Ahavath Achim Synagogue

B’nai Mitzvah Lunch and Learn ⏺️
2023-01-07 12:30 - 13:30, 2023-04-01 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | Ahavath Achim Synagogue—Paradies Hall, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327, United States
Join us on the first Saturday of the month for B'nai Mitzvah Lunch and Learn, a new program geared towards families with kids within three years of bar or bat mitzvah age. Families are welcome to join us for the Shabbat morning service (beginning at 9:30 a.m.) and stay for kiddush and text study with the rabbis around 12:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity to connect with other families and friends, deepen relationships, and explore what it means to become bar/bat mitzvah. Exploration guides will be available to help you through the service.
Please RSVP to the Director of Education: Sharon Graetz (sgraetz@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.57). Childcare will be available for younger siblings, so please RSVP with names and ages of any additional siblings.
Dates: November 5, December 3, January 7, March 4, April 1, and May 6

Ice Skating at Atlantic Station
2023-01-08 12:30 - 15:00 | Atlantic Station, 1371 Market Street, Atlanta, GA, 30363
Kids/teens in 4th–8th grade are invited to go ice skating at Atlantic Station!
Schedule:
12:30 p.m.: Pizza lunch at the synagogue
1:30 p.m.: Ice skating at Atlantic Station
12:30 p.m. drop-off at AA for a pizza lunch and transportation to Atlantic Station or 1:30 p.m. drop-off at Atlantic Station. Pick-up at Atlantic Station.
The cost to attend is $25 per child/teen and includes lunch, transportation, and ice skating fee. The deadline to register is Friday, January 6.
For questions or concerns, please contact the Director of Education: Sharon Graetz (sgraetz@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.5754).
Register

Sonia Project Weekend Part 2
2023-02-03 18:00 - 2023-02-04 22:00 | GA
Delve deeper into the spiritual practice of communal singing at our second Sonia Project Weekend with artist-in-residence (and rabbi-in-residence), Rabbi Sam Blustin. We'll lift up our voices at a musical, candle-lit Shabbat service in the round followed by dinner, gather for a joyous Rebbe's Tish with B'nai Mitzvah families on Saturday afternoon, and end Shabbat with a Magical Havdallah for adults that you won't want to miss! Registration is required for the Friday-night dinner, and space is limited.
Schedule
Friday, February 3

Musical Shabbat Service—6–7:15 p.m., Paradies Hall: Raise up your voice with a musical, candle-lit service in the round.
Shabbat Dinner and Singing—7:30–9:30 p.m., Srochi Auditorium: Continue the evening with a delicious Shabbat dinner and much more singing! Registration is required for this event at $25 per adult, $15 per child (registration link below).

Saturday, February 4

Shabbat Morning Service—9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Hybrid
Rebbe's Tish with B'nai Mitzvah Families—12:30–1:30 p.m., Srochi Auditorium: Uncover the joys of childhood through song and study—for the whole family!
House Concert and Havdallah—7–9:30 p.m, The Home of Ana and Ryan Posner: Take a load off at the end of a long week, as we gather for a night of music, food, and community. Please RSVP to Jackie Nix (jnix@aasynagogue.org) by Thursday, February 2 for the address.

Register for Shabbat Dinner
The deadline to register for the Shabbat Dinner is Friday, January 27.

About the Sonia Project
In memory of Sonia Fishkin, the Sonia Project seeks to elevate the experience of communal singing at Ahavath Achim through meaningful gathering, education, and the commissioning of new liturgical melodies. This first cycle features our own Rabbi Sam Blustin, who will lead two artist-in-residence weekends and record and perform new liturgical music throughout the year. Thank you to Andy Zangwill, the Sonia Fishkin Memorial Fund, and the Marilyn Ginsberg Eckstein Cultural Arts Program Fund for their sponsorship of this initiative.

Family Shabbat ⏺️
2023-02-04 11:15 - 12:00, 2023-04-01 11:15 - 12:00 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
Join us on the first Saturday of the month for Family Shabbat, a short and sweet musical service geared toward our young families! The program starts at 11:30 a.m., but come at 11:15 a.m. for a Shabbat-friendly activity and schmooze. Stick around after the Shabbat service for a community kiddush lunch and fresh-baked challah, lovingly brought by a different family each month. This service is designed for families with kids 0–2nd grade, but all are welcome.
RSVP is not required, but we'd love to know if you can make it—Please contact the Director of Education, Sharon Graetz, if you plan to join!
The location depends on room availability and the weather. We'll set up outside if the weather allows for it; Otherwise, we'll set up in Paradies Hall.
Dates: November 5, December 3, January 7, February 4, April 1, May 6

