In Moishe House, young professionals live their faith
If not for the yarmulkes, prayers and blessings, the gathering in the Bexley apartment of three 20-somethings might have been any other party.
Instead, it was a dinner party of local young Jewish professionals in a space maintained for that purpose.
The prayer space is called Moishe House and the one in Bexley is one of more than 90 worldwide. Three young professionals live in the apartment and host events for their Jewish peers, regardless of how much they practice their religion or adhere to traditions.
“It’s low-key; there’s no pressure,” said Allegra Lewison, originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Lewison lives in the apartment with Michal Adar, 25, and Roni Hyam, 28. They moved in back in August and they each have different Jewish backgrounds and experiences.
Lewison attended Ohio State University, where she was a part of the Jewish community and made friends — friends who mostly moved away after their graduation in May.
She decided to be a part of Moishe House to find other Jews her age after hearing about a group who did it last year. The last group was ready to move on, so she talked to Adar, whom she knew from college at Ohio State, and Hyam, who was involved in a previous Moishe House in Columbus, and the three decided to do it together.
Lewison, who works in the Mount Carmel emergency department, isn’t the only Jewish young professional who has felt like she didn’t For a list of religious events in central Ohio, visit Gatherings at
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felt like she didn’t have a community with which to practice Judaism. In fact, the existence of the 10-year-old organization, founded in California, seems to hint at a bigger cultural issue.
“There’s a big gap between college and family life that’s hard to reach,” she said.
Larry Gast, vice president of development with Moishe House, said that gap is why the organization was created, and why it’s so important.
“When you get to this post-college, pre-family part of life, it’s a big question mark. It’s been a question mark in Jewish life for a longtime,” he said.
The Columbus Jewish community does offer other social events and groups for teens, and also works with Moishe House. There are plans to bring a few young adult groups together for an event, said Rabbi Ari Neuman of Torat Emet congregation in Bexley. The way he sees it, Moishe House complements what the local synagogues and Jewish organizations offer.
“There are plenty of people who want to connect to their Jewish roots to some extent,” Neuman said. “If Moishe House, High Street, Atid or Shabbat Connect helps them find a connection in the Jewish community, I think that’s a win for Judaism at large,” he added, referring to other groups for young Jews.
What sets Moishe House apart from other Jewish activities for the age group is there’s no “boss figure,” Lewison said, and, it’s “homier.”
“When you’re transient, when you’re in your 20s, you may live in a place for two years and you’re just trying to make friends,” Gast said. “You’re looking for something that fits your life.”
That seems to be what appeals to the people who are involved in Moishe House, whether they live there or just attend the events.
Each member of the house is planning to stay for a year — the program allows up to three — and they’ve already had visitors asking if they can move in at some point, too.
“It’s so exciting to see people so interested,” said Adar, born in Israel and currently employed at DSW’s corporate offices.
In exchange for hosting events, the Moishe House residents get a housing stipend that covers 50 percent of their rent and a reimbursement for food for the events. The goal for each house is that the community, usually a local benefactor or organization, will support 75 percent of the cost of the house, Gast said.
No matter what other events they host, they always hold a monthly welcome dinner on a Friday night. This month, the dinner was a potluck, the first they’ve tried, and about 15 people attended. At past dinners, they’ve had more than 50 people squeeze into their small apartment.
Hyam, who was born in India, moved to the United States four years ago to attend college at the University of Massachusetts. He’s now a software engineer at DSW’s headquarters.
He learned about Moishe House five years ago in India, when he heard the founder speak at a conference. Ever since, he’s wanted to live in a Moishe House. When he came to Columbus, it finally worked out.
“It’s been life-changing,” he said of the experience. “You realize the importance of your role as a Moishe member, the experience you create.”
The experience and the community have a deeper significance for Hyam, who grew up Jewish in a community with only 200 other Jews. He remembers traveling eight hours round trip on the occasional Saturday just to meet Jewish children his age.
“I never had all this I’m living right now,” he said. “I feel like I’m making up lost time.”