local
Young People Find Judaism
Outside of Synagogue Walls
SASHA ROGELBERG | STAFF WRITER
W hile the members of
Congregation Rodeph
Shalom convene early
Saturday morning to study the Torah
portion, Rodeph Shalom Young
Friends, an affi nity group of the syn-
agogue’s 20- and 30-somethings, meet
up at a local bar later in the week to
study the same parsha.

Between sips of beer last week, the
group discussed the more grotesque
details of Parsha Ki Tavo: hemorrhoids
as a curse upon one’s enemy. Perhaps
an outrageous topic for an older gen-
eration to discuss, the young Torah
students shared a laugh and tried to
apply the punishment to today’s world.

According to Young Friends
Co-chair Jill Ivey, this younger gener-
ation of Jews isn’t pushing away their
religion; they’re just looking for other
ways to fi nd meaning. Increasingly,
young Jews forge their own path to
fi nding spiritual meaning.

Th e High Holidays are no exception;
while many young Jews plan to sit in
the sanctuary for services, they are also
looking to engage with Jewish religion
and culture in ways outside of tradi-
tional observance.

On Sept. 20, Young Friends, Tribe
12, a Philadelphia-based nonprofi t for
Jewish 20- and 30-somethings, and
Repair the World met for Pre-Rosh
Hashanah Cocktails with a Conscience:
Get out the vote for 5783. Th e event
combined the personal refl ection asso-
ciated with the High Holidays with
political activism.

For millennials and Generation Z,
combining Judaism with social justice
is appealing.

“We found that a lot of our commu-
nity has, if they’re not so religiously
inclined to Judaism right now, they
very much identify culturally with
Judaism and with the values of Judaism,
specifi cally in the social justice world,”
said Polly Edelstein, Tribe 12 program
director. Jews younger than 40 came of age
in a unique political atmosphere, Ivey
believes, which shaped their Jewish
values. Ivey grew up remembering 9/11,
the war in Afghanistan and the Great
Recession; Gen Z Jews are experienc-
ing a pandemic, infl ation and election
turmoil. “It’s not just that most of us agree —
we’re on the same political spectrum
— it’s that we all have very similar expe-
riences and know what it’s like being a
Jew in this country at this time,” Ivey said.

Edelstein has noticed that in
addition to engaging with politics and
current events, young Jews look to
gather in smaller, more intimate spaces.

Following the isolation of pandemic
restrictions, young Jews want to make
friends. With rusty social skills or
feelings of being overwhelmed while
looking to meet people, smaller activi-
ties with a group with a shared identity
can off er a solution.

“Th e intimacy, I think, is what peo-
ple are looking forward to, which you
can’t always get in a large synagogue
atmosphere,” Edelstein said.

Synagogues may also be expensive
for younger Jews. Some believe the
investment is not worth it for young
Jews who aren't completely spiritually
or politically aligned with the syna-
gogues in their area.

“Most of my friends didn’t have
V OTE F
O WINNE R THE
RS! From your favorite restaurant to the best
bagel, day camp to your favorite doctor,
Family-friendly Shabbat service to best non-
profit organization, vote for your favorite
people, places and things in Jewish Philly!
The winners are chosen by popular vote, so
nominate your favorites. As a business, share with
your audience to help you win the title of “Best” in
your category!
F 2
2 BEST O
02 Jewish Exponent
VOTING CLOSES OCTOBER 7
PHILADELPHIA ISH
P PHILADEL
Jewish Exponent
PHILADELPHIA 10
SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 | JEWISHEXPONENT.COM
H IA
JE W
Winners will be contacted in October and the results
will be in the October 27th issue of the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent.

Go to www.jewishexponent.com/readerschoice2022
and vote for your favorites!
Print | Digital |
Contact Jeni Mann Tough
for more information
jmann@midatlanticmedia.com



z
Bring this ad. Take 17% off any item not on sale.

Photo by Polly Edelstein
Certain restrictions apply. Offer ends October 8, 2022
Habitat! Tribe 12 members do Havdallah at the
March 2022 fellowship retreat.

17 %
The Sweater Mill
115 S. York Road, Hatboro 215.441.8966 Open Monday-Saturday 11-4
Courtesy of Jill Ivey
TIFERET BET ISRAEL SPORTS FORUM
Featuring Media Sports Legend:
RAY DIDINGER
sharing 50+ years of experience covering Philadelphia sports!
Rodeph Shalom Young Friends gather
for a Chanukah celebration.

money for things like synagogue mem-
berships, or what have you, without
just having to glom onto their parents,
which a lot of people don’t want to do,”
said Fayge Horesh, a West Philadelphia-
based 36-year-old.

For Sukkot, Horesh and her friend
are hosting a shape-note singing event
under the Sukkah. Shape note is an
18th-century community singing prac-
tice that is common in more Christian
spaces; Horesh found a Jewish commu-
nity in West Philadelphia that enjoys
singing Jewish psalms instead.

Th e event represents a way to express
Jewish identity in a way that feels most
authentic to a group of people who
haven’t found their spiritual home in a
large congregation.

“Th e tradition belongs to all of us,
whether you grew up going to Hebrew
school or you’re patrilineal or you’re
whatever,” Horesh said. “Th is is our
tradition.” Engaging with Judaism outside of
synagogue services is an equally valid
way of engaging with the religion,
believes Beth Ann Margolis Rupp, exec-
utive director of the Jewish Children’s
Folkshul and Adult Community, a sec-
ular humanistic Jewish community.

Judaism combines culture, history
and ancestry. Th e Folkshul takes a “lib-
eral arts” approach to Judaism, where
community members choose their
adventure in how they practice.

Rupp remembers her struggle with
her Jewish identity, while raised “reli-
gious.” It wasn’t until she moved to
Israel that she adopted the philosophy
of the secular humanist community.

“Judaism is far beyond synagogue,”
she said. “Judaism is in the air and
it’s in the relationship. It’s in the place
for them. It’s in the humanity of the
people.” JE
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Ray will sign his latest book available for sale at the Forum:
Finished Business: My Fifty Years of Headlines, Heroes and Heartaches
Sunday, October 2nd
10:00 a.m.

Tiferet Bet Israel
1920 W. Skippack Pike
Blue Bell, PA
Hosted by TBI Men’s Club
Co-Sponsors: Beth Or Brotherhood, Maple Glen, PA
Temple Sinai Men’s Club, Dresher, PA
RSVP: tiferetbetisrael.mensclub1@gmail.com
No Admission Fee
Donations to TBI Men’s Club gratefully accepted
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM 11