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.

You can help bring them back home.
Visit our Israel Resource Page.

Schmooze and News at AA

Special Message

Dear AA Community,

We want to share an important update with you.

At the end of July, Lauren Dube, our beloved Director of Marketing, will be concluding her time at AA as she embarks on an exciting new role with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Over the past nine years, it has been a true privilege to watch Lauren grow within our community—beginning as a graphic designer and rising to lead our marketing efforts with creativity, dedication, and vision. She has been the heart behind AA's public image, shaping how we present ourselves both within our congregation and to the greater Atlanta community.

Lauren's contributions have been both broad and deep—from building and managing our website, to coordinating marketing for all programs, producing the high-quality Beineinu, and cultivating our growing presence across social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, and so much more. When our former website provider left us in a difficult spot, Lauren stepped in and built a new site from the ground up, ensuring we remained connected and current.

While we are certainly sad to see her go, we are filled with gratitude for the warmth, talent, and tireless energy she brought to AA. Lauren has made a lasting impact on our community, and she will be greatly missed.

Please join us in wishing her all the best in this next chapter!

Shabbat Corner

Friday Evening–Saturday

  • Shabbat Evening Service 🔀: 6:00 p.m.—Zoom
  • Candle Lighting: 8:29 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 🔀: 7:45 p.m.—Zoom
  • Conclusion of Shabbat: 9:12 p.m.
  • Torah Parashat (Pinchas):

▶️ Virtual 🔀 Hybrid ⏺️ In-Person

Feel-Good News

Kiddush Sponsor

Sheila and Larry Wilensky in honor of their 63rd Anniversary on 7/15!

Kol HaKavod to Gabriella Cohen >>

Events

Other Things Happening


Enhance your celebration of the Sukkot holiday with a set of the Four Species. As this year is a Shemita year in Israel, the lulavim and etrogim will be imported from Morocco. Each set costs $65 and includes the Etrog, Lulav, Myrtles, Willows, and a Lulav bag.

Pre-paid orders must be placed by Friday, September 19. We will email and/or call you when the shipment arrives.

Order

The 2025 Summer Beineinu—Year-in-Review issue is out! If you haven't yet received your copy in the mail, you can view the electronic version here.


As the High Holidays approach, we invite you to honor the memory of your loved ones by including their names in the Ida Pearle and Joseph Cuba 5786 Yizkor Memorial "Pages of Remembrance" book. By inscribing their names in this book, you fulfill the mitzvah of giving in honor and in memory of those who have passed.

In order to meet our mandatory publication deadline, requests for inclusion must be received on time. Due to mailing constraints, the deadline to receive submissions is Monday, August 25.

Submit Names


If you're a parent or grandparent of a college student, we'd love to stay connected with them! Please share their name and college information with us so Sisterhood can send thoughtful letters, care packages, and special remembrances throughout the year! Please submit information to Jill Rosner (404.603.5741; jrosner@aasynagogue.org).


2025–26 registration for Kesher religious school (Pre-K–6th Grade) and Neisah teen program (7th–9th Grade) is now open!

The Kesher and Neisah programs are generously endowed by the Judith and Aaron z"l Alembik Ahavath Achim Youth Education Program.

Register | More Info

We are excited to be partnering with L'dor V'dor Judaica, an organization that rescues Judaica from thrift shops, estate sales, and the trash and rehomes it to folks in need of Judaica, allowing beautiful pieces and traditions to live on from generation to generation. AA will be collecting Judaica that our community no longer uses for others to rehome. We will accept all forms of Judaica that are useable. We will not accept books of any kind at this time.

If you have any Judaica in need of a new home, please contact the Director of Development, Jackie Nix (jnix@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.5743), who will catalog and organize the items before placing them on a table outside the AA offices.

We look forward to helping you find items that ensure you can practice the traditions that connect you to the Jewish community and heritage.


Are you fun? Innovative? Passionate? Love kids? Kesher is seeking:

  • Madrichim (teaching assistants) for the fall of 2024. $10/hour or community service hours
  • Part-time teachers/facilitators for the fall of 2024. Beginning at $30/hour.
  • Subs

Kesher is AA's supplementary Jewish education program for students Pre-K through sixth grade. If you are interested, please email our Interim Director of Education: Annsley Klehr (aklehr@aasynagogue.org).

The Kesher program is generously endowed by the Judith and Aaron z"l Alembik Ahavath Achim Youth Education Program.


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 (lrosenthal@aasynagogue.org) directly. We always appreciate the opportunity to speak with anyone in need and offer support in any way we can.
 

It's time again to send the sweetest Rosh Hashanah greetings and support Ahavath Achim Sisterhood with your honey purchase. What better way to wish family, friends, and business associates a "Sweet and Healthy New Year" than sending a jar of honey? Each 8-oz jar of honey is $18. Shipping is free for orders submitted online through Friday, August 8. After this date, a $8 shipping fee per jar will be automatically added. Orders must be placed before Friday, August 8, for guaranteed delivery in time for Rosh Hashanah.

Questions? Contact Janet Kupshik (janet6420@aol.com; 404.313.1874)

Order


Introducing the Kiddush Crew! 🥖🍷 We're launching a brand-new Kiddush Crew to support Ariela Rosenthal in preparing our beloved weekly Kiddush meals—and you can be part of it! Each week, two volunteers will team up with Ariela to help slice, dice, and serve joy to the community. It's a fun, social, and meaningful way to contribute—plus, you get behind-the-scenes access to all the deliciousness! Sign up below to reserve your date. Let's make Kiddush magic together!

Sign Up

Your help is needed to fight the ugliness. Across America, we are witnessing an alarming rise in anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish demonstrations, especially on college and university campuses. Perhaps such events have occurred at your alma mater. As a concerned alum, you can raise your voice and urge university leadership to counter antisemitism. Equally important, you can also thank university administrators who are fighting to keep the campus free from discrimination, hate, violence, and antisemitism.

Ahavath Achim's (AA) Response to Antisemitism and Hate Committee wishes to create an Alumni Database. If you participate in this effort, we will alert you when antisemitic incidents occur or when positive steps are taken to counter such hate are taken. The Committee will prepare sample letters for you to use or personalize when communicating with your alma mater's leadership. Your voice matters.

We hope every college graduate in your household will join this effort.

Join the Database


Backpack Buddies needs your help! Backpack Buddies is seeking volunteers weekly, monthly, or whenever you can help during the school year to pack food at the Synagogue. If you are interested in volunteering, please sign up below or contact the chair: Carla Werthheimer (werth5@comcast.net). It's easy and fun!

Sign Up


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 (alanwexler@databankinfo.com; 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 (fschorr@aasynagogue.org; 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.
Tribute donations offer the ability to memorialize or honor friends and family through donations to a variety of designated funds. Tribute donations can be made in honor of B'nai Mitzvah, the birth of a baby, a graduation, a wedding, or other special occasion. Donations in memory of loved ones are a thoughtful and meaningful way to remember those who have passed away. Your donation will be acknowledged with a card to the recipient of this tribute. Please note that Tribute Donations require a minimum contribution of $18.