By Sarah Friedson-King, Associate Rabbi, Temple Beth El, Rochester, New York
Now that’s a name for a program we may all wish we had thought of; the perfect title for a monthly young professionals (20s and 30s) event at a trendy new bar/restaurant in Rochester, New York, sponsored by Temple Beth El and organized by our colleague Rabbi Sarah Freidson-King. We didn’t need the Pew Center study to tell us about the challenges of connecting young Jewish professionals to the Jewish community and Sarah’s outreach program is one of many happening throughout the Conservative movement.
The specifics are: first round of drinks and vegetarian appetizers free to Temple Beth El members, $10 for non-members (the program is funded by a donor). The first 30 minutes is schmoozing, followed by a 45 minute to an hour discussion on a Jewish topic (similar to the Hillel Ask Big Questions curriculum - but with more Jewish content). Then people hang out at the bar. The events attract 15-25 participants on average and have been well received.
Sarah's Take
Sarah reports: “In theory, I follow up the event with one-on-one meetings with participants or with a Shabbat dinner invite, although it can get tricky to schedule. The entire program is designed to foster relationships between participants and to show the relevance of Judaism to their "real" lives, as well as to create a connection to the Jewish community. In other words, doing Jewish doesn't only happen in services in a synagogue, but in the way we use technology, think about community, and live up to our responsibilities. Many friendships have formed amongst participants as well as a couple of romantic relationships. We've also started having more young professionals attend Shabbat services and events at the shul.”
JOIN for Justice
During her time at JTS, Sarah learned community organizing principles through the Seminary Leadership Project led by what is now JOIN for Justice. She also participated in JOIN and the RA's Clergy 2.0 conference in October which focused on using community organizing principles to enrich the rabbinate. The process builds trusting relationships between Sarah and the attendees as well as fosters community amongst the participant. Additionally, Sarah is able to identify future leaders of the Jewish community. By asking the right kinds of questions and creating a space where young professionals have a voice, Sarah helps them to find common purpose with one another and with Temple Beth El, opening a door to the synagogue.