Opening the Flood Gates to a New Normal

With Passover falling in the midst of a time of increased isolation and daily challenges around the world, the AJT asked Jewish Atlanta community members to share thoughts on a new norm that they see emerging. Their responses included a comparison between the Exodus from Egypt and our current bondage of sorts; lessons to learn from the confinement; how to connect in novel ways with family, friends and the community; empathize more deeply with those in need; enjoy the moment and appreciate the blessings of good health and life.

We share their full responses here:

David Abusch-Magder

David Abusch-Magder, is head of school of The Epstein School.

Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder

Rabbi Ruth Abusch-Magder is the director of education at Be’chol Lashon, an organization dedicated to racial diversity in Jewish life.

Rabbi Peter S. Berg

Rabbi Peter S. Berg is the senior rabbi of The Temple.

Chuck Berk

Chuck Berk is chair of the Israel Bonds National Campaign.

Rabbi Michael Bernstein

Rabbi Michael Bernstein is the spiritual (and now virtual) leader of Congregation Gesher L’ Torah. He is a member of the advisory committee of SOJOURN, a requent participant on interfaith panels, and member of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Board of Preachers.

Michal Bonell

Michal Bonell is a senior account manager for the AJT.

Jodi Danis

Jodi Danis is the executive assistant to the AJT publisher and managing publisher/editor.

Terri Bonoff

Terri Bonoff is CEO of Jewish Family & Career Services.

Rabbi Ronald Bluming

Rabbi Ronald Bluming has been the rabbinic chaplain at the Renaissance on Peachtree senior living community since 2012.

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch

Rabbi Daniel Dorsch is the senior rabbi at Congregation Etz Chaim. His favorite Passover food is matzah pizza.

Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus

Rabbi Loren Filson Lapidus is one of the clergy at The Temple.

Beth Gluck

Beth Gluck is executive director of the Jewish National Fund of Greater Atlanta.

Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman

Rabbi Arnold M. Goodman is a senior rabbinic scholar of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and was its senior rabbi from 1982 to 2002. He now lives in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Pamela Gottfried

Rabbi Pamela Gottfried serves Congregation Bet Haverim and Your Jewish Bridge. She is sheltering in place with her family in Sandy Springs.

Arnold Heller

Dr. Arnold Heller is chair of the Atlanta-Ra’anana Committee.

Rabbi Joshua Heller

Rabbi Joshua Heller is senior rabbi of Congregation B’nai Torah.

Rabbi Karmi Ingber

Rabbi Karmi Ingber is the founding rabbi of The Kehilla in Sandy Springs and director of the Inner Spark, an organization dedicated to make deep, authentic spirituality accessible and relevant to all.

Marcia Caller Jaffe

Marcia Caller Jaffe is a regular AJT contributor.

Rabbi Ari Kaiman

Rabbi Ari Kaiman is the rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel, and proud partner with Emily raising four independent children.

Mitchell Kaye

Mitchell Kaye served five times in the Georgia House of Representatives and is a frequent traveler to Israel.

Rabbi Mark Kunis

Rabbi Mark Kunis is the spiritual leader of Shaarei Shamayim.

Rabbi Micah Lapidus

Rabbi Micah Lapidus is director of Jewish and Hebrew studies and school rabbi at The Davis Academy.

Rabbi Steven Lebow

Rabbi Steven Lebow is the senior rabbi of Temple Kol Emeth.

Rabbi Hillel Konigsburg

Rabbi Hillel Konigsburg is the assistant rabbi at Congregation B’nai Torah.

Rabbi Shalom Lewis

Rabbi Shalom Lewis is rabbi emeritus of Congregation Etz Chaim.

Rabbi Lydia Bloom Medwin

Rabbi Lydia Bloom Medwin is director of congregational engagement and outreach at The Temple.

Rabbi Rachael Miller

Rabbi Rachael Miller is a rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Sandy Springs.

Rabbi Hillel Norry

Rabbi Hillel Norry teaches martial arts and spiritual arts.

Rabbi Jordan Ottenstein

Rabbi Jordan Ottenstein is the senior rabbi at Congregation Dor Tamid in Johns Creek.

Eric Robbins

Eric Robbins is president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Roni Robbins

Roni Robbins is associate editor of the AJT.

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal is the senior rabbi of Ahavath Achim Synagogue and the president of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Brooke and their four children.

Rabbi Neil Sandler

Rabbi Neil Sandler serves as a rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Buckhead.

A.J. Robinson

A.J. Robinson is president of Central Atlanta Progress and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District.

Rabbi Beth Schwartz

Rabbi Beth Schwartz is the spiritual leader of Temple Israel in Columbus, Ga.

Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez

Rabba Melissa Scholten-Gutierrez currently supports the community as the Jewish Camp Initiative manager at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

Maayan Schoen

Maayan Schoen graduated from Torah Day School and Atlanta Jewish Academy. She studied in the Migdal Oz Beit Midrash for Women in Israel last year and is now a first-year student at Yale University.

Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner

Rabbi Alexandria Shuval-Weiner is senior rabbi at Temple Beth Tikvah in Roswell.

Chana Shapiro

Chana Shapiro is a teacher, author, illustrator, and AJT columnist.

Terry Segal

Dr. Terry Segal regularly writes the New Moon Meditations column for the AJT. She’s also a licensed marriage and family therapist with a doctorate in energy medicine.

Rabbi Albert Slomovitz

Rabbi Albert Slomovitz is the founder of the Jewish Christian Discovery Center, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to educate Christians about their Jewish roots, helping reduce anti-Semitism.