Shaping the future of Judaism
Dec. 25 (5 Tevet 5786)
Today’s newsletter is mostly focused on Birthright Israel, but first, a couple of unsettling headlines:
🚨 Local police are investigating after swastikas were spray-painted on utility poles and on hiking trails in Roswell, Sandy Springs, and Virginia-Highland.
🇦🇺 A rabbi’s family was evacuated in Melbourne, Australia, after his car was firebombed on Christmas morning in an antisemitic attack.
Now, on to the main event:
🇮🇱 Birthright Israel for 25 years has been sending teens and young adults to explore the magic of the Dead Sea, the history of Masada, and the taste of Israeli street food.
🍯 The participants of Birthright trips come back changed: aware, awake, and alive with the spirit of the land of milk and honey and its complicated place in the world.
‼️ More than 900,000 young Jewish adults have participated in Birthright Israel since its inception – 10,000 of whom were from Atlanta.
💙 Y’alla readers lent us their stories, so we could bring to you 25 years of Birthright Israel.
🙏🏼 As always, thanks for reading.
Y’alla!
Logan
✨ Join Brendan Murphy, Director of the Bearing Witness Institute, for a three-part series exploring Jewish–Christian relations—from early antisemitism to the Holocaust and modern reconciliation. Featuring survivor George Rishfeld, this program deepens understanding and strengthens our shared moral responsibility.
SPONSOR MESSAGE
Tales of Birthright
✍🏾 We asked Atlanta-area Birthright Israel participants to tell us their stories. Here’s what they shared.
Adrian Sasine, 49, Atlanta
“I went on Birthright just before aging out. Unfortunately, I got sick right before the trip but still went and tried to push through. About four days in, my body just wasn’t cooperating. While it’s not the typical positive story, I can say the Birthright team was incredibly supportive. They arranged doctor’s appointments, gave me a place to rest, and ultimately helped me return home early. Now as a parent, I would fully put my trust in this organization to take care of my child.”
Jenn Handel, 40, Dunwoody
Handel is the director of Israel Engagement for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
“Birthright was the first time in my life I felt ‘Jewish enough’ to be Jewish. At 24, when I participated, I was empowered to question everything – and I did (and still do). That trip didn’t just change my perspective; it changed my direction. Being surrounded by others who were equally curious, regardless of background, opened a door I didn’t know existed. Today, I’m a proud Jewish educator who has staffed 18 Birthright trips and had the privilege of helping young adults across the U.S. explore their own authentic Judaism.”
David Ziskind, 43, Dunwoody
Ziskind’s photos of the University of Georgia/Georgia Tech trip are used throughout this week’s Y’alla.
“I went on Birthright from December 2001 to January 2002 through Hillel at Georgia Tech. With the trip leaving right after Sept. 11, a lot of people pulled out. My mom was not keen on me going, either. We ended up with a bus of participants throughout the southeast, as opposed to just one university or state. It was a great experience!“
Lauren and David, 42, Atlanta
This married couple met on a young professionals (ages 22-26) Birthright trip right before aging out of the program.
“In December 2009, Washington, D.C. was experiencing an historic snowstorm the day the flight to Israel was scheduled. Roads were closed, the subway shut down. David was only able to get to the airport because he had a friend with a four-wheel drive Jeep who could get him there. Meanwhile, Lauren had wanted to go on the Birthright trip for years but her parents were concerned she’d fall in love with an Israeli soldier and never return to the U.S.
Birthright participants on Bus 229 became very close, and continued with get-togethers and Shabbat dinners when they got back to D.C. Lauren and David began dating, moved to Atlanta in 2011, and were married at The Temple in 2013.”
Lauren added, “My parents’ fears about her falling in love with a soldier weren’t so off-base. David had just ended his service as a US Marine Corps Infantry Captain and returned from a deployment in Iraq only a few months prior to their meeting in Israel. I met my US Marine in Israel and never looked back!”
📧 Share this story with your friends!
Ready, Set, AGLOW!
SPONSORED BY FERNBANK MUSEUM
🌟 When the sun sets, the woods come alive at WildWoods: AGLOW.
This after-hours experience combines art, nature and music at Fernbank Museum, featuring scenic trails aglow with light outdoors and nighttime access to museum exhibits inside.
🌙 Select nights through Feb. 28, 2026.
Post-war Birthright trips
🛫 Birthright Israel has launched its 2025-2026 winter season, the organization’s first since the end of the war in Gaza. The new season signals a strong resurgence in global interest in visiting Israel despite a complex climate.
Running through March 2026, the winter season is expected to bring over 300 groups from around the world, totaling approximately 10,000 participants.
About 5,000 participants will take part in Birthright Israel’s traditional 10-day educational trip, while others will join volunteering programs, community engagement initiatives, and internship opportunities across the country.
Participants this season will arrive from 40 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia, and Argentina.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, Birthright Israel has brought more than 43,000 participants on its various programs. Notably, 95% of all young adults who visited Israel on an educational trip in the past year did so through Birthright Israel.
Gidi Mark, International CEO of Birthright Israel, said Birthright Israel is the strongest bridge young Jews have today to deepen their identity, strengthen their resilience, and build a personal understanding of Israel.
👫 “Participants return home with greater confidence, a stronger sense of belonging, and a circle of new Jewish friends who continue to shape their lives and communities. In a moment when Jewish unity is essential, Birthright’s role has never been more vital,” Mark said.
📧 Read this story on our website.
Opinion: 26 conceivably believable pop culture predictions for 2026
BY PJ GRISAR
📺 Picture me alone in some remote garret, clutching a copy of the American Jewish Year Book like it’s the Grimmerie in Wicked. Pages flutter, the wind howls, and I once more set out to divine what is in store for the year ahead.
But how did I do last year? Taylor Swift is still with Travis Kelce — she didn’t leave him for Manischewitz cover model Jeff Retzlaff. Instead, Manischewitz parted ways with Retzlaff, and he with Brigham Young University.
My record is mixed, but I persist. If not now, when? If not me, who? Hence, my 26 quite conceivable (I think) predictions for what’s heading our way in pop culture in 2026.
➡ Read the full story on The Forward.
We remember
🎗️ Atlanta-native Marc Schoenbaum died on Mon., Dec. 22, surrounded by family.
Marc attended Riverwood High School and the University of Florida. After a post-grad stint in Colorado, Marc returned to Atlanta and soon met his wife, Samantha.
Marc was a lifelong fan of live music, an avid snowboarder, and fiercely loyal to anything related to the Florida Gators. One of Marc’s greatest joys was coaching his sons’ sports teams. He took immense pride in supporting his boys, teaching them not just the game, but the values of teamwork, perseverance, and heart.
Marc is survived by his beloved wife, Samantha, and their three sons, Max, Ryan, and Nate; his parents, Ray and Susan Schoenbaum; his brother, Brian Schoenbaum (Anika), niece, Ozia; and many cousins and extended family members, and friends who loved him dearly.
🕊️ May Marc’s memory be a blessing.
✨ Join Brendan Murphy, Director of the Bearing Witness Institute, for a three-part series exploring Jewish–Christian relations—from early antisemitism to the Holocaust and modern reconciliation. Featuring survivor George Rishfeld, this program deepens understanding and strengthens our shared moral responsibility. SPONSOR MESSAGE