Happy Chanukah - The Jewish Georgian

Page 22 THE JEWISH GEORGIAN November-December 2011
JSU NEWS
OFF TO A GREAT START. The Jewish
Student Union (JSU) started off its 4th year
with 1,300+ members at 16 Atlanta-area
high schools. For all of these teens, the JSU
serves as a fun, comfortable home base,
where they can celebrate and explore their
Judaism. For many, the JSU represents the
first time they’ve done anything Jewish in
their lives; for others, it serves to reestablish
the connection to Judaism that they’ve lost
since their bar or bat mitzvahs.
All JSU members, especially the club
leaders, learn about their heritage and get
involved at school and around the community.
Rabbi Chaim Neiditch goes to every
JSU club to run activities before and after
school and during lunch hours. Rabbi
Neiditch uses fun, hands-on activities such
as Shofar blowing, making Hebrew name
bracelets, challah braiding, and making
Seder plates to introduce teens
to Jewish holidays and traditions. The activities,
all of which are free to attend, attract
teens who are eager to “do something
Jewish” with their friends.
Extracurricular, citywide events, such
Rivka Jacobs, president of West
Forsyth JSU, and Rabbi Chaim
Neiditch at the schoolʼs inaugural
club meeting.
After an extensive nationwide
search, the Governance Board of the
Marcus Jewish Community Center of
Atlanta (MJCCA) is pleased to announce
the appointment of Gail Luxenberg as its
new executive director and chief executive
officer. She will begin her new role
December 1, 2011, replacing Howard
Hyman, who has been the interim CEO
for the past 15 months. Hyman will
rejoin the MJCCA’s Governance Board
after stepping down from his current
position.
Governance Board Chairman David
Levy said, “For the last four years, the
MJCCA has accomplished a remarkable
turn-around, reducing its debt to an
acceptable level and improving its operations,
while providing more outstanding
programming to the Atlanta Jewish
as weekend retreats, community service
projects, and the annual Festival of Lights
Ball and Purim Masquerade Bash, typically
draw upwards of 250 teens, who inevitably
walk away with memories of having had
exciting Jewish experiences.
FOUR NEW CLUBS. This year, four new
JSU clubs debuted in the greater Atlanta
area, at Lassiter High School, Marietta (Co-
Presidents: Alec Rush and Jake Glickman);
Dunwoody High School, Dunwoody
(President: Adam Rudy); West Forsyth
High School, Cumming (President: Rivka
Jacobs); and Milton High School, Milton
(President: Chloe Myles).
In just four years, the JSU has become
the largest Jewish youth organization in the
South. Its growth is particularly evident at
four high schools, where a record number
of teens signed up this year: Riverwood
(152 members), Chattahoochee (136 members),
Northview (131 members), and Johns
Creek (124 members).
A SWEET NEW YEAR. During the High
Holiday season, over 600 teens got into the
Jewish New Year spirit at exciting events at
JSU clubs across Atlanta. The traditional
dipping of an apple in honey to ensure a
sweet New Year was taken to a whole new
level, as teens dipped their apples into melted
caramel and then rolled them in a vast
array of candies.
While the events centered on making
these treats, Rabbi Chaim Neiditch infused
the activities with meaning, teaching the
teens about the deeper meaning of Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The concept of
Tshuva (repentance) was discussed, with
many teens making New Year’s resolutions
to improve and grow spiritually.
Community. We believe that Gail is the
leader who will take
our Center to an
even higher level of
performance we all
want for our community.
We look
forward to welcoming
her.”
Luxenberg
holds a bachelor of
arts in Middle
Eastern studies
from the University
of Chicago and an
MBA in marketing
and organizational
behavior from the
same institution. She brings both business
and non-profit experience to her
Abby and Ryan enjoy making
caramel apples for Rosh Hashanah
at Alpharetta High School.
CELEBRATING SUKKOT. After a spirited
High Holiday season, there was plenty of
fun to be had at JSU high school clubs in
greater Atlanta. Over 400 teens took part in
sessions dedicated to hands-on learning
about Sukkot, a holiday that abounds with
many special traditions and rituals, such as
the building of sukkahs and the shaking of
the four species: lulav, etrog, hadas, and
arava.
Noah Goldstein shakes the lulav and
etrog at Dunwoody High School.
new position and is well-equipped to lead
the MJCCA. Most
recently, she served
as executive director
of the Jewish
Vocational Service in
Chicago, IL, where
she introduced new
programs and revitalized
the 126-year-old
affiliated agency of
the Jewish
Federation of
Metropolitan
Chicago. Previously,
as executive director
of the Midwest
Region of American
Friends of the Hebrew University,
Luxenberg significantly increased the
Each club activity revolved around a
discussion in which participants learned
about the meaning behind the Sukkot rituals;
complemented by biblical sources, the
discussions were led by Rabbi Chaim
Neiditch. Teens then enjoyed a “sweet” arts
and crafts educational experience, competing
to build the best sukkah out of gingerbread,
marshmallow fluff, and candies.
Many of the teens followed up on these
activities by taking the four species and
shaking them during JSU meetings on Chol
HaMoed Sukkot.
Gina Karseboom and Adam Segal
build gingerbread sukkahs at
Riverwood High School.
Leslie Apseloff and Rebecca
Friedman build gingerbread sukkahs
at Dunwoody High School.
Gail Luxenberg takes the helm of Marcus JCC
Gail Luxenberg
visibility and fundraising efforts of the
organization. Her accomplishments have
been recognized by the Harvard Business
School and the women’s division of the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Chicago. She looks forward to joining
her parents and sisters in Atlanta.