Purim PaloozAA
2023-03-05 10:30 - 12:30 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
This year's Purim PaloozAA is going to be out-of-this-world! Join us for a space-themed Purim party as we gather for a morning of games, crafts, prizes, treats, and fun. Attractions include an inflatable obstacle course, a bounce house for the five-and-under crowd, henna by the incredible Nikki Novotny, and more!
The cost to participate is $20 per family; $25 per family at the door.
The deadline to register is 5 p.m. on Friday, March 3 (link below).
Are you or your teen available to volunteer? If so, please fill out this form.
Questions? Contact the Director of Education: Sharon Graetz (sgraetz@aasynagogue.org).
Register

Hunger Walk Run
2023-03-12 12:00 - 16:00 | The Home Depot Backyard, 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA, 30313
Once again, AA's team, Sally's Friends, is supporting the Atlanta Community Food Bank at the Hunger Walk Run! You can participate virtually or in person as we take steps collectively as a community to end hunger in greater Atlanta and North Georgia. The Hunger Walk Run is a critical hunger relief event for our community. Every registration helps us provide 100 meals to one in eight Georgians struggling with hunger. Together, as a generous and loving community, we can definitely impact the lives of so many and demonstrate our dedication to the Jewish value of Tikkun Olam.
For over two decades, AA has been the first-place leader among all faith-based congregations, raising more than $45,000 in 2022. With your help, we can expand our team roster and visually display AA's support of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and our long-lasting relationship. Please join Sally's Friends by following these simple instructions:

Click on "Join Team." Registration for a Virtual Walker is already chosen by default. This becomes an automatic $25 donation and is part of your total donation. If you would prefer a Runner's shirt (air-wicking fabric), please select "Virtual Runner." Scroll down to "Would you like to kick start your fundraising with a personal gift now?"
Click the circle next to "Additional Gift," and enter the balance of your total donation. (For example, for a total donation of $100, enter $75.00 next to "Additional Gift." For $200, enter $175.00.
Continue the registration process through the next few pages.

At the end of the process, you will have the ability to register additional members of your family ($25 donation per person). Please add as many names as possible to help build our roster. The registration format requires the entry of your email address. If you prefer not to receive emails from the Food Bank throughout the year, please let Sally know, and she can easily have your name removed from their generalized mailing list.
To donate to Sally's Friends, follow these instructions:

Click on "Donate Now."
From the "Select a Team Member" drop-down list, select Sally Kaplan (unless you want to endorse a different team member).
Fill out the remaining fields.
Be sure to conduct a simple search to discover if your employer has a Matching Gift Program.
Or, for your convenience, mail a check to Sally Kaplan at 4507 Chattahoochee Way, Marietta, GA 30067. Checks should be payable to "Hunger Walk Run 2023." Write "Sally's Friends" in the "For" field.

For any questions or concerns, please contact Sally Kaplan (770.952.8752).
Please Join Sally's Friends

