NEWS

NEWS JCC Reopens After COVID-19 Closure

By Dave Schechter line. Powers later told the AJT, “We have

Seventy-nine days elapsed between been in constant communication with March 13, when the Marcus Jewish Commumedical and public health officials and have nity Center of Atlanta closed its doors, and made our plans in accordance with guideJune 1, when those doors reopened. lines from local, state, and federal agencies,

The JCC was among the local Jewish including the CDC,” Centers for Disease institutions severely imControl and Prevention. pacted by COVID-19, as the The COVID-19 emerloss of revenue-producing gency fund established by programs resulted in job the Jewish Federation of cuts. Greater Atlanta provided

“When we reopen, we the JCC with $100,000 to won’t look the same overaid in the reopening. night,” CEO Jared Powers Powers did not ansaid during the JCC’s May swer questions from the 27 annual meeting, this AJT about the extent of year held via the video the financial hit that COconferencing platform VID-19 leveled on the JCC. Zoom. On a conference call early

Even with enhanced Robbins told the JCC’s annual in the crisis, Powers said health and sanitation meeting that “community and that 60 percent of its revprocedures the JCC faces a challenge. “We all know that reentering daily life connection will never be more important than when we find our way out of this thing.” enues came from summer programs.

A major program will include some degree of risk and every casualty of COVID-19 was summer 2020 at family will have to make that decision for Camp Barney Medintz, the JCC’s overnight their own,” Powers told those watching oncamp near Cleveland, Ga.

The Marcus JCC’s outgoing board chair, Ken Winkler, middle, is flanked by his predecessor Joel Arogeti and CEO Jared Powers.

“Camp Barney” annually attracts more services with Rabbi Brian Glusman. than 1,200 boys and girls, ages 8 to 16, from As phase one of the JCC’s reopening throughout the southeastern United States gets underway, Powers and the JCC staff are and beyond. According to its website, the reshaping its future. “The possibilities here cost of a two-week session begins at $3,170 are endless. The Marcus JCC is so fortunate for JCC members and a four-week session to have its 52-acre Zaban Park campus and begins at $4,865, depending on age, with a highly creative staff who are always innoout-of-town or nonmembers paying slightly vating our programs and services. We are higher fees. currently developing plans for reimagined

The JCC was spared sports and recreational another revenue loss programs, and we look when an executive order forward to sharing the deissued by Gov. Brian Kemp tails with the community made it possible to plan for soon,” Powers told the AJT. day camps and preschool Barely two weeks afcamps to open. ter closing its doors, the

“Summer Days @ the JCC announced the layoff J,” the June 29 to Aug. 7 day or furlough of more than camp for children from rishalf its employees, citing ing kindergarten to rising an anticipated loss of prosixth grade will cost $350 gram fees and memberfor members and $400 for nonmembers per week. CEO Jared Powers cautions that the JCC “won’t look the ship revenue. At the time, Powers said the cuts were “July at the J,” the name same overnight” as it did when part of “necessary, though given to the preschool prothe doors closed March 13. very difficult, decisions to gram, will operate June 29 to Aug. 5. ensure the long-term future of the Marcus

The day camp plan calls for small JCC.” groups of 10 campers and two counselors, The JCC has declined to answer quesand outdoor activities on the 52-acre Zaban tions about the number of jobs eliminated. Park campus that include boating, ropes The Federation emergency fund thus far courses, fishing, swimming, archery, along has made grants totaling $310,000 to the JCC with arts and crafts. to help extend health insurance coverage to

“We know many working parents need those furloughed and laid off. a safe and enriching summer program for Powers told the annual meeting that their children as they head back to work. the JCC hopes to bring back a “limited” numThis program will provide that quality care ber of the furloughed employees. for your children, and priority placement In his remarks to the JCC meeting, Eric will be given to families who need childRobbins, Federation president and CEO, care,” a statement on the JCC website reads. said, “Yes, this is a time when we’re sepa

In addition, throughout June the JCC is rated, but I can tell you that community offering 10 “virtual” day camp programs onand connection will never be more imporline, the offerings geared to age groups. tant than when we find our way out of this

During the closure, some JCC programthing.” ming migrated to online presentation, inKen Winkler, outgoing chair of the JCC cluding preschool and day camp programs, board, said in his parting comments, “I am the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning, unwavering in my confidence that the MJCthe Book Festival of the MJCCA, BBYO, and CA will see brighter days ahead.” ì

