‘Taste of Memphis’ Shabbaton Scheduled for May 20–22
Faced with skyrocketing costs of housing and education, an increasing number of young Orthodox families are choosing to move to the vibrant, affordable and friendly community of Memphis, Tennessee. Specifically, 15 Orthodox families relocated to Memphis in the last year, moving from cities including Rochester, Boston, Nashville, New York and Seattle. The Memphis Orthodox community announced a year ago a goal of bringing 100 new families to the Memphis Orthodox community.
One of these new families is Chana Dina and Yoel Goldblatt from Teaneck. They moved to Memphis with their four children, ages 7 to 15. Yoel is a partner at Deloitte and Touche and Chana Dina is an accountant. They have both been overwhelmed by the outpouring of hospitality since their arrival. As Chana Dina said, “The Memphis Jewish community has gone out of its way to ensure that we’re settled and comfortable. We’re thrilled to have found a community this warm and welcoming!”
The Memphis Jewish community will be showcasing itself at a “Taste of Jewish Memphis” Shabbaton over the weekend of May 21. Visitors will enjoy a fantastic weekend featuring the finest in Southern home hospitality. They will have multiple opportunities to interact with engaging families and speak with employment and real estate experts. On Friday, visitors can tour the newly renovated Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South (MHA/FYOS; age 3 through 12th grade), Bornblum Jewish Community School (Grades K–8) and the fabulous JCC, and visit the city’s historic sights.
Memphis is well known as a tourist attraction—600,000 people come yearly to visit Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. Sun Studio, the Gibson Guitar Factory, Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum are popular destinations as well. It is not as well known, however, that Memphis boasts an extremely vibrant Jewish community, which includes seven synagogues (four of them are Orthodox), three preschools, an eruv, mikvahs and plenty of kosher food.
Additionally, Memphians enjoy a relaxed, stress-free lifestyle. Drs. Ari and Lindi VanderWalde moved to Memphis three years ago from Los Angeles. They stated that “it is the rare city where one can experience both small-town perks and an exceptional Jewish community. The pace of life is slow and very family friendly. There is an abundance of outdoor space and the kids are able to play safely. Protecting family time is a cultural value in the city; the workday ends comparatively early for even the busiest professionals. People are friendly, accommodating and genuinely care about each other. And traffic is now a thing of the past!”
To encourage Jewish families to explore life in Memphis, the Jewish community is offering a generous incentive package. It includes a $250 subsidy towards a family’s flights to visit for a weekend. New Memphians will also receive a free year of membership at any of the four Orthodox synagogues and three months of free membership at the JCC. Students enrolling at the MHA/FYOS will also receive 50 percent off tuition for the 2016–17 academic year and 25 percent off for the 2017–18 academic year. Lastly, Jewish families who move to Memphis will receive $500 towards relocation expenses.
Memphis is the ideal destination for a family looking for a fantastic quality of life with all of the Orthodox amenities. The community hopes that you will visit on the weekend of May 21 and discover this gem for yourself!
Please visit www.100newfamilies.com or contact us at [email protected] or 901-219-9794 for more information.
