MUSIC FESTIVAL PREVIEW, PAGES 15-26 GLOBAL TRADITION
Israeli Idan Raichel brings a unique international sound to City Winery. Page 17
BEASTIE SHOW
Israeli hip-hoppers organized by ATL Collective re-create “Licensed to Ill.” Page 18
HERE AND THERE
Festival artists are taking the show on the road to other Southern cities. Page 22
Atlanta VOL. XCII NO. 9
WWW.ATLANTAJEWISHTIMES.COM
Community Honors Power of Inclusion By Sarah Moosazadeh sarah@atljewishtimes.com “Federation is thrilled to have so many local partners here. … It is a testament to how dedicated this community is to becoming more inclusive and welcoming to everyone,” Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Eric Robbins said at the third annual Power of One reception Sunday, Feb. 26. The Selig Center ceremony honored 25 people who were recognized by their Jewish Atlanta organizations for demonstrating exceptional kindness in making people with special needs feel welcome. Federation and the Jewish Abilities Alliance, formed in 2013, presented the ceremony as the closing event of Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month. JAA committee chairs Ina Enoch and Sheryl Arno, joined by vice chair Adam Pomeranz, have spearheaded opportunities for inclusion across the community. “Ina’s ability to look at the big picture encourages those on the committees that she serves to continually achieve success,” said Federation Chairman Joel Marks, who presented a vase to Enoch in appreciation for her work with JAA. The JAA Training Fund, which helps community leaders and professionals participate in educational opportunities geared toward inclusion, is being renamed the Ina Enoch
Photo by Sarah Moosazadeh
Graphic recorder/artist Brittany Curry creates a mural during the Power of One ceremony by converting the evening’s words into images. (See a list of honorees and more photos at www.atlantajewishtimes.com.)
Community Disabilities Training Fund. Marks announced that Enoch will step down from the JAA committee and join Federation’s executive board in June. The ceremony also featured the first Robyn Berger Emerging Leader Award, presented by Arno and Eric Berger to Emily Shapiro from Camp Barney Medintz. The award recognizes someone who is passionate about promoting inclusion among younger community members. Shapiro began as a staffer in training at Camp Barney at 14 and knew she wanted to work with campers with special needs. She is a regular at the Marcus Jewish Community Center’s SOAR Program and soon will receive a master’s in
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social work and organizational behavior with an emphasis in disability studies. “Camp directors strive to make connections and an impact on every child they spend time with. … In turn, campers profoundly impact us and help us become better at what we do. What a joy to have been able to watch Emily create inclusive communities both inside and outside of camp,” said Michael Drucker, the operations director for Camp Barney. “We are looking forward to our continued collaborative efforts to ensure our Jewish community is one that embraces all people,” Robbins said. “There is no power of change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.” ■
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MARCH 3, 2017 | 5 ADAR 5777
NFTY Vet Leads Teen Initiative
The five-year, $4.2 million Atlanta Jewish Teen Initiative has hired its founding director, Hope Chernak. “We’ve found an ideal person to launch AJTI,” Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Eric Robbins said. The initiative is a partnership of Federation, the Marcus Jewish Community Center and the Atlanta Rabbinical Association. It is funded through a $2.1 million, five-year grant from the Jim Joseph Foundation, plus a matching amount being raised locally. The goal is to substantially boost Jewish engagement among high-schoolers in metro Atlanta by offering them multiple pathways to ignite their personal interests and passions through a Jewish lens. Chernak starts April 19; the initiative should begin its public work in the fall. “Hope is a powerhouse in Jewish formal and informal education who came up through the ranks,” said Amanda Abrams, the chief program and innovation officer at the Marcus JCC. Chernak grew up in Orlando, spent eight summers at Camp Coleman and worked under Rabbi Alvin Sugarman at The Temple in her first full-time job. The past 10 years she led youth, informal education and Israel programs at Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York. She previously directed the Reform NFTY youth group and was the Union for Reform Judaism’s director of youth regions. “The Atlanta community has put tremendous thought, planning and support into this bold and immersive teen program,” Chernak said. “I look forward to partnering with youth professionals, educators and clergy members to advance teen engagement in a thriving Jewish community I already love.” ■