Federation’s Birthright Israel division recently launched the Birthright Israel Atlanta Community Institute. This new Federation initiative, created in partnership with the iCenter for Israel Education, is a way for Birthright trip alumni and other young adults ages 22+, to dive deeper into Jewish engagement by learning how to be Birthright Israel trip leaders.

“Young adults in the Greater Atlanta area have been asking for a program that would give them leadership training and allow them to return to Israel. For Atlanta to be the pilot community, and to provide this experience for them, is innovative and special,” says Jessica Segal, Engagement and Leadership Development Manager at Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.

The highly selective program has now accepted 14 participants from the Greater Atlanta area who will attend an intensive weekend training retreat in early August. They will not only staff two Birthright Israel trips over the next two-and-a-half-years, they have all agreed to take on a volunteer leadership role with Federation by leading a small group of alumni, hosting Shabbat dinners, and helping train future leaders. Registration is now closed for the first cohort, but Federation expects the program to continue in the future. Contact jsegal@jewishatlanta.org for more information.