Why Ma’alot? Why now?

Jewish life in Atlanta is at a crossroads. Our community faces a choice: continue to drift into disconnection, or rise with resilience, renewal, and transformation.

Atlanta is home to about 135,000 Jews, yet only 28% formally affiliated with any Jewish institution.

So, how are they spending their Saturday mornings?

Many are finding spirituality and meaning elsewhere—at yoga, on hiking trails, or over drinks with friends—seeking the depth and connection that Jewish spaces fail to provide.

Too often, Jewish life feels closed, outdated, or simply not like home. The result is clear: loneliness, disconnection, and spiritual exhaustion are on the rise.

Ma’alot is changing that.

For five years, Ma’alot’s has been at the forefront of providing spaces for Jewish spiritual wellness. We have experimented boldly—hosting family programs, neighborhood meals, musical services in gardens, large holiday gatherings, and grassroots circles. Through our direct work with thousands of people, we have learned that it is critical to build fully immersive experiences connecting Jewish wisdom to nature, music, the arts, and mindfulness.

As one 28-year-old native Atlantan Builder shared: “I’ve felt a return to who I am, to what Judaism could be for me, and how I want to conduct myself in this world because of the love and authenticity of this community.”

There is no other place in the south focusing on this.

The time has come to focus, formalize, and grow. Yet, demand has outpaced our grassroots capacity. 

Ma’alot’s first five years:

• 40+ programs each year, drawing thousands of participants from across Atlanta.

• Piloted Wisdom Circles, with x participants, small groups 

• Shabbat and holiday gatherings guided by educators, layleaders, and local artists.

• Seasonal retreats that attract participants from across Atlanta and beyond.

• Ma’alot lay-leaders facilitating circles, organizing gatherings, and strengthening Jewish life in other institutions.

Ma’alot is where Judaism reveals its deepest gifts.

Ma’alot’s next chapter: 

We flourish by gathering people from all walks of life, welcoming seekers, skeptics, and believers alike. Through mindfulness, music, and authentic relationships embedded in Jewish culture and teachings, people discover resilience and joy. That growth ripples outward—renewing families, friendships, and the wider community.

“My most meaningful Jewish experiences since moving to Atlanta have emerged from my participation in my Circle through Ma'alot…the circle has been a way to deepen my spirituality and build beautiful friendships. It is a core part of my Jewish identity at this time in my life.”  ~ 34 year old working mother and Ma’alot Builder

This next chapter will focus on strengthening Ma’alot’s key offerings: 

• Wisdom Circles – facilitated groups of 12–16 men, women and queer identified folks that integrate Jewish wisdom with personal growth. Circles cultivate trust, resilience, and leadership, creating spaces where participants are seen, heard, and supported.

• Shabbat Gatherings – consistent, creative experiences in homes, gardens, and parks. From musical Kabbalat Shabbat with shared meals, to yoga and hikes, to theatrical family-friendly services, these gatherings bring hundreds into joyful, embodied Jewish practice.

• Retreats & High Holidays – immersive experiences that weave meditation, mindfulness, music, and Jewish tradition in nature. These gatherings restore balance, foster belonging, and open the possibility of revelation.

Our language—meditation, wellness, mindfulness, music, revelation—is not just description. It is the essence of what we do.

Your Gift Builds the Future

Together we will raise $100,000 to:

• Expand Access to Connection: Launch and support 10 new Wisdom Circles, clearing 100+ person waitlist, serving nearly 200 participants, guided by trained social workers and Jewish educators.

• Deepen Jewish Rhythm: Sustain and grow Shabbat experiences that engage families, adults, and all generations through joyful, musical, and embodied prayer.

• Strengthen Jewish Resilience: Increase accessibility to transformative High Holiday services and restorative retreats, offering wellness pathways to Jewish life rooted in creativity, nature, and tradition.

• Widen the Circle: Ensure inclusive outreach that welcomes those who have felt unseen in Jewish spaces.

Every gift—whether $18, $180, or $1,800—helps build the Jewish community our hearts are longing for: creative, embodied, resilient, and deeply connected.

Join us in shaping a Jewish future rooted in wellness, wisdom, and connection.