Jeff’s Place At A Glance
About Jeff
Jeff’s Place was established in everlasting memory of Jeff (Moishe) Kraus. Jeff succumbed to the disease of addiction in November 2018. Jeff’s recent years of recovery from the disease of addiction were anchored in the spiritual life and community of Chabad Intown. It is here that Jeff truly found himself, found his Higher Power with G-d and found a deep connection with the Jewish people and tradition. May Jeff’s journey of recovery be an inspiration to others.
Who We Are
Jeff’s Place is more than a physical space; it is a community and a living entity designed by and dedicated to those struggling with substance use, those in recovery, and their loved ones. People of all backgrounds gather to spend time, enjoy a hot drink and a warm conversation together.
Jeff’s Place hosts regular 12 Step meetings and other programming specifically designed to create a space for those in the recovery community to meet and cultivate relationships with each other and their connection to their Higher Power.
Jeff’s Place also provides community education opportunities aimed at increasing the awareness around substance use and recovery.
Through community education and programming, Jeff’s Place nurtures the key ingredients for recovery, it is a resource and a literal life saving space
Jeff's Place is an open, welcoming and safe environment to all those seeking support and guidance no matter religious background.
Our Vision
Jeff’s Place was founded to help minimize stigma in the Jewish community around addiction and recovery. It is our vision that Jeff’s Place will inspire more open conversation and that other Jewish organizations and synagogues will take our lead. Together, we will share the message that there is hope, save lives and ensure that everyone who is hurting can find healing.
Get in touch with us to partner, collaborate, or request a speaker or training from Jeff’s Place.
Our Team
Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman
Rabbi & Founder
Rabbi Schusterman is the founder and director of Chabad Intown - Atlanta and Jeff's Place. Chabad Intown is a Jewish Center serving the Metro Atlanta area. Programs include; Mommy and Me, Intown Jewish Preschool, Intown Hebrew School, Intown Jewish Academy, Jewish Business Network, Young Jewish Professionals, Camp Gan Israel and the Shul @ Chabad Intown. Jeff's Place was started in 2018 as a gathering place and a source of support for individuals in recovery. Since its founding in 2018 it has developed a reputation as one of the primary sources for the Jewish community in Atlanta for recovery engagement and community.
Sharon Neulinger
Advisory Board Member
Sharon Neulinger was born in Brooklyn NY and moved to Atlanta in 1983 for her medical residency at Emory. While in training she met her future husband Dr Richard Kaplan. They have two young adult children. Dr Neulinger works full time practicing internal medicine and palliative care for the Southeast Permanente Medical Group. She serves on the advisory boards of Weinstein Hospice and Chabad Intown.
Barry Koch
Advisory Board Member
Barry Koch was raised in New York and has resided in Atlanta for 33 years. Between March 1984 and March 2017, he held a number of positions at Turner Broadcasting, most recently General Manager and Senior Vice President of Cartoon Network Latin America. Barry has an MBA from the University of South Florida and currently sits on the board of directors of Visiting Nurse Health System – Georgia’s leading provider of healthcare at home – and the advisory board of Chabad Intown. Barry has been married to his wife, Phyllis, for 28 years, and they have a 19 year old daughter.
Leslie Lubell
Advisory Board Member
Leslie Lubell is the HAMSA program Manager at JFCS in Atlanta. In her capacity as Program Manager Leslie looks to grow and deepen the service offerings for those struggling with addiction and their loved ones. Leslie is also dedicated to building understanding of addiction in the Jewish community, working to eliminate the barriers to recovery created by shame and stigma.
Leslie is a skilled relationship builder and passionate advocate for the recovery community. As a person in long term recovery and born and raised in Atlanta, Leslie brings true empathy to the recovery community through a deep personal understanding of addiction and recovery in the Jewish community.
Camellia Heart-Katz
Program Director
A native Atlantan and the daughter of Israeli immigrants, Heart-Katz began her career in Philadelphia, where she spent three years as a substance use counselor at a methadone clinic and nearly a year as an inpatient social worker in the NICU at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Drawn to Jewish communal work in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks, she went on to join American Jewish Committee Atlanta, where she empowered young Jewish leaders through programming on combating antisemitism and shaping Jewish identity, and facilitated interfaith and cross-community dialogues.
Camellia holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs from the University of Georgia. She is also a trained birth doula and has supported multiple births as a volunteer at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Camellia lives on the Beltline with her husband and dog, and loves being part of the flourishing Intown Jewish community.
Connect with Camellia here.