Marcus Jewish Community Center honors theatre director
Sandy Springs resident Susie Davidow retired at the end of March as director of the Blonder Family Department for Special Needs at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA). On March 19, she was honored at a reception for her 16 years of service to Jerry’s Habima Theatre, a program within the department and Georgia’s only theatrical company featuring actors with special needs that is directed and produced by professionals.
Davidow’s retirement will be far from idle. “I plan to volunteer for several political organizations whose decisions affect the entire community and to help staff Habima programs, if I’m needed,” she says. “Working at the MJCCA allowed me to meld my love of Judaism and my passion for enriching the lives of people with special needs.”
Under her leadership, Jerry’s Habima Theatre received the Spirit of Suzi Bass Award and was a two-time recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Challenge America Grant. “She strengthened the program, was dedicated to the participants and launched the B’nai Bracha [Jewish Spiritual Journey] initiative that combines special needs with Judaism,” says Lois Blonder, whose family funded the program in 2006 in honor of her husband.
“Susie not only strengthened the program, she took her actors to Washington, D.C., Orlando and even Israel. We’ve had a wonderful relationship, and I will miss her enormously,” Blonder says.
For more information, visit atlantajcc.org.
Photo: Jennifer Sarni
