Young Members who attended his Streicker Center event were invited to join us for drinks immediately following the discussion to continue the conversation with other Young Members. The Streicker Center welcomed seven authors to wrestle with the questions of the fate of American Jewry.

As part of Emanu-El’s new “Gather” initiative, small groups that bring members of shared interests together, Molly Krueger will host a series of monthly Shabbat dinners for small groups of Young Members. Molly is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education, a test kitchen assistant at Marley Spoon, a member of the Young Members Circle committee, and – most importantly – a true food lover!

Young Members who attended this Streicker Center event were invited to join us for drinks immediately following the discussion to continue the conversation with other Young Members. The Streicker Center welcomed Roberta Kaplan and Karen Dunn, Co-Lead Counsel on a current landmark lawsuit against the organizers of the 2017 Charlottesville march, to discuss the fight against white nationalist violence.

Returning to Mile High Run Club for their second annual fundraiser for DOROT, Young Members raised over $6,500, all of which will go directly to supporting DOROT’s mission of enhancing the lives of older adults by bringing generations together. Robbie Shapiro, the event organizer, was thrilled to report that the Young Members had not only surpassed their goal but also surpassed their fundraising from the previous year. More than 20 runners participated in the event and nearly 40 Young Members gathered at a nearby bar afterward to celebrate the group’s success.

Bringing the best of the Lower East Side uptown, Katz’s Deli transformed Emanu-El’s Leventritt room into a pastrami paradise. Nearly 75 young members came together for some of the world’s largest matzoh balls, carved-to-order sandwiches, and an endless buffet of salads, knish, black & whites and rugelach. Preceding the dinner, Emanu-El welcomed the cast of the Yiddish production of Fiddler on the Roof to take part in a special Friday night Sabbath service. Members of the cast joined young members for the cocktail hour portion of the Young Members Dinner.

In partnership with Emanu-El’s Young Families group, Young Members supported the synagogue’s Sunday Lunch program making nearly 300 lunch bags for food-insecure New Yorkers. After preparing hundreds of sandwiches and assembling lunch bags complete with fruit, cookies and water, the food was picked up by City Harvest for distribution to those who need it most. For over 25 years, Temple Emanu-El’s Sunday Lunch Program has been preparing meals for those in need, whether they are homeless, underemployed or food insecure.

As the Thanksgiving holiday approached, Young Members gathered under the leadership of Rabbi Andy Kahn, who lead a conversation on gratitude – the Jewish practice of maintaining gratitude in our daily lives, and how this can lead us to helping others. Following the mindfulness exercise, Young Members created nearly 50 care packages for the elderly and homebound served by DOROT.

A quick “shlep” to Brooklyn turned into a lively evening of new takes on old classics, full bellies and empty glasses. Excited by the promise of a modern approach to old-school Jewish dishes, the Young Members and friends gathered at the Brooklyn-based Mile End Deli for an interactive evening with the restaurants co-founder Joel Tietolman, who served up a seemingly never-ending feast of his creative Montreal-style Jewish comfort foods. After hearty servings of smoked meats and deep fried favorites. Young Members enjoyed an intimate Q&A with Joel on how change-makers like Mile End are ushering in a new era of noshing.

When there are neighbors in need, Emanu-El’s Young Members are ready to break a sweat. Taking to the treadmills at Mile High Run Club’s SoHo studio, Young Members raised over $6,000 for DOROT and their mission to improve the lives and health of Jewish (and non-Jewish) seniors in New York. After rallying their networks through a well-coordinated fundraising campaign, the Young Members came together for an hour-long high-level workout. To celebrate their success, the afternoon continued with a well-deserved round of drinks at a nearby bar.