Atlanta's 2023 Community Journey to Israel: Carey Guggenheim

What was your favorite place visited?
Dinner in a family’s home in Yokneam.

What was your favorite restaurant or menu item while in Israel?
Breakfast buffet at the David Citadel Hotel.

What made this trip special from others?
This trip was a wonderful way to connect with many people from our Atlanta Jewish community. It was extra special being together in Israel, learning about the country but also making a connection to our community back in Atlanta.

Traveling to Israel with the Atlanta Federation was a fantastic opportunity to meet new friends, spend time with old friends, and do all that while rejoicing in inspiring moments to celebrate her 75th birthday!

As the campaign chair on Women’s Philanthropy, I have been privileged to meet many of the women involved in Atlanta Federation yet, being together for this week reinforced bonds of friendship, trust, and partnership. While hiking miles in the Judean Dessert, I could not imagine a better location to talk, laugh, debate, and laugh some more about our families, our Jewish lives, and our ambition for Atlanta Jewish life.

It was particularly special connecting with an elderly couple who were visiting Israel for the first time. What a fantastic way to see the country through their eyes, seeing something they had learnt and heard about for decades. It brought home the specialness of this wonderful homeland.

I cherished the time I had with friends, having fabulous meals together, enjoying late night drinks in the hotel lobby, and fantastic tours and experiences that I have never done [on] previous trips to Israel.

One of the highlights for me was touring a kibbutz in Yokneam, and then having dinner in a family’s home in the area. Knowing that our Federation is directly involved with this region made the connection even more powerful. We had the most scrumptious meal while getting to know our hosts and their family, all while sitting outside under the stars of a magnificent Israeli night.

Knowing about Atlanta’s connection with this region made me feel very proud. I have come back to Atlanta with more connection to our community, in particular, with the women who I look forward to partnering with as part of our ambitious Women’s Philanthropy agenda.

Carey Guggenheim is Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair for 2023-2024.