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
Shabbat Corner
Friday Evening–Saturday Evening
For a full schedule of Passover services, please view our website calendar.
- Candle Lighting: 7:54 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 🔀: 7:15 p.m.—Zoom
- Conclusion of Shabbat: 8:38 p.m.
- Torah Parashat (Metzora):
- Annual: Leviticus 14:1–15:33
- Triennial: Leviticus 14:1–14:32
- Haftara: Malachi 3:4–24
- A Message from Rabbi Emeritus Neil Sandler: Read >>
▶️ Virtual 🔀 Hybrid ⏺️ In-Person
Feel-Good News
Kiddush Sponsors
Esther and Mike Levine in honor of their anniversary on 4/14!
Fran Norflus in honor of her birthday on 3/29 and her father, David's, birthday on 4/17!
Linda and Richard Bressler in honor of their 55th anniversary on 4/23!
Antisemitism with Brendan Murphy 4.8.24 and 4.15.24
AA's Antisemitism Committee in collaboration with the Cathedral of Christ the King (CCK) co-hosted a two-part program, Why the Jews? Understanding the Long and Tragic History of Antisemitism and the Future of Jewish-Christian Relations, led by Brendan Murphy, distinguished history teacher at Marist School. Through film clips, photographs, and illustrations of Church sculptures and texts, Mr. Murphy described the role the Catholic Church played in antisemitism over the past 2,000 years.
At the end of his second presentation at AA, Mr. Murphy described the Church's efforts to make amends and emphasized that through inter-faith dialogue, understanding and collaboration, we can strive for a better world.
Both AA and CCK were thrilled with the attendance: 412 people attended the first program at CCK on Monday, April 8, and 618 attended the second program at AA on Monday, April 15. Thank you to the AA staff, committee members, hosts, and greeters who made this event successful. A special thank you to the Antisemitism co-chairs: Nancy Levine, Helaine Lasky, and Ken Feinberg.
Below are some photos from the second program at AA.
Kesher Passover Activity Day and Seder 4.14.24
Passover is a time of reflection, family and friends, and carrying on traditions. We, too, at Kesher wanted to help create those meaningful connections and traditions, so we invited people near and dear to our hearts to join us this past Sunday.
Kesher started with the morning Havdallah ritual, but this time, our special guests were with us. Afterward, everyone headed off to class, where the children shared their knowledge of Passover with guests through the overarching theme of the classroom. Intergenerational activities followed.
The Gan class learned the Four Questions and made afikomen covers, so they created matzah bags with their special guests.
The Ozrim class studied the symbolism of the seder plate—inviting all who are hungry to come and eat—so they shared their songs and then created a model seder table where they invited people from their past, present, and future to join them.
The Cosim class focused on the magic of prayer—learning Dayenu and the plagues—so they made blessing bags and decorated them with their special guests. They each added gratitude to the bag and followed it with Dayenu.
Our Menches class focused the year on protecting and guarding their community. They found that the best way to protect their traditions was through storytelling and understanding Elijah's presence at the seder. The students shared a significant memory with their guests that they wanted to pass on. Together, the team documented this story and illustrated it.
After snack, everyone gathered for an in-person, multi-generational, fast-and-furious seder, to which each class contributed its songs and knowledge. We wrapped up by singing L'Shanah Haba'a—Next Year in Jerusalem.
A special thank you to all the special guests who attended, as well as Abby Graff, Janet Schatten, Liz Bock, Lauren Dube, Catherine Ficke, Jackie Nix, Heidi Herman, Fern Schorr, and Rebecca Sokol for helping make our Passover Activity Day such a success.
Events
Other Things Happening at AA
The 2024 Spring Beineinu—Passover Issue is out! If you haven't yet received your copy in the mail, you can view the electronic version here.
Ahava Early Learning Center yard signs are available in the Cohen Pavilion. If you or a family member live close by, please take advantage of this opportunity to share the news about this wonderful school! There is no cost—just grab a sign and a metal display stand. You will be doing a mitzvah for our community, and Ahava thanks you for your support!
Are you fun? Innovative? Passionate? Love kids? Kesher is seeking:
- 10th–12th grade madrichim (teaching assistants) for the fall of 2024. Hourly pay at $10 or community service hours.
- Part-time teachers/facilitators for the fall of 2024. Hourly pay beginning at $30.
Kesher is AA's religious school program for students Pre-K through sixth grade. If you are interested, please email our Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr ([email protected]).
Looking for something different for your child? At Ahava Early Learning Center, we believe in connected communities and the power of WONDER to change the world. Our program for preschoolers and Pre-K students, ages 3–5, is now enrolling with limited spaces for the 2024–25 school year. Find out more about how your family can thrive in our true play-based, wonder-filled community where children are given the freedom to develop their independence, love of learning, and connection to one another that will lay the foundation for strong, empathetic, life-long learners! Visit our website, and call today to schedule a tour! Don't forget to ask about the ALEF Fund, which may help subsidize your Pre-K child's tuition as much as 50%!
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.
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 in December. 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.
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.
Freedom Tags is an initiative by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. Purchase a Freedom Tag to support the hundreds of innocent people kidnapped by Hamas. The Hostages and Missing solidarity tags are meant to remind us all of our commitment to bring them home. Now.
If you are interested in purchasing a Freedom Tag at discounted rate of $18 per tag, please contact the Director of Outreach and Engagement: Miriam Habif Gelfond ([email protected]; 404.603.5749).
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