Building Jewish community in the heart of Atlanta
YJP Atlanta was created to give young Jewish adults a place to find friendship, meaning, Jewish connection, and a community they can call their own.
Why we're here
Our mission is simple: create a vibrant Jewish community where young adults can build meaningful friendships, explore Judaism, celebrate life's moments, and discover a deeper sense of belonging.
Community doesn't happen by accident. It's built one Shabbat dinner, one conversation, one introduction, and one relationship at a time.
How it started
When Rabbi Leivy and Rachel moved to Atlanta, they saw something happening around them.
The BeltLine was transforming the city. New neighborhoods were growing. Thousands of young professionals were moving into town.
At the same time, many young Jewish adults were looking for something harder to find: real community.
So they started building it.
One dinner. One class. One event. One introduction at a time. Over the years, those moments grew into a community of hundreds of young Jewish adults.
Friendships were formed. People found mentors. Business relationships began. Couples met. Young adults reconnected with Judaism. And Atlanta began to feel a little more like home.
Meet Rabbi Leivy & Rachel
Rabbi Leivy Lapidus
Originally from Argentina, Leivy has spent years creating spaces where Jewish young adults can connect with Judaism and with each other in ways that feel personal, relevant, and real.
Much of his work happens outside traditional walls, including conversations with people he meets while biking and walking Atlanta's BeltLine.
Whether he's teaching Torah, hosting a Shabbat dinner, bringing together business leaders and young professionals, or sitting down with someone over coffee, his approach begins with one idea: meaningful community starts with meaningful relationships.
Rachel Lapidus
Rachel is at the heart of the warmth and hospitality that defines YJP Atlanta.
Through Shabbat dinners, women's programs, personal relationships, and countless moments behind the scenes, Rachel helps create an environment where people feel genuinely welcomed and cared for.
Her approach to community is simple: notice people, make room for them, and help them feel at home.
Together, Rachel and Leivy have helped turn YJP from a collection of events into a community.
What can start with one introduction?
A friendship. A business. A deeper connection to Judaism. Sometimes even a marriage. Those stories are the real measure of what YJP is building.
A childhood friend, found again
At a First Friday Shabbat dinner, she ran into a childhood friend she hadn’t seen in years. They had been living close by the whole time, but college and work had kept them apart. They left that night already making plans.
One roundtable, one job offer
He had applied to a major law firm and never heard back. Then, at a YJP Business Roundtable, he sat at the table with the head of that firm’s Atlanta office. Two days later, he had an offer.
“Are you going to YJP?”
They met at a First Friday Shabbat dinner in 2021. Before they ever dated, every event started with the same text: “Are you going to YJP?” “Yes, see you there!” A few years later, they got engaged.
In the media
The story of YJP Atlanta and Rabbi Leivy's work as the BeltLine Rabbi has reached audiences far beyond the BeltLine.
The people who make this possible
YJP isn't built by one person. It's built by the people who host, volunteer, mentor, support, invite friends, make introductions, and keep showing up.
In their words
“I came for one event and immediately felt welcomed.”
“Some of my closest friendships in Atlanta started at YJP.”
“It’s the perfect mix of social, meaningful, and fun.”
“YJP helped me reconnect with Judaism in a way that felt natural.”
“I moved here knowing nobody. Now Atlanta feels like home.”
“I met my mentor at a Roundtable.”
Come be part of the story
Whether you're new to Atlanta or have been here your whole life, there's a place for you here.