A group of 28 young Jewish adults from San Diego just returned from three days at TribeFest in New Orleans. TribeFest was an entertaining, interactive and educational celebration that drew 1,300 young Jewish adults from across North America.
TribeFest began with Purim celebrations, including a traditional megillah reading and festive party. The following day, our Next Gen professionals and some of local lay leaders took part in a half-day leadership session to advance their skills. The main TribeFest program launched with an amazing session featuring actor Joshua Malina and writer/producer David Weiss. Following were stimulating sessions that focused on a variety of interest areas. The evening closed with more Purim celebrations and an event at a historic steamboat on the Mississippi River.
Early the next morning, participants took part in a variety of service projects throughout New Orleans including park restorations, planting of trees and visiting elderly. It was an amazing opportunity for people to connect with the city. That afternoon, another amazing main session featured IKAR’s Rabbi Sharon Brous and Broadway actor Ben Platt. The group also learned about Gaucher disease that affects Jews and the amazing medical advances that have taken place to help those with the disease. That evening nearly 100 participants throughout Southern California gathered together for an opportunity to network.
On the last day, participants gathered once again to hear LIVESTRONG’s CEO Doug Ulman and the winner of Survivor Africa Ethan Zohn—who inspired listeners to take what they learned at TribeFest home, and do something for the community.
The San Diego participants will be gathering together for a debrief to see how we can put ideas into action. In all, through presentations by dynamic leaders, entertainment, music, art, food, religion and other aspects of Jewish life, TribeFest offered attendees many ways to connect to their own Judaism and how they see themselves as part of the community.
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