#tribecat

[creamflame]

Bird That Rides the Wind

[joannatribefest-blog]

My FINAL piece of social media for why I want to go to #TribeFest 2014: All my favorite things about being Jewish.

In ONE word each, my coworkers helped me celebrate what I love about being surrounded by Jewish themes and people. Please help send me to TribeFest in March for all these reasons (even "lead" and "peep" at the end. Leading and peeping are very important Jewish things).

[joannatribefest-blog]

Last night, I went to 6th & i Historic Synagogue for a presentation/discussion called "Generation Why?" At this event, a panel of Jews discussed the Pew Research Center's recent Jewish American survey, examining survey findings related to young Jews, how they identity with being Jewish, and then discussing how we can engage them moving forward. Several other key topics, such as intermarriage, Jewish values, and connection to Israel were also discussed.

This was extremely exciting for me for three very notable reasons:

I work for the Pew Research Center. I LOVE my job and everything the Center stands for.

I am extremely involved with the Jewish community here in Washington, D.C., through the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and 6th & i.

I am a young Jew.

First of all, it was EXTREMELY exciting to experience my two worlds (career and Jewish life) colliding in real time. I work with the man on the right and attend Shabbat services led by the woman on the left. Second of all, we were discussing one of my favorite topics: Jewish milennials.

Young Jews are confused. I know, because I am one. One of the things the panel of Jewish experts discussed was a shift in America toward the "None" religion -- which basically means the rejection of religion entirely. I'd argue that this is a popular trend among milennials. Personally, once I started maturing, I began to realize that I was only Jewish because my parents were, and that I actually knew nothing about religion. This led to my complete and total rejection of it.

Sparing you the details of one hell of a personal transformation directly following that time in my life, what happened next was realizing that instead of rejecting the idea, I should explore it. That brings me to the last year of my life up to now.

Last year, I started exploring life in DC as a young Jew, and discovered that it's absolutely INCREDIBLE. It started with my DC community birthright trip, which led to my involvement in the DC Jewish community at Federation and 6th&i events, my taking on various leadership roles within the community through NEXT DC (birthright alumni community program) and Reverse Mifgash (helping to bring birthright Israelies to DC for a reverse experience), and my participation in a birthright alumni leadership mission to Israel through the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Over the last year I have learned that being Jewish isn't just about religion, or God, or rules; it's about THIS. It's about going to a panel discussion about survey research and LEARNING. It's about CONNECTING with my Jewish peers in my community. It's about being a part of REBUILDING a group of people that almost got entirely wiped out. It's about EXPLORING. It's about LAUGHING. It's about TIKKUN OLAM. And MITZVAH. And LEADING AN ETHICAL LIFE. And TALKING and LOVING and GROWING and EATING and HELPING and yes - maybe even going to High Holiday services and CHOOSING to fast on Yom Kippur.

The point is -- being Jewish has made me a better person. And to me, that's what being Jewish is all about. I'm lucky to live in Washington, D.C., where the community (Federation, synagogues, Jewish groups) have made it easy for me to discover just how important and FUN this is.

And this, my friends, is why I want to go to #TribeFest. I want to be surrounded by the very people who are helping me to become a better person, and in turn making the world a better place. Because that's what being Jewish is ultimately all about -- the PEOPLE.

[joannatribefest-blog]

#TribeCat is picking out his yarmulkes for #TribeFest 2014.

[joannatribefest-blog]

TribeFest 2014: Mitzvot, friends, and #TribeCat.

In this short video, I explain, with the help of #TribeCat, the Jewish value of mitzvah to my friend Megan. Megan was having a bad day, but when she helped a disabled person at the metro, her day was put into perspective and her mood was lifted. I helped her realize she did a mitzvah, and that mitzvot help everyone — you, others, and the world in general.