As co-chairs of Genesis Edmonton, we work to build experiences and connections for young Jewish adults (ages 25-40) in Edmonton. Our goals for Genesis are to offer a welcoming space to Jewish young adults to connect and engage with each other, and to support the next generation of community leaders. We are pleased to report our committee has expanded to two co-chairs and two members.
Genesis is open to any young adult interested in Jewish life and who would like to be part of Edmonton's Jewish community of tomorrow. With the development of a new community centre, we strengthen our commitment to developing a thriving community for Edmonton’s next generation of young Jewish leaders.
We would like to take a moment to reflect on last year's Genesis events and programs. Some key highlights from 2023 include: attending the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival, dinner with Jewish Agency for Israel ambassadors, Poutine Palooza at the 124th Street Night Market, summer BBQ in the park, and coming together to celebrate Chanukah. These gatherings brought together many new faces and were filled with joy, laughter, and a genuine sense of belonging.
We look forward to new events and programming planned for 2024 and are particularly excited to share details of a new program made available to our members: 2024 will bring the introduction of a brand new Young Leadership Program, launching next month for Jewish young adults. The program will culminate in a professional networking event, taking place in May (stay tuned for details).
As we plan Genesis programming for 2024, there are exciting opportunities for members to bring their own ideas to life (we would love to hear them!). In particular, we would like to highlight the Jewish Federations microgrant program, which supplies microgrants for programs like Shabbat dinners, lunch and learns, or a Jewish-themed workout class. We encourage anyone interested to apply.
Please feel free to connect with us or Jacqueline Medalye at the Federation to learn more about our social activities and opportunities to participate in leadership programs, networking, advocacy, and volunteerism.
Wishing you and your loved ones all the best in 2024.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rayna Lew and Davina Eisenstat