Congregation Etz Chaim

What Congregation Etz Chaim does

Congregation Etz Chaim is a private, member-governed, non-profit Conservative synagogue founded in 1975 and headquartered at 1190 Indian Hills Parkway in Marietta, Georgia (East Cobb), serving the Jewish community of Cobb County in the north Atlanta area. The organization operates as a comprehensive religious, educational, and community institution, delivering daily minyanim and Shabbat services (in-person and via livestream), lifecycle events (b'nai mitzvah, weddings, brit milah, shiva), and pastoral care. Educational programming spans a licensed preschool for children 14 months through Pre-K, a religious school for kindergarten through seventh grade, the Chai Five teen learning track for grades 8-12, the Lilmode adult education program, and Camp Ruach, a 9-week summer camp. Community life is structured around multiple affinity groups including Chavurah small groups (100+ participants), Men's Club, Sisterhood, Prime Timers, Roots Groups, Pride Alliance, Young Adults, and youth department groups (Chalutzim, Chaverim, Gesher, Sababa USY).

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of annual membership dues (with financial-hardship flexibility), preschool and religious school tuition, voluntary donations including the annual Kol Nidre campaign, gift shop sales, and the Georgia GOAL tax credit program that funds preschool scholarships. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the synagogue explicitly commits that no one is denied membership for financial reasons. The operating model is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth, member referrals, and participation-driven retention rather than transactional marketing. The organization is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ) and is a member of Women's League for Conservative Judaism and the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs.

The technology stack is conventional SaaS-based: ShulCloud for member management and calendars, Hebcal for Shabbat times, Zoom for virtual programming, and YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for content distribution. Proprietary assets include the Minyan Maker mobile app (iOS/Android) for real-time minyan availability, livestream infrastructure for Shabbat services, an extensive Tefillah audio recordings library, and the Get Off the Pulpit podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The organization employs 44 staff and is led by Senior Rabbi Daniel Dorsch (since 2016), Assistant Rabbi Jonathon Adler (since July 2024), Rabbi Emeritus Shalom J. Lewis (retired 2019 after 40 years), Rabbi-at-Large Albert I. Slomovitz, Executive Director Marty Gilbert, and a Board of Trustees under President Lisa Olens.

Name

Congregation Etz Chaim

Legal name

Congregation Etz Chaim

Website

https://etzchaim.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Congregation Etz Chaim is a private, member-governed Conservative synagogue founded in 1975 in Marietta, Georgia, serving the Jewish community of Cobb County in the north Atlanta area with daily and Shabbat services, licensed preschool, religious school, teen and adult education, summer camp, lifecycle events, and a diversified affinity-group ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Organization Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN)

Keywords

• Conservative synagogue services
• Jewish religious education
• Hebrew school programs
• Jewish preschool education
• Religious lifecycle services

Headquarters

HQ city

Marietta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees with flexible payment plans available; no one is denied membership for financial reasons
2. Preschool and Religious School Tuition: Educational programs including licensed preschool and religious school for children from 14 months through 7th grade
3. Donations and Tzedakah: Voluntary donations including Kol Nidre campaign, general giving, and memorial contributions
4. Gift Shop Sales: Judaica and gift shop operated by Sisterhood selling tallitot, ritual objects, and jewelry
5. GOAL Tax Credit Program: Georgia education tax credit program supporting preschool scholarships through the ALEF Fund

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Congregation Etz Chaim is an egalitarian Conservative Jewish synagogue that provides weekly Shabbat and holiday prayer services, daily minyan, lifecycle ceremonies (b'nai mitzvah, weddings, funerals, brit milah), Jewish education through preschool and religious/Hebrew school programs, adult Torah study, and community programming for Jewish families in the Marietta/Cobb County area of metropolitan Atlanta.

Product overview

Congregation Etz Chaim operates as a multi-service Conservative Jewish synagogue offering a comprehensive portfolio of religious, educational, and community programs. The core offerings include daily and Shabbat religious services (with livestream capability), early childhood preschool education, religious school (K-7th grade), B'nai Mitzvah preparation, Chai Five teen learning (8th-12th grade), and adult education through Lilmode. Additional services include Camp Ruach summer program, youth department with age-based groups (Chalutzim, Chaverim, Gesher, Sababa USY), a Judaica/Gift Shop operated by Sisterhood, Phillip's Library with 3,500+ books, the Get Off the Pulpit podcast, Minyan Maker app for scheduling, Tefillah audio recordings, life cycle event services, and various community groups (Chavurah, Chesed Committee, Men's Club, Sisterhood, Prime Timers, Roots Groups, Pride Alliance, Young Adults). The synagogue also offers giving programs including donations, Kol Nidre Campaign, and GOAL Tax Credit for preschool. Key technology integrations include ShulCloud for member management, Hebcal for calendar services, Zoom for virtual programming, YouTube/Facebook/Instagram for social engagement, and Goodshop/Kroger for online giving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Voice of Chaim: Monthly newsletter publication of Congregation Etz Chaim
• College Connection
• Camp Ruach
• Lilmode

