YAD Gets Rad

On Wednesday, October 22, the Young Adult Division (YAD) of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County hosted a “Way Back Wednesday” a 90’s themed happy hour. The event was held in Del Mar at En Fuego Cantina - with proceeds benefiting breast cancer research, in honor of breast cancer awareness month. The DJ Mada was spinning 90’s music all night, slap bracelets were slapped, and food and drinks were enjoyed by more than 90 young adults in attendance.

The next YAD event, Slimed: An oral history of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age , co-sponsored by CJC In The Mix, will be on Saturday, November 15th at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center.

Federation’s YAD brings together young adults to create strong Jewish community connections, while raising funds to help Jews all over the world. To learn more about upcoming events and to learn how to get involved visit Nextgensandiego.org or contact Carly Ezell, NextGen Senior Manager.

For more great pictures of the event -- check out our Facebook album. 

YAD Hosts Brunch Welcoming Over 50 New Faces

On Sunday, September 7 Young Adult Division (YAD) of the Jewish Federation of San Diego County kicked off the new year strong with a well-attended Sunday Newcomer’s Brunch. YAD hosts seasonal brunches in an effort to engage individuals who are new to the San Diego area and those seeking to get more involved in Jewish community. More than fifty young adults showed up to eat bagels and lox, schmooze, and participate in ice breaker games to get to know fellow Jewish community members. The staff gave a short introduction about the history of YAD, a branch of NextGen San Diego, an initiative aimed to ensure that San Diego will be a vibrant, connected and caring Jewish community for generations to come, as well as an explanation of new goals and a description of upcoming events.

In addition to explaining an exclusive San Diego Birthright trip, YAD staff urged newcomers to sign up for the free 10-day trip to Israel, as registration begins this week. The staff warmly welcomed all attendees and encouraged individuals to get involved in any of the several social, professional and volunteer efforts of YAD. Overall, there was an emphasis on uniting, building and creating a strong community of young adults regardless of Jewish affiliation. In the spirit of bringing together young Jewish adults, all newcomers were invited to attend regular Shabbat dinners and a YAD Havdallah Bonfire on Saturday, September 13th at Shelter Island. If you’re seeking to get involved, or want more information please visit www.Nextgensandiego.org or contact Carly Ezell, Senior NextGen Manager, or by phone at (858) 737-7128.

Comedy, Cocktails and Connections | June 24

Federation's Young Adult Division Presents:
Comedy Cocktails and Connections
Jewish Dating for San Diegans in their 20s, 30s and 40s

YAD Bowls for Israel

On February 6th Federation's Young Adult Division teamed up with the Israel and Overseas Center to welcome four extraordinary teens from Sha'ar HaNegev to San Diego. The teens are all from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, which is located one mile from the Gaza Border. They face the same struggles and challenges that teens in America face but with the additional stress from attacks from Gaza and the mass exodus of families from their Kibbutz.

The teens of kibbutz Nahal Oz made a film about their struggles and it was featured in the San Diego Jewish Film Festival. YAD got a sneak preview of the film at the event. After the film, YAD took to the bowling lanes to strike down pins to raise funds to send to Israel. Each lane was sponsored with a donor pledging 15 cents a pin for every pin knocked down on their lane. Individuals also had the opportunity to pledge for every pin they knocked down. There was over $1,100 raised for the teens to use in their Youth Program on the kibbutz.

Check out great pictures of the event, here.

If you are looking for fun ways to make a difference, don't miss the Superhero 5k on April 6th! Proceeds will benefit the One Happy Camper scholarship fund.

YAD Bowls for Israel

YAD Hosts Business Networking

Last Tuesday, Federation's Young Adult Division (YAD) held a business networking event at the San Diego History Center, convening more than 80 young adult professionals for beer tastings, business card trading and networking.  Every year, YAD hosts a multitude of events to engage young Jews across the county including networking opportunities, Shabbat services and volunteer events.

The event was a huge success as participants enjoyed learning on about the history of craft beer and breweries in San Diego while making connections, building relationships and meeting new friends.

If you would like to get involved or have any questions email carlye@jewishfederationsandiego.org.

For more great pictures of the event, check out our Facebook album here.

Join San Diego for TribeFest 2014 in New Orleans!

Join your fellow San Diegans at TribeFest 2014, the largest gathering of Jewish young adults in the country – March 16-18 in New Orleans!

Subsidies are available! Go to YADSanDiego.org for more!

YAD Hosts Fabulous Place2Be

The Federation's Young Adult Division hosted its annual Place2Be at the House of Blues this Christmas Eve. This year’s Place2Be brought Jews together to eat delicious kosher food, drink, mingle and dance the night away. More than 350 Jews partied in style on Tuesday night with family and friends. Joseph Berman, event attendee reports “It was great to have a place to go on Christmas Eve, when otherwise I would have been sitting at home, lonely on my couch.”

The soiree featured a House of Blues DJ, an Israeli themed candy bar, a mardi gras themed photo booth and more! Party-goer Sarah Hoffman said, “There was no place I’d rather be than the Place2Be!”

Place2BE is part of Federation's efforts to build a vibrant Jewish community for young adults in San Diego. This year the party also promoted two Federation initiatives, Tribefest and Birthright. Check out pictures from the event here and here. If you want more information about these great YAD events, Tribefest or Birthright, please contact Carlye@jewishfederationsandiego.org.

YAD to Host Place2BE at the House of Blues!

YAD Brings Out Heroes to Run for Boston

We had a great time meeting all the super heroes in San Diego Sunday June 9th, at the Super Hero 5k

YAD holds in annual fundraiser every spring to help raise fund for the important work that Federation does locally, nationally, and around the globe. For the past 5 years YAD participants have danced the night away at the annual Tzedakah Ball. With the huge success at Men's Event and Option, event chairs Marie Maya and Carly Simms wanted to think outside the box and do something completely different this year.

The 5k and BBQ drew out a croud of nearly 250 people and raised over $8,000. There was huge support from the community with donations from Karl Strauss, Disneyland, Monster, MOGL, Uber, and tons of museums and landmarks in San Diego. And sponsorship by Channel 6. YAD is excited to see this event grow and help more causes in need!
at Liberty Station Park. The Super Hero 5k run was put together by YAD (Young Adult Division), a part of the Jewish Federation of San Diego. The event proceeds went to help aid the victims of the Boston marathon bombing though our partners in Boston Combined Jewish Philanthropies and OneFund Boston. The event aimed to recognize the everyday heros that often go unnoticed. There were so many families and supportive people who made this event come to life.

See more great pictures here and here.

San Diego Jewish Film Festival Opening Weekend Success

Young Jewish professionals gathered on Sunday afternoon for the annual FlixMix event, a social mixer held prior to the Film Festival screening of Dorfman, a film featuring actors Sarah Rue and Elliot Gould. This year’s FlixMix was hosted by CJC In the Mix and co-sponsored by YAD and JDC Entwine.

Shelley Neiman and Stacy Parselany, co-chairs of the Center for Jewish Culture’s (CJC) “In the Mix” program for Jews in their 20s, 30s, and 40s were excited to welcome so many new faces. “This is our fourth In the Mix: FlixMix, and every year we get bigger and have more film choic
es,” said Neiman. “Now [In the Mix] has a staff person, a full budget, and a full calendar of events, but the Film Festival is our anchor and a big draw.”

CJC In the Mix hosts cultural events, including an event at the Book Fair and a series called Taboo Talks, which has featured topics including Jews with tattoos. The next Taboo Talk is on Jews and pornography, looking at Jews who participate in the adult entertainment industry. The risqué topic may be too hot to handle for some, but it’s the perfect type of conversation to attract young Jews who may not typically attend Jewish sponsored events. Neiman expressed that every single event has a cultural angle of some sort, there are no parties without content. She event noted that In the Mix attracts all types, including couples and non-Jews. “It’s really important that people can bring their friends and everyone can feel comfortable,” Neiman said. Their very next event is Passover Secrets from the Shiksa in the Kitchen, featuring the blogger and Jew-by-choice Tori Avey.

