Being Young and Jewish in NYC

28th Oct 2015

by YourNeighborhood.co

New York City is the epicenter of the Jewish community in the US, hands down. As a young professional in NYC, the city is your oyster (not kosher, I know!). Speaking of food, lets start on a culinary note. Head over to Katz's Deli on the Lower East Side for the best pastrami sandwich in town. Keep kosher, we’ve got you covered. Head to the 2nd Avenue Deli (Midtown East or Upper East Side) where you can get a great cup of Jewish Penicillin (i.e. matzo ball soup) along with a half sandwich (choose from a selection of cold cuts). Looking for a taste of the Middle East, head to Turkish Kitchen. It is one of my favorite restaurants in NYC hands down. Be sure to order the lamb doner kebab and bamia (stewed okra with tomato). For kosher fare, head to Colbeh. A staple in the Persian culinary scene, this Midtown West establishment serves great kebabs in a modern and trendy backdrop.

Now you may be trying figure out where to go for Shabbat. Fear not. Chabad, a mainstay in cities across the world, has, get ready, 25 locations in Manhattan alone. Many locations also open high-holiday services to guests for a nominal fee. Are you Birthright alum? If so, head to the Jewish Enrichment Center, an official partner of Taglit-Birthright offering FREE Shabbat dinners and educational programs. They also offer great opportunities to return to Israel, some as few as $500 all-inclusive! Looking for a place with everything under one roof, head uptown to the JCC. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the JCC provides everything a young professional could want: a fitness center, pool, basketball court, activities for all disciplines, and numerous Shabbat dinner options. Student membership rates are available for those eligible with different packages available.

With food and Shabbat covered, now you’re looking to find that special someone to share NYC with. You may or not have that little birdie in your life (known as your mom, grandma, aunt, any person of Jewish lineage lol) who asks on the regular why you are not married yet. Starting from your home or office (you know you’re not actually working at the office), download the jSwipe app. This platform connects Jewish singles across the country with a large user base in the NYC area. Answer a few basic questions, import some Facebook data, and you are all set. Looking to venture out for some great summer time events, look to JSpace or the JCC. Both offer regular happy hours and educational events. The JCC also sponsors young professional sports leagues, volunteer programs, and even birthright trips. One other great option is the program Shabbatness. The program arranges Shabbat dinners based on interviews with candidates to help setup matches.