Jews in Cumming? (Atlanta, Roswell, Marietta: house, rent, lease)

[Mysh]

Hello
We are a Jewish family thinking about moving to Cumming, GA. I am a little concerned that there are no synagogues in the area. Are there any Jews in Cumming? Do you know if this area is somewhat anti-Semitic? I have small kids that will be attending the school, so I really want to make that they don’t feel like outsiders. Please help

[SaraSatin]

I don't know where the closest synagogue would be to Cumming. I know that there is a reform synagogue that I believe is still in the process of building a permanent home for itself called Congregation Dor Tamid, but that is in John's Creek/Suwanee. The biggest Jewish populations are Dunwoody (and surrounding areas like where I live), and over in Marietta. There's a website you can go to that gives a list of all of the synagogues in Georgia (or the Atlanta area, something like that) and as soon as I remember what it is I'll post it. If there's not a synagogue within 20-30 minutes of where you live it's likely she will be the only or one of the few Jewish people in the school. That happened to me in 2 different high schools and at one it was an issue sometimes (nowhere near Cumming) and the other was fine.

[SaraSatin]

www.ShalomAtlanta.org

[Mysh]

Thank you!!! I will be moving from the Philadelphia area, and there is a huge Jewish community here. I just want to make sure that my kids are not the only ones around without a Christmas tree, you know?

[Tdiddy0027]

Atlanta actually has the 11th largest Jewish population out of all the US metro areas. 120,000 and growing everyday!

[Mysh]

But do any of them live in Cumming?

[rackensack]

Well, they may be the only Jewish kids in their class -- that happens even in closer-in neighborhoods in the Atlanta area. But I don't think they'll feel like outsiders necessarily because of it. The Cumming area has had such an influx of outsiders over the last couple of decades that they won't really stand out because of it. Forsyth County has a history of intolerance, but one it seems to be outgrowing (literally, as newcomers replace and overwhelm the natives).

Congregation Dor Tamid in John's Creek (which, despite the name, is Reform-affiliated) has already been mentioned, and there's also Congregation Gesher L'Torah on Kimball Bridge in Alpharetta, if you'd prefer the egalitarian Conservative thing. The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta's Metro North Campus, serving the JFGA, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and other Jewish organizations, is also located in the Alpharetta area, off North Point Parkway between Old Milton Parkway and Kimball Bridge. All of these are about 15 miles from the middle of Cumming, or about a 20 minute drive under decent traffic conditions. We live in East Roswell and it takes us nearly that long to get to our synagogue, Temple Emanu-El in Dunwoody, most of the time. And our congregation has a fair number of members from the far northern reaches of Fulton County and some from Forsyth. Of course, if you're on the northern side of Cumming, it'll take longer.

[lastminutemom]

Here is the deal -- There will be some Jews in Cumming, but not many. One of the challenges of the northern suburbs for Jewish families is that the schools are so big -- so say in Dunwoody you have 10 Jewish kids in 3rd grade spread out between 5 classes, but in Cumming you might have 6 jewish kids spread out between 10 classes. Even my Jewish friends in parts of N. fulton find that it is hard for their kids to connect with other Jewish kids, cause the schools are so big.

I recommend you call the Jewish Federation and ask to speak to the person running the North Metro division. She or he can give you the best, most current information.

Is your husband working in Cumming? If so, you could certainly live south of there -- it wouldn't be a bad commute.

Have you already committed to a house?

[LefflerT]

Welcome to Chabad of Alpharetta

I have been there many times, the Rabbi and his wife are extraordinary people, I would look in to it if I were you.

[sweettea1]

Mysh, I'm going to be brutally honest with you. If you are looking for a sense of Jewish Community, you're not going to find it in Cumming. The closet bet would be Duluth, Suwanee or Alpharetta if you're living that far up. Atlanta is a funny place. It's not like the northeast at all. I live in Smyrna and despite the numbers of Jewish families here, I feel absolutely no sense of community here. Previous poster about Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Toco Hills and many intown communities will offer more diversity in terms of religion that what you'll find in Cumming.
Are your jobs in Cumming? What is the main reason for choosing this area? Just curious. Am happy to answer specific questions OTB so feel free to PM me.