Tikkun Leil Shavuot 🔀
2023-05-25 18:00 - 2023-05-26 08:00 | GA
Join us for our community's all-night learning in celebration of the giving of Torah. We'll offer multiple in-person and virtual learning tracks and special learning for children, families, teens, and adults.
This event is free and open to the community!
Time Session Slot 1 (Ellman Chapel) Zoom Link This is the Zoom link for all sessions held in Ellman Chapel Slot 2 (Koplin-Borochoff Library) Zoom Link This is the Zoom link for all sessions held in Koplin-Borochoff Library Thursday, May 25 6:00 p.m. Evening Minyan Ellman Chapel Zoom Link 8:15 p.m. Candle Lighting and Welcome Ellman Chapel Zoom Link 8:50 p.m. Session 1 Leader: Dr. Peter Saulson We are "Citizens of Two Realms”Through careful reading of Chapter One of his classic Man is Not Alone, we’ll see how Abraham Joshua Heschel argued that “the realm of the ineffable” was at least as real as the physical world. This insight forms the basis for understanding Heschel’s argument for the realness of God. Source Sheet Leader: Richard Friedman Everything We Knew Was WrongJust a couple of examples to show how two revolutions—Archaeology and Bible Criticism—have changed what we know and what we understand in most of the Bible. Source Sheet 9:50 p.m. Transition 10:00 p.m. Session 2 Leader: Dennis Gilbride How Abraham Joshua Heschel Understands the Purpose of Prayer This session will discuss Heschel’s view of prayer. We will explore several components of prayer including gratitude, wonder and moving beyond self-centeredness. We will also discuss Heschel’s view on the differences between prayers of praise and petition. Source Sheet Leader: Rabbi Neil Sandler Reading Torah—Challenging the Mind and Uplifting the Spirit: A Session in Memory of Arnold M. Goodman z"lRabbi Arnold Goodman, my teacher and our teacher, enjoyed a very fulfilling career in the rabbinate. He touched many lives through the Torah he taught and left with many people. Of course, Rabbi Goodman’s Torah began with study of THE Torah. In this session on the day we celebrate our people’s receiving Torah, we will look at the meaning of the public reading of the Torah, the purpose it serves and the spirituality of the practice in our services. Source Sheet 10:50 p.m. Transition 11:00 p.m. Session 3 Leader: Edward Queen Torah and Tikkun: Study and Observance as a Spark for Redemption Most of us know the Hebrew word "tikkun" from the phrase "tikkun olam" (repair the world) and may wonder what does it have to do with Shavuot? Traditionally the word, meaning repair or rectification, described activities undertaken to "fix" some sin or transgression, either individual or collective. They served to repair the world on a cosmic scale and pave the way for the messiah. This session looks at the kabbalistic doctrine of "theurgy", the idea that human actions affect the divine realm, and the essential role that Torah study and observance play in sparking redemption. Source Sheet Leader: Dr. Linda Lippitt Chasidic Psychology and DemonsThis is the teaching of Harav Yitzchak Ginsburgh. Close reading of the Torah and the Zohar reveals what G-d left unfinished and why.We will discuss the strategies available to suppress scars of trauma or desires for things that take us further from G-d. The most critical name for G'd for this purpose is "Sha-'ai. We will start the session with an orientation to the kabbalistic tree of life. Hopefully this will allow novices to mysticism to be enriched by this and want more. Source Sheet Friday, May 26 12:00 a.m. Session 4 Leader: Steve Chervin Abraham Joshua Heschel and Prophecy: God and Justice Just as the prophets in the Hebrew Bible were consumed by God's demand for justice in the world, so too was AJ Heschel consumed with his own appreciation of the divine imperative to seek justice. In this session, we will examine excerpts from Heschel's masterpiece The Prophets, based on his doctoral dissertation in philosophy completed for the University of Berlin. Source Sheet﻿ Leader: Rabbi Chaim Listfield “Is God a Gator?”A story making the rounds is that one of America’s most famous rabbis blessed the University of Florida Men’s basketball team two years in a row, and the Gators won the national championship both times. We’ll discuss this charming story—and then we’ll debunk it. Shavuot is about following God, not influencing God. Source Sheet 12:50 a.m. Transition 1:00 a.m. Session 5 Leader: Joe Citron Torah in Relationship to Music, Songs and Artists We will look at the influence of the Torah in song. Also see the diverse applicants of Torah in their works. Source Sheet Leader: Jordan Forman Got to Get a Get? Got It!Jordan will touch on some highlights from the tractate of Gittin (and maybe other sources) to see what Judaism has to say about divorce and the process of the get. What are the rights and responsibilities of the parties to the divorce? What can be done when someone is not performing his/her obligations? We will discuss these and other related issues. Source Sheet 1:50 a.m. Transition 2:00 a.m. Session 6 Leader: Jay Waronker Synagogues of Sub-Saharan Africa: Architecture, History and CommunitiesA book talk on Jay Waronker's just-released book Synagogues of Sub-Saharan Africa: Architecture, History and Communities. This publication provides a written and richly-illustrated (including Waronker's careful watercolors) history of the three hundred or so synagogues realized by diverse communities of Jews in thirteen regional countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Eritrea. These religious buildings, varying in scale and appointments from the grand and luxurious to the one-roomed and humble and constructed in large cities, towns and villages, date from the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Some are still operational, others repurposed and yet more demolished. Filling in a previous gap in scholarship and general knowledge, these synagogues reveal a fascinating story of Jewish, African and architectural history and identity. Source Sheet Leader: Rabbi Hillel Norry The Most Remarkable Object in History—The TabletsNot all characters in the biblical stories are people. Sometimes it is a remarkable THING, an object that plays a crucial part in driving the narrative forward, and creating the story. We will look at the description of the tablets themselves (not the commandments… the TABLETS… and ask simple but revealing questions about this remarkable object: Where is it, and where did it come from? Who made it? What is it made of? Is it the only one of its kind? When does it appear in our story? What happened to it, and where is it now? Source Sheet 2:50 a.m. Transition 3:00 a.m. Session 7 Leader: Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Homosexuality and the Torah—A Jewish Perspective For millennia, the words of the Bible have been used to exclude, ridicule, and demean homosexuals. The few words in the Torah on this issue are often read and taken at "face value." Is this "face value" reading really what the Torah says or are generations of bias, fear, and social control being read into our understanding of God’s will? A deeper reading can reveal a lot about how the Bible might be understanding sexuality and sexual behavior. Source Sheet There is no second slot session, only a first slot session in Ellman Chapel. 3:50 a.m. Transition 4:00 a.m. Session 8 Leader: Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal Israel Through the Eyes of a Poet Explore the artistic expression of love, life, and hope as poets give us deeper meaning into the Promised Land. This session will look at how Israel was expressed through the minds of poets and what their heartfelt expression means to our modern understanding and love of the Jewish State. Source Sheet There is no second slot session, only a first slot session in Ellman Chapel. 5:00 a.m. Transition 5:15 a.m. Gentle Yoga and Stretching Memorial Garden Zoom Link 5:45 a.m. Hashkamah Minyan (Early Morning Service) Memorial Garden Zoom Link 8:00 a.m. Breakfast Paradies Hall Zoom Link

