New Tribe Reaches Out to Young Adults
Atlanta Jewish Times Editor Michael Jacobs is on his second stint leading the AJT's editorial operations. He previously served as managing editor from 2005 to 2008.
By Michael Jacobs / mjacobs@atljewishtimes.com
A conversation at a Kehilla Lag B’Omer event has led to the creation of Atlanta’s latest organization by and for young adults, Tribe Atlanta.
Zack Feldberg said he and Kehilla Rabbi Karmi David Ingber talked about what was missing among local Jewish organizations, as well as the need of the Sandy Springs congregation to renew its outreach to young adults.
Feldberg, 26, and Erica Pomerance, also 26 but not a Kehilla member, formed a board with some other friends and brainstormed on the needs of 21- to 39-year-olds.
“Other young-adult groups don’t necessarily teach you anything about Judaism. They’re more social,” Pomerance said. And some of those social events are huge and sell out in days, making it tough for people who aren’t already connected with the Jewish community.
Both Feldberg and Pomerance are involved in other young-adult groups, so the goal isn’t to compete. Instead, Tribe Atlanta is trying to fill a niche for learning and socializing together in a casual, inviting setting.
“Tribe Atlanta recognizes that young adults are motivated in different ways and so we strive to create a plethora of entry points for young adults to experience the beauty of being Jewish,” the group’s description says.
The goal, Feldberg and Pomerance said, is to hold an event once a month and do classes twice a month. The classes planned include the basics of Judaism, Kabbalah, love and Judaism, and life after death. Rabbi Ingber will do most of the teaching.
As for the social events, they’ll usually be more than just getting together to drink, such as a paintball outing or a kayaking trip that was rained out in August.
That said, the kickoff event is a pre-Rosh Hashanah party Thursday, Sept. 10, at Lost Dog Tavern that Feldberg acknowledged will largely be drinking and socializing. The difference, Rabbi Ingber said, is that Tribe will facilitate the meeting of new people.
That’s something the group also did at its first Shabbat dinner Friday night, Aug. 28, at the Kehilla. Seating arrangements were made by drawing from a hat.
Tribe Atlanta is open to all and doesn’t require membership dues. The best way to get involved is to join the open Facebook group (or search for Tribe Atlanta on Facebook). Nearly 600 people have joined in less than two months.
Tribe doesn’t have a membership goal, but it wants to create a buzz. Feldberg said, “I want people to hear Tribe Atlanta is doing something next weekend and be excited about it.”
Who: Tribe Atlanta
What: The PRoHaPpening: Pre-Rosh Hashanah Party
Where: Lost Dog Tavern, 3182 Roswell Road, Buckhead
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10
Admission: $5 in advance or $10 at the door; thekehillaorg.shulcloud.com/tribeatlanta
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