A Chanukah Message from Rabbi Daniel Dorsch

I have spent the better part of my last six years living in Georgia seeing what can happen when synagogues, schools, and Jewish community organizations work together for the betterment of ourselves and our city.

When a congregant is having a more extensive mental health challenge, I don’t tackle it alone: I connect with Jewish Family & Career Services, knowing I will get a friendly schmooze on the other side of the line.

Rabbis from across the denominational spectrum come together at the Atlanta Rabbinical Association to discuss wider issues affecting our greater community. My children play their sports at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, where they encounter children of all Jewish backgrounds. North of 285, several East Cobb/Roswell synagogues come together and throw an amazing Chanukah party with the help of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

For this article, we’re supposed to talk about why it’s important that the Jewish community shines. I could find countless other examples on top of the ones I’ve listed above.

But in reality–warmth, love, and community–are things that you need to experience rather than read about to fully appreciate.

There’s so much great Jewish community taking place in our city that will light up your life. You can read about it cover to cover in the Atlanta Jewish Times.

Only don’t take my word for it. This Chanukah, you’ll know why it’s important that our community shines when you go out and experience it for yourself.

Daniel Dorsch is the rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim.