Energy, Excitement and Making a Difference

As we ready our hearts and homes for the high holidays and prepare to welcome 5779, it is a time for both reflection and looking forward to the coming year.

This new year will be one of great excitement at the MJCCA as we prepare to host the 2019 JCC Maccabi Games®. From July 28-August 2, the Atlanta community will welcome more than 1,600 teens and their families from across the nation.

Hosting the JCC Maccabi Games® will bring together and strengthen our community in an experience that transcends the week-long itinerary. The energy and excitement of this event makes it an unforgettable experience for every participant, from athletes to volunteers, from coaches to host families. As you plan your new year, I hope you will consider including involvement in the JCC Maccabi Games®. We can’t do it without you.

In celebration of Rosh Hashanah, we often wish our family and friends a healthy new year. At the MJCCA, we are committed to building a healthy community. We start the new year with three new, larger fitness studios and an expanded class offering. The hope is that more members of our community join us on their journey to get fit and truly make this a healthy new year.

We also start this new year with a new preschool, the MJCCA Schiff School at Temple Emanu-El. MJCCA preschools are a special community, one that builds lifelong learners, lasting friendships, and a lifetime of memories. We are thrilled with this opportunity to build another amazing preschool community with the MJCCA Schiff School.

The high holidays are a time for reflection. As I think back on the past year, I feel a sense of pride to be a part of the MJCCA, an organization that is so integral to the lives of so many, as it has been for mine for more than 40 years.

The many summers I spent at Camp Barney Medintz played a big part in shaping the person I am today. I am proud that the MJCCA continues to impact the lives of more than 1,200 Camp Barney Medintz campers each year as they develop lifelong friendships and a strong connection to their Jewish identity.

There is so much to be proud of at the MJCCA. Our day campers thrive during a summer filled with adventure while making enduring friends and memories. Our more than 500 preschoolers learn the vital skills needed to prepare them for kindergarten in a nurturing, Jewish environment. The Book Festival of the MJCCA brings exceptional year-round cultural opportunities to more than 13,000 book lovers.

Through our teen programs, thousands of young people connect with each other, establishing meaningful Jewish social networks. MJCCA sports programs offer recreational and competitive options. Our Jewish learning classes impact more than 480 adults. Our inclusion program enables children with special needs to learn and play side-by-side with their typically-developing peers. More than 3,500 active mature adults participate in activities that help them stay engaged and live rich, full lives.

During this time of reflection, I want to acknowledge the incredible contributions made by our board, donors, members, sponsors, staff, lay leaders, partners and participants. Your continued commitment to the MJCCA will enable us to make an even greater impact in 5779.

We are dedicated to our community and those who depend on the MJCCA to be a welcoming, inclusive and safe space to gather, learn, play and find meaningful connections.

On behalf of the MJCCA, I wish all of you L’shana tova!