Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 8, 2022

Multiple organizations connecting, engaging diverse crowds

The young adult Jewish community in Houston can best be described as diverse, engaging and inclusive.

With multiple organizations and a wide range of events to choose from, one does not need to look far to find a network of people who share similar interests and values.

From Happy Hours and Challah Bakes to music concerts or even an illusionist show, there are plenty of opportunities to socialize, be entertained and get involved in the local Jewish young adult scene.

People are eager to get back together and socialize in person, said Emily Feinstein, who is the new Jewish Federation of Greater Houston Engagement associate, helping run the Young Adult Division.

Young adult groups are an important and essential way for people to meet, whether it is for friendship, romance or strictly professional, said Feinstein.

YAD had close to 100 people attend a kick-off concert event with Jewish rapper Kosha Dillz at 8th Wonder Brewery in May. The group also recently held a Cocktails & a Cause event at Holocaust Museum Houston.

Upcoming events later this month include a Happy Hour at Kenny & Ziggys and a summer pool party in the Memorial area.

We hope our community will not only get a lot out of doing these events, but, as they grow up and become leaders, they can continue to network and keep our Jewish community strong, Feinstein said.

Two other Houston young adult groups J-HYPE (Jewish Houston Young Professionals) and YJP Houston (Young Jewish Professionals) continue to innovate the networking experience.

J-HYPE, which has more than 400 participants, according to founder Rabbi Johnny Ouzzan, has hosted rooftop barbecues and casino nights, as well as Torah studies and heritage trips to Israel, Poland and beyond.

We create community, connection and growth among Houstons Jewish young professionals through classes, events, educational programs, Shabbat and holiday dinners, as well as our heritage trips, Rabbi Ouzzan told the JHV.

We are devoted exclusively to Jewish young professionals in Houston in their 20s and 30s and are welcoming and inclusive to anyone and everyone, regardless of [their] background, denomination or level of observance. Everyone is family at J-HYPE, said Rabbi Ouzzan.

YJP Houston, led by Rabbi Chaim, Chanie and Chaya Lazaroff, has connected with its network at trendy events that have involved rodeo carnival games, boat cruises, axe throwing and their upcoming White Party with illusionist Ilan Smith.

YJP Houston Chabads young adults and professionals is where the new generation of young leaders go for Jewish growth, social opportunities and business networking, Rabbi Chaim told the JHV.

Powered by Chabad of Uptown, young singles and couples have a warm, friendly environment where they can meet, socialize and, at the same time, get closer to their Jewishness. Weekly classes, Shabbat dinners and other programs attract young adults of all backgrounds and affiliations.

While many J-HYPE and YJP events are strictly social, both offer a myriad of spiritual opportunities to build on ones Judaism, as well.

Shabbat dinners and Torah studies are a big part of the groups events, while many of the larger parties and networking events are built around Jewish holidays.

The two groups J-HYPE and YJP even converged for a joint event last Sukkot, bringing together close to 100 young professionals married, single and with varying levels of Jewish observance to enjoy a festive barbecue.

Another young adult group, Jewston, is run through Houston Hillel and includes recent college graduates and graduate students, ages 22-30.

Popular events include Bar Trivia, Jewish cooking and cocktail-making classes and an Israeli whiskey tasting.

Jewston enriches the lives of Jewish graduate students and young professionals so that they may enrich the Houston Jewish community, the Jewish people and the world, Alyssa Silva told the JHV. She served as assistant executive director of Houston Hillel.

Silva said Jewston is a professionally led, pluralistic, nondenominational Jewish organization, and they encourage participants who identify as LGBTQ+, Jews by choice and the non-Jewish allies and partners of the Jewish community.

Come as you are, whether you identify as Jewish or Jew-ish; we cant wait to welcome you into our community, she said.

Many Houston synagogues also feature young adult groups with various activities, giving synagogue members even more options to network and grow.

The overall goal remains to bring together young Jewish adults and keep them engaged in each other and their community.

We hope to instill a strong sense of Jewish identity among our demographic, Feinstein said. We want to create that desire for young adults to give back to their community through leadership and philanthropic efforts.

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Jewish young adult scene thriving in Houston - Jewish Herald-Voice

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