Since being taken hostage by Hamas
BRING THEM HOME NOW
We demand the safe return of all citizens who have been taken hostage by the terrorist group Hamas. We will not rest until every hostage is released and returns home safely.
Special Message
The Hunger Walk Run—40th Anniversary is THIS SUNDAY, March 10! Watch the video below from last year featuring Kyle Waide, President and CEO of Atlanta Community Food Bank. More information about this year's Hunger Walk Run can be found below in the "Events" section.
Shabbat Corner
Friday Evening–Saturday Evening
- Candle Lighting: 6:22 p.m.
- Shabbat Morning Service 🔀: 9:30 a.m.—Zoom
- Torah Study 🔀: 10:30 a.m.—Zoom
- Rebbe's Tish ⏺️: 12:30 p.m
- Mincha, Seudah Sheleshet, Ma'ariv, Havdallah 🔀: 5:30 p.m.—Zoom
- Conclusion of Shabbat: 7:06 p.m.
- Torah Parashat (Vayakhel; Shabbat Shekalim):
- Annual: Exodus 35:1–38:20, 30:11–16
- Triennial: Exodus 35:1–36:19, 30:11–16
- Haftara: II Kings 12:1–17
- Purim Video: The Schechter Institutes—A Story of Light in Dark Times: The Karliner Rebbe—Reb Mimi Feigelson
▶️ Virtual 🔀 Hybrid ⏺️ In-Person
Feel-Good News
Kiddush Sponsors
Doris and Marty Goldstein in honor of Marty's Birthday on 3/7!
The Daffodil Project: AA's Annual Golden Memorial
For close to ten years, AA members, both young and old (and all ages in between), have planted daffodil bulbs every fall as part of The Daffodil Project, a worldwide initiative to remember the 1. 5 million children who perished during the Holocaust. In 2010 Andrea Videlefsky started the project here in Atlanta, and now an estimated 950,000 daffodils will have been planted across the globe. When you drive into our synagogue parking lot in the spring, be sure to take in the beauty of our daffodil fields to honor the memory of our lost children.
Myrtle Lewin has been the guiding force behind AA's Daffodil Project. This coming fall, you can join Myrtle as we plant more bulbs and cast an even brighter light on our world.
Events
Other Things Happening at AA
If you are unable to attend Purim PaloozAA but would still like to purchase Mishloach Manot baskets, you may do so through our order form (linked below).
Questions? Please contact the Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr ([email protected]).
One man's trash is another man's treasure! Help us minimize our carbon footprint by giving us your unwanted tchotchkes (new or lightly used) for us to use for carnival prizes.
Calling teen volunteers! We are looking for teen volunteers to help at the carnival.
For information about donating your tchotchkes or becoming a volunteer, please contact the Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr ([email protected]).
Would you like to know how to pray? Would you like to lead prayer? Prayer is an important part of Jewish, spiritual life. The Siddur, Jewish prayer book, is a master document of melody, poetry, philosophy, theology, history and personal aspiration. Its brilliance can be intimidating, especially when leading a congregation in prayer. We are seeking individuals who are up for the challenge of learning how to pray and leading our community in prayer. Complete our survey (link below) to let us know what you know, what you would like to learn and how we can help get you there.
Camp and Summer Experience Scholarship applications are open and available to help support the summer experiences of our AA members! Scholarships are generously provided by family funds, Sisterhood, and AA's general budget. Applications are due by Saturday, February 3. For more information, please contact the Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr ([email protected]; 404.603.5754).
Rabbi Rosenthal and Lynne and Tom Greenfield are seeking interest in a congregational trip to Israel in solidarity and support for our Israeli Brothers and Sisters. This trip will be focused on education, Israeli/Middle East policy and politics, visiting communities affected by the October 7 attacks, and supporting Israeli culture and economy. There will also be opportunities for additional sightseeing and time to visit with Israeli family and friends. We are looking at ten days between mid-May and mid-June. If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please contact Rabbi Rosenthal ([email protected]) and Lynne and Tom Greenfield ([email protected]).
The 2023 Fall Beineinu High Holiday issue is out! If you haven't yet received your copy in the mail, you can view the electronic version here.
Are you fun? Innovative? Passionate? Good with children? We are always seeking exceptional subs to join our Kesher team. Kesher is AA's supplementary education program for students four years old through sixth grade.
If you are interested, please email our Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr ([email protected]).
