While one of the persistent concerns in the American Jewish community is the declining engagement of young adult Jews, in Dallas Jewish engagement of this population is strong and growing! In 2012 Rabbi David Singer, a new associate rabbi at Shearith Israel invited 50 young Jews to a brainstorming session. Thanks to the power of social media and word of mouth, 100 showed up to that house party. Makom was born that evening and, two nights later 200 young Jewish Dallasites came to the first event sponsored by Makom, a community of young Jewish adults that challenges assumptions about the ways in which we build Jewish life.
David credits the forward thinking vision of senior Rabbi Bill Gershon for “taking what has been built within Shearith Israel and creating interesting, meaningful Jewish life outside the shul.” Makom has grown to involve some 1500 young adults (a significant percentage of the Dallas Jewish demographic) in Shabbat and holiday celebrations, learning opportunities and socializing. Makom, says David, is “about meeting Jews where they’re at; building authentic community among young adults in the places they frequent”.
An Investment in the Future of Jewish Dallas
The programmatic budget for Makom is supported independently of the Shearith budget: 40% is participant funded and other support has come from benefactors such as Natan and the Covenant Foundation. While Makom can serve as a kind of umbilical cord to Shearith Israel and while some of the early builders of Makom have become committee chairs and assumed other leadership roles, shul membership is not the ultimate goal of the program nor a measure of the program’s success. Makom is an investment in the future of Jewish Dallas and a replicable response for communities around the country seeking to engage Jews in their 20’s and 30’s.
The irony of the name “Makom” is that Makom’s space is no space at all. Events originally took place in David’s backyard, moved indoors to a garage and then to a rented loft space in downtown Dallas. This past Hanukkah 300-400 young adults came out to celebrate at Makom’s annual celebration “LIGHTS”, and on Friday nights there is a traditional service followed by a free Shabbat dinner. Kippot are put out on a table but no one is asked to wear one; participants are invited to bring non-Jewish friends and that has created an entryway for prospective Jews by Choice. This past Rosh Hashanah Makom services met on the Shearith campus but at that “short, straightforward” service there was no choir, no robes, no pretenses.
A Community of Welcoming
Another unique aspect of Makom is that although there is a rabbi serving the community, leadership comes from within the group. David works closely with the leadership team to create “a community of welcoming”, so “the minute you show up you’re surrounded by hundreds of friends”. And it is this sense of community that transcends any particular event. Some “are sold on day one” and their interest and observance has grown to the point where they have decided to participate in The Fellowship a year long course in Jewish learning and leadership offered with the support of the Covenant Foundation while others haven’t yet figured out what their Jewish journey will be. No judgments are made about the paths individuals choose.
David finds great satisfaction in seeing the community run itself in many ways. He is certain that Makom, rooted in building deep relationships and the willingness to go where the young Jewish adults are is “immensely replicable”. One of the co-founders of Makom, Danielle Rugoff, was particularly adept at relationship building and serves as Makom’s “Chief Engagement Officer”. Danielle and David also proved adept at relationship building, became engaged and are now married.
Makom recently was included in Slingshot 14-15, that describes Makom as “A dynamic young community reanimating Jewish life through celebration, learning, and sacred mission. From its First Fridays Kabbalat Shabbat services to Third Thursdays learning programs, hundreds gather for events that combine accessibility, tradition, and creativity. Makom also inspires growth and creativity in its incubator parent congregation, showing how transformative engagement can and should be a part of every Jewish experience.”