In honor of the 20th anniversary of the passing of Ruth Wildes, late wife of Wildes & Weinberg Senior Partner Leon Wildes, and mother of former Englewood mayor and managing partner Michael Wildes, the community was invited to hear words of inspiration from MK Michael Oren. The event was held on November 14 at the Ramaz School and was sponsored by Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE), a non-profit organization founded by Rabbi Mark N. Wildes in 1998. Rabbi Wildes is Leon Wildes’ son and Michael Wildes’ brother.

MK Michael Oren is a current member of the Israeli Knesset, a Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States, a historian and a best-selling author of “Ally” and “Six Days of War.” More than 450 people attended the sold-out event and heard words of wisdom from MK Oren, who also discussed the status of U.S. and Israeli relations: a past, present and future outlook of the bond between the two countries.

MJE, the organization that sponsored the event, is a cutting-edge program for young Jewish professionals in their 20s and 30s, with little or no background in Judaism, who are interested in connecting more to each other, to their community and to Judaism. MJE is a place where young men and women can explore Jewish life and meet new people in a wide range of inclusive, engaging and innovative programs for thousands of young Jewish professionals, including parties, an annual ski trip, classes, beginner prayer services, marching in the Israel Day Parade, Friday night dinners and much, much more. MJE was founded in memory of Ruth B. Wildes z”l. For more information about MJE, go to http://www.jewishexperience.org.

Each year, MJE is honored to host another major personality in the Jewish world. Previous speakers have included Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Dr. Norman Lamm, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Rabbi Dr. Meir Y. Soloveichik, Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Professor Alan Dershowitz, among many other notables.