Tot Shabbat ⏺️
2023-08-05 11:15 - 12:00, 2023-09-30 11:15 - 12:00, 2023-11-04 11:15 - 12:00, 2023-12-02 11:15 - 12:00, 2024-01-06 11:15 - 12:00, 2024-02-03 11:15 - 12:00, 2024-03-02 11:15 - 12:00 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue—Garden, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
Join us on the first Saturday of the month for Tot Shabbat, a musical service that's fun for our young kids and engaging for adults! This service is designed for families with kids 0–2nd grade, but all are welcome.

11:15–11:30 a.m.: Shabbat-Friendly Activity and Schmooze
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.: Family Service
12:00 p.m.+: Fresh-Baked Challah (lovingly brought by a different family each month) followed by Community Kiddush

RSVP is not required, but we'd love to know if you can make it—Please contact our Interim Director of Education, Annsley Klehr (aklehr@aasynagogue.org), if you plan to join!
The location depends on room availability and the weather. We'll set up outside if the weather allows; Otherwise, we'll set up in Paradies Hall.
Dates: August 5, September 30 (last Saturday of the month), November 4, December 2, January 6, February 3, March 2, April 13 (second Saturday of the month), and May 4.

High Holiday Children's Choir Rehearsal ⏺️
2023-08-26 14:00 - 14:30, 2023-09-02 14:00 - 14:30, 2023-09-09 14:00 - 14:30, 2023-09-23 14:00 - 14:30 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue—Srochi Auditorium, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327, United States
Young singers aged seven and older are invited to sing through the children's choir selections for the High Holidays! Children are also invited to join the meshorerim on the following days:

Thursday, August 31, 7–7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 7, 7–7:30 p.m.
Thursday, September 14, 7–7:30 p.m.

No musical background is required, and anyone is welcome to come to listen or sing!
If your child(ren) wants to participate, please contact Bonnie Levine (music@aasynagogue.org).

Erev Simchat Torah Evening Service and Family Celebration 🔀
2023-10-07 17:30 - 20:00 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue — Epstein Sanctuary, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
Join our congregation and families as we finish the Torah before rolling it back to the beginning!

5:30 p.m.: Light Snacks
6:00 p.m.: Sanctuary: Mincha and Ma'ariv Service
6:45 p.m.: Dancing with the Torahs in Sanctuary
7:15 p.m.: Torah Reading (Group Aliyot for Kids and Families)
7:40 p.m.: Havdallah
7:00 p.m.: Cookie and Juice Oneg in Srochi

Registration is not required for this event, and all are welcome!
Join Via Zoom

Wellness Workshop—A One-Day Journey Into the Zero Line ⏺️
2023-12-03 09:30 - 13:30 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue—Srochi Auditorium, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327, United States
Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Kesher, and mAAc invite you to a wellness workshop! This workshop is presented by Jay Kratz, owner of META MVMT, Bodyworker, and Movement Expert. Jay will help us explore the Zero Line and six body codes for holistic healing, guiding us into better alignment, posture, and movement. Your transformation to a better body begins here! Don't miss out on the benefits of a unique and transformative morning.
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.: Workshop
12:30–1:30 p.m.: Chat and optional lunch
Wear comfortable clothes, and bring a yoga mat and water bottle. There is no cost to attend the workshop, but an optional lunch is available for purchase (gluten-free option available) for $18/person. Registration for this event is required (link below) by Monday, November 27.
Questions? Contact Marcia Spielberger (maspielberger@comcast.net).
Learn more about the workshop here.
Register

Sparks of Light ⏺️
2023-12-10 17:30 - 19:30 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
Celebrate the Festival of Lights at our annual Chanukah party, Sparks of Light! We'll have activity tables (planned and executed by Kesher students), a singing performance, candle lighting, and a fireworks display graciously provided by Wayne Neuwirth.

