Mar 24, 2014

Local Young Professional Shares National TribeFest Experience

TribeFest, the largest Jewish young adult gathering organized by The Jewish Federations of North America‘s National Young Leadership, was held in New Orleans March 16-18. The biennial event is an entertaining, interactive and educational celebration that draws more than 1,200 Jewish adults ages 22-45 from across North America. TribeFest participants came from 85 different communities, and with diverse backgrounds. This year, 35 professionals from Miami’s Jewish community participated in the three-day event, where they networked with people of all different backgrounds and embraced the many rich aspects of Jewish life. Jacqueline Berenson, who serves as the Chair of Missions and Conferences for the Young Leadership Division, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s under 40 connection, attended TribeFest and shared her unique experience.

What does TribeFest mean to you?
TribeFest gave me the chance to visit with old friends, meet others from across the country and be exposed to the energy of inspirational speakers. The experience was surprising and I felt so immersed in a culture of excitement from Jews my age.

Why should young Jewish professionals attend TribeFest?
It's a great opportunity to meet other Jews who are active in their communities. As a Jewish professional, anytime I can find myself among a cohort of other Jewish professionals, lay leaders and engaged Jews, the sky is the limit for everything I can take away. The speakers were top-notch and were leaders in politics, entertainment, music, art, food, religion and other aspects of Jewish life. I enjoyed the learning, networking and community-building I could be a part of. Being among friends in such a positive atmosphere was extremely revitalizing.

What was it like traveling with the Miami group?
It brought us closer together. The Miami group consisted of 35 people and many of us were meeting for the very first time. Although we were networking with hundreds of young professionals from all over the country, we were forming long-lasting relationships and connections within our own Jewish community. It feels like I have a whole new group of friends!

What experiences can you take from TribeFest that you can apply to your position on the Young Leadership Division Board?
I plan on taking some of the creative, unique ideas I learned from other communities’ young professional groups and implement them into the Young Leadership Division. For example, I attended an early leadership session called Leadership Development Institute (LDI), where an engaging speaker from Fortune magazine who showed us different leadership styles from the business world and how some businesses have created community. Some of the role models from companies like TOMS and Zappos have used their unique leadership styles to create valuable, lasting communities. I think there is a lot for our Board to take from this experience, especially how to keep young philanthropists engaged and involved.

Will you attend the next TribeFest in 2016?
This was my first experience and I definitely would go back again. It's a unique opportunity to meet more than 1,200 young professionals from all over the U.S. who are involved in their local Jewish communities. We are given a space through speakers and sessions to discuss opportunities, ideas, and challenges facing young Jewish professionals across the country and Israel. The Jewish Federations of North America is the "face" of American Jewry and TribeFest gives the next generation a chance to create a closer community and be active in shaping our identity as a Jewish nation.

The Young Leadership Division is an effort to engage those ages 22-39 in the mission of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, which is to mobilize human and financial resources to care for those in need, strengthen Jewish life and advance the unity, values and shared purpose of the Jewish people in Miami, in Israel and around the world.

Click here to learn more about The Young Leadership Division. To get connected, email [email protected] or call 786.866.8446.