January Tish Updates
Shalom - hello Tish-ites! Tishes, Tushies… Tishniks?
Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or recently found your way in through the WhatsApp group, we wanted to take a moment to share what’s been happening behind the scenes at Tish. This note is both an update and an invitation: to see how we got here, what we’re building, and how you can help shape what comes next to build the kind of Jewish community we're longing for.
A Quick Look Back: What We Built in 2025
We launched Tish with curiosity, a sense of adventure, a touch of meshugge (crazy) energy, and a strong belief that many people in Atlanta are seeking deep connection with Jewish spirituality, identity, and community – but haven’t found it yet. What began as an experiment quickly became a living, growing community. Wow, did it take off!
The idea for a grassroots, co-created Atlanta Jewish community had been bubbling since mid-2025. We had some small initial gatherings, including an exploratory Havdalah to talk about what people want in their Jewish lives and a Yom Kippur service in the woods. Each time, the energy grew to create a community that could become more than just one-off events. Thus, Tish was born in October.
🫶 Community Building
In just a few months, we have collectively created:
Events that sparked connection: Highlights include singing in a cave, lighting the Chanukah candles in community, and dancing together on the longest night of the year.
Ongoing connection: The whatsapp community keeps us connected between events, from #MindfulnessMonday and random chatter in the Shmooze chat to more specific interests: Music, Board Games, Parents, Nigun Collective, Jewish Mysticism, Tikkun Olam, and Men’s Group.
We’ve had >115 people attend a Tish event and/or join our whatsapp community.
📊 Systems & Structure
We are serious about creating something that can last, so we have started putting systems in place to support a growing and sustainable community.
Set up a CRM to support operational health
Earned official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
📅 What’s Penciled In for This (Jewish) Year / the rest of 5786
Check out what’s planned so far at tish.life/events – specific dates and themes will continue to be shaped with community input. We’re excited about what’s ahead, and it’s just the beginning. Each month will include the following events:
Nigun Collective on a Thursday evening: wordless singing, no experience needed
Tish Together Shabbat on a Saturday morning through afternoon: multigenerational service, age-appropriate parallel learning, lunch, and spacious shabbat relaxation and hang out time
Community Havdalah on a Saturday evening: casual dinner, song, and hang
Mysticism Chavurah on a Tuesday evening: adult learning via Jewish text, discussion, and dinner
Queer social events, with days and details shifting each month: sometimes adults-only and sometimes family-friendly
Additional possible events on the horizon: board game nights, Adventure Nigun Collective, and musical guests. Have something you want to offer? Fill out the contact form with your ideas, let’s see if we can bring it to life!
Get Involved — Co-Creation In Practice
A core pillar of Tish is co-creation. When we say your presence, voice, and gifts matter, it’s sincere. Below are a few ways we’re looking for participation to help create the community you desire.
1) Events
Host a Tish event: Have a backyard, living room, park access, or other cozy spot? We’d love to partner!
Co-coordinate/facilitate an event: Help shape the vision and planning for a gathering you’re excited about.
To get involved in supporting events by hosting or coordinating, fill out this contact form with what you have to offer and we will be in touch.
Dreaming up an event that’s not listed on the link above? Fill out this contact form with your ideas and see what magic we can make together!
2) Share your musical gifts: Do you play an instrument or want to share your voice? Your talents can bring the ruach (spirit) to the next level. Reach out to McKenzie at mckenziewren@gmail.com
3) Virtual Townhall(s), Coming Soon
We’ll invite the whole community to gather and shape our direction. Topics to tackle over time that we explicitly want the community to shape will include:
What are our core principles?
Our financial/membership structure
Photo releases and how we share memories
What does “welcoming” v. “belonging” mean to you - how does that show up in practice?
What do you need in your spiritual or religious observance? What prayers or tunes do you yearn for? Is it important to you to have a dedicated spiritual leader (rabbi or otherwise)?
<insert your question here>
❤️ In Gratitude
We don’t know exactly where we’re going or what this community will look like in the future. At this point, we have more questions than answers (how very Jewish of us!). What we do know is that the Tish “table” is still being built and we are so grateful for everyone who is bringing their hearts, ideas, creativity, talents, time and treasure to the process! Our hope is that together we are creating what we need in the world.
Thanks for pulling up a chair to the table,
Alexis, Amy, Ben, Jerry, McKenzie, and Robin
Tish Board Members
P.S. We are looking for two additional board members to support the organization in Communications and Operations. If you are interested in having a conversation about this possibility, please reach out to Robin at robin.tolochko@gmail.com.
