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.
Special Message
Farewell to Lauren Dube and Next Steps
Dear AA Family,
As I shared in a previous communication about staff transitions, our Marketing Director, Lauren Dube, will be moving on to an exciting new opportunity with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Yesterday marked a bittersweet moment, as we said farewell to Lauren on her last day as a valued member of our AA professional team.
We've been actively working to identify the right person to step into this important position and continue Lauren's exceptional work. During the month of August, you may notice that our website, e-blasts, and other communications are more limited than usual as we navigate this transition. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this interim period.
If you have any specific concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.
Thank you, as always, for your support and partnership.
Barry Herman
Executive Director
bherman@aasynagogue.org
Shabbat Corner
Friday Evening–Saturday
- Meshorerim Shabbat Service 🔀: 6:00 p.m.—Zoom
- Candle Lighting: 8:19 p.m.
- Shabbat Morning Service 🔀: 9:30 a.m.—Zoom
- Torah Study 🔀: 10:30 a.m.—Zoom
- AA Play and Pray ⏺️: 11:00 a.m.
- Rebbe's Tish ⏺️: 12:30 p.m.
- Tisha B'Av Evening Service 🔀: 7:30 p.m.—Zoom
- Fast Begins: 8:37 p.m.
- Conclusion of Shabbat: 9:02 p.m.
- Torah Parashat (Devarim):
- Annual: Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22
- Triennial: Deuteronomy 2:31–3:22
- Haftara: Isaiah 1:1–27
▶️ Virtual 🔀 Hybrid ⏺️ In-Person
Feel-Good News
Kiddush Sponsor
Janet Kupshik in honor of her birthday on 7/2!
Marcia Jaffe in honor of her birthday on 7/4!
Brandon Goldberg in honor of his birthday 7/8!
Bebe Kaplan in honor of Sally Kaplan's birthday on 7/10!
Donna and Philip Newman in honor of 51st wedding anniversary on 8/3!
Events
Other Things Happening
The High Holiday Honors form is now open through Monday, August 25! Please use the form below to request an honor for yourself or to nominate someone else. The form allows you to indicate your availability and preferred honors. Nominators are not required to know all the nominee's details to submit a request.
Your participation is greatly appreciated and helps us plan meaningful and inclusive services for our community. Please note that completing the form does not guarantee that requests or nominations will be fulfilled.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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)
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.
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!
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.
