MJCCA Honored for Adult Jewish Education

The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA) celebrates director Talya Gorsetman and associate Judy Stolovitz, the inspiring leaders of the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning, who have received the Florence Melton Award for Outstanding Achievement and Exemplary Practice.

This honor, recognizing their extraordinary leadership, innovation, and dedication to adult Jewish education, marks a historic moment: Atlanta is the first community to receive this award twice. The Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning’s Melton program was previously honored in 2014, and under Gorsetman’s and Stolovitz’s stewardship, it has continued to set a national standard for accessible and inclusive Jewish learning.

Under their leadership, the Lisa F. Brill Institute for Jewish Learning has transformed Jewish learning in Atlanta. It offers courses at the MJCCA, synagogues of all denominations, day schools, and private homes, ensuring that every learner can engage with Jewish education in meaningful ways.

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Their impact extends beyond Atlanta, as they played a pivotal role in developing “What’s Mine is Yours,” an innovative curriculum designed to make Jewish learning accessible to adults with cognitive disabilities. This initiative originated in Atlanta and is now a national model for Jewish communities across the country.

Their efforts to foster community-wide engagement also led to the successful Roundtable Learning pilot program, which brought together leaders from nine synagogues and their congregational rabbis to build deeper understanding and unity across the Jewish community.

“Talya and Judy embody the very best of the MJCCA’s mission—to create transformative experiences that strengthen Jewish life and community,” said Jared Powers, CEO of the MJCCA. “Their dedication to ensuring that Jewish learning is welcoming, inclusive, and engaging has had a lasting impact in Atlanta and Jewish education nationwide. We are incredibly proud to see their hard work and leadership recognized with this well-deserved honor.”

Their ability to blend in-person and online offerings has made high-quality Jewish education more accessible than ever before. For more information about Jewish learning opportunities at the MJCCA, visit https://www.atlantajcc.org/our-programs/jewish-living/jewish-learning/