Synagogue Homeless Shelters Expand Services

By Jan Jaben-Eilon that will treat them with dignity. People are very desperate right now. It’s an espe

At a time when the economically discially scary time for them. There are peoadvantaged of Atlanta ple who are experiencare increasingly losing ing bad circumstances their jobs and homes and don’t always have because of the global other support.” health pandemic and For the two exsubsequent economic ecutive directors of crisis, the city’s Jewish the shelters, working community is steptogether on a joint ping up to the plate. program was a noStarting this month, brainer. According the community’s two to Hamilton-Butler, s y n a g o g u e - b a s e d she and Wesley had homeless shelters are worked together at partnering to provide “The work of these organizations a domestic violence summer day services aligns with our steadfast commitment shelter in Forsyth for homeless women, to aid and uplift those who are County from 2012 to couples and families.

Most homeless vulnerable and marginalized,” said

The Temple’s Rabbi Peter Berg. 2013.

The program is challenging time. We based on a pilot day believe that the collabservices program oration between the started last year, said Center and Rebecca’s Tasho Wesley, execuTent to address the intive director at Rebeccreased need for food, ca’s Tent. “We saw an shelter, and emotional opportunity to expand The majority of the 400-plus support will have a our services.”

Adrianne Hamilton-Butler, executive volunteers at the shelters are from the Jewish community, said Tasho Wesley, executive director of Rebecca’s Tent. transformational impact on our community. The work of these director at the Zaban shelter, said. “Peoorganizations aligns with our steadfast ple experiencing homelessness are in cricommitment to aid and uplift those who sis and need places to go that are safe and are vulnerable and marginalized.”

“When I became shelters are not open 24 hours a day, director of Zaban and realized that we seven days a week. And the homeless had programs in common, we started shelter season is gentalking” about joint erally October or Noventures, Hamiltonvember through April. Butler told the AJT. The new collaborative That was not long afday services program ter she joined Zaban in that started in June December, and before will operate through the virus had startAugust. The program ed its deadly march will include access to across the country. computers, showers, “Once COVID haplunches and job trainpened, we realized we ing support. Although did need to come toit will operate at the gether.” larger Zaban Paradies Shearith Israel’s Rabbi Ari Hamilton-ButCenter at The Temple Kaiman, said the new collaborative ler said she first apand will be staffed by that center Mondays effort is part of a broader vision steeped in Jewish tradition. proached The Temple Senior Rabbi Peter and Wednesdays, the staff at Rebecca’s Berg and “he was extremely receptive.” Tent: Spiegel Women’s Shelter at (ConBerg said, “The Temple is proud of its gregation) Shearith Israel will provide historical link to the Zaban Paradies Censervices on Tuesdays ter and supports its and Thursdays. The efforts to help couples program will be availexperiencing homeable by advance reserlessness to transition vation from 9 a.m. to 3 to self-sufficiency, esp.m. pecially during this

Similarly, Rabbi Ari Kaiman of Hamilton-Butler said, “The Jewish Shearith Israel pointed out that the colcommunity has been amazingly suplaborative effort is part of a broader viportive.” For people who feel hopeless sion steeped in Jewish right now, it means a lot tradition. “We are taught “to know we have broththat the beginning of ers and sisters wanting to our future redemption is reach out.” with a homeless woman In fact, Wesley said named Ruth, who comthe majority of the more mitted herself to be part than 400 volunteers who of a community and reprepare meals, serve ceived great kindness. meals and provide other Ruth’s great-grandson services at the shelters was King David. His are from the Jewish comlegacy was uniting the munity. Kingdom of Israel. The Rebecca’s Tent has united work of Rebecca’s operated at Shearith IsTent and Zaban Paradies rael in Morningside for Center to show kindness to our most vulnerable

Adrianne Hamilton-Butler, executive director of the Zaban more than 30 years to help homeless women in Atpopulation has within Paradies Center, said “people lanta and DeKalb County it the seeds of redempare very desperate right now.” work toward stability and tion. May this collaboration bring sucindependence. Zaban Paradies Center, cess and growth for those who receive for 35 years located on the campus of The these new services, and may their sucTemple, provides support to homeless cesses be a part of our future collective couples as they transition from homelessredemption.” ness to economic stability. ì