We feel blessed to have a vibrant community that believes in the power of prayer as a source of comfort, strength and healing. At every service, we take a moment to recite the names of individuals we are holding in our hearts for health and healing. Beginning January 1, 2023, all are welcome to add names to our Misheberach (Healing) Prayer List for 30 days. These names will be recited each morning during prayer regardless of their support's presence at services. At the end of 30 days, we request that names be renewed with our office receptionist, Fern Schorr ([email protected]; 404.355.5222). Without renewal, names will be removed from the list with our hope that our prayers were successful in sending strength and wholeness.
Do you know an AA congregant who is in the hospital or infirm? We are concerned about loved ones and friends who are in the hospital or infirm. Although our synagogue office remains closed, we are still working and would like to connect with you, especially in regards to pastoral care. If you have information about friends or family in the hospital or other care facilities, please contact Rabbi Rosenthal ([email protected]) directly. We always appreciate the opportunity to speak with anyone in need and offer support in any way we can.
The Nominating Committee is seeking engaged congregants to serve on the 2024–2025 Nominating Committee. This committee will select a slate of Officers and Board of Directors to be elected by the Congregation at the 2024 Annual Meeting. This is one of the most important committees of our synagogue. Members of the Nominating Committee should be actively involved in the congregation or familiar with the operations and programs of the congregation, and must be in synagogue members in good standing. Committee members are not eligible to be on next year's slate of elected officers or directors. If you, or a fellow congregant you know, want to be considered to serve as member of the Nominating Committee, please submit his/her name to Gerry Benjamin ([email protected]) or Rob Wildstein ([email protected]). Nominees to serve on the committee will be elected by the Board of Directors at their upcoming meeting.
Through our membership with the ADL's (Anti-Defamation League) Kulanu Initiaitve, our AA family is creating an antisemitism task force to partner with other communities across the country to collectively fight hate and antisemitism. Membership on the task force will require a year's commitment and involve participation in ADL virtual meetings and community of practice working sessions. Our congregation will also offer special programs, initiatives, and action steps to raise awareness, call out local and national antisemitic incidents, and build relationships with communities susceptible to antisemitic infiltration. To learn more about or to join the task force, please contact Rabbi Rosenthal ([email protected]).
Ahavath Achim's Sisterhood is a dynamic organization of women of all ages with diverse experiences, talents, and interests within our synagogue, community, and the Jewish world. Every woman counts for Sisterhood to grow and thrive. Basic membership dues are $45, but we encourage you to join at a Chai-er level. Your generous dues and donations are vital for Sisterhood to continue to offer programs and projects that strengthen and sustain our Jewish values.
We need your involvement in AA's social action programs! Motivate your family and friends "into action" towards the betterment of our community, and envision our current programs continued for the future. Reach out to your nieces, nephews, friends, and new neighbors for new contacts and ideas to help us increase our pool of volunteers for our wonderful existing and future programs. We need you! Find out how you want to be involved by reviewing the list of social action programs in which our synagogue has been involved for many years. If you'd like to become involved, please email our Social Action Chair: Alan Wexler ([email protected]; 404.872.8880).
Are you a warm, friendly, dedicated volunteer who wants to make a difference in a fellow congregant's life through acts of loving kindness? Are you willing to make a personal call or visit to comfort and support a congregant who has lost a loved one or been ill? These caring touches – acts of loving kindness – make all the difference in the world to those receiving them. If you want to be a part of strengthening our community, then AA's new Chesed Initiative is for you! This committee will work with our clergy, staff, and lay leaders to connect members who need help with members who want to do good deeds! Additionally, if you know of a congregant who is facing personal difficulties related to health, loss, or grief, please contact Fern Schorr ([email protected]; 404.355.5222) to let us know. Help us reach out to members in need. We welcome your help and time with this important project.
Hamas is refusing to accept a U.S.-backed deal to free hostages in exchange for a pause in the fighting. But some are still blaming Israel. Calls for a temporary ceasefire should be directed to the one address preventing it from happening: Hamas. We need to make sure your members of Congress know that Hamas is to blame. It takes just a minute to email your members by clicking the link below. Please take just 1 minute to make a difference and stand with Israel! I encourage you to forward this email to your friends and family.
Your donation to the Israel Emergency Campaign helps to rebuild damaged infrastructure and address the unprecedented levels of trauma caused by the horrific attack on Isreael.
Donate to the Ukraine Emergency Fund of Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta