Five ways to get involved:
Whatever you are looking for, YLD offers a wonderful way in

YLD and Anshe Emet Synagogue’s Young Adult Division enjoy a fun night at Wrigley Field. (Photo credit: Jonathan Manousaridis)

When Maiky Iberkleid was new to Chicago in 2017, he got coffee with a board member of JUF’s Young Leadership Division (YLD). That led to volunteering with YLD’s “Mensches in Motion” and going on a volunteer trip to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.  

“After that, I was just sold,” said Iberkleid, now serving as President of the YLD Board. “I thought, ‘This is where I want my community to be.’” 

For Iberkleid, volunteering opened the door to a robust, meaningful Jewish community of like-minded young adults in Chicago. There are many other ways in, as well.  

Here are five entry points into YLD—with truly something for everyone: 

LEADS 

A signature program of YLD, LEADS is a peer-led, eight-week cohort. Participants explore Jewish identity, learning, and values while engaging in thoughtful small-group discussions. The LEADS groups meet in homes of peers with a primary goal to make new friends and connections.  

“When somebody says, ‘I’m new to Chicago, what do I do to get involved?’ LEADS is my number one answer,” said Ben Wolfson, JUF’s Director of YLD. “To make deep and long-lasting connections with young Jewish adults in our city, there’s no better program than LEADS.” 

Social events 

Whether you’re new to Chicago or just looking for a fun way to make new friends, YLD’s got you covered with their calendar of upcoming social events! Young adults gather for happy hours, walks along Lake Michigan, pickleball tournaments, and get-togethers like this season’s outing to a Cubs game. YLD, in partnership with Anshe Emet Synagogue Young Adult Division, started the night with a pre-game tailgate at Gallagher Way. Attendees enjoyed kosher snacks and then headed to the game to watch the Cubs play the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Volunteerism 

Giving back to the community is a vital part of being in community. YLD holds monthly opportunities to volunteer, organized by leaders of YLD’s Volunteer Committee. Iberkleid values the strength in partnering with organizations like Repair the World and Moishe House, who are also sharing volunteer opportunities with young adults.  

Additionally, Mensches in Motion is YLD and TOV’s six-week volunteer cohort where participants come together for hands-on volunteer experiences, making a real impact across Chicago while exploring Jewish values of service. Iberkleid explained how Mensches in Motion does “a beautiful job” of combining a cohort model with hands-on volunteerism. “We had 10 amazing participants,” he said. 

Shabbat (and holiday!) dinners 

YLD treasures its partnership with Silverstein Base Chicago and the rabbinic families at each Base location, who are dedicated to excellent, meaningful relationship-building and programming for Jewish young adults. “Partnering with Silverstein Base Chicago deeply enriches any Shabbat or holiday experience for all young adults who walk through their doors,” Wolfson said. 

Iberkleid added that each Base creates a unique space. He described a delicious and fascinating experience at the seder table at Base Andersonville: “We had all sorts of interesting food from different parts of Jewish life, and included Jewish traditions that a lot of us hadn’t seen.” 

Affinity groups 

YLD’s affinity groups are a fantastic way to be a part of more intimate community. Russian-speaking Jews and YLD Pride are long-standing affinity groups that have been successful at creating warm, inviting micro-communities within YLD. Newer affinity groups in the works include a Hebrew-speaking group as well as a Spanish-speaking group.  

Iberkleid, himself a Spanish-speaker and an immigrant from Bolivia, stresses the importance of these groups as a potential entry point for young adult Jewish life in Chicago. “We’re able to put a spotlight” on these affinities and help people find one another, he said. 

Check out the YLD calendar of events at juf.org/yld or email [email protected] to get coffee with someone from YLD and learn more.