Products and services

• Shabbat and Holiday Services Weekly Shabbat prayer services and observance of the Jewish holiday calendar led by the rabbinical clergy team for congregants and visitors.
• Daily Minyan Daily morning and evening prayer services, including for shiva observance and communal prayer obligations, supported by the Minyan Maker App.
• Religious School (Hebrew School) Formal Jewish education program covering Hebrew language, Torah, holidays, and Jewish practice for children of member families, directed by the Education Director.
• Congregation Etz Chaim Preschool Early-childhood preschool program for young children of members and the wider community, with Jewish educational enrichment.
• Adult Education and Torah Study Adult Jewish learning opportunities including Torah study, classes, and continuing education for adult members.
• Lifecycle Event Services Rabbinical officiation and congregational support for lifecycle events including b'nai mitzvah, weddings, funerals, and brit milah for members and their families.
• Livestream Services Online livestream broadcast of services and programming for members and others who cannot attend in person.
• Congregational Membership Annual membership providing access to services, programming, lifecycle officiation, education discounts, and community participation, with tiered dues and flexible payment plans.

Quantifiable outcome

• One of few daily minyan providers outside the Perimeter in Atlanta area
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jewish Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary source of rabbinical ordination for the synagogue's rabbis. Rabbi Dorsch received M.A. in Education and rabbinical ordination from JTS; Rabbi Adler was ordained at JTS; Rabbi Lewis was ordained at JTS of America.
• Jewish National FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabbi Dorsch sits on the Board of Trustees for Jewish National Fund. Sisterhood sells JNF trees for Israel.
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial affiliation with USCJ, the umbrella organization for Conservative synagogues. Logo displayed on website indicating formal affiliation.
• Women's League for Conservative JudaismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisterhood is a member of Women's League for Conservative Judaism, participating in Torah Fund campaign and leadership development programs.
• Federation of Jewish Men's ClubscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMen's Club is an affiliate of FJMC, participating in Quality Club Awards program and regional activities including Anshei Darom Region.
• SOJOURN (Southern Jewish Resource Network for Gender and Sexual Diversity)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPride Alliance collaborates with SOJOURN to support LGBTQ+ equality in Jewish life.
• KeshetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPride Alliance collaborates with Keshet, the national organization supporting LGBTQ equality in Jewish life. Keshet logo displayed on website.
• American Jewish Committee (AJC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRabbi Dorsch serves on the Board of Trustees for AJC in Atlanta, supporting Jewish advocacy and community relations.
• Namanyonyi Synagogue (Uganda)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational partnership with Moshe Sebagabo's synagogue in Uganda, supporting Jewish community development and interfaith education.
• Jewish Family and Career Services (JF&CS)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Kosher Food Pantry, geriatric care referrals, memory support services, and Chanukah gift card programs.
• Jewish Education Loan Fund (JELF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollege Connection program references JELF for student loan resources for Jewish students.
• St. Ann Catholic ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Yom HaShoah commemorative program held alternately between Congregation Etz Chaim and St. Ann's church, with interfaith youth education seminars.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Others

• Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta: Central communal umbrella organization serving the Atlanta Jewish community, of which Etz Chaim is a constituent member. Not a direct competitor; functions as a fundraising and allocations body, partner on shared initiatives, and an indirect ecosystem enabler for Etz Chaim's programming.

Direct peers

• Gesher L'Torah: Conservative Jewish congregation in Alpharetta, GA — specifically referenced in Etz Chaim's data as the prior pulpit of Rabbi Slomovitz. Directly comparable in denominational affiliation, North Atlanta catchment, full lifecycle programming model, and similar scale.
• Congregation Beth Shalom (Atlanta): Conservative Jewish congregation operating in the Atlanta metro area with comparable religious school, youth programming, and lifecycle offerings. Closely aligned with Etz Chaim in denominational affiliation, programming breadth, and metro-area Jewish household targeting.
• Ahavath Achim Synagogue: Large Conservative synagogue in Atlanta, GA with comparable preschool, religious school, daily services, and lifecycle programming. Operates in the same Atlanta-area Jewish community and competes for overlapping member households in the northern metro.
• Congregation Or Hadash: Conservative synagogue in Johns Creek/Sandy Springs, GA serving the northern Atlanta Jewish community. Comparable in denominational affiliation (USCJ-affiliated), full-service religious programming, and member-lifecycle model targeting the same North Atlanta demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA): Major Jewish communal institution in Dunwoody, GA offering preschool, day camp, fitness, cultural programming, and adult education. Competes with Etz Chaim for preschool enrollment and Jewish-family engagement in the north Atlanta corridor, but operates the broader JCC model rather than the synagogue model.
• Temple Sinai (Atlanta): Reform Jewish congregation in Sandy Springs, GA and the largest Jewish congregation in the Southeast. Comparable as a full-service Jewish communal institution offering preschool, religious school, adult education, and lifecycle events, but far larger in scale and operating with the Reform rather than Conservative movement.

Regional players

• Chabad of Cobb / Chabad at East Cobb: Orthodox Chabad houses serving the same Cobb County / East Cobb catchment as Etz Chaim. Provide preschool, Hebrew school, and lifecycle programming for overlapping Jewish households; differ in denomination and funding model but compete head-to-head for the same local member pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCybH4LqXjO4KjljQX2m1hTQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/CongEtzChaim
• Instagraminstagram.com/etzchaim_marietta
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congregation-etz-chaim

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Congregation Etz Chaim