She’s A Maccabee Hanukkah Awards 2021

The JIFLA Maccabee Award Celebrates Powerful Women 

Working to Make the Atlanta Jewish Community A Better Place for All 

ATLANTA, GA, DECEMBER 6, 2021 – Jewish Interest-Free Loan of Atlanta (JIFLA) today announces the winners of its She’s A Maccabee Awards. This annual Hanukkah tradition honors powerful women in the Atlanta Jewish community who are using their skills, talents, passions, and love for Judaism to make the community a better place. 

The She’s A Maccabee Awards were inspired by the JIFLA Women’s Empowerment Loan Fund, which provides opportunities for women to achieve self-sufficiency, both personally and professionally. She’s A Maccabee Award applicants are nominated by community members and official winners are chosen by JIFLA’s executive staff. 

The She’s A Maccabee Award 2021 winners include: 

Cheryl Dorchinsky  

Cheryl is a passionate, hardworking advocate, volunteer, and online administrator (for groups with over 4.5k members). She is a community member who is responsible for building strong relationships between non-profit organizations, promoting diversity, and a blessing for the Atlanta community! When she saw a need for advocacy for Israel within the Atlanta community, she founded Atlanta Israel Coalition. AIC’s mission is to foster a non-partisan, multi-faith collective effort to amplify pro-Israel voices. It provides free online Israel tours and has partnered on more than 45 Israel-related educational programs. Cheryl left a job as a high-paying exec in the corporate world to pursue her dream to unite all who support Israel while combating anti-Semitism. She does all of this on no salary! She is an amazing individual who is very deserving of this award!  

Stacy Fialkow  

Stacy’s nickname is “Sunshine”. To know Stacy is to know that she is a ray of sunshine no matter what she is doing, no matter who she is communicating with, no matter what project she is working on, no matter what school she is donating her time for, no matter if she knows you or is simply walking by you at the park… she brings light to all of us and makes each person feel special and in today’s world this is an invaluable gift to all. As a JF&CS staff member, she makes our community & world a better place but does it with/ grace and does things quietly. She doesn’t do things for recognition. She does things because of the good it does. She hosts events for fundraising at her home and she is one of the most giving, unique, & strong women I know 

Michele Hirsch 

Michele saved my family. Her acts of generosity know no bounds and had she not come into my life offering me nothing short of a miracle I have no idea where my kids and I would be today. More specifically, Michele made it possible for my son to access a life-changing autism teaching program and my family and I will forever be grateful. I have shared the miracle story with people all over and it has inspired many strangers to tears. Michele works behind the scenes to ensure her community members reach their potential. 

Jill Wheatley 

Jill has a heart that knows no boundaries. Her home and personal life keep her busy, but she is never too busy to share her time, energy, and elder care skills with others in need. As a volunteer delivering home cooked meals to seniors, Jill encountered a situation of extreme need. She worked tirelessly to tap into resources to ensure proper care and attention were provided. Jill waded through an incredibly difficult situation and pushed for results that would be in the best interest of an elderly couple she had just met. Along the way, Jill developed a kinship and strong emotional connection with this senior couple. Recently, the husband passed away and it was Jill who arranged the funeral service and delivered an emotional and heartfelt eulogy. Her steady hand and support have provided a gift to this couple that can never be repaid. Jill is a tribute to selfless acts of loving kindness, respect of elders and community.  

SPECIAL RECOGNITION 

Private Ahava E. Heart 

United States Army Reserves – Ahava is REALLY continuing the Jewish tradition of the Jewish woman warrior! She is the direct third generation serving in the US Armed Forces. She is enrolled in the US Army Nursing ROTC program at Radford University (VA). Her career goal is to serve as a US Army Nurse. She is continuing her family Maccabean Jewish woman warrior tradition. Albeit with the exception, she will not be taking lives but instead saving them. 

“We are thrilled to announce our 2021 JIFLA’s She’s a Maccabee winner honoring the many female warriors in our community,” said Nancy Weissmann, Executive Director of JIFLA. “We are proud to continue the tradition during Hanukkah and shine a spotlight on those who are actively working to spread the Jewish values of community, love, and giving to those less fortunate.” 

For more information on the She’s A Maccabee Awards and to learn about JIFLA’s loan programs please visit www.jifla.org. 

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About JIFLA 

The Jewish Interest-Free Loan of Atlanta (JIFLA) helps Jewish community members overcome challenging financial periods and maintain financial stability by providing interest-free loans. For more information, please call 470.268.5665 or email office@JIFLA.org. Visit JIFLA.org and follow JIFLA’s social channels on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.