Inspiration All Around

In my living room, I’m surrounded by amazing people, finger painting, having a heart to heart about unleashing our artistic creativity as we mash goopy colors onto shiny paper.

At the Boston Labor Seder, at a table with workers, labor organizers, and young Jews. In every direction, I see our social justice team leaders, beaming with pride that we pulled off a gathering of 130 Jews, interfaith clergy, workers, and organizers, despite that the Jewish Labor Committee decided it didn't have the resources to plan the Labor Seder this year. Big wigs in the Jewish community tell us this is the best Labor Seder ever. They tell us this is the first time in years that young Jewish have worked so effectively to create an event for the broader Jewish community, and that the interfaith, inter-class, inter-racial, inter-generational nature of the event makes it so much more powerful.

At Shabbat dinner, Ruthie - a spunky activist that I met at the Labor Seder and invited to dinner – sits down next to me. She tells me, “Margie, I wanted to thank you. I went to day school through eighth grade, but after that I ran as fast and as far as I could from the Jewish community. It felt like a risk coming here tonight, but I’m glad I did. This is the first time I’ve felt comfortable in a room of Jews since 6^th grade. "

These are just three moments over the last two weeks. At Moishe House Boston, it's like we witness miracles on a weekly basis, -- someone opening up for the first time, getting turned on to Jewish ritual and practice, making the connection between religion and social justice, friendships forming, leaders emerging.

Being part of this house gives me so much faith in the potential for young people to create their own Jewish communities. It gives me faith that when we set high expectations and believe that young people can think deeply and act boldly, our peers step up.