Stories @ CSI

Congregation Shearith Israel is thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Genea Moore, to the community. Genea was most recently the Executive Director of Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, New York. She began her career, and journey to conversion, as a clergy assistant at Port Washington’s The Community Synagogue. Genea then spent 10 years at New York City’s Central Synagogue learning and growing professionally under the mentorship of the Executive Director. You can learn more about Genea in the following 2020 article published by USCJ: “For This Woman of Color, An Early Career Move Led Her to a Life of Judaism” and Genea’s personal account of her journey “It’s My Anniversary.”

Special thanks to the search committee led by Nancy Green and Randy Gorod, and including Robin Deutsch Edwards, Heidi Einhorn, Mitch Green, Rabbi Kaiman, Robbie Medwed, Sarah Popowski, and Rachel Silverman for all of their dedication during the process of finding our next professional leader. The onboarding committee, Board and staff will be organizing lots of opportunities for our members and the Greater Atlanta Jewish community to get to know Genea - and for Genea to meet the amazing Shearith Israel community. 

Before Genea starts on March 20, we sat down to ask her to share a little bit about herself:

Can you please tell us a little bit about your family, your career path and your journey to Judaism?

I come from a big but small family. I’m number five of seven and we’re all really tight. We have a sibling conference call every weekday morning as we all head into work.

My career path is as surprising to me as it probably is to many others. I was in school studying to work in media/broadcasting but needed a job, I answered an ad to be an administrative assistant for a Rabbi and the rest is literally history!

My journey to Judaism began when my mother passed away and I decided that I wasn’t happy going to church anymore but knew that I needed a relationship with G-d. I am so happy with my choice.

What are you most excited about as you join the Shearith Israel community?

I am most excited about working in a place where I don’t know anyone and that every relationship will be forged organically. I’m equally excited about working with a new and amazing team of professionals that I will learn from and teach.

What are you looking forward to doing as you settle into your new home in Atlanta?

I’m looking forward to doing just that, making my new living quarters “a home”!

Seven question speed round!

Favorite Oneg food? Rainbow cookies 

First concert? DMX

Favorite sports teams? Boston Celtics

Best place you’ve ever traveled? Jamaica

Beach or mountains? Beach

Favorite type of music? R&B

Favorite Jewish holiday or tradition? Pesach