“To everything there is a season…” –Ecclesiastes 3:1
Fall is a season of change: children head back to school, mornings grow cooler, and soon the trees will release their leaves. At JF&CS, we’re stepping into a new season, too. Recently, we celebrated Terri Bonoff as she transitioned from CEO into a vital new role in fundraising, and we welcomed Jay Cranman, Atlanta native and seasoned nonprofit leader, as our new CEO.
Another important shift has come in our spiritual leadership. After 13 years of faithful service, Rabbi Judith Beiner has retired from her role as Community Chaplain. Rabbi Beiner’s presence was a steady source of strength for our agency and the broader Jewish community. We are deeply grateful for her service, and we wish her the very best in this new chapter of her life.
The Role of Chaplaincy
After a nationwide search, a panel of Atlanta community rabbis unanimously chose our new Community Chaplain: Rabbi Michael D. Bram, DMin, BCC, Lt Col, USAF (Ret.).
“Rabbi Bram brings over 20 years of experience to this role, and is known for his warmth, approachability, and deep pastoral skill,” said Michael Beldie, Chief Operations Officer. “He is stepping into the meaningful work so beautifully led by Rabbi Beiner—offering pastoral care, leading support groups, and serving as a spiritual guide for those in need. This role, generously funded for many years by the Marcus Foundation, is a vital part of JF&CS’s commitment to community wellbeing.”
Chaplaincy holds a special place at JF&CS. Guided by Jewish values, our chaplain provides spiritual care that is welcoming, warm, and nonjudgmental. Each day is different—supporting unaffiliated Jews, guiding staff with ethical perspective, offering learning opportunities, and helping people stay connected to faith and community. It is work that requires both deep spiritual knowledge and a natural ability to meet people where they are.
Written In The Stars
For Rabbi Bram, his Jewish faith is “the most important part of who I am,” he says. Faith, to him, is about growth: “Doing more doesn’t always mean adding an extra thing—it means doing the thing you’re already doing, but a little better every day.”
Rabbi Bram grew up in Milwaukee with his eyes on the stars. He studied astrophysics at the University of Minnesota and joined Air Force ROTC, both prerequisites to the future he imagined as an astronaut. “G-d had other plans,” he smiles.
Stationed in North Dakota, isolated from Jewish community, he began to feel the absence of the traditions and connections that had grounded him. One weekend, he traveled to Denver to spend Shabbat with a senior Jewish chaplain, an experience that rekindled his connection to Judaism.
Soon, Rabbi Bram was observing Shabbat on his own, poring over Torah and commentaries during his downtime, and eventually made the decision to enroll in Yeshiva in New York to prepare for the rabbinate. There, he met his wife, Sara, and together they returned to the Air Force—this time with Rabbi Bram serving as a chaplain.
Over the next 24 years, the Bram family grew to include five children and moved from base to base, every three years, across the globe—from Alaska to Germany. As a military chaplain, Rabbi Bram ministered not only to Jewish service members, but also to Christians, Buddhists, Pagans, and even atheists. He became a strong advocate for Jewish personnel, many of whom felt pressure to hide their identity. And he brought Jewish life into places few could imagine: building a sukkah in Iraq and leading a Passover seder in Qatar that drew both Jews and non-Jews around the table. Following his Air Force retirement, he continued his chaplaincy at the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System in Henderson, Nevada before accepting this role at JF&CS. He plans to put down roots in Metro Atlanta and not move again “for a long, long time.”
Torah, Comics, and Community
His stories and experiences are fascinating, but what might be most surprising is just how very ordinary Rabbi Bram is. He describes himself as a “die-hard Packers fan” who dons a cheesehead during football season. He swims religiously (pardon the pun) five mornings a week and rewards himself with a Mountain Dew. He is a dedicated gamer who loves comic books and sci-fi. At a recent staff meeting, he likened himself to Leonard from the TV show The Big Bang Theory, a self-effacing way of calling himself, in his words, “a big nerd.”
“I make it a priority to study and learn,” he says, “but I’m also a relatable, normal guy with regular hobbies. I think that’s really important—I believe you can live in the world without avoiding worldly things.”
Ultimately, “I’m happy to be here and serve the community,” concludes Rabbi Bram. “I’m available 24/6, I like to say, and 24/7 for emergencies. I hope to be here (at JF&CS) for a long time.”
We are entering this new season with gratitude for Rabbi Beiner’s years of devoted service and excitement for the wisdom and warmth Rabbi Bram brings. For chaplaincy needs, reach out to Rabbi Bram 24/6 at mbram@jfcsatl.org