Jewish Women of Atlanta Connect on Facebook
Julie Joffre Beneveniste has built out the social group to more than 6,100 members.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Where do more than 6,000 of Atlanta’s Jewish women go for advice on travel, healthcare, or finding a good hair colorist? With all the drama surrounding the ills of social media, Facebook’s Jewish Women of Atlanta group is a platform where support and non-judgmental, sometimes very personal advice, and business boosting happens in seconds.
Julie Joffre Benveniste, a health insurance broker, is the behind-the-scenes referee and administrator, whose task it is to see that members are solid and post legit information. She said, “I modeled JWOA after Jewish Moms of Atlanta as an incredible community resource … but felt that my daughter and peers in their 20’s also needed resources … thus JWOA was born … It’s really like throwing a party and wondering if anyone will show up … slowly it began to grow.”
Benveniste schedules the “daily” posts and processes admissions, which is not easy with so many Facebook hacks. Her three questions: Are you Jewish? Where do you live in Georgia? Are you female? She reports that several men have applied. “Of course, we don’t admit them, but it is funny that they try!”
Some interesting interchanges per Benveniste, including, “We have had a lot of young women meet each other and support one another — people looking for roommates or just companionship in our big sprawling city! Older members are looking to be surrogate grandparents. All fundraising has to be approved. Recently, we had a mom who needed help, and this group showed up ‘in spades.’ When several Israeli families came during the war, many came forward to donate items to help out.”
Starting JWOA during the pandemic, she felt it was an especially keen opportunity for those in businesses to survive COVID.
JWOA has been the catalyst in local struggles like the Israeli-owned Ali’s Cookie boycott on the Emory University campus where posts ignited folks from as far as Chattanooga to order cookies to help mend the gap. On the other hand, Benveniste is alert to the potential of quick negative posts of others and potentially online trolls.
The most common dialogues are about doctors (even plastic surgeons and facelifts), contractors, vacations, and restaurants posting Shabbat or holiday menus. Some people post anonymously, and others complained. Benveniste said, “I don’t have a problem with it. We never know the reasons that someone posts anonymously and if it isn’t hurting anyone, then why get upset? I recently removed someone because they were rude. I felt like they wanted to incite an argument, and I wanted no part of that.”
She has fellow admins who help keep a watchful eye.
JWOA highlights specific days for categories: Business Monday, Jobs Tuesday (looking for work or hiring), Things for Sale Wednesday (household items or hobbies, but not for business), Real Estate Thursday (buy, sell rent), and Friday Shabbat Shalom.
Benveniste built a good portion of her own business utilizing Business Monday.
An example of a topic that Benveniste didn’t allow to go forward was whether to circumcise a male child. She remarked, “I immediately felt this was a ‘nonstarter.’ We’re a Jewish group, and for most of us, this is not negotiable. Facebook isn’t a good forum for this type of discussion, and I’m not qualified to be the moderator. We had some push back. People found it thought provoking; but I didn’t feel it would end well nor did I have the bandwidth to moderate this debate!”
She concluded, “We have many different views on life, religion and politics; but at the end of the day, we are all Jewish and need to stick together. This is a powerful group; and we have the ability to make big changes.” She encourages Jewish nonprofits (no GoFundMe’s) to post their events or email julieb@gahealthbrokers.com.
The pendulum swings both ways; and unfortunately, Julie is currently battling colon cancer. A rebbetzin told her that there would be silver linings along her journey. Benveniste said, “People on JWOA, whom I have never met, reached out with support. One survivor sent me a beautiful blanket, Godiva chocolate and a picture of butterflies. We have never met, but I can tell you she made my day in a way that was so incredibly special. Others have sent meals and offered rides and so much more.”
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