People at the party were having a good time, noshing on vegetarian sandwiches and enjoying wine and beer. The candy bar was a stroke of brilliance, where people could fill bags with candy to enjoy during the film.

Carly Ezell and Margalit Rosenthal

“We’re thrilled to partner again with our long-standing friends and community partners the JCC and CJC,” commented Carly Ezell, the Federation’s YAD Program Manager. “It’s wonderful to see so many young adults interested in Jewish culture.” 

A new community partner this year was JDC Entwine, the new young adults division of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Jonathon Goldstone, the West Coast Entwine programmer, emphasized how important it was to JDC in San Diego to partner on this event. “As Entwine, not only are we working to connect young adults to a global Jewish world, but also to their local Jewish community. It’s great to see them come out and bridge the generational divide by attending the Film Festival,” said Goldstone. “As recipients of Leichtag Foundation grants, it is great to be a part of other Leichtag endeavors [like the Film Festival.] The Foundation is truly working to establish San Diego as a place to be for young Jews.”

YAD San Diegans with Gary Hellerstein. one of the Producers of "Dorfman",

Ilene Tatro, CJC Program Manager, is responsible for In the Mix, among other CJC programs. She explained that the In the Mix committee screened multiple potential films before voting on Dorfman, which will have a wider release later in the year under the title Dorfman in Love. “This is the only time the film is playing during the Festival,” she noted, “we’re responsible for this film having a screening here in San Diego, and it is the best selling film in the whole Festival.” Indeed, Dorfman, which screened in three separate theaters at the Clairemont Reading, was sold out earlier in the week.

Yashar Koach to CJC In the Mix, YAD, and JDC Entwine on a fantastic community partnership and spectacular showing at the San Diego Film Festival!

YAD Goes Urbn

Coordinators Miki Lamm, Joel Blumenfeld, Dina Itelson

Over 60 Jewish young professionals gathered on Thursday, February 7 for the first YAD Happy Hour of 2013. Men and women in their 20s and 30s milled around URBN Coal Fired Pizza in North Park to enjoy craft beer, artisan pizzas, and specialty cocktails while they chatted with old friends and newcomers to the area.

YAD Happy Hour Cluster coordinators Joel Blumenfeld, Dina Itelson, and Miki Lamm organized the event, just the first of a series of happy hours in 2013 that will bring San Diego’s Jewish young professionals together to mix, mingle, and learn about future events with Federation’s YAD (Young Adult Division). “We get together as young Jewish professionals once a month to connect, meet new people, and be involved in the community,” said Dina, one of the coordinators.

Miki Lamm, another coordinator, added that the happy hours “give us the opportunity to network with other young adults, and for them to network with each other.” Thursday’s event marked the one year and one month anniversary of the group. 

The happy hour came at a good time of year, attracting many newcomers to San Diego. Ashley Carber, who recently moved back to San Diego from Los Angeles, said that “after moving back to San Diego after 10 years living elsewhere, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with the Jewish community.” 

The event was also the perfect time to re-entice people who had maybe only been to one or two previous YAD events. “It's my second event,” commented Dominic Sandrik, “it's a great time here at YAD, a lot great people.”

As attendees got to know each other, YAD Program Manager Carly Ezell walked around greeting everyone and promoting future events like a Newcomers’ Brunch and an upcoming Purim Party. The happy hour was also the perfect opportunity to welcome the newest member of the YAD team, Alex Leverant, who just started work this week as the YAD Program Associate. “I'm so excited to be part of the YAD family,” said Alex.

All Jewish young professional who are new (or returning) to San Diego are invited to attend the Newcomers’ Brunch on February 24, please contact Carly Ezell for details. The entire YAD community and their friends are invited to a Totally 80’s Purim Party on March 2.

The Young Adult Division organizes themed, peer-run clusters, such as dining out, book clubs, or outdoor activities. For more information, visit yadsandiego.org or contact Carly Ezell at (619) 737-7128 or carlye@jewishfederationsandiego.org.

