Manhattan Jewish Experience

Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE)
Formation 1998
Founder Rabbi Mark Wildes
Type Nonprofit
Location
Director
 Rabbi Mark Wildes
Website jewishexperience.org

Manhattan Jewish Experience (MJE) is an open community for young Jewish professionals in their 20's and 30's to explore Jewish life and meet new people through social, cultural, spiritual and educational events. Rabbi Mark Wildes founded and directs the organization.[1][2][3]

Background

MJE Rabbis Mark Wildes and Ezra Cohen

Wildes founded MJE in 1998 in memory of his late mother Ruth B. Wildes, who was a pillar of the Jewish community of Forest Hills, Queens.[4] MJE hosts the annual Ruth B. Wildes Memorial Lecture on her yahrtzeit (Jewish anniversary of her passing). Past speakers have included Michael Oren, Alan Dershowitz, Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, Dr. Norman Lamm, and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.[5]

Programming

2015 MJE Spring Retreat in The Berkshires.

MJE programming includes Shabbat dinners, holiday events and parties, weekly classes, beginner services, weekend excursions such as ski trips, and trips to Israel. MJE has grown to include three locations in Manhattan in the Upper West Side, Upper East Side, and downtown, which serve approximately 20,000 attendees and 5,000 unique participants annually.[6] Through MJE, 253 couples have met and married.[7]

Music videos

MJE and filmmaker Erez Cohen have produced Jewish holiday-themed music videos, including "A One Direction Hanukkah"[8][9][10] and "Esther's a Jew," a Purim parody inspired by Elle King's Ex's & Oh's.[11][12]

References

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