Investment in Weber’s Future Benefits Today

A shared commitment among The Weber School benefactors, school leadership, faculty, students and parents led to the high school’s extensive expansion and renovation effort, completed in 18 months and just in time for opening day of the 2024-2025 school year.

The initiative began with new and historic philanthropic investments totaling $39 million from The Zalik Foundation, The Marcus Foundation, and Joe Weber. In addition, The Excellence Fund Capital Campaign, spearheaded by Paul Ginburg, gained momentum with the involvement of current and former Board members Brian Mand, Jennifer Korach and Ross Kogon, who helped raise an additional $5 million from parents and others throughout Atlanta’s Jewish community.

“The goal for our campus expansion is to serve the growth in our student population and the culture of dynamic teaching and learning fostered by our expert and dedicated faculty and staff. We want The Weber School to fulfill its mission as a 21st century Jewish high school and vital asset to the broader Atlanta Jewish community,” said Rabbi Ed Harwitz, Head of School.

Get The AJT Newsletter by email and never miss our top stories Free Sign Up

The bright, large interior lobby of the Eitan Force Athletic Complex is a popular gathering spot during school, games and events.

“Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett suggested that Jewish teens today are poised to be our ‘greatest generation.’ Through the ongoing work of our teachers, supported by visionary philanthropists and investors, we are determined that students at Weber are provided with unique opportunities to make their mark in college and beyond,” Rabbi Harwitz added. “Weber is committed to ensuring that this ‘greatest generation’ is prepared for college and careers, informed by Jewish ethics and values, and ready to serve the Jewish community, the land and people of Israel, and the broader world.”

Six academic pathways have been created for students to immerse themselves in a particular area of interest. Each one provides a significant opportunity for student exploration and learning. These pathways include The Daniel Zalik Academy for Science, Technology, Engineering and Design; The Sports Science and Management Academy; The Michael Kay Israel Leadership Fellows; Israel and Global Education; Writing for Publication; and The Michael and Andrea Leven Office of Student Service and Philanthropy. Next year, Business Entrepreneurship will be added as a seventh pathway. Each one offers students an opportunity to pursue an honors diploma through coursework, field study and internship options.

The expansion and renovation would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of Ginburg, stressed Rabbi Harwitz as he reflected on the school’s transformation. Ginburg has been at Weber for 25 years, and assumed the chief responsibility for managing the 18-month project. Working with a team led by Weber parent and board member Brad Berman, Jay Goldstein, lead architect Sandy Cooper of Collins Cooper, Balfour Beatty Construction, and Jack Walz, Ginburg credits this group with ensuring the work was completed on time and budget.

“Paul Ginburg brought unique knowledge, determination, discipline, and energy to this tremendous effort. As a founding member of Weber’s professional team, he is absolutely dedicated to Weber’s mission. With a deep understanding of its impact, Paul assumed this challenging project as a labor of love, ensuring that the ‘Weber campus 2.0’ will serve students and our Jewish community for generations to come,” said Rabbi Harwitz.

The Tzadik Performing Arts Center and the Eitan Force Athletic Complex are two examples of how the new spaces have made a marked difference at the school. The Tzadik Performing Arts Center includes a state-of-the-art theater, music studio, recording studios, dance studio, and technical control rooms. Additionally, new classrooms, dining and multipurpose spaces have been added to serve a growing school population. This year, a new director of theatrical education and community programming, Elissa Marele, joined veteran music director, Drew Cohen, and Michael Levine, lead instructor in music and sound engineering, to expand options for student participation and performance. Visiting artists from different musical genres and performing arts disciplines have provided master classes for students and headlined community concerts.

The Eitan Force Athletic Complex has spaces for sports, assembles, classes and communal events.

This year for the first time, students participated in ThesCon, a national theatre conference and competition for high schoolers.

On the sports front, The Eitan Force Athletic Complex has not only served as a destination for competitions and athletic practices for volleyball, basketball and wrestling, but also has become a gathering space for the broader Jewish community. Filled with multipurpose spaces for classes and assemblies, the fall Homecoming and other communal events have been held at the Center since its completion. During the 2025-2026 academic year, in fact, Weber will host a Division 1, Region 5 basketball tournament.

Looking over the beautiful new campus, Rabbi Harwitz paused to reflect on the new programs and enhancements at Weber since the completion of the construction. “Students, parents, faculty and our extended community shared our excitement and anticipation from the start. They reveled in the joy of completion in time for the 2024-2025 school year. We look forward to putting into action a 2,000-year-old charge from the Talmud, ‘Great education requires innovation.’”