To see more great pictures of the event, click here.

YAD Goes Pink!

This week YAD has been working hard to put the finishing touches on its Second Annual Pink Shabbat weekend. Building off last year's success, this year we are thrilled to be partnering with two amazing local partners. 

On Friday night, Moishe House San Diego and YAD’s Shabbat Connections Committee are proud to be part of the PINK Shabbat Weekend to support and bring awareness to the San Diego Jewish Community. Please visit our facebook event here: http://www.facebook.com/events/339964122767021/ 

We especially welcome all those who have been personally impacted by breast and ovarian cancer.

All ages and affiliations are encouraged to attend!

Dress Code: Pink!

Potluck item will be assigned after you register

Optional donation of $5 to Sharsheret (http://www.Sharsheret.org/)

Sharsheret is national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families of all Jewish backgrounds facing breast cancer. Its mission is to offer a community of support to women diagnosed with breast cancer or at increased genetic risk, by fostering culturally relevant individualized connections with networks of peers, health professionals, and related resources.

On Sunday morning YAD and Jewish Family Serivce’s Breast Cancer case management program will be joining forces to participant in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. Why do we race? Of every dollar raised by the Race, 75 cents stays right here in San Diego to fund programs like our Breast Cancer Case Management program. Komen grants funding to many different San Diego agencies who provide a wide range of services from free diagnostic mammograms, biopsies, and ultrasounds to transportation, financial aid and social support. Next to the U.S. government, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest funder of breast cancer research in the world. 

To join “Team JFS” as a participant or to donate to our team go to www.komensandiego.org.

Federation Connects Young Adults to High Holiday Worship

Through Federation’s 2030 Project and Young AdultDivision (YAD) over 90 Jewish 20s and 30s purchased discounted high holiday tickets to San Diego area synagogues.  Twelve synagogues participated in this effort to engage these young adults in Jewish life.

“The goal is to lower barriers of participation in Jewish life for young people.  Many don’t have synagogue memberships but want a spiritual experience for the holidays.  By offering tickets at a discount they can see the value of synagogue connection without having to make a significant financial commitment.”  said Rabbi Janice Elster, 2030 Project Manager.  “Since over half of the participants were new to the program this year we know we are continuing to meet a need and that there are more young adults out there who want to find connection.  We hope to expand it in future years.”

Tim and Rachel Kitt

Rachel, age 29, said the following: “As young adults, not ready to commit to one synagogue, or able to afford a year’s membership, the discount ticket program allows my husband and I to fulfill the most sacred Jewish obligation. Without this wonderful program, we would have to choose between traveling far to join other family at their non-San Diego synagogue, or not be able to attend at all. This program builds Jewish community as it allows for an easy access point for young adults to be involved in San Diego.”

Find out more about how the 2030 Project and YAD are engaging Jewish young adults at: www.2030project.org or www.yadsandiego.org.  

Birthright San Diego 2012: The Experience of a Lifetime

Follow the journey of 39 young adults from San Diego who just returned from the experience of a lifetime on the Jewish Federation of San Diego’s community Birthright trip. In ten days they travelled all over Israel, learning, experiencing and discussing all the amazing things they encountered. They visited the new Alexander Joseph Viterbi Art Center in our partner community in Sha’ar HaNegev and had a very moving experience learning about life there under the constant threat of rocket attack and how the new school was built to protect children from incoming Kasaam missiles. 

They visited the newly renovated Yad Vashem museum and had a moving tour there, finding so many personal connections to the holocaust amongst the group. Six participants from the trip even chose to commit themselves to living a more engaged Jewish life by becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. For more photos and reflections check out the group blog: http://sdbirthright2012.tumblr.com/

Tzedakah Ball Featured in the Wedding Yentas

Rachel Kitt

The Wedding Yentas and Federation's own Rachel Kitt just wrote up a great article about this past weekend's fabulous Tzedakah Ball!  It was a wonderful evening, and a whole lot of fun.  These young philanthropists raised over $10,000 and are truly doing a world of good.

Click to Read More