United States
City overview
Orthodox Jewish Atlanta centers on Toco Hills, a neighborhood in the northeast of the city where the major shuls, the kosher restaurants, the kosher supermarket and most of the community's institutions sit inside one eruv. Around it, smaller Orthodox hubs have grown up in Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven and East Cobb, each with its own shul or Chabad house. Nearly all kosher establishments in Atlanta are certified by the Atlanta Kashruth Commission (AKC). Outside the Orthodox neighborhoods, the city's attractions are spread across a wide metro area, so a car (or rideshare) makes a visit much easier.
Atlanta, GA
Rabbi
Rabbi Levi Mentz
Phone
470-253-7111Website
https://jewishforsyth.org/Chabad house serving Forsyth County (Cumming) with Shabbat services, holiday programs and community events; also known locally as Congregation Beth Israel.
Getting Around
Public transit
MARTA rail (Red and Gold lines) runs north-south from the airport through downtown and Midtown to Buckhead (Lenox station), useful for hotels and attractions in those areas.
The Orthodox neighborhoods - Toco Hills, Sandy Springs east of GA-400, and Dunwoody - are not on the rail lines; MARTA buses cover some corridors but are slow. Most visitors staying in the Orthodox neighborhoods rely on cars.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft operate throughout the metro area and are the practical way to reach Toco Hills from the airport, downtown or Midtown without renting a car.
Car rental
All major rental companies operate from ATL's Rental Car Center, reached by the SkyTrain from the terminal.
A car is the easiest way to tour Atlanta beyond the Toco Hills neighborhood, and is close to essential for Stone Mountain, Truist Park and other spread-out attractions.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the main gateway, about 20 miles south of Toco Hills, typically a 30-45 minute drive. MARTA rail runs directly from the airport terminal to downtown, Midtown and Buckhead; for Toco Hills or Sandy Springs, take a taxi or rideshare from the airport or from a MARTA station. Kosher at ATL: AKC-certified fresh kosher sandwiches and sides (A Kosher Touch) are sold at select stores in Concourses T (Z Market near T10), A (Z Market near A26), E (CNN.com near E7; Wall Street Journal News near E17) and F (ATL Shops by Hudson near F Centerpoint, open 24 hours; CNN near F5; CNN Arrivals Level U). Not every concourse is covered.
Good to know
Spring (March to May) and fall (September to November) are the most comfortable seasons, with mild temperatures and lower humidity. Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly in the upper 80s and 90s F. Winters are short and generally mild, with only occasional freezing days. April brings very heavy tree pollen.
Atlanta is a driving city: attractions, kosher food and shuls are spread out, so budget for a rental car or frequent rideshares. Traffic on I-285 and GA-400 is heavy at rush hour - allow extra time getting to the airport. For Shabbos hospitality in Toco Hills, contact Chabad of Toco Hills (office@chabadtoco.com) in advance. Mikvahs: the Toco Hills Mikvah serves the main community (appointments via the Atlanta Kashruth Commission listing), with additional mikvahs at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Sandy Springs and Chabad of Cobb in East Cobb. The community eruv hotline is (404) 767-3788.
For any emergency, police, fire or medical, dial 911. The Toco Hills, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody and Brookhaven neighborhoods where the Orthodox community lives are suburban and generally safe. As in any large city, avoid leaving valuables visible in parked cars, and stay aware of your surroundings downtown late at night.
Local time
7:12 PM
Plug
Type A/B
120V, 60Hz
Currency
United States Dollar
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