Moishe House

Moishe House (MH) is “a place to learn how to be ‘youish’— Jewish in a way that makes sense for you!” It gives Jewish twentysomethings a place where they can define Jewish community and Jewish identity on their own terms. The community isn’t led by rabbis or educators; it’s led by young people who build Jewish experiences for themselves and their peers. MH has given young Jews the opportunity to create their own version of a Jewish home and is shifting how the Jewish community views twentysomethings and young adult engagement. It emphasizes a do-it-yourself, peer-to-peer engagement approach and empowers young leaders to take ownership of their connection to Judaism and the role it plays in their life. Started in 2006, Moishe House now claims 108 residences, each led by three to five people who live together and host one or two programs a week. Five of these houses are in Chicago. Since the first Windy City residence opened, in 2007, nearly 2,000 low-barrier, peer-led Jewish programs have engaged more than 29,000 young adults. 

The model is inherently focused on building local community, and last year in Chicago this meant 18 percent of programming was done in partnership with other Jewish organizations. This contributed to increased feelings of both connection to the Chicago Jewish community and belonging to a relatable Jewish community. Houses are only one prong of MH’s three-pronged approach to community building. It also facilitates ongoing Jewish training and alumni engagement. MH Jewish Learning and Leadership Retreats are multiday, immersive, interactive learning experiences aimed at educating Jewish young adults in ritual and program skills. Some are even led by peers themselves. Moishe House Without Walls (MHWOW) is the third pillar, committed to implementing programming outside of the walls (get it?) of a Moishe House. MHWOW’s young adults build Jewish community wherever they are by planning and hosting creative experiences for friends and peers. MH is constantly incubating new projects, including the Open Dor Project, which gives spiritual start-up leaders the resources they need to succeed. With all of this support, what’s most important is that MH provides participants with the freedom (and funding) to be the drivers of their own Jewish experience because along with being Jewish, it wants to help participants do Jewish.