Little more than a year out from its establishment, the local Moishe House is thriving. Current residents Stephanie Pollack, Sarah Freyman and Elizabeth Willens live in one of the 83 houses found worldwide sponsored by the organization. The non-profit is designed to engage Jewish adults ages 22-30 by creating and providing meaningful experiences through a variety of cultural, educational, social and service events.
“The Kansas City Moishe House strives to create networks, build friendships, encourage leadership, give back and have fun,” Willens said.
In its first year the house, located just south of KU Medical Center, opened its doors to a group that often struggles to find a place in the Jewish community — 20-somethings falling into the middle ground between college Hillel groups and congregation memberships.
Pollack, who also lived in the house last year, said, “The first year of Moishe House Kansas City was very successful in terms of attendance, engagement and programming.”
Willens, an active participant before she moved into the house, added, “Stephanie, Jessica Joffe and Seth Miller did a great job establishing Moishe House. The community broadened and a stronger Jewish culture surfaced in the Kansas City area, growing our Jewish young adult presence.” Joffe and Miller lived in the house last year when it first opened and helped run it with Pollack.
The success of the house continues to grow as it enters its second year. Since the beginning of 2015, Moishe House KC has hosted 58 programs with 683 participants in total attendance. The Moishe House residents host five to six programs per month, each of which fall into categories laid out by the Moishe House organization at their determination: Jewish culture and holidays, Jewish learning, repair the world and social.
“We typically get anywhere from 10 to 30 people at a program. Our social programs do very well, ranging from pumpkin carving to happy hours. Our Shabbat dinners also get many individuals looking for an inclusive place to celebrate the Sabbath,” Freyman said.
Moishe House also regularly partners for events with other local leaders and organizations, such as the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and Jewish Family Services, to increase involvement and promote existing programs for young adults. A recent event that included all three organizations was a Young Adult Mitzvah House Build. This collaboration between Habitat for Humanity and the Kansas City Jewish community let Jewish young adults contribute to their community by helping build a house for a family that otherwise couldn’t afford one.
Another joint event between Moishe House and Jewish Federation’s Business and Professional Division for young adults occurred at the Up-Down Bar and Arcade in downtown Kansas City, bringing out over 100 Jewish 20-somethings for an evening of games, beverages and good company.
Often events are simply hosted at the house, with catered Shabbat dinners or homemade brunches provided by the three Moishe House residents and those willing to lend a hand. There is always a homey, casual atmosphere to be found inside, something the three residents believe contributes to their success with the local community.
“Generally speaking, we found people our age aren’t necessarily ready to be formally involved with any organization. That’s a huge motivation for us to have informal events that are focused on having fun,” Pollack said.
“Last year was more driven toward the program being brand new to the area, and now I think it’s more successful in terms of people wanting to come back and really grow relationships that build the community,” she continued.
KU Hillel Executive Director Jay Lewis also believes in its success and its potential for the future. Lewis had a major hand in the establishment of Moishe House KC after taking a group of KU Hillel students to the Moishe House in Sofia, Bulgaria, on a European leadership trip in January of 2014. For him, seeing the local house grow and flourish both contributes to Kansas City’s pull for Jewish young adults, and provides an entity to connect KU Hillel alums to the immediate Jewish community.
“It’s a different world than a few years ago, when people felt they had to go to Chicago or somewhere else, that you don’t have to leave Kansas City to have a great life as a Jewish 20-something,” he said.
Moishe House is still relatively new, so Pollack, Freyman and Willens are looking for the program to continue to grow in popularity and eventually grow a new group of young leaders.
“I think Moishe House has a ton of potential and is in the process of building an awesome community. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is the Kansas City community. It takes time, effort and participation,” said Willens.
“We’re looking to grow our programs with more community partnerships and more participants. We want to keep giving the gift of Moishe House to Kansas City!” Freyman added.
Upcoming events include Moishe House KC’s partnership with Jewish Federation for the annual Bagel Bash, hosted this year at Westport Ale House on Dec. 24. (See box for details.) The event is known for its great turnout and lively atmosphere as Jewish young adults enjoy the designated space to socialize on an otherwise quiet holiday’s eve. Moishe House also collaborated with K.C. Chabad on a Hanukkah celebration.
The three current residents also look forward to events focused on Jewish learning, and are enthusiastic about the open-mindedness and diversity Moishe House brings to young adults in the Kansas City area.
“Moishe House is looking to bring new and old Jewish tradition to life in our area. This includes planning meaningful and creative events that people want to come to,” Willens said.
One such event includes a recent “Coexist Shabbat” thrown at the house on Nov. 20. The event description broadcasted to all 155 members of the group Facebook page read:
“Moishe House is a Jewish organization, but that doesn’t mean it’s exclusive! Please bring a non-Jewish friend to this month’s Shabbat. The goal of Coexist Shabbat is to let others experience our culture while we learn about theirs!”
The inclusivity expressed to people of all religions truly emphasizes the good intent and outreach the women at Moishe House KC wish to contribute to the community.
“Anyone is welcome to attend programming. Moishe House can be whatever the community wants it to be; we are flexible, optimistic and very open-minded to new and unique programming. We are always up for suggestions and feedback, and welcome anyone who wants a leadership role.” Willens said.
The three women are looking forward to the idea of Moishe House KC sticking around for years to come.
“I’m really excited to see people make what they want out of Moishe House. Elizabeth and Sarah came in, and they brought their creative bones and their new networks, and I thought that was a really great start, but I’m excited to see more people come in and take it in their own direction and really sustain the excited participants,” Pollack said.
To learn more about Moishe House KC, visit moishehouse.org/houses/kansas-city or facebook.com/MHofKC. To get involved with programming email .
Bagel Bash 2015
Bagel Bash is an annual event held by Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City’s young adult volunteers. Now in its 16th year, Bagel Bash brings young Jewish adults together for the biggest holiday bash in town, all for a good cause. Bagel Bash is for adults in their 20s, 30s and 40s. One must be 21 or older to attend.
It begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, at Westport Ale House, 4128 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111. Cost is $25 by Dec. 24; $35 at the door with $5 of every cover charge donated to The Jewish Federation to help fight hunger in Kansas City. To RSVP visit jewishkansascity.org. For more information call Alyssa Dinberg at 913-327-8019.
Bagel Bash is sponsored by Moishe House and is held in cooperation with: Chabad on the Plaza, Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Ohev Sholom, J-LEAD: A Program of the Jewish Community Foundation, Jewish Family Services, Kehilath Israel Synagogue, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah and University of Kansas Hillel.