(Courtesy of MJE) This Shabbat, a group of young professionals from the Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) will leave the hustle and bustle of New York City to experience a “Shabbat in the Suburbs.” Founded by Rabbi Mark N. Wildes in 1998, MJE is a warm and open community where millennials with limited Jewish backgrounds can explore Jewish life and meet new people. MJE runs a wide range of inclusive, engaging and innovative programs for thousands of young Jewish professionals, including shabbat dinners, holiday events, winter and spring retreats, classes, beginner services, trips to Israel, a one on one learning program and much more. Founder and director, Rabbi Mark Wildes has spent the last 20 years reconnecting young men and women to the teachings of the Torah and the Jewish sages. Rabbi Wildes believes that these works provide timeless wisdom for the very issues that young people, and truly all of us, struggle within our contemporary society. More of his teaching can be found in his book, “Beyond the Instant: Jewish Wisdom for Lasting Happiness in a Fast Pace Social Media World.”
There will be a chance to hear Rabbi Wildes in person this upcoming shabbat in our own Bergenfield/ Teaneck community. Rabbi Mark and Jill Wildes, Rabbi Pinny and Marie Rosenthal and Chani and Alan Perlman will bring their students, many who are in the MJE fellowship program to the Teaneck community for a shabbat experience outside of NYC. The MJE Fellowship program, now in its eleventh year with 150 graduates to date is a select cadre of MJE participants with little or no prior Jewish education who have expressed a desire to move their Jewish learning to the next level. The program seeks to educate and helps to produce knowledgeable and passionate leaders for the future. This year’s class includes 18 students who meet each week to engage in three hours of learning. Although the fellows are leaving the noisy city for a “relaxing” shabbat in the suburbs, there will be a series of programs that will keep them occupied and engage them in the greater Jewish community of Teaneck and Bergenfield. Friday night MJE will be joining Congregation Keter Torah for davening and having a group dinner at a local host family. On Shabbat morning, Rabbi Wildes will give the sermon entitled, Who will Carry the Torch? Confronting Assimilation and Intermarriage at Congregation Beth Abraham. For shabbat lunch, visitors will join their host families and will attend sessions and classes with Rabbi Neuburger and Rabbi Baum. We will have another opportunity to hear from Rabbi Wildes at Congregation Keter Torah at 6:45 p.m. He will speak on the topic Positive and Treacherous Trends in American Judaism and as shabbat comes to an end, participants will take part in a beautiful third meal and musical Havdala. With all of this exciting programming, it will certainly be a shabbat to remember. MJE thanks Congregations Keter Torah, Beth Abraham and all our gracious hosts for their partnership. For more information about this shabbaton or MJE in general, contact [email protected].
