(Courtesy of MJE) Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) has announced its 25th annual dinner, a celebration of two-and-a-half decades of inspiring Jewish life, to be held Tuesday, April 2 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage—A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
MJE was founded in 1998 by Rabbi Mark Wildes to engage unaffiliated and less affiliated Jewish in their 20s and 30s and reconnect them to their Jewish heritage and to Israel. Twenty-five years later MJE’s mission continues to succeed as participants have met and married (387 to be exact), made aliyah, reconnected and found their second family at MJE. MJE offers basic Judaism classes, one on one learning, Shabbat dinners, weekend retreats and Israel heritage trips. This year, as a part of its ongoing support, MJE has announced an upcoming volunteer trip to Israel as it stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in our homeland.
Thousands of young Jewish men and women have joined MJE for programs, Torah classes and Shabbat services as the organization has continued to cultivate the soul and spirit of the community during these challenging times. MJE thanks its devoted supporters, talented and dedicated staff, and of course, the Almighty for blessing it with the ability to make such a huge difference in the lives of so many people.
MJE dedicates this year’s Annual Dinner to the heroic soldiers of the IDF and the safe return of the hostages. The dinner will honor Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman for the Rabbinic Leadership Award; Moshe and Dahlia Bellows for the Tamid Distinguished Alumni Award and Bellows family dedication of the MJE Senior Fellowship in memory of Shael Bellows, z”l; special commemoration of Leon Wildes, z”l and launch of the Leon Wildes Legacy Scholarship Fund; Chani Perlman for the MJE Torah Educator Award; and Adam Elkaim for Student of the Year.
Two new and exciting announcements will be shared at the April 2 Dinner: First, the launch of MJE in Tel Aviv. Rabbi Kevin and Alllsion Wolf, who served MJE for the last four years in New York City, are making aliyah and moving to Tel Aviv to work with former MJE East Side Director Rabbi Jonathan Feldman on this important endeavor. Second, MJE will be establishing an endowment to ensure that the organization will continue to thrive for many more years to come. A number of MJE stakeholders have already made generous gifts and pledges. Anyone interested in learning more about MJE in Tel Aviv and the endowment are encouraged to speak with Rabbi Wildes: 917.841.8870.
Manhattan Jewish Experience’s 25th Annual Dinner, a celebration of two-and-a-half decades of Jewish life and connection, Tuesday April 2 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage.
Anyone wishing to participate, inquire about the event, or make a donation to MJE should visit the Annual Dinner Website at https://www.wizevents.com/mjedinner2024/?id=8578 or contact Rabbi Ezra Cohen at [email protected].
