Girl Power with Nashira

Family and friends describe Ashira Rabinowitz as a warm spirit with a magnetic personality who could light up any room. According to everyone who knew her, she was fun-loving, outgoing and deeply supportive of others.

Whether as a competitive dancer and assistant coach at Elite Studio, a student at The Weber School, or as a Delta Gamma sorority sister at Florida State University (FSU), she was known for building bridges and creating meaningful bonds with others.

When Ashira unexpectedly passed away in December 2023 at age 20, tributes poured in from every part of her life. FSU students painted murals and held a vigil, and her sorority dedicated a bench in her memory. In Atlanta, the Jewish Fertility Foundation awarded a grant as a tribute, and Elite Studio honored her during their annual benefit performance. The Tenn, the Tallahassee bar where Ashira worked part-time, raised more than $3,000 from friends and colleagues at an evening in her memory.

Earlier this month, on Feb. 5, teens, young adults, mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends from throughout the Jewish community gathered at The Weber School to participate in the official launch of Nashira, a new Atlanta-based organization founded in memory of Ashira Rabinowitz. Using Ashira’s given name, which means “I will sing,” as inspiration, her parents, Barry Rabinowitz and Debbie Derby, chose the name Nashira, meaning “We will sing.”

The Galentine’s-themed launch event was titled, “I’m a Girl’s Girl: Putting Friendships First,” and was attended by close to 150 supporters. Emceed by Hannah Zale, a certified teen and young adult life coach, the night featured Izzi Friedman, a successful young entrepreneur and founder of Girls Girls Club in New York City, who spoke about the importance of championing strong, supportive female friendships and led the attendees through several activities designed to encourage connection, camaraderie, introspection, understanding of self and respect.

According to Sheila Jutan, co-founder of Hineni Toco Hills Mental Health Initiative, one of the event sponsors, “The Nashira event was a loving, engaging way to share the message that each of us is enough just the way we are. In a world where there is a lot of judgment and expectations, it was refreshing to be in a space focusing on how women of all ages can hold each other up. It was a beautiful way to honor Ashira.”

At Weber, Nashira has found a willing and enthusiastic launch pad for preserving Ashira’s legacy. A Nashira-sponsored pilot program, Rising Together, began during the 2025-2026 school year and is dedicated to building connections between teens at the high school. Currently, 13 young women meet regularly after school to foster meaningful friendships, promote optimism, engage in inspiring conversations, navigate the pressures faced by today’s teens and set goals for their future. In addition, the Weber dance studio has been named The Ashira Rabinowitz Dance Studio in Ashira’s memory. “The Weber School has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey,” said Derby.

Another growing program created by Nashira is Rising Together and Growing Together, an initiative aimed at younger girls. This program donates Nashira-approved books that focus on core values of gratitude, empathy, self-confidence, and inclusion to first-grade girls and school libraries. Books have been delivered to Torah Day School, The Epstein School, Atlanta Jewish Academy, and Chaya Mushka, with additional schools and grades in the works.

Nashira was initially announced by her parents at Ashira’s first yahrzeit in December 2024. Since that time, they have lovingly and skillfully guided the organization’s development from inception to its recent launch. Nashira’s tagline, “Girls Rising Together,” reflects the powerful legacy of connection Ashira left behind, said both Derby and Rabinowitz.

“Ashira made everyone feel like they mattered,” added Derby. “With Nashira, we want her warmth, loyalty and inclusivity to live on. We hope girls will experience the same kind of genuine friendships that defined Ashira’s life.”

“Ashira had a natural ability to bring people together,” said Rabinowitz. “Through this initiative, we hope to give young women the confidence and connection she inspired everywhere she went. Nashira is her legacy – one rooted in kindness, strength, and community.”

Through educational programming, mentorship, and social engagement, Nashira aims to provide young women with powerful tools that instill a lifelong sense of belonging, trust, inclusion, and support among their peers. Community partners for the Feb. 5 event included JTeen, BeWellAtl, Hineni, CTeen, The Weber School, and Friendship Circle. A JGather grant from the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta helped sponsor the event.

To find out more information or contribute to Nashira, please visit www.nashiraatl.org.