5:30–6:30 p.m.: Activities and dinner
6:30–6:50 p.m.: Singing performances
6:50–7:00 p.m.: Candle lighting
7–7:30 p.m.: Fireworks

The cost to attend is $18 per individual, $36 per family of 2–4 people, $48 per family of 5–6 people, and $64 per family of 7–8 people.
Chairs for the fireworks show will be available for people with disabilities. If you do not have a disability but would like to sit, you must bring your own chair.
The deadline to register (link below) is Tuesday, November 21.
For questions or concerns, please contact the Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr (aklehr@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.5754).
Register

Rosh and Nosh ⏺️
2024-01-11 08:15 - 09:00, 2024-02-09 08:15 - 09:00, 2024-03-11 08:15 - 09:00 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue – Lobby, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
Join us once a month on Rosh Chodesh to elevate the new month with Ahava parents and minyan regulars! After the morning minyan service, we'll be offering the opportunity for our two wonderful communities to schmooze and learn a short bit of Torah that's friendly for the whole family. Stop in for coffee and a donut, and hang out as long as you'd like! Learning will last approximately five minutes and will be offered twice, at 8:30 a.m. and 8:45 a.m.

Tu B'Shvat Tree Planting ⏺️
2024-01-28 13:00 - 16:00 | GA
Please join Adamah-ATL and GIPL and people from all over Atlanta's Jewish community to plant trees in celebration of Tu B'Shvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, and help to sustain and grow Atlanta's urban forest. Trees Atlanta provides the trees, tools, and expertise, we do the digging and planting, giving trees a place to flourish.
Registration is required (link below). Children accompanied by parents are welcome. The exact location (at an in-town park) will be provided to registrants before the planting.
RegisterSign up link at bottom of page

Atlanta Jewish Life Festival ⏺️
2024-03-03 11:00 - 15:00 | Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St NW, Atlanta, GA, 30313
Join the Atlanta Jewish community for a day of Jewish music, food, and more at the fifth annual Atlanta Jewish Life Festival!

Hear music from Jewish performers (Our very own Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal will perform with his band, As of Yet!)
Nosh on delicious kosher food
Connect with dozens of Atlanta Jewish organizations
See the new shark tank and hundreds of other aquatic species
Participate in our hoops contest and WIN CASH PRIZES!

Tickets include FREE access to the aquarium during and after the festival! You'll enjoy all the aquarium has to offer PLUS Jewish food, music, and culture at a fraction of the cost of regular aquarium admission.
Buy Tickets

Hamantaschen Baking for Purim PaloozAA ⏺️
2024-03-10 09:30 - 12:30 | Ahavath Achim Synagogue—Srochi Kitchen, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave NW, Atlanta, GA, 30327
Join us during Kesher as we make hamantaschen for Purim PaloozAA!
Sign-up is required (form linked below) by Friday, March 15.
Questions? Please contact the Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr (aklehr@aasynagogue.org).
Sign Up

Hunger Walk Run—40th Anniversary 🔀
2024-03-10 12:00 - 16:00 | The Home Depot Backyard, 1 Backyard Way, Atlanta, GA, 30313
Once again, AA's team, Sally's Friends, is supporting the Atlanta Community Food Bank at the Hunger Walk Run! This year marks the 40th Anniversary, and for more than 25 of those years, our AA community has been the first-place leader among all faith-based congregations. As a result of your support and dedication, we raised over $47,000 in 2023. With your continued help, we can expand our team roster this year and visually display AA's support of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and our long-lasting relationship.
To donate to Sally's Friends, follow these instructions:

Click on "Donate Now."
From the "Select a Team Member" drop-down list, select Sally Kaplan (unless you want to endorse a different team member).
Fill out the remaining fields.
Be sure to conduct a simple search to discover if your employer has a Matching Gift Program.

Or, for your convenience, mail a check to:
Sally Kaplan
4507 Chattahoochee Way
Marietta, GA 30067
Checks should be payable to "Hunger Walk Run 2024." Write "Sally's Friends" in the "For" field.
Thank you for your continued generosity and the difference you make in the lives of so many. Together, as a loving and thoughtful community, we can definitely embrace the mitzvah of Tikkun Olam.
For any questions, concerns, or difficulties, please contact Bebe Kaplan for assistance, day or night, at 404.587.1736.
Join Sally's Friends
