takes one person to make such an enduring impact.” Rosner said.
Nurturing the Future
For many families, these grants are about identity, continuity, and belonging. As one applicant wrote, “The chance to have support from a strong Jewish organization during such an uncertain time means more than we can express. It’s made us feel like we’re in the right place and less alone, and it comforts us to know that when we do have children, they’ll already be connected to the local Jewish community.”
As JFF celebrates its tenth anniversary, its mission is more vital than ever: to turn heartbreak into hope. “Our grants are available to everyone – interfaith couples, LGBTQ, and anyone who needs extra help on the path to parenthood.” said Sarah. Through the partnership of the Atlanta Jewish Foundation, JFF is not only helping families grow – it’s helping ensure the future of the Jewish people, one miracle at a time.
And just as Rachel Loftspring’s gift transformed countless Jewish families in Cincinnati, someone in Atlanta can do the same today – by establishing an endowment or legacy gift that helps more families experience the joy of Jewish parenthood.
Contact the Atlanta Jewish Foundation or reach out directly to VP of Philanthropic Advisory Ghila Sanders to start a Jewish giving conversation!
567 Grants recommended from Donor-Advised Funds.
$3,496,876 Donated to Tzedakah.
259 Organizations supported in Atlanta, Israel, and globally.
72% Jewish causes / 28% secular causes.
Visit the Atlanta Jewish Foundation Donor Portal to see your personal giving history.
This month we have a lot to celebrate, yet our important work of Tikkun Olam continues across a range of charitable causes. Please consider supporting:
- Sharsheret is one of the nation’s leading Jewish cancer organizations, offering an expansive support network and financial assistance for treatment.
- National Breast Cancer Foundation raises awareness of breast cancer across the nation and encourages millions to take action.
- Arava Institute educates future leaders who can meet the Middle East’s environmental challenges with innovative peace-building solutions.
- IDF Widows and Orphans Organization creates a supportive community for bereaved families.
Atlanta Jewish Foundation fund holders can give to these causes through the online Donor Portal. Want help exploring other nonprofits? Reach out to Ghila Sanders for guidance!