Four Jewish millennials are sought to set up house together and organize home-based Jewish programming for their fellow young adults.
Federation CJA wants to open the first Moishe House in Montreal, joining the 98 other such houses in 24 countries where such a program exists.
Moishe House began in 2006, when four Jews in their 20s began hosting Shabbat dinners for their friends and colleagues in Oakland, Calif. Moishe Houses have since proliferated throughout the United States and elsewhere, including Toronto.
The program claims to have been successful in engaging a more youthful demographic in Jewish community life and developing leadership, with over 50,000 young adults participating in some 8,500 Moishe House programs last year.
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“Creating a Moishe House in Mont- real will give our younger adult community the opportunity to create their own Jewish moments with their peers in their home community,” said Simon Bensimon, director of the federation’s GenMTL department.
Specifically, Moishe House Montreal is looking for four “dynamic” Jewish lead- ers, aged 22 to 30, to take up residence in the “house,” which is actually a fully furnished apartment. Typically, residents live in a Moishe House for one to three years.
The location has not been announced, but the federation describes it as “a central area close to hot spots for young adults.”
“Potential residents may come from a wide range of Jewish backgrounds as long as they are passionate about build- ing a community to engage their friends and peers,” said Bensimon.
Following the model in place in other locations, the Montreal residents will be expected to open their home to other young adults five to six times each month.
Besides Shabbat dinners, program- ming may include yoga, volunteering, and camping or skiing trips.
Residents will receive a “generous” rent subsidy, a programming budget, and training and staff support. They will only need to furnish their own bed- rooms. The opening is expected to take place next year.